Real Estate Information

DOING

The way to achieve is not to try. The way to achieve is to do.

The difference between trying and doing is all in your perspective. That difference makes all the difference in the world.

When you see yourself as trying, you are burdening yourself with the expectation of failure. Instead, put all your energy and focus into doing your very best, and into expecting the best results.

Merely trying is itself an excuse, and it gives you permission to make all sorts of other excuses. Doing, on the other hand, gets results.

If you’re going to make the effort, then make it count. Let go of any thoughts that you’re just trying, and embrace the most positive expectations.

You are absolutely capable of making a real and valuable difference. So forget about trying, and with well-deserved confidence, go ahead and get it done.

By Ralph Marston

Selling, packing, buying, moving- No one said real state was an easy endeavor. But once you’ve signed on the last dotted line and you’ve got your new house keys in hand, it’s time to turn your house into a home. The key to all of this is familiarity.

Just because you’re living in a new home doesn’t mean you have to reinvent your life story. The new surroundings will be quite an alteration, so if you’re the type that does not easily embrace change, feel free to transfer the sense of style from your previous home to your new house. For example, if you painted a mural on the wall of your child’s old room, paint a new mural to give it a touch of personality. You can also arrange a specific room, the kitchen for example, to have a feeling of familiarity and comfort.

Along with new surroundings comes meeting new people. Now, you don’t need to feel rushed to make best friends a.s.a.p., though I’m not discouraging being friendly and greeting your neighbors. Hopefully you’ll it off quickly, but the point to remember is that new friends and relationships take time to reach the trust and closeness of older friends. What you should be wary of is joining organizations you know little about. Do some research and find groups that interest you before hopping into a group that may have unseen downsides e.g. inconvenient location or meeting times. Try signing up for a class or other activity that has a way for you to formally end your participation if needed, but still gets you involved with others and the community.

Another important part of relocating is familiarizing yourself with the area outside of your home. A great way to do this is to take different routes to work, try new stores/restaurants, and do a little research before and after you move in. Knowing the local culture, whether it’s what you had envisioned or not, will make you feel much more relaxed due to your comprehension of it. As you move into your new home, be sure to take the time to enjoy and appreciate your new location and all of the possibilities that come with it.

By Andrew Hill @ www.newhomesource.com

Have I just been fortunate the last couple of months with multiple offers on many of my listings, I thought? I did not even want to tell anyone worried it would jinx my string of such luck considering the market.

Then the article came out in the Oregonian yesterday sharing other buyer’s and broker’s experience of a shortage of homes for sale.

In the past a low inventory was usually good news, a sign that supply and demand were in balance. In this market sellers that do not have to sell are staying put, and the only homes for sale are people who have to move for some reason, either relocating, a family change or hardship of some sort.

What does this mean to home sellers and home buyers? Change is in the air.

It is good news for sellers because finally there are buyers buying due to low prices and low interest rates PLUS buyers do not have a lot to choose from right now.

For buyers it is a mixed bag, prices are as low as we have seen in many years, interest rates are below 4%. The bad news? There are slim pickings.

How to land the home of your dreams if you are in a multiple offer situation?

• First make sure the home is priced right.
• Have your broker run comparables on it to see how it is priced compared to recent sales in the neighborhood.
• Ask your broker to call the listing broker and find out specifically what is important to the seller and structure your offer to meet the sellers needs.

If you would like to read the entire Oregonian article click here:

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2012/03/low_inventory_of_available_hom.html

Now more than ever having a strong, level headed, experienced broker representing you and your offer is paramount in landing the home of your dreams.

If you have ever thought of adding investment real estate to your retirement portfolio, the time to buy is the bottom of the market!

Stay tuned for my next blog on Warren Buffett’s push to buy big while the market is down.

Watch this video to see how you can help the economy by buying Made In America!

Follow this conversation between Peggy and her client today:

CLIENT:  I think I want to sell, you have seen the home, what do you think?

PEGGY:   If anyone can get the highest price for your home, it’s us, for sure.  And, on a newsworthy note, residential inventory is lower than at any point in 4 years.  So your timing is good.  …

Add to that the fact that relocation buyers are now entering the market place, starting just after Thanksgiving and continuing through the end of March.  We are entering our busiest period of each year, since for 20 years, my business has been built around a relocation focus.

So, if you do want to sell, let’s put your home on the market now and get it sold!  I believe the best price to list it for is $700k.  I know you would prefer more and we could start at $719k.  If we get no or low showings, then we can adjust the price to $700k. I prefer listing at the right price when it just goes active.  .  You will have a stronger response when the most buyers are notified (see earlier post). I find listings that come on the market priced right, sell for more than those whose sellers  are too bullish, and then lose market time and face a series of price reductions.

It is, of course, your decision. But, if you put me in the driver’s seat, with my primary objective to get the highest price in the least amount of time, I would price it at $700k and get it sold.  Let me know.

CLIENT: I owe $675k and don’t want to be out of pocket.  I don't need to get money back at closing, but I can’t be underwater after the sale.  Now what do you think?

PEGGY:  That is tough, but I'm not surprised knowing this market.  I would be willing to do a lesser commission, for the sake of selling this for you and for the future business between us.  But with $25k, there is not enough equity to cover closing expenses.  If we pay 2.5% selling office commission, which is less than I typically pay, (I incentify buyer's agents, and it works!)  That would leave a listing office commission of $10k,  If we sold it at $700k.  But if we sell it under $700k, that figure drops very fast.  I cannot start up my engines for much under $10k. 

I’ll bet my referral rental company PMC, can get that rented for you. What figure do you need to cover your overhead?

CLIENT: You are a sweetheart and superwoman!  I just spoke to your PMC contact and she is awesome, I am going to make a change to have her manage and rent my house…She is driving by it tomorrow.  thank you…

*PEGGY’S COMMENTS: Our clients need us to be a strong guide and an honest guide, even if it means losing their business in the short term. Because, really it is not losing anything in the short term. If  we take on something we know we cannot complete, it will be terrible for the client and  it will guarantee no future business from this client or from anyone they come in contact with.  I would rather lose current business and gain the clients trust and respect and gain future business from him and those he knows, than take a listing at a price we are unable to sell it at.

Peggy's Remedies at Work! Peggy helped a client sell their condo and buy in Vancouver