Waiting for the word

Here is a couple of truths you need to know when it comes to selling and buying your home and the media.

Just so you know I was a journalist for 22 years so I have pretty good background in the business.

I hear from a lot of people in the Sarasota/Manatee area about the continuing downward spiral of the housing market which they are reading in the local and national media.

Two big points here, first housing is a local market.

Saying the housing market is down everywhere is like saying it is raining across the nation today. There are bound to be some sunny spots or snow.

So when the media reports national statistics they are just that national, not local. There are still hot spots houses in this market.

Next the local media are constantly playing catch up when it comes to the local market.

They were reporting a slight downturn in the local market and basically nothing major going on here when we were in a price free fall.

This gave sellers and real estate agent false hope and kept the asking prices much higher than they should have been.

Many of those same sellers are now looking at foreclosure, short sales and may have been on the market for more than a year.

The local media was at least two to three months behind in reporting in what was actually going on in the market place.

What this means to the current buyers is if they are waiting for the the local media and national media to start talking about a housing recovery they have probably missed the bottom of the market by several months.

The wise buyer knows there are bargains in both rising and falling markets they are not waiting for the local or national media to tell them when to act.

First get a good real estate agent who knows the market. Next, listen to your gut. If both are telling you it is a good deal it probably is.

Of course get a facts and figures to reinforce your decision.

If you are waiting for someone else to tell you when to move forward you may be standing there a long time and moving far too late.

All the best
Greg Owens PA
Keller Williams Realty of Greater Manatee
941.779.5149
greg@teamworksfla.com