Inspired Real Estate For Today

Remember the program, 'Kids Say the Darndest Things?"  I loved watching Bill Cosby interview little kids talking about life and their unique perspective on different issues.  The show was funny and quirky in part because of the innocense and sometimes pure ignorance of it's little stars.

Recently, I picked up a call from an inquiry on one of our listings.  The Caller indicated that he was interested in a property which it turned out had recently been Sold.  

I asked the Caller if he was working with a REALTOR who could assist him in his search.  He indicated that he was not.  But it was what he said next that I found most surprising.  He indicated that he knew many agents and other professionals (including family members) in the industry and was himself in the loan origination business.  In his words...He wasn't using any of them, because he knew the drill.

Perplexed, I again inquired about if he was being sent listings in real time to avoid the situation he had just encountered by having a home Sold before he could look at it?  He said,

'No, I just have these agents who send me stuff and I'm doing this on my own.'  

I couldn't help but wonder why he was looking at so many homes without the success you would expect from an expert in the business.  And if he realized that when you have EVERYBODY helping you on the job, it's sometimes the same as having NOBODY help you. You know the saying...'too many cooks spoil the broth'.

I wished him well in his Search, but not before telling him that this method he was using was likely to result in his missing the best deals which were often Sold very quickly in a market with record low inventory levels...not seen since 2003.

I put down the phone, shaking my head...It's not only kids who say the darndest things, sometimes grown-up folks who should know better do too.

True, for a long time, we've been in a Buyer's Market.  Loosely defined as a time when Buyers could pretty much write up their own wish-list for a given home and have a pretty good chance of getting everything they requested and sometimes more.  It's been that way for so long that some of us may have been lulled into thinking this state of affairs will continue forever.

It won't.  Things have changed.  The real estate market in West Michigan is transitioning.  While every home is not getting a lot of action, many homes are.  And homes which are priced appropriately and show well are receiving multiple bids in many cases.

To avoid seeing your dream home slip through your fingers time & time again consider doing the following:

1.  Do Your Research.

Know what's available in the areas that interest you.  This way you'll be better prepared to recognize and respond to a good deal when it shows up.

2.  Get Pre-Approved for a Loan.  

Having the desire to buy is not the same as having the ability to purchase a home.  In today's market, it's important to have your financial situation fully vetted by a licensed loan originator to ensure that when you're ready to move forward, you have the means available to do so.

3.  Put Your Best Foot Forward

Over the past two months, we've had several situations where buyers have had to revise their offers due to multiple offer competitive situations.  You see, prices have dropped so low, that in many markets, NOW is the time to buy.  Real Estate is on sale and many folks who sat on the fence are swooping in to get in on the action while interest rates remain fairly low and inventory levels offer reasonable options.

4.  Stay Connected to Your Source of Information.

It's important to remain alert and be informed about the latest offerings in the marketplace.  You can obtain a FREE Notification Alert whenever any home which fits your search criteria is listed in real time.  There is really no reason to miss the opportunity to pre-view a home because you weren't informed in an era of e-mail notifications and digital alerts.

If you're in the market for a new residence in West Michigan, call us.  We will set up a customized alert to notifiy you when new listings pop up.  We can also arrange for you to obtain access to view the property so you can determine if the home is right for you.

One of the more popular forums on Facebook for REALTORS in West Michigan is a group that allows agents and other interested parties to trade information about clients who need to rent their homes or would prefer to rent a home rather than an apartment in the greater Grand Rapids, Mi area.  There just don't seem to be enough homes to rent!  

At Audu Real Estate, we have seen an escalation in the number of requests for homes to rent within the past 18 months.  The reasons are varied:

1.  Potential renters don't want to become potential buyers because they are scared of loosing home equity.

2.  The potential renter may have lost a home or has credit issues and is ineligible to obtain a mortgage.

3.  The potential renter thinks their job may require them to move, so they don't want to be 'stuck'.

4.  The potential renter doesn't want to live in an apartment & would prefer a home setting.

As a result, we've seen rental rates increase.  I've heard predictions which indicate that there will be a 3-6 percent increase in rental rates during the next year.  This news has not escaped the attention of some major deal makers across America.  In fact, a recent Bloomberg Businessweek article entitled 'Your Next Landlord Might Wear Pinstripes' highlights a significant rise of interest from institutional investors who are looking to beef up their portfolios by purchasing homes and turning them into rentals.

