We have a FREE SEMINAR coming up in Eugene on "How to Sell Your Home."

Tuesday, Sept. 22, 7pm, at Keller Williams Realty
or
Thursday, Sept. 24, at the Eugene Hilton

You can find out more about the topics at http://www.KarandyDunn.com

Keep in mind that foreclosures in the Eugene-Springfield MSA have doubled in the first half of 2009. NOD stats are also going up, which means the foreclosures will go even higher. Additionally, Oregon's generous unemployment benefits expire after 79 weeks, so a lot of people who lost their jobs in the 2008-2009 timeframe will be moving out of the area next year, since there is no job growth in Eugene, except perhaps in health care.

There are great deals on U-Hauls and professional movers going into Eugene right now, because so many people are leaving the area. Whith a huge wave of foreclosured homes coming on the market in 2010 and population growth going negative, my unscientific guess is that you would be better off selling in the fall rather than waiting until 2010. Barring any unusual developments, I fully expect 2010 prices to be 15% below 2009 YOY or even lower. Eugene residential market peaked about a year after the national peak (Q3 2007 vs. Q2 2006), and we are not anywhere near the bottom.

Another consideration is that prices in Eugene are still falling. You may be better off selling it in the fall at current prices than in the Spring for less. None of us know what the market will do, but we still have a lot of inventory (6.8 months worth) and high unemployment.

If you can, I would do as someone else said: give it 3 months now (Sept-Nov) and if you have no luck try again in the early Spring...like March.

Hi

In order for me to answer your question I would need a little information about your home. Is it a home geared torwards a family with school age children or is it a retiree home. If it is the first then yes it is a deriment. Generally speaking parents want to have there kids in school for the whole year and don't want to move during the school year.Then it would best time to put the home on the market is the spring. If its geared torwards retiree's I say put it on the market at least thruogh Dec15th. I have had clients come during the holidays who want to live closer to their adult children. We do give free market analysis, so please give us a call and help you develop a marketing strategy.

HI Mightyfingers,
Although I'm not familiar with your market there, if I were counseling a seller here in East King Co. Washington, I'd definitely bring up that the market typically tends to slow down from mid November and doesn't pick up again until at least mid February. Part of the reason for this of course has to do with the holidays. Families tend to strive to spend more time together as well as rush around, engage in shopping frenzies and other activities. Weather conditions and daylight savings can also play a part. On the flip side, another thing to keep in mind is inventory is usually down a bit so if it's not too much of an inconvenience with everything else mentioned previously to take into consideration, job relocation's occur all year long. With our area and w/ our economy in particular, it's not uncommon to be doing business during these months. Lastly, you could have a short tern listing (say 60 - 90 days) and then if there isn't much interest or activity, relist in the spring.
All the best!
Christine

I've learned that most people have your way of thinking about selling a home in the spring and summer months. Selling in September might be an advantage though, with less competition. Just make sure your house is ready to be "shown."

Brandon Balle
Keller Williams Preferred Realty
Westminster, CO