Why do agents brag about the number of listings???

I always wonder why agents brag about the number of listings they have. While being able to list houses is an admirable quality, being able to sell them is better. When interviewing an agent to sell your house, find out how many houses they have successfully closed in the last year. Ask about the ratio of price received to price asked. (In other words, how close to asking price did the seller receive?) Find out how familiar the agent is about the various financing options out there. Will you be required to pay some of the buyer's costs? (The answer is probably!) Make sure the agent gives you statistics regarding the movement in the market where you live. Can she articulate the probable scenario that will unfold? Does she offer staging, pictures, and video on the internet? And, last, but most importantly, does he roll over when you ask about reducing commisssion? If the agent can't explain to you his value proposition, go to someone else. Do you want an agent who will roll on your negotiations??

Is There Blood On The Street ???

I believe that it was Rockefeller who said that one should buy when there was blood on the street (Wall Street). Warren Buffet believes the same. In other words, buy when things are low, sell when they are high. Hello..........it is a BUYERS MARKET!! If you have decent credit and a little bit of money saved, why aren't you buying?

This same edict works for sellers. If you have equity and have owned your house for awhile, why not buy the house of your dreams when you can get a great deal on it?

Interest rates are low, banks are lending (believe it or not!), sellers are willing to be creative. The world is NOT coming to an end.

I have posted the most recent stats for the rolling quarter July to September 2007 compared to the same period 2008 in the prior post. While sale numbers have declined and prices have also come down, this means one thing for buyers - housing is becoming more affordable. As we move into the traditionally slower Fall market, the smart buyer is out looking for that perfect house at the perfect price. Watch the absorption rates, as they move closer to 6 months supply demand will begin to pressure prices up and there will be less deals to be made. Watch for my entry on the absorption rates for Portland, Maine!

Buyers--------get out there!!!!!