Poconos COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS AND STRATEGIES POCONO REAL ESTATE, POCONO MARKET UPDATE, POCONO STATISTICS, HOMES FOR SALE, EAST STROUDSBURG, STROUDSBURG, POCONO REALTORS, POCONO BROKERS In years past Monroe County was considered one of the fastest growing counties in the Commonwealth of PA due to the influx of residents from bordering New Jersey and New York. This has drastically changed with the loss of employment for single and dual income homes, increase in gas prices and the overall economic decline being experienced throughout the northeast region. The increase in actual mortgage defaults, as well as anticipated new mortgage defaults, has created an opportunity for real estate professionals with foreclosure and short sale experience. While many news media providers have been portraying a “bleak” outlook for the real estate market, the focus for RE/MAX Crossroads has been that of exploring and taking advantage of the endless opportunities available to first time home buyers, relocate-es and investors on the buying side, and “Positive Options” for home sellers currently facing a legitimate hardship. New construction has come to a virtual standstill. The issuance of new home permits has fallen by 95% since 2007. The difficult facts are as follows: o The number of homes sold has decreased 8.9% from 2008 to 2009o The average home price has declined on average 21.4% from Dec. 2007 to today. The encouraging facts are as follows: The “Who Moved My Cheese” strategy has been the success of RE/MAX Crossroads. Having multiple contingency plans in place BEFORE they were needed was and still is an effective way to remain solvent. To remain a viable and productive Company in the local market, we have: 1. Renegotiated every single contractual and service related expense, from E&O insurance, to rent, to banking fees, while increasing our support and service to our Associates. 2. Maintained a strong presence in all advertising mediums and increased our exposure while the other brokerage companies have stopped marketing all together 3. Un-invited non-productive associates, while encouraging others to join our successful team. 4. We retain an “OPTIMISTIC & OPPORTUNISTIC” attitude throughout the office on a daily basis. 5. We educate ourselves and our clients with the latest up-to-the-minute lending options and market conditions, and do so in a positive manner. 6. We have developed strong long lasting relationships with Asset Mangers and banks to assist in the disposal of foreclosed properties. 7. We are the markets’ leading ‘Short Sale’ Broker and have mastered the process. RE/MAX Crossroads is currently working with lenders such as Bank of America, Wells Fargo and other local Banks, to counsel and assist struggling homeowners in selling their homes using a ‘short sale’ option in an effort to avoid foreclosure. We feel this service is critical to the future of our market. Short Sales are very viable options for lenders and homeowners. The process strongly influences housing values. It also nets a much higher dollar amount to the lender and/or investor by decreasing legal fees, decreasing time on the market and decreasing loss of value to the assets caused by vacancy and vandalism. While the average PMAR statistics show 12% of a brokers’ available inventory (listings) as “Under Contract” RE/MAX Crossroads boasts an impressive 19%! Additionally, the number of buyer sides controlled by RE/MAX Crossroads is significantly higher on average based upon the number of Associates. On average, a PMAR Agent currently has ½ buyer side pending. RE/MAX Crossroads Agents have an average of 2 buyers and 2 sellers pending at this time. While the competition is reporting a decline in gross revenues for 2009, RE/MAX Crossroads is confident that our gross revenue will be at a company high for 2009. We attribute this to our leading edge business planning, our astute awareness of the changing market conditions, and our ability to successfully adapt our business strategies to ensure a competitive advantage. POCONO REAL ESTATE, POCONO MARKET UPDATE, POCONO STATISTICS, HOMES FOR SALE, EAST STROUDSBURG, STROUDSBURG, POCONO REALTORS, POCONO BROKERS Our client satisfaction has been evidenced by the high number of personal and corporate referrals we have received. We believe in and practice our profession based upon the notion that successful people always deliver on what they promise....& then some. They can be counted on in every situation....& then some. We pride ourselves on going that extra step to provide our customers and clients with what they need and consistently exceed their expectations. We put the best interest of our customers and clients before our own. We are problem solvers, innovative thinkers and sincere in every effort we make to assist a customer or client through the process.
Pocono Real Estate: Short Sale or Foreclosure???
Today’s Buyers need to know the difference between a Foreclosure and a Short Sale. Get your foreclosure list here!!!
The BIGGEST difference can be TIME!
