11 Reasons to List Your Home During the Holiday Months

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Traditional school of thought dictates that selling a home during the holidays is a bad idea. People are busy celebrating with their families and will hardly go shopping for a home, right? Not so!  There are numerous advantages to listing a home during this season and below are ten great reasons to put a home on the market now. 

More serious buyers – Less time wasted

These are people who are interested in buying so there is a far greater chance of actually selling the property.  Nothing is more promising to a seller than a motivated and qualified buyer that knows what they want and is actively seeking to get it.

Fewer Homes On the Market

The less competition there is, the higher the chance there is for homes on the market to sell. Where during the peak season sellers might be dealing with some interest from buyers on their home, nonetheless there is more selection for buyers to choose from and they can stray to another property.

In January Inventory Increases – Chances of Selling Decreases

With so many homeowners assuming the holidays is a taboo time to sell there is a plethora of new listings in January, resulting in a diminished chance of your home selling.  Also, there is a risk that the price you may receive on the home can be less.

Decked Halls Look Great!

Homes are very appealing to prospective buyers when they are decorated for the holidays.  With all the festive décor, lights, greenery and added beauty of the season – the home shows very well and attracts buyers faster than if shown during other times of the year.

More Time To Browse Homes

Buyers have extra time off from work and are on vacation, which translates to a more aggressive buying pattern and more chances of your home being viewed.

More Emotional Buyers

Because of the high stress of the holidays, buyers tend to be more emotional during this time than in the summer months. A more emotional buyer will tend to pay more for a new property, so selling your home during the holidays could make you more money.

Show The Home With Flexibility

Sellers that have their home listed prior to the holidays have the added advantage to be able to “pause” the process so they can celebrate the holidays, essentially not showing the home during a period of time during the break.  When the festivities die down, things can pick up again and the seller has not only managed to save potentially lost time but can also jump right back into the market.

Transferred Employees

January is typically the month where employees are transferred into new position. In order to capture this demographic of buyers, your home must be on the market since these buyers cannot wait until the spring to buy.

Sell Now For More Money Then Delay Closing

Extended occupancy can be negotiated, leaving both parties the leniency to get through the holiday season and past the New Year so that all sides can rest assured the deal is done but it can follow through at a more convenient time.  For sellers this option is great because they are able to secure a higher selling price on the property before the market is inundated with new listings come January when the selling values drop.

Enjoy Non-Contingent Buyer Freedom

With the home sold, sellers can enjoy non-contingent buyer status during the rest of the slow season and take advantage of the market when there is a flood of new listings upon the New Year. 

Fewer Foreclosures On the Market

Many banks will suspend foreclosure listing during this time of year, especially on properties where there are still families occupying the home.  As a result of this, some of the competition that arises for sellers from low-priced foreclosures can be avoided during the holidays.

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Keep in mind that the idea of your home’s value increasing significantly over the next several months is a myth.  The truth is that housing values likely only go up when consumer income rises.  Pay rates increase at a rate of three to five percent each year and that is
about the maximum yearly increase we can expect to see in a home as well.  So if you are wondering whether or not to put your home on the selling market now, or to wait – one important factor is that waiting will not provide much benefit.

Nevada County – October 2012 Market Update

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For the first time in years, there is reason to be optimistic about the real estate market. Buyers and sellers both have reasons to be bullish. For buyers, interest rates have reached an unprecedented level. 30-year mortgages have reached rates of as low as 3%, a low not seen in four decades. Though we are no longer at bottom-level prices, it is still a great time to buy a home. For sellers, there are two key statistics to look at they show a healthy market. The first is the average sales price. From the end of the third quarter of 2011 to the end of the third quarter of 2012, the average sales price of a home has increased 4%. Though this may not seem like the steepest increase it is important because average sales prices have not increased in seven years. The second sign of a healthy seller’s market is the volume of sales. From 2011 to 2012, the number of homes sold in Nevada County increased 25%, the most significant jump since 2005.

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As we approach the cooler months here in the Sierras, the real estate market is starting to heat up! If you would like more information please contact me.

Kurt Congdon (530) 273-0073 or Kurt@kurtcongdon.com

Where Do You Stand Today in Real Estate?

