If you are selling your home as part of your RELOCATION, and planning to buy a new one in your new location, you really need to understand about INVENTORY and how it can impact the decisions you  need to make.

Inventory will affect the price you will determine for listing your home so it is positioned well in YOUR particular market.

Bbut inventory will also impact the options you will have in your new location. A well-informed agent WILL understand this and be able to provide you with the information you need most so you can be an informed consumer.

If you need help in finding a qualified agent in your area, please feel free to let me know. I have a huge network of agents I know around the country becuase of my substantial Internet marketing plus my professional certifications (Certified Residential Specialist or CRS for one).

BUYERS:  would you like to have some statistics on the market in your area?

SELLERS:  do you want to know what market conditions are like BEFORE you list? Or to find out WHY your home is not selling and how to fix that problem?

• If you are in the San Diego County area and want this information, just let me know and I will get it for you
• If you are out of the area, let me know where you are and I can find someone to help you obtain this information (or as the agent you are working with)

You don't have to be a statistics fanatic to want to this information. WHY?

• Because an informed consumer can make the best decision regarding a purchase or the listing price on their home
• If you don't know what is going on in the market, how will you know that the home you wish to buy is priced correctly, or what you should reasonably offer?
• If you are selling, how can you possibly decide on the price to list your home at TO SELL QUICKLY and FOR TOP DOLLAR if you have no clue about the market and what comparable homes are selling for

Here is just a sampling of some things you might want to know. And the information can be in the form of a table, a graph, or simply a written summary of the market.

The graph is for the inventory in Carlsbad over the last 6 months.

Here is a table of summary statistics for Carlsbad for February:

The statistics do NOT have to be elaborate, but you should have the information that wll allow you to answer the questions that you have, and to make an informed decision. Here are some other things to know about:

• # of homes active on the market (in your price range)
• # of homes sold in last 6 months
• Sale price/List price ratios of homes that are active and that have sold
• Days on market (DOM)
• Price per SF of living space of sold comparable homes
• Price range of sold homes that are comparable

You get the idea. You agent will know what kind of information may be helpful, and you will possibly have some other ideas as well.

DON'T make the decision to buy or sell solely on statistics, but they are an important part of becoming an educated consumer.

If you are relocating to Southern California (or many other parts of the country) you are likely dealing with a buyer's market. If you are a bit gun-shy about buying in such a market, here are some good reasons to do so:

1. Inventory - there are LOTS of choices of style, price, location, age, condition, etc. If you can't find what you want perhaps it doesn't exist (maybe an exaggeration). But don't let the numebr of homes overwhelm you and keep you from making a decision. Some poeple look and look and look, thinking they will find the perfect house, and never get anything, or lose the one they really wanted.

2. Incentives - this is especially true for new homes and condos. Builders are offering all sorts of incentives to purchase from their inventory, including upgrades, creativity around closing costs, etc. Don't expect a huge price reduction since this create appraisal (and thus financing) issues as compared to other homes that the builder sold in the recent past)

3. Competition - sellers are competing for buyers, not the other way around.

4. Mortgage  rate - pretty favorable right now, close to what we saw at the beginning of the year. Will they go lower...maybe. But more likely they will go up. And if you are a First Time Buyer there are some great programs available with great rates.

5. Seller Negotiation - Because of the market sellers may be willing to negotiate, depending on the situation. Don't count on it, but we do see closing costs or a portion of them being covered, and other concessions being made. Many sellers are motivated (although depending on THEIR situation this does not guarantee they can or will be very flexible).

6. Prices - it depends on where you are looking, but in some areas prices are very stable and are not moving. While some communities have seen small drops one cannot (and probably should not) assume prices are going to drop. And if they do but rates go up you possibly wash away any gain you get by the price drop. Consider the tax advantages if you are not in a position to profit fr0m this as a renter and what you may be losing out on.

Don't believe everything you read in the media headlines. Get the information you need from a knowledgeable REALTOR who can tell you what is going on in their market, instead of depending on the array of statistics that the media quotes. The information is generally taken out of context and they like to report only the bad news and not the good. Be wary...and question what you read.

Clearly buying right now is NOT right for everyone, but avoiding the market because of what you read may result in your not getting a good deal on the house you really want and can afford. And a knowledgeable REALTOR in your area can help you avoid overpaying too!

One last suggestion - take a look at this article I posted previously on Bubble Sitting. Waiting to buy may NOT be the best financial strategy for you.