Archive for tag Lisa tremaine
September 25, 2009 at 04:16 PM
Is it really a buyer’s market? I don’t think so. I mean, all the signs, technical and logical, point to a buyer’s market. The indicators are there. Inventory is up, supply outweighs demand, but does it really? Buyers now have an overwhelming amount of choices and decisions to make. The fear of making a bad decision has them making no decision at all. Homes that are “no-brainer’s” are flying off the shelves at a record pace.
So what makes a home a “no-brainer”? It’s simple. A home that has very few or no objections. Buyers are not coming through a house to buy that house. They are coming through a house to merely check it off their list. If you have put up with, say, having to walk through a bedroom to get to the only bathroom in the house, that doesn’t mean a new buyer is just going to overlook it.
Homes that leave no room for protest are gone, often before they even come on the market. And if you don’t think that’s going on, I personally know of at least 2 homes in just the last week that have sold without even being listed on the open market. Really.
My fellow agents and I are constantly making calls to neighborhoods where a buyer lost out or where the buyer wants to be, because they are not finding what they want on the market. Most homeowners find this hard to believe- I wish they could follow some of us around for a day. Many of my seller clients do get to see first hand what buyers are looking at in addition to their house. It’s the easiest way for me to show my clients how important it is to be one of the best, if not the best home out there.
Ask any buyer who has had to compete for a house in the last 6 months how they like this buyer’s market! They’ll probably look at you like you’re crazy. Between overpriced homes with unrealistic sellers, foreclosures, short sales, fixer-uppers and markets that are still declining somewhat, this buyer’s market is taking it’s toll on potential homeowners! Call it a buyer’s market if you want, after all, it IS a great time to buy. Great rates, tax credit, low prices, it’s all good. Just remember, everybody wants the best house, for the best price, right away. If you want it, be prepared to get serious and put your best foot forward.
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Lisa Tremaine
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September 04, 2009 at 07:16 PM
Sometimes when I’m helping my clients, particularly buyers, I can’t help but wonder if they are really ready to buy a home. Are they only buying because of the tax credit that’s being offered? Are they buying to fix and then tango with making a buck selling later?
When did buying a house become an investment in anything other than your happiness? I have to say, I do come across many buyers who are buying for just that. To make an improvement in their life. The differences between the two kinds of buyers, as well as the experience each has, is like night and day. One is careful, thoughtful and celebratory, while the other is tense, hesitant, and lacks any sort of resolve or finale.
Are you ready to be the kind of buyer you want to be?
I recently read this article that I thought summed it up quite nicely.
“I think I could write a successful blog just on what I read in the Chicago Tribune each day. Why I even read the Tribune is a quandary to me, given that the paper reads more like the Huffington Post these days. From time to time I enjoy real estate writer Mary Umberger, although I think she’s a little pessimistic on the market, and do think she ignores the real reasons that people buy houses for. And she ignores me when I write to her with article ideas.” To read more, click here.
Posted by:Lisa Tremaine
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July 30, 2009 at 02:53 PM
Buying a house today can be a simple and easy process, even for a first time home buyer. It’s as simple as choosing to work with a Realtor® as your buyer’s agent! How else are you going to get the information you need to make one of the biggest purchases of your life?
First, it’s not out of the ordinary to interview a couple of agents. Arrange a meeting with one to talk about what you’re looking for and to find out how that agent works. They’ll explain the process to you and go over any concerns that you have. Being comfortable with your agent will make your purchase a much more enjoyable experience.
Second, when you start looking at homes, your buyer’s agent can point out adverse facts to you that you may not have considered otherwise. Things like future resale value, furniture placement in a vacant house, or how in the world you’re going to paint that 16 foot wall over the stairway! But most important, your buyer’s agent can help you negotiate the best deal possible for you!
Did you know that if your agent isn’t working for you as a buyer’s agent, they have to work in the best interest of the seller? How is that helping you? Doesn’t the seller already have an agent working for them? You bet!
Take advantage of the services your agent offers to help you. After all, it doesn’t cost a buyer anything! The only thing your agent will ask in return is that you work with them exclusively. Happy house hunting, and I’m always open for an interview!
Posted by:Lisa Tremaine
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July 15, 2009 at 05:07 PM
Wow, homes are really moving! You can see here that the first time home buyers are starting to heat up the market. One reason we’re seeing so much traffic in these price ranges is the first time buyer tax credit.
Click graph below for full size
Buyers have to be in their house by the end of November in order to take advantage of the credit. And what better time to buy? The interest rates are low and prices are affordable. Call me to see any home out there!
