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IS REAL ESTATE STILL SEXY?

By Ken Tracy

Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Residential

June 02, 2009 09:51 AM

There was a time when driving by a nice home in Naperville would get my heart pumping...

I could almost smell the granite. The hardwood. The new carpet...

Today I find myself thinking "It seems like a lot of house to clean..."

Maybe my needs are changing. My goal is to provide a comfortable home for my family, not buy a mansion...

Am I alone? Or is real estate still sexy?

A couple of years ago, it seemed the goal was to buy the biggest and best home possible. Jobs were secure. Businesses was booming...

Why wouldn't we buy that huge home? It's only going to go up in value. Better buy it quick...

But now, we are not so sure. We have seen home prices decline by 30% in many areas. Real estate is no longer a sure thing...

But we do need a place to live. A place to call home. A place for family. So, although I will be buying a home this fall, I wonder...

Is real estate still sexy?

Ken

To search for homes in Naperville and all of Chicagoland, go to my website anytime.

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Lenn Harley

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA

Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Yes. Yes it is still sexy.

Some folks may lower their goals, but, in my experience, when they start looking at various homes, they still want more, more, more.

The difference now is that they don't understand that the homes that have more, more, more are going to cost them more.

Jun 02, 2009 09:59 AM

Ken Tracy

Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL

Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Lenn. Thanks for reading.

I guess I have gotten realistic. Maybe other buyers too?

Thanks again,

Ken

Jun 02, 2009 10:08 AM

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

I can totally relate to the "too much house to clean" feeling. Maybe it's age related, but I'm looking forward to having a condo somewhere with yard maintenance. Priorities change at different stages in your life too. I think it's still sexy, and always will be, it's the people that change.

Jun 02, 2009 10:21 AM

Randy "Lazarus" McAtee

Lazarus Realty - Fresno, CA

Owner/Broker, Lazarus Realty, Fresno California

But now, we are not so sure. We have seen home prices decline by 30% in many areas.

30% is NOTHING!

Try 65%

Homes that sold for 300k going for under 100k!

Sounds like you're in a strong market.

Jun 02, 2009 10:24 AM

Gary Woltal

Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX

Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Hi Ken. You have different phases in your life when a big house is cool and other times when it is boring and a pain. Just moods we go through. Commission checks. Now THAT is sexy.

Jun 02, 2009 10:28 AM

Chanda Barrick

Keller Williams Indy Metro Northeast - Indianapolis, IN

in referral

I don't think it's quite as "sexy" as it once was...I think many people are taking time out to be more informed about the market and their options. I would like a bigger home, but I definitely wouldn't want something outrageous. Who wants to buy furniture, clean, pay taxes, etc for something like that unless they have a real need for it or an endless supply of money...I have neither so I'll stick to my little house for now and be happy with it. :)

Chanda panda

Jun 02, 2009 10:30 AM

Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist

KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA

Probate Real Estate Services

I'm not sure I would equate "sexy" with real estate however I do believe I get the context. In my area there are many buyers seizing the opportunity to lap up the over abundance of REOs as a result of the market within which they could not afford. For those folks, I imagine it is sexy. For those who dared to buy into the American dream of homeownership, probably not so Sexy. It's all about balance.

Jun 02, 2009 10:34 AM

Jenny Kotulak

RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage - Oakville, ON

Broker - Oakville Ontario Real Estate

Wow, that's an interesting question Ken. I never thought of it that way before. BUT, the other day I was looking at photos of the kitchen in my last house that we renovated and sold after 2 years. Looking at those photos made me realize I had a sexy kitchen. Long island with smooth granite. Pull out pantry drawers, built in appliances, sexy range hood suspended from ceiling over island cooktop. You are making me want to cry.

My existing kitchen is definetly un-sexy. But I do have future plans for it. :) Gotta get my sexy back.

Jun 02, 2009 10:55 AM

Shirley Parks

Sands Realty 210-414-0966 - San Antonio, TX

Broker, 210-414-0966, San Antonio TX Real Estate

Hi Ken, I have never thought of real estate in those terms, exactly, but I agree with what Gary Woltal said!

Jun 02, 2009 11:00 AM

Ken Tracy

Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL

Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Jenny, Kathleen, Chanda, Gary, Lazarus, and Sharon. Thanks so much for reading.

Naperville's market? I would guess about average in the country. Some pockets have been stronger than others...

I guess my needs have shrunk. After 3 years renting, a nice 3 bedroom ranch would be great for the Tracy's.

Thanks again everyone,

Ken

Jun 02, 2009 11:00 AM

Ken Tracy

Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL

Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi there Shirley. You and Gary are right...

Commission checks are sexy too!

Thanks for reading,

Ken

Jun 02, 2009 11:09 AM

Donna Harris

Donna Homes, powered by JPAR - TexasRealEstateMediationServices.com - Austin, TX

Realtor,Mediator,Ombudsman,Property Tax Arbitrator

Of course real estate is sexy. Someone's not going to buy a house unless they can stand driving up to the garage each day. If it's ugly from the outside, most won't care to look at the personality on the inside. Sexy=curb appeal!

Jun 02, 2009 12:47 PM

Missy Caulk

Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI

Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate

Life changes,

Lifesyles change,

Me I'm all about simple now.

But, most of the buyers we work with still want all the sexy things.

Jun 02, 2009 03:11 PM

Heather Fitzgerald

REALTY WORLD-Harbert Company, Inc. - Greenwood, IN

REALTOR Greenwood Indiana Real Estate

Simplicty is sexy, so yes, it still is sexy, but it is evolving in how it is sexy.

Jun 02, 2009 04:11 PM

Steve Shatsky

Dallas, TX

Hi Ken... Real Estate is definitely still sexy... and I think that petite homes can be just as sexy as a McMansion any day!

Jun 02, 2009 07:08 PM

Don Rogers

Keller Williams Realty Chesterfield - O'Fallon, MO

Realtor, Broker, CDPE, GRI, OnullFallon MO & St Charles County MO homes

Not always is an UPsized home the right way to go why not just RIGHT size it?

Jun 02, 2009 10:17 PM

Ken Tracy

Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL

Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Don, Steve, Heather, Missy, and Donna. Thanks for reading.

Sexy it is! The ayes have it.

My needs have changed a bit. I still want the granite, hardwood, and new carpet in my smaller yet just as sexy home...

Thanks again,

Ken

Jun 03, 2009 01:50 AM

Tom Boos

Sine & Monaghan Realtors, Real Living - Grosse Pointe Farms, MI

Providing the very best of service to Sellers and

Great question. YES, I'm the sexiest real estate agent I know. At least that's what I tell myself in the mirror each morning.

Jun 03, 2009 02:50 AM

JL Boney, III

Coldwell Banker - Columbia, SC

Columbia, SC Real Estate

A lot of people I see still want to buy the largest home that they can possibly afford, but I have never been that way. I have always and will always live below my means on purpose. Have a comfortable home that you can comfortably afford and maintain.

Jun 03, 2009 03:20 AM