Displaying blog entries 31-40 of 107
Good Monday morning to you!
May you and yours have a very Merry Christmas!
Even though it is cold, we're still selling them in this market!
And it has been a great year too! See, www.SeeWhatTheyAreSaying.com!
Good Monday morning to you!
Right now everyone benefits from the infusion of investment dollars into the real estate market. Investors are finding great deals on properties and are building wealth one property at a time. Simply put, Real Estate is a great avenue to add to your investment portfolio and give you the diversification we all look for.
As a Certified Investor Agent Specialist™ (CIAS), I am specifically trained to find, create and close with residential real estate investors. Through comprehensive education and experience, I have gained the knowledge and tools to streamline the process of real estate investment and help increase returns for investor clients.
I can help Real Estate Investors Navigate:
To get a jump on properties before anyone else sees them, be sure you've subscribed @ www.TheFallsHomeFinder.com.
If you have not seen our current inventory of homes, you must see http://www.texomahomesource.com/Properties. This is the best line up of available homes I've seen in a long time.
Also, the December Pod Cast is up @ www.TheFallsPodCast.com.
If I can serve you or anyone you may know this week, please let me know.
"One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self confidence is preparation." Eric Hoffer
Good Monday morning to you!
Its hard to believe that 2010 is just about over! We saw rates begin to tick up a bit this last week, as the country continued to show signs of recovery. We have always said that you can never predict these rates, but TODAY they are very attractive. To see how much securing a rate today will save you in the future, see www.ImAHappyBuyer.com.
Also, we have started to track our metrics for our buyers and our sellers. What we are finding is that when our systems connect with a market priced property, the results are stunning. And, when our buying systems connect with a prequalified buyer, the time it takes to find the home they are looking for is nearly cut in half from conventional viewing appointments.
Thinking of selling? www.TexomaHomeValue.com
Thinking of buying? www.TheFallsHomeFinder.com
Let our systems start working on your behalf today, and please let me know if I can serve you or anyone you may know.
Make it a great week!
Good morning and happy Cyber Monday!
The Market
You know there is a great parallel between Black Friday and the Real Estate market. Actually, the parallel goes with any market where goods are bought and sold...not just Real Estate. To read my latest blog entry on this, see http://www.texomahomesource.com/Blog/Black-Friday-and-the-Real-Estate-Market.
The Opportunity
Nearly 2 years ago, I launched my first buyers only site @ www.TheFallsHomeFinder.com. Within weeks this site became our areas #1 resource for information on the available properties within the Greater Wichita Falls Area. The beauty of this site is that buyer can select how it would like to be updated on the market and create a favorites list of the homes you want to see. House hunting has never been this easy. With interest rates this low, this site can unlock great opportunity.
The Prairie Open House
Remember this is the first of two weekends that The Prairie will be available for viewing. Come and see our area's first Sustainable/Green project. For information on the available lots, see www.ThePrairieWF.com.
Make it a great week!
"As life is action and passion, it is required of a man that he should share the passion and action of his time, at the peril of being not to have lived." Oliver Wendell Holmes
Good Monday morning to you!
Market Snapshot
There are currently 62 residential properties IN-CONTRACT at this time in the Wichita Falls MLS. Only 4 (6%) are listed over $300,000. While many people thought the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit expiration would pull young buyers out of the market, the low interest rates have kept them hanging around...and rightfully so. If one is currently spending $800/month in rent, they can easily afford a mortgage at or near $100,000. Maybe that's why 84% of the current IN-CONTRACTS are under $200,000.
The market as a whole this year has roughly been flat. And judging by what the media reports on other markets and the nation as a whole, we are very fortunate. As the tortoise taught us, "slow and steady (growth) wins every time." For more information on what is available @ this time, see www.TheFallsHomeFinder.com.
Looking To Invest?
Have you ever thought about investing in Real Estate? Many people believe this is a very difficult and risky way to invest one's money. In reality, it may be one of the safest avenues available. As a Certified Investor Agent Specialist, I would be glad to meet with you and discuss your options and opportunities that are available. With interest rates at historical lows, now is the perfect time to enter the market. See www.ImAHappyBuyer.com.
Come View The Prairie
You may have heard about a new project in Archer County called The Prairie that I have been honored to be associated with. The Prairie is a residential green development located just 10 minutes from Wichita Falls, Texas off of FM 1954 on Decker Road. It consists of 200+ acres with 28 available home sites made up of five to seven acres each.
December 4-5 and 11-12, we will be holding an open house to come and view The Prairie as well as the first finished home in the development. See http://www.connollyhousetexas.com/ for details, directions, and information.
Quote of the Week
"It's a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it." W. Somerset Maugham
Ashton Gustafson, owner of the Bishop Realtor Group, is proud to bring you the November Real Estate Report for Wichita Falls and North Texas.
This month's edition covers Greater Wichita Falls real estate market activity and then we'll detail the “Top Four Selling Tips” for getting your home sold in a competitive market!
See link below for information.
http://www.talkrealty.com/ashtongustafson - Pod Cast
Local Agent Receives Training to Effectively Counsel Real Estate Investors, Provide Wealth-Building Strategies
Austin, TX– (10-30-10) – Ashton Gustafson of the Bishop Realtor group in Wichita Falls has earned the prestigious Certified Investor Agent Specialist™ (CIAS) Designation, having completed extensive training to understand the different real estate investor types, and the investment opportunities, financing options and calculations needed to provide solutions for each.
