My New Blog

There is only 65 days left to put a home under contract by April 30th, 2010 to qualify for the First Time Home Buyer ($ 8,000) and the Move Up Home Buyer ($ 6,500)tax credit. You must close on the home by June 30th.

This is a great incentive for buyers that are planning to purchase a home this year. If the only reason you have not bought a home is you are waiting for the right deal, then this is it. There is nothing you can do that would save you more money than buying while qualifying for the tax credit. You receive a check for the credit or pay a lot less tax. It is cash one way or the other.

Buying a home for $ 10,000 less later may save you $50-$60 per month in your payment assuming interest rates stay the same which I think the likelihood of that is slim.

Why would you wait if you have the capability to purchase now?

Rob

Pre-foreclosures or Short Sales are becoming the future for people with hard times, doctor bills, job loss, reduced income and ARM loans coming due. The Short Sale is a far better way for the seller verses foreclosure. In a Short Sale the mortgage holder must approve the sale. The disadvantage of Short Sales have been for the buyers. It has taken up to 120 days for mortgage companies to make a decision whether to accept it or not. The buyer does not know if they have the property purchased until it is approved. That will soon be in the past.

Congress is applying new rules for mortgage companies to follow starting in April. I will be taking training on the new changes in February. The most significant change so far is the mortgage company will have to offer financing alternatives to the owner. When these options do not work then they must consider a Short Sale Purchase contract and make a decision in 10 working days.

I will not go into more detail until I have the complete training.

This will give buyers much more confidence in making offers on Short Sale properties which in turn will sell the properties quicker.

It is important that you use a Realtor that has experience with Short Sales so your transaction will go as smoothly as possible.

Rob

We have been so busy we have not kept you informed the last few months.

Today, I am encouraging you as buyers and sellers that we are getting properties sold. It is just taking longer. The foreclosure market and short sale markets are alive and well. The mortgage holders are so busy they can not keep up even in our market.

Buyers, to get a great deal on a foreclosure property or a short sale you need 60 to 120 days of time before you must close on the property. If you can not wait that long they will not work for you. It does not matter whether you have cash, 20% down or financing 100%. It does not matter if you can close in a week or need 30 days to close. The mortgage holders can only move so fast. Don't be frustrated and mad. Either you have the flexibility to wait or you don't. If you do not have time, purchase property that is seller owned and seller negotiated. You may be surprised the deal you can get and meet your time frame.

Sellers, if you want to sell your home you have two choices. 1) price the home competitive and wait. 2) price the home aggressive and offer incentives to the buyer. Our market over the past several months has proved if your home appears to be a great deal it will attract buyers. If you do not have buyers looking at your home then it is not priced attractive. If you have buyers going through your home and not making offers then it is not ready for showing. Sellers, I can not say this loud enough. You home must appear to have a great price on your home and have it in better condition for the money than anyone elses. If you have a home that needs updating or remodeling price it that way.

We had a good year in 2009 because we had sellers that did what it took to sell and buyers that did what was needed to buy.

Have a great day!

Rob

The market here has really improved. Any type of distressed property is attracting a lot of activity and many offers. We are having bidding wars on homes that are foreclosures or short sales. Many are selling at asking price.

We are also seeing more activity on retail market homes considered a good value. If a sellers home is not being shown now, it is considered to be priced too high.

By the end of July we had sold more volume ytd than we sold all last year. It is taking more sales due to the price of properties, but with the increase in active buyers we are going strong. I expect September to be even better.

The exciting news is properties are starting to sell in other markets across the US which is going to allow the folks, that have been wanting to move here for a couple of years, to finally get their home sold. Many of these buyers are not looking for cheap property, they are looking for quality at a good value.

I will keep you updated as we work our way through this market.

Our inventory of homes is dropping. If you were considering putting your home on the market in the Branson area - please give us a call. We are looking for homes in the $100,000 to $250,000 price range.

The $ 8000. tax credit for home buyers is ending November 30th.

Rob

There is no question buyers are chasing bargains during the past 10 days. We have had 3 homes go under contract in the last few days priced under $ 200,000. Interest rates are down some and I think we have found the price points for distressed homes in the Branson area market. The bargain shoppers are realizing it is time to buy or miss out on the good deals.

The homes we have in Emory Creek Ranch were shown over 30 times in the last few days with 5 offers and 3 homes going under contract.

Today we saw a strong buyer market with 22 properties going under contract in the Tri-Lakes area. Price ranges today were from $66,000 to $599,000. That is encouraging.

For those that are looking for a great deal, you better buy now.

For those that are selling a home, price aggressive, have it in good shape and you can sell your home.

Rob

Over the last two weeks market activity has concentrated on homes under $ 240,000. This would not necessarily be unusual since many families are looking to make a move and summer time is a good time to do it.

However, this year is different. Most of the homes in our market with good activity on them are considered a great value or low prices. Distressed homes including Short Sales and foreclosures are getting most of the attention. The last report we ran 45% of the market sales were distressed homes.

This is not good for the average Joe wanting to sell his home in the current market. There are two bright spots for Joe, one he can sell his home at the current market value and move up into a nicer home at a discounted price and two, we are getting homes off the market. Less competition!

The banks and mortgage companies are the competition right now. The good news is you can get a great buy if the timing is right for you as a buyer.

Rob

We has a Best Bidder Sale Saturday in Emory Creek Ranch and we put the home under contract. The home had just been on the market 10 days!

This was a foreclosed home that had been lived in for about a year. The buyer got a great deal.

We have more homes in this neighborhood owned by the same seller.

Rob

We are doing something fun this Saturday. Buyers love it. We are having another Best Bidder Sale on Saturday, June 6th, 2009. This is an awesome and fun way to buy a home.

All the responses we received from bidders last time was this is a great way to buy a home and besides....it's fun.

Go to our special website at www.ForSaleUrgent.com for more information on the home and how this all works.

See you Saturday,

Rob

We have three Short Sale homes on the market priced at discounted rates. The bank on two of these say they can close in 60 days or less with a qualified buyer.

We are in the process of putting several foreclosured homes on the market in  Emory Creek Ranch subdivision. They will be going on the MLS over the next several weeks and through out the summer. We should have two on the market in the next two weeks. These homes will all be priced at a deep discount.

Keep checking the website for these great deals.

Rob

1. $ 8000 tax credit before Dec 1, 2009

2. Homes are being purchased 10-30% less than in the last three years. You are buying at a discount.

3. Interest rates are at an all time low on a 30 year fixed rate. This will not last.

If I were you, I would be talking to a banker to see if you can purchase a home. In our area we have people paying rent that will make the payments on their home.

The last home I listed went under contract in 19 days because it was a good value and the buyers knew it is a good time to buy. It was priced at $ 235,000.

Rob