NEARLY ONE-THIRD OF ALL existing homes sold recently were either short sales or foreclosures, according to National Association of REALTORS® data. To help practitioners meet the needs of home buyers and sellers who need these services, NAR has launched a new Short Sales and Foreclosure Certification Program (SFR).
“Foreclosures and short sales can offer opportunities for home buyers, but it’s extremely important to have the help of a real estate professional for these kinds of purchases,” says NAR President Charles McMillan. “This new certification will help them serve a growing need.”
The SFR certification program is offered by the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council of NAR. The program includes training on how to manage short sale, foreclosure, and real-estate owned transactions, and provides resources to help practitioners stay current on national and state-specific information as the market for these distressed properties evolves.
To earn the certification, REALTORS® must complete a one-day education program, either in-person or online, as well as three, one-hour Webinars. The certification program will be offered at the REALTORS® Conference & Expo in San Diego, Nov. 13-16.
— NAR
Saturday, August 29, 2009
BUYER TAX CREDIT EXTENSION POSSIBLE
BILLS TO EXTEND THE MAXIMUM $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers, which expires November 30, are pending in both the U.S. House and the Senate. That's good news for savvy buyers, sellers, and realtors alike.
The fact that one of the myriad of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac crooks, Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat and chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, is spurring up to co-sponsor of a bill with Georgia Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson that would raise the credit amount to a maximum of $15,000, is a less enthralling boost to the general welfare of the country.
Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid of Nevada favors an extension of the current credit. He was quoted by the Las Vegas Sun saying, "It's something we can get done."
Odds are that the credit will be extended and broadened to cover all buyers next year, but the chances of the amount increasing aren’t as good, observers say. We'll see what happens. Stay tuned.
The fact that one of the myriad of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac crooks, Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat and chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, is spurring up to co-sponsor of a bill with Georgia Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson that would raise the credit amount to a maximum of $15,000, is a less enthralling boost to the general welfare of the country.
Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid of Nevada favors an extension of the current credit. He was quoted by the Las Vegas Sun saying, "It's something we can get done."
Odds are that the credit will be extended and broadened to cover all buyers next year, but the chances of the amount increasing aren’t as good, observers say. We'll see what happens. Stay tuned.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
LIMITED SERVICE AGENCY
YES, IT'S TRUE. AFTER NINE SPLENDID YEARS we're selling our wonderful home in NW Washington DC. As a licensed Virginia realtor, I am limited as a FSBO (for sale by owner) in the degree of ordinary realty services I can provide to myself as my own representative in a jurisdiction other than the one in which I am licensed. One of these is the legal ability to post my property and receive inquiries from buyers' agents who depend daily on the local MLS (Multiple Listing Service). Listing property on the MLS is almost mandatory in attracting the quality buyer, the one who knows what he needs and is ready to address those needs, in greater numbers than any other online or old or new media service available.
In seeking to save myself a substantial amount of money in these cash-strapped times, I must seek out a relatively new phenomenon in real estate law called Limited service agency.
Here is an addition made to the original law which took effect on 1 July, 2007.
“Limited service representative” means a licensee who acts for or represents a client with respect to real property containing from one to four residential units, pursuant to a brokerage agreement that provides that the limited service representative will not provide one or more of the duties set forth in subdivision A 2 of §§ 54.1-2131, 54.1-2132, 54.1-2133, and 54.1-2134, inclusive. A limited service representative shall have the obligations set out in the brokerage agreement, except that a limited service representative shall provide the client, at the time of entering the brokerage agreement, copies of any and all disclosures required by federal or state law, or local disclosures expressly authorized by state law, and shall disclose to the client the following in writing: (i) the rights and obligations of the client under the Virginia Residential Property Disclosure Act (§ 55-517 et seq.); (ii) if the client is selling a condominium, the rights and obligations of the client to deliver to the purchasers, or to receive as purchaser, the condominium resale certificate required by § 55-79.97; and (iii) if the client is selling a property subject to the Property Owners’ Association Act (§ 55-508 et seq.), the rights and obligations of the client to deliver to the purchasers, or to receive as purchaser, the association disclosure packet required by § 55-512. A limited service representative may act as the agent or representative of the client only by so providing in writing in the brokerage agreement. If the brokerage agreement does not so state, the limited service representative shall be deemed as acting as an independent contractor of the client.
