By Steve Levine, President of Steve Levine Inc., and an agent for REMAX Prestige
The statistics for 2013 are in, and the results were great, at least in comparison to the market we were coming off of.? Statewide, sales in December 2013 were up 11.4 percent over 2012; however sales were down 26 percent over November, as well as? down in October.? While some seasonality is common, 26 percent is a huge drop.?? Likewise, condominium sales were down 32 percent from November to December, and this has caused more than a little concern in some segments of the market.
Here in the trenches of the Worcester County real estate market, many in the real estate industry are taking a “wait and see” approach.? At a recent lunch I organized for some of the top agents in the region, people were wondering whether 2013 was merely a blip in the market, caused by years of buyers holding off, and exacerbated by low inventory – or whether it represents a true healing and return to a normal balanced market. Only time will tell.
According to Massachusetts Association of Realtors President Peter Ruffini, the challenge still remains a critical lack of inventory. That's why now, more than ever, we need those home sellers who really have wanted to move for a while to reach out, and provide the “supply” to go along with the “demand.”? As I mentioned in last month's column, each winter I open up 10 spots in January and 10 in February for my “Homeowners Blend Program.”? Now in its 20th year, this has been a fantastic opportunity for sellers to save up to 50 percent on the real estate fees when selling their home, WITHOUT having to give up a thing in return.? I do have a few of those left for January, so if you'se reading this, and would like one of the slots, email me at [email protected] and I will save you a spot.
Regarding the free report, we come to one of my favorite topics, the Expired Listing Market.? Last year alone, over 18,000 homes in Worcester and Middlesex County that were on the market, came off without selling, which represents almost 40 percent of the total listings taken by agents.? In contrast, I think I had two such listings all year, and in both cases, it came down simply to sellers that were just unrealistic on price.? After seeing just how serious the issue was, and knowing that it wasn's happening to me, I sat down for an entire day and put together a five page report that details the “Top 10 Reasons A Home Doesn's Sell. “? This isn's some “canned report” purchased online, but really represents the core experience of having done this over 2,000 times, and all that I learned through trial and error. I incorporate items specific to selling issues in a particular town or area, creating unique reports.
This applies to anyone thinking of moving.? What better way to ensure that you don's make the same mistakes, than to read about what happened to others?? If you'se interested in reading it, along with a separate page of helpful tips and the final 2013 statistics, just send an email to [email protected] with your name and city you live in. You will then get an email back with a copy of a report for your individual community.
Steve Levine is President of Steve Levine Inc., and an agent at REMAX Professional Associates in Shrewsbury.? He has over 25 years of experience in the local marketplace, and can be reached at [email protected] or (508) 735-4663
