Meredith Laws - Windermere Real Estate/ Anacortes Properties - 360-770-1997

Real Estate sales and marketing of the future - what will it look like? Will blogging be the thing? Holographic agents? What do you look for on the Internet or other venues if you are a browsing buyer? Do you ever use the On-Demand TV stuff for real estate?

I was using the Western Washington University library last night, and they have a really cool function where you can press a box next to a book or periodical listing on their computerized listings, and it will send you a text message with the call number and library location! How awesome is that! I didn't have to write anything down with those little library/golf pencils. I know this is probably old hat to the younger students, but I was wildly impressed.

When you are surfing the Internet - what do you wish you could see more of in the real estate world? What is useful to you? What is a waste of time? What can we invent that will make your real estate experience better?

Comments, please!

Today in Anacortes, there are 267 single-family homes listed in the MLS. 23 of them have an offer. Roll back the clock... last week there were 288 total, 27 had an offer... last month there were 315 total, 30 had an offer. Our inventory is dwindling - just like it does every winter.

If there is a house you are particularly interested in - think about making a move on it now before the owners take it off the market or decide to rent it out! You may never have a better time to get the house you want at a price that is reasonable! As Steve Copson (our Windermere Mortgage rep) said - "Now's the time to get the house you want at the price it should have been all along!"

Meredith Laws / Windermere Real Estate / Anacortes Properties / www.GoSeagull.com

Instant e-mail - meredith@windermere.com voice/text at 360-770-1997

Did you know that lots of sellers take their homes off the market during late fall and then put it back on the market in the spring? Listing graphs of our area show dramatic dips in inventory from November to February every year. Why? Sellers think that their houses will show better in the spring, they don't want to be bothered with showings throughout the holidays, and they think there are more buyers looking in the spring. All good points, but not always true.

If you are serious about selling right now - consider leaving your house on the market through the winter and taking a sharp look at your pricing, marketing and exposure. Those three factors are key and must all be correct for the market conditions to ensure a successful sale. In my opinion, they are far more important than the season. Buyers that look in the winter tend to be more serious, and if you can stand the showings during the holidays, you will have far less competition! Let everyone else miss out on the winter buyers. Believe it or not, I have spent more than one New Year's Eve with clients showing and making offers on houses!

Also - if you take your property off the market in the hopes that the market will "rebound" in the spring - you should consider that even if the market comes back a bit, it could be far less than a full percentage point by this spring, and could result in very little, if any increase in your selling price between now and then. Given your expenses, is it worth the wait or is it better to sharpen your pencil and get the house sold? All things that are very important for sellers to consider right now!

Meredith Laws / Windermere Real Estate / Anacortes

instant e-mail meredith@windermere.com; voice/text to 360-770-1997, www.GoSeagull.com

Hey Active-Rainers! Now that the election is over, lets get on with life! Are you thinking of buying property in Anacortes? You should be - it is beautiful here! Check out local listings and Anacortes links at www.GoSeagull.com - that's my website. It's fun and easy to remember! And call anytime if you are ready for a frank chat about our market or our town. I have lived here for over 13 years and sold real estate here for over 5 years full time. I am ready to share everything I know about this place so that you can make smart property decisions. First home, second home, condo, vacation home, waterfront, waterview... I will give you the straight skinny on our local real estate.

So - have fun surfing and when you are through being virtual and ready to get down to business, get in touch! Instant e-mail at meredith@windermere.com or voice/text to 360-770-1997. I look forward to hearing from you!