11 Good Reasons to List During the Holidays

1. People who look for a home during the Holidays are more serious buyers!

2. Serious buyers have fewer houses to choose from during the Holidays and less competition means more money for you!

3. Since the supply of listings will dramatically increase in January, there will be less demand for your particular home! Less demand means less money for you!

4. Houses show better when decorated for the Holidays!

5. Buyers are more emotional during the Holidays, so they are more likely to pay your price!

6. Buyers have more time to look for a home during the Holidays than they do during a working week!

7. Some people must buy before the end of the year for tax reasons!

8. January is traditionally the month for employees to begin new jobs. Since transferees cannot wait until Spring to buy, you must be on the market now to capture that market!

9. You can still be on the market, but you have the option to restrict showings during the six or seven days during the Holidays!

10. You can sell now for more money and we will provide for a delayed closing or extended occupancy until early next year!

11. By selling now, you may have an opportunity to be a non-contingent buyer during the Spring, when many more houses are on the market for less money! This will allow you to sell high and buy low!

Homebuyer Assistance Programs

On November 6, 2009, the President signed into law an extension and expansion of the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit. Among other provisions, the extension adds money for certain move-up buyers (especially those who have lived in a house for five of the past seven years); creates one deadline for signing a contract and a later deadline for closing; changes income requirements (an increase from $75,000 (single) to $125,000; and from $150,000 (married) to $225,000); and also limits the cost of a purchased home to $800,000.

Florida Realtors® President (2009) Cynthia Shelton notes that extending the buyer tax credit and expanding it to reach more homebuyers is the right thing to do, “as it’s critical to maintaining positive momentum in the housing market and in the overall economy.”

Link HERE to read more specific details about the extension/expansion. Then call me, and we'll talk about how the provisions of this law can work to your best advantage.

10 Things Your Real Estate Broker Won't Say

A perspective client of mine from the NY-Metropolitan area is interested in relocating to Florida and sent me an article from Smart Money magazine, asking if the ten things outlined in the piece were true. Link HERE to read the article in its entirety and learn more.