Over the next few days my task will be to find someone who actually knows of this form of agency, and is willing to provide me the small service of posting my information on the MRIS (the local MLS) for a small fee. There are those agents with a bit more seasoning than I have who speculate that limited service agency will actually become rather popular once the public and the industry begin to detect its advantages over traditional agency.
In seeking to save myself a substantial amount of money in these cash-strapped times, I must seek out a relatively new phenomenon in real estate law called Limited service agency.
Here is an addition made to the original law which took effect on 1 July, 2007.
“Limited service representative” means a licensee who acts for or represents a client with respect to real property containing from one to four residential units, pursuant to a brokerage agreement that provides that the limited service representative will not provide one or more of the duties set forth in subdivision A 2 of §§ 54.1-2131, 54.1-2132, 54.1-2133, and 54.1-2134, inclusive. A limited service representative shall have the obligations set out in the brokerage agreement, except that a limited service representative shall provide the client, at the time of entering the brokerage agreement, copies of any and all disclosures required by federal or state law, or local disclosures expressly authorized by state law, and shall disclose to the client the following in writing: (i) the rights and obligations of the client under the Virginia Residential Property Disclosure Act (§ 55-517 et seq.); (ii) if the client is selling a condominium, the rights and obligations of the client to deliver to the purchasers, or to receive as purchaser, the condominium resale certificate required by § 55-79.97; and (iii) if the client is selling a property subject to the Property Owners’ Association Act (§ 55-508 et seq.), the rights and obligations of the client to deliver to the purchasers, or to receive as purchaser, the association disclosure packet required by § 55-512. A limited service representative may act as the agent or representative of the client only by so providing in writing in the brokerage agreement. If the brokerage agreement does not so state, the limited service representative shall be deemed as acting as an independent contractor of the client.
Over the next few days my task will be to find someone who actually knows of this form of agency, and is willing to provide me the small service of posting my information on the MRIS (the local MLS) for a small fee. There are those agents with a bit more seasoning than I have who speculate that limited service agency will actually become rather popular once the public and the industry begin to detect its advantages over traditional agency.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
FIVE WAYS TO MAKE REO OFFERS IRRESISTABLE TO BANKS
STEPHANI DAVIS HAS PENNED a splendid article offering buyers and investors a few tips in getting the banks to stand up and take notice on an REO offer. An REO (Real Estate Owned) is a property that reverts to the mortgage company after an unsuccessful foreclosure auction. To a buyer an REO property frequently offers a great deal, but can often be a nightmare for unsuspecting investors, so buyer beware...
But let's think positive in this article. Quickly, the five hot tips for winning the favors of banks willing to take a loss on property they own but wish to get off its books, are:
Make cash offers
Dismiss the inspection contingency
Give the listing agent both sides of the commission
Offer a large earnest money deposit
Offer a quick closing
Now, of course, it would be that rare deal that ALL of these suggestions will work for every buyer. In the everyday world the perfect REO buyer would be the one COULD and WOULD offer each of these hands down assurances to the bank. But in a down market like we are in today where investors are snapping up properties, there is indeed trusted wisdom in Stephani's advice.
But while we are on the topic, what role do professional appraisers have in this scenario, especially when the client is not you the buyer, or Jane the seller, but First Trust the lender? Here is a supplemental article on the appraisal business that savvy readers should refer.
If you've got cash on hand and want an REO, don't hesitate. There are some spectacular deals out there. I've given you Stephani's five tips, but you need to read her full essay to know exactly what she's learned.
But let's think positive in this article. Quickly, the five hot tips for winning the favors of banks willing to take a loss on property they own but wish to get off its books, are:
Now, of course, it would be that rare deal that ALL of these suggestions will work for every buyer. In the everyday world the perfect REO buyer would be the one COULD and WOULD offer each of these hands down assurances to the bank. But in a down market like we are in today where investors are snapping up properties, there is indeed trusted wisdom in Stephani's advice.
But while we are on the topic, what role do professional appraisers have in this scenario, especially when the client is not you the buyer, or Jane the seller, but First Trust the lender? Here is a supplemental article on the appraisal business that savvy readers should refer.