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As real estate agents, our success is based upon your success whether that means saving more money, earning more on the sale of your home or simply identifying and then realizing your goals. One of the biggest hurdles we have seen in our many years of experience comes when people have no idea what their goals are. To help guide our friends and clients – we have developed a system that enables us to pinpoint exactly how you can benefit from your existing situation, while actively pursuing the things in life that you desire.

Knowledge is Power

Our strongest suit is to know and understand our clients. The real estate check up that we have developed specifically to do just that entails a list of questions.  The answers provide us the knowledge through which we can then match your requirements with what we know is out there.

An example of one of the questions on our checklist is whether or not you have compared homeowners’ insurance rates lately. Many homeowners do not realize the opportunities for discounts based on existing factors such as having a home security system installed. Did you know that you can save hundreds of dollars each year on your homeowners’ insurance policy if you are currently subscribed to a security monitoring service?

Working Toward Excellent Returns

Through our real estate check up, we have the opportunity to outline exactly what it is that our clients desire in life and then help them achieve it. We examine your existing home’s value and work at ways to increase that value. If you are in the market to buy a home in the near or distant future, we work with you to make sure your credit is ideally positioned for success in financing. There are other services we provide as well, such as just prior to listing your home we help you with completing any gaps that may need attention – once again, to ensure you get the most out of your real estate endeavors.

Long-Term Commitment to Your Success

Unless we know exactly what your real estate goals are, we will not be able to provide the best services to you catered to your needs. That’s why we’ve added the question on our ten-point checklist about potential plans to rebuild, renovate or rehabilitate. Our advance knowledge of these things will allow us the opportunity to give you inside tips and tools of the trade that would result in greater returns, less hassle and convenience throughout the process.

Seizing Today’s Opportunities for Tomorrow’s Peace of Mind

Without a doubt, the current real estate market reflects an unprecedented buying environment that might never again be seen. With interest rates at record-setting lows and housing prices to match, we know that to buy now is to secure a long-term future of real estate triumph. Rather than see our friends miss out on this amazing chance to get ahead now and in the future – we want to share all the exciting things that our marketplace has to offer right now. We pledge to show you how you can save money and make more money in the long run, while enjoying the home of your dreams in the process. No matter what you see yourself doing, having the solid backing of sound real estate decisions will be the cornerstone of a strong future.

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We would like to be the ones that share valuable insight into your real estate goals so that rather than looking back someday thinking “I wish I knew back then what I know now” you can confidently be assured that you have made the best decisions possible. Remember, we are driven by your success so we strive to do whatever is needed to make sure of it, helping you to get one step closer to your real estate goals. We invite you today to contact us so we can get started on your real estate check up!

Western Nevada County Real Estate Update – September 2012

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One of the most frequently asked questions I receive is “how is our real estate market doing?” and today I have great news to report about the state of our market! We have been seeing some very big changes across our county – changes that work well for buyers and sellers alike. Here’s a look at what we are reporting and how we can expect to see things moving forward.

Inventory Continues to Dwindle

Right now, in September we are reporting 580 homes on the market. Compared to the same time frame last year, this is a huge improvement since this number is only about half of the number of listings we had last year. What does this mean? It means that more buyers are out there buying, sellers are able to sell favorably and the market is becoming a balanced one, moving in the direction of stronger demand and higher prices.

Homes in Escrow Increasing

In terms of the number of homes currently in escrow, we are showing 355 – representing a twenty five to thirty percent increase over last year’s numbers. Once again, this is a huge improvement over the same period last year. Taking a look at distressed sales, of the 355 homes that went in escrow, just 48 are bank-owned properties. This is a strong indicator that bank-owned properties are decreasing dramatically, paving the way for traditional sellers to control the market.

Total Closings To Date

We are also seeing an overall remarkable change in the number of closings to date, with figures that are comparable with pre-housing crash numbers from 2006. Just last year the total number of sales was 1,053 however as of August 2012 there have already been 1,000 homes that have been closed to escrow – an indication that by the end of the year we will see sales numbers that will likely rival 2006 sales.

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Our market is currently flat in value or increasing in value – making this a good time to get back into things and invest in a new home or sell your existing one. In fact, our entry-level homes are experiencing increased values with prices starting to rise.

With the low interest rates, combined with government program options and fewer homes on the market – both buyers and sellers are enjoying a great market overall. To get in on the best real estate market that we’ve had since 2006 or if you would like customized assistance to help you achieve your real estate goals, contact me today at 503.273.0073. I look forward to working with you!