Becky Brand

Are you thinking of buying a home this year? Do you have questions such as:

•· What's happening in the market?

•· How do I know if now is really the best time for me to buy?

•· Do I qualify for the $8000 first time home buyers tax credit?

•· What is a buyer's agent and why would I want to use one?

•· What negotiation strategies can I use to get the best price possible for a home?

•· What is the value of a home inspection, what's covered in one and how can I minimize my after purchase maintenance risks?

•· Are interest rates really going to go down to 4.5%?

•· What are the 3 things I need to know before choosing an agent to help me purchase a home?

Shorewest Realtors is holding a free home buyers seminar on Thursday, April 16^thfrom 7-8:30PM at their office in Oconomowoc, WI. Experts will be on hand to answer these and other important questions.

To pre-register email lcseminar@shorewest.com or call 262.567.8302 ext. 111. We hope to see you there!

Are you the mother of a child aged birth to age 5? Then you need to check out MOPS. MOPS is a national organization that exists to support and equip mothers to be the best they can be. There are a number of local chapters, including one that meets at St. Bart's in Pewaukee at night. If you are looking for a place where you can relax and be accepted and supported as the mother you are, look no further. MOPS in Pewaukee meets on the second Wednesday of the month and provides free childcare. Our meetings include a speaker or activity, some time to connect with other moms and of course, chocolate. Every MOPS group has its own flavor. Check out these links to learn more: mops.org and MOPS at St. Barts.

So you're selling a house and you get a showing request - Yeah! But wait, they want to come in an hour. What? How can I get ready? But that's when the kids get home... Put all these worries aside! Say yes! Let me explain why.

Given the current buyers market, you should do everything in your power to accommodate a showing request (we'll assume that the agent making that request has prequalified this buyer as one ready, willing and able to afford your home.) You never know when this could be the Buyer for your home and many times a buyer who is turned down for a showing never reschedules. Even if they do reschedule, the relationship has started off on the wrong foot, which could come into play later in the transaction. Often times transferees, who are some of the best ready, willing and able buyers in any market, can't reschedule for 3 days later. By then they will be on a plane back home, with an accepted offer in their carry-on.

So why would a buyer wait until the last minute to request to see your home? Maybe they just walked into the real estate office 30 minutes ago and they need to buy a home this afternoon. Maybe a 70 hour work week just had a cancellation and your house is the one they have been trying for three weeks to find time to see. We could come up with all kinds of reason why they could have called earlier, but should you really care? After all, it's the showing that counts.

My family moved 6 times before I graduated high school, so I have a little experience in this arena. In the 70's there were no cell phones, so if while driving a neighborhood with their agent, a buyer would request to see an additional home, the Realtor would knock on the door and ask if they could come back in 15 minutes. I, along with my 3 siblings, all had a job to do when that happened. If it was during dinner, the dinner dishes went into a large canner and into the car trunk. Someone shined up the sinks, someone ran the vacuum and someone stuffed any dirty clothes into the washer and/or dryer. One of the biggest reasons I hear from agents for restrictive showing instructions is that the sellers have small children, sometimes with a spouse already moved on to the new location. While I truly empathize with those parents, I also know the challenges this market presents and it is imperative that no showings be turned down unless absolutely necessary. While I would always encourage sellers to leave their home during a showing (see Pat Tasker's great post on that subject: Would you try on that swimsuit if the clerk came in the dressing room?) I can even remember people looking at our house while my siblings and I were in bed!

Of course, I encourage all agents and buyers to be as considerate as possible when requesting showings, giving the seller as much advance notice as possible. I would also caution sellers from letting in buyers who knock on their door without an agent for security reasons. Nevertheless, while there are many legitimate reasons for you as a seller to turn down a showing, please reconsider before doing so. It can mean the difference between a buyer now and no buyer!

This a commercial Meyer and Wallis produced for Shorewest Realtors when they changed their name from Wauwatosa Realty (a suburb of Milwaukee) to Shorewest Realtors.  When we stopped running it we got people calling our offices asking us to put it back on.  We also sold copies as a fundraiser for our company charity.  Enjoy:

Hartridge Subdivision 2008 Real Estate Market Review

2008 Single Family Home Activity

25 New Listings Average List Price $241,224

18 Homes Sold Average Sales Price $228,889

6 Currently Active Listings Average List Price $275,450

Months of Inventory Currently Available in Hartridge 4.0

2008 Two Family Home Activity

7 New Listings Average List Price $265,484

1 Home Sold Sales Price $239,500

3 Currently Active Listings Average List Price $254,900

Months of Inventory Currently Available in Hartridge 36.14

2008 Condominium Activity

9 New Listings Average List Price $139,322

5 Homes Sold Average Sales Price $139,820

2 Currently Active Listings Average List Price $146,150

Months of Inventory Currently Available in Hartridge 4.76

As a Shorewest Realtor^TM it is my privilege and obligation to keep you informed of current real estate trends. While the real estate market in 2008 was a roller coaster ride, the Hartridge Subdivision faired quite nicely when compared to other subdivisions in the area. The months of inventory in Hartridge of single family homes is less than half of the inventory levels seen in Arrowhead School District (which stands at 12 months) as a whole. With today's interest rates you may be able to move up to a larger home with little or no change in your monthly payment. Call me today for a no obligation analysis of your home situation and how you can take advantage of one of the best times to buy real estate in our lifetime!

*All data taken from Metro MLS as of 2/6/09