CHECK YOUR EMOTIONS AT THE DOOR - PLEASE

One thing that always rings true is that "You can't take it with you."

Try telling that to someone who's going to sell a house they lived in for twenty years and haven't upgraded anything. Still, family memories and precious moments that occurred in the home make it priceless to the seller. It's not that they think they're taking the building with them when they die, but they feel that they will never have any good memories if they move away. As Realtors, we have the difficult task of explaining and convincing sellers, that the memories are theirs and their family's to keep no matter where they go and that they should look forward to making new memories.

The bad part about all this is that the buyer doesn't really care and that can become a real problem during negotiations. Reality can be tough for the seller and if not presented in a tactful and sympathetic manner, you can rest assured that the first offer presented will be your last chance to even try to negotiate the deal.

Being on the agent on the seller side of this scenario is difficult, but from the buyer agent side these challenges are just as real and difficult when presenting an offer that may be below asking but in line with market values. The seller is in an emotional state, while the buyer just sees dollars and cents, is totally detached and borderline insulting (by the seller's expectation).

It's the duty of the seller's agent to obtain the highest price for the client and to make the process as seamless as possible; but in these cases, the agent is aware that the owner is not in line with the market. When this type of scenario presents itself, it would be in the best interest of the buyers agent to initially present a streamlined market analysis to the buyer in order to compile a proper offer and present that offer with the local analysis to the seller's agent. This will serve to: 1) Justify the offer at hand and 2) assist the sellers agent in making sense of the offer, with a minimal amount of insult to them.

It's important to see the deal from both sides of the table. 

• Motivation (for both buyer and seller) can be anything from moving closer to the kids, downsizing, divorce, retiring out of state, etc. This conversation will give you guidance on how aggressive your buyer can or cannot be. Again, there are always some emotional ties on the seller's side. 

• Length of ownership will tell you just how attached the seller is to the property. A long residency means that they raised their family in the house, celebrated holidays, etc. The longer the stay, the more sympathetic and gentle an approach should be considered when working with the seller (and don't forget to have the buyer's agent provide a CMA with the offer).

Be realistic and treat each other as you would want to be treated. Eventually the deal will happen and everyone wins.

Fruit Store Lessons About Real Estate

EXPENSIVE BANANAS DON'T SELL

It's amazing where you find life's little lessons. I caught on to one while at a local food store where I was, just the week before, noticing the high price of fruit and vegetables. The numbers were high and of course I didn't buy any that week, figuring that I can do without for a little while or just buy frozen vegetables and hold the line on fresh fruit (I was still able to make a smoothie with frozen fruit).

So, I travel back next week and lo and behold, I notice the price of bannanas, which were $1.19 per pound to $.99 per pound. Of course they had ripened a bit over the week to a bright yellow color from the green / yellow color the week before. Thinking to myself, it's not a bad price, but still a little high, (although I did consider buying) I passed. Maybe at 89 cents a pound I'll pick some up.

Well, when I go back, what do I see? $.49 per pound. Needless to say, I was able to buy at less than half the price from two weeks ago all because the bananas started to show a few dark spots and nobody was buying before.

So, guess who got a great deal on bananas?? ME! Because;

• I waited for the right price to buy
• The price was high, nobody bought
• Price adjusted, still no one bought
• Fruit started to turn, priced forced to low point in order to avoid losing the product
• Everything SOLD OUT!

     

Real Estate - Banana's? Here's the lesson. I can't say how many times I go on a listing appointment and bring with me data that's used to get a handle on the market value of a home and the owner decides to go above the recommended list price to "test the waters" looking for a price based on emotion rather than solid data and experience. 

The listing, like the high priced banana's, sits on the market with no showings for a month or more (in most cases more). So after 3 to 6 months on the market with no real interest, The owner decides to lower the price a little closer to the recommended list price from 6 months ago (although he should get a new market analysis). Guess what? It gets a few looks, but no offers, another 3 to 6 months have passed and still not sale. The house listing is going stale, the owner is disappointed and the only offers coming in are low ball offers from investors looking to steal the property, thinking that the owners have become desperate.

Had the owner priced the property right, it might have sold within the first 30 to 60 days. Seasoned real estate investors look for hard data when buying or selling a property and price (or offer) accordingly. No emotion, just the facts. Investors know that time on the market lowers their bottom line and stops them from moving on to the next deal (or in the case of a homeowner, settling into  their next home).

Summing it up.... 

High Priced Bananas don't sell, and neither will an Over Priced Home!

• Get good data
• Price it right
• Sell your home 
• Move on. 

Simple!

* Feel free to comment below or send an email to dominick.leone@gmail.com 

Zestimates Can Ruin a Community

Let me give you an property valuation without looking at your home.

