MAN BITES DOG: GETS NEW HOUSE!

A lot of people and news outlets have been going on and on about how bad things are, especially in the housing market. You would almost think that they were a pack of wild dogs circling us, keeping us down with their negative energy and thoughts. But here is the reality: things aren't all that bad. Yes, there are a lot of people unemployed, and a lot of people upside down in their mortgages, but there are still a lot of people who can get that dream home they have been looking for. Did you know that right now you can get a mortgage with a credit score of only 620? That's pretty low. And did you know that you can still get no money down mortgages? Also, did you know that interest rates are still at 5% or just a little above?
Don't let those dogs nipping at your heels keep you down. Bite Back! Achieve the American dream of home ownership. Take advantage of those tax credits while you still can. There are some unbelievable bargains on homes in the area. Wyoming and Grandville have some great homes at great prices for sale. Also, lots of great deals around the Medical Mile downtown, as well as the Kentwood area. Let's put a muzzle on those dogs barking doom and gloom!
If you are comteplating buying or selling you need to talk to a realtor who is educated on what is going on in the market and willing to take some time to explain it to you and how it can benefit you. Call me and I promise you will see the difference in using a professional realtor.

Clueless Agents

I guess I'm going to be a little brutal this morning, but I hope no one takes offense. Because when it comes right down to it, it's your money and time we're talking about here.
At our morning meeting today we discussed how it seems that most real estate agents aren't taking the time to educate their buyers and sellers about what is going on. One particular instance was a realtor put an offer on a home, for some clients, that was $20,000 less than the listing price. Now the offering agent had did his homework and found that comparable homes in that area were selling for the amount that they offered. The listing agent said they would not even consider the offer because it was too low. Now conventional wisdom says that they should of, at least, made a counter offer. But no, they didn't even do that. Obviously this agent was more concerned about getting the listing for these peoples home than he was educating them to the point where they could sell their home. Too many agents are worried about having listings more than they are worried about what's doing best for the people they represent.
I take pride in knowing that when you hire me I will show you with third party material about what is happening. According to the experts, our current home values are going to drop another 10 to 20%, and not get back to where they are right now until May of 2013. Home values will not get back to where they were in 2006 until 2023 at the earliest. If you want to know the specifics as to why this happened I will be happy to share that information with you. Just call me.
If you need to, or want to, sell your home you need to hire a professional agent that will not play games, fill you full of false hope, or promise you pie in the sky that can't be delivered.
On a brighter note, I really enjoyed the commercial shoot yesterday. The commercial will be seen on ESPN, TNT, & WXMI to name just a few. Look for a balding, shiny head in the back.
Take care everyone and have a great day.
Dave Johnson
Your Real Estate Expert

If You're Buying or Selling You Need A Realtor. A Good Realtor.

I've come across people who were either buying a home or selling a home who have said that they did not want to work with a Realtor. Fine. I can accept that in some cases. I've also come to learn that almost everyone says that they know someone who is a Realtor. Well fortunately, and unfortunately, realty is just like every other profession. You have the people who take it seriously and work hard at it and you have the people who treat it like a hobby. Let me tell you what makes a good Realtor and why you need one. A good Realtor is going to educate you about the whole process. From what the market is doing to what the steps will be to buy that dream home or sell your current one. A good Realtor will be prepared with third party material and statistics to back up what they're telling you. A good Realtor will lay out their marketing plan for selling your home. A good Realtor will connect you with a lender who will educate you on the mortgage process and provide you with a list of all the expenses you can anticipate including closing costs and other fees. A good Realtor will be in constant communication with you so you will always know where you are in the process.

As most of you know, several years ago I worked with a company that taught Brokers and Realtors how to make more money. The number one thing we would tell them was to communicate with their clients. People want to know what is going on. If they have hired you as their representative they have a right to know what you're doing for them. It only makes sense.

That's why there is no doubt in my mind that no one will work harder than me to sell your home or find the home you want to buy. I will lay out for you our approach to marketing your home and getting the best price possible. I will educate you on the process every step of the way so you will completely understand what is going on. I also can reccommend lenders who will educate you on the mortgage process. And, I promise that you will hear from me quite often until our mission has been accomplished.

Right now is still a great time to get that first home or move up in the market. We can still align you with mortgage professionals who can offer you mortgages with no money down. The $8000 tax credit for new home buyers is still there for a short time. We also have access to foreclosed homes that have not hit MLS listings yet. This means that we can get a jump on those homes before most Realtors even know they're out there.

If I can help in any way, or you are ready to see what you can do, please contact me at either: 616-719-8680 or at DavidJohnson@realtyexecutives.com.

I Wish I Was A First Time Home Buyer

Yes, I really do wish I was a first time home buyer. Never in our history has it been a better time to buy your first home. With the current depreciation of homes your buying power has never been better. Current home values are as much as 40% less of what they were 4 short years ago. There is also what's known as a "buyers market" going on right now. In other words, you are in the drivers seat as far as what you want in a home and what you would like to pay. There is some bad news though. The $8000 government assistance for first time home buyers will expire at the end of April. With this assistance the government is basically paying your first year of house payments! Also, according to industry sources like Morgan Stanley, interest rates will be rising at the end of March. Morgan Stanley predicts that they will rise to at least 8% while other industry companies are predicting at least 7%. That's why now is the time to buy that first home.
Did you know that 3 years ago there were over 4000 realtors in our area? Last year that number dropped to 1800! Of that 1800 half, 900, only sold 2 homes the whole year. Our team sold over 70 homes in the same time span. Our team has over 45 years of experience and will use that knowledge to market and sell your home. So, if you want to buy that first home, or buy another home, or want to sell your property you need to contact me at 616-719-8680.

Hey, I'm losing my home!

Those few words used to be dreaded by every homeowner who was financially unable to afford their home any longer. But these words are being uttered more and more everyday. Not just by the people who have lost their jobs, but also by the people who have come to realize that they are too far over their heads when it comes to their mortgage. What I mean by that is that they have come to realize that their home is not worth what they paid for it and it's going to be many years until they have the upper hand on their mortgage.
There is good news though. If you are in danger of losing your home you can do what is called a "short sale". What this means is that your mortgage company will allow a buyer to purchase your home for less than what you owe on it. Also, if you can afford your monthly payments but want to downsize this can be an avenue for you as well.
This is a great way to get that nagging feeling of drowning in debt off your back. Also, if you tell your mortgage company you are working on a short sale they will usually stop the foreclosure process. They would rather have you sell your home than take it back. It costs them over $50,000 to foreclose on your home.
If you can relate to either of these situations you need to contact me right away. We at Realty Executives are short sale experts. Let us show you how to take care of this pressing situation in a way that works out best for all involved. Call me at: 616-719-8680