Last year in the fall, the Administration asked for public comment about the idea of renting out a growing inventory of foreclosed homes.  Earlier this month, Fannie Mae, the government controlled mortgage agency initiated a program to allow qualified investors to bid in bulk for foreclosed homes as long as they maintained them as rental for a period of time.

So why are investors interested in a housing market that has seen some dark days?  Well, it's all about opportunity.  Today the US home ownership rates is about 66%.  While that is one of the highest rates in the world, it is still below the peak of 69.2 percent recorded in June of 2004.  Many Americans remain skittish about the prospects of home ownership even as the facts seem to indicate that this may be exactly the time to buy a home.

For starters, interest rates are insanely low.  I'm hearing rates below 3.4% on 15 year mortgages.  The inventory in West Michigan is actually pretty good.  We're showing homes which would have retailed for 50-60% more just a few short years ago which have been totally re-vamped and are in move-in condition.  I'm talking about homes priced in the $40,000 - $75,000 range that could easily have retailed for 3-4X that amount in the past.  With today's interest rates, the mortgage amount would be significantly below the rental rate for a similar home.

Investors are interested in these homes because of the cash flow potential.  Single family home rentals tend to fetch premium rates and can retail for 3-5% higher than apartment rentals.  And, this is not about a quick turn around.  Most investors expect to hold on to these homes for five years or more. 

Think about that!  I just attended a forum on commercial real estate that indicated that the residential market in West Michigan could be poised for a surprising rebound within the next 3-4 years due to several factors including an uptick in manufacturing, more hiring for jobs and a work-force that is fairly well trained and prepared to meet the demands of today's emerging economy.  

If this proves to be correct, homeowners who have had a few years of dreadful travail may find themselves once again smiling on the way to the bank.  The question is...who will be the homeowner.  You...or a corporation?

Earlier this year, Grand Rapids MI earned a spot on the dubious list of Top 10 Dying Cities in a Newsweek magazine publication. Thankfully, our city is not a place where we choose easy over medium/mediocre when it comes to responding to what we instinctively reject as false.

Rob Bliss, Grand Rapids' own Event Planner Extraordinaire determined to fight back with the most powerful weapon...the TRUTH.  As a result, over 5,000 West Michigan residents joined together to film an event that included media personalities, the mayor, a high school marching band and a host of other people.  

In the process, they set a World Record for a Lip Sync event to Don McClains' classic song, ‘Bye, Bye, Ms. American Pie.’  The message was very clear…Grand Rapids, Mi is very much alive!

When all was set and done, the Youtube video had garnered over 2 Million hits in just a few days and the event had been carried on news media all over the world.  Newsweek magazine issued a rare public apology citing the fact that they had been victims of poor research and had simply repeated bad data.

In some ways, this example mirrors the challenge that real estate agents face in West Michigan.  As anxiety about the economy mounts, the real estate industry finds itself in a position in which everyone seems to have an opinion about what will happen within the real estate market in the future.

But in spite of these challenges, real estate agents in West Michigan have SOLD more homes in August of this year (2011) than they did in 2008 or 2009.  This is no small feat in a market which has been significantly impacted by Short Sales and Foreclosures!  

Today, the inventory of homes is less than 6,000 homes for Sale.  Down from a high of approximately 12,000 homes just a few years ago. With plunging inventory, there has been an incremental rise in home sale prices.  This trend has remained steady for seven months.  We still have a ways to go as the average price of home fell to 2003 levels over the duration of the current crisis.

However, REALTORS in West Michigan are stepping up to the plate in ways that extend beyond selling homes.  They are also actively giving of their time and talents to the West Michigan community.  