If you've got cash on hand and want an REO, don't hesitate. There are some spectacular deals out there. I've given you Stephani's five tips, but you need to read her full essay to know exactly what she's learned.
Friday, August 14, 2009
NORTHERN VIRGINIA MARKET IMPROVING
THE HOUSING MARKET IN THE AREA is beginning to stabilize. Just today, my wife and I spotted an UNDER CONTRACT sign posted on a $900,000 palatial homestead on Lovettsville Road. Metropolitan Regional Information Services has released its July statistical report. There is some very good news. Both single family and townhouse inventory is moving at a clip, dropping a whopping fifty percent or better from a year ago across the area. Median prices are holding firm from July a year ago, although 2009 year to date median sales price numbers still average 11-20% lower than 2008 prices year to date indices.
Click below for each report (pdf):
LOUDOUN COUNTY
FAIRFAX COUNTY
FREDERICK COUNTY
ARLINGTON COUNTY
FAUQUIER COUNTY
But before we draw too many false conclusions on the wall, let's give some attention to one common misconception in the real estate statistics game. Dictionary.com defines ‘Median’ as “the middle number in a given sequence of numbers”.
Studying the linked statistics above must be done with that definition applied. Keep in mind that the median price is not the average, nor is it the mean price, which is expressed as half the house prices in any given category rise above and half the house prices in that category fall below the mean price. The median price just means that if there are 7 sales—the price of the number 4 sale is the median home price.
One cannot draw the conclusion that all prices have fallen x% when comparing July ‘08 and ‘09 median home price figures. Remember many of the sales are foreclosures. Much of the movement in our market is in the lower price points and in the most distressed price points—hence a lower median price.
Median home price is still a valuable indicator in the market but one must be careful of the conclusion one draws from the information. There is no denying prices have fallen precipitously. But, it’s important to evaluate the numbers in the right context.
Click below for each report (pdf):
But before we draw too many false conclusions on the wall, let's give some attention to one common misconception in the real estate statistics game. Dictionary.com defines ‘Median’ as “the middle number in a given sequence of numbers”.
Studying the linked statistics above must be done with that definition applied. Keep in mind that the median price is not the average, nor is it the mean price, which is expressed as half the house prices in any given category rise above and half the house prices in that category fall below the mean price. The median price just means that if there are 7 sales—the price of the number 4 sale is the median home price.
One cannot draw the conclusion that all prices have fallen x% when comparing July ‘08 and ‘09 median home price figures. Remember many of the sales are foreclosures. Much of the movement in our market is in the lower price points and in the most distressed price points—hence a lower median price.
Median home price is still a valuable indicator in the market but one must be careful of the conclusion one draws from the information. There is no denying prices have fallen precipitously. But, it’s important to evaluate the numbers in the right context.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
CONTINGENCIES, NO KICK OUT
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Active—Indicates that the property is available with no contingencies, contract or application registered against it. Contact an agent immediately for showing.
Contingent/KO—(Contingent with Kick Out) - Indicates that the property is available but has a contract with at least one pending contingency that includes a kick out clause. Sellers are accepting contracts on these properties if the buyer meets the criteria to "kick out" the existing contract. Contact an agent for more details.
Contingent/NO KO—(Contingent with No Kick Out)- Indicates that property is available, but has a contract with at least one pending contingency. The pending contingencies do not contain a kick out clause. These properties should be watched in case the existing contract falls through. Contact an agent for more details.
Pending—Indicates that property is under contract. The pending status means there are no contingencies except normal inspections, title search, and possibly loan approval. These properties should be watched in case the existing contract falls through.
But what does kick out actually reference? To find out I searched an online glossary for the term "kick out clause" and found this clarifying entry:
Definition: A term that refers to a real estate contract contingency that's often used when a home buyer places a house under contract with the understanding that he must sell his current house before finalizing the new purchase.
Sellers holding a contract with a kick out clause continue to market the home. If they receive another offer the buyer has a specific amount of time as stipulated in the clause to remove the contingency and move forward to buy the house, whether his existing house is sold or not. If the buyer cannot move forward, the seller can back out of the original contract and sell to the new buyers.
Final analysis for those of us still muddled: the "kick out" occurs when a contingent buyer is kicked out of the contract by another buyer who comes in with a more appealing offer to the seller.
