<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
<rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
    <channel>
        <atom:link href="http://www.realsourcebrokers.com/blog/tags/atlanta-real-estate/rss/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
        <title>Atlanta Real Estate Blog</title>
        <link>http://www.realsourcebrokers.com/blog/tags/atlanta-real-estate/</link>
        <description>Atlanta Real Estate Blog - a complete Atlanta Home Guide helping local buyers, sellers and investors make informed decisions through insightful market news and analysis.  Because we focus specifically on the eclectic Intown Neighborhoods (Candler Par</description>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.realsourcebrokers.com/blog/how-to-lease-purchase-your-home.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.realsourcebrokers.com/blog/how-to-lease-purchase-your-home.html</link>
            <author>joshua@thekeenteam.com (Joshua Keen)</author>
            <title>How to Lease Purchase Your Home</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Over the last few months I've had a number of past clients ask me whether a "lease purchase" would be viable to help them sell their home. Though it's not right for everyone ... it can be a win-win real estate deal, and it can help solve a serious problem for today's frustrated sellers.


Here's how it works:


In its simplest form, a lease-purchase agreement is nothing more than a written contract to purchase real estate over an extended period of time, typically not exceeding 36 months. It is usually coupled with an agreement to allow the purchaser to occupy the house and pay rent on it while he is completing the purchase.


In contrast, a lease-option agreement is primarily an agreement to rent real estate. That agreement contains a provision granting the renter the option of purchasing the real estate at some point in the future if he so chooses.


Here's why it's working today:


Traditional lenders have tightened underwriting guidelines and raised minimum credit standards, and there are lots of first-time buyers who have been pushed out of today's buying market. A lease containing an option to purchase may give the buyer enough time to get qualified and make the purchase he or she wants.


In today's market, some sellers are willing to compromise on a quick sale in order to get some revenue coming in to help cover the mortgage payment.


Typically, a lease-purchase agreement includes these features:


• A complete rental agreement outlines the relationship between the resident and the owner. This can be the same rental agreement that you might use if you were simply renting for a specific term, then intending to vacate.


• If this is a lease-purchase, there will be a simultaneous contract for the purchase of the property, specifying the price, the "on or before" closing date, and the other terms and conditions of the sale. In this contract, a non-refundable "down payment" is often made from buyer to seller. This down payment is usually applied toward the purchase price.


• If, instead, this is a lease-option, then there may or may not be any "down payment," and it may or may not be refundable, depending on the agreement. As an alternative, the lease-option agreement may specify a more traditional (and refundable) security deposit.


• A common feature of almost all these agreements is a "rent to own" provision. This clause specifies that some portion of each rental payment shall accrue toward a reduction in the purchase price of the property, even if that price has yet to be determined.


A small provision might be a monthly credit of $100, to be accumulated by the owner for use as a credit against the purchase price of the property. A more generous offer might be a credit of $400 per month, allowing the renter to build a sizeable down payment of almost $5,000 for each year of rental.


I have even heard of sellers so highly motivated to cause a sale of their home that they offered a credit of 100 percent of all rents paid as a credit against the purchase price. Obviously, a seller in this category would need sufficient equity in the property to cover such a generous offset. But it would have the further effect of almost guaranteeing an eventual sale. What smart buyer would walk away from a $24,000 credit after two years of renting?


• Another typical feature of these types of contracts is a provision asking the renter/purchaser to inspect the house as they move in and agree to accept it in "as is" condition now. This is to prevent the renter from damaging the house, then asking the seller to make repairs prior to the sale.


• Additionally, the agreement typically also makes the renter responsible for all repairs during the life of the lease and until the purchase occurs. The idea here is that since the buyer is going to buy the house, he can take on the responsibility for upkeep now. However, this provision may not be enforceable under Georgia law, which prevents the owner of residential rentals from transferring the responsibility to repair. I'd better leave that one to the attorneys to sort out.
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Sun, 26 Feb 2012 16:09:33 -0500</pubDate>
                    </item>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.realsourcebrokers.com/blog/buying-real-estate-is-a-smart-move-in-a-bad-economy.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.realsourcebrokers.com/blog/buying-real-estate-is-a-smart-move-in-a-bad-economy.html</link>
            <author>adam@realsourcebrokers.com (Adam Keen)</author>
            <title>Buying Real Estate is a Smart Move in a Bad Economy</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
I've recently read a ton of news articles and heard a number of folks on news shows talking about why it may not be a good idea for you to buy a home right now. I say FALSE, and so do many who understand not just the financial gain found in home ownership but the quality of life and pride that can be gained as well.  A recent article written by Ron Lieber in the NY Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/28/your-money/mortgages/28money.html) mentions a few reasons why buying is still a great idea. I'll touch on his thoughts and then share a few of my own. Its worth noting that I bought my first home in March, 2010 at the age of 26. 
 


