The Role Access Plays in Getting Your House SOLD!

So you’ve decided to sell your house. You’ve hired a real estate professional to help you with the entire process and they have asked you what level of access you want to provide to potential buyers.

There are four elements to a quality listing. At the top of the list is Access, followed by Condition, Financing and Price. There are many levels of access that you could provide to your agent to be able to show your home.

Here are five levels of access that you could give a buyer with a brief description:

1. Lockbox On the Door – this allows buyers the ability to see the home as soon as they are aware of the listing, or at their convenience.
2. Providing a Key to the Home – although the buyer’s agent may need to stop by an office to pick up the key, there is little delay in being able to show the home.
3. Open Access with a Phone Call – the seller allows showing with just a phone call’s notice.
4. By Appointment Only (example: 48 Hour Notice) – Many out-of-town/state buyers and relocation buyers visit an area they would like to move to and only have the weekend to view homes. They may not be able to plan that far in advance, or may be unable to wait the 48 hours to be shown the house.
5. Limited Access (example: the home is only available on Mondays or Tuesdays at 2pm or for only a couple of hours a day) - This is the most difficult way to be able to show your house to potential buyers.

In a competitive marketplace, access can make or break your ability to get the price you are looking for, or even sell your house at all.

I believe everyone should feel confident when buying or selling a home.

You Can Always Reach Me @ 313 999-8900

Feel free to Subscribe to "Real Estate with Patrice" Blog posts to stay up to date with our latest posts and information on the Real Estate Industry or you can Follow Us on Facebook , Twitter, LinkedIn & Google+ for regular updates.

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Why We All Need a 'Phil Dunphy' on Our Side

Whether or not you’ve ever seen an episode of Modern Family, or know who Phil Dunphy’s character is, the concept of knowing that you have someone in your corner who is looking out for your best interests is something we all want.

When it comes to buying a home, whether you are a rookie homebuyer or have gone through the process many times, having a local real estate expert who is well versed in the neighborhood you are looking to move into, and the trends of the area, should be your goal.

For those who aren’t familiar, the character Phil Dunphy is a Realtor with a huge heart who always strives to do the best for his family and his clients.

In one recent episode, Phil even shared the oath that he created and holds himself to:

"On my honor, I promise to aid in man's quest for shelter, to recognize I'm not just in the business of houses -- I'm in the business of dreams in the shape of houses. To disclose all illegal additions, shoddy construction, murders, and ghosts. And to put my clients' needs before my own." 

While this might seem silly, and it was definitely written with humor in mind, the themes of helping someone achieve the American Dream and putting a client's needs above your own are not to be taken lightly.

Bottom Line

When you make the decision to enter the housing market, as either a buyer or a seller, make sure you look for an agent who exemplifies these values and will help you through every step of the process.

I believe everyone should feel confident when buying or selling a home.

You Can Always Reach Me @ 313 999-8900

Feel free to Subscribe to "Real Estate with Patrice" Blog posts to stay up to date with our latest posts and information on the Real Estate Industry or you can Follow Us on Facebook , Twitter, LinkedIn & Google+ for regular updates.

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How Supply & Demand Impacts the Real Estate Market

Some Highlights:

• The concept of Supply & Demand is a simple one. The best time to sell something is when supply of that item is low & demand for that item is high!
• Anything under a 6-month supply is a Seller’s Market!
• There has not been a 6-months inventory supply since August 2012!
• Buyer Demand continues to outpace Seller Supply!

I believe everyone should feel confident when buying or selling a home.

You Can Always Reach Me @ 313 999-8900

Feel free to Subscribe to "Real Estate with Patrice" Blog posts to stay up to date with our latest posts and information on the Real Estate Industry or you can Follow Us on Facebook , Twitter, LinkedIn & Google+ for regular updates.

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‘Old Millennials’ Are Diving Head-First into Homeownership

Some Highlights:

• ‘Old Millennials’ are defined as 25-36 year olds according to the US Census Bureau.
• According to NAR’s latest Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers, the median age of all first-time home buyers is 31 years old.
• More and more ‘Old Millennials’ are realizing that homeownership is within their reach now!

