The Virtue(s) of a Slower, Quieter Housing Market Apparently, at least a few industry players are trying to spin what is expected to be modest price appreciation in 2015 into something . . . bigger. See, “Projecting 2015 Housing Prices Using Statistical Sleight of Hand.” I don’t think it’s ever a good idea to embellish...Read More
Not Just Superstition Any More I’ve long suspected that at least a few home sellers were eavesdropping on prospective Buyers with listening devices. But I just, umm . . . heard (through the grapevine, as they say) of a substantiated case in Minnesota. Apparently, the Seller overheard the Buyer say how much they would pay for...Read More
Negotiating One Deal — or Two?? Good agents instinctively know that “he who negotiates least, negotiates best.” Which is why they avoid drafting early move-in and holdover agreements — and discourage their clients from entering into them. Side Deals The vast majority of the time, the issue never arises because the Buyer takes possession from...Read More
$64k Question: Where Were All Those Buyers Before?? Want to know how to attract one, three or even more Buyers for any listed home? (and I mean, any listed home). Follow these two easy steps: 1) cancel the listing; and 2) wait for the phone to ring. Within hours (minutes?), at least a couple of...Read More
Buyers: “What is the Seller Hiding??” Sellers don’t HAVE to incriminate themselves — make that, their homes — when they put their house on the market. At least in Minnesota, one of the sanctioned Seller’s Disclosure Alternatives is for the Seller to waive disclosing anything at all (the Buyer has to then agree to that)....Read More
Realtors Who Like the Home More Than Their Client Amongst the (many) problems with showing feedback forms — what Buyers’ agents are immediately bombarded with after showing a “For Sale” home — is that the form is really asking for two different things, from two different people. Question #1: “did the Buyer have any interest...Read More