However, what does it mean when a property is advertised as having a ratified contract with contingency but with a no ko, or no kickout clause attachment? This type of contact protects the buyer from other potential buyers but the buyer must still meet deadlines of the contract.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
BEST AND WORST MARKETS
WHILE THE NATIONAL MEDIAN home price is not expected to climb much, if at all, in the next few years, there will be lots of movement at the local level. Some markets are poised to do quite nicely—others will tank. Based on the Case-Shiller index, Moody’s Economy.com forecast the 10 best and worst markets between the fourth quarter of 2008 and the fourth quarter of 2013.
Markets where prices didn’t go sky-high will be spared the lows; hence the good showing for Ohio. But the experts say there’s lots of hot air left in bubble markets such as Florida. For a glance at the Washington DC area, here is one overview.
10 Best Markets:
1. Tacoma, WA (metro area) 20.7%
2. Boulder, CO 17.5%
3. Toledo, OH 16.7%
4. Memphis, TN 16.5%
5. Pittsburgh, PA 16.0%
6. Cleveland, OH 14.4%
7. Dayton, OH 13.6%
8. Akron, OH 13.4%
9. San Jose, CA 13.3%
10. Colorado Springs, CO 13.3%
10 Worst Markets:
1. Miami (metro area) -40.3%
2. Orlando, FL -33.3%
3. Fort Lauderdale, FL (metro area) -26.4%
4. Jacksonville, FL -32.2%
5. Riverside, CA -25.6%
6. Los Angeles (metro area) -22.9%
7. West Palm Beach, FL (metro area) -20.2%
8. Tampa, FL -19.6%
9. Virginia Beach, VA -18.2%
10. New York -18.1%
Markets where prices didn’t go sky-high will be spared the lows; hence the good showing for Ohio. But the experts say there’s lots of hot air left in bubble markets such as Florida. For a glance at the Washington DC area, here is one overview.
10 Best Markets:
1. Tacoma, WA (metro area) 20.7%
2. Boulder, CO 17.5%
3. Toledo, OH 16.7%
4. Memphis, TN 16.5%
5. Pittsburgh, PA 16.0%
6. Cleveland, OH 14.4%
7. Dayton, OH 13.6%
8. Akron, OH 13.4%
9. San Jose, CA 13.3%
10. Colorado Springs, CO 13.3%
10 Worst Markets:
1. Miami (metro area) -40.3%
2. Orlando, FL -33.3%
3. Fort Lauderdale, FL (metro area) -26.4%
4. Jacksonville, FL -32.2%
5. Riverside, CA -25.6%
6. Los Angeles (metro area) -22.9%
7. West Palm Beach, FL (metro area) -20.2%
8. Tampa, FL -19.6%
9. Virginia Beach, VA -18.2%
10. New York -18.1%
SMALLER HOMES TREND FIRST TIME IN 15 YEARS
HERE'S A HANDSOME OPINION from CNN, but it fails to note the equally unique trends in recent generations of young urban professional twentysomethings and older who still live in group homes not much different from their stint at college dorm living, or else they opt to head back home to their parents' large domicile after a few rough years fighting the laws of jungle economics at the same time that larger McMansions in the distant suburbs are being overbuilt, easily financed, tough to upkeep, and now tumbling into the bubble mortgage industry's deeper waters.
In DC however, the urban trend is to build smaller but upscale, post-modern luxury studio spaces, most barely over six hundred square feet, boasting an elegant open architecture where the confluence of the living, dining and kitchen open areas serve as a gallery to the bed drop hidden snugly behind an amazingly frosted glass or some other glamorous material like teak, or mahogany room divider. The last time I looked a few months ago, these hip, beautifully appointed, smart apartments were slow in attracting buyers however, when starting in the $360s.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com)—For the first time in almost 15 years, the size of new homes built in the United States is shrinking. New homes are now 7% smaller—or the size of one average-sized room. To be precise, the median square footage of newly built homes fell to 2,065 square feet in the first three months of this year, compared with the same period last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
This caps off 2008, when home size fell every quarter, marking first year of declines since 1994. That could indicate that the romance between Americans and morbidly obese McMansions has finally cooled.
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"As more and more people build or remodel homes that satisfy in quality rather than quantity, there will be a huge shift in what we perceive as desirable."
