Bargain Hunting

The old adage of Supply and Demand make it a great time to purchase a home. Not many folks are looking to buy right now, which obviously affects the demand. As far as the supply side, although our number of homes on the market has been reduced since the initial economic downturn, there are still too many homes relative to the number of buyers.


To those who are looking, great for you! Do your homework and be tough in your negotiations. To those who are THINKING that they really would like a bigger home, or more privacy, or more yard or acreage, I ask "What are you waiting for?"


Here are 3 examples of great buys in Murfreesboro, TN:


1. A 1704 sq.ft. home built in 2000 with 3 bedrooms, 2 and 1/2 baths, a bonus room and 1 car garage sold 3 years ago for $126,500. It is now listing for $94,000 or $55/sq.ft.


2. Need more space? How about 2400 sq.ft., 4 bedrooms, 2 and 1/2 baths and a 2 car garage for $152,000? That's $63/sq.ft. It sold for $197,500 in 2005.


3. And this is my favorite since the land and location are top notch for Rutherford County. This 4200 sq.ft. home has 5 bedrooms, 3 and 1/2 baths, a 2 car garage, a workshop and 12.5 acres all for $299,900! Wow!


Not only are there plenty of deals to choose from, the interest rate has been historically low for a number of months-- under 5%. Put it all together and it just makes buying now a "no brainer."

There's no reason to wait. Start looking, and I'll see you at the closing table!

List in December!

Now that the weather is cold (and snowy in many places!) sellers feel that it's useless to keep their home on the market. Afterall, sellers think, Christmas is just around the corner and then the New Year begins in slow motion, so buyers aren't really looking to buy NOW.

But they are! The quantity of buyers actively looking at homes may decrease around Thanksgiving and not pick up again until March, but the quality of buyers is better than ever. In other words, buyers that are taking time away from the holiday fun and brave cold weather just to look at homes are serious buyers. These buyers are not the "tire kickers" that we see the rest of the year.

There are a couple of things to keep in mind, however, if you do decide to list your home in December. Assuming your agent will take photos inside and out, those holiday decorations that look so lovely now will appear sad and depressing the day after Christmas. So, take new pictures as soon as it's feasible. Snow and ice are not only a hazard, but they make your home look neglected, so keep walkways and stoops clear. And make sure the inside of your home smells inviting-- fireplaces, animals, and lots of guests and family "trapped" inside will all leave some not-so-pleasant odors in a closed-up home.

So call your agent today, and get that home on the market!