Why Do You Need Help Buying Or Selling Your Home In The New Market

Since the latter part of 2005, it seems like Real Estate signs are popping up in yards like weeds. As of July 31, 2006 there were 15,743 listings on the market for Pinellas County (9,549 Single Family Homes and 6,194 Condos). With this many homes on the market, it begs the question ? Why Do You Need Help Buying Or Selling Your Home In The New Market?

As anyone who has been in the market for a home recently knows, there are A LOT of homes to choose from. If a buyer is not specific with their criteria the number of possibilities can be overwhelming. By sitting down with an agent, the homebuyer can discover what is truly important to them and only look at homes that meet their exact requirements, including location, price or features.

Once a property has been selected, the buyer?s agent can also help negotiate the best possible price for that home and also make sure that the buyers financing needs are all met. Most agents have a good working relationship with a lender who can facilitate a smooth financial transaction for the buyer. In addition, more buyers are able to take advantage of seller assisted closing costs and other creative financing options which their agent will help them to negotiate during the offer.

Having an agent on their side in this market is also vital for home sellers. With all of the local competition it is not enough to just put a house in the MLS system and hope it sells. Agents are now utilizing every avenue available to market their listings including direct mail, the internet, homes magazines and on-site events like Broker?s Open Houses and Public Open Houses. Additional ideas like increasing the buyer?s agent commission, offering bonuses and assisting with buyer?s closing costs are also methods that can generate buyer interest.

The current absorption rate (the percentage of the homes on the market that sold in any given month) is a good indicator of the challenges faced when working to getting a home sold. The rate has dropped from 51.5% in July of 2005 to 8.6% in July of 2006 for Single Family Homes and from 43.6% in July of 2005 to 4.8% in July of 2006 (meaning that less than 10% of the Single Family homes and less than 5% of the Condos on the market sold last month). Having a dedicated Realtor? working full time to get your home in front of any available buyers is imperative!

Once an offer is received, the challenge is to negotiate an offer that is win-win for BOTH the seller and the buyer. Because of the tight market, buyers are more savvy when negotiating a deal and so having an agent on your side can ensure that you get the highest price possible for your home.

Visit realestatemarketingpro.blogspot.com for free real estate marketing tips or see these tips and tricks in action at www.ComeToClearwater.com

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