An early spring market?

The weather has been wonky.  No rain and blistering summer heat for months on end. Winter hasn’t really shown it’s self, yet.  I’ve you’ve driven down Grogan’s Mill drive you’ve probably noticed that some of medians have blooming wildflowers.  Some trees look like they’re beginning to bud already.  It looks like our forrest is a bit confused and trying to take advantage of the mild weather and much needed rain to recover from the drought.  Perhaps the real estate market is behaving like our forest.  Although we’ve been super fortunate in The Woodlands, it looks like the real estate market is budding early.  Check out these Months Supply Of Inventory numbers.

The Woodlands Texas Real Estate Report. Months Supply Of “For Sale” Listing Inventory – February 3^rd, 2012

Is it a Buyer’s Market or a Seller’s Market?

According to real estate economists a six-month supply of For Sale Inventory represents a balanced market.  A higher number means it’s leaning towards a buyer’s market, less than six months, would indicate a seller’s market.  As we can see from these inventory numbers, in most price ranges there is an under supply of selection.

PRICE RANGE.  .  .  .  .  .  MONTHS SUPPLY OF LISTING INVENTORY

$000,000 – $200,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2.4

$200,001 – $300,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3.7

$300,001 – $400,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3.5

$400,001 – $500,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3.2

$500,001 – $600,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3.1

$600,001 – $700,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4.4

$700,001 – $800,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8.7

$800,001 – $900,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9.7

$900,001 – $1,000,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11.1

$1,000,001+ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.7

What does this mean?

For buyers: When you find something you love, don’t hesitate to submit an offer.  The cliché If you snooze you might lose out.

For sellers:  If you were thinking of selling, due to lack of inventory and an abundance of buyers, now would be a smart time to sell.  If your home is on the market now, consider this, the Average Number Of Days On The Market for SOLD homes runs between seventy and eighty days.  If you’re home has been on the market for more than ninety days, something may need adjusting. The three key factors that impact salability are merchandising (staging), marketing and pricing.  Correctly tweak and amplify these three factors and you’ll be one of the successful sellers attracting a qualified buyer.  Ignore one, two, or three of these salability factors and the property will languish, even in a strong market. Position your property competitively in today’s market and you’ll be packing before you know it.

Closing thoughts.

While mulling over these inventory numbers, keep in mind these figures represent big averages across The Woodlands.  Real estate is hyper local in nature and market conditions for your specific property, in your specific neighborhood may be different that the big average you see above.  To find out what’s happening in your neighborhood, contact us and we’ll provide you with an up to the minute, on-target, Months Supply of Inventory report.  Give us a call and we’ll send you your free report – pronto.

Can’t see the video – Click Here

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.

Here’s what we talked about today. Cheers.

The Woodlands Texas Real Estate Report - Months Supply Of “For Sale” Listing Inventory – December 5^th, 2011

 While mulling over these inventory numbers, keep in mind these figures represent big averages across The Woodlands.  Real estate is hyper local in nature and market conditions for your specific property, in your specific neighborhood may be different that the big average you see below.  To find out what’s happening in your neighborhood, contact us (281-367-353) and we can provide you with an up to the minute, on-target, Months Supply Of Inventory report. We don’t charge for this service, so give us a call and we’ll send you your free report – pronto.

December 5^th, 2011 – Months Supply Of For Sale Listing Inventory – The Woodlands TX

PRICE RANGE.  .  .  .  .  .  MONTHS SUPPLY OF LISTING INVENTORY

$000,000 – $200,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2.5

$200,001 – $300,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4.0

$300,001 – $400,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4.0

$400,001 – $500,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3.7

$500,001 – $600,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3.9

$600,001 – $700,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4.7

$700,001 – $800,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9.1

$800,001 – $900,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9.1

$900,001 – $1,000,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  9.3

$1,000,001+ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.2

Is it a Buyer’s Market or a Seller’s Market?

According to real estate economists, 6 months supply of For Sale Inventory represents a balanced market.  A higher number means it’s leaning towards a buyer’s market, less than six months, would indicate a seller’s market.  As you can see from the data above, below $700,000 is a faster moving price range.

As we sled through the winter selling season, listing inventory ebbs to its lowest point.  In January, inventory and selection begin to swell.   Beginning in February, buyer activity and sales begin to heat up.

If you’re thinking of selling, keep in mind the key to salability and competitive positioning is merchandising (staging), marketing and pricing.  Correctly tweak and amplify these three factors and you’ll be one of the successful sellers attracting a qualified buyer.  Ignore one, two, or three of these salability factors and the property will languish, even in a strong market.

