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??

Spring is Here.........The Perfect Storm

....and all thoughts turn to buying that perfect home! That is right. Did you know that in times of trouble, there are always opportunities? While some sellers are taking it hard on the chin, this is the perfect time to buy that house that you have always dreamed about. With many more listings than there are buyers, the selection in the lower price ranges is outstanding.

If you have not owned a house in the last three years, you are eligible for an $8000 tax credit courtesy of the federal government. If you can't use all of that credit because you don't owe that much tax, you can get a check back for the difference. Wow!

If you own a house now and have decent equity, you can buy a house that better fits your needs. Whether it is larger or smaller, in a better neighborhood or closer to work or school, there is a wide selection at outstanding value. Priced and staged correctly, houses are selling in a timely fashion in most price ranges. An expert opinion by a seasoned real estate professional will give you the information you need to get the best price in this market.

Please don't wait too long. The $8000 is good only for those buyers who close on their house by December 1st of this year. The bargains on houses won't last forever, either!

Maine is NOT Miami!!!

According to a November 29, 2007 press release from Maine Real Estate Information (MREIS), for the rolling quarter, August 1, 2007 to October 31, 2007, the number of units sold dipped only 6.73% as compared to the same time frame last year ( 3746 units in 2006 compared to 3494 The median sales price dropped by a mere 1.44% ( $194,000 2006 to $191,200 2007) during the same period.

Cumberland County, Maine's largest county, saw a drop from 850 units sold to 792 units sold, but the median price dropped only 0.02% from $255,000 to $254,943 in the period August 1 to October 31.

What does this mean, you ask?? It means you are CRAZY not to buy right now. There are great deals out there. Even if you need to sell, as long as you have equity in your home and are willing to price correctly, YOUR HOUSE WILL SELL!!!

The gloom and doom of the media does NOT apply to Maine !! We never went crazy when the market boomed, and we won't crash with this healthy correction.

Welcome to Maine! It's a great place to live!!!