Ken Brand's Blog

Home Sellers:  Why lose money?

Everyone has a good story.  For example, some might tell you that they’re better than everyone else, or cheaper.  But deeds speak louder and sweeter than words.

Check out this graphic.  If you’re thinking of selling, and money is important to you, give one of our Top Performers a call.  Interview them.  If you like what you hear, hire them.  You’ll net thousands more.

Doing the MATH

As you can see from the chart below Average and Median Sold Prices in The Woodlands TX have been super stable for two years.  Also, with an Average Sold Price of around $350,000 the difference between what you’ll stash in your pocket after closing can amount to anywhere from $8,000 to $15,000.  If you’d like to know about how we net our sellers more money, give me a call at 832-797-1779 and I’ll fill you in.

Thanks and Happy New Year.  Cheers.

I'd give it to you for FREE if I could.  But Amazon says I have to ask at least 0.99¢ents

The future is here, it's just not evenly distributed. ~ William Gibson

I've sold a ton of the Kindle/eBook versions for $10, today you can download my book Less Blah Blah More Ah Ha - How social savvy real estate agents become trusted, preferred, referred and rewarded from Amazon.com for less than a buck.  99¢ents to be exact.  I'd give it away for FREE if I could, but Amazon.com won't let me.  So, o.99¢ents it is.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER NOW - Yep, only 99 pennies.

Why only 0.99¢ents?

It's Christmas time and it's cool gift for my sisters and brothers in the RE biz.

I didn't write it to get rich, I wrote it to share what I've learned with my fellow tribe members (and I thought it'd be cool to be a published author;-)

2012 is just around the corner and this book can help you and our friends in the biz prepare and execute a kick-ass plan for renewed success in the New Year.

The more people who read it, the more people will recommend it, the more people will read it, the more people it will help.  Yea!

CLICK HERE TO ORDER NOW - Yep only 0.99¢ents

.

Will the price go back to $10?

Yes.  When, I'm not sure.  But for at least a week it's only 99¢ents.

Can you tell your friends about it?

Yes of course.  In fact, if you think it's a great gift at a crazy low price, tell everyone.  Tweet it.  Facebook it.  LinkedIn it.  Google+ it.  The more the merrier.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER NOW - Yep only 99 pennies.

Thanks for reading this.  Thanks for sharing this.  Happy Holidays all the best to you and yours.

 

We're all feeling the glarmy about the anemic economic, whipsaw stock market and sea-saw savings and 401K plans.  The one bright light opportunity that delivers long-term and locked in financial benefit is locking in and taking advantage of Awesome-LOW mortgage rates.

If you've been waiting, now's the time.  Give me a call at 832-797-1779 if I can be helpful.  If you'd like a no-obligation and supremely confidential conversation about a variety of mortgage plans, current rates, loan qualifications, purchase power analysis, Dana Snider, our Gibraltar Mortgage Service Home Mortgage Counselor would be happy to answer your questions.  You can reach her at 832-217-4087.

*Mortgage rates can fluctuate daily, they could dip lower or float higher as you read this.  The figures above reflect Principal and Interest only.  When buying home your total monthly payment would include Principal, Interest, Property Taxes and Insurance.

___________________________________

Thanks for reading.

Fear Of Loss.

Nobody wants to overpay.

According to experts, Fear of Loss is a greater motivator that the Desire For Gain.  In my personal and professional experience, I’d have to agree.   Do you think it’s true for you?

Here’s how you can test yourself.

Ask yourself these questions.

1. Do I have good reasons for wanting to make a move, I’d really like to, but I’m not?
2. Have I been postponing my progress and staying-put because I feel like the real estate market sucks and is unsafe?
3. Am I concerned that if I bought now, after I close and move-in, home values might fall and I’d be kicking myself because I lost money by overpaying!

If you answered “YES”, then you’re motivated by The Fear Of Loss.  Even though you have good reasons for moving (Gain), the Fear Of Loss, in this case financial,  holds you back.

There’s nothing wrong with this.  Like I shared earlier, experts call it normal behavior.  I think it’s smart and I bet you do too.  Making the big decision to buy real estate requires logical thinking and having all the facts so that you can come to the best decision for your unique situation.  Nobody wants to overpay or leave money on the table.

I would like to share some additional factors you can add to your left brain logical thinking.

Price & Value and Cost & Expense Factors

A decision to Not Buy Now because home values may go down and you’ll have overpaid, is an example making your decision based on the Value & Price factor.

I don’t want to buy now, home Prices/Values may drop and I don’t want to over pay.  I’ll wait until I’m sure, then make my move.

Pretty smart, simple and logical.  But there’s more to consider, if you don’t want to outsmart yourself.  If you’re sincere about avoiding financial loss, then you’ll want to consider an additional and equally important factor.  You’ll want to add to the Cost & Expense factor to your decision making process.

Unless you’re paying cash when you buy, you’re going to use mortgage financing.  Your mortgage interest rate determines the Cost & Expense of buying your next property.   The cost of your mortgage has a bottom line effect on whether waiting to buy will result in a financial Win or Loss.

Here’s an example of what I’m talking about:

Here’s how to use both Value & Price and Cost & Expense Factors in your logical, “Is it safe to make my move?” decision making. To figure it out, consider alternate future outcomes.

Three what if scenarios.

Keeping in mind that our local and the national economies are improving and inflation, along with mortgage interest rates, are rising, we can evaluate risk by deciding to buy now, or not, by asking ourselves which of these three is most likely:

1. Home Prices stabilize and mortgage rates rise:  Using the example in the picture above, waiting may cost you $175.86 more per month.  If you wait until mortgage interest rates hit 6% and the value of the properties you’re interested in don’t drop over 13%, the decision to wait would create a classic financial bummer.  Waiting would mean you’ve lost on two fronts, Price & Value and Cost & Expense.  Ugg.
2. Home Prices drop more than 13% and mortgage rates rise to 6%.   You break even.
   
3. Home Prices drop and mortgage rates stay the same or fall too.  Sweet, you WIN BIG.  YEAH!

If you believe that home values will fall faster and further than mortgage rates will rise, then staying put is the way to go.  Have a trusted real estate agent keep you informed about home values in the neighborhoods your interested in and which way mortgage rates are trending.  When you see a favorable entry point, make you move.

If you think prices won’t drop more than 13% before mortgage rates rise to 6% then your left logical brain will tell you, “Now is a safe time to make your move because prices are stable and mortgage interest rates are on the rise.”  Waiting may cause you to lose financially.  You’ve done your homework, make your move before mortgage rates rise further.

Here’s what I think. . .

I think home values are stable and some neighborhoods will enjoy a rise in sold home prices.  Mortgage rates are on the rise and will continue to creep up.  If I had good reasons to make a move, after weighing Price & Value and Cost & Expense factors, I would make the decision to make my move sooner rather than later.

What do you think?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for reading.  If we can be helpful, let me know – Ken Brand 832-797-1779.