Don't ever buy on or siding to a busy road like 148th. It's a heartbreaker if you try to sell on a busy road in a bad market. You want to slash your wrists.
You sound like my (very smart) wife, Ardell!
Care to make a guess on what price that house sells for and how long it takes to sell?
(by the way, one of the full baths upstairs has been converted to be usable only by a 5 year old)
KMDA Kenai Mens Dart Association (Alaska)
KMDA Kentucky Marine Dealers Association
KMDA Kindergarten Multi-Dimensional Assessment
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KMDA Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (India)
KMDA Korea Medical Devices Association
KMDA Korea Motors Dealer Association
I think he's getting a little testy, because with sales still strongly declining and inventory still skyrocketing, it's not looking good for his prediction that "prices will start inching upward probably no later than the return of sunny weather early next year."
Your whole blog spews negative energy filled with gleeful doomsday posts, or simply attacks people.
Word - shame on you for spreading "negative energy", Tim! "SeattleHomes" on Craigslist apparently can sell healing crystals after he gives up on the real estate market.
Your whole blog is dedicated to pointing out how bad things are. It doesn't attempt to solve any problems, it just complains about everyone and everything.
This is one big change that the Internet has caused - the RE industry used to have a sweet deal, where their media lapdogs would never diss real estate, lest they lose all that advertising money, so agents controlled public discussions about real estate. Now, it is possible for people to easily access contrarian opinions, and most RE agents don't like it one bit - the Seattle RE insults are especially amusing, due to their New Age sensibility.
No - the MySpace guy seems pretty reasoned for an RE agent. To wit:
In the areas that were previously hot, we are unlikely to see such significant home-price appreciation in the near future. So, if you're considering buying in one of these areas, think in terms of buying for the long term. If your future is uncertain, it might make more sense to rent.
and
Pay careful attention to how you finance your home purchase. The cheapest loan possible may be not be the best loan if it requires you to refinance or sell within the next few years. If the market slows and you are no longer earning appreciation on your home, refinancing could be a problem. If the market is soft then, you could have difficulty selling.
He's still trying to sell you a house, but he is being remarkably evenhanded by RE agent standards. Not our Craigslist guy...
The latest from the Seattle Real Estate Professionals: Smart or Stupid
It's not worth replying over there since the post is obviously hostile to "the bubble bloggers," but I thought I'd share a few thoughts about this amusing piece here.
If you pick up any newspaper in any city today you'll find real estate is dominating the headlines. Day after day we are seeing more stories of this bank or that bank or this mortgage company or that mortgage company going under, or getting sued, or doing this or doing that ... and the news is mostly all negative.
It's getting old.
Sad to say Leanne, it's only just getting started...
For those of you who bought several years ago, and want to move now, why not?
Um, maybe because prices around Seattle are back to August 2006 levels, and if you bought 2-3 years ago you probably can't sell for enough to pay the 6% to an agent plus the 2% tax?
So, I guess my point is, is it a smart time to buy or sell, or a stupid time to buy or sell? I think you can decide that for yourself. Pay no attention to those around you who quote doom and gloom, this is your decision, and yours alone. Get approved by a qualified lender, pick an experienced agent to guide and represent you, and go check things out for yourself. You're the one in charge of this decision, not your friends, not your office mates, and certainly not the bubble bloggers of the land!
Aww, but I want to be in charge of other people's decisions! Drat. I'm still not following the "doom and gloom" accusation though. Falling prices are a good thing, not doom and gloom.
Falling prices are a good thing, not doom and gloom.
It's "doom and gloom" to the people who earn less commission - those crazy real estate professionals.
That post is the classic "It's always the right time to buy."
I'm losing the will to even comment anymore.
A buddy at work just became a real estate agent and I didn't have the heart to start a long conversation about how "special" we are here in Seattle. It's not really a friend-making event.
The interesting thing is that the PI group tends to vacillate about how they should respond to the down market.
Some clearly think now is the time to highlight their expertise about homebuying topics like CC&Rs, mortgage reform, purchase agreements, etc. That's probably the best idea if they want to turn their blogging activities into sales leads and closed transactions.
However, it seems like the contributors regularly get wound up about how unfair the media coverage is, and they can't help but renew their exhortations telling us how now is a great time to buy.
I rarely bother going over there once I realized it was mostly disparaging housing bears as babies or repeated rants against posters that wouldn't give their name/address/background to prove their opinion was as worthy as the agents'.