Record Low prices combined with Record Low Interest Rates 



Have you heard that is a buyers market? If you have a stable financial situation, there will NOT be a better time in your lifetime to buy a home. Its as simple as that. Try the NY times &quot;Rent Versus Buy Calculator (http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/business/buy-rent-calculator.html) to help decide if your financial situation is in the right place.  



Forced Savings 



Ron understands that buying a home is still, in a sense, &quot;forced savings.&quot;  The money you put towards principal can be seen as a way of putting that money back. No, you may not make a huge profit on your home when you resell, but unless the market hits another bust (which is highly unlikely in even the far off future), you will at least be able to gain back the principal payments on a &quot;break even&quot; sale.  He does point out that many say you will be more successful saving that money and investing it&hellip;but hey, who among us are that great of savers. Investing takes a lot of discipline - paying a mortgage takes only simple discipline.  



Bad Landlords 



When you buy, YOU own the home. You can do whatever you want to it, in it and around it. Who among us have not dealt with the bad or negligent landlord? Buy a home and make that annoyance a thing of the past. 



The Right Neighborhood  



Its common knowledge that in the very best of neighborhoods and school systems that there are not many &quot;family sized&quot; rentals. If you need to be in the safest or most prestigious neighborhood, that dream neighborhood, then you will likely find what you're looking for in a purchase rather than a rental. Many of the best schools are in areas that do not have many rentals, which might force you to buy. And, anyone who owns a home that came from a rental, and has kids, will likely agree that they are happier and have more space for their family in the home they purchased, just ask them.  



Roommates 



Are you a young, possible first time home buyer? Yes, one of the attractive reasons for buying your first home may be to get away from the roommate situation. But consider buying your first home and sticking with a roommate or two for a while. You can practically live for free. My fiance and I recently bought our first home in this down market. We were able to get a home for almost half of what it would have sold for just 4 years ago. After living on our own for the first 6 months, we had a friend that had her apartment lease ending. We all decided to be roommates and she moved into our home. Now imagine, on top of our record low interest rate- which provided us with a mortgage for a 5 bedroom house for just under what we rented a 1 bedroom apartment at - we now have a roommate supplementing our mortgage and utility cost. We now pay less for the two of us then most folks would pay for a single person's rent. And, we're considering another roommate - we'll live practically free.  




Not a young, first time home buyer? Consider this idea anyway and call it an adventure in living. Take on a roommate or two and supplement your living expenses greatly.  




Help your local economy and home prices 



&quot;Its a people driven economy, stupid.&quot;  - Erik Qualman



There will not be a recovery in home prices until folks get out there and start buying again. And guess what, you're the first step. Get out there and buy&hellip;tell your friends and coworkers to buy. The faster the available inventory is reduced, the faster home prices will start to recover.  




Now I've read articles that compare the financial situation of a current home owner to that of current renters and use that as a base to say its not a good time to buy. The logic here is incorrect. Of course, if you bought in the past during the peak of home prices, and need to sell now, you are not in a good position. That is not the same as buying now, at or near the bottom of your market, and selling in the future. Home prices will rebound. That is a fact. Maybe not to the levels they were before the recession, but they will rebound from current bottom to near bottom prices. This means that your home will gain in value from what you paid for it if you bought in 2009 or after.  And after is NOW.  



Want some expert advice on buying in this market? Contact The Keen Team at 404-270-9374 and tell us you're thinking about purchasing a home. Ask for our exclusive &quot;Buyer's Worksheet&quot; to help work out the details and put your thoughts around purchasing on paper.  



