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It looks good on the surface but if we really look hard, we have concerns lingering around us.  We are excited to see the Seller’s Market bring higher prices and faster sales for our Sellers but that also means that Buyers may be forced to pay higher prices and get into bidding wars with other Buyers if they want to buy a house.  So, the ‘Good Market’ depends on what side of the coin you flip. The stock market is good so some say the economy is good; however, due to the pandemic, we have hundreds of thousands of people out of work right now and not able to pay rent or mortgage. You can only kick the can down the road so far until it falls to the curb.

The CDC’s eviction restrictions expire on 12/31/2020. Congress needs to work on plans before then to help Tenants and Landlords deal with past due rent balances.  Homeowners who requested a mortgage forbearance may have a few months with less expense, but that only delayed the payments and interest is still assessed.  The Pandemic has created so many more problems that just an illness that may be more harmful to some than others. In addition to the health concerns, it’s somehow become a political divider, a destructor to finances, and a stress-inducer.

We sure don’t have the answers but the American People need to come together to help one another. It’s critical for the Housing Market to remain strong.  When the Housing Market is in good shape, we typically see a good economy.

Home has always been a place for shelter and safety but now it’s become a place for work and quarantining.  Creating a work space within your home provides an organized place to work efficiently and allows you to separate work from personal life.  Maintaining a scheduled routine is very important while working from home.  Eat in the kitchen, not in your work space. Keep your work space separate from other functions so that you can mentally prepare for work and check out when it’s personal time.  Make sure you have good lighting in your work space and keep your computer backed up, virus and password-protected.  If you have a room or space area in your home that could be set up for a work space, take some time to rearrange and decorate so that you are happy to report to work and avoid being distracted by house chores.

Although you might expect the real estate market to slow down during a crisis such as a pandemic, there are no signs of any slowing.  Interest rates are at an all-time low. Affordable Housing is nearly extinct.  And, there are fewer listings on the market while there are plenty of buyers searching to make a purchase.  Statistics show a decrease in sales but that is more to do with the lack of listings than the lack of activity.

Here locally, we are seeing multiple offers within hours. That sounds wonderful for Sellers but that means Buyers are forced to pay higher prices and must be prepared to write an offer on the spot. If Buyers decide to ‘think it over’, they will most likely miss out on the house.  Agents must be paying attention nearly every minute to the new listings and Buyers must be pre-approved and ready to write an appealing offer.

As we look ahead to the 4th quarter, we expect a bit of a slowdown as we get through the Elections but we believe the market will continue to be strong through 2021.

Have you thought about all the toxins in your house?  Cleaners, candles, carpets, dust, and allergens can cause toxins in your house.  Getting rid of toxins can be overwhelming and also very expensive.  You can start by taking one room at a time and making small changes.

Candles can be warm and inviting but they can also give off toxins. If you’d like some aromatherapy, consider diffusing essential oils instead of burning candles.  Cleaning a house is important but using natural products instead of chemicals can easily leave your home not only clean but also toxic-free.  Bathroom toiletries can also be quite toxic. Take a look at the products in make-up, deodorant and shampoo.

Learning to read labels and making product changes will lead to less toxins.

We have a lot of activity happening in our Sales Department!  Realtor Kaili Frye became a new mom and Realtor Lindsey Martin joined our team last month.  Kaili is a 3rd Generation Real Estate Broker and Lindsey has a Marketing Degree.  And, both are busy working the market to help their clients.  Are you looking for a Realtor?  Contact us to interview our team.

May & June flew by yet dragged on.  Our Office managed to mostly work from home although the Maintenance Department was busy in the office every day.  It’s been challenging for us just like it has been for everyone. It’s really still hard to fully comprehend what the pandemic has caused and how long we’ll feel the affects of Covid-19.

Our Sales & Leasing didn’t really miss a beat, though.  Due to our video recordings, we were able to continue leasing without scheduling in-person showings.  It’s really allowed us to look forward and improve our marketing so that we can continue this option for future leasing. Sales also continued strong during May & June as we have a housing shortage and low interest rates.

We’ll be busy in July with rental turnover season and plan to kick off some new marketing and announcements for the Sales Department.

