I live in Wenatchee and by NCW I mean the NCW Housing Market 2023, around Wenatchee and a 50 mile radius.
As we know, 2023 was a difficult year. Rates dampened sellers interest to sell. Buyers frustrated with cost, rates and low inventory. In fact I read someplace that the average agent in the US had 2 or fewer transactions in 2023. Bringing it home we had roughly 430 agents in our Assn. The one in the exact middle had about 3.8 transactions.
BUT the year wasn't all glum. Rates today are 1.5-2% lower than last Sept. My particular market (from Spark on NWMLS) shows that at 12/31/2023 average prices were up from same date 2022. (less than $10,000 but still up) . We were turning inventory in about 90 days including loan ( NAR says 180 days is a buyers market).
But regardless of the market here are a couple truisms that applied:
No matter the market someone always needs to buy or sell or both;
Busy hands are happy hands
Obvious sure! But... as they say, the Devil is in the details.
Keeping the above in mind here is how I navigated the market (that was further dampened by me with two bouts of Covid that kept me pretty much down or recovering until May last year).
Go into the office office. Get dressed professionally. Look and talk the part. You may learn something there. I find in my office each time I am there of the 40 agents or so there are always the same 3-4 agents there (with others on and off). Those three or four and one or two others did 80% of the business. 20% ain't much for the other 35+.
Call your sphere... don't wait for them to call you. Use an entrance like this... " Hi Mary. This is Perrin at CWB. How are you doing? The family? (pause for answer) Great! Hey I have my real estate hat on and wanted you to know Im going to be doing some business in your neighborhood... if you known anyone buying or selling Id be happy to take extra time to talk with them. Thanks, Happy belated New Year and perhaps Ill be able to say hi in person next week. Tell your friends to keep working on their dream homes and Im there to help... Say hi to Ted too!
You have any stamps (you do remember stamps)? If so send a couple cards a day to Sphere or to people that have helped or impressed you mHand written cards are impressive
Clean up your online presence. When was the last time you reviewed your bios? Web Sites etc... so on and so forth.
(Note: these three ideas cost little or nothing but consider one or two deals the results can be great!)
We all know, or should know this stuff but it gets lost in the woe is me... or as my friend who was in AA used to say look in the mirror and say, "poor me, poor me. pour me another"
For taking time here is another treat that is free!! My 2023 market report.
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