A listing I closed on, recently, showed up on Zillow, which still had an inflated Zestimate of the property and photos from a previous listing. This wasn't even updated to the current list price of $470,000, which was what it was the latest list price. This is the type of nonsense that realtors put up with having to dispute incorrect information posted on Zillow. Here is a community that hasn't had a sale, with the exception of this one, in over twelve months. As a home seller, ask yourself if you can afford to wait this long to sell a home, that may not even appraise? Every month on the market can reduce your list price by 1%!
Trust the professional who is familiar with your local area before trusting Zillow. At least he will visit your home. 

Over Priced Zestimate

tHE 

The actual list price was $20,000 above Market Price. This home sold for $450,000.

Credit Scores Explained

When it come to mortgages it's good to know.

Your credit score has a big impact on your personal finances, with a good score translating into a better rate on everything from home mortgages to auto loans to credit cards. So how do credit scores work?

Your credit score can range from 350 to 850. The higher, the better. The five factors that determine that score, and the percent to which they count towards your score, are as follows.

Payment history: 35%

This is your record of making payments on time and in full. Timely mortgage payments are particularly important. A single late mortgage payment in the last 12 months can downgrade your score. Late payments on other debts such as credit cards and car loans are also bad for your credit score, as are judgments, charge-offs and collections accounts. 

A single bankruptcy in the past seven years can damage your ability to get a new credit account or a loan. If you’re looking to get a loan, you’ll have to pay off any judgments or liens first, and possibly get a “satisfaction of judgment” from the court. Your credit score will also reflect the amount of time it takes you to make a late payment. The later the payment, the worse it will be for your score. Being in default of a debt is the worst situation.  

 To avoid damage to your score, pay bills on time, settle any delinquent accounts and check your credit report regularly to make sure you’re not being held responsible for disputed bills.

The balance you owe compared to your available credit limit: 30%

 Ideally, you should keep your balance below 30 percent of your credit limit. At the very least, it should be below 50 percent. While it may seem like a good idea to close credit accounts you don’t use often, you’re actually better off leaving them open. Also, don’t concentrate large balances in a few accounts. It’s better to spread the balance across credit lines than to have one or two accounts with a balance constituting more than 50 percent of the limit. If your credit card company is willing to increase your credit line without pulling a new report, you should take advantage of that.

How long your accounts have been open: 15%

The longer your accounts have been open, the better it is for your credit score. Again, avoid closing credit accounts. But if you have to, close the newer instead of the older ones. And opening new accounts can lower your score initially, so keep that in mind if you’re tempted to open one just to get a 0 percent introductory rate or a discount at the store. That being said, opening a few extra accounts that you don’t intend to use may not be a bad idea if you intend to get a mortgage eventually. If you don’t have much of a credit history, those extra accounts can raise your score eventually if you keep them active and their balances low.   

Type of credit: 10%

A mix of credit types is best, including mortgage, auto loan and not more than five credit cards. Having nothing but a lot of credit cards will hurt your score. 

Number of recent inquiries by creditors: 10%

Checking your own credit report won’t affect your score. But when a potential creditor — such as a mortgage or auto loan lender, credit card company, or department store   — performs an inquiry on your credit, that can have an impact on your score for up to a year. But you can reduce that impact by taking certain steps. When they’re done within 45 days of each other, multiple inquiries about mortgage or auto loans are treated as only one. However, if you already have a mortgage in the works, you might want to wait until the loan closes before applying for any new credit.   

Please keep in mind that this is only for informational purposes, and that you should consult with appropriate professionals for tax, legal and financial planning advice. 

Rental and Second home investments still strong

The market is still in full swing and swinging even faster with the anticipation of interest increases looming in the near future.

Click on the article below and let me know what you think.

What's in Store for the Luxury Real Estate Market in 2017?

Reprint from: RISMEDIA, Saturday, February 11, 2017

— Eight years after the housing bubble, homebuyers are still exercising caution. This is particularly seen in the luxury real estate market, which ended 2016 on a slow note. A combination of oversupply and rising housing costs in cities like San Francisco and New York left buyers feeling choked out. Will the market improve in 2017? Experts have mixed feelings.

"We have seen inventory come back at a steady pace, and buyer demand is strong enough that it will continue to keep the market moving as we go through the next 12 months," David Charron writes in The Washington Post.

But others aren't so sure. Over-development across the country and around the world has left the luxury housing market "soft," according to Beckie Strum at Mansion Global. The result is competition for dollar buyers in the flooded market; however, thanks to the Brexit and other global political upheavals, the dollar is strong compared to other currencies. This means that buyers looking to spend with American money will be able to get even more for their cash.

