Real Estate Information Archive

Ashton Gustafson has made it his practice to be at the forefront of technology in the Real Estate sector for Wichita Falls and North Texas. See below for all your Real Estate needs.

www.AshtonGustafson.com - Total market overview.

www.TheFallsHomeFinder.com - The BEST Site for Active Buyers.

www.TexomaHomeValue.com - Thinking of selling?

www.TexasBankOwned.com - Looking to invest?

www.TheFallsPodCast.com- Listen to the market update on you iPod!

www.LuxuryHomesWF.com - Daily email list of the new luxury homes on the market.

www.BishopRealtors.com - All of our office listings.

Good Monday Morning to you.

The Market

As we enter these Summer months, there's no doubt things feel different than they did a year ago. Last year we had one of the biggest June's on record - this of course was a byproduct of the 1st Time and Repeat Buyer tax stimulus for home buyers. Washington said, "buy a home - get $8000"....and EVERYBODY took them up on it.

This summer, we've seen available inventory in the 1st Time Home Buyer range grow to record levels. Essentially, the market borrowed buyers from the future last Summer. People that would have purchased in '11 and '12, took advantage of the tax credit, low rates, and made a great decision doing so. Which is why there are so many homes available in the under $100,000 range. The buyers for this Summer, purchased last Summer.

Last Summer's market was not real. We cannot compare last year's stats to this year and ask, "what are we doing wrong?" So please, don't Judge the market by its Government Stimulus Package.

The Opportunity

Average days on market for homes that SOLD in May was 82. Average day on market for homes that RENTED was 52. Rentals entered and left the market 37% faster than did homes that sold. If you are cash positioned to take advantage of this opportunity to invest, call me ASAP. Don't let this be the Summer that got away. With our current inventory, these investments are making wonderful returns for our clients. Visit www.TheFallsHomeFinder.com.

Other Sites

www.AshtonIsMyHomeBoy.com

www.TheFallsPodCast.com

www.TexomaHomeValue.com

If we can serve you or anyone you know this week, please let me know.

Go Mavs.

Good Monday morning to you!

Thought About College Lately?
My financial planner told me this month that 4 years of college at a state school would cost approximately $178,000 for my daughter in 2029. $475,000 for a private institution!!! How am I going to pay for that????? My plan is to purchase 1 investment property a year for her and have renters pay the mortgage. 15 years from now they will be paid and full and I'll sell 1 per year for her to attend the school of her choice. Want to join me in this venture? Email me Ashton@AshtonGustafson.com and I'll share with you my action plan.

What's The Going Rate?
RATES HAVE NEVER BEEN THIS LOW and INVENTORY HAS NEVER BEEN THIS HIGH. And this means opportunity. I saw rates with local lenders this week under 4% on a 15 year note. Incredible. To see how great this opportunity is, see www.ImAHappyBuyer.com.

I am looking to buy - Where do I start?
Simple - www.TheFallsHomeFinder.com. As of today, over 3000 individuals have registered and made this their site for buying a home in North Texas. No other company offers a better web-site to find your next home. Check it out today.

I am looking to sell - Where do I start?
Simple too - www.TexomaHomeValue.com.
Within 48 hours I will have a market analysis to you and will set up a time with you to come preview your home.

Best of luck in all you do this week.

If I can help you or anyone you know, I'm here and ready.

"Leading is a skill, not a gift." Seth Godin

If you are at the crossroads of deciding whether or not to walk away from your mortgage or "strategically default," you'll find there is nothing strategic about foreclosure, especially when there are solutions to avoid it.

One in four American homeowners is underwater, and millions more are having a hard time making mortgage payments.

The good news is I can provide solutions that may help you or someone you love avoid foreclosure. I've prepared a free, no obligation report regarding these options that you can download here in the privacy of your home:

www.WichitaFallsShortSale.com

Make an informed decision and take a truly strategic step toward securing financial stability … call me today!

 Sincerely,

Ashton Gustafson
Bishop Realtor Group
(940) 224-0881

Good morning to you!

The Market

In the last 70 days, we here at the Bishop Realtor Group have put over 70 properties in contract. While we feel the market is still moving very well for our office, the overall market does have varying levels of sluggish price points. Below are the stats from the Wichita Falls Association of Realtors on what SOLD in March of 2011. As always, $120,000 price point was the winner. As long as rates continue to stay where they are at, we look for a very strong Summer run in the market.

Thinking of Selling?

Ever wonder what homes have sold for in your neighborhood? Thinking of selling this Summer? See www.TexomaHomeValue.com - I will have a market analysis to you within 48 hours.

