Mark Hansen-Cape Cod Real Estate Expert

Good Afternoon,

I have been approached by several agents in the Cape Cod area, and asked to assist with clients that are in a Short Sale position and have had some great success. I am presently looking for Short Sale Referrals from additional agents on Cape Cod, and am happy to pay a 30% Referral for the lead. I have the experience to get your clients home closed in a timely manner, and can save them the lasting troubles of a foreclosure. My average close time from first offer to close is 115 days. Please feel free to contact me by phone or email. I look forward to working with you and your clients!

Welcome! And thank you once again for visiting the Cape Cod Realty Advisor Guide.

As my last Blog was more of an introduction, I am really excited to get into the meat of what is happening in and around Cape Cod with regard to Real Estate.

One of the questions I am always asked by people that are not 'in the business' of Real Estate is: "So, How's the market?" Now, I believe that more than half the people asking this question think they already know the answer. They think the market stinks, that it will be years before it bounces back and that there are no more opportunities left. Correct?

Absolutely. (What?)

Look. The opinion put forth in the previous paragraph is only correct if you are unable to see the tremendous opportunities that exist. Let me challenge you to look at the situation with a bit more of a ‘glass half full' perspective.

To be successful at anything, you have to be able to look outside your own situation and see it through another's eyes. When people say that the market ‘stinks', what they really mean is that their property is worth less than it was 2 years ago. They hear about property foreclosure, credit crunches and falling home prices. If you own a home and your credit is still intact, this is a perfect opportunity for you to upgrade your home. As long as you are selling low and buying low there is no value lost. In fact, a move to a larger or more expensive home will serve up a greater return when the market bounces back. An example of this would be that if you are in a home that is worth $250,000 vs. $350,000, a 10% eventual return of the market will gain $25,000 and $35,000 respectively. Not a huge difference, but this gap widens as prices climb. (And they will). Not only that, but you are enjoying a new home that may have previously been out of reach. For those first time homebuyers, you may be surprised to know that there still exists a multitude of quality lending institutions that want to lend you money!

Now, for those looking to buy a primary or second home, you should be viewing this as ‘The Perfect Storm'. "What are you talking about!?", your thinking. This is what I mean. There are three driving forces that make this situation the ‘Perfect Storm'. Inventory is abundant, prices are temporarily depressed and interest rates are still historically low! This very situation is the one that people were begging for in 2005. And it is now this situation that will attract individuals from both here and abroad, to begin purchasing Real Estate here on Cape Cod. Don't kid yourselves, this is going to happen. The first wave of Baby Boomers are set to retire in 2009, at which time they will be looking to a handful of locations to live full or part time. (Cape Cod being high on their lists) Interest from other countries that now hold incredibly strong currencies such as, Canada, Ireland and England, will also drive the Real Estate market as it presents smart investment opportunities. And finally, more locally, the rash of foreclosures will cause some individuals to seek rental housing as an alternative to owning. This in turn drives the need for investor owned rental properties.

So as you see, there are opportunities that exist here on Cape Cod both now and in the future. So take the time to educate yourselves, and make this opportunity yours! Thank you again for reading my Blog, I hope you found it both eye opening and enjoyable. Please feel free to send any questions, comments or topics for future Blogs to: Mhansen@c21shoreland.com

Regards, Mark Hansen

Welcome!

Thank you for visiting the Cape Cod Realty Advisor Guide, where I hope to open your eyes to the pitfalls and opportunities that exist with regard to Cape Cod Real Estate!

Whether you are buying, selling or investing this bi-weekly Blog will be of interest to you. Why am I writing this Blog, you ask? Simply put, I feel that there is a wealth of information out there, but no one to decipher that information and assist in reading between the lines. No doubt, you will hear many things regarding the national Real Estate situation. Herein lays the Rub: Cape Cod is NOT representative of the national market. Would you agree? (If not, thank you for visiting, please recommend this Blog to people you care about) For the rest of us who know better, I hope you find this Blog and its coming articles to be both informative and enlightening.

Having told you what this Blog is all about, I was hoping to take just a moment to let you know who I am. My name is Mark Hansen, a young Realtor (and home owner) working with Century 21 Shoreland Realty, specializing in Residential and Investment Real Estate. Many of you must be thinking that this would put me a great disadvantage. It's quite the contrary really, as I have no idea what a great market is. (Today's market is all that I know, I am hardly spoiled) Would you believe that Real Estate has changed more in the past 36 months, than in the past 36 years! In other words, "this ain't your parent's Real Estate market..." Times have changed, and it takes a fresh set of eyes and a willingness to adapt, to make it in today's world of Real Estate. (So, back to my story) My 15 years of renovation experience has taken me from free child labor, to a labor of love that I continue to this day. In true Hollywood fashion I would like to acknowledge and thank my wife Jacquie. Her constant support and masterful spreadsheets have kept my dreams within budget, and my career moving ever forward. Every project brings with it new challenges, and new opportunities. I want all of you to know that I am your neighbor, your average family guy and most of all, some one that is willing share my knowledge and experience by laying it all out on the table. I make it my business to know where we have been, where we are, and where Real Estate is headed on Cape Cod.

So there it is, my Blog in a nutshell. If I could leave you by paraphrasing my friend Jim who says, "You're just trying to help people by putting the ‘Real' back in Real Estate"...and I hope that's truly what I can do for all of you. I look forward to any comments and discussions that you might want to offer. Please suggest this Blog to any friend or acquaintances that you think might enjoy it!

Regards,

Mark Hansen, C21 Shoreland, Cape Cod, MA