Keep in mind, this snapshot provides a broad and general overview, what is happening in your neighborhood could very well be different.  As I shared earlier, if you’d like a free and up to the minute Market Analysis for your property and neighborhood just let me know.

Thanks.

PS.  Here’s some other data to consider. . .

The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau Announces Holiday Events

It’s almost time for the most magical season in The Woodlands – the holidays -and this year’s events in Town Center promise to be bigger and more exciting than ever. The 29th Annual Lighting of the Doves, International Winter On The Waterway (iWOW), The Ice Rink at The Woodlands Town Center and Donoho’s Jewellers Winter Wonderland all return on Saturday, November 19!

The Lighting of the Doves and iWOW will take place at Town Green Park and along The Woodlands Waterway® from 3 – 9 pm.  Highlights include the arrival of Santa by boat along The Waterway, interactive booths and games, a snow play area, balloon artists, face painters, inflatables, ice carvers, fireworks and more!  For more information, visitwww.lightingofthedoves.com.

iWOW showcases the holiday traditions from a myriad of other countries at exhibits along The Waterway. From foods, arts and crafts, to music and entertainment, iWOW is sure to add an international flavor to holiday celebrations in The Woodlands. Admission to the Lighting of the Doves and iWOW is free and open to the public.  Log on to www.iwowinthewoodlands.com to find out more.

The Ice Rink at Town Center is located at the northeast corner of Lake Robbins Drive and Six Pines Drive. A special preview opening will be held November 12 and 13 in conjunction withThe Children’s Festival at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. The Ice Rink will remain open through Monday, January 16, 2012. For hours and pricing, visitwww.thewoodlandsicerink.com.

Surrounding The Ice Rink will be Donoho’s Jewellers Winter Wonderland, featuring illuminated holiday scenes and storybook displays. Wander through a fantasyland of magical lighted toy soldiers, elves, doves, musical angels and snowmen from dusk until 11 pm beginning November 19 through January 2, 2012. Admission is free and open to the public.  For a glimpse of the wonder, visit www.thewoodlandswinterwonderland.com.

For more information about The Woodlands CVB, visit www.thewoodlandscvb.com or call 281-363-2447.

Thanks you to The Woodlands Development Company for sharing all this great info.

The Woodlands Texas Real Estate Report

Months Supply Of “For Sale” Listing Inventory – November 3^rd, 2011

While mulling over these inventory numbers, keep in mind these figures represent big averages across The Woodlands.  Real estate is hyper local in nature and market conditions for your specific property, in your specific neighborhood, may be different that the big average you see below.  To find out, contact us (281-367-353) and we can provide you with an up to the minute, on-target, Months Supply Of Inventory report. We don’t charge for this service, so give us a call and we’ll send you your free report – pronto.

November 3^rd, 2011 – Months Supply Of For Sale Listing Inventory – The Woodlands TX

PRICE RANGE.  .  .  .  .  .  MONTHS SUPPLY OF LISTING INVENTORY

$000,000 – $200,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2.7

$200,001 – $300,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4.5

$300,001 – $400,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3.7

$400,001 – $500,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3.9

$500,001 – $600,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4.5

$600,001 – $700,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6.1

$700,001 – $800,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9.4

$800,001 – $900,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12.0

$900,001 – $1,000,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9.4

$1,000,001+ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15.0

Is it a Buyer’s Market or a Seller’s Market?

According to real estate economists, 6 months supply of For Sale Inventory represents a balanced market.  A higher number means it’s leaning towards a buyer’s market, less than six months, would indicate a seller’s market.

As we enter the winter selling season, For Sale Inventory begins to ebb along with buyer activity.  If you’re thinking of selling, keep in mind the keys to salability and competitive positioning is merchandising (staging), marketing and pricing.  Correctly tweak and amplify these three factors and you’ll be one of the successful sellers attracting a qualified buyer.  Ignore one, two, or three of these salability factors and the property will languish.

Keep in mind, this snapshot provides a broad and general overview, what is happening in your neighborhood could very well be different.  As I shared earlier, if you’d like a free and up to the minute Market Analysis for your property and neighborhood just let me know.

Thanks.  If we can be helpful > Ken Brand 832-797-1779

Months Supply Of Inventory – Month By Month / The Woodlands TX

Thinking of Selling?

Chapter Seventeen from the book:  Less Blah Blah More Ah Ha – How social savvy real estate agents become trusted, preferred, referred — and rewarded.