4 Stats That PROVE This Is NOT 2005 All over Again

Recent research by realtor.com examined certain red flags that caused the housing crisis in 2005, and then compared them to today’s real estate market. Today, we want to concentrate on four of those red flags.

1. Price to Rent Ratio
2. Price to Income Ratio
3. Mortgage Transactions
4. House Flipping

All four categories were outside historical norms in 2005. Home prices were way above normal ratios when compared to both rents and incomes at the time.

They explained that mortgage transactions as a percentage of all home sales were also at a higher percentage:

“Loose credit was one of the main culprits of the housing crisis. Mortgage lending expanded dramatically as unhealthy housing speculation reached its peak and was met by the highest level of credit availability as measured by the Mortgage Bankers Association. The index measures the overall mortgage credit condition by the share of home sales financed by mortgages. This metric does not capture credit quality, but it does set a view of the importance of financing in supporting the housing market.”

House flipping was rampant in 2005. As realtor.com's research points out:

“Heightened flipping activity is a clear indication of speculation in the real estate market. A property is considered as a speculative flip if the property is sold twice within 12 months and with positive profit. Flipping is a normal part of a healthy housing market. In an inflated housing market, expectations about short-term profit from pure price appreciation are very high; therefore, the level of flipping activity would show evidence of being heightened.”

Here are the categories with percentages reflecting the unrealistic ratios & numbers of 2005 as compared to the current market. Remember, a negative percentage reflects a positive gain for the market.

Bottom Line

They say hindsight is 20/20… Today, experts are keeping a close watch on the potential red flags that went unnoticed in 2005.

I believe everyone should feel confident when buying or selling a home.

You Can Always Reach Me @ 313 999-8900

Feel free to Subscribe to "Real Estate with Patrice" Blog posts to stay up to date with our latest posts and information on the Real Estate Industry or you can Follow Us on Facebook , Twitter, LinkedIn & Google+ for regular updates.

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Real Estate Values Today Compared to Pre-2008 Peak

This housing market has many people talking about home values; where they are and where they are headed. It’s also interesting to look back and see how home prices compare to values prior to the housing crisis.

Every quarter, Freddie Mac releases their House Price Index. The index usually provides monthly home values for:

• the nation as a whole
• each of the 50 states
• 367 metropolitan statistical areas

This quarter, the report also included a look at today’s home values as compared to Pre-2008 values. Here is a graphic that breaks down the numbers on a state-by-state basis:

I believe everyone should feel confident when buying or selling a home.

You Can Always Reach Me @ 313 999-8900

Feel free to Subscribe to "Real Estate with Patrice" Blog posts to stay up to date with our latest posts and information on the Real Estate Industry or you can Follow Us on Facebook , Twitter, LinkedIn & Google+ for regular updates.

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Thinking of Selling Your House? Pick the Right Agent!

Today, more and more sellers are stepping back, taking a look at the advice real estate professionals give them, and asking themselves whether they can trust that advice. And that is exactly what they should do.

The most important question you can ask when you are choosing a real estate agent is whether you feel you can trust them. You must know that they’re giving you great advice, and that they’re going to be able to help you accomplish your family’s goals. You must trust your listing agent enough to allow them to:

• Handle the liquidation of possibly the largest asset your family has
• Help set the market value of that asset (get the price right)
• Set the timetable for the liquidation of that asset
• Set a fair fee for the services required to liquidate that asset

All four of these require a tremendous amount of trust. They’re going to sell your prized possession, set its value, set a time schedule as to when your family will be able to move, and determine the fee that you’re going to pay to get those three things accomplished.

You have to trust your agent enough to allow them to help you and your family reach your dreams.

Whether you’re a grandfather looking to move to Florida or to spend your later years with your grand kids, or a young person who wants to take that job in San Francisco but first has to get your house sold in Detroit, you need an agent you can trust to help you move on with what's important.

I believe everyone should feel confident when buying or selling a home.

You Can Always Reach Me @ 313 999-8900

Feel free to Subscribe to "Real Estate with Patrice" Blog posts to stay up to date with our latest posts and information on the Real Estate Industry or you can Follow Us on Facebook , Twitter, LinkedIn & Google+ for regular updates.

