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

More question...fewer answers. Anyway fewer that people want to hear.

I am getting more questions...which means people are thinking about it....The last drop lasted for a few days but headed right back up.  For those that keep on the edge as a rate watcher they could have caught a great rate.

Will this next rate cut make much of a difference?  Not likely to make much of a difference the real issue is going to be credit worthiness of the buyer anyway.  It they do not have the credit score to quality it is likely they still will not have the credit score to quality when the rate drops.

I hear other questions that make me smile.  Do I think the refund or stimulation package will help get the economy going again...no....you might see a bubble for one month...some will not spend it...others might apply it to their credit card debt...while others will do as they have always done go to K Mart or Wal Mart.

These packages are short term at best, the housing market is our new manufacturing companies.  We do not have the manufacturing plants we used to have.  Our economy is not based on the government giving us a few hundred dollars.  We need to see homes selling stimulating the economy with some real dollars.

One thing people have missed is the rates are really low....in most cases lower than their current rate.  Those that are in a ARM or Adjustable Rate Mortgage try to refinance right now....this will help you keep your home.

Remember your home has to appraise for the amount of the loan or you will have to make up the difference.  The people with he 125% of home value loans...you are in a very tough spot not only did you take more equity than the home was worth....you home is not long worth what you paid for it in most cases.  That means you probably can not re-finance at all without bringing a boatload of cash!

Just some thoughts...do I think the interest rate dropping next week will do anything? 

A better question is what do you think?

I just stumbled on some very old post cards.  I am going to scan them and put them up on our local real estate website.  It is amazing what you find when you buy items at an auction.

I attend auctions from time to time that are for contents unseen....you bid and what you get is what you get.  It is always pot-luck.  I only purchase items that look like they have seen their better day....and usually trunks.  I have kept a couple the rest go on Ebay and some other person get to enjoy them for a fee.

This particular auction was at a storage center.  I had never been to one so I just stopped by to see how it was conducted.  I really wasn't thinking of buying anything.  Then this old trunk was brought out of a locker.  It was like the steamer trunks....old...old steamer trunks.  It had material like canvas covering the outside, latches were not of todays style and the hinges were leather....not very good shape but still holding together.

The sale had very few people in attendance.  I figured it was the weather....snowing, cold and driving wasn't that good.  I met one fellow and we discussed real estate for a while and he walked away with my card...no purchases.  Never miss the opportunity to hand out my business card.  I was the only one to bid....$5.00....sold!  I parted with my money and they helped me load the big clunky trunk. 

When I arrived home my wife greeted me at the door and said, "you are not bringing that thing in my house."  OK...dear, I like sleeping inside!  I opened the truck and just a bunch of folded clothes, a picture of somebody and then neatly tied with string were some old envelopes near the bottom of the trunk.  I thought I would have someones personal treasures...letter from the war...love letters, birthday cards who knows. 

As it turns out these little gems were turn of the century post cards of the local downtown real estate of Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Key buildings, some are no longer called the same name.  Some are not longer there!  Some of the cards show horse drawn carriages.  Being in real estate these were of particular interest to me.  I guess 12 post cards depicting the downtown area and buildings.  I am going to create a new page on my website, scan the post cards and publish them to the web so local and West Michigan people can see what our area looked like in the late 1800's.  I sold the trunk to my neighbor....donated the cloths to some street people and kept the cards...tossed some old shoes.  I checked the address on the envelope of the cards.  The home has been gone a number of years and a drug store now occupies the site.  I thought I would return the cards and trunk after scanning the post cards...but have not a clue who the owner would be.

For me it was a very interesting find to see the landscape and changes in real estate over the last 100+ years.  Many people would not know the building they walk by are that old.

You never know what treasure may lurk at an auction.

How many times do people have to be hear information before they actually listen?  There is all kinds of data on our inability to retain information...within 24 hours we only remember 30% of what we heard yesterday!  My wife swears I have selective memory...but the truth is....I am just normal.

Well listen up.  There is nothing normal about this housing market.  Better yet it really has never been a better time to buy a home in the last 5 years!