She believes the current shrinking trend mimics one of 100 years ago, when simple bungalows supplanted elaborate Victorian homes as the design choice for many Americans.
But, it could also just be the recession. The recession could have led to a temporary turndown in the number of young families buying homes, for example. But when they return to the market, they may drive up McMansion sale again. Meanwhile, older buyers are dominating sales.
"Home size gains flatten out or decline during recessions, and we're in the midst of the most serious housing recession in decades," said Kermit Baker, the chief economist for the American Institute of Architects.
Read it all.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY #3 IN NATION
4707 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC. 1 BR, 1 BA condo, FSBO
ON JULY 31, WITH THE ARRIVAL of my new Virginia license I needed a strategy to beat this awkward recession. In launching The Patriot Group, we feel we have met that challenge. Knowledge is power, and with that power is freedom. The Patriot Group is here to represent you as you begin to map out your own financial strategies in this tough real estate and housing market. We are here to help you negotiate that perfect solution, and finally, we are here to assist you as you close the book on that crucial deal when the Big Day arrives.
That's the wholesome pledge, winning package, and terrific service The Patriot Group offers to each and every one of our clients. If we can't answer your question, and we know you must have many, we know someone who can.
After joining the brokerage firm of Keller Williams Winchester in historic Winchester, VA, in a few short weeks I have come to know and appreciate the enthusiastic team of high energy real estate specialists spearheaded by experienced broker and firm owner Nancy Walker and the always resourceful short sale specialist Bill Battaile.
As an independent real estate professional, my boots are hitting the ground running as I work to build a favorable presence east and west of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Frederick, Clarke. Loudoun, Fairfax, and Arlington counties with plans for expansion into Washington, DC where I have lived and worked for the past twenty-five years.
With so many exciting new marketing tools continuing to flow into the real estate sector, active agents and attentive clients can push beyond the stagnation and begin to fully comprehend market forces in terms that are easier to understand, communicate, and remember, and acting upon this information has never been simpler. There is no reason to wait. The low-end market is beginning to show signs of full recovery, and certain sectors are blazing as we speak. The Manassas, VA area has caught fire! First time buyers and savvy investors are now bidding for homes in greater clusters than even during the earlier part of the new century before the economy bubble burst.
Why wait, get your Market Snapshot™ sent to you free of charge with no obligation now!
RISMEDIA, March 4, 2009—Keller Williams® Realty Inc., announced last week at its annual convention in Orlando, Fla. that it is now the third-largest real estate franchise in the United States, surpassing RE/MAX® International. According to Steve Murray of REAL Trends, a leading source of analysis and information in the residential real estate industry, the Austin, Texas-based company claimed the number three spot with 72,794 U.S. associates at the end of 2008.
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According to the company, it has been gaining ground for the last three years, outpacing pervasive downward trends in the real estate industry. From 2006 to 2008, Keller Williams Realty increased its associate count by 52%, market share for its offices increased 83% and agent gross commission income went up 35%. Currently, the company has 679 offices operating in the United States.
The company also shared more than $30 million in profits with its associates in 2008 through its company-wide profit sharing program.
“Through profit share, our phenomenal coaching and training and our technology offerings, we are offering agents their own ‘bailout plan’ for this market,” Willis added.
The company also announced that after years of searching for a partnership to provide its associates with affordable health insurance, they are moving forward with a solution.
The recently launched Keller Williams Health Providers Program will include options for major medical, limited medical, catastrophic coverage and a separate cancer plan. The health insurance coverage is the first step toward a total wellness program for associates.
“We have always been very aware that as independent contractors, our agents face barriers to obtaining health coverage,” said Mary Tennant, president and COO of Keller Williams Realty. “We know that for many, this new option may alleviate some of the stress that they face in today’s economy. After all, our associates are not just our partners—they are our family.”
Last fall, the company also announced the launch of KW Commercial, a new division of the company dedicated to providing commercial real estate associates with specialized technology, marketing tools and resources. KW Commercial already has more than 220 active brokers across the U.S. and Canada.
“Our growth in the last year and now becoming the third-largest real estate company in the United States was a true team effort and a company-wide win. We are so grateful for all of the leadership and commitment our associates have shown to power through this shift,” added Willis.
For more information, visit Keller Williams.
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