REALTORS in West Michigan have determined to roll up their sleeves and take their service to the community to a new level.  The official iGive campaign was launched at the end of May 2011 with an audacious goal of donating 50,000 FREE hours of services  to community residents.  The challenge has logged almost 5,000 hours to a variety of area organizations since May 2011.

By the way, that lip dub about Grand Rapids Mi has now garnered over 4 Million hits and was dubbed by Robert Ebert, the legendary film critic as one of the greatest videos ever made.  Hardly the Requiem for a dying city is it?

Related ABC News Story on lip sync event

It´s been a pretty nice summer in West Michigan! There´s been more rain than normal which has sustained beautiful green lawns and fairly temperate weather. The other summer tradition which we have all come to expect is road construction.

With the harsh winters in Michigan, the roads take quite a beating with all the salt and sand poured on them to provide traction against slippery conditions.

So summer is when we repair and renovate. Which also translates to possible travel delays as traffic is routed into single lanes. So depending on where you are in the traffic pattern, you might be having a uniquely different experience than a fellow driver on the other side of the expressway.

That pretty much sums up the picture with regard to the real estate market in Grand Rapids, Mi as well. The Spring market has had some unique peculiarities this year. Last year´s Home Buyer Tax Credit artificially increased home sales and subsequently, housing sales are lower this year than at the same time 12 months ago. However, a comparison to 2008 and 2009 numbers shows that home sales have actually improved from the crisis that occurred in the wider economy at that time.

New Listings for the month of July were down almost 23% from  the previous year (1,255 for 2011 vs 1, 628 in 2010).  An even greater differential was observed YTD with listing inventory down 28.5%.  We have witnessed a slow down in the number of foreclosures coming to the market.   

Another encouraging trend is the volume of Closed Transactions which are up by almost 45% from a year ago.  The average days on the market for a successfully CLOSED transaction in July of 2011 was BELOW 90 days!  However, it's important to note that for vacant properties, the average days on the market remains fairly high at over 300.

Average home Sale Price was also up by 17.1% with average home Sale Price also up by just under 19%.  The average home Sale Price in July 2011 is now $136,183 and the average home Sale Price overall for the month is $132,289.

This Spring, we´ve witnessed a number of homes which have been on the market for some time receive offers and close. Investors are purchasing properties at bargain rates in the case of distress sales. The volume of homes sold through Short Sales has hovered between the 40 - 45% range which is lower than many areas of the State.

Over the past six months, the second home and high end market has experienced some improvement and some area banks are offering good incentives for individuals involved in certain sectors of the healthcare industry.

There are a few distinct traits that characterize the process of successful sales.  These are:

1.  Correct Pricing

The market determines the value of the home.  Distress sales have been a factor in pushing sales values in a downward direction.  However, there is an increasing appreciation by many home buyers of the VALUE of a home which is not encumbered by a lengthy closing/negotiation process.  And increasingly, there is a premium that home buyers are willing to pay to avoid potential costly delays.

2.  Flexibility

Selling and/or buying a home today requires flexibility and patience.  The more options you keep open, the more likely you are to obtain your goal.  Home owners who are not maxed out on their mortgage have more flexibility for negotiation.  Delays need not be Deal Killers if both parties can adapt to the obstacle course which can be a part of some Short Sale negotiations.  Adopting a more relaxed approach towards the process removes a high degree of stress and allows clear minds to prevail.

3.  Check Things Out before You Buy3;

Although it may not be possible to know everything about a purchase, the importance of a home inspection should not be underestimated.  No home will be perfect.  Knowing as much as possible is important in the negotiation process.  Yes, this may create some delays, but it´s better to have a slow down in traffic as the system routes you through an obstacle course than to have a complete shut down due to an avoidable accident.

Welcome Home!  This home features a graceful, inviting elegance which invites you to stay awhile!  Situated on 2 acres in the heart of Egypt Valley, this handsome 7 year old home abuts the gated community of Treebrook Estates.  This upscale community located in Ada township features homes in a picturesque hillside setting.  The location provides numerous amenities including easy access to schools, shopping and the expressway. 

