Lawrence Yun has maintained an optimistic outlook regarding the Real Estate Market recovery. He has been quoted as saying "there is much pent up buyer demand" and as prices drop into ranges average Floridian workers can once again afford, it seems along with the recent rain a new crop of buyers may be be budding. 

Since May 2008, there has been a marked increase in home sales.  This following months of lackluster performances and supply exceeding demand.

It appears that balance may be restoring itself a little sooner than expected. The number of homes rotating off the inventory list has improved over the previous twelve months.

 This in part is due to some foreclosure properties settling old debt by sharply discounted prices, it is also in part because consumer demand is picking up in certain price ranges.

In St. Cloud, Florida for example, the median existing home resale price has dropped to $175,000.  This steep decline from the previous price of $221,000 on the National Average reported six to twelve months ago.  Half the homes selling for above that price and half the homes selling for below that price.

A FRESH CROP OF COMPETING OFFERS

As more homes appear to be going "under contract" this could suggest that buyers may be ripening on vine.  Competing offers are masking a come back albeit quietly.   "We are seeing a resurgence of buyers looking at well priced properties and making offers" said one local Realtor.   "This is great news" said Dion Atchinson a project manager for Inland Homes.  "We needed to get some oil in the wheels of the cog, one by one they (the existing homes in inventory) are falling and closing" he said.  Working with local Realtors who are aggressively marketing their homes was one key factor in achieving sales.

Selling agents have stressed the importance to sellers offering homes in this market to be as competitive as possible in order to cast a wider net in hopes of snagging a good qualified buyer.  As a result, more homes are "Sale Pending" according to the Multiple Listing Service for the St. Cloud zip codes.  A trend experts predict is likely to continue at a slow gradually increasing rate through the end of the year and into next year.

Sellers in St. Cloud who have properly prepared their homes for market  Can follow a few simple guidelines which should help achieve a faster sale.

BE THE LOWEST PRICE HOME

Hire  a Realtor who can discuss with you what comparable homes have sold for recently.

Request a Comparative Market Analysis which can help determine what your home is likely to bring when compared to homes of similar size and location

                                                                    CLEAR THE CLUTTER

Clearing Clutter is very important when preparing your home for market.

A fresh coat of paint  and some simple staging can and will enhance the overall appeal of your property.

CURB APPEAL

Adding some fresh shrubbery, and landscaping materials will make buyers first impression of your a lasting one.

Try to remember, buyers will be looking at several available properties in a single outing with their Realtors- you want yours to stand out and have instant likability from the moment they get out the car.

 IF ITS BROKEN...FIX IT

   Too often homeowners let small repairs get forgotten.

   Making small repairs and devising a check list can make the sales process go more smoothly.

   Buyers are encouraged to hire qualified certified, home inspectors who will be checking to make sure basic things are in working order and formulating a list of the things which are not.

   Reducing the number of things wrong, can enhance sales appeal and value.

     A well priced, well maintained. staged home, will sell In a  shorter period of time and will result in less stress for the Home Seller during the process.  Homes for sale should be "show ready" with little notice as buyers who are actively looking have numerous choices available to them in a broad range of prices.

Being able to show a home with short Notice is a competitive advantage over ones which are not well kept while for sale.

BE FLEXIBLE

If an offer is received weigh carefully your options.  Seller have three basic choices to make when considering an offer.

1) Accept It.

2) Reject It.

3) Make a Counter Offer.

Accepting the offer if it is fair and reasonable moved the home to wards closing.

Rejecting the offer outright, kills the deal.

Counter offering reverses the roles.  It allows the buyer to decide whether or not the counter offer is acceptable. 

 Bank Owned or Foreclosed Properties take much longer to ratify than convention sellers for some buyers, the time lost waiting for an answer can be frustrating, and discouraging.