Bricks Beat Paper!

Yes, there's been trouble in real estate paradise, and no matter the causes, the dramatic results have been experienced across the country. Before assuming that housing is a risky investment, please understand that owning a home offers countless advantages over stocks and other securities.

First, home ownership lets you put in a little money and get the whole house. Money in stocks only buys a very small piece of the company.

You also benefit because the government "bribes" you into buying a home by offering scores of tax write-offs, like mortgage interest, property taxes, depreciation - you may even avoid capital gains taxes.

As homeowner, you’re also the sole shareholder! YOU control what to buy and what to pay. YOU choose how to increase value through improvements. Try to exercise that kind of power at a company shareholders meeting of thousands!

Stocks incur risk because they may become worthless. That’s extremely unlikely with your home. Even in the worst periods, homes retain most of their value. Fluctuations over a couple years eventually balance. What you haven't heard widely reported is that housing lost value in only ONE year out of the last thirty-five.

But the undeniable advantage of a home over a stock certificate? Quite simply, you can't live, dream, raise a family, and feel secure with only a piece of paper over your heads!

A Brighter Note for Housing

While the Grinch may have had his way with housing this past year, better days are ahead. NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun tells us that the economy and housing will easily escape recession, but foreclosure rates will continue to rise in 2008. Some markets will do better than others, however on the whole, the national home sales and price situation will be very similar in 2008 to 2007.

Click here for full article.



"Copyright National Association of REALTORS®, Reprinted with permission."

Real Estate Professionals -- Still the No. 1 Choice by Home Sellers

In a soft housing market, home sellers need help. And real estate professionals are there to provide it. While the Internet and other tools are indeed useful for those looking to buy a home, home sellers still rely on the expertise and knowledge of their real estate agents. Our Market Intelligence feature this month looks at what those sellers most want from their real estate professionals.

Click here for full article.



"Copyright National Association of REALTORS®, Reprinted with permission."

Creating Demand!

You hear it everywhere, "It's a seller's market." True, homeowners in many parts of the country haven’t had to wait long for offers, but let's assume that the great times won't last forever. Don't worry about any "bubbles" bursting, but take a smart approach if you're considering selling your home soon.

You cannot control the laws of supply and demand, but you can control whether or not your home sells. The two biggest factors you need to work on are pricing the property correctly and getting buyers inside the door.

The best opportunity to sell your home is immediately after it enters the market. Pricing your home too high at the start will result in few offers. Serious and qualified buyers jump on brand new listings, and if you wait too long to reduce your price back down to market, it will simply be too late to attract those buyers. Worse, you'll only generate interest again if you reduce to below market, an unsatisfactory option.

Now that the price is right, the greatest challenge is getting those buyers inside your home. Create "curb appeal" by mowing the grass, cleaning the windows, planting flowers, and so on. If your best features are inside or out back, offer photos and "virtual tours" online. Lure them with price and wow them with value, the solution for any market.