Numbers can be funny things to deal with, but regardless of what you think, you do need to pay attention to them as well as look into the logic they share. I bring this up in wake of those that are telling me that more and more of their real estate agents and coworkers are taking part time jobs because business has slowed down. While you can’t paint with a broad brush when talking about our industry because so much is hyper-local, we should just ask a few questions about some of the reasons behind these actions, and if the path taken makes any sense. • How much is the total business off in your market, and is your loss of business proportional to that decline? • Since we are largely a commission-based business, it is fair to say that while unit volumes may be down, transactional values are higher,…
Posted On Monday, 18 December 2023 00:00 Written by
As she Shares Her Extraordinary Journey And How She Continues To Promote Women And Support Women In Law A bit about Judge Janice Holder:  Janice Holder began her legal career in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Herbert P. Sorg, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.  At the conclusion of her clerkship in 1977, she entered into private practice in Pittsburgh. She served as the solicitor for the Borough of McDonald, Pennsylvania, her hometown, for one year before moving to Memphis, Tennessee, where she practiced law for ten years.Janice was elected judge of the Circuit Court of Shelby County, Tennessee, in 1990. In 1993, she was appointed the coordinating judge of the silicone gel breast implant cases in West Tennessee by the Tennessee Supreme Court. She served as a member of the National Conference of Chief Justices Mass Tort Litigation Committee and the…
Posted On Thursday, 14 December 2023 00:00 Written by
To create the next great product or service, it has been standard practice to ask the customer questions like: “What do you want? What do you need? What will make your life easier?” These simple inquiries should lead to a simple answer. It is then our responsibility as businesses and organizations to respond with products, services, or processes that meet customers’ needs while increasing our margins and market share. This has been the process of the past and has worked for generations, but does it truly work in today’s accelerated, technology-driven business environment?
In my many years as a strategic advisor and futurist, I have concluded that asking the customer what they want is no longer reliable. First, customers are telling others in your industry the exact same information, which leads to a high level of competition. Unfortunately, a professional footrace to a perceived finish line is not beneficial to anyone, especially the customer. Second,…
Posted On Tuesday, 12 December 2023 00:00 Written by
We have about a week or so left to put together and close deals in 2023. Everyone should be beating the bushes and shaking the trees to take advantage of the opportunities available and the ability to exercise your speed advantage to help those who really need to get things done before the year ends. It is also a great time to keep having all of those conversations that can continue to show your abilities as others around you have to sit on the sidelines and wait for 2024! A solid week in the bond market and rates continue to improve slowly but surely. We saw a continuation of weaking jobs numbers this week as the ADP numbers were significantly below expectations and if supported by today’s initial and continuing claims numbers will set the stage for Friday’s BLS jobs report for November. I expect that the economy is showing…
Posted On Monday, 11 December 2023 00:00 Written by
Prices are falling from a year ago in four Texas metros—Austin, San Antonio, Houston and Fort Worth—and in Portland, OR. Redfin predicts price declines will become more widespread in the new year. Homebuying is becoming more affordable as mortgage rates continue declining—the median U.S. housing payment was $2,561 during the four weeks ending December 3, down $177 from the record high they hit in October. This according to a new report from Redfin (redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage. That’s spurring action from sidelined homebuyers and sellers. Mortgage-purchase applications are up 15% from the 28-year low they dropped to at the start of November. New listings are up 7% year over year, the biggest increase since August 2021, and the number of homeowners contacting Redfin for help selling their home is up by double digits from a year ago.
Mortgage rates are coming down because economic events are…
Posted On Friday, 08 December 2023 08:45 Written by
Buying a home is one of the largest investments someone will make in a lifetime.  Getting a mortgage is one of the biggest loans in the budget.   Take a little time to save yourself a lot of money.  Team up with the experts and use their experience to save yourself from a bad experience.  Taking a few extra minutes to prepare can give you big bragging rights on your real estate deal for years to come.
Here are some things to do as you set out to buy your home or get your mortgage. Determine your budget.  Set a timer for two to three hours, turn on your favorite tunes and start slogging through your last six months bank statements and credit card statements.  Keep a tally of how much you are spending on food, rent, utilities, gas, insurance and more. Remember those bills you only pay…
Posted On Thursday, 07 December 2023 00:00 Written by
I focus quite a bit of my research on how to help all businesses and organizations accurately anticipate the digital disruptions heading their way. In recent writings, I have also discussed the importance of leaders finding the best ways to retain employees via incentives, involvement in innovation, and recognition of their fullest potential and future at the company. I also connect with the other side of that coin, discussing the best ways in which leaders in a position to help employees recognize their own greatness do so in an Anticipatory fashion. This is accomplished time and again not only by creating a culture of searching for and leveraging Hard Trends with my Hard Trend Methodology, but by fostering that united Futureview® of positive disruption and creative critical thinking.
But what if I were to say that even though these efforts have proven to be successful over the course of my…
Posted On Tuesday, 05 December 2023 00:00 Written by
Just a couple of weeks left to get deals in and get them closed before the end of the year! Those coming in to start the process may be few, but they are serious! Buyers coming in today will also have a short window of opportunity as other potential buyers choose to sit on the sidelines in December and “wait until after the holidays” before getting back into the search! Those who make this choice could be costing themselves dearly! Here are a few things to think about: With people putting off the search, there is less competition in the market for those available homes. Seller’s that will show their homes in December are likely serious about selling and more likely to negotiate key points of the deal if you can close quickly! With new buyers entering the current market and those who will re-enter the market in January, individual…
Posted On Monday, 04 December 2023 00:00 Written by
The median monthly mortgage payment has declined more than $150 from its peak to its lowest level in three months. Another piece of good news for buyers: New listings are seeing their biggest year-over-year increase since summer 2021. Housing payments have declined for the fifth week in a row, according to a new report from Redfin (redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage. The typical U.S. homebuyer’s monthly mortgage payment was $2,575 during the four weeks ending November 26, down $164 from a peak of $2,739 last month but up 13% year over year.
Monthly payments are falling from their peak because mortgage rates are falling from their peak. The weekly average 30-year mortgage rate is 7.29%, down from a high of 7.79% in October, and the daily average is 7.13% as of November 29, its lowest level since the start of September. Rates have declined enough to offset…
Posted On Friday, 01 December 2023 15:46 Written by
Page 8 of 53

Realty Times

From buying and selling advice for consumers to money-making tips for Agents, our content, updated daily, has made Realty Times® a must-read, and see, for anyone involved in Real Estate.