About Naperville's Carrolwood

DOES THE REAL ESTATE MARKET NEED SAVING?

This morning I was reading Richard Weisser's featured post, "A completely new proposal to save the real estate market. It's not as crazy as you might think!"...

In the post Richard writes of his new idea to save the real estate market. His plan involves "A dollar for dollar tax deduction for down payments". Seems like a pretty good idea...

But I am struggling with the premise...

Why does the real estate market need saving? Is it really that bad?

I thought it was a great time to buy a home...

Interest rates low. Prices down. Lot's of inventory to choose from.

So what gives?

Does the real estate market really need saving?

Ken

A Realtor you can trust.

-It was a sunny day at the Carrolwood townhomes in Naperville. Is the real estate market's future just as bright?

It's not like I have been on vacation...

On the contrary. I have had several buyer appointments, a listing appointment (which I did get), and two closings in the last two weeks.

Oddly busy, especially for late December.

All that activity is only a byproduct of what I really do for a living...

MARKETING.

And I was back marketing this morning delivering 165 newsletters to Carrolwood in Naperville and 140 newsletters to River Bend in Lisle.

It was 23 degrees today and overcast. Nice weather for my deliveries, although I was a bit under dressed.

My hands were pretty cold!

Although I was dragging a bit from one too many holiday parties, it felt good to be pounding the pavement.

These two neighborhoods have been getting my newsletter for over a year, so the neighbors are familiar with me.

The effects of marketing are cumulative. Not much response from this sort of "farming" right away, but over time, you become the "neighborhood expert".

I am "the expert" in both River Bend and Carrolwood.

There are many neighbors wanting to sell. The real estate market scared them off last year. That fear delays the moving decision, but only for so long, and then...

A rush of real estate activity.

I am marketing in front of that activity.

So I deliver my newsletters.

Ken

A Realtor you can trust.

The weather this morning was damp. 51 degrees and breezy. Very raw.

A chicken noodle soup type of day...

It was also a perfect morning for delivering my newsletters.

Today's target was Carrolwood, a subdivision of about 160 townhomes in Naperville Illinois. The homes are nice and modestly priced. Most sales occur between $170,000 and $200,000.

-Picture of Carrolwood Townhome on a sunny day

I love working in townhome communities.

As a Realtor, the benefits are many:
1. The turnover is higher than in a single family neighborhood.
2. They are generally lower priced, and low priced housing will always be in demand.
3. There are generally only a few models, so it is fairly simple to develop some level of "expertise."
4. Pricing is easier. Easier pricing makes for easier selling. Townhomes sell quickly when priced right.

And for door hanging, it doesn't get any better!

I am able to hang 160 of my newsletters in about 50 minutes. That's a lot of exposure in under an hour.

Probably the most productive 50 minutes of my month.

Ken

A Realtor you can trust.