Monthly Market Report: September 2010

It's that time again! I've got the numbers for September, and I'm ready to...report.

In September 2010, Lowndes County saw just over at 18% decrease in combined dollar amount of units sold compared to that of August 2010. However, when compared to September 2009, the area saw about a 1% decrease of the same. In September 2010, only ONE unit less was sold in Lowndes County when compared to September 2009.

While we did see a decrease in number, 1% ain't too shabby. (if you'll allow my Southern expression) We expect a bit of decrease when we move to the cooler months. Folks get busy with homework, football games, PTO, and LIFE, and just find themselves a little too busy to worry about purchasing their next home. A large decrease between August and September is pretty regular and expected. The "Summer Selling Season" has officially ended, and the itch seems to subside for many people.

In Lowndes County last month, agents listed 5% more homes this year than last, but again, it's nothing to get your feathers ruffled over.

Now is the time to invest in real estate, now is the time to buy! House payments are cheaper than rent, and they make you money in the long run!

...Oh, and FYI: Lowest interest rate I've seen came to me this week:

                                    2.375%!

 Yes, that's right. Seriously, it's almost free!

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EXIT Realty Hits the World Stage in Istanbul

Company CEO on hand to address gathering at International Business Awards
Mississauga, ON – Steve Morris, CEO and Founder of EXIT Realty Corp. International joined a distinguished group of honorees in Istanbul, Turkey last week as the best in global business were recognized at the 7th Annual International Business Awards.

Nicknamed the Stevie® for the Greek word “crowned,” EXIT Realty earned a Distinguished Honoree medal in the category of “Most Innovative Company of the Year in North America”. The International Business Awards are the only global, all-encompassing business awards program honoring great performances in business.

 

Honorees were selected from more than 1,700 entries received from organizations and individuals in more than 40 countries. The Board of Judges and Advisors included Donald Trump, Chairman, President & CEO of the Trump Organization and Anthony Robbins, Chairman & CEO of the Anthony Robbins Companies.

“I had the special privilege of introducing single-level residuals to the real estate industry in North America in 1996,” Morris told the gathering. “Based on today’s economic pressures, it has proven to be a godsend to many REALTORS®. This award is a wonderful honor that wouldn’t have been possible without the help of three individuals here with me tonight; Tami Bonnell, President of our US Organization, Erika Gileo, Senior Vice President of Operations and my wife, Cathy Morris.”

About EXIT Realty: Founded in Canada in 1996, and taking the U.S. by storm starting in 1999, EXIT Realty sold over half of the regional rights by population in under 365 days, was named as one of the Top 10 Trendsetters of 2007 by the Swanepoel Trends report, and Steve Morris was named one of REALTOR® Magazine’s 25 Most Influential Thought Leaders. A portion of every transaction fee collected by EXIT International is applied to its charitable fund and to-date, $1.68 Million has been pledged to Habitat for Humanity in both Canada and the U.S. Please visit http://www.exitrealty.com/ for more information.

About The Stevie Awards: Stevie Awards are conferred in four programs: The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Honoring companies of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about The Stevie Awards at http://www.stevieawards.com/.


This article was taken from http://www.realestateindustryleaders.com/public/item/260760.

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The First Step in Buying a Home

Are you or someone you know thinking of buying a home?? Well, let's get right down to it and make sure you know what comes FIRST when looking into the process.

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After the preliminary personal finances are worked out and you have come to the conclusion that this is the best decision for you, then comes the important part!

Before looking at homes, before deciding on a Realtor, before walking up and peering in someone's window...Go talk to a Mortgage Lender! This is so important to get done very early on in the process of purchasing a home. Many Realtors require that you have a Pre-Approval Letter available for them before they begin showing you property. While this may seem a bit annoying, think of it from our perspective. We could spend days, weeks, or months showing you properties all over creation, and then come to find out something is not quite right with your credit and you can't purchase a home for 6 months!! That is a lot of wasted time for the agent, for you as the buyer looking at homes that probably won't be available in 6 months, and for the sellers who had to get their home ready and get out so that you could view it.

When you sit down with the mortgage lender, they will be able to tell you how much of a home you can afford. They'll be able to break down monthly payments for you based on different price levels to make sure you feel comfortable with the price range that you are in. You may be able to afford a $250,000 home, but wouldn't want to spend that much on a monthly payment. So, it's best to lay it out and get a few details before looking at homes that you really would rather not purchase.

Once you have had the appropriate discussions with the lender, get a copy of the Pre-Approval Letter and find the Realtor that you would like to work with! Then, it's time to find the home of your dreams!

Just remember, First Things First: Talk to at least one Mortgage Lender BEFORE looking at homes! It makes the process easier for everyone involved and ensures you a much better experience!

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