Selling Your Home in Today's Market

2009 Is bringing new challenges for buyers and sellers of real estate. Coming off one of the most difficult years in American Economy, consumers face uncertainties in their own financial stability and confidence in making major decisions, including real estate purchases. Like any type of investment, real estate has an ebb and flow based on many factors. Consumer spending, the stock market, employment stability, formation of new jobs, our involvement in World Markets, and the political climate all play a role. In housing, areas of the Country that have traditionally good weather, new Industry, affordable housing and accessible mortgage loans, along with stable employment have offered the best scenario for a stable housing market.  In the Texas region, we've been fortunate with 10 years of housing boom, relatively low interest rates for mortgages and stable job growth. The median pricing of homes has remained lower than most areas of the Country.

Late in 2007 and throughout most of 2008, even Texas housing became affected, with fewer new housing starts, higher unemployment, lack of consumer confidence, tightening of mortgage offerings, and subsequently, housing prices adjusted.  The days of a home coming on the market and being sold for full price within 30 days vanished.

Most Real Estate professionals agree, that this adjustment was due.  Sellers and buyers alike are now becoming more realistic of the challenges in selling or purchasing a home.  For those who can buy now or investors who can enter the market, the time is right.

2009 promises to be a year of further adjustment, but home prices are expected to stabilize and new starts are expected to be still higher than 5 years ago. With renewed consumer confidence, a new President and expected loosening of mortgage financing, it should prove to be a good year.

With an experienced and professional  Realtor as your partner, you can make wise choices when it comes to your real estate investment.

--Margie Morcher-Froboese--