It's Official!!!

So, it is finally official.  Keller Williams Realty International is the largest real estate company in America.  It was announced today at our annual event, Family Reunion, that we surpassed Coldwell Banker as the largest company in agent count in North America.  It started years ago, first passing ReMax then Century 21 and now Coldwell Banker.  I couldn't be more proud to be part of this company.  It is truly a special company, that prides themselves on Culture.  They put the Agent first and teach us how to succeed at the highest level possible by turning our careers into and business and serving our clients to the extreme.  It is a blessing to have found such a company that keeps receiving award after award...... from JD Power & Associates #1 in overall Buyer and Seller Satisfaction, all the way to the #5 overall Company to work for in America (and might I say, there was no other Real Estate Company on that list of 150 ;).  I look forward to the opportunity to share this with ALL of our clients, first hand, on the Eastern Shore, from Salisbury to Ocean City and beyond.

Keller Williams certainly deserved this and is now on it's way to being the largest company in the world.  They really are raising the bar in Real Estate, one deal, one agent, one kind act at a time.  Thank you, Keller Williams for making such a difference in MY life!

Is Housing Slowly Turning to a Seller's Market?

Is Housing Slowly Turning to a Seller's Market?

This is a very interesting article.  And, though it may be generally true across most markets throughout the US, I would have to disagree with the majority of it here locally, despite the fact that there are some truths within.  Only in certain segments of our local Real Estate market are we seeing multiple offers and bidding wars (but, it is certainly not unheard of).  This is mainly happening in the lower price range (under $175,000) or with aggressively priced homes.  For the most part, our inventory IS down and sellers HAVE started coming to grips with what kind of offers they can get on their property...... which helps to move the properties currently on the market, remove the overpriced ones, and actually start heading towards a balanced Real Estate climate.   Getting to a balanced market place though, will take time.  And, only time will tell.  I'll keep an eye on the stats and keep you posted!

Rent-to-Own

So, if the old cliche is "Location, Location, Location!", the new one is "Location, Location, Financing."  At least that is the growing consensus among real estate professionals I've been talking with lately.  It seems as though I heard this first regarding the commercial sector of real estate, mostly because banks had tightened their lending regulations.  More and more often though, over the the past few years, I have been fielding calls about "Rent-to-Own," "Lease-Purchase Options," and "Owner Financing."  This is mainly because of the bind that many Americans found themselves in during the last recession...... Unemployed or Under-employed, growing debt, and slimming wages.  Some lost their homes and some had to sell it short of what was owed on it (short-sale).  Even though these friends, family members, and/or neighbors have had to resort to renting, they still have the dream of home-ownership.  Even with the recent flubs in the market, it hasn't put too much of a sour taste in their mouths.  Now that the "Wild West" days of creative financing are over, I think Owner Financing and Rent-to-Own Options will take the place of ARM's and other crazy stuff that a lot of people don't understand how to use responsibly.  If you are an owner that has the ability to take advantage of the market in this manner, you could find yourself moving up and still keeping the old house (at least for a while) to generate passive income and help you build true wealth.

Introduction

For some time now, I have been wanting to put together a blog to discuss trends I see in the Real Estate market.  Since we are in the midst of becoming a Keller Williams franchise, I thought it would be the perfect to start one and launch it with my new website (still in design mode).  I'm getting excited as I already have a couple of interesting topics lined up to discuss.  I hope you all enjoy it and check back regularly to see what's really going on around you (especially in your local market), and not just what the mass media conglomerates are feeding you.  Comments and discussion are encouraged and always welcome.