Logic Check: Are you waiting for your market to &quot;bottom out?&quot; DON'T. How can you? Not even the most expert of experts can exactly determine when a specific market will bottom out. Only when prices start to rebound do you realize just where the bottom lies, and then it may be too late.  Check out mint.com's (http://www.mint.com/blog/finance-core/should-you-buy-a-home-now/) factors that should not be considered when purchasing a home.  
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Mon, 07 Feb 2011 20:52:09 -0500</pubDate>
                    </item>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.realsourcebrokers.com/blog/the-second-wave.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.realsourcebrokers.com/blog/the-second-wave.html</link>
            <author>joshua@thekeenteam.com (Joshua Keen)</author>
            <title>The Second Wave</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
It's a testament to the quality of 60 Minutes that nearly 2 years after it was first recorded in December of 2008 this 12 minute prediction of what will come to pass has ... well ... come to pass.

We're entering the 4th quarter of 2010 and we are, without a doubt, heading right into the second wave of the Atlanta Foreclosure crisis.

  ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Tue, 21 Sep 2010 11:01:25 -0400</pubDate>
                    </item>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.realsourcebrokers.com/blog/price-is-how-much-you-pay.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.realsourcebrokers.com/blog/price-is-how-much-you-pay.html</link>
            <author>joshua@thekeenteam.com (Joshua Keen)</author>
            <title>Price Is How Much You Pay</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
NY Times reporter, David Leonhardt, shares some interesting insight on the connection (or disconnect) between Mortgage Rates and Home Prices.


...

Its not easy to see much of a relationship.

...

My best guess for why the two dont correlate more closely is the role that psychology plays in housing markets. Prices just dont move as quickly as economic theory suggests they should.



Not really, David.



The market, for all it's recent folly, is a generally rational experience.  And buyers, for all the talk of the &quot;emotional purchase&quot;, make rational distinctions.&nbsp; For instance:  The price is how much I pay for a house.  The interest rate is how much I pay for financing.  

In today's REO (bank owned) driven market -- many buyers pay cash.  Would a cash buyer pay more because interest rates are low? 

 Probably not, David. 



It's true that low interest rates make buying a home more attractive than renting.  It's also true when it's more attractive to buy (vs. rent)-- there is more demand for housing.&nbsp;  Supply/demand economics ensue.&nbsp;  But to the earlier distinction: A smart (rational) buyer will consider low rates are temporary and will rise in the future when they sell the property.&nbsp;  So for a theory such as low interest rates impacting price to run full course, it must be considered the price of a given home will decline in the future as interest rates rise.  The result?  The attractiveness of low interest rates in the present are cancelled out by the buyers rational predictin of higher interest rates in the future.  A buyer who can take advantage of low interest rates today does not want to overpay for fear of high interest rates tomorrow. 

At least that's why we &quot;don't see much of a relationship&quot; in the graph. 
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:53:38 -0400</pubDate>
                    </item>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.realsourcebrokers.com/blog/help-my-price-has-fallen-and-its-not-going-up.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.realsourcebrokers.com/blog/help-my-price-has-fallen-and-its-not-going-up.html</link>
            <author>joshua@thekeenteam.com (Joshua Keen)</author>
            <title>"Plan B": What To Do When Your House Won't Sell</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 

The most successful people are those who are good at Plan B.&quot;



Statistics show just 1 in 5 sellers who list their Atlanta home for sale today will successfully sell within a normal 90 day market timeframe.    

I'm not foolin'&hellip; the facts are 1 in 5.

So what happens if you're one of the 4 who can't sell?  

Well ... you go to &quot;Plan B&quot;.&nbsp;

Here's a quick list of options for sellers who simply can't stand having their home on the market for another day, henceforth known as &quot;Plan B&quot;. &nbsp; I will touch on them here and provide detailed explanation of each option in subsequent posts. 



&quot;Plan B&quot; #1: Stay Put


Here's a fact:&nbsp; on an average week I meet with 5 to 6 potential 
sellers.&nbsp;&nbsp; These are people who want to sell their homes.&nbsp; Of those I 
meet with ... at least three decide not to sell after talking with me.&nbsp; 
The first words out of my mouth when meeting with a seller?&nbsp; If you 
don't have to sell ... don't sell.&nbsp; We're about half way through the 
worst real estate market decline since the Great Depression and the last
 3 years have, literally, obliterated your equity.&nbsp;&nbsp; That's right.&nbsp; Stay.&nbsp; I know, I know ... whoda thunk it, right?&nbsp; A real estate agent telling you not to sell.&nbsp; And no, hell has not frozen over and pigs can't fly.&nbsp; 

I recently read a great book called &quot;Apartment Therapy&quot; (there's a killer website too right over here).&nbsp; It's required reading for anyone who is longing for something new but could make do by simply revamping the old. 