Here are just a few of the reasons:

• More inventory...yes you see all those home for sale?  Well that mean selection...that mean you will most likely find exactly what you might have built!
• Better Pricing, people understand than when they have competition they have to have competitive pricing to attract buyers...so you can find the right home at the right price.
• Because of the selection and competitive pricing you may be able to buy a larger or newer home than you could have 5 years ago!!!! Bonus buyers win again.
• Financing....many lenders are being more careful because they have too....but your good credit can snag a loan for under 6% any day of the week on a 30 year fixed rate.  That too is fabulous.  The righ home, the right price and the financing.
• Moving...because fewer people are moving right now the moving companies have sharpened their pencils too....offering better rates...another Win.

So are you listening?  Sit for 15 minutes with a career professional and find out what is available in your market.  It may find the home you thought you couldn't afford is very affordable.

If you are in the West Michigan market give me a call.....I will bring my computer to your Kitchen table and we can look through some of the great opportunities together.  If you live in another area drop me an email...I will send you a name of a Professional in your area.

If you are paying rent...you should think about being a home owner...you increase your wealth with every payment, your investment will give you a retirement program and best of all you get to enjoy your investment everyday.

I hope you were listening...you can come back and read it again tomorrow....I told my wife that make my retention 60% the next day!  I don't think she believed me....

I hope you did...don't let this opportunity of home ownership slip away.  The market is perfect to help you realize the real estate investment of your lifetime.

Call Gary White FlexIt Realty or go to our website:  www.FlexItRealty.com search the local MLS free....no sign-up required.

I was reading blogs and haven't been able to post as often lately.  So I was catching up on some of my favorite Rainers to see what has been going on.

It struck me that sometimes people go a week or two and you don't see any posts...sometimes it stretches a bit longer and there they are again.  Sometimes they just never come back.

I made a call today....to someone I had lunch with a couple days ago.  We have business relationship that has lasted 5 years and I don't see it changing anytime soon for either one of us.  That's what I thought.

My call was greeted by Ginger...she has been a fixture for my business friends company for over 7 years now.  I asked for him....   A rather long silence, I asked Ginger you OK?  She responds....you didn't know did you?  Know what....Jack (my business buddy) was killed in an auto accident yesterday taking some product to one of our accounts.  I was stunned.  I gave her my condolences and hung up the phone.

This has happened 4 or 5 times to me.  I never expect this response.  Just before Christmas I spoke with my Mother about Christmas diner and a few days later she passes away from an accidental fall in her home.  A few years ago my neighbor of 5 years passed aways in the driveway of a heart attack...never said a word...

We never know about the Good Byes.  We hear live life like everyday is your last.  I hadn't thought to much about that until recently.  It might be my new battle cry....it sure is worth some thought.

Give that special someone an extra hug or compliment....you may never get to say it again to them.  I have a pretty high outlook on life and think we should enjoy every moment...

I enjoy real estate and all the great people I meet...I also will make a little more time for family.  I want to make sure I share some fun and smiles with them too.

Just some thoughts to ponder.

We can go a long ways on a compliment, especially when it is to your sellers.

We know how hard it is to keep a house ready to show.  We know what it takes to get a home ready to sell.  We know we point out all the obvious flaws that buyers will see and ask the seller to have them fixed.

We know all these things.  We know approximately how long it is going to take to sell too!  We have the statistics to share.  We know that pricing, curb appeal and staging the home will make the difference between selling and sitting on the market.

We know, but the seller doesn't they depend on us.  One of the things I have incorporated into every listing is saying "Thank You".  I know it sounds simple.  I don't mean saying thank you when you get the listing.  I mean saying thank you when the sellers do the things you ask to be done.

I also tell them that if they want all the pressure on me.....do these things.  I point out what needs to be repaired...cosmetic issues, traffic flow issues, cleaning issues, storage issues...do these things and you have done all I have asked....pricing right....then I must do the rest...the pressure is on me to perform.

Say Thank You.  Thanks all it takes to let your sellers know you noticed their hard work.  Then they know....who has to do the work...they did all you asked.

Pretty simple philosophy that works.  I also like to say thank you with a sale. :-)

How do you say Thank You?

Sometimes we get so caught up in our daily business an family issues we miss the other "good stuff". 

I thought about our area of West Michigan and it really is a prize of nature.  We have rivers for canoes, kayaking and power boating, fishing, swimming and in areas ice fishing, weather permitting.  Lake Michigan offers fishing, boating...beaches with thousands of miles of shoreline.