So, I guess my point is, is it a smart time to buy or sell, or a stupid time to buy or sell? I think you can decide that for yourself. Pay no attention to those around you who quote doom and gloom, this is your decision, and yours alone. Get approved by a qualified lender, pick an experienced agent to guide and represent you, and go check things out for yourself. You're the one in charge of this decision, not your friends, not your office mates, and certainly not the bubble bloggers of the land!
:twisted: To paraphrase
That's right. This is your decision - yours alone. Do not listen to anyone who would give you advice(unless they are a lender or a real estate agent). But other than that, you're completely in charge. Oh yeah, believe me too. Although I do not know you and am unqualified to speak on your behalf; I know that if you are still reading this, you are capable of making reckless decisions to your own detriment, so please buy a house!
Damn right, RCC. People need to go with their gut when times get tough. If you say you saw a pink pony, and that pony needed some TLC, don't be cruel. Listen to your heart, and the shining light of years of satisfaction of knowing you own, in partnership with your lender, and can now see yourself as superior to all other living beings who are not homeowners. Because dammit, you got yours.
Don't pay attention to those who are really just jealous, lazy, haters, and would tell you that you cannot do whatever you put your mind and no-down ARM money to do! Well, it still might be wise to have at least 10 percent ready, but don't worry, be happy. Home values double every ten years!
results may vary by region. past performance is not a guarantee of future results. statistics based upon following Berkshire Hathaway strategies with a min. 10 million investment
results may vary by region. past performance is not a guarantee of future results. statistics based upon following Berkshire Hathaway strategies with a min. 10 million investment
Obviously Zestimates are not the only accepted or valuable source for appraisal info. (mostly just good for a laugh!), but something took a tumble in her neighborhood in the last 30 days....
$60K drop???
Wasn't she thinking of pricing it just under a million?
I sense many of the realtor bloggers are starting to realize who their audience is - that's right - potential buyers! Now that things have slowed, the tone of many have changed considerably
For example, I would never consider someone like Mack. Others have been much more savvy marketers from the beginning.
"I sense many of the realtor bloggers are starting to realize who their audience is - that's right - potential buyers! Now that things have slowed, the tone of many have changed considerably."
You've got that right - for example, who wrote this today on RGC:
"So, don't be swayed by media reports of a 'disastrous housing economy.' Take the long-term view and be confident that your home will continue to appreciate in value. And know that if you buy a home today, in seven years it will be worth a lot more."
That doesn't help you much if you relocate in three or your wife springs a divorce on you in two.
Ardell. Wow, just wow.
It is dawning on some RE agents who are in the business for the long run that belittling people doubting the health of the current housing market may cause problems later when these people may start buying houses - particularly since you will be able in 2009-2010 to see who was saying what on various RE blogs in 2006-2008.
Better late than never. To her credit, Ardell has figured out that lots of changes are happening in the industry, everything from falling prices to new ways to list and sell homes, as well as how the agent will relate to both buyers and sellers in the future. I think she even supports a negotiated flat fee for services. She'll be around for a while if she wants.
So, did Ardell ever decide to list her home or not? I am wondering if part of what has changed her tune is the dawning realization that she may have list her home with a lowball price in order to move it quickly.
Zillow says it's still dropping...
Down to $934K today. She paid $850K in 2005.
Meanwhile, listings are over 12,000 in KC. Seattle seems to be crashing much faster than I anticipated it would.
What has happened to Ardell? Remember when Craig posted a while ago about commissions and how you could use an attorney to buy or sell a house instead of a Realtor? She got really mad at him. And now this check out this thread. Comments 5, 42, 43 and 52 are a whole new Ardell.
Reading that thread gave me a funny idea. I wonder how entertaining it would be if you got Ardell, Mack, and me together to talk about real estate issues, and recorded it as a podcast. Could be called "Seattle RE Smackdown" or something. Heh.
Comments
You sound like my (very smart) wife, Ardell!
Care to make a guess on what price that house sells for and how long it takes to sell?
(by the way, one of the full baths upstairs has been converted to be usable only by a 5 year old)
??
KMDA Kenai Mens Dart Association (Alaska)
KMDA Kentucky Marine Dealers Association
KMDA Kindergarten Multi-Dimensional Assessment
KMDA Known Mineral Deposit Area
KMDA Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (India)
KMDA Korea Medical Devices Association
KMDA Korea Motors Dealer Association
In case you're wondering, I've brought up Mr. "SeattleHomes" before on the blog, back in October: Realistic or In Denial? You be the judge.
