Many people ask me if they should sell their home now, or wait a few months or a few years for the market to recover. During uncertain times, people tend to adopt a “let’s wait and see” approach – after all, it’s human nature. Unfortunately, this instinct doesn’t serve most homeowners, who should really be asking themselves the more difficult question: What will I NET if I sell my house now versus later? (more…)

The last time I ran the market data regarding the number of months of inventory available, (approx. September, 2007), the $0-1 million price range had 10.9 months of inventory.

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A good way to start is by visiting homes for sale in the vicinity of your home. See how they are presented. Are they clean? Are they staged? Do they have pets and consequently pet odor? After you visit several homes, you will see what jumps out at you as clean and appealing or uninviting and cluttered. It is always a learning experience to see how other homes are kept. Then go back to your home and clean, clean, clean. If it’s broken…..have it repaired. If you think it’s clean……..clean it again. When people are deciding whether or not to buy your home as opposed to the one down the street or across town, an inviting and organized home is always a winner.

With all the negative media out there, it’s hard to remember that “all real estate is local,” and that falling prices bring with them real opportunities. It’s true, especially here in Santa Barbara.

Here are 10 reasons to invest in today’s market: (more…)

LAS VEGAS, November 13, 2007 - A modest recovery for existing-home sales is expected in 2008 as the impact of the credit crunch subsides, while pending home sales indicate near-term stability, according to the latest forecast released here today at the National Association of Realtors® Conference & Expo.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said the housing market will improve from a steady unleashing of pent-up demand, and from a wide abundance of safer mortgage products. “The level of pent-up demand reaching the market next year is a bit uncertain, and it is possible for even higher home sales activity than we’re forecasting if buyers regain their confidence about the long-term benefits of homeownership. Over the near term, home sales are likely to be fairly flat as the lingering impact of the credit crunch filters through the system through the end of the year.” (more…)