The Real Estate Guy Team

Low Rates, going lower.   Yes, yet another reason to act.  This article gives you the low down.  

See this Realtor.com article.

 Many Home owners can also take advantage and put more $$ in your pocket.  

Real Estate Guy helps home buyers and sellers in Madison Wi.

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This article was written by Real Estate Guy to appear in his snail mail newsletter. 

If you would like to receive an online newsletter (max frequency-monthly) and take advantage of the drawing, leave a comment. 

Going Green in 2009.    Win a $25 Gift Certificate!! 

We have been sending a newsletter out for over 14 years, although it has changed in format over the years.

We want to send you this information for 2 main reasons.   First, we want you to get information which is beneficial to you and your family.  Second, when you or a friend you know are getting ready to make a move, we want you to know who you should call to get reliably good advice.

Now, we want to give you the option of receiving the same information on the internet or by email.

This will reduce mail in your mail box and give you the chance still receive the information, which we do hope you find of value.

 WIN EXTRA GIFT CERTIFICATES

We encourage you to send in the return slip on page 4, with your preferred email address.   For every address we receive, the Real Estate Guy will place your name into a separate drawing. 

For every 25 addresses we receive, we will draw a winner for a $25 gift certificate for gas or groceries.  (Max 10 certificates).

When we receive your email address we will be able to keep you updated on current events in a more green way (also more timely). 

Please remember, your information is considered confidential. It is kept safe and is not offered up to anyone.  We take care to respect your privacy and will only email you if a particularly important event we feel you should know about.

Complete the form on page 4 and mail it back today for your chance to win your gift certificate. 

 REAL ESTATE GUY UPDATE

Interest Rates.

At time of writing, things look interesting on the interest rate front.   Rates are expected to drop.  Rumors abound of rates at 4.5%, 4%, even 3 and 2.5%.    You will have to log on to my blog at www.MadisonHomeBlog.com for updated figures. 

What this means to you is:- 1)  Refinance and save lots!$!$.   If you are staying put, have equity and good credit you can take advantage.

Call Guy for a lender on his team to help you decide on saving money.

RealEstateGuy’s team growing. 

Besides our great assistant, Jen Larson, Buyers agent, Bev Kautzky, we have a whole team of support.   Lenders, Inspectors, Warranty, Contractors, Attorneys.  All ready ot play their role when called upon. 

We are excited to announce a new team member.  John Kitelinger, will be active on the Business acquisition side.  John is a veteran sales person and has just the knack of making people feel at home.   He is just the person you want answering the phone when your home is on the market. 

Real Estate Guy is in a coaching program.   He understands that in tough times, your Realtor needs to go the extra mile to ensure his listings sell.  

Realtor.com. Hit 60,000 times in a single month.  RealEstateGuy’s renewed interest in the Official Realtor website, Realtor.com had lead to more than a 10 times growth in traffic on his listings.   Guy has become a Featured agent and has featured listing spots.  

The former enables Guy to enhance his listings and add links to his other listings and Virtual tours.  The latter, brings his selected listings  to the front, whenever his selected zip code is selected.  As mentioned, this has resulted in hits up from 6,000 to 60,000.

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Real Estate Guy team wishes every one a very happy new year and wishes all the best for all in 2009. 

 We want to thank our clients and friends for all the referrals which enabled our business grow despite the market conditions. 

 We look forward to serving you even better in 2009.

Guy, Jen, Bev and John.  

www.RealEstateGuy.net

Real Estate Guy team wishes every one a very happy new year and wishes all the best for all in 2009. 

 We want to thank our clients and friends for all the referrals which enabled our business grow despite the market conditions. 

 We look forward to serving you even better in 2009.

Guy, Jen, Bev and John.  

www.RealEstateGuy.net

Real Estate Guy team wishes every one a very happy new year and wishes all the best for all in 2009. 

 We want to thank our clients and friends for all the referrals which enabled our business grow despite the market conditions. 

 We look forward to serving you even better in 2009.

Guy, Jen, Bev and John.  

www.RealEstateGuy.net

I just saw a news at 10 story about how sellers are financing sales of their homes.

Contrary to what the article implies, this is not new or difficult.  This is just one arrow in the arsenal of tool that an experienced Real Estate consultant uses to match buyers and Sellers.

There were a couple of common misconceptions out there. 

First, that homes are not selling.   Fact, homes are selling, they just have to be priced competitively. 

Second, financing is not available from banks.   Fact, if you have good credit, 10% plus down and good earnings, financing is not a problem.

Yes moving a home buy lending to the buyer can work, I have personally done this.  But there is risk involved. 

