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Archive for the 'Good Real Estate Information' Category
It’s Spring…No, It’s Winter..wait…wait…It’s Spring – It’s a crazy Real Estate Market Too!
February 3rd, 2012
This has been the craziest winter I can remember (and I’ve been in the Grand Rapids area for many a winter). One day the snow will be blowing and howling and the driving will be terrible, then the next day, the sun comes out – the snow melts and it’s so mild I don’t need to wear a coat. I’m not complaining – it has really been the mildest winter I can remember with snow very sparsely scattered. I do feel bad for the businesses that depend on a snowy winter (ski resorts, snowmobile resorts, restaurants and tourism surrounding the snow industry) and hope they can make it up yet this winter.
One unintended consequence of this “spring-like” weather is it has really gotten the “home buying juices” flowing in the marketplace. As early as the first week of January, when typically the real estate market is dormant, our phones were ringing off the wall (ok – we don’t hang phones on the wall anymore – but I don’t have a saying that will work yet). My listing showings are up from December and we are receiving offers on them!
Most folks don’t realize our real estate market is dependent on the weather. This year our “Spring Market” has started way early. Spring itself doesn’t really get here until March 20 – by then we will be well into the middle of our “Spring Market.” The major cause of a “spring market” is the change in the weather from very wintry to sun, melting snow and a 15 to 20 degree rise in temperature.
The original premise really was that most folks have cabin fever after being home bound during the snow storms of winter – then when it begins to thaw folks are so sick of staring at their four walls they want to move. Hmmm – not sure that is really the motivator – but do know there seems to be a psychologically positive attitude when we go from predominately dark days and little daylight to warmer days, sunshine and longer daylight. That positive attitude often translates into thinking about moving – which is good!
One other premise folks have about selling in the spring is the school theory. Years ago – if someone was being transferred by their company and they had a family – they often wanted to transfer during the Spring or Summer – with the idea they wanted to move in the summer so their children could start school in the fall. This idea is not as relevant today since the new theory is transferring and moving during the school year is really better for the children – especially since most schools have really good immersion programs for new students – making them feel special and often pairing them with peer mentors.
So – It’s a Real Estate Spring Market early this year. Don’t be left behind. Interest rates are still at record lows. We could really use some good homes to sell – so if you are thinking of moving and have a bit of cabin fever give me a call!
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It’s a HOT! HOT! HOT! Real Estate Market
June 23rd, 2011
Despite all the negative publicity and crummy stats getting thrown at us – the real world real estate market in Grand Rapids is HOT!
Last week we put three sales together (condo in the 150’s; home in the 200’s; executive home in the plus 1,000,000’s) and are working non-stop this week with buyers. We wonder what is causing this resurgence in buyer activity and attribute it to one of five reasons:
1. WARMTH
It’s summer and we’re finally feeling warm and fuzzy – which brings out the positive attitudes needed to step up and make the move to buy a home.
2. LIGHT
Once again – It’s summer – and in Michigan we’re on the far Western side of the Eastern Time Zone – so it stays light until 10pm – which gives us much more daylight to look at homes in the evenings.
3. CONSUMER CONFIDENCE
Here in Michigan our housing market took a dive earlier than any other area of the USA and we are digging back out earlier than other areas too – the folks we are working with looking at homes have a very positive attitude, can qualify for loans (and are getting phenomenal rates beside) and are making the move.
4. GREAT PRICES
It’s taken the sellers a few years to realize the market isn’t like it was in 2007 – so sellers are actually pricing their homes TO SELL! Buyers are having to adjust a bit because their idea of “screaming deals” are the relationship between list price and sale price – now that the list prices are becoming more reasonable, sellers are often getting “their price” – even though it happens to be at 2000 levels.
5. HOMES PRICED RIGHT AND SHOWING GREAT ARE SELLING FAST - SOME URGENCY!
As more buyers enter the marketplace – the inventory is going down. Two of the offers we wrote last week were multiple offers (our buyers got the houses!!). Many sellers are listening to their agents and staging their homes so they are showing well, that coupled with a price to sell has some homes selling in a matter of days or weeks. Hopefully gone are the days when it takes years to sell a home!
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Bankrate’s Article on Tips from First Time Sellers
May 26th, 2011
Bankrate had a fun article this week that I had the opportunity to participate in as a Quoted Expert.
I’ve been doing these blogs for a few years now and thought some of you might want to take the opportunity to read something from a professional writer that I’ve had the opportunity to be interviewed by – and check out some of my opinions on First Time Sellers.
The article is written by Dana Dracht who I’ve had the opportunity to work with a few times over the years – I appreciate her insights and her in-depth reporting so I though it would be fun to share her piece for you to read. Enjoy!