We have great bike trails for miles, walking paths too, state land, wild flowers, mushrooms, berries and the list goes on.  We have reasonably clean air for a metropolitan area.  We have wonderful medical services with trauma and acute care top notch.  We have special heath care too.

Our manufacturing is holding it's own but could be stronger like the rest of the state.  Our roads may have a few pot holes but they certainly are not the worst in the state.  We are blessed with a pretty good expressway system so getting from one side of town to the other is reasonably safe and quick considering the number of mile the metro Grand Rapids area covers.

We have high end entertainment opportunities,great restaurants, two minor league teams representing baseball and hockey. 

We have all this within our reach and how much of it do we regularly enjoy?  We have services...and large market affiliate news stations providing amble coverage of local and national events.  Grand Rapids being the second largest city in Michigan gets it's share of specialty events and exhibitions too. 

We have our own home grown actors that participate regularly in local plays.  We have so many options to have a great day out with the family. 

We have a wide variety of churches and private schools, our public schools are working hard to exceed the national education standards.

Thinking of relocating to West Michigan or the Grand Rapids area drop us an email for a free guide to the area or let us provide you with links on the web...go to our website www.FlexItRealty.com and look under links.

We have all heard the old cliche' "when you are dealt lemons make lemonade".  It is very hard to sell lenonade when you have a tomato stand.  Many homes have set on the market with seller's wanting to sell following the market prices down, down, down and still nothing.

I took over a listing that has been on the market for nearly two years.  The sellers are more than anxious.  They moved, are living in half the home they moved out of and renting in another community.  The original listing agent did not promote the property but they liked him and stuck with him.  He had a great presentation, long time in the business and most of all he told them what they want to hear.

Well the lip service came to the point with the seller's finally realizing it was only lip service, after a two year market stalemate.  So they decided to make a change...they were given my name...we interviewed each other and I can actually help them.  They want to sell....but from the third day the smiles went to daily phone calls...wanting immediate updates....I was very understanding these people are anxious...they want to sell they want something to happen!  They are not going to have the same thing happen twice!  Lip service that is...

I went over the process and the "how to" section of the marketing process along with what it takes.  Not everything can happen immediately.  They felt like they were lead along so now they are going to do the leading...anyway that is what they intended to do.

After two weeks of this along with daily emails....I asked for another meeting.  This time I explained how and why I operate the way I do, what is takes to help them.  I can not be micro managed, I can not get anything done for anyone if I had all my clients calling and sending me emails everyday!

I offered them some choices...if they believed I was the Realtor to sell their property let me do it...I will keep them informed with weekly email updates.  They can certainly call me if they have questions but....let me do my work for them and my other clients.  They laughed when I plopped down the emails and phone log records.  I didn't see the humor, it was an impressive stack for such a short time.

The point is we have to be allowed to do our jobs.  We have more than one client but we have to balance the clients so they know we always have them on our minds and want to sell their property too!

We also have to understand that many homes have been on the market for months with no activity.  We must accept the sellers frustration of not selling and help them understand the market with facts...not lip service.  It is not all because of price....even though that may be many agents only salivation to explain the lack of showings.  Sometimes it is the lack of agent promotion that promotes the in-activity.

Reality is hitting many seller's right between the eyes.  The home they had their eye on to purchase may have sold to someone else!  They have resolved themselves to "maybe" we'll still, maybe.  I find the market to be sporadic...even with a very positive guy like me...the truth is we have to do more to get results....status quo is no-longer acceptable to seller's and shouldn't be to us either.

Is this the market or the reality real estate?  Many areas are still doing quite well we even have pockets of consistent sales...but it is pockets.  I understand the cycle and am working hard to make sure to help my sellers stay positive....with realistic pricing and marketing efforts to match.  What are you doing?  Want to share?

Sellers do not always understand what the market is saying....

Sellers read the newspapers, they see the TV commentary, they notice all the for sale signs and somehow it does not apply to their situation.  Hearing what the market is saying is a very good strategy to help yourself and agent sell.  Unless you have a very good reason to be the highest price home in your area the only thing you are doing is helping the other homes sell first!

