CNN Money just did a 3 part series on “smart strategies for buyers, sellers and owners” in today’s new real estate market. After 6 years of a housing collapse, we are seeing a significant improvement. Maybe we are at the bottom? Maybe we saw the bottom pass several months ago? If we had a crystal ball, you wouldn’t be reading this and I wouldn’t be writing it.
Currently in the Steamboat Springs real estate market, the inventory of homes under $1.5 million is really low. The absorption rate in the Fish Creek Area of Steamboat Springs is just over 2 months – if all things stay the same, that means in two months, all the houses we have to sell in that category should be sold! Because prices of real estate are based on supply and demand, if inventories remain this low, prices will rise . . . and fast.
This is a preview of Today’s New Housing Market, Part 1 of 3: Selling. Read the full story.
Here’s am amazing video. I’ve said over and over again how the business of real estate has changed dramatically over the last 6 years. The amount of information available on your computer is endless. But it’s not just Routt county real estate stats and foreclosure filings, these are just facts. But today, we have information contributed by each and every person on the Internet. Social media allows anyone to voice an opinion on products, service, and anything they see fit. Facebook and social media is the new Better Business Bureau and companies are embracing this.
Prudential Real Estate to Become Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
Steamboat Springs
Prudential Steamboat Realty to become Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. As some of you may remember, big news hit the real estate world back in December of 2011 when Brookfield Residential Property Services announced its acquisition of Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services. Since that announcement, those of us involved in real estate both locally and nationally have been wondering just what was to become of the Prudential Real Estate brand, arguably one of the most well known real estate brands in the world. With Prudential Steamboat Realty to become Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, it looks as if this might be a bright new beginning.
I woke up to some more excellent news about the housing market this morning. According to an article by Martin Crutsinger of the Associated Press, US Housing Construction Up 15% in September, news from the Commerce Department this morning said that builders broke ground on homes at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 872,000 in September. That’s an increase of 15 percent from the August level. Applications for building permits, a good indicator of future construction, also rose nearly 12 percent to an annual rate of 894,000. That’s the highest level since July of 2008.
According to the article, the strength in September came from single-family construction, which rose 11 percent, as well as the construction of multi-family residential units, which also rose by about 25 percent. And although construction activity is currently about 82 percent higher than the lows measured at the bottom of the recession in the spring of 2009, construction activity is still quite a bit below the approximately 1.5 million rate that is consistent with a market that’s in a little better shape.
This is a preview of Housing Construction Grows By 15% in September. Read the full story.
Steamboat Springs Seller’s Net $10,000 More Because of a Real Estate Video.
Using video in real estate works. Now I can’t definitively say my clients made more money because of a real estate video of their home, but I can make a good argument it helped get the sales price higher.
This Steamboat home closed recently for $585,000. The asking price was $590,000 and below are the details:
Real Estate video
When I list properties, I’m a firm believer in having all the marketing completed before the home is listed in the MLS. This way when potential buyers are introduced to the home, they have everything they need to make decisions. This home in the Fish Creek area of Steamboat Springs was no exception. The pictures were ready and looking sharp. The custom web-page was ready with all the details. And the video was ready. The home was listed on the MLS and 1750 Fish Creek Falls road was FOR SALE.
This is a preview of Steamboat Springs Seller’s Net $10,000 More Because of a Real Estate Video. Read the full story.
Although things are beginning to look up in the real estate market, there’s a lot of competition in this market and that can make selling your home pretty difficult. Keep reading for a few pointers on making things as easy as possible and ensuring that nothing you’re doing is throwing a wrench in the process.
Photo and Video Quality:High-quality photographs andvideo are two of the most important factors in selling your home. In the past, a grainy photograph in the real estate section of the local newspaper would create enough for a buyer to want to take another look at your home. Today, however, buyers are hungry for more information. With the increased use of photography and video in real estate, a potential buyer can essentially receive a complete tour of your home without ever setting foot in it. If your photos are poor or you don’t have a quality property video, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll entice anyone to take another look. This isn’t the place to skimp.
This is a preview of Don’t Keep Yourself from Selling Your Home. Read the full story.
Radon Level are High in Steamboat Springs: 55% of Routt County has HIGH Levels?
Radon is an odorless, colorless, tasteless radioactive gas that comes from the natural breakdown of uranium that can be found in nearly all soil types. Great! But now that you know what radon is, why is it important to you? Radon happens to be highly toxic and according to the Surgeon General, is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the nation today. That’s pretty scary stuff! So, how do you know if radon might be a problem in your home and what can you do about it? Well, if you live in Steamboat Springs or Routt County, there’s a 55% chance your home exceeds the recommended levels.
Radon in Routt County
Radon becomes a problem when it gets into the air you breathe. It does so by seeping in through cracks in walls and solid floors, construction joints, gaps around service pipes, cavities inside walls and the water supply.
This is a preview of Radon Level are High in Steamboat Springs: 55% of Routt County has HIGH Levels. Read the full story.
Last week, the Steamboat Springs, Colorado MLS activated a new feature called the “video” field. This enable real estate agents to hotlink a video within the MLS to be populated all over the world. This is huge.
What’s the big deal you ask? Well, with over 90% of people looking for real estate online, now these buyers can view a video of a property. That is if the real estate agent utilizes video.
These buyers can now visualize themselves in their new home before they even step into it. They can see the layout, the actual sizes of the rooms and really get a sense of the home. It was just a few months ago the Steamboat Springs MLS only allowed 8 pictures. Now we can load 20 pictures into our listings. More quality pictures and video equals more exposure. And more exposure has been proven to help properties sell faster and for more money.
This is a preview of Video Available in the Steamboat Springs MLS. Read the full story.
Video is shaping our world. TED talks. Real Estate videos make sense
It’s been apparent to me for years: using video to showcase real estate makes sense. This video is about how online videos are shaping the world and leading innovations. It works. And we’ve only just begun.
Showcasing and selling real estate and homes in Steamboat Springs using video is cutting edge. But soon it will be mainstream. I encourage you to browse my website, my listings, the local areas, watch the videos. It’s easy and informative. Let’s get creative today.
Selecting a realtor can be tough. And in Steamboat Springs there are 374 Realtors to choose from. How do you decide? Well, buying and selling real estate is one of the largest things you will do financially.
Selling and buying real estate is a big deal and one should always take it seriously. Never hire a friend, family member, acquaintance, or recommended agent based solely on your relationship with that person’s experience. It’s a lot of money. Hire an agent based on their professionalism, their expertise, their personality, and what services they will provide you. If it turns out to be your friend, mother, neighbor or recommendation, then that is great. But always interview the agent(s) and select the best one – the agent that provides a great service and will get the job done. I suggest interviewing 3 agents.
This is a preview of Charlie Dresen- A Video on Selecting a Realtor. Read the full story.
"Charlie has represented us as both buyers and sellers and he was excellent at both. He helped us to find our perfect second home in Steamboat Springs in an area that we love."
