My
professional advice is that you can do everything in your power to
make the move you want to make in three years, THIS YEAR! I can hear
you groaning right now and some of you are going to not even read the
rest of this post because it seems so impossible. My message to you
is simple. If you thought you could save thousands of dollars by
moving this year, instead of in 3 years, wouldn't you at least
consider it? I know I would. This is why selling today just may be
the perfect situation for you and your family.
Rates
are still low and this helps you two-fold. One, the buyer and afford
more house than they will be able to in years to come as rates go up,
which means if you are commanding a top dollar, the buyer may be able
to afford to meet your price. Two, it means you can afford more home
as well and if you get a lower rate today, than you would in years to
come, you save thousands, if not tens of thousands of dollars over
the life of your loan.
Inventory
is low. Yes, there are homes on the market but there's also a lot of
junk still for sale. The inventory is begging for homes that have
been well-maintained, are priced appropriately and are ready to go.
The sooner you can get on the market, the better. The longer folks
wait in the year, the more competition you will see and that will
affect your pricing. Also, do all the things your Realtor tells you
to do. This is not the time to skimp on freshening up paint, staging or
demanding an unrealistic price. This is the time to SELL, so that
you can move on to the house you want to be in for the next 10 years
and not be stuck in your current home for another 10 months!
New
construction is coming back. With that means added competition for
you, the existing homeowner. In our area of NC, construction starts
have been slower than anticipated, which means you will have time to
sell before buyers are lured with sunshiny new bells and whistles and
incentives that builders have to offer. Currently, buyers have not
had the choice of new construction do the recession, but now, its as
if new ares are back on the market and everyone else getting in line
to see what will be offered. More new construction competition means
lower prices for existing homes. Even if lots are smaller; more
neighborhood amenities, interior upgrades and customization will
entice buyers from existing inventory.
Historically,
Spring is a great time to sell. Families looking to relocation will
use the Spring to identify and typically purchase their new home,
spending summer adjusting and moving, so that the school year starts
with few hitches. Not only does the above reason factor in to typical
Spring activity, but we all know that Spring the the Carolinas does
nothing but good when it comes to the curb appeal of the home. Who
can resist the Carolina jasmine, azaleas blooming around the porch
and daffodils and tulips adorning every flowerpot and flower bed
around the home? Something about Spring is magical, creation at it's
best and all on the backdrop of a Carolina blue sky. (Please do not
take this as a UNC compliment as most of you know I am a die-hard NC
State fan.) :)
All of
this being said, I know all too well, that moving is a daunting and
overwhelming task for most. I am currently helping many sellers to
ready their homes by connecting them with painters, stagers, handymen
and window cleaners. This is a team effort for sure, but the
ultimate decision lies in your hands so that you can accomplish what
is best for you and your family. As always, I am happy to consult
with you, discuss options and plans of attack, and if afterwards we
decide this isn't the right time, that's okay too. I look forward to
hearing from you and please feel free to post questions or contact me
privately for specific inquiries.
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