QR Codes + Clients = Love
April 20th, 2011
The era of the brochure box in front of a home has gone the way of the bag phone – it’s obsolete – and our clients love our new technology. It’s drawing the cutting edge crowd! Here are the top three reasons our clients love our new signs with QR Codes:
1. It draws attention to their home. Not only do our signs glow in the dark – but they also contain QR Codes (Quick Response) for each property. When a buyer pulls into the driveway, they can use their Smartphone to scan the Code and instantly have the price, floor plan and interior photos. Our contact information is available so we can set up a showing immediately.
2. It appeals to Gen X and Gen Y Buyers. Cutting Edge Technology is the mantra of the Gen X and Gen Y Folks – but also the Baby Boomers who are forward thinking. Many of the Gen X and Gen Y are first time home buyers – so any opportunity to get them interested is well worth the effort.
3. Our Sellers Love The Look! Direct quote today from a seller when we put the sign in front of her home “Cool Technology – We love it – Keep up the good work.” Here’s a photo of a seller in front of the sign put up this weekend – it’s a big thumbs up for her too!
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Updated Market Trends…Sizzling Stats
March 25th, 2011
This is the first in a series which will summarize monthly the relevant information for the Grand Rapids Real Estate market. I believe these stats are relevant if you are thinking of buying or selling in today’s market. How better to see the “real picture” than to check out the statistics which are driving the market.
These are displayed in easy to read graphs with corresponding commentary. The following graphs are for the entire Grand Rapids Real Estate Market – I will be breaking them down by area as we get rolling with these monthly reports.
The first one represents the Homes for Sale vs. the Homes Sold. It’s an interesting comparison and will wow you with the number of homes in our inventory at the Grand Rapids Association of Realtors. Ohhh – I think we have plenty of inventory – so now you know how important the right price is when you put your home on the market.
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The second graph represents the Days on the Market and the Percentage of List Price a home finally sells for. Both of these stats can be a little misleading.
It’s important to see for the past few years, the percentage of list price to sale price has not deviated a great deal. This is the number between what the house is listed for and what it sells for. All everyone hears from the media is it’s a buyers market (which is evidenced by the huge amount of inventory) – so everyone expects to get a screaming deal when they buy. These high numbers indicate perhaps one of the following is happening:
1. Sellers are now pricing their homes realistically. When this happens, the home stays on the market a shorter period of time and the percentage between list price and sale price is reduced.
2. Only those homes priced right are getting sold. The overpriced homes are being passed by – buyers still don’t feel comfortable putting those “low-ball” offers in.
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The last graph is the current inventory in months supply. As you can see, we are well stocked in homes for sale.
All Graphs – Copyrighted by Trendgraphics
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Sqiggles and Squares – What on Earth is a QR Code??
March 16th, 2011
The future of home shopping has arrived! Imagine driving up to a home for sale, pulling in the driveway and being able to determine the price and check out photos of the inside without leaving the comfort of your car!
The funny looking symbol to the right and those attached to our listing signs are QR Codes or Quick Response Codes. And they do just that – provide a quick response to your inquiry about the home in one quick QR scan. Try scanning the QR Code with your smart phone and check out our listing. Coincidently, it’s for sale and is a great horse farm!
Just as bar codes replaced key punching in the grocery store check out, QR Codes will speed the process of looking at real estate. All you have to do is download a QR Code scanner to your smart phone and you are ready to do some serious house hunting!
Naturally, REALTORS play a big part in this. We provide the photos, prices and home details the QR Code interprets. And our phone numbers and email addresses are listed so we will be able to provide professional advice on your home hunting decision.
Three “Hotspots” that sell Homes
February 21st, 2011
I have been getting a lot of questions recently from sellers or possible home sellers about how to get their home ready to sell. My advice is to concentrate on the Three “Hotspots” that most buyers concentrate on:
#1 Entry and the walk in
You’ve all heard that you have 30 seconds to make a first impression – well, so does your home. The walk to the front door – the first steps into the home set the tone for the rest of the tour. That means even though you don’t use your front door – get out the broom (or shovel if it’s winter) clean and de-clutter your walk up and entry way, paint or clean your front door and make sure your entryway is light and airy and puts a good foot forward for what the buyer is going to see next.
#2 Kitchen
This is the room the buyers will be spending the most time in – and even if they are not gourmet cooks – they will want an updated kitchen. For some this means replacing countertops and cupboards – but for most it can be as simple as painting the cupboards, putting on new hardware and giving it a good cleaning.
#3 Master Bathroom (or Main Bath if only one)
Clean! Clean! Clean! – This room needs to have all clutter put away and be spic and span – Paint if needed and update with some inexpensive hardware and lighting. Pop for some new towels and new shower curtain to make everything look “put together.”
Many of my clients ask me to stop by their homes as much as a year before they put them on the market to walk through and give them advise on what they should do to get it ready for sale. This is a great idea – then you can be ready to sell when the market is ready! Also, if you are thinking ahead and know you need to do some upgrading before you sell – do it sooner rather than later – then you can enjoy the upgrades before you sell.
