Dec. 28, 2006 - Predicted Trends for Homebuyers in 2007

I've been reading about some interesting trends in features homebuyers may be looking for in 2007 and beyond. From an article by Realtor Mark Nash in BrokerAgent News come the following predictions:

• Pricing homes sharply is back in vogue. Gone are the record high prices.
• The bridge between working from a home office and the local coffee shop will be the officetels. These third places will be spaces that provide technology, privacy and a conference-style atmosphere.
• Along the same lines, buyers will look for a home with two home offices for families where two people have given up the commute to work.
• New homes will offer snoring rooms. This bedroom will be adjacent to the master and will be the saving grace to many relationships!
• Wired homes are in. Technology savy buyers will want homes that are wired with coaxial TV cable, Cat 5E voice and data lines, distributed radio, security cameras, and home network centers.

Dec. 18, 2006 - Basics on Staging Your Home for Sale

Dec. 15, 2006 - How to Ease the Trauma of Relocating for Children

Every year, one out of five American families move. One of the most important issues to anyone with kids is their reaction to the news that they're moving, and their adjustment to the new home. Being informed is very important to children. One of the worst mistakes we can make as adults is to assume that kids don't care or won't understand the details. Keeping them "in the loop," consulting them about choices whenever possible, and including them in the family game plan will work wonders toward their adjustment. Other factors depend on the child's age.

Preschool children:
Kids under the age of six may worry about being left behind, or being separated from their parents. If you go on an orientation or house-hunting trip beforehand without the children, it's important to reassure kids this age that you will be back; bring something unique back to them from the new town. It's very important for them to express their feelings and fears about the move. Give them a job to do -- have them be responsible for boxing up their favorite toys, and "labeling" their boxes with crayons and stickers.

Ages 6 to 12:
Elementary age kids are usually most concerned with how the everyday routines of their lives are going to change. Showing them pictures, videos and magazines of their new home will help a lot, especially if you can find new places in advance for the things they like to do. If your child takes dance lessons, find & share information about the new dance studio she can go to. If he takes karate, or plays soccer or baseball...even if her favorite thing to do is the park or the pizza parlor, find these places in your new neighborhood and get brochures, pictures or videos.

Teenagers:
These kids are most concerned with fitting in. They may react angrily to the move, even insist they're not going. This is usually due to the total lack of control they have over everything important in their lives--friends, school & jobs-- being disrupted. These children can be very worried about making new friends, and what will be different in the new school. They are curious about the clothing, hairstyles, bicycles, cars, etc. that kids in the new city will have. Pictures of all these things are very helpful, so if you take an orientation trip be sure to take many detailed photos/videos of the schools they will be attending.

Other tips for making the transition:

1. Give young children an entertaining travel kit for the move.
2. Give older children a diary for recording the trip & move.
3. Give children of all ages a special address book & stationary set for keeping up with old friends.
4. Take videos of the new home if the kids won't get to see it before the move. Arrive well before the movers so kids can explore and become acquainted first.
5. Give children a chore to do, such as working on their room (younger), supervising little siblings (middle), and painting or arranging furniture (older kids).
6. Take a break with the family as soon as possible to explore the museums, sights and recreation in your new city.
7. Arrange a visit to new schools and a meeting with the teacher before the actual first day of attendance.
8. Encourage the children to bring new friends home.
   

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~ Shelley Seale Relocation Property Services 888-335-RELO

Dec. 4, 2006 - Now is the Time to Buy

Low rates and extraordinary inventory have created perfect conditions for home buyers.

You've never had more homes to choose from

• There are currently 3.75 million homes for sale. Inventories in recent months have been at record levels, offering consumers the greatest choice in decades.
• However, inventory levels are falling, and the selection of homes will become limited once again.
• Former Federal Reserve Chair Alan Greenspan recently said that housing prospects are looking up. “Most of the negatives in housing are probably behind us. The fourth quarter should be reasonably good, certainly better than the third quarter.” According to industry estimates, 2006 will be the third-best year on record for home sales. 

Interest rates haven't been this low for nearly 40 years

• At 6.4 percent, the average 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate remains near 40-year lows. This is more than an entire percentage point below 2000 levels. For a $250,000 loan, a drop from 7.5 percent to 6.5 percent means an annual savings of $2,000.

• The average home value increased by 88 percent over the last ten years. In the decade to come, the number of US households is expected to increase by 15 percent, which means housing will stay in high demand.

While conditions for buyers are perfect now, that is likely to change next year as sales pick up, prices gain traction, and conditions improve for sellers. In today's real estate market, the best time to buy is now.

Reprinted from http://www.realtor.org/realtormag with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.  All rights reserved.