Real estate values have achieved some of their highest levels in years, for both housing and commercial properties. Yet, news reports advertise dangerously high vacancies in office space markets nationwide. How can these two contradictory events coexist? They have occurred as a result of disparate events, both of which stem from the same origin.

Event 1

Investors decline to buy stocks. So, what they have been buying? Looking for cash flow and relatively stable and secure investments, large investors, especially those from outside of the U.S., have been buying up real estate at a fast pace. Add to this the availability of cash and tremendously low interest rates. The result has been an increase in real estate prices over the last two years. (more…)

The market is slowing down and investors are drowning in home payments. Certainly dropping the price until you get it sold it one way to do it. I have got a good solution to sell the house. In a good market you can rest on your success, but in a soft market you have to be willing to do something dissimilar. Stop humming about the slow market and start selling your houses.

Make Your Listing Look Grand

Most of the MLS listings are tedious, informative and don’t sell the house. Why because most people leave it up to the real estate broker to create the listing, which is communicating with other brokers. Instead, take charge of your listing your own. Make sure the pictures are great, rather average. Photoshop the pictures so there is an excellent photos of the front, the kitchen and the most attractive features of the house. If there is a grey sky, wait till there is a blue sky. If there is a dead grass in the photo, pick up that Photoshop paint brush and make it beautiful green. When a buyer’s agent is scanning the MLS with their clients, you have got two seconds to catch their attention and kick off a showing. Hence try to make a good first impression. (more…)