Let me know some of the things you did to get your home ready to sell – I’ll share them in my blog.
SURPRISE!…there really is a “Spring Market”
February 19th, 2011
I’ve blogged before about how homes sell pretty much all year round – and that there is not necessarily a Spring Market anymore (see the previous blog).
For today I’ve changed my mind. We are in the midst of the first thaw of the season. The birdies are singing away – the snow is melting and we can even see a little grass peeking out in a few places. This is the first day since January that I’ve gone outside without my boots on and I didn’t zip up my coat when I went out for lunch (don’t tell my Mom).
So far this week we are working with offers on 4 properties. We already have 2 of them accepted, a counter offer out on one and are waiting for the others to come back to us. We have not seen this much activity in one week since the snows began our winter weather.
I think the very smell of a “spring like” day, the feel of the sun coming through the windows and actually seeing it melt the snow – all affect us in ways we don’t even realize. It makes us feel like getting out and breaking away from what we’ve been doing to take on a new adventure. For many that new adventure is buying or selling their house – or “Making a Move”.
We like this! If you’ve had Cabin Fever this winter -make sure you contact us for great information on financing (here’s a mortgage calculator), home selection and some great values in the marketplace!
What is a “Spring Market?” …Do you need to hear the birdies singing?
February 7th, 2011
Here is the question I receive from a lot of sellers before they put their home on the market – “Should I wait until the SPRING MARKET to put my home up for sale…and if so, “when is the SPRING MARKET”?
In the “good ole days” a Spring Market was just what you would expect. People put their homes up for sale in April, May and June – expecting them to sell during that time so everyone could move during the summertime – mainly so the kids would be ready to go to their new schools by September.
Those “good ole days” are gone. As Realtors – we see houses selling every month of the year – depending more on the job market, the economy and the interest rates than if Johnny or Julie is going to be going to a new school in the fall. Here are a few reasons why that is so….
#1 Relocation has a new philosophy
Years ago the companies relocating their employees paid close attention to the” kids moving in the summer” rule. What many of these companies found out (along with a number of studies) is that kids did much better in a school move if they moved during the year when they were the new kid in school. Schools changed many of their policies and assigned a new student to a “mentor” or “buddy” to help them through the transition. If they moved during the summer they were just another student when they started in the fall.
#2 Price, Interest Rates & Market Conditions Rule - Not always the time of the year
In the past few years the market has been more sensitive to prices, where interest rates are and how people are feeling about the economy than if it’s a Spring Market or not. Interestingly, Oct. of 2009 had the same number of sales as April of 2010 (1050+) in the Grand Rapids market.
#3 – So when IS a Spring Market, if there is one?
I will say our phones do start ringing here in Grand Rapids, Michigan when the sun comes out after a long few weeks or months of clouds, cold and snow. The first really good thaw that happens probably heightens everyone’s awareness that winter might be over and for folks that have cabin fever – the thought of moving crosses their mind.
I’ve always said a Spring Market was in the mind of the public and was determined by the weather – not the calendar!. What do you think?
Selling your home in the Winter – Three Easy Tips
January 21st, 2011
Ah, the crisp gorgeous snow is falling and you need or want to sell your home. Don’t be discouraged because of the cold, the snow covering your beautiful garden, or a driveway full of snow. Here are three easy tips to help you get ready:
1. Summer Photos.
Find some summer photos of your yard to leave on the dining room table or countertops. Hopefully you have photos of your gardens, trees with leaves, green grass and pool open with water in it (if this applies to you). These photos can even include your family members enjoying the summer weather showing off that great yard.
2. Keep your snow maintenance up.
Make sure you have a plow service hired to keep your driveway, sidewalks and front entry completely clear of snow and ice. If you can’t find a plow service that will take care of your front porch and steps – buy a shovel and some salt to keep it clear yourself. You want any buyer to drive up and not have any concerns about getting into the driveway and a pleasant walk up the sidewalk and into your home. This first look must be positive to encourage an offer.
3. Keep it warm inside.
Have a fire burning in the fireplace (if you have one) – keep the heat turned up (there’s nothing more chilling to a sale than an home that “feels” cold to the buyer.) This is a great time of the year to make a house a “home” – something cozy and warm that makes the buyer feel like buying it. Light some candles, microwave some cinnamon sticks and water for the smell of Mom’s Cinnamon Rolls baking – so that even if the snow if flying your home calls out to the buyers in a warm way.
Many homes today are vacant and winterized – it’s tough to warm these up to a buyer. If you do own a home that is vacant – you need to make a conscious decision to keep the heat on and keep it warm for a buyer or to winterize it to minimize any possible pipes freezing. This is a whole other discussion! Let me know what you think makes the most sense for a seller to do.
