The Scales of Supply and Demand Continue to Tip
When demand started declining near the end of 2013, the inception of the buyer’s market had begun. Market watchers held their breath praying for demand to show up – fearing without demand jumping the pile up of inventory that typically occurs in the back half of the year would become an avalanche – but the…
Market Values – Who really knows?
Prediction Is Very Difficult, Especially About the Future – Niels Bohr (1885-1962) Niels Bohr certainly knew what he was talking about –and the intervening years have done nothing to change that sentiment. Buyers and sellers, and their agents, have continued to struggle to interpret our market movements. As most of our readers know, demand –…
Better Late than Never
2014 began with a whimper as demand from Buyers waned to historically low levels. Sellers, who seemed to be missing in 2013, showed up but buyers seemed to be unaffected by the increased selection of homes. Market watchers kept looking for signs of the buyer drought ending to no avail – until now. Finally buyers…
Why Selling in a Balanced Market is actually Good
One of the most common questions that would-be sellers ask us is when is the best time to sell? The questions vary but generally sound something like this: “Isn’t it best to sell in a seller’s market?†“Now that the market has shifted to a balanced/slight buyer’s market isn’t that a horrible time to sell? 
Will This Be a Happy New Year?
2014 is not starting off with a bang. At least not yet. The 4th quarter of 2013 was one of the lowest for pending sales in many, many years (2008 to be exact). This has contributed to a dramatic shift from what was a red hot seller’s market into a balanced market and even –…
Market Roulette
2014 is beginning quite differently than 2013 did. 2013 entered as an overheated seller’s market –with inventory unusually low and properties coming to market at one of the lowest rates in history. Fast forward to 2014 and we find a very different market. Only a few geographic areas in the valley are still in a…
How to Avoid a Bidding War
Right now in most areas of the country inventory is low and buyers are fiercely competing for houses. In the Greater Phoenix area this is happening like never before! Why is housing inventory so low? In late 2006 we had over 400 active home builders here in the valley. By late 2008 that number was…
Yes, Virginia. The Market is UP!
As 2013 approaches the halfway mark, the local market trends continue to strengthen their path. As agents, we continue to be amazed at what a strong real estate recovery is underway in the valley. But, as always, there is what the market is doing and then what people think the market is doing. Public sentiment…
Housing Bubble 2.0?
As we reported in last month’s issue, the market shifted (again) and January began with the lowest supply of listings coming on to the market. This understandably has been putting pressure on pricing as supply is not abundant. This has prompted a new rumor (I guess the persistent “shadow inventory†rumor eventually had to be…
2012 Begins its Wrap Up
Now that we are in the waning days of 2012, it is time once again to review where we are and prepare for what will no doubt be another interesting year in 2013. After a rather sluggish summer, the market regained some velocity in the fourth quarter. Supply continues to build, although it is still…