Real Estate in the 21st Century

In reading blogs and editorials in many newspapers I am seeing folks literally scream about how it is a great time to buy a home.  Low prices, low interest rates, etc... have been the most used terms for trying to get people to put their signature on the dotted line.

But is it really a good time to buy?  Low prices are not low if the market will not pay the higher prices.  The lower prices based on last year or past years may be good for advertising but it is not a reason to buy.  What is low?  What is high?  We know as Realtors that the market price is the price that a buyer is willing to buy the home at and the price the seller is willing to sell at.  So  in reality low doesn't come into question.  Like our former president said, "It depends on what your definition of is is"

Lower interest rates are also in question because you have to have a perfect application to get them and not many will qualify based on all the guidelines from Fannie and Freddie that bump up the rates for most people. 

The tax credit only helps those first time buyers and not others.  

I try to have my customers look at the big picture.  I think they appreciate the honesty and not the hype.

 Year to Date Sales Statistics From Triad MLS

Sellers are maintaining a strong list to sale percentage in most caseses. Foreclosers are expcted to be up in the coming months as banks finalize all properties that are not eligible for debt relief.  Buyers may be losing some of their ability to negotiate as low interest rates are expected to start rising in the next few months.  Jobless claims should stabilize, not because of government intervention, but because many companies are at optimal employee levels based on current business.

All in all, the economy is in better shape than most of the rest of the world. 

Do It NOW!

It will only get worse!

With 15+ years in the business, licensed with the North Carolina Real Estate Commission and the North Carolina General Contracting Board.  Certified Mortgage Consultant, E-Pro.  We provide the most comprehensive service set in the industry.  We can help with selling your current property, finding the new one, or build your dream home.  You save with each service you use, it reduces stress in a very stressful situation and our satisfaction guarantee is second to none.

Link to my sites!

Yadkin County Real Estate, North Carolina Real Estate

Home Realty Group

For New Construction and Remodels

White Oak Custom Homes

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Yadkin Valley Now!

What plant is more versitle than the Hosta.  Each year it comes back bigger and better.  Hundreds of varieties, it goes with any landscaping.  And for those that like to watch their budgets, it can sub divided each year to make even more.  Don't let this great plant pass you by. 

This is the perfect time to divide.  Take a shovel and just cut through the plant at the desired area(s).  Take the new and put in ground, water throughly and you have more free landscaping.   This summer you will be glad you did!

With 15+ years in the business, licensed with the North Carolina Real Estate Commission and the North Carolina General Contracting Board.  Certified Mortgage Consultant, E-Pro.  We provide the most comprehensive service set in the industry.  We can help with selling your current property, finding the new one, or build your dream home.  You save with each service you use, it reduces stress in a very stressful situation and our satisfaction guarantee is second to none.

Link to my sites!

Yadkin County Real Estate, North Carolina Real Estate

Home Realty Group

For New Construction and Remodels

White Oak Custom Homes

News, Events, Classifieds and more

Yadkin Valley Now!

Looks like it is time to start the general cleanup for Spring.  Don't over do it.  You have plenty of time.

With 15+ years in the business, licensed with the North Carolina Real Estate Commission and the North Carolina General Contracting Board.  Certified Mortgage Consultant, E-Pro.  We provide the most comprehensive service set in the industry.  We can help with selling your current property, finding the new one, or build your dream home.  You save with each service you use, it reduces stress in a very stressful situation and our satisfaction guarantee is second to none.

Link to my sites!

Yadkin County Real Estate, North Carolina Real Estate

Home Realty Group

For New Construction and Remodels

White Oak Custom Homes

News, Events, Classifieds and more

Yadkin Valley Now!

I was watching the Duke game last night and couldn't believe my ears.   Each time a shot was taken, when the ball hit the rim, you could hear it, It was louder than the announcer voices.  I know that thrtat there are boom mikes on the court, but do wie really need to hear all the clanging of the rim?  It was distracting to me, and I had to turn down the sound and listen on the radio.  Maybe I am just nostalgic for the old days with games in smaller buildings and less hype.

Good luck to all for a successful tournament.  The young men that are performing for us are still only twenty or so, playing in front of an entire world.  What were you doing when you were twenty.  I'm embaressed to tell!

The stimulus bill signed into law provides a very generous tax credit to first time home buyers to help stimulate the sagging housing sector.  The credit will supposedly entice buyers to get out and buy part of the current inventory and move the industry forward.  I believe that it will not do what it is designed to do, and will cost us more than the 8,000 dollars per homeowner in the longrun.

First off, with pricing a very low levels, some at pre-1990 levels, there is enough incentive to buy based on price.  Secondly, the tax credit only applies to first time buyers with incomes between 75k and 150k combined.  Some of the largest areas hit by the housing bust are second homes and luxury homes.  Neither would be helped with the credit.  It would seem that the largest recipient of the added business will be the banks, since they have so many foreclosures from people who had little or no downpayment.  That is one of the hallmarks of the first time buyer. 

How will putting a short term stimulus into the housing area help in the long run.  It won't.  It will cause a short term bounce, but it will not make Americans who already have homes go out and buy another.  It will give an artificial sign that the bust may be over.  It will however set the stage for the next bust.  As we move into higher inflation caused by the governments massive spendng, how will the new buyers adjust will spiraling costs to maintain their home and lifestyle

I would like to see a recovery, one that is based on sound principals of supply and demand.  The government is making it worse by stimulating the wrong sectors.   What about the 75 million baby boomers that may want to downsize?  The misuse of capital got us in this mess in the first place, now we are looking at the next big shock to hit the system.

