Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Safety First when Choosing an Agent!

News Story Makes Headlines (see link) in reference to the homeowner's saftey! In this day and age where safety is a big concern, guarding yourself, your belongings and your home should be a top priority when choosing a realtor. For my customers, I use state of the art technology with electronic lock boxes (ELB). The ELB has a tiny microprocessor inside. You need an electronic key to open it and the only way to get a key is to become a member of the local Multiple Listing Service. All of the keys have a unique identifier so when someone opens the box, the microprocessor inside “registers” the agent who opens it. Agents are forbidden to let another agent use their electronic key. Since the box is “reset” just before being placed on the door, any agent who opens the box can be identified – as well as the date and time they entered the house. That information can be downloaded at the local MLS Association. This works as a security measure for the homeowner. When selecting a realtor, ALWAYS choose someone who cares to go the extra mile to protect you and your belongings from potential theives, by using electronic lockboxes only. Safety First When Choosing An Agent!!

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

The Real Estate Market Continues To Hold On...

While the markets have declined from last year, the real estate market continues to hold on. The residential sales of homes sold in September of 2007 equals 490, in September of 2008 it equals 432; this is down 11.84%, The average price of those homes sold in 2007 is $160,718 while the average price in 2008 is $140,942, at a 12.30% decline. We have noticed that the average amount of days a home is on the market in 2008 is 86 days versus in 2007, where the average amount of days a home was on the market was approxiamnately 81 days. I've always seen the real estate market as an exciting career and enjoy the challenges that each deal may bring, however, I do feel like we are making history with interest rates, short sales and the buyer's choice market. Perhaps, one day we will look back and see the progress that has been made in the home buying/selling markets. Until then, we press forward making the best out of each new situation that we may come upon