&quot;Plan B&quot; #2: Seller Financing


Loans are cheap but hard to come by.  From higher credit score requirements to more stringent appraisal guidelines, even if you found a buyer for your home in this tough market a series of trecherous, deal-killing hoop jumping ensues for you and your buyer.  

Enter &quot;owner financing&quot;.

The concept is simple: become a bank and offer rate and term financing that works for your buyer.

Why?&nbsp; Because it allows you to set the guidelines on several fronts that might limit your buyer from being able to afford your home.&nbsp; Credit score, down payment, interest rate, financing term (length of the loan), etc.&nbsp; All of these play a role in whether your buyer will qualify for a loan.&nbsp; If you're in charge then you can offer the appropriate level of flexibility and increase the number of buyers who might qualify to buy your home. 



&quot;Plan B&quot; #3: Rent To Own (aka lease option) 



The best way to look at a Rent To Own is to consider it simply as a lease (rent) with an option to buy. When you offer your home under a Rent To Own, you are leasing your home to a tenant for a fixed period of time. The tenant also has the right to buy your home during this period of time for the agreed-upon option price. Your home isnt sold when you sign the lease and option agreements!

In a lease-option or rent to own situation -- your &quot;tenant&quot; has the choice to buy your home or not buy your home. However, you are obligated to sell your home to your tenants during the term at the agreed-upon price. In reality, a Rent To Own obligates you to sell without obligating your tenant to buy.



Now ... that might not sound so great to you as a seller / landlord ... but a well structured lease-option has many advantages to both you and your prospective tenant.&nbsp; I'll cover those advantages in detail in a later post. 

&quot;Plan B&quot; #4: Rent

And last, but not least, we come to what many consider the &quot;red-headed step child&quot; of &quot;Plan Bs&quot;: renting.&nbsp; Being a Landlord is right up there with a visit to the dentist for most sellers, but if you're struggling to get the value you need from the market it might be the best option.&nbsp; Like lease-options, it's all about how you structure the relationship with your tenant.&nbsp; And I know from firsthand experience that proper due diligence is key to a successful landlord experience.&nbsp; From the specific requirements you have for the tenant to how your lease is written, the devil is the details.&nbsp; We'll cover all of them in a future post. 


Wow ... we covered a lot here, didn't we?&nbsp; I'll be working to fill in the gaps of each &quot;Plan B&quot; option in future blog posts.&nbsp; Meantime, if you have questions about the speciifcs or want to know how to structure your &quot;Plan B&quot; -- leave your questions in the comments section below and I'll be sure to answer them. 


 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Tue, 07 Sep 2010 20:35:54 -0400</pubDate>
                    </item>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.realsourcebrokers.com/blog/insider-tips-to-buying-your-first-home.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.realsourcebrokers.com/blog/insider-tips-to-buying-your-first-home.html</link>
            <author>adam@realsourcebrokers.com (Adam Keen)</author>
            <title>Insider Tips to Buying Your First Home</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
I recently purchased my first home. I thought I'd share my experience and, hopefully, offer a little perspective, advice and a couple key lessons I've learned as an &quot;insider&quot;. The process was quick and easy for me. I found my 15 favorite homes online. We (my buyer's agent and I) took 2 days to look at them all. Out of that 15 I picked my favorite 5, saw them once more and then wrote a contract the next week. Why do I share this? Because I want you to know how convenient buying a home can be when you have the right agent, or in our case, the right team on your side.  That brings me to a few key lessons I've learned along the way...



Insider Tip #1 - Chill Out...



Buying a home should be a fun and exciting process. Don't let anxiety and fear rule you while looking for your home. Yes, buying can be an emotional time, but its important that you don't let that emotion take over.  Its crucial that you have an expert buyers agent on your side and its even more important that you trust and relate to whomever you choose to help you buy a home. Your agent should be able to make the process fun and educational. I've seen too many buyers ruin their experience worrying about all the little things....thats what your agent is for. Time and time again I see 1st home buyers talk themselves out of purchasing because of emotion and minor fears. Which brings me to...



