Apples to Apples, Houses to Houses

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Ward County Notary Services 607851

Comparisons are okay, as long as it is apples to apples.

Even at that there are many varieties of apples and they may be in any state of edibility... or not!

What about houses?

When I purchased my first home I was 18 years old and my criteria for home buying was that the house was solid and that I could comfortably afford the payment. Comfortably meant , at the time, I could buy enough groceries not to starve. That being said I did miss a few meals.

Back to Apples to Apples only now

Houses to Houses

If you were to pick one of the above as your primary residence of course you would pick the one one the left. However if you are a DIYer to the extreme and you wanted to flip a home for profit or fix one up as a rental the one on the left may get your heart racing. If I were a younger man I'd love to work on that house to the right.

One thing I learned in my decades of Real Estate is that their is a buyer for any property, even a rotten apple like the one on the right.

My point is really more to the Sellers than the Buyers of Real Estate. Yes, there is a Buyer for your property BUT don't expect the home on the right to sell for the price of the one on the left no matter how hot your market is! Don't scoff at the price your Realtor says your house is going to sell for. If Zillow says it will sell for twice that price it is Zillow who is full of crap (ask them to buy it). Your local Realtor is the one with the boots on the ground and who knows many of the homes in your neighborhood inside and out. If you don't believe your Realtor have a local appraiser appraise it. (then go back to your Realtor with your tail between your legs and apologize).

 

 

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Comments (18)

Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good afternoon Bob. One man's junk can be another man's treasure, but you still have to price it right. Enjoy your day.

Jun 01, 2023 01:49 PM
Leanne Smith
Dirt Road Real Estate - Golden Valley, AZ
Relocation to NW AZ with elbow room & more freedom

Yes comparing apples to apples is essential.  Hence I dislike most mls comparable data because more often than not it is not apples to apples. Each property must speak to that buyer.

Jun 01, 2023 03:09 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Buying a home at 18 years of age was quite an accomplishment, Bob. I don't believe I know anyone else who has managed that.  I was curious about whether an 18 year old could do that in California.  It turns out they can, but there are some caveats that relate to contracting.  

*Under California law, a minor may own real property or an interest therein, but a minor may not convey or make contracts relating to real property.

Jun 01, 2023 05:22 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

CONGRATULATIONS Bob, on having this blog FEATURED in the Old Farts Club group!  

Jun 01, 2023 05:40 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Bob- I'm still in awe of your buying your first home at 18!!! That's amazing. I do love your point. There is a buyer for every house but price, location and condition will come into play. 

Jun 01, 2023 06:25 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Awesome post and great advice to sellers, and as the market tightens up it will be more important to price homes correctly if the sellers want it sold Endre

Jun 01, 2023 10:21 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Good morning, Bob... loved the post. I've long said that when it comes to buying homes that there's a lid for every pot and that it doesn't matter a home's condition or location... at the right price it will sell.

Jun 02, 2023 04:55 AM
Kat Palmiotti
406-270-3667, kat@thehousekat.com, Broker/REALTOR® - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

There is a buyer for every house but not at the same price - every house is unique, and condition and staging matter.

Enjoy your day!

Jun 02, 2023 05:13 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

That is the point Wayne Martin and Sellers need to get with it. The local expert knows the market and will see that it sells.

Jun 02, 2023 05:54 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

That is right Leanne Smith and often many homes do not make it to the MLS which in turns keeps them from being a comparable when they should be.

Jun 02, 2023 05:57 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Thank you Myrl Jeffcoat for doing that research. I don't know what MN law was back 51 years ago but I know my dad would have co-signed had it been necessary but I don't believe that it was.

Jun 02, 2023 05:59 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Thank you for the feature in the Old Farts Club Myrl Jeffcoat . It is always appreciated and also a boost to my views.

Jun 02, 2023 06:04 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

It was almost funny to see the greed when the oil boom hit our area and people thought they could see unlivable homes for $200,000. (sad really). Of course those homes never sold for anything like that Kathy Streib and I am glad they didn't. I refused several listings back then.

Jun 02, 2023 06:07 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

When a Seller doubts our pricing skill Endre Barath, Jr. I would recommend they obtain an appraisal. I don't ever remember my pricing coming in as lowball but I had been a little high at times.

Jun 02, 2023 06:10 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

I like that expression Nina Hollander, Broker and I don't believe I have heard it before. If it's a empty lot or a mansion it will sell if it's priced right.

Jun 02, 2023 06:12 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker

Bob "RealMan" Timm I believe the author, Danielle Steele, might have "coined" this phrase in one of her books.

lid for every pot

Jun 02, 2023 06:18 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

I've seen a couple that were priced right... for the bulldozer Kat Palmiotti and that is exactly what happened to make way for a new home for the Buyer or for the Buyer to make a nice profit.

Jun 02, 2023 06:14 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

One man's trash is another man's treasure, as they say, haha.  I have learned over the years that my opinions don't always match those of others.

Jun 02, 2023 07:18 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

You and me both brother Brian England in fact I seldom am in the camp of the majority.

Jun 02, 2023 07:42 AM