If it wasn't apparent, I rarely update this section...

I guess it brings me to back to the point of, what difference does it make what I say? 

I'm selling homes.  I love my job.  I love this market.  I couldn't ask for more loyal clients.  I don't work with everbody.  I work with people who need my help.  Time DOES NOT = Money.  Time = Opportunity.  Opportunities make money.  If you want money, you need to take the opportunity to meet a good agent.  That takes time. 

There is never a HOOP too high for me to jump through.  Everybody's tested how many hoops I'll jump through to get it to work, and as you can see, I can jump pretty high, because I want to. 

In life the biggest difference is who can jump through the highest HOOP, and who doesn't want to.

Give me your HOOPS, short sale, lost job, retirement, lost family member, market woes.  It will always work out in the end. 

Holland's Rip Roaring Market

Today we are at a near 3yr low for market inventory which represents a 7 month supply.  At the current pace we will be down to 5 Month supply in the next 90 days.  This is awesome news for Holland homeowners looking to buy or sell their home before the next upsurge creates an increase in mortgage rates, or the possibility of upsizing to a bigger home!

Talk to me for you personalized market snapshot.

James

NEW TOOL!

Click the link to find out what homes have been selling in your Holland neighborhood!

http://www.homeinsight.com/Widget/default.asp?QCNR68OQONXU

A great new tool for you to see real time data of homes in Holland Michigan, and what's recently sold in your area!

James
Holland Residential Real Estate Specialist
Waukazoo / Marigold Woods Specialist

NEW TOOL!

Click the link to find out what's been selling in your neighborhood!

http://www.homeinsight.com/Widget/default.asp?QCNR68OQONXU

A great new tool for you to see real time data of what's for sale, and what's recently sold in your area!

Statistically November is one of the slowest times of the year.  Tell that to my sellers who had a total of 18 showings during the month.  That may seem like only a few, but I also wrote numerous purchase agreements.  We sold 53 homes in the month!  With over 600 homes coming off of the market, there is hardly a better time to list than now!  I know there's the holidays, and it's tough to keep the house clean.  That's not a good reason to do what everybody else does in West Michigan, Which is to take your home off of the market, skip the best time to sell, and wait until spring when the thousands of others flood the market with their half motivation!  What are you waiting for?  The first of the year?  What changes then, only the last digit on checks and letters, the rest is the same!  Don't delay get off of the bench and play today!  Here's another good reason:  http://money.cnn.com/2008/12/03/news/economy/treasury_mortgage_rates/index.htm

RATES MAY DROP TO 4.5%!!!  BUYERS ARE GOING TO COME FROM EVERY DIRECTION! 

You'll see below where we were all stoked about the uproar of the spring/summer market.  Truth is...Winter is statistically the greatest time to list a home!!!

YES, I SAID IT!

WINTER TIME! 

Think about it.  West Michigan hosts thousands of sales per year.  Holland Real Estate is blanketed by the large percentage of out of area buyers.  Do you think they care when they're buying their dream vacation home?  Kids in school, busy jobs, vacations...Those aren't their worries.  Their worries remain the same, find a home when it's the right time to buy. 

As a seller, less homes on the market, foreclosures aren't competing, builders arent showcasing, and best of all, buyers in the winter are serious, motivated buyers!  With less homes to look at.

Statistically we half about 50% of the inventory, but sales only decrease 20-25% per month!  Do the MATH!

-James

 

It Certainly is a Wild Time for Holland Real Estate.  Wild for both buyers and sellers right now!  8/1/08-9/3/08 Let’s look at the stats for Holland Homes on the Northside US31-Lakeshore.

·         New homes for sale

87

Avg Asking Price 248k

Avg Days on Market 1619

·         Homes Pending Sales

31

Avg Price 219k

Avg Days on Market 86

·         Sold Homes

31

Avg Selling Price 190k

Avg Days on Market 109

·         Homes removed from market

19

Avg Asking Price 260k

Avg Days on Market 185

·         Homes with tough luck (it takes luck with other agencies) - Expired

44

Avg Asking Price 273k

Avg Days on Market 196

Time to analyze this data…It looks like people who are currently unlucky in the selling are asking almost 50% more for their home than the homes that are selling!  Would you pay $10 for a BigMac when the McD's is down the street is selling them for $7???  Would you pay 3.80/gal of gas when the Station down the street is selling it for $3/gal???

This market is not about what features your home has that others don't, it's about what buyers want to pay for, and what they don't.  It's not a firesale, we're not giving homes away, it's a sale and the best product is going to be sold at the best price.

PRICE it RIGHT!

As compared with years passed, we are right on track for late summer, in fact the most recent numbers tell us we are a bit ahead of track.  That means if people keep buying we should see a price increase in the next 12months at the current rate!

PRICE it RIGHT!

Home prices, Asking prices, Recent Sales, Appraisals, Assessors, Realtors Opinions, are all based on SOLD homes!  PRICE it RIGHT the first time, you'll earn thousands in the end!

James

I recently went out to determine what the neighbors of my sellers are thinking about the area they live in.  This is what 25 homeownvers said...

1. Favorite thing about living there?
    A. Lots of Trees - 13 Votes
    B. Quiet - 7 Votes

    C. Close to the Holland Beach - 3 Votes

    D. Nice people, nice neighbors - 2 Votes
2. How long have you lived here?
    A. 0-5 yrs - 7 Votes
    B. 5-10 yrs - 6 Votes
    C. 10-20 yrs - 6 Votes
    D. 20+ yrs - 6 Votes
3. What would you do differently if you bought again?
    A. Nothing - 15 Votes
    B. Less trees - 4 votes
    C. More Garage Space - 3 Votes
    D. Buy Smaller - 1 Vote (tied with add Bath, add Sunroom, add Landscaping)

So here's the verdict - People in Marigold/Waukazoo Woods love their Homes, they love the quiet wooded neighborhood, they love to stay for quite a while.  It's not just close to the lake, it's well wooded, it's not just well wooded, but it's quiet, it's not just quiet, but friendly. 

Find a good neighbor for my sellers, they need good people to move in!

James

188 West Nineteenth Street

Excellent 4 Bedroom home in a very quiet area of West Holland. Only 2 blocks from Van Raalte. Large home features tremendous square footage with a 3 bedrooms up, and one on the main floor. Each room has large closets. Kitchen is large, and opens up to another 3 season porch on the rear of the home with makes for a great mudroom. The bathroom is large and in a great location for sharing. The basement is very large and has many different rooms with windows just near egress size, adding one or two more rooms might only mean a window replacement. Furnace is only 1yr old. Water Heater only 2yr old. A great place in a great neighborhood, for a great price! $89,000.