Insider Tip #2 - Trust your agent



Its been my experience while closing real estate, that folks don't put enough merit to the fact that their agent should be an expert at what he or she does. Its easy to look online, find 100,000 agents in GA all after your business, and assume that they all do the same thing; thats just not the case. You want to make sure your agent is full time, has expert experience in the area and truly understands your wants and needs in a home. Also, in today's market, you want to ensure that your agent is on top of the technological aspects of this new market.   As a buyer, you should be able to trust that your agent has your best interest in mind. With that said, sit back and relax; ask any questions you want to ease anxiety and trust that your agent, hopefully with years of experience under his or her belt, will walk you through the process from start to end...helping you understand the whats, whys and ways of Georgia real estate. I admit, I had an advantage. Not only have I been in the industry for 3 years now and understand &quot;many&quot; of the ins and outs, but I am lucky enough to be gainfully employed by one of the top buyer consultants in the business. How do you find the best agent for you? Interview many agents; ask many questions; ask for references; but most importantly, stop in and meet me and my team.



Insider Tip #3 - Take your time



While I did mention that the buying process can be convenient and even easy, thats not to take away from the fact that it is likely the biggest and most important purchase of your life. In today's real estate world, you should rely on the internet as a key resource in your pursuit of a home.  Let your agent find the best homes that fit your needs...thats why they're there. He or she should be sending you only the best homes, providing much of the elimination process for you.  Study and research those homes online, pick your favorites and then set up an outing with your agent. After a couple to few outings, you should be able to trust that your agent has shown you the best of what is out there for you, in your area and price range; allowing you to comfortably make a decision thats in your best interest.



Remember that while not all houses are the same, the problems that arise in the closing process basically are, and any experienced agent has been through most of them, even in this ever changing market.  You want someone that has been through the drill and has a system, technique and approach that fits your style. I recommend asking what problems may arise during closing in the beginning of your interview process. Let the agent share his or her knowledge and show you he or she has the answer before the problem ever even arises.
 


I am the closing manager for RealSource Brokers. Once a buyer is under contract, I take over and coordinate with all parties to ensure a smooth and surprise-less closing experience.  Its not all I do, but a good majority of my work is dedicated to making sure buyers take care of the necessities and get to the closing table without much hassle.

 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:10:54 -0400</pubDate>
                    </item>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.realsourcebrokers.com/blog/youll-always-remember-your-first.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.realsourcebrokers.com/blog/youll-always-remember-your-first.html</link>
            <author>adam@realsourcebrokers.com (Adam Keen)</author>
            <title>You'll Always Remember Your First</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ This is my first blog post.&nbsp; And it's the first of many where I'll give you a &quot;behind the scenes&quot; look at the fascinating world of Atlanta Real Estate from a unique (if somewhat cynical) perspective - mine!&nbsp; I plan to cover a range a topics - some serious ... some not so serious ... all brilliant.&nbsp;&nbsp; And I'm looking forward to maybe getting to hang out with you in the online 
world of bloggery and prodigiousness.&nbsp; Or maybe well get to meet &ldquo;in real life&rdquo;, as the kids say, if you do business with my two brothers. Or on Twitter (still trying to figure that place out) @adamkeenrsb &mdash; stop by, whenever. ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Tue, 06 Jul 2010 15:42:44 -0400</pubDate>
                    </item>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.realsourcebrokers.com/blog/4-problems-of-overpricing.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.realsourcebrokers.com/blog/4-problems-of-overpricing.html</link>
            <author>joshua@thekeenteam.com (Joshua Keen)</author>
            <title>4 Problems of Overpricing</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Price Problem #1: Where's the Excitement?

The first problem is... it's hard to get sales people excited.&nbsp;&nbsp; 

And it doesn't make any difference how much marketing you're doing... the problem is the same ... its hard to get sales people excited.

You see ... agents generally know what buyers are willing to pay for similar homes in similar areas in this market right now.&nbsp; 

And when a house is sitting on the market for any length of time not selling, their reaction might be that it's overpriced.&nbsp;&nbsp; 

They won't get excited because they know they can't get their buyers excited.