Foreclosures, while some may not be in the best of shape, can be purchased in a shorter amount
Be prepared to wait 90 days to close....as a Short Sale approval is a sometimes multi layered process. 
Click here to get free information on avoiding Foreclosures!!!
An $8000 Tax credit is the WRONG reason to Rush out an Buy a Home!
Buying a home JUST to receive a Tax credit is not a very wise idea. You may find yourself at a disadvantage when negotiating the price or Terms as the “Clock is Ticking.” You may end up “settling”, “paying more than your have too” or worse yet, closing on a home with “defects” by December 1 in order to get your Tax Rebate. Then after closing you will REGRET your decision! Slow Down, Think it through and remember.....there is PLENTY of time ....Housing Affordability is the BEST it has been in over 20 YEARS!! And it is Getting BETTER! Look for the House that makes Economical sense for Today and Tomorrow! Look at the “Carrying costs” like taxes, heat cost, and short term repair items before you make the commitment.
Save a few more dollars for your down payment and/ or closing costs. Research the BEST mortgage Products available, and don’t think you Can Not or Should NOT use an FHA Loan because your credit is TOO good or you have more than the required 3.5% down payment! Did you know you can put down MORE that the 3.5% and STILL take advantage of the flexible qualifying guidelines?? If you follow a few simple guidelines your Long term Tax Credit and Benefits will be FAR more than $8000!!
Search Homes here!!!
This information has been around for a while but I wanted to remind everyone that time is running out!!!
IF you are thinking of buying a home and are financially ready do not hesitate.
Or have a list of foreclosures emailed to you.
This article is from the PMAR
POCONO REALTORS® BUYERS WHAT THEY NEED TO KNOW ABOUT 2009 TAX CREDIT
STROUDSBURG, Pa. -- (March 1, 2009) – In its ongoing effort to share current information on homeownership with area individuals, the Pocono Mountains Association of REALTORS (PMAR), is alerting first-time home buyers about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the latest tax credits enacted within it as an incentive to purchase now.
“This is an unprecedented time in history for the first-time homebuyer,” said Vickie Brockelman, chair of the Public Relations Committee of PMAR. “Firstly, there are many homes on the market giving buyers an edge, secondly, interest rates are super low and thirdly, in its efforts to stimulate the economy and revive the housing market, Congress enacted this $8,000 tax credit. This creates an excellent situation for first-time homebuyers to buy now.”
The tax credit of up to $8,000 is now available for qualified first-time home buyers purchasing a principal residence on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009. Qualifying taxpayers who buy a home before the deadline can claim the credit on either their 2008 or 2009 tax returns. Unlike the tax credit enacted in 2008, the new credit does not have to be repaid, provided the home remains their main home for 36 months after the purchase date. They can claim 10 percent of the purchase price up to $8,000, or $4,000 for married individuals filing separately.
According to the National Assocation of REALTORS, you are considered to be a first-time homebuyer if you, and your spouse if you are married, did not own any other main home during the three-year period ending on the date of purchase. In addition, there are some income limitations and other specifications to the bill, however, generally, each dollar of the tax credit reduces income taxes by $1. Therefore, a qualified purchaser would figure out their tax liability and once the total taxes owed has been computed, tax credits are applied to reduce the total tax bill. For example, a $9,500 total tax liability for the year would be reduced to $1,500 for a first-time buyer who purchased a home of $80,000 or more and fell within the income ranges of $75,000 for singles and $150,000 for those filing married. In addition, this tax is considered a refundable credit, so if the purchaser’s total tax liability was $6,000, the IRS would send them a check for $2,000.
“If first-time buyers don’t act now, I suspect many will regret their hesitation in the future,” added Brockelman.
To learn more about the tax credit and available homes, contact an area REALTOR® by visiting the PMAR Web site for a complete list of members at poconorealtors.com. For additional details for the tax credit, visit www.IRS.gov or www.realtor.org to review the FAQ document which outlines the tax credit and compares it against the 2008 tax credit as well as the tax credit features chart outlining the 10 provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
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So what are you waiting for???
POCONO MOUNTAIN REAL ESTATE
Or have a list of foreclosures emailed to you.
Please keep this list as you look for a home. It will provide you with information for the communities within the Pocono Region.
Community Profiles and Websites
Pocono Mountain Communities
Poconos Real Estate Office
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