How’s the market doing?

“How’s the market doing?” and its close cousin, “What do you think the market is going to do?” are questions we are regularly asked – by clients as they plan their next real estate move, and by friends and acquaintances at social gatherings, waiting in line at the grocery store, or in the stands at children’s’ sporting events. Many of us own real estate, and for the vast majority of us, our homes are our largest financial asset so we are naturally interested in the ebbs and flows of the market.

The power of the Internet

94% of home buyers start their search online. That’s an impressive number and I think it’s probably an underestimation. Neither of us can remember the last time we came across a buyer who didn’t use the Internet in their home buying search. It’s an efficient and effective way to browse through the listing inventory. A good online listing entices buyers to schedule an appointment, so it makes sense that Realtors should make sure their listings look great, right?

The process, and perils, of pricing

One of the services we provide our seller clients is an in-depth analysis of what their house is worth. Every home is different and it is critical to both understand general market trends, as well as have a handle on how a property’s specific strengths and weaknesses will impact value. We typically have our first conversation about price with potential sellers at a pre-listing appointment. Sometimes, these meetings are with past clients or referrals who intend to list with us; other times they are competitive situations with the potential client interviewing more than one agent.

Matchmaker

Selling houses is a bit like match making (cue the music “match maker, match maker make me a match, find me a find, catch me a catch…”). Just like every person has a “most likely” mate, every house has a “most likely” buyer and our job is to find that buyer.

Career day at the middle school

When I told Fiona I wanted to speak at career day, her response was, “That’s fine, as long as you introduce yourself as Julie Sasso and don’t tell anyone you are my mother.” I agreed, and largely kept my promise, though I did start the presentation by saying I worked at a company my husband and I owned, named McSharry and Associates Realty, so I am pretty sure that most of her classmates figured out I was her mom. I tried hard to keep the presentation innocuous and refrained from the behaviors (singing out loud, dancing, telling jokes) she finds most offensive.

Keeping the place up

You know the story – you buy a new house and before you move in you have a long list of projects (both big and small) that you will tackle right after the closing. Some projects are cosmetic (is sponge paint still in vogue?) and others may be items your home inspector flagged (rotting decking on the front porch is something we need to address at our new place). You are committed to getting right to the list after you unpack and settle in. But before you know it life gets in the way, maybe you lose the list, and years go by. No biggie right? Well unfortunately that’s not always the case. Sometimes deferring maintenance and home improvements can turn into a really big deal. Maybe you find yourself unexpectedly having to sell your home and it is not even close to show ready or perhaps several “emergency” repairs are required simultaneously and your budget can’t accommodate the expense.

Aging in place?

My standard response when people ask me how I like our new three story Victorian home, is “I love it! They will have to bury me in the backyard because I am never leaving.” And while I mean that now (well maybe not the part about burying me in the backyard), I wonder how I will feel as I get older. As the baby boom generation is aging, we have seen the development of universal design principles and “aging in place” is a desire for many people as they get older. I am nowhere near an expert on either topic, but I do see firsthand how aging affects our clients and their real estate needs.

Politics and real estate

How running for office made me a better Realtor

Those of you who don’t live in Bethlehem probably don’t know that I recently ran for (and won!) a seat on the town board. My four year term begins January 1^st and I am very excited for the opportunity to serve our wonderful town. But this post isn’t about that. It’s about what I learned knocking on doors and talking to people across Bethlehem and how I can use that information to be a better Realtor.