Gary White FlexIt Realty~Real Estate & Updates, Grand Rapids & West Michigan

Seller's can become very anxious in a buyer's market.

Buyers have started to take longer to make up their minds on property choices.  Writing a purchase contract isn't just a simple process any more.  Or should I say....with so many home choices buyers are seeing more homes before making a final choice.

This means that seeing more homes, offers a wider knowledge base of features and availability for a given price range.  Buyers are becoming more educated with the Internet and the simple act of seeing more homes.

Right now it is fair to say that agents are seeing more homes than they did in the past because of buyer demand to see them.  The average number of homes shown just a few years ago was, to any give buyer was 6-8 homes.  Today I hear agents are showing 25-50 before a buyer makes a decision.

So once a seller gets and offer...they too know that the economy is affecting buyer credit.  They want the sale closed so they can move-on to a new home or life.  Many times I am the second or third realtor listing the property.   

I am hired to get their home sold and in most cases hadn't had an offer before the one on the table now.  This morning I had a seller call to check on that status of her sale.

The seller asks, have you heard anything...yesterday were the property inspections.  I don't usually hear anything the same day of inspections unless something is wrong.  So no news is good news. 

The seller turned down this same offer 90 days ago.  Then we found the condo that is a dream come true, for the seller.  So now the seller can't sign the papers fast enough!

The buyer still has to do the inspections and appraisal.

90 days ago the seller couldn't see the same number as an acceptable sell price.  Now the seller would be willing to take another $5000.00 off if they could close tomorrow.

It is the difference between being motivated and not.  Buyer's have anxiety and so do Seller's.

How many anxious sellers do you have?

Are YOU a licensed Michigan Realtor or Broker?  Want to do more than survive? Thrive in this market, give me a call.  Always confidential, just conversation, but could be the best career move you ever made!

"Help is only a Call or Click away!"©2006-2009

Call Toll Free:  877-667-4699
Local: 616-784-2360 
Email: garywhite@FlexItRealty.com

It used to be that you could take information and believe it to be factual.

Now you better check.  You might not be getting all the information.  Michigan's unemployment rate has dropped to 15.1 this past week.  That's like saying it rain in the desert for 2 minutes.  Nice to have the rain but it didn't really impact the environment or drought much.  This unemployment rate is almost 5 points over the national average.  People have been struggling with unemployment and making ends meet.

When you ask information it isn't always that people forget they are behind in house payments or they let a car go back to the bank...they are embarrassed.  The information is personal and makes them feel like they shouldn't have to discuss this painful topic.

Part of the rapport building process is trust...but that trust will only carry you so far.  If a client has a painful secret...they still are not going to share it.

The credit reports usually show all the missteps people have taken financially.  Then each one of these missteps has to be reconciled.

While taking clients throught the thumbs up process of getting financing I have helped them keep some of their information personal.

I have made it a habit of letting the lender and client confront these issues without me involved.  Letting personal information stay personal.  If the lender runs into a roadblock, I'll step in to help the client meet their goal of buying or selling, that's my job.

Helping people understand before they meet with a lend what questions they can expect is another part of my job.  The other thing that clients find very helpful is the paperwork checklist.  I use a checklist so clients will know what they will need when they meet with a lender.

The checklist helps buyers identify each document that will be needed.  They are prepared when they meet with a lender for the first time.  I also offer then a questionaire guide to help them ask the right questions for each style loan available in today's market.

Here is an option for buyer's that I have on my website...a Mortgage Calculator...not just one calculator...I have 20 different mortgage calculators.  http://www.flexitrealty.com/mortgageinfo/calculator.html You can identify interest, length of payments (years) down payment and purchase with some very interesting variables.

If you are finding the New Normal isn't normal for you,  check some of the other features on my website that may offer you some answers to your questions.   For Example here is a link to buying tips. http://www.flexitrealty.com/RealEstateTips/HomeBuying/default.html  Here is a link for Selling Tips http://www.flexitrealty.com/RealEstateTips/HomeSelling/default.html 

Hope this helps you to understand the New Normal.

Live in Grand Rapids or West Michigan area, not under contract?  Like to sell or buy a home....give me a call.  It could save you thousands in your next real estate transaction.  Always confidential, Never Pressured.

"Help is only a Call or Click away!"©2006-2009

Call Toll Free:  877-667-4699
Local: 616-784-2360    Email: garywhite@FlexItRealty.com