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July 06, 2009 at 08:02 PM
For those of you who are still on the fence when it comes to buying a house this year, time is ticking away! The $8,000 tax credit for first time buyers is only good if the buyer is in their new home by November 30th. That means you have roughly 100 days left to find the house and write the offer! Remember, once you get an offer accepted it will take at least 30 days to get it to a closing. Lately it’s taking closer to 45 days, and that’s if nothing comes up in the meantime to delay things further. If you haven’t written on something by the middle of October, there’s a good chance the $8,000 tax credit could pass you by! Interest rates are still great, prices are down, and there is good inventory out there. But it’s going fast. Get in touch with me today for help finding your new home, ltremaine@shorewest.com. What are you waiting for?
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April 16, 2009 at 03:36 PM
Many buyers today don’t realize there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to buying a home. There are many pieces of the puzzle that all need to fit together in order for the transaction to be successful. Having a real estate consultant coordinate your transaction will help ensure a smooth one.
Choosing an agent to help you can be challenging. It’s important to choose someone that is knowledgeable about the market you’re looking to buy in, and they should also be able to talk with you about their negotiation strategy. Most importantly, you should be able to relate to them well.
After all, buying a home is one of the biggest decisions most people make and you’ll be sharing a lot of information with your agent.
The most common decisions that need to be made at the “offer table” include the following:
- What price are you going to offer?
- What are you going to offer for earnest money?
- When are we going to close?
- What kind of financing are we going to use?
- What kind of testing and inspections are we going to have?
There are many other smaller decisions to be made as well, both in the offer and following inspections, and they all play an intricately important part. Finally, once you have negotiated an accepted offer, you have to start working on putting your puzzle together. Coordinating everything in the offer to purchase in the time frame allotted and communicating with all the players is where your agent earns their commission. Down to the last detail, they’re there to help you through from starting your home search to the closing table and beyond. If you have any further questions about what to expect when purchasing a home, please get in touch with me at 262-719-9649, or ltremaine@shorewest.com.
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Lisa Tremaine
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April 07, 2009 at 08:17 PM
…To make a sale? You guessed it- one. Believe it or not, I am working with several buyers who are running into the frustrations of competing offers.
On average, about 40% of the homes they would like to see in the Lake Country area already have accepted offers! Yes, in today’s market. That’s because many buyer’s think alike. Who doesn’t want the house with good sized rooms, nice yard, clean and dry basement, and some updates? Oh, and at the best price!
Did you know that Shorewest.com averages between 10,000 and 12,000 unique visitors every day? A unique visitor is just that, unique. If I go on the website 3 times in one day, I’m still counted as one unique visitor. Each visitor looks at an average of 30 homes! Let’s say that 10% of 10,000 people are looking in each $100,000 increment. If you’re looking between $100,000 and $200,000 you are one of 1,000 people looking for the best home in that price range.
To the seller’s out there, there are 3 things that can be controlled.
- Price 2.Condition 3.Availability. When you pay attention to all 3 things and they’re realistic for the market they’re in, the buyer’s will come in droves. Most of them have been looking for a long time and have seen a number of houses. They know a good value when they see one, and are ready to jump on it.
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Lisa Tremaine
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April 07, 2009 at 08:11 PM
Whether you’re thinking about buying or selling, 2009 will definitely shine! Think about a time when you’ve made a great decision but didn’t know how great it really was until you looked back on it. This is the year that buyers, and some sellers, are going to look back and think exactly that!
Let’s say you want to buy a new home but aren’t sure you can sell your existing home. First, if you are considering moving up to a larger home, 2009 is a fantastic time to sell! You may not have as much equity in your home as you had a couple of years ago, but you will be able to get a terrific deal on your new home. For example, you own a $250,000 house and need to sell it to buy a larger $350,000 home. While it's true that in 2006 you might have sold your home for $260,000, you also would have paid $375,000 for your new house. In other words, in this market you may lose $10,000 on your current home, but you will be save $25,000 on your new home, for a net gain of $15,000!
Read the complete article >
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April 02, 2009 at 08:44 PM
Shorewest - Lake Country
1296 Summit Avenue
Oconomowoc, WI 53066
Contact me
Office: 262.567.8351
Direct Line: 262.567.8302 X375
Agent Mobile: 262.391.7373
Email:
ltremaine@shorewest.com
Website:
lisa.shorewest.com
View Lisa's Posted Articles
Whether you're buying, selling or simply exploring the possibilities of homeownership, you'll want to work with a professional who can provide the most reliable market information and expert advice. Now more than ever, you need a qualified REALTOR® who is skilled at networking, pricing and negotiation.
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