Today’s HOMESTAR Realty Reality

Everywhere you turn, you hear “gloom and doom” about the housing market. Housing re-sales down last month the largest amount in 8 years? Even the Realtors trade organization, The National Association of Realtors (NAR) recently said that home prices will fall .7% in 2007, and that existing home sales will fall 2.2% in 2007 (and that new home sales will decline 14.2%) Who do you want to believe? Remember, those figures are National averages, NOT just our local Delaware market.

Well, predictions and crystal balls aside, when it’s time to make a housing move, YOU should not rely on the nay Sayers and the pundits who make their living telling you what’s going to happen. YOU still control the largest part of the story on how your sale or purchase of a home will complete. You have the ability to stay ahead of the game, and here are a few tips to make that happen.

1) Sounds corny, but the “golden rule” really works. If you deal fairly, and have reasonable requests and expectations, offer (or ask) a fair price for the home of your dreams, you could be a homeowner! Don’t expect to “steal” the house you’re looking to buy, but get top dollar for the home you’re selling!

2) While home prices did go crazy for a couple of years, the pricing advances have slowed. Just because your neighbor got $30,000 more last year than you might get now, make sure it’s an apple’s to apple’s comparison. When in doubt as to a homes value when you’re selling it, have an experienced Realtor, who is familiar with your area do a CMA (comparative market analysis), or on higher priced, unique homes, have a pre-appraisal done, you then you KNOW what’s real, and what to expect from the appraisers .

3) Realtors are worth every penny you pay them. They handle the details you don’t have time for to get your home to the settlement table, and get a check into your hands. Choose your representation based on experience in Real estate, and getting the job done time and time again. Listen to their suggestions on how to get your home ready to sell too, those details make a HUGE difference in the amount you actually get for your home.

4) Beware a Realtor who says your home is worth significantly more than you know its worth…that’s known as “buying a listing”, and it will serve you no purpose other than delaying the sale of your home.

Bottom Line, to sell a home, to buy a home, remember the three keys to real estate…………

COMMON SENSE, COMMON SENSE, COMMON SENSE

(you expected location,location,location?)

Any comments or questions are welcome at info@HomeStarRealtyGroup.com