I think he's getting a little testy, because with sales still strongly declining and inventory still skyrocketing, it's not looking good for his prediction that "prices will start inching upward probably no later than the return of sunny weather early next year."
I just wanted to make that clear.
Don't know who that guy is, but he sounds "drunk with power."
Word - shame on you for spreading "negative energy", Tim! "SeattleHomes" on Craigslist apparently can sell healing crystals after he gives up on the real estate market.
This is one big change that the Internet has caused - the RE industry used to have a sweet deal, where their media lapdogs would never diss real estate, lest they lose all that advertising money, so agents controlled public discussions about real estate. Now, it is possible for people to easily access contrarian opinions, and most RE agents don't like it one bit - the Seattle RE insults are especially amusing, due to their New Age sensibility.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu ... =156912283
and
He's still trying to sell you a house, but he is being remarkably evenhanded by RE agent standards. Not our Craigslist guy...
Status: Married
Here for: Networking, Friends
Orientation: Straight
The guy on craigslist is Patrick Beringer
And he's definitley not married, "here for friends" or straight.
http://www.eastsidebrokers.net/patrickb
Am I the only one who reads this "Seattle Homes" or "Seattle Holmes"?
It's not worth replying over there since the post is obviously hostile to "the bubble bloggers," but I thought I'd share a few thoughts about this amusing piece here. Sad to say Leanne, it's only just getting started... No. Um, maybe because prices around Seattle are back to August 2006 levels, and if you bought 2-3 years ago you probably can't sell for enough to pay the 6% to an agent plus the 2% tax? Aww, but I want to be in charge of other people's decisions! Drat. I'm still not following the "doom and gloom" accusation though. Falling prices are a good thing, not doom and gloom.
It's "doom and gloom" to the people who earn less commission - those crazy real estate professionals.
I'm losing the will to even comment anymore.
A buddy at work just became a real estate agent and I didn't have the heart to start a long conversation about how "special" we are here in Seattle. It's not really a friend-making event.
Some clearly think now is the time to highlight their expertise about homebuying topics like CC&Rs, mortgage reform, purchase agreements, etc. That's probably the best idea if they want to turn their blogging activities into sales leads and closed transactions.
However, it seems like the contributors regularly get wound up about how unfair the media coverage is, and they can't help but renew their exhortations telling us how now is a great time to buy.
:twisted: To paraphrase
That's right. This is your decision - yours alone. Do not listen to anyone who would give you advice(unless they are a lender or a real estate agent). But other than that, you're completely in charge. Oh yeah, believe me too. Although I do not know you and am unqualified to speak on your behalf; I know that if you are still reading this, you are capable of making reckless decisions to your own detriment, so please buy a house!
Don't pay attention to those who are really just jealous, lazy, haters, and would tell you that you cannot do whatever you put your mind and no-down ARM money to do! Well, it still might be wise to have at least 10 percent ready, but don't worry, be happy. Home values double every ten years!
results may vary by region. past performance is not a guarantee of future results. statistics based upon following Berkshire Hathaway strategies with a min. 10 million investment
http://www.zillow.com/HomeDetails.htm?zprop=48716514
Obviously Zestimates are not the only accepted or valuable source for appraisal info. (mostly just good for a laugh!), but something took a tumble in her neighborhood in the last 30 days....
$60K drop???
Wasn't she thinking of pricing it just under a million?
For example, I would never consider someone like Mack. Others have been much more savvy marketers from the beginning.
You've got that right - for example, who wrote this today on RGC:
Ardell. Wow, just wow.
It is dawning on some RE agents who are in the business for the long run that belittling people doubting the health of the current housing market may cause problems later when these people may start buying houses - particularly since you will be able in 2009-2010 to see who was saying what on various RE blogs in 2006-2008.
Zillow says it's still dropping...
Down to $934K today. She paid $850K in 2005.
Meanwhile, listings are over 12,000 in KC. Seattle seems to be crashing much faster than I anticipated it would.
I wonder what caused this turnaround.
Reading that thread gave me a funny idea. I wonder how entertaining it would be if you got Ardell, Mack, and me together to talk about real estate issues, and recorded it as a podcast. Could be called "Seattle RE Smackdown" or something. Heh.