Saturday, November 26, 2011
Giving Thanks for the Little Things
Typically I am asked by my buyers what in my opinion is the best time of year to buy a home? Though there are many factors that affect this, there are certain seasonal conditions that could weigh in your favor if you are still looking in November. So, this is not such a little thing, but those of you who haven't yet found your dream home can be thankful that the buyer's rush, at least for 2011, is behind us!
First, consider that most sellers are advised to put their homes on the market in very early spring. In that part of the year, many buyers are out enjoying the gorgeous early spring of the Carolinas providing much visibility and opportunity for sellers. The problem with NOT buying in that same time frame is that you might lose the perfect home, the dream home you have had your eyes on, if you don't move rather quickly. Granted, there is competition among buyers in spring. On the other hand, sellers are very motivated to spruce up their homes and stage them properly in a season where they can expect many buyers. So, for the greatest choice of inventory and the most attractive inventory, one might say that spring is as good a season for buyers as it is for sellers.
But, hold on, isn't this blog about buyers in November? Well, yes, I'm getting to that!
If you are fortunate enough to have seen many homes that suit your taste and buying criteria, and price is really now the most critical factor, you could be in very good shape in autumn. By autumn, many homebuyers, especially those with children of school age, have already bought and settled in. By the end of October, the excitement of the Parade of Homes has waned, and anyone who was waiting patiently for the Parade inventory is writing up an offer. Left behind are the homes and townhomes that may have been very appealing except for price. It is true that some sellers, even some builders, need to get to a point where the home has been on the market 8 months before they consider a price reduction, and, in this economy, price is the entire and only reason these homes don't sell. It's not lack of marketing or agent talent and is usually not related to condition, though more about this in another blog. EVERY home will sell at the right price even in a thin buyer's market.
This is GREAT news for our buyers who haven't yet made a decision provided that decision is due to having TOO many good choices. Now, in November, sellers will offer considerable price reductions and attractive incentives including closing costs and a greater willingness to make changes and repairs than possibly any other season, hoping to attract the buyer who wants to be home "For the Holidays."
So keep this in mind as you browse the landscape and remember you can make an offer a few percentage points off listing, or negotiate for appliances, closing costs or small changes. This is the time of year to do just that. Call me for professional guidance - we hire only the best agents with YOUR best interests in mind. Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Shopping Sprees! Be safe!
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
The Contrarian Realtor
C'est la vie and on with my story. I decide I need to write this quick note called, "The Contrarian Realtor," and each week I will give my friends a hint of a different perspective from someone who has seen it all, or at least most of it :) And it would hopefully explain the contrarian position I take with regard to listings in 2011.
In money management, the word contrarian is used to describe investment strategies that really go against the tide of market and analyst sentiment. If the analysts say, "Buy, buy, buy," because this stock is at a great price and value, the contrarian will mostly likely sell it, and if the analyst says, "Sell, sell, sell, (any similarity to Jim Kramer is purely coincidental as I really think he is a contrarian at heart)" due to bad news on the horizon, the contrarian, if it's still a healthy balance sheet, will most likely buy it. Well, there IS a lot more that goes into it, but that's the gist of it, and that mindset has almost made the contrarian strategy mainstream in recent years!
So, it's time for a contrarian approach to real estate. A listing agent walks in and tells you why it's a great time to list your house with all the usual sound bites, "The buyers are really out in spring, I'm going to do some amazing marketing for you, you have a truly unique home, it's only going to cost you blah percent and then you can buy one of these beautiful new homes in abc subdivision at an an amazingly low price when you sell!" Well, hello, what makes you think you are going to get enough money to get that amazingly low-priced new inventory on which there are so many builder incentives right now? If buyers are out trying to bottom-fish, what makes your house so special that it is insulated against that cruel and exhausting negotiation where, eventually, one side feels simply defeated (usually the seller)? I am not exaggerating here, nor am I drawing this picture in your mind for the sheer drama of it. This type of thing is STILL happening all over the Triangle and I have been here long enough to know it won't last. This is one more phase in one more cycle.
So, I come in and tell you, "I don't want your listing." Surprised? Don't be. Even if you have NO mortgage and just feel like a move, I will tell you to hold on rather than leave money on the table. I know the next Realtor will NOT give you the same advice, and I know someone will eventually take your listing, and I will have walked away from a commission, but I can sleep at night knowing I am living by my own principles -- one of which is that it is LESS important for me to take your money right now than it is to help safeguard the pricing structure of WHOLE communities by telling you NOT to sell right now.
