Should you sell your house now?

How to know when to sell your home

When people say that the housing bubble has burst, does that mean it is a bad time to sell your home? Or should you get out of your home now before it gets worse? Here are a few tips to help you make that decision:

Look at market conditions.

• Timing the prices in a housing market is difficult.
• Unless you really have to sell right now then it is best to probably wait until the economy turns around.
• The number of buyers is down and there is a ton of inventory you will have to compete with.

Determine the right price for your home.

• If you have to sell your home right now, determining the right price will be the most important decision you make.
• You need to look at comparable houses in your area to determine the price.
• The key is to determine what are they selling for per square foot so you can apply it to your own home price.

Stage your home for the sale.

• Staging your house is also very important when selling your home, but you don’t need to hire a stager to do it.
• Start with the exterior and make sure that trees and shrubs are trimmed and the lawn is clean.
• Inside your home you want to neutralize the colors of the walls and remove all of your personal effects.
• You want people looking at your home to see the house as their own.
• Before you put it on the market try to remove one piece of furniture from every room to help it look clean and open.

What if you are selling your home from out of state?

• If you’re moving out of state and you are having a hard time selling your home you might ask your employer if they are willing to take on the cost of your old home.
• Another option is to rent your home out and allow a local manager to take care of it.

Should you hire a real estate agent or sell your house yourself?

• Selling your home on your own can be very tough.
• A professional real estate agent can help you with all the necessary steps and give you advice on the market.
• If you are selling your home without an agent then you should price the home under market value.
• The upside to selling your home on your own is that you can save on the commission rate an agent charges.

Listing your home on the internet

• Utilizing the internet to sell your home is very important whether you are selling it on your own or with an agent.
• Make sure the pictures of your home that you are putting on the web are fabulous.
• You can also make a 360 degree video of your home and you must be sure all the information on your home is current and up to date on the internet.

Sarasota Economic update

On Tuesday, June 30, the Conference Board reported that its consumer confidence index fell to 49.3 in June from a slightly revised 54.8 in May. Economists had expected an increase to 55. The index was benchmarked at 100 in 1985, a year chosen because it was neither a peak nor a trough in consumer confidence.

The Standard & Poor’s / Case-Shiller 20-city housing price index dropped 18.1% from April 2008 to April 2009. It was the third straight month the index didn’t post record drops, indicating that the slump in home values might be easing.

The Institute for Supply Management reported the monthly index of manufacturing activity rose to 44.8 in June from 42.8 in May. Though any reading below 50 signals contraction, it was the sixth consecutive monthly increase from a record low of 32.9 in December.

The Commerce Department reported total construction spending fell 0.9% in May. Economists had expected a 0.5% decline. Meanwhile, construction spending in April was downwardly revised to a 0.6% gain. Also, a March increase of 0.4% was revised to a 0.4% drop.

The National Association of Realtors reported that its pending home sales index, a forward-looking indicator based on signed contracts, rose 0.1% to 90.7 in May from an upwardly revised 90.6 in April. It was the fourth consecutive monthly increase after the index hit a record low in January.

The Commerce Department reported factory orders rose 1.2% in May, after a revised 0.5% increase in April. It was the first back-to-back increase in nearly a year.

The Labor Department reported the jobless rate rose to 9.5% in June from 9.4% in May. That’s the highest level since August 1983.

Upcoming on the economic calendar are reports on consumer credit on July 8 and wholesale trade on July 9.

Looking for Sarasota Real Estate?

When first starting to find Sarasota Florida Real Estate , it can be difficult, but it really doesn’t have to be! We have put together this website so can you find comprehensive information about homes in Sarasota , the Value of Your Home , and even search the Sarasota MLS for FREE!  We want you to be able to find out about all of the areas in Sarasota to see what home opportunities are there. Read about the many great areas within Sarasota.

Keller Williams Grows to 3rd largest Real Estate Company in US

AUSTIN, Texas–(Business Wire)–

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.

“The success of Keller Williams Realty can be directly attributed to the hard work and perseverance of our associates and the soundness of our economic and organizational models”, said Mark Willis, CEO of Keller Williams Realty, Inc.

“While others might be looking at this market and seeing fear and uncertainty, we have always approached it as our opportunity to shine and grow.  And that mindset has paid off.”

The company 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 percent, market share for its offices increased 83 percent and agent gross commission income went up 35 percent. 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 soon-to-be-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.

Last Week in the News

On Tuesday, April 28, the Conference Board reported that its consumer confidence index rose 12.3 points to 39.2 in April. Economists had expected the index to increase to 29.5. It is the highest level since a November reading of 44.7 and is the largest jump since a gain of 13 points in November 2005. The index was benchmarked at 100 in 1985, a year chosen because it was neither a peak nor a trough in consumer confidence.

The Commerce Department announced Wednesday that gross domestic product — the total output of goods and services produced in the U.S. — decreased at an annual rate of 6.1% in the first quarter of 2009. This follows a 6.3% decline in the fourth quarter of 2008. It marked the worst two-quarter performance since 1957-58. One positive aspect to the GDP numbers was a 2.2% increase in consumer spending.

The Labor Department said initial claims for unemployment benefits fell in the week ending April 25 to 631,000 from the previous week’s upwardly revised figure of 645,000. For the week ending April 18, the number of people continuing to claim jobless benefits increased 133,000 to 6.271 million.

The Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index rose in April to 65.1 from 57.3 in March. Economists had forecasted a reading of 61.9. It was the highest reading since September 2008 and the biggest one-month gain since October 2006. The index has rebounded significantly from a 28-year low of 55.3 in November 2008.

The Institute for Supply Management reported the monthly index of manufacturing activity rose in April to 40.1 from 36.3 in March. Though any reading below 50 signals contraction, it was the fourth consecutive monthly increase from a record low of 32.9 in December.

Upcoming on the economic calendar are reports on construction spending and pending home sales on May 4, consumer credit on May 7 and wholesale trade on May 8.

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