Showings are Heating Up
We are seeing this trend innerloop Houston, Texas. It is a result of the tightened inventory in certain neighborhoods, Timbergrove, Houston heights, Montrose and the Hyde Park, just to name a few that I have intimate knowledge of.
Representing primarily buyers I am watching and notifying my clients as things hit the market.
Over the past few weeks, I have noticed that new listings are getting showings within a few days of hitting the market more and more frequently. We have actually put 2 homes into the MLS that have had appointments set up to view within less than 15 minutes of being entered into the system.
I believe that 2 things are responsible for this. First and most importantly is that it seems to be a sign of the build up demand in our market. Back when the market was overheated, it was not uncommon to see a home shown 6 times or more within a day or two of being listed. However as the market corrected, it was not uncommon to see homes go two-three weeks before getting showings (even worse in the winter months). This type of activity shows me that Buyers are in the marketplace and waiting for homes to come to market. Although they are going quickly to see the houses, there is no signs of the impulse type of buying that had taken place in the past (this is a very good thing).
Secondly, I believe that technology has improved so much that agents and consumers alike have some many options to be automatically notified when new homes come to market, they do not need to wait until somebody is able to sit at a computer to physically search for them. If you are in the market to buy a home, make sure you are working with an agent who is using the tools that are available to them to help make the home search process as efficient as possible for you.
I am often amazed at some of the sign calls that I receive from prospects who claim to be working with a Buyers' agent who wonder why they were not made a aware of a listing by their agent when it fits their criteria. Usually after a conversation, the prospect tells me that their agent is a friend or part-time co-worker or family member who is helping them. With something as important as your next home, it is wise to make sure that any agent you are working with, full time, part-time, family member or friend, is doing everything that can be done to make sure that your next home doesn't slip through the cracks and somebody else gets it.
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