On the other hand ... when your price your home competitively ... this is what happens:

Agents get excited because they know they can get their buyers excited.&nbsp; 

Excitement is contagious.&nbsp; 

So is apathy.&nbsp; 

You have to ask yourself: 

Which emotion am I generating?&nbsp; Excitement or apathy?

Price Problem #2: Showings.&nbsp; What Showings?

The second problem is... it's hard to get good buyers to look.&nbsp; 

Serious, qualified buyers don't want to spend time looking at over-priced houses.

They'd prefer find good deals in the foreclosure market or deal with motivated, competitively priced sellers.

You have to ask yourself:

Am I getting good showing activity?&nbsp; At least 1 showing a week?

Price Problem #3: Why isn't anybody making an offer?

The third problem is -- even if you can get buyers to look -- it's hard to get an offer. 

Serious, qualified buyers don't want to tie up their deposit money for even one day on what they think is a hopeless cause or long, drawn-out negotiating procedure.&nbsp; 

Its too much trouble and their agent is telling them that.&nbsp; 

You really want to be sure you're not presenting a price that appears like a difficult negotiation to the agents and buyers out there.

You have to ask yourself:&nbsp; 

Am I getting offers?&nbsp; If not, why not?

Price Problem #4: What do you mean it didn't appraise?

The fourth problem is it's hard to get financing on real estate right now.&nbsp; 

Even if you find a buyer willing to pay a certain price for your home, it can be difficult to find a lender offering financing that can make it happen. 

You see ... a lender will have your home appraised and they know what buyers have been willing to pay for similar homes in similar areas in this current market. 

Most lenders are willing to finance 80% to 95% of &quot;market value&quot;, but not on an inflated price.&nbsp;&nbsp; 

This has become a real problem in today's market as you have surrounding homes that are selling at discounts or foreclosures that are sometimes selling for 60% to 70% of market value.

You have to ask yourself:&nbsp; 

Will my home appraise for the price I want?
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Sat, 27 Feb 2010 18:45:13 -0500</pubDate>
                    </item>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.realsourcebrokers.com/blog/the-market-is-always-talking.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.realsourcebrokers.com/blog/the-market-is-always-talking.html</link>
            <author>joshua@thekeenteam.com (Joshua Keen)</author>
            <title>The Market Is Always Talking</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
With a steady stream of negative news on the economy and real estate market, I think it's important to mention - despite what the media has to say  were selling houses!&nbsp;&nbsp; 

My team and I have closed on 10 houses so far this year and, as we head into the spring season, I expect we'll more than triple that number before the tax credit runs it's course on April 30th. 

Sure ... it's a taking a bit longer than it did a couple years and prices are, without a doubt, lower today than they were a year ago.

It's times like this I remind myself: 

Selling real estate is simple.&nbsp; 

Simple... but not easy.

And selling real estate, for all it's complexity, boils down to very simple rules and universal truths.&nbsp; 

But to hear the truth about selling ... you've got to &quot;listen&quot; to what the market is saying ... because the market is always talking.

Are You Listening?

Here are 3 ways you can &quot;actively listen&quot; to what the market is telling you: 

** If your house is for sale and nobody's looking at it ... the market is saying, &quot;The buyers think your price is too high for that location, that size and/or that condition.&quot; 

Recommendation: A significant price adjustment (10%+)

** If agents and buyers are looking at it, but not coming back ... the market is saying, &quot;The buyers are finding nicer homes for the money and your house is&nbsp; not a good enough value&quot;

Recommendation: A moderate price adjustment (5%+)

** If your house is getting &quot;2nd looks&quot; but the Buyers buy something else ... the market is saying, &quot;The Buyers think your are close ... but our competition is winning out.&quot;

Recommendation: A minor price adjustment. (+/- 5%)

According to the National Association of REALTORS, if your house is priced correctly, it should get one offer for every 10 qualified buyers looking at it.

In todays market, you should expect 3 to 4 showings a month if it's priced right, shows right and has a solid marketing plan. 
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Sat, 13 Feb 2010 16:20:32 -0500</pubDate>
                    </item>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.realsourcebrokers.com/blog/enemy-1.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.realsourcebrokers.com/blog/enemy-1.html</link>
            <author>joshua@thekeenteam.com (Joshua Keen)</author>
            <title>Enemy #1</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Water is the #1 enemy of a home.
  ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:35:45 -0500</pubDate>
                    </item>
    </channel>
</rss>