A circular drive welcomes visitors and leads to a private entrance.  A three stall attached garage provides ample parking. Professional landscaping includes the option for a fountain in the front yard. Elegant pillars frame the entrance, a space which expands to reveal a two story living room connecting to state of the art kitchen and dining areas featuring custom Italian marble & tile with granite counter-tops. 

The Master bedroom suite includes a European spa style shower. Built to enhance and expand entertaining options, the residence includes a stadium style theater room, a Fitness room, fully equipped lower level bar, a Game Room, Hair styling Salon, and a basketball court, tennis court and in-ground trampoline. There's also room to add a swimming pool. 

The lot is directly connected to a 20+ acre nature sanctuary which envelopes the backyard with exquisite privacy ~ wild life such as deer feel the freedom to roam and play. Exterior landscaping includes a circular drive and under-ground sprinkling connected to a functional well, saving on water costs and effeciences.  Take a moment to experience a pre-view tour in living color.  Contact us at 616-791-0511 to schedule a private pre-view. 

I initially read the words inscribed on the Lincoln Memorial almost three decades ago.  As a young foreign student, staring upwards at the enormous edifice, I was startled by the frankness with which President Lincoln addressed the nation on March 4, 1865 about the Civil War and the consequences of the gruesome legacy of slavery.

A portion of the second Inaugural Address inscribed on the walls of the memorial reads thus:

“Fondly do we hope-fervently do we pray-that this mighty scourge of war, may speedily pass away.  Yet, if God will that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman’s two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn by the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said, “The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.”

Almost one hundred years later, the backdrop of these words scripted within the context of the brutal horror of war makes the words of Dr. Martin Luther King who stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963 to deliver, the “I Have a Dream” speech particularly compelling as he reminded us that:

 "But one hundred years later, we just face the tragic fact that the Negro is still not free.  One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination"

April marks the traditional observance of Fair Housing month.  Words like 'steering, block busting, and redlining' are the painful reminders of the reality segregation and separation have played in the struggle for housing equality. In the real estate community, the issue of Fair Housing is not a 30 day period which we pay respect to once a year.    As our country becomes increasingly diverse, Fair Housing is an everyday issue which must govern the way in which we facilitate the transitions which occur as people move in our society.  

But advocacy and education will only take us so far.  Education can determine the correct answer to pass a Fair Housing test, but it will not change prejudice in the human heart. I've attended classes about Fair Housing where the discomfort is often palpable.  This is still a very real and painful part of our American landscape on an emotional level...both past and present.  Transforming this legacy is still a work in progress.

True freedom requires the ability to love oneself appropriately and completely enough to recognize the magnificence of God's creation in every single human being regardless of color, creed, national origin, sex, familial status, physical handicap, marital status or religion.  True freedom gives us the strength and ability to examine a painful mistake and to choose a better path.

Dr. Martin Luther King spoke about the intricate web that binds us together when he said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

As REALTORS, we have the unique privilege of serving people in a manner which honors the dignity of the human spirit.  Undermining justice and dignity for one impacts all of us.  Today’s digital culture reminds us of how intricately woven together we are.  Fair Housing is not about ‘someone else’, it’s about recognizing that what we do to another, we have really done to ourselves.  That’s the essential core of the Golden Rule.

 Photo of Lincoln Memorial courtesy of NCinDC on flickr.com

There's something invigorating about the thought of spring!  Even though much of the ground is still snow covered, the fact that the days are lengthening gives rise to hope.  A sentiment aptly captured in the words of an old African proverb that says...'No condition is permanent in this world.’

Change…The New Constant…

If ‘Change’ is a constant, it is one which members of the real estate community are familiar with.  Last month, members of the Grand Rapids Association of Realtors® completed a survey about their needs in the year ahead.  According to the survey, here are the top 5 areas of concern for GRAR members in 2011.