Although our office building remains closed to the Public, our business is open and working remotely.  Like others, we are facing these new challenges and learning as we go.  We are doing what we can to help clients and customers keep the market in process while we implement new procedures and take all precautions to keep everyone safe.  The best thing we can do for our economy is practice social distancing and increasing good sanitary habits.

The real estate sales market has been very active, especially for vacant homes priced between $125K & $250K.  We have sold almost all of our listings and helping more Sellers with the preparations of listing their homes on the market for sale.  What better way of spending time safely at home than to be preparing your house to sell?!  We also have Buyers looking for the right home but inventory is low so people are struggling to find matching criteria.

Our Rental Department has been very busy.  Our advertising has played a huge role in our leasing efforts. We’ve even had some video tours for prospects to help with the leasing process during Covid-19 restrictions. We’ve leased several rentals directly from online photos, videos and secure application portal. Our Maintenance Department has also been very busy although we have postponed the non-urgent tasks.  Whatever your needs are, we’re available to assist you.  Call 812-331-7353 or email Info@CallChoiceRealty.com.

Just like many of you, we are muddling through the daily changes and interrupted life due to the coronavirus.  We are doing our best to market listings and restricting showings to those who are serious buyers showing no symptoms of illness. For Buyers in need of a home, this is a time that only serious buyers who need to secure a home immediately need to be touring houses. We have discontinued showing houses to buyers who are just in the research and browse phase.

Right now, we are also able to close the pending sales and we’re working with Inspectors and Appraisers so that every transaction can proceed and meet deadlines.

We are fortunate to have technology available that allows us to post photos and virtual tours on listings so that consumers can shop online during this unprecedented time in history.  These are tools that allow the real estate market to continue functioning and help reduce the impact on the economy.

First and most important tip….  PREP.

Properly preparing a house to put on the market can mean a full-price offer or a quick sale.  Many times, when sellers to get a quick offer, they think they priced the house too low. But, most times, quick offers mean the house was prepared for good presentation and priced accurately!

#2 Tip – Clean up the outside. You’ve heard of ‘Curb Appeal’.  It’s real!

#3 Tip – Fresh Paint. Painting the front door and all the main traffic areas can provide a fresh, clean appearance.

#4 Tip – De-clutter all the rooms, especially the closets. If your closets are too full, buyers will feel like there isn’t enough space for them either.

#5 Tip – Create a spa-like setting for the bathrooms.

#6 Tip – Make all the small, miscellaneous repairs. They can add up and end up creating more problems.

#7 Tip – Remove personal items. Although they can help create a ‘home’, they can be distracting.

#8 Tip – Pressure wash the exterior and clear away any overhanging tree limbs.

#9 Tip – Clean the mechanicals and keep all the surfaces clear.  A clean appearance reflects the care given to the house.

And, the 10th Tip we can share….. HIRE A REALTOR.  Don’t go it alone. Legal documents, marketing, negotiations, ownership transfer and all the steps along the way can be overwhelming, especially when you don’t know the process.

 

We recently had a prospect who got furious with us because we wouldn’t answer all of his questions.  He threatened to leave bad reviews on the internet and went on to call us names, and even went as far as contacting the property owner to report us.  Unfortunately, this young prospect was completely in the wrong and I’m sure our tenants will appreciate our stance. So I wanted to share his questions and explain why we couldn’t answer all of them. 

Does the current tenant live alone or is there a family living here?

What is the neighbors like and what do they do?

What is the neighborhood like?

Is there crime in the area?

Questions like these are actually illegal for Realtors to answer.  Outside of legal positions, we would NEVER disclose who our current tenants are for basic safety reasons. Not understanding or accepting the privacy of tenants is just disrespectful!  We did refer the prospect to the local police department who could provide reports on crime but this didn’t seem to satisfy him. He felt like we should answer the question directly but we don’t have that data as we, too, turn to the police department for information.  

Due to local, state and federal laws, agents cannot legally profile what ‘type’ of person lives in a building or offer to stereotype a neighborhood. This can be considered discrimination and/or  steering, both of which are illegal! Besides, we don’t make it a habit to drive around neighborhoods looking at people – we have plenty of other work and other things to care about! But, if a tenant or buyer cares about that, then they can spend time in the area to form their own conclusion.  

If questions like these are important to you, then please know that you need to do your own due diligence because agents will not violate laws, discriminate or stray from our Code of Ethics.