These gals were at a tournament last weekend, what kind of tournament?
I'm driving to my showing with my buyers in their car right behind me. I turn the corner and a fella on his riding lawn mower looks up in our direction, smiles and waves. As we pull into the driveway, the neighbors to the west of the listed home come out of their front door on their way out for a walk, and yep, they wave as well.
The buyers look around the home for a few minutes, the house has most of what they wanted. They can't wait to get back to my office and make an offer on the home (I've only showed them one other house). They are smiling from ear to ear and can't wait to move.
I can't believe I found this picture in IClip, I tried to color it. The guy is pushing this lawnmower, my guy was riding his!
When you travel down a country road in Montana, sometimes people will wave at you from their drivers seat. You might think it's odd, cause you haven't a clue who they are. Don't fret, it's just a custom, it's just friendly, wave back!
This waving episode was unrehearsed, making the buyers eager to move to a great neighborhood.
Ever heard of the Stillwater Mine? This is the ONLY producer of Platinum, palladium and rhodium in the Western Hemisphere. GM contracts for these metals to make catalytic converters which remove pollution from the tailpipe exhaust. The Stillwater Mine is just up the hill from Billings Montana. Now GM is trying to cancel their contract for these metals and only buy them from abroad! Sound familiar?
Let's think about this for a moment. Tax payer dollars to save GM, tax payer's are the major stockholders of this "new company" that defaulted on tax payers. Now, American owned GM wants to cut the jobs of American tax payers and only buy the metals from Russia and South Africa.
By the way, a Russian company purchased this mine a few years back (worked out really well for the Russian's huh!). So, how's our National Security affected by losing this mined product?
Gov. Brian Schweitzer can't seem to get anyone to answer the phone over at GM or the Treasury Department. Frankly, I'd rather have the Stillwater Mine than GM.
The cheapest price is not necessarily the best deal. Networking is crucial for everyone in a community. Healthcare, energy, manufacturing, construction, food industries, etc. all need each other, why not support those industries right in your own town?
I know I'm much more likely to do business with someone who does business with me, it's just a reciprocating endeveor. Heck, my hairdresser is not cheap, in fact she's pretty expensive, and really, really good at what she does. I don't mind paying the going rate for excellent service, especially when she sends me clients as well.
When I need to contract to have something done around my home (that I can't or won't do myself), who do I call? I call the local guy, he's not cheap either, but do I get my money's worth? You bet! I don't get an excuse for why something didn't work out, or why that wasn't in the bid, I get what I wanted! And, if it fails for whatever reason, I know I can call and have my phone call returned, along with a fix ASAP.
It only makes sense that if the local economy is strong, my business will be strong as well. I like working with people I can look in the eye. Bless the international business community, but they really only care about my dollar, not me.
Want a strong local economy, buy good stuff and services from good people, right in your own home town!
Today I got the usual question about our local Real Estate Market from a group of medical people (friends) and I had some hard truth to tell! Our 2nd quarter of 2009 is not performing as well as I'd hoped!
I'll try to give you a few numbers, just so you can chew on them for awhile.
The volume of dollars in residential sales in areas 1 - 10 for the 2nd quarter of 2007 was $136,484,281.
The volume of dollars in residential sales in areas 1 - 10 for the 2nd quarter of 2009 was $96,306,411.
The average price of a residential home in areas 1 - 10 for the 2nd quarter of 2008 was $204,023.
The average price of a residential home in areas 1 - 10 for the 2nd quarter of 2009 was $191,845.
I compared the volume for 2007 to 2009 just because that's our all time high in the last few years. 2008 volume was $124,045,825.
We've also lost volume in number of sales. In 2008, during the 2nd quarter, we sold 608 units, in 2009 during the same period we sold only 502 units.
Take heart, those who priced their homes correctly for this market struck paydirt: 222 of those 502 units that sold in the 2009 period were under contract in less than 30 days!
Only one home over $500,000 closed during that quarter!
FHA loans are cooking right now with more FHA loans than conventional for the first time in 4 years. 222 FHA loans to 161 conventional loans. Just to compare, in 2007 FHA loans were 85 and conventional loans were 466 (those were the days my friend).
More homes are qualifying for FHA loans with a few minor defects this year, where as for the last couple of years we had way more conditions that needed to be fixed prior to closing. Appraisers are looking hard at Value for the neighborhood.
Lenders are hoop jumping through more and more, ever-changing underwriting, they must sit and wonder, what the heck will I run into on each and every loan. If you have a decent credit score, a job and a good debt to income ratio, you can get a loan. Oh and don't forget the first time home-buyer tax credit, I've had a few of those happen, and it really makes the buyers happy. I love happy people.
I tried to check my crystal ball to see what our future holds, but all I see is fog! Remember to price your home for the current market, and it should sell. The best homes go for the most money. After all, as a buyer will say on almost every house hunting excursion lately, "I'm lookin' for a deal...I can afford!"
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Proud member of “The Windmill Gang” riding the range in a small SUV providing the best Real Estate Representation for Buyers and Sellers in Yellowstone, Stillwater, Carbon, and Musselshell County!
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