More Housing Choices For US Buyers As International Buyers Shy Away

Written by Posted On Thursday, 12 September 2013 12:32

As the real estate market offered amazing deals from short sales to foreclosures, international buyers were careful to spring into action and close on those deals. But it seems now the market is changing and those same buyers are starting to lose some interest in buying U.S. properties.

Markets such as Miami, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and San Francisco have lost some of the appeal. Investors are backing away as the U.S. dollar appears to strengthen compared to the Indian rupee and Canadian dollar. The Canadian dollar lost about 2 percent against the U.S. dollar. Couple that with the rising housing prices and, according to an article by Reuters, the U.S. real estate market is becoming less enticing for international buyers.

For sellers that means you may be seeing more Americans vying for your home. Selling your home to an investor (whether they are foreign or not) is a different experience than selling to buyers who plan to live in the home.

Understanding your ideal target market such as a family vs. an investor, helps you create a specific marketing campaign that intrigues your target audience to come see your home.

Start by taking a good look at your home and seeing if any repairs need to be made. More than investors, buyers who plan to live in the home will likely be more concerned with making sure that the house is in good working order. Usually because they would prefer to move in and not have to do a lot of fixing up whereas investors are used to searching for the best deals which means the property may need a lot of repairs. But because they're getting a cheaper price, investors understand they'll be repairing the home to make it ready to rent.

Next create some notes that you'll be giving to your agent about your home. What makes it unique? What types of upgrades have you done? Surprisingly, after you live in a home for many years, you can forget some of the important upgrades. So take inventory and recall all the enhancements that you have completed on your home and share them with your agent.

Focus on the neighborhood. Investors and buyers who plan to live in the home both care about the neighborhood. It tells them something about the people in the area and the potential risk in the future. For instance, if there are a lot of foreclosures in the area, it's likely that home prices will continue to drop and the area may become filled with more renters than owners. It's not always the case but, often, renters don't provide as much care for a property as the homeowners would. So the neighborhood could decline even more. If, however, the neighborhood is in great shape with some, but not too many homes for sale, this could be very appealing to any buyer. Play up the factors that differentiate your home from others on the street. Explain the advantage of your location, lot size, upgrades, etc.

Selling your home is like finding an online dating match. And, that's exactly where the hunt begins for homes too–on the Internet. So put your home's best side forward with the most attractive curb appeal photos possible. That'll get buyers interested and possibly following up with an "in-person" viewing. Then let your home's unique characteristics shine and seduce the buyer.

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Phoebe Chongchua

Phoebe Chongchua is an award-winning journalist, an author, customer service trainer/speaker, and founder of Setting the Service Standard, a customer service training and consulting program offered by Live Fit Enterprises (LFE) based in San Diego, California. She is the publisher of Live Fit Magazine, an online publication that features information on real estate/finance, physical fitness, travel, and philanthropy. Her company, LFE, specializes in media services including marketing, PR, writing, commercials, corporate videos, customer service training, and keynotes & seminars. Visit her magazine website: www.LiveFitMagazine.com.

Phoebe's articles, feature stories, and columns appear in various publications including The Coast News, Del Mar Village Voice, Rancho Santa Fe Review, and Today's Local News in San Diego, as well as numerous Internet sites. She holds a California real estate license. Phoebe worked for KGTV/10News in San Diego as a Newscaster, Reporter and Community Affairs Specialist for more than a decade. Phoebe's writing is also featured in Donald Trump's book: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received and The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Buying Foreclosures. She is the author of If the Trash Stinks, TAKE IT OUT! 14 Worriless Principles for Your Success.

Contact Phoebe at (858) 259-3646 or [email protected]. Visit PhoebeChongchua.com for more information.

www.phoebechongchua.com/

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