I would imagine most Realtors are not looking at the forest for the trees. Each home, each listing presentation, represents X dollars in their minds, and pockets. For me, helping to preserve Triangle pricing and homeowner equity and therefore mitigating the freefall of prices (or at least contributing even one degree toward preventing that freefall) is for me SO much more important - it's leaps and bounds ahead of making that one commission because client loyalty and a future housing recovery will be their own reward, both personally and financially for me.
So, call me crazy, or call me a Contrarian! More next week!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
From Meg Russell - So, what are you doing tomorrow night?
Cosmetic Eye Liner Tattooing Demonstration by Mara Cohen of LHP Permanent Cosmetics
Creating Your Most Flattering and Life-Style Appropriate Looks Ever by Ryan Scott Willis
Skincare Clinic Jessica Kuse, Tammy Cordes, & Pam DearstyneaYou may also buy $15 tickets at the door at the Cardinal Club located at 150 Fayetteville Street, the Wachovia Building, opens at 5:30! I am going to be an Exhibitor and my table is all about some of the best practices in green construction from a Real Estate perspective. Can you come by? :) For the first 5 RSVPs, one free ticket!
Meg Russell
Green Triangle Realty Group
God grant me the resources to leave my small
piece of the planet greener than the way I found it,
the courage to ACT daily with compassion for all Your creatures
great and small, and time on Earth to teach others to do the same.
Posted via email from ReGREEN Nation Press Release Headquarters
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Women Helping Women Expo 2011 Seeks Sponsors
919-795-5973
God grant me the resources to leave my small
piece of the planet greener than the way I found it,
the courage to act daily with compassion for all Your creatures
great and small, and time on Earth to teach others to do the same
Posted via email from ReGREEN Nation Press Release Headquarters
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Meet me at Hibernain in Cary today for St. Baldricks
919-795-5973
God grant me the resources to leave my small
piece of the planet greener than the way I found it,
the courage to act daily with compassion for all Your creatures
great and small, and time on Earth to teach others to do the same
Posted via email from ReGREEN Nation Press Release Headquarters
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Shave Your Head for St. Baldrick's Day for Children with Cancer
Green Triangle Realty Group
919-795-5973
Text MEG to 87778 for Homes-By-Smartphone
God grant me the resources to leave my small
piece of the planet greener than the way I found it,
the courage to act daily with compassion for all Your creatures
great and small, and time on Earth to teach others to do the same
Posted via email from ReGREEN Nation Press Release Headquarters
Help Support Child Cancer Research at St. Baldrick's in Cary, NC March 5th
Posted via email from ReGREEN Nation Press Release Headquarters
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Last Week for WPN Member Vendor Table Discounts for June, 2011 Expo!
God grant me the resources to leave my small
piece of the planet greener than the way I found it,
the courage to ACT daily with compassion for all Your creatures
great and small, and time on Earth to teach others to do the same.
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Posted via email from ReGREEN Nation Press Release Headquarters
Sunday, January 23, 2011
WPN: Member Vendor Table Discount Extended Through Jan 31 for Business Expo!
http://2011whwexporegistration-autohome.eventbrite.com/
Ladies, this is your LAST opportunity to reserve your $75 exhibit table (or $85 if you need electricity) for the Expo June 9th at Cardinal Club. After this week, tickets go up to $95, and after March 31, $125. No table sharing. To benefit Striving For More again this year, Expo will be open to outside vendors (at higher cost) Feb 1 so the greater business community will know us and tap into our Buy Local commitment!
Posted via email from ReGREEN Nation Press Release Headquarters
Thursday, January 20, 2011
WPN:So Cary San Remos 11:30 Google Tools and Social Networking Pt II
Meg Russell
Green Triangle Realty GroupTEXT MEG to 87778 for my browse-homes-on-your-smartphone APPGod grant me the resources to leave my small
piece of the planet greener than the way I found it,
the courage to ACT daily with compassion for all Your creatures
great and small, and time on Earth to teach others to do the same.
| Facebook | Twitter |
Posted via email from ReGREEN Nation Press Release Headquarters