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Holding out for the sales price you deserve on your home? Well, unfortunately you may be holding ON to that home indefinitely. Sellers, if you are serious about selling your home, you must price your property extremely competitive. Of course not all real estate markets are identical, some are appreciating while others are on a severe downward spiral. Speaking generally, however, pricing is crucial. Overpriced listings are clogging our inventory and causing the market statistics to be inaccurate.

Overpriced homes will remain on the market and eventually add to the days on the market (DOM) and usually the "expired" statistic. This makes the overall reports appear that inventory is not moving or that it is moving very slow, when in fact this may not be the…

St George Utah property sales are remaining consistent, but here are some interesting foreclosure statistics for Washington County. The year to date notice of defaults filed is at 721 which, according to Southern Utah Title Company, is 138% higher than last years 303 notices filed from January to May of 2007. Actual foreclosures are at an all time high at 64, for May 2008. The year to date (through May 2008) totals 260 recorded foreclosures in comparison to only 48 recorded January to May of 2007. This shows substantial increases and future foreclosures are inevitably going to set records for the St George Utah area.

Indicators include the number of "short sales" listed on the Washington County MLS which has dramatically increased in past months. A…

I do not understand the thought process when agents are loading their listings and not including the listing photo(s). Each day I (and I am sure many agents) run the Hot Sheet Report (the report showing all listing activity for the past 24 hours). I do this with the intention of knowing my inventory and possibly searching for a potential home for a client. Why is it that so many homes are entered with no photo? To top it off, on our report, the only information visible is the picture, address, list price, list date, and member. We have to click on the MLS number to view additional information. I NEVER click on these, and I am sure I can not be the only one. The day the home drops on the MLS is the day the most agents will view the listing. The listing…

With mortgage rates on the decline, many home buyers are again on the lookout for their next home, or perhaps a refinance of their current home. When you obtain your real estate mortgage, you will usually have an option to pay points or "buy down" in an effort to lower your interest rate. My clients usually ask my advise when the situation arises. I usually reply with the disclaimer that I have no professional lending experience, however I am always willing to share my opinion. I have done my fair share of personal loans so I do believe this makes me somewhat knowledgeable.

My advise and opinion is NOT to pay points. Here is my logic and an example using very basic math and numbers. Remember, every situation is different and my example may not…

Most people understand that a Buyers Agent is the agent that represents a buyer through a real estate transaction and the Sellers Agent represents the Seller during the transaction. Often, buyers do not understand exactly what "Limited Agency" (sometimes referred to as Dual Agency) is, or how it could potentially impact their sale or purchase. In Utah, the exact definition of Limited Agency taken directly off a Limited Agency Consent Agreement from Utah Association of REALTORS® reads:

  "A Limited Agent represents both seller and buyer in the same transaction and works to assist in negotiating a mutually acceptable transaction. A Limited Agent has fiduciary duties to both seller and buyer. However, those duties are "limited" because the agent cannot…

For my first year as a licenced Realtor, I thought I would post a recap about what I have learned (thus far). Although I have had many years experience in real estate, it is quite a different world acting as an Agent for buyers and sellers (not actually being the buyer or seller). Getting started was a bit more difficult than I had anticipated. Since I am not the go getter or cold call type of person, I was faced with my own set of challenges if I wanted to succeed in sales. I have decided to build my professional platform around the client, attempting to go above and beyond for each client and hopefully change the stereotype and sigma hovering above the Real Estate Agent profession.

Since I am not aggressive enough to knock on doors, I knew I had to…

This is for all of our overpriced sellers:

"Our house is worth more because...."  this sentence is often followed by  statements such as:  "we put in a pool"  "we just repainted the house" or "we put down new sod".   Spending money improving your home can not automatically be calculated into your asking price.  This is a fatal selling mistake that current statistics here in the St. George, Utah real estate market will prove. 

So you've spent $35,000 on a beautiful new pool only 2 years ago?  Essentially you paid  $3000/month to enjoy your pool for those 24 months.  Usually in circumstances where the buyer absolutly desires a pool, will it fetch any additional value.  Buyers with small children may not accept a home with a pool, having a pool is…