Ais Realtors, we need to be aware of the economic forces that are causng our industry such upheaval.  We cannot  blindly agree with the NAR on its focus.  By understanding that it is free markets that have created this countries greatness, not government intervention, we can collectively set forth a set of guidelines that will provide for our industry and our families for the long run.

Let the emails began.  I just wanted to rant a little about something that truly only makes sense in the real estate world.  Yesterday I showed about 9 properties to an out of town customer who was only going to be in town for the day.  I set up all the appointments and was looking forward to the day.  My first appointment was at 10:00 am and lasted throughout the day. 

But at 12:00 I started to receive calls on my cell phone.  First off, I don't answer my phone when I am with customers.   So when the day ended, I had about 12 or so calls.  All were from the listing agents or their assistants wanting to know how the listing went.   I finally got to my computer and there was 15 email requests from the automated scheduling system for feedback on my showings. 

I hope you know the questions that are asked.  Did the property have smells, how was the curb appeal, is your client interested, etc.   This are basic questions and can be answered in just a few seconds.

But to call within an hour of a showing requesting feedback, well, it makes no sense.  Give me a break.  I know my peers are going to be angry with this but who cares?   Why do I need to take my time to tell you something that you already know?   Of course the home has curb appeal.  Or, heck yea the house smells, it has been closed up for two months.  Why do I want to help you sell your listing?  I am your competition. I want you to fail.  Yes, fail.  Then I will get the listing and the commission. 

Can you imagine the defense attorney of the accused calling the DA and asking "just wanted to know if you know of anything that will get my client off, please call me back or fill out the attached form."

I guess most of the agents I know will think I am being difficult, I will return your call.  I will fill out your form.  But I will not pull punches.  If the home stinks, please take it off the market.  If the home is overpriced, you will hear it from me. 

When we finally get it that we run our own businesses, and it is up to us to make the business work, regardless want the NAR says, then and only then will the general public care about us and be willing to pay us for our labors.

I was recently at my towns social service office and was appalled at the number of young women their, mostly black or Hispanic that were their for some type of aid.  I asked a staff member how many people used the services of Medicaid or children support or some other service provided by the social services folks and she proudly said 20 thousand or more.  My county only has a few hundred thousand citizens, so the number was staggering to me.  How can we have a situation where if you think about it, most of our kids are getting some social service, and their parents cannot provide or will not provide for them. 

And what would be the incentive to do so?  If government is there for everything, rent, health care, utility bills, transportation, food, etc.  why would you look elsewhere?  We have serious problems in our country and they are made worse by the mindless officials that keep feeding the citizens these services.  They become hooked like drug addicts to the services, ever expanding and keeping the pusher in control. 

As this crisis deepens for millions of Americans, I don't think our politicians understand that you have to keep our country together by providing services for all not just the selected few.  More so, if they want to keep getting elected, ultimately they will need the votes of taxpaying citizens, not the social service addicts that they have created.

As a landlord I have purchased a number of homes in my life and hoped that the rent received from them would give me a decent retirement.  I became interested in Section 8 when I couldn't get a qualified renter in a couple of homes a few years ago.  For those that don't know, Section 8 is a federal program that is administered by local housing agencies across the country.  The government pays all or some of the tenants rent to the landlord.  To qualify, you must have limited income and dependent children.  I took on a number of clients and it has been the worst nightmare of my life.   

The  housing office in my town has many employees who work the program.  It has a nice building and of course it takes a lot of money to pay for the services it provides.  But what if the office becomes self serving and literally sets it self up as a service for just a few of the citizens.  That is, it has a revolving door of clients that never end, hence it will always be in business. 

This next statement might make you mad,  but if the only qualifying items to be on the program are children and limited income, wouldn't that mean that the majority of clients are young single females who had babies out of wedlock.  Don't debate this, it's a true statement.   And one of the effects of this program is literally to encourage young women to have babies, usually more than one.  And it would disqualify you if you have more income, so you can't marry the father(s).  And with more kids, many of these young women drop out of high school and start a life dependent of the government for handouts.  The sad truth is that it has destroyed our cities and towns. 

Back to the landlord side,  My previous tenants have little or no experience in taking care of a single family residence.  After just a short time, carpets are destroyed, paint is marred in every room, appliances need fixing and wiring, plumbing and HVAC systems are damaged.  What do the clients do, call and tell you to come fix it.  Being a good landlord, I get over there and see where the stove no longer works because the grease on the burners are so thick that it has shorted out the burner.  Or the plumbing is stopped up because you put grease down the trap.  Or the screen door needs a new screen.  Or one of the bedroom doors has been kicked in.  The tenants take no responsibility and you have to kick them out and find a new client.   Section 8 doesn't care because they say that is between you and the client.  Remember, they are encouraging young women to have babies so they can have more clients.  In the end, the landlord has thousands of dollars worth of damage and no recourse.  You can't sue someone who has no money.

I take responsibiity for my actions, I just wish we could get more of our fellow citizens to take theirs

With 15+ years in the business, licensed with the North Carolina Real Estate Commission and the North Carolina General Contracting Board.  Certified Mortgage Consultant, E-Pro.  We provide the most comprehensive service set in the industry.  We can help with selling your current property, finding the new one, or build your dream home.  You save with each service you use, it reduces stress in a very stressful situation and our satisfaction guarantee is second to none.

Link to my sites!

Yadkin County Real Estate, North Carolina Real Estate

Home Realty Group

For New Construction and Remodels

White Oak Custom Homes

News, Events, Classifieds and more

Yadkin Valley Now!

GSEs to make bad loans, after the enforcement arms, such as the Treasury and the SEC looked the other way, now we are slapped in the face by these types of actions. 

We must fight these atrocities.