Selling "As Is" you might as well put a "offer me anything" sign in the front yard.  This means to buyers there is something wrong with your home and you won't fix it!  It also means the buyer is going to be very cautious and offer lower even if they don't find anything....because they don't know what is hidden.

Replacing carpet....never...why...simple it will be the wrong color, the wrong pattern, the wrong something.  If you have worn carpet and many homes do...some even have stain too, if small children or pets are present.  Offer a carpet allowance...have the carpet quoted in a medium grade...not the cheapest and not the most expensive....the buyer can put money with your allowance to upgrade if they want too.  This also means a home warranty might be the ticket...it will cover most emergency repairs on major appliances for a minimal service call fee or replace if the item is not repairable.  This includes the roof, furnace, hot water heater and much more.  This gives the buyer a more comfortable feeling and depending if you purchase the option will also cover the seller during the selling process before you close your sale.

You can't kiss a frog and have it turn into a prince or a mansion.  You have to work with what your have so if yours is green make it the best green frog in the neighborhood by having it clean, staged and ready to show.

Use a professional to help you understand the market if you just can not see why your home is not selling.  Remember selling without a marketing strategy is like driving a car without a steering wheel....who knows the direction you will go?  One this is for sure....you are going to crash!

So selling in a flooded market means listening to what your market is saying.  Price your home correctly, offer repair or replacement allowance if necessary and sell your home and buy the home you really want.  Remember you may sell for a bit lower...but you are going to purchase at a lower price too....so if you are moving up in price range your growth as the market changes will be high and you will end up with a gain.  One thing is constant...the market always changes.

FlexIt Realty (TM) a full service real estate company. all rights reserved copyright 2008

I love the GPS...but I have to tell you it is not always accurate.  I am one of those direction sensitive people.  I know where I am and what direction I am facing,  But that said, I do not know every address or street in town even after being here over 30 years.

What I do know is how to plug an address into my GPS and say shortest or fastest route!  Then it says....sorry that street does not exist....now what?

I have had this happen a few times with new subdivisions where the roads are not recorded for GPS routing.  I have also had the street engineers block off a perfectly good street for traffic control.  I have had the DOT move the exit to the other side of the express way too!  With most anything we have to adjust to little nuances the GPS is no exception.

What to do when the address is not listed.  When an address is not listed I find a close cross street based on the directions my prospect has given me.  We can be talked into any address...that is what cell phones are for...right.  Of course you could always call "On Star"

I have zipped past my exit that was on the other side of the road and went an extra 10 miles before the next turn-around...legal that is.

The GPS has many options....voice...male or female...mine is female more soothing for me.  You can display gas stations, eateries, places of interest, air ports, golf courses...they have everything...but always a but.  They require you listen and in traffic they can be very distracting.

Mine always blasts something right during a news broadcast that I was listening too and I miss the key point!

Mine has another very important feature.  It has traffic warning is there is a problem on the highway.  This has been a real time saver.  It will offer alternative routes to work around the traffic problem.

The GPS can be used to mark destinations, calculate distances even get out of being lost by changing the magnification to see more streets of less local streets but focus on main roads.

I like them....do you have one?

I have found a unique opportunities by wearing emblem or logo clothing with my company Logo.  It helps people do one of two thing....approach and as real estate question or leave me alone.  There is no middle ground.

I like the free advertising is does for me.  I initially was a bit self-conscious of wearing a embroidered shirt or jacket, sweat shirt or tee shit.  That has long gone the first time someone approached me asking for market information.

I get two or three listing opportunities a year and 50 or 60 conversations that start just because I wear the emblem or logo clothing.  I have had one person tell me they did not like my company because of an agents actions....all I can do is apologize and offer to help make it right.  It was still an opportunity....a conversation that would not have taken place if I had not worn the shirt.

I like the dress shirts, button down collar....yes I still like the ease of a button down collar.  I am not wearing tails so it works for what I do.  I can go for a walk, ride my bike, roller blade anything in my company tee....and it does the same thing.  It creates the opportunity for conversation.  I even put my website and phone number on it!  I have no shame.....if I get a buyer or listing...even hits on my website, it's cheap advertising.  Very cheap.  I am going to give these nifty Tee's away.  It has my company name and logo on the front and "SOLD" on the back with my company name, website and phone number.  I also added...."your's next"?

Are you wearing specialized clothing?  How does it work for you?