To the seller there is the risk of buyer default.  But even for the buyer there is risk, if the seller does not keep up mortgage payments, the home can go into foreclosure.

The person being interviewed for the story was hoping to sell a home offering an 8 to 8.5% interest rates.   rates at the bank are around 5%.   and obviously they are hoping someone will come along and overpay for the home (why is this obvious?  Because if it was being professionally marketed and staged in Madison Wi and priced correctly it would have sold). 

Another thing, your choice will be much reduced. buyers seeking a seller will be short on choice, just as a seller seeking a qualified, yet not too qualified, will have less choice.

My advice to a buyer contemplating this.  Come to us.   first, we will check with our specialist financing team to ensure they can not get a loan.   If not, we will then be able to explore the possibilities of seller financing.   

Real Estate Guy is a specialist in matching buyers and sellers. Find homes for sale in Madison Wi

The Real Estate guy in Madison Wi has posted this item.  

Just thought I would post a few figures on our local market for 11 months to Nov 30. 2008

Total number of MLS listings  23,298.   Wow a lot of properties!!

Especially as 369 sold in November..   That gives us a 65 month inventory.  again wow. 

This figure on it’s own is scary, but there are a lot of compensating factors.    

A slow month, an election month, govt bailout after crisis.  This figure includes the all expanded SCWMLS.  south central wisconsin MLS.  It is very general and covers all types of real estate.

I find a more telling figure is that in this particular November, 369 people closed on properties.

That means the best priced 369 homes sold. 

Let’s look at another figure to back up what I am saying.

Average price of listings   $231,992

Yet the average sale price was, $182,768.

This tells me that the properties selling are well under the average. 

Real Estate Guy,  with Keller Williams Realty. Madison WI  

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First time home buyers, you’ve likely heard gloom and doom in the Real Estate Market, however, Real Estate for home remains the best of all investments.   Which other investment can you live in? 

And right now, the time has never been better.  you may ask, but with the current news how can it be a good time to buy? 

Well, it is a good time to buy when your life dictates it.   ie when your income is right, your family is stable.

We at Keller Williams Realty Madison Crossroads has some tools to make the purchase much more valuable.

1. 100% financing is still available- why wait to save up your down payment?
2. historically low interest rates means lower monthly payments
3. increased inventory- lots of choice
4. motivated owners (bank and sellers) good negotiation
5. $7,500 federal tax credit
6. low down-payment programs
7. city of Madison down payment programmes
8. City of Madison (other municipalities) rehab grants.

Boy that is a lot of extra benefits to make your home purchase far more affordable.

So how do you go about buying?  

I have written about that elsewhere, it may seem overwhelming, but that is what the Real Estate Guy team is for: to make your purchase experience enjoyable and yet profitable. 

Well the best time to invest is when everyone is panicking, sellers are willing to take less, that is the time.  Think, when the press starts confirming the market is turning, how many people will be competing with you, and how sellers will become less likely to give up the shop.

Real Estate Guy, has helped hundreds of families with their real estate choices in Madison Wi. 

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I was asked just yesterday if the market had bottomed or should he wait another 6 months to buy. 

I had not been totally convinced the market had bottomed, but i did know the futility of trying to time it. 

After watching this video, it became crystal clear.  Watch November’s update

understood that the market moves quickly once the word gets around there is a recovery, however I missed what caused that. This point was made plain as day in the video.

Once the press and media picks up the story of recovery, prices do not go up immediately, but sellers become more confident, so less to give up their $$$.  At the same time buyers come out in force, increasing competition.

In other words, by the time the bottom is generally acknowledged, it is too late. again watch the video.

There are still very good deals available, so contact the Real Estate Guy to secure your real estate bargain.

As a local real estate professional, it is my job to know the market.   If I can know where the market is going, I can best advise and guide my clients.  Do I have a crystal ball?  No, but can we look at certain measurements and make predictions, Yes.

One of the major predictors of house prices is the affordability ratio.   That is how levels of income compare to house prices.  In a perfect balance, this ratio would never change. 

Look a the figures. 

In 1997 (10 years ago) the Dane County mean income was  48,500.    the  average home price was $124,800

In 2007  with an average price of $218,700, to keep the same, ratio, income would have to be at $85K.   We all know that is a stretch. Actually, the figure is $55,000.

In other words, there is a huge change in affordability. 

 So what has to happen?  Prices need to drop, income needs to go up.   When we see more balance, we will know improvement is near.   

This info is mostly gleaned from various Keller Williams sources.  from Gary Keller, discussions, presentations etc. 

Real Estate Guy sells homes in Madison Wi  view homes for sale in Madison Wi