This morning I tuned into NBC's Today show and Suze Orman was discussing the recession that some of our country has already started to experience and what consumers should do to protect their money.

Orman recommends that consumers:

  1. Do not panic and make rash decisions based on the current state of the economy.  Markets are cyclical.  Think of your investments on a long term basis.  Especially those that you might not need to turn around for the next 10 years.  Save your money.
  2. Do not cash out of your 401K.  If you needed to file bankruptcy your 401k is protected.  If you pull this money put you will not have it for later when you really need it.

And last is Orman's recommendation,paraphrased below, when it comes to buying real estate:

If you can get a good deal on a house, 30-50% off. and you can get a mortgage at the currently low interest rates of 5.5%, buy that  house.

Many real estate professionals have questioned this as well, calling today's buyers, "fence sitters".  The feeling today is that many buyers are waiting for a better deal and waiting for prices to come down.  Some are trying to tap into the foreclosure market, preceiving that they will be able to get the deal of the century.

Not all real estate markets are created equal, and neither are all homebuyers. 

So I pose this question to real estate agents:  Are you working in a market where there are great deals for buyers?   Are buyers taking advantage of your market deals?  What is your experience?

I pose this question to home buyers:  Do  you live in a market where there are great deals?Can you get a house now for 30-50% under its orginally listed price?  Are you going to buy a house in the near future?  If so, why?  If not, why not?


 

9 Comments on Suze Orman recommends buyers snap up great housing deals now

JAN
23
2008
233,860 Points 3 Featured Posts
There is a saying that Pigs get fat and hogs get slaughtered, Buyers dont be a hog
11:41am • #1

There is no way in hell that there's a selection of decent homes 30-50% off in West Michigan.  Even foreclosures.

Suze is living in la-la land.  This is not the first time she's given this irresponsible advice. 

11:42am • #2
301,888 Points 11 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

30%-50%???  Are you kidding me?  I have never liked her advice and this is just one more reason that I don't.  Honestly, what is she thinking?  I am amazed this woman has a show AND that people listen to her!

11:45am • #3

In the three zip codes that create Northeast Columbia, South Carolina, prices have INCREASED by more than 4%. I would not call that a market conducive to 30-50% of list price transactions.

Rebecca - You do a great job on your AR and your Connect2Agent blog. I'm a subscriber to both!

Hopefully, I will be able to add you as a Guest Contributor to my blog in the future.

Much Success to You in 2008! 

 

2:25pm • #4
JAN
24
2008

Sure you can find deals like this.  Every market has a handful of homes on the market that you can buy for 30% to 50% off list price.  You just have to find those properties that are "listed" 30% to 50% too high.  ;-)

That's like buying items at a store close-out sale.  They take an item which normally sold for $110, inflate the price to $175 and then put it on a close-out sale for an unbelievable savings of 35% off.  And Suze Orman would feel great having paid ONLY $113.75 (for this $110 item).  What a deal! 

Lee Greve
2:36pm • #5
JAN
27
2008
410,701 Points 81 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router
Market values are not like this in Crofton, Maryland, but I have no doubt they are in other places.  In my 30+ years of real estate, I've seen that this area is fairly recession proof.  Property values are down some, but nowhere near this much - and it's not likely, with 22,000 new jobs here due to BRAC 2005.
6:22pm • #6
133,157 Points 29 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Brett, Karen, Leesa, David, Lee and Margaret- Thank you for your very honest feedback about your local markets.  It is refreshing to have people speak this candidly and not try to pull the wool over real estate buyers and sellers eyes.
11:02pm • #7
MAY
07
2008
184,329 Points 4 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Suze Orman is out of touch!

She used to make a lot of sense, but as she's become more commercialized, she seems to have lost contact with what's really happening.

7:10pm • #8
JUL
05
2008

This is a great time for buying only if you have CASH and are COMPLETELY DEBT-FREE. Assuming a mortgage is the WORST move you could make right now. Being debt free will provide far more long-term security than any "great deal" you find on the market. I have to wonder who Susie's sponsors are. The collapsing financial industry perhaps ???

 

Jared
4:49pm • #9

Leave a response…



(optional)
What does the graphic say?
 
Rainmaker_large

Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing Consultant

Lake Geneva, WI

More about me…

Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision

Address: Lake Geneva, WI, 53147

Office Phone: (262) 203-5231

Email Me

Real estate marketing blog chock full of real estate marketing tips, strategy, advice and inspiration to enhance your real estate marketing skills.

BlogWithIntegrity.com


blogworld

Featured in Alltop

Bloggers' Rights at EFF
Register your brand or username on 120 sites


Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog

Find WI real estate agents and Lake Geneva real estate on ActiveRain.