How to Go from Zero in Escrow to Boo-Yah in Thirty Days or Less

“You sort of start thinking anything’s possible if you’ve got enough nerve.” ~ J. K. Rowling

Big problem. You’re sipping tall, iced Cinnamon Dolce Lattes.  Chit-chatting.  Your girlfriend Sally shares, “I need to make a sale in the next thirty-seven days or I have to quit the business.”  She confesses, “I don’t have a single active listing, or any qualified buyers.”

She’s broke in bank and spirit.  She’s frowning, drowning, and three-quarters dead in the water.  She pleads for your advice, “What should I do?  I need to make a sale NOW!”

What advice would you share?

What do you believe is the most productive thing Sally can do to position herself to make the required sale and resuscitate her long-term success?  If she doesn’t make a sale in the next thirty-seven days, she’s cooked.

Here’s What I’d Do . . .

First, I’d give her a big hug.  Then I’d tell her that she can make it happen if she wants to, but it won’t be easy. Given that there’s not enough time to focus on taking a listing, odds are it would take too long to sell. So, a laser focus on attracting a qualified buyer is what’s required.

Next, I’d advise her to use “The Jesse James Solution.” Yep, it’s time to get her Jesse James ON!  Whoa! Not Sandra Bullock’s wayward Jesse James, this one:

Judge Roy Bean: “Why do you rob banks?”

Jesse James: “Because that’s where the money is.”

I’d implore my friend Sally to hold public open houses.  Ten public open houses in thirty days.

Why?  Because like Jesse James knew where the money was, in the real estate biz holding an open house event is where she’ll find buyers.

Even in this whiz-bang Internet era of ubiquitous online property listing information, buyers still browse open houses, sometimes in droves.

Holding an open house event is an activity that allows Sally an opportunity take swift and strong action, make contact, and weave renewed success.  You know, instead of hoping and waiting.

I’ll explain where, when, and how to get the best results, in open house event tips below.  But first, let’s understand what an open house event is not.  It’s not showing up late, planting a couple of directionals, flipping the lights on, lighting a prayer candle, and hoping something lucky happens.  It rarely does.  Lady Luck mostly ignores the lazy and befriends the bold.  Read on to find out what an open house event IS.

Back to our broken friend Sally.  Like I said, I’d tell her to hold ten open house events in thirty days.  Strategically selected, well-planned, powerfully promoted, and passionately executed.  Here are the tips I mentioned earlier.

Open House Event Tips

When:  Now! Today!  The sooner the better. Hold open house events on late afternoons and early evening weekdays. Open house signs spied on weekdays and on the way home from work are unusual, and therefore attract attention, which generates traffic.

Hold open house events Saturday and Sunday afternoons (2 p.m. to 5 p.m.).   Your mission, should you accept it: hold Ten Open House Events in thirty days.  You have permission to do more.

Where: Pick a property that is supremely attractive, easy to find with directional arrows ,and is priced in the sweet spot (what’s selling) for your market area. You can research what’s selling best by consulting your Multiple Listing Service. Ideally, you will want to pick a property that was recently listed, the fewer days on market the better.  If you don’t have a listing that qualifies, no worries, don’t let that sink or slow you. Ask your teammates if you can hold one or more of their listings open.  Most importantly, don’t pick any random property.  Choose strategically.  Umm-hmm.

The How-tos (thirteen of them!):

1.  Promote your open house online  at Trulia.com, Zillow.com, Realtor.com, your blog, Facebook Business Page, Twitter, Association, and brokerage websites.

2.  Make seventy-one color open house flyer announcements/invitations.  Don’t spend all day creating a flyer.  Get this chore done fast. The magic is not in what the flyer looks like; the magic is you and what you do with the flyer.

3.  Mail twenty-one of your open house flyers as invitations, to your current nest of buyers prospects/suspects and twenty-three to your most enthusiastic cheerleader friends.

4.  Follow up your mailed invitation flyers with phone calls.  Say “Hello,”ask if they received your flyer, and invite them to share your flyer invitation with anyone they think might be interested.  The main thing is that this action provides you with the opportunity to have On-Purpose and In-Person conversations with people who like, trust, and would happily recommend you.  Having conversations with your cheerleader friends, and current buyer prospects and suspects, unlocks possibilities and opportunities.  Follow up each phone call with a hand-written, short-n-sweet note and drop it in the mail with two of your business cards.

5.  Hand-deliver your open house flyer invitations to twenty-seven neighbors.  Yes.  I do mean personally knock on their door and invite them, ending your conversations with this question:  “When we sell this home, would you like to know how much it SOLD for?”  If they say yes, get their contact information, add them to your database, set up an automated activity notification (like we talked about for your cheerleader friends in Chapter Fourteen). Begin including them in your personal marketing and relationship building campaign, and keep them informed of all new real estate activity in their neighborhood.  Remember to write a short-n-sweet note (nice to meet you and other pleasantries) and drop it in the mail with two of your business cards.