Thinking of Buying?

3 years ago I launched what has turned into the #1 web-site for buyers looking in our market. Check out www.TheFallsHomeFinder.com for every home available within your criteria. Here you can request more information or even set up at a time to view any property available for sale.

The Word on the Street

Our clients have spoken. If you are thinking about participating in any way in the Real Estate market, I encourage you to check out www.SeeWhatTheyAreSaying.com.

Ashton's Thought of the Week

Go. Start. Create. In whatever you do or find passion in - go. We need more imagination, more creating, and and more starters in the world. And may you and yours enjoy a peaceful Easter weekend.

Good Monday morning to you!

February Market Report

Below you will find the residential SOLD results for the month of February in the Greater Wichita Falls MLS. If you have any questions about these stats, please let me know.

• Average Sales Price was $110,725.00
• Average Days on Market was 104

Military Tax-Credit Still Available

If you or anyone you know was stationed overseas while the 1st Time Tax Credit and Repeat Buyer Tax Credit was going on, you did not miss out. You must be in contract by April 30, 2011 and close by June 30, 2011. For all of the details in regards to this, see http://www.texomahomesource.com/Blog/Military-8000-Credit-Soon-to-Expire.

Web-Sites to Remember

www.TheFallsHomeFinder.com - The #1 Site for Buyers in North Texas.

www.TexomaHomeValue.com - What's my home value look like today?

www.TheFallsPodCast.com - March Pod Cast Market Update

www.TexomaHomeSource.com - Featured listings, answers to questions, etc!

Make it a great week, and please let me know how I may serve you.

"Faith needs a story to sustain it - a meaningful story that inspires belief in you and renews hope that your ideas do indeed offer what you promise."  Annette Simmons

American National Bank of Wichita Falls, TX has officially released what it calls the "Easy Fix" Mortgage.

This loan program features:

• Combination purchase, refinance and repair loan for repairs or improvements up to $35,000.00.
• One-time closings.
• Allows purchase of a home in "as-is" condition based on "as improved value"

If you have questions about this loan program of looking to buy a "fixer-upper" in Wichita Falls, contact Ashton Gustafson at 940.691.7355.

For every home available for sale in Wichita Falls, see www.TheFallsHomeFinder.com.

Military Home Buyer Tax Extension - Soon to Expire

You must be in contract by April 30,2011 and close by June 30, 2011.

To see all of the Wichita Falls homes for sale at this time, see www.TheFallsHomeFinder.com.

Here is how they define service-person:

Definitions

• “Qualified service member” means a member of the uniformed services of the U.S military, a member of the Foreign Service of the U.S., or an employee of the intelligence community.
• “Official extended duty” means any period of extended duty outside of the United States for at least 90 days during the period beginning after December 31, 2008 and ending before May 1, 2010.

This came from http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/service_mem.php

We look forward to serving you at this time.

Ashton Gustafson - Bishop Realtor Group

Good Monday morning to you!

When the discussion of Real Estate comes up, everyone wants to point the finger a hundred different ways to explain why the market is or is not performing.

In all reality, there are just a few places to look for answers:
- Jobs
- Recent Sales Activity
- Inventory
- Mortgage Availability

Let's look at these on a local level...

Jobs - I attended the Wichita Falls Economic Forum this week, and found that Wichita Falls had actually created quite a few new jobs this year. Those new jobs and, of course, the jobs provided by Sheppard Air Force Base
give me great hope for the rest of 2011. A huge THANK YOU goes to our local business owners and Board of Commerce and Industry to keeping jobs in North Texas.

Recent Sales Activity - We have put a home in contract nearly every day this year, and we are up 40% YTD (last year was our firm's best year ever). The market is moving indeed, but PRICE is calling the shots. Which leads me to...

Inventory - We are at record levels of inventory at all price levels. Some of our market price ranges have over 12 months of inventory. See, www.TheFallsHomeFinder.com.

Mortgage Availability - I often hear that it is difficult to get a loan. This puzzles me. My personal stats show that I am qualifying over 90% of the clients that come my way looking to buy. Mortgage rates have never been this low, and we have plenty of happy buyers getting loans. See, www.ImAhappyBuyer.com.

If I can answer any further questions or serve anyone you may know this week, please let me know.

"What would our world look like if more people started projects, made a ruckus, and took risks?" Seth Godin

http://www.talkrealty.com/ashtongustafson

March 2011:

This month's edition covers Greater Wichita Falls real estate market activity and then we promote the value of a CMA.

Features special guest Terri Murphy of US Learning.