1.  Education – Including Social Media, Blogging & Technology

2.  User Friendly Relevant Tools for Business – Including MLS applications

3.  Mobile Technology - Smartphones, Apps etc

4.  Building Better Relationships amongst Members

5.  Authentic Communication & Transparency

The items on this list reflect what agents across the country are saying. Do you realize that some items on this list, such as Social Media and Blogging were not even invented a decade ago?  That's how rapidly our world is changing!  It is imperative that we adapt to embrace these changes and utilize new tools to enhance our services and improve productivity.

Productivity…the New Values Discussion…

Productive individuals are proactive.  They respond to change rather than simply react to it. Productive individuals are also more likely to generate a Profit because they provide a good Value for their services. The Values discussion is one which the consumer increasingly engages when considering the hiring of a real estate professional. The Values discussion is one which envelopes every element of what we do as REALTORS. It is also one element of our industry which is undergoing the greatest level of SHIFT...

Proactively…The New Paradigm for Profitability

To be profitable in the future, the Values discussion will also be a personal question.  One which is increasingly posed by potential clients and members of the general public who are asking questions about the value of home ownership during a time where there have been significant declines in home equity.

As real estate professionals, we must be prepared to address these issues on a variety of levels.  That conversation must move well beyond the slogans which tell us, 'It's  Great Time to  Buy or Sell!' For instance, did you know that the current administration is currently in the process of determining the future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac?  These two companies are involved in the vast majority of mortgages in this country.  The fate of these institutions has the potential to impact the housing industry in a significant way.

As the financial crisis has unfolded, it is increasingly clear that mismanagement and under-capitalization were factors which had a devastating impact on the viability of Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac.  As real estate professionals, it's important to be aware of the issues being considered by our elected representatives and to voice your opinion.  

If you're a Broker, make sure you are enrolled in the NAR Broker program so that you are informed of key initiatives and can communicate the implications and appropriate actions to your agents.  Failing to engage in conversations which affect our industry has the potential to impact Profitability and the benefits and value our industry provides to consumers.  Failing to be informed is in my opinion...irresponsible.

Process...Sustaining Healthy Growth

As the first signs of life begin to emerge at the start of spring, they’re often easy to overlook them because the earth is still draped in the garb of the remnants of winter.  But, the camouflage cannot stop the relentless progress of the growth that has been occurring below the surface and will soon emerge.  

The winter of our season of challenge as an industry, has forced us to dig deep into our internal reservoirs to meet the new demands of our profession.  This has not been easy. We must remember that some things must not change and strive to protect and strengthen that which strengthens the bonds and relationships between our members.

Many within our ranks have not survived the process of this difficult transition. As a current member of the real estate community, your presence bears witness to the courage and tenacity to weather a relentless economic storm.  These challenges have had the effect of forcing a transformation...one which is still ongoing in creating the blue print for re-engineering our Value Proposition as we move forward.

Yours in Re-Invigorating Profitability

Lola Audu

*Abreviated version of the President's Message for the Grand Rapids Association of Realtors®

I don't know about you, but I suspect that most of us can remember the genesis of most close friendships in our lives. And most of the time, it's not an earth shattering moment.  Just being in the right place, having the same needs... a desire for companionship.

But no matter how innocently a friendship develops, if  it's going to last, it always becomes deeper.  To thrive, it has to. And that's where friendships start to get tricky...and sticky.  I used to think that meeting new friends was a random act and for the most part, life just happened.  But, as I matured, it became increasing difficult to account for the randomness of fate as I began to observe certain patterns in my life and in the friendship choices of so many other individuals which were curiously repetitive.  How was it possible that uncanny deja vu's were popping up all around these seemingly chance meetings.

I recall one friendship that started over a shared interest in hot chocolate.  (Not really, but just about that trivial ~ situation changed to protect the innocent).  It took awhile to discover that it really wasn't the interest in hot chocoate that brought me a new friend; rather that was just a cover for a shared need, a wound that needed a sympathetic resonance which over time became the basis for a deep and endearing friendship.  But was it healthy?

