Steve Norris

Drew - all above is good advice. Also consider when talking with your agent that s/he may well have been trying to reach the showing agent for feedback but has not yet received the courtesy of a response. Providing feedback to the listing agent is not always the highest priority for a showing agent and it can fall through the cracks. Even so, if you are not getting the communication you need, negotiate those commitments with your agent so you are both on the same page. - Thu Nov 13 2008, 19:16

There haven't been too many sales of property of that size lately, but a small mobile on an acre did recently close at $80,000 and a 2 acre parcel closed for $89,000 but it did have an old school building on it that either had some intrinsic appeal or some salvage value. There are a couple parcels with well and septic that are on the market asking ~$63K per acre, but they haven't pulled buyers at that price.

5-10 minutes from the interstate covers a lot of ground; I hope this gives you a vague idea. I've included a link to a search access for the local MLS if you want to look around in it. You don't need to register to get the summary results, but it will ask you for an email addy if you want the property details.

Feel free to email me if you have any other questions. - Mon Jul 7 2008, 14:16

If you've decided that trading homes is the best thing for you to do now, then selling first is a sound idea. When you are ready to buy there will be plenty of inventory to select from and to get your self a great house at a good value. Buyers (real buyers) rule at the moment. Selling, at least in most parts of the country, is the tricky part. You have to be agressive in your pricing and in your promotion to make your house stand out in a crowded marketplace. You will have to bite the bullet on the sell side and sell for what the market will bear, knowing that the same forces are making the home you will get for your money on the buy side more attractive by the week.

As for should you sell during the holidays (your actual question!), at least in my market, there is statistically very little difference between Days on Market in December and January. List to Sell ratios are very close as well. So from a statistical standpoint, there isn't really a monetary advantage to doing it now or doing it 5 weeks from now. So the questions I would have you ask yourself are: Do I have a compelling personal reason to put it on the market now? Do I want to make sure the house is show ready every moment during the holiday or do I not want the hassle right now? If it fits your life and your goals to do it now, then great! If not, you aren't sacrificing by waiting. - Wed Nov 28 2007, 22:17