The five real estate investor types include: First-Time Investors, Move-Up Investors, Portfolio Investors, Performance Investors, and Rehab and Resell Investors. “For decades, investing in real estate has proven to be a consistent and stable way for individuals to build wealth,” Gustafson said. “Real estate investment supports a number of industries, including construction, retail and professional services, and is a strong way to energize and increase investment in our local economy.”
Over the past 12 months, investment and second-home properties comprised more than $300 billion in sales, representing approximately 19 percent of all residential real estate transactions. In addition, in market conditions affected by mortgage industry challenges, 48 percent of investors made all-cash purchases.
“As markets face the challenges of distressed properties and a difficult economy, real estate investors have the opportunity to find productive deals while helping communities stabilize,” Gustafson said. “Investors provide much needed liquidity to the market, decrease vacancy rates, improve neighborhoods, and present solutions for homeowners who need to sell.”
With the CIAS Designation training, Gustafson will help Wichita Falls-area residents build wealth through real estate investment, and homeowners facing foreclosure find potential buyers for their properties. Today, millions of homeowners are either delinquent on their mortgages or in the foreclosure process. One potential solution for homeowners in this situation is a short sale, in which the lien holder accepts a sale price of the home that is less than the mortgage amount owed. Increasingly, real estate investors are facilitating this solution.
“When it comes to properties that actually end up in foreclosure,” Gustafson added, “up to 30 percent of them can’t close conventionally. Investors are often the only ones who can buy them.” The Distressed Property Institute provides live and online CIAS Courses to train real estate professionals how to address the needs of all real estate investors.
For more information about the CIAS Designation, visit www.cias.com.
Good Monday morning to you!
If you've read anything about the Real Estate market over the past 3 years, the main buzz was the 1st Time Home Buyer and Repeat Buyer Federal Tax Credits. This $8000 tax credit sent a wave of buyers into all markets...and, rightfully so.
However, in less than 6 months, interest rates have fallen on a 30 year fix from 5.25% to 4.25%. At a loan amount of $200,000, this is over $43,000 in savings over the life of that loan. The last time I checked, $43,000 was greater than $8,000...what a difference a year makes. The chart below puts this into great perspective.
To keep an eye on all of the opportunities that are hitting the market each day, remember to log in @ www.TheFallsHomeFinder.com. This has quickly become the best site for the buyer/investor in North Texas.
If you're thinking about taking advantage of these rates and moving up, see www.TexomaHomeValue.com for a free market analysis of your property.
If I can answer any other questions or serve someone you may know, please let me know.
Make it a great week and GO RANGERS!
"He who says he can, and he who says he can't both are usually correct." Confucius
Good Monday morning to you!
How bout those Rangers!!! Hopefully we can see them come back our way soon from New York and be ahead in the series.
Time to Buy
One of our VALUES is Rapid Response. Unfortunately, I'm not seeing enough people respond rapidly to the opportunity that this market has brought us. With interest rates at historic lows and inventory at an all time high, there is great opportunity.
Everyone is also looking for diversification too...right? Americans have traditionally chosen the stock market for additional income and retirement funds; however, real estate—especially today—can provide cash flow, more stability and better tax incentives than investing in stocks. In fact, when properly managed, leveraged equity in real estate can far outpace stock appreciation over time.
Below you will see that over the past 10 years, the S&P 500 has lost value, while the average home price has appreciated, even when taking into account the recent national housing crisis.
Graph Source: www.CIAS.com
New Listings
For more information, see http://www.texomahomesource.com/Properties.
Useful Websites
www.TheFallsHomeFinder.com - Every home available for sale in MLS.
www.TexomaHomeSource.com - Wondering what your home is worth?
www.ImAHappyBuyer.com - What's up with interest rates?
Best of luck in the week ahead, and please let me know if I can serve you or anyone you know this week.
In times of change learners inherit the earth; while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists. Eric Hoffer
Good Monday morning to you!
The famous UCLA basketball coach, John Wooden, once said - "When opportunity arrives its too late to prepare." I heard that quote this week and it has not left my thoughts. We must plan, we must prepare, and only then can we expect to win and find success. Essentially what he was saying is, success and achievement is not an accident.
The reality is opportunity is HERE, and no one knows for how long. We have never seen this much available inventory, and we have never seen interest rates this low. These two facts, truly, make this a great time to participate in the market.
A great place to prepare and watch the market is @ www.TheFallsHomeFinder.com. Here you will get your choice of either weekly or daily updates of new listings and price adjustments.
Did you know that the stock market was flat from 2000 - 2010?
Did you know that the Real Estate market is up 20% from 2000, and that is after the biggest drop in values ever?
Did you know that the difference in a loan of $200,000 from where interest rates were 2 years ago is almost $100,000 in interest paid over the life of that loan?
Opportunity is here, and I want to play a roll in your preparation and ability to capitalize on it.
If I can serve you or anyone you may know, please let me know.
Displaying blog entries 31-40 of 107