Rising Mortgage Rates Play a Role
In addition to the increase in both housing costs and supply, mortgage rates are also rising around the country. The biggest jump occurred right after Trump was elected, reflecting a cautious optimism that his presidency would be good for the economy. In addition, in December 20216, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 0.25 percent. This is a signal that the Fed is seeing and trusting positive economic conditions: the 2016 rate hike was the second time in a decade that the Fed decided to raise rates.

Implications for REALTORS®
What does this mean for REALTORS®? Higher mortgage rates in the early part of this year could potentially coax more buyers into making a home purchase before mortgage rates get too high.

"We should expect the early part of 2017 to be filled with a brisk pace of not only homes going under contract more quickly, but also taking less time to reach a settlement date," Charon writes, which means that the length of time that a house stays on the market can be expected to drop in the early part of the year.

In addition, as the post-election euphoria wears off, cities like New York could still be faced with a surfeit of available properties. The housing market in the Bay Area is also expected to struggle. Home prices in the area have been steadily rising for the past five years, jumping to $680,000 in December 2016. The combination of high home prices and rising mortgage rates led to a decline in Bay Area home sales at the end of the year.

According to Zillow, home sales will continue to drop on the coasts, while the markets that will see stronger sales will be further inland. This includes surprises like Nashville, where the housing market is blooming as a result of lower rent prices.

Even as renting becomes more affordable, Zillow cautions that construction for new homes may be impacted by the labor shortages that may result from Trump's restrictive stance on immigration.

"A shortage of construction workers...may force builders to pay higher wages, costs which are likely to get passed on to buyers in the form of higher new home prices," according to Zillow Chief Economist Dr. Svenja Gudell.

Comments and opinions welcome.

Housing Value at Record-High: Will You Be Able to Keep Up?

Not a good time to be sitting on the fence

New buyers may be loosing opportunities and renters may remain renters

Housing’s collective value grew to $29.6 trillion this year, a record-high reflecting 5.7 percent appreciation—an additional $1.6 trillion—in 2016, according to a recently released analysis by Zillow. The most housing value in the nation is in Los Angeles, Calif., New York, N.Y., and San Francisco, Calif., at 8.6 percent, 8 percent and 4.2 percent, in order.

The continuing growth in prices, however—now marking a full recovery since the crash—has the potential to push more prospective homebuyers to the sidelines, says Zillow Chief Economist Dr. Svenja Gudell.

“Housing is incredibly important to us personally and to the economy as a whole,” says Gudell. “The U.S. housing stock is worth more than ever, which is a sign of the ongoing housing recovery. As buying a home gets more expensive, affordability remains a concern for many, and these numbers highlight just how much people are spending on housing. The total value of the housing stock grew nearly 6 percent this year, a pace that will likely mean some American families are priced out of homeownership.”

Despite this year’s appreciation, approximately 60 percent of housing markets remain below values reached during the bubble years, according to the analysis.

Renters, to compare—with approximately 635,000 new renter households formed this year—paid $478.5 billion in 2016, up $17.7 billion from 2015. Apartment renters paid $50 billion more than single-family home renters, and the most rent was paid in New York and Northern New Jersey, at $55 billion.

Reprinted from RIS Media

7 Reasons to Work With a Realtor®

7 Reasons to Work With a Realtor®

Taken from: 

1. You're getting an expert guide

Selling a home usually requires dozens of forms, reports, disclosures and other technical documents. A knowledgeable expert will help you  prepare the best deal and avoid delays or costly mistakes. Also, there's a lot of jargon involved, so you want to work with a professional who can speak the language.

  

2. Objective information and onions

Realtors can provide local information on utilities, zoning, schools and more. I also have objective information  about each property. We use that data to help you determine if the property has what you need.

3. Property Marketing Power

A property doesn't sell due to advertising alone. A large share of  real estate sales comes as a result of  my contacts with previous clients, friends and family. When a property is marketed by me, you do not have to allow strangers into your home. I will generally pre-screen and accompany qualified prospects through your property.

4. Negotiation knowledge

There are many factors up for discussion in a deal. I will look at every angle from your perspective, including crafting a purchase agreement that allows you the flexibility you need to take the next step.

5. Up-to-date experience

Most people sell only a few homes in a lifetime, usually with quite a few years in between each sale. Even if you've done it before, laws and regulations change. I've handled a multitude of transactions over the course of each year.

6.  Your rock during emotional moments

A home is so much more that four walls and a roof. And, for most people, property represents the biggest purchase they'll ever make. Having a concerned, but objective, third party helps you stay focused on the issues most important to  you.

7. Ethical treatment

I must adhere to a strict code of ethics, which is based on professionalism and protection of the public. As my client, you can expect honest and ethical treatment in all transaction related matters

Next Issue will address the Buyers reasons for using a Realtor®  and not going it alone.

Please feel free to post your comments below, or email me at dominick.leone@gmail.com 

Thanks - Dom.