Ultimately, I discovered  that in my case, it couldn't be.  There's something about an open wound which draws the wrong type of attention.  And it's not just the flies.  Wounds attract folks with similar wounds, issues which resonate at a particular level.  Often far below the ability of the eye and even the mind to recognize.  

Wounds weep, and in this way, they also speak...deep calling to deep.  We may find ourselves attracted to certain people and certain issues because of deep needs and unresolved hurts.  But, it's not healthy to bond on the basis of a wound, particularly not a weeping one.

Weeping wounds ooze.  And that makes them sticky.  When individuals with weeping wounds meet, there is often an unnatural bonding.  This is true, even when these individuals look normal and put together on the surface.  Even when they have wonderful careers and have seemingly made a success of their lives.  Because wounds of this nature are not physical, it's often easy to ignore the true nature of the attraction.  Attractions which dissolve in destructive, addictive patterns of behavior.  Repeated over and over...

All Wounds have a life cycle of their own.  Some wounds eventually heal.  But, if the healing occurs when the wound is tightly bound to something else, it tends to stick to it.  What may occur is the incorporation of  that material into the healing process in an unhealthy and sometimes unsanitary way.  That's why your mom was right when she told you that sometimes it was best to simply let a sore 'dry out.'  

When wounded souls bind together in relationship while the wound is weeping,  there is a process of incorporation.  The mingling of shared pain and experience can abscess a wound and create a potently powerful glue that  eventually binds the friendship with thick, tough scar tissue.  The significance of this type of bonding is that in order for the individuals to go their separate ways even after the wound has dried up, they risk re-opening the wound in the place where the scar tissue is the thickest.  Very painful...

But, there's a situation which is even more tragic.  It's the continually weeping, oozing wound.  The wound that remains unhealed. Sometimes, friendships are built on shared pain which continues to ooze together creating more and more pus and toxin over time.  We refer to these relationships as toxic, because literally they are.  This type of relationship results in a literal poisoning of both participants and can have untold horrendous consequences which spread the grief over wide swaths of people's lives.  What's sad, is that the participants are often unable to see how unhealthy the relationship is.  The shared dependency feeding off itself in a process of mutual dysfunction and disease.  The shared pain literally becomes the food which sustains the cycle of pus.

Healthy relationships don't thrive on wounds.  Even when they initially start through them.  Nor do they continually create them. Our skin is intended to cover our body for protection and preservation; a process which enables us to live life well.  Healthy relationships are based on shared interest, mutual benefit, respect, love and admiration.  Healthy friendships thrive on companionship, but for the right reasons.  The most important healthy relationship is within oneself.

For so many of us are wounded and frail, not understanding the importance of our own healing as being the vital component for life affirming  interactions.  The willingness to do the hard work of examining one's spiritual body for breaks and tears and other types of wounds can be emotionally exhausting and is definitely hard work.  But, it is the only path through which we build the material which ensures that we become Wound Healers rather than the Wound Makers.

Lola Audu ~ 2011

*Thank you Rocky for encouraging me to write down these thoughts which have roamed through my mind for some time. :)

Related Posts:

inspiration: What I Learned from the post Sarah Cooper told me NOT to read.

inspiration: What It Means to Live With Passion.

inspiration: What It Means to Live in Congruity

inspiration: Simplicity...

Click Here to Read Part #1 of this series on the first THREE myths.

Click Here to Read Part #2 of this series on the next installment of myths...

Over the years, I've had the dubious experience of becoming a myth collector.  Specifically, regarding the myths around why a home has not Sold.  As I talk with agents around the country, it has become clear that these myths are actually very widespread and have developed a life of their own...sometimes with variations which are location specific.  

As a public service, I am going to do a mini-series regarding these myths and give some insights regarding why they ought to be dismissed and rejected. Continuing...

Myth #7...All forms of Advertising are Equal.  Especially when it's the form I prefer or which helped me locate my current home.