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Where Are Home Prices Headed Over the Next 5 Years?

Today, many real estate conversations center on housing prices and where they may be headed. That is why we like the Home Price Expectation Survey.

Every quarter, Pulsenomics surveys a nationwide panel of over one hundred economists, real estate experts, and investment & market strategists about where they believe prices are headed over the next five years. They then average the projections of all 100+ experts into a single number.

The results of their latest survey:

Home values will appreciate by 4.5% over the course of 2016, 3.6% in 2017 and about 3.2% in the next two years, and finally 2.9% in 2020 (as shown below). That means the average annual appreciation will be 3.5% over the next 5 years.

The prediction for cumulative appreciation increased over a full point from 17.5% to 18.7% by 2020. The experts making up the most bearish quartile of the survey are still projecting a cumulative appreciation of 11.1%.

Bottom Line

Individual opinions make headlines. We believe the survey is a fairer depiction of future values.

I believe everyone should feel confident when buying or selling a home.

You Can Always Reach Me @ 313 999-8900

Feel free to Subscribe to "Real Estate with Patrice" Blog posts to stay up to date with our latest posts and information on the Real Estate Industry or you can Follow Us on Facebook , Twitter, LinkedIn & Google+ for regular updates.

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Home Sales Accelerate During The “Dog Days of Summer”

Some Highlights:

• Existing home sales have accelerated to the highest pace since February 2007 at an annual pace of 5.57 million.
• Inventory of homes for sale remains below the historically normal 6-month mark at a 4.6-month supply, down 5.8% year-over-year.
• Median home sales prices rose to $247,700, 4.8% higher than a year ago and replaced the previous peak in May of $238,900.

I believe everyone should feel confident when buying or selling a home.

You Can Always Reach Me @ 313 999-8900

Feel free to Subscribe to "Real Estate with Patrice" Blog posts to stay up to date with our latest posts and information on the Real Estate Industry or you can Follow Us on Facebook , Twitter, LinkedIn & Google+  for regular updates.

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Home Sales Accelerate During The “Dog Days of Summer”

Some Highlights:

• Existing home sales have accelerated to the highest pace since February 2007 at an annual pace of 5.57 million.
• Inventory of homes for sale remains below the historically normal 6-month mark at a 4.6-month supply, down 5.8% year-over-year.
• Median home sales prices rose to $247,700, 4.8% higher than a year ago and replaced the previous peak in May of $238,900.

I believe everyone should feel confident when buying or selling a home.

You Can Always Reach Me @ 313 999-8900

Feel free to Subscribe to "Real Estate with Patrice" Blog posts to stay up to date with our latest posts and information on the Real Estate Industry or you can Follow Us on Facebook , Twitter, LinkedIn & Google+  for regular updates.

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The Top Reason to List Your House For Sale Now!

If you are debating listing your house for sale this year, here is the #1 reason not to wait! 

Buyer Demand Continues to Outpace the Supply of Homes For Sale

The National Association of REALTORS’ (NAR) Chief Economist, Lawrence Yun recently commented on the inventory shortage:

“With demand holding firm and homes selling even faster than a year ago, the notable increase in closings in recent months took a dent out of what was available for sale.

Realtors are acknowledging, with increasing frequency lately, that buyers continue to be frustrated by the tense competition and lack of affordable homes for sale in their market.”

The latest Existing Home Sales Report shows that there is currently a 4.6-month supply of homes for sale. This remains lower than the 6-month supply necessary for a normal market and 5.8% lower than June 2015.

The chart below details the year-over-year inventory shortages experienced over the last 12 months:

Anything less than a six-month supply is considered a “Seller’s Market.”

Bottom Line

Let's get together and discuss the supply conditions in your neighborhood to be able to assist you in gaining access to the buyers who are ready, willing and able to buy now!

I believe everyone should feel confident when buying or selling a home.

You Can Always Reach Me @ 313 999-8900

Feel free to Subscribe to "Real Estate with Patrice" Blog posts to stay up to date with our latest posts and information on the Real Estate Industry or you can Follow Us on Facebook , Twitter, LinkedIn & Google+  for regular updates.

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