6.  If you are planting an open house sign on the edge of someone’s property, knock on their door, smile, politely ask for permission, and invite them to your open house.  Remember to ask them if they’d like to know what your listing sells for.  If they say “yes,”what should you do next? (Clue: re-read How-to #5.)

7.  Do your homework about the neighborhood. Preview active listings in the neighborhood (in person, not online), research recent sales, and familiarize yourself with the local schools, parks, grocery stores, and local knowledge.

8.  Set the stage – lights, blinds, aroma, and music – no TV watching.  When you’re finished, make sure you put everything back where it belongs. Especially, check that the lights and the heating and cooling are reset to how you found them, and that doors and windows are locked.

9.  During slow traffic periods, use your cell phone to make the touching-base phone calls you know you should be making, but haven’t.  Even if nobody shows up at your open house event, if you spend your time making In-Person and On-Purpose contacts, you’re working hard and making good things happen.  You can’t go from broke to boo-yah without contact and conversations. Call. Contact. Call. Then call and contact some more.

10. At the conclusion of the open house, send thank you cards to everyone who attended.

11. If you held someone else’s house open, report your results to the listing agent so they can report to their seller. This is professional, polite, and appreciated behavior.

12. Follow up, follow up, and follow up some more — with all prospects

13. Hold an open house event at least ten times in the next thirty days.

 Don’t Overcomplicate or Overthink It – Do It

Listen, if like Sally, the end of your career is near if you don’t sell something fast, or you simply you want to create sexy success now, you need to take dramatically bold action and amp everything up.  As if your career depends on it.  Because it does.

The main thing is to get started right now: Make contact with your cheerleader friends, talk to the neighbors, send follow-up notecards, preview new properties, learn new neighborhoods, and meet new people who need help buying or selling. Every day is precious. Now is the time.  Get started right now.  If you do this with passion, positive things WILL happen, and instead of mourning the end of your real estate career, you’ll be celebrating the beginning of your boo-yah renewal, reward, and redemption.

P.S.  Where and when is your next open house event?

________________________________

Thanks for reading, if you’d like to own the book – Click HERE.  If I can be helpful, let me know:  Ken Brand 832-797-1779

]]> http://www.brandcandid.com/how-to-go-from-zero-in-escrow-to-boo-yah-in-thirty-days-or-less-chapter-17-from-the-book-less-blah-blah-more-ah-ha/feed/ 0 http://www.brandcandid.com/top-performing-real-estate-agent-icons-prudential-gary-greene-realtors-research-forest-office-the-woodlands-tx-september-2011/ http://www.brandcandid.com/top-performing-real-estate-agent-icons-prudential-gary-greene-realtors-research-forest-office-the-woodlands-tx-september-2011/#comments Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:22:56 +0000 Ken Brand, Sales Manager - Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors / The Woodlands TX / Cell: 832-797-1779 http://www.brandcandid.com/?p=5957

 Top Performing Real Estate Agent Icons – Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors Research Forest Office – The Woodlands TX / September 2011

New Listings Taken

Individual Top Performer, Units – Brad Carlson

Individual Top Performer, Volume – C.J. Sanderson

Team Top Performer Units & Volume –  The Marek Team

New Listings Taken – 2+

Brad Carlson, Team Marek – 3

Julie Bell, Melanie Aubrey, Team Davila, Team Drummond,

Michele Flory & Co,

Rebecca Privette, C.J. Sanderson – 2

New Sales Written

Individual Top Performer, Units & Volume – C.J. Sanderson

Team Top Performer, Units & Volume – Michele Flory & Co

New Sales Written Units– 2+

Michele Flory & Co – 5

C.J. Sanderson – 4

Brad Carlson, Team Drummond, Jenny Roltsch – 3

Rowan Halfacre, Lisa Lane, Barbara Robin – 2

New Sales Written Volume – $400,000+

Michele Flory & Co, C.J. Sanderson, Brad Carlson,

Jenny Roltsch, Team Davila – $1,000,000+

Team Drummond – $900,000+

Julie Bell, Sara Beutelschies – $700,000+

Barbara Robin – $400,000

Heather Tiernan, Connie Fields  – $300,000

 Closed Sales

Individual Top Performer, Closed Volume – Katie Cooper

Individual Top Performer, Closed Units – Barbara Robin

Thank you for all your hard work and extra efforts!