FACT:  All forms of real estate advertising are NOT equal.  Just about every real estate agent understands this.  Many agents will advertize on mediums that do not bring in the best results because the home owner insists. However, the truth is that today's potential home buyer is searching for their home and real estate agent online.  In overwhelming numbers!  

Take a look at this Field Guide provided by the National Association of Realtors®.  Note that only 9% of Buyers are looking at print advertising to identify homes.  In fact, most newspapers now have an online version of their paper and feature a number of real estate ads...online.  

The other point worthy of note is that just putting your home on an online portal is not enough.  It must be supported by visual evidence such as good quality pictures.  You'd be surprised at the number of homes which are passed over without a second look because there are NO PICTURES of the interior of the home!

Myth #8...Buyers will always give a LOWER offer...Price HIGH to compensate

FACT:  Big mistake!  In a highly competitive market, pricing is key.  Missing the mark is costly in terms of time and money.  We are in a HYPER competitive market in many areas of the country including West Michigan.  What this means is that the competition includes homes which are being sold significantly BELOW market value as a result of distress sales such as foreclosure. 

In this type of environment, a home owner who wants to sell their home should be very conversant with the neighborhood value and recent history.  A competent real estate professional can provide this service and give valuable insights about what it will take to 'get the fish to bite'.

Then price your home to Sell!  Here's a little secret:  I've seen more MULTIPLE offers in the past 24 months than at any time during my 16 year history of selling real estate.  You can't keep a good home a secret.  Buyers will sniff out a good deal every single time!

Myth #9...I don't need to offer any Incentives.  My Home is a good deal!

FACT:  You may be right!  Your home might be a great deal.  However, the final judgement of that will lie in the hands of a potential buyer.  Today's home buyer is dealing with the prospect of rapidly changing lending standards which are impacting the amount of cash they need to have available for a transaction.

For most buyers, the ZERO down deal is gone! They have to bring in an investment of hard cash for the downpayment and then some more for closing costs and pre-paids.  So while you may be unwilling to offer an incentive...remember, that your competition likely is.  Sometimes, a bird in hand is worth two in the field.  The sale you make today, is better than the one you might make tomorrow.  

I hope that this post has shed some light about WHY a misunderstanding about the nature of the market can adversely impact the sale of your home.  I will be sharing more Myths in upcoming blog posts, so stay tuned! Wishing you a Happy New Year in advance and the joy of a successful home sale.  If we can be of help to you in this endeavor, please do not hesitate to contact Audu Real Estate.

Click Here to Read Part #1 of this series on the first THREE myths.

Click Here to Read Part #2 of this series on the next installment of myths...

We've all had the experience of over-eating and suffering a tummy ache as a result.   When the feast before our eyes overwhelms our better judgement, it’s easy to turn off the natural sensors which tell us that it is enough.

But we pay for it long after the tickling sensations which enticed our taste buds have been satiated.  It is during these moments of miserable regret that we ache for simple things.  The simplicity of being able to eat without pangs of pain and digest without regurgitation.

Excess is not limited to the arena of food, it’s become a large staple of modern western life.   

The challenge of Simplicity is simply this…we love our excess; even when we know it is not good for us.  The mega movement in Christianity today has produced the fastest growing, largest  churches in the history of America.

But what is the result of the excess?  How has excessive growth in the physical dimension impacted the transformation of our culture?  And to what degree is a form of contrived simplicity merely another type of outward process which creates a false legalism that shields our conscience from the areas that really matter?

In some ways, I think simplicity is complex…it’s far more nuanced than the wider path which seems so tempting in an arena of abundance. I think that  Simplicity is calling to an inner state of being…not merely a thing to do.

It’s a shedding, stripping and pruning which opens up the cluttered regions of a stuffed up existence so we can breathe and enjoy life fully and abundantly once again.  But it will not necessarily come easily…something as solid as simplicity requires a dedication of commitment and focus.  In other words a singleness of mind & body which we instinctively crave but often ignore.

*An unedited version of this blog post can be accessed on 'The Challenge of An Excellent Life"