1. They don’t ask their mortgage specialist enough questions and don't understand all of their loan options.
2. They don’t act quickly enough to make a decision to buy.  First-time homebuyers feel that they must look at every house on the market before making a decision to buy and somebody else buys the house that they wanted.
3. They don’t find the right agent who is willing to help them through the home buying process.
4. They don’t do enough to make their offer look appealing to a seller.  First-time homebuyers typically make obscenely low-ball offers with every inspection imaginable included in the offer and the seller rejects the offer.
5. They only think about their needs today and ignore issues that might affect the resale value of the property.
   

Wishing you sunshine everyday and the home of your dreams,
Jeri

After talking with our realtor friends about the insulting offers that buyers are making these days and given the absurd offer that our client received yesterday, I knew that I just had to write about this unsettling trend.

It is important for sellers to understand that prices are affected by the fact that we are still in a buyers market due to the fact that there is a large supply of houses for sale in relationship to the demand for them.  Another key factor negatively affecting sales price is the increasing number of homes in a short sale situation or foreclosure.

That being said, sellers with nice homes in desirable locations should not and are not giving their homes away for next to nothing.

Buyers need to understand that right now is most definitely a great time to buy.  Deals are abundant by the mere fact that we are in a strong buyers market.  However, this does not mean that every seller is so desperate that he will take any ridiculous offer that comes along.

Realtors truly need to educate their clients in this regard; however, realtors are not solely at fault here.  Some buyers refuse to believe the professional they hired.  The professional who works with real estate purchases and sales everyday.  The professional who has done the research and knows what a reasonable offer should be.

So, what is the typical end result of writing a 48+ page offer to purchase that is offensive to the seller?  It typically does NOT result in a sale.

What is the moral of this story?  I’ve said it many times before in my blogs… it is about being REASONABLE.  For the seller, reasonable in the price that this market will bear for his house.  For the buyer, making a reasonable, sensible offer that might give you negotiation room, but will end with you securing the house of your dreams.

If you’re thinking about selling and would like a FREE copy of our brochure, Pricing & Preparing Your House to Sell for Top Dollar, just CLICK HERE and we’ll mail one out to you right away.

If you’re looking to buy and want a good deal, check out our BEST BUYS.

Wishing you sunshine everyday, reasonable offers, and the home of your dreams,
Jeri

"Should I wait until Spring to list my house?"  "Should I wait out the seller to see if he will reduce his price before I make an offer?"  These are the questions that many folks who want to make a move seem to be asking.

Amidst the uneasiness of the current real estate market, the answer is really quite simple.  If you are thinking about selling, now is the time to list the property.  You never know when someone looking to purchase a house just like yours will be out there in the buyer pool.  The buyer might emerge this week or next month, but if he is out there today and your house is not available, he will purchase another home.

If you are buying and you have found a house that you would like to call your home, make an offer now.  Don't assume that just because there is a lot of inventory that the house you like will be on the market a while and that the seller will reduce his price allowing you to pick it up for a small price.  You never know how many other buyers are out there looking for the exact same home that you found.  By waiting to make a reasonable offer, you could very well find yourself back out house hunting for another property.

Bottom line... if you are selling, price your house reasonably so that it will attract buyers willing to make reasonable offers.  If you are buying, make a reasonable offer for the house that you found before someone else finds it -- because if it's a nice property or in a great location, odds are somebody else will.

On another note, if you would like an update of recently listed and sold properties in your neighborhood, click on Neighborhood Updates.  If your community is not listed, just fill out the form at the bottom of the page, and we'll compile the information for you and send you an update right away.

Wishing you a Happy New Year, sunshine everyday, and the home of your dreams,
Jeri