Well, is it? That is what I keep hearing but it is mostly from wet behind the ears folks that came into the business thinking they were going to make a lot of money. They bloated the ranks of real estate agents and mortgage professionals alike. Now they are jumping ship - good riddance.
To put 'hard' into perspective think about doing business in 2003. Was it hard to get a mortgage then? That was before stated income loans, 80-20 to people with credit scores in the 600, and other goofy stuff that led to disaster. No, it was not hard for normal people then and it is not hard now. The people that would need to rely on the goofy stuff though are out of luck now just like then. There were enough of them in the market though to pump up demand and add to the inflation of prices.
I talked to Eric Bornebusch, an experienced loan officer, who after over a decade at Chase just moved to Franklin American in Ocean County NJ. He said "To put it in perspective just turn the clock in your head back about 5 years and that is what it is like now." The difference is the goofy stuff is gone.
I keep hearing about people having trouble getting a mortgage. I bet they are working with agents that got in the business 3 years ago and don't know how to work without all the goofy stuff. Today, buyers have a lot less competition than in 2005. In Cherry Hill in 2005 134 homes sold in August. In 2008 it was 72. Buyers have alot less competition today and so are in a much better negotiating position. NO, they are in a great negotiating position. They can even bid on more than one house at a time and play one against the other. Multi-bidding is a lot more fun for buyers than being faced with trying to buy a house from a seller that is getting multiple offers.
If you would like to know what homes are available in a particular neighborhood or are interested in locating a home with the features and price range that suit you - just ask.
If you are in the market for a home in Camden county or elsewhare in the South Jersey or South Jersey Shore area, make sure you hire an agent who will work for you on your side of the transaction-AND STAY THERE TILLYOU ARE SETTLED.
Paul Howard is the only Exclusive Buyer Agent having an office in South Jersey. Paul, owner of NJHomeBuyer.com Realty in Cherry Hill, is a member of the highly selective National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents, representing buyers ONLY, 100% of the time. We ONLY hire agents that work exclusively for home buyers.
Do you have good credit? Looking to buy a home? If you are thinking about buying a home in the areas we serve , call Paul at 
(856) 488-8444
or send an email to Paul@SouthJerseyHomes.com for information.
We serve: Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Mercer and Ocean counties in NJ.
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