Pinetop White Mountain Blog

Good Sunday Afternoon,

This weekend has been a soggy sticky one for those of us in the White Mountains.  Lots of rain and wetness but oh boy is everything green and pretty.  The wild flowers are starting to bloom.  Don't miss those fields of Sunflowers, they are something to see.

Now, down to business.  If you are looking for the deal of the century you really have to look at more than just those foreclosures.  They can be a good value, no question about it, but they are not always the best deal for you. 

A lot of sellers are out there with very nice properties who are willing to talk to you about an offer.  They don't want to drop their prices to the level of the foreclosures because that gives the buyer the impression that either there is something wrong with the property or they are desperate to sell.  In some cases that might be true, but most often it is just a seller who wants to maintain the integrity of their neighborhood and they don't want to drop their price so much that it might hurt their neighbor's values.

Does this mean they won't look at an offer? Absolutely not.  I have seen homes sell this year for quite a bit below their asking prices but even so they have sold at a fair price and helped stabilize values in our area.  Things are stabilizing and prices are not dropping like stones in water any more.  No matter what the bean counters in Washington say, things in our area are improving. 

If you want to buy and you are still undecided if the time is right, consider this.  Interest rates are lower than they have been in 40 years.  They have stayed low for several weeks now hoping to spur activity in the Real Estate Market.  What is holding you back?

Are you afraid values will fall further?  They might, but not to the extent that they have thus far and you have to stop thinking of Real Estate as a savings vehicle.  It's not, it is a house, a place to hang your hat and put your feet up.  It is a home, not a piggy bank.

Are you afraid of the economy?  Well there is still a lot of instability in the economy but it is growing again.  Not quickly but steadily.  I have noticed a marked improvement in the number of employers who are starting to hire again.  It won't be long now before things get moving again. 

The fear factor has kept many buyers out of the market place because the media keeps touting how bad everything is.  I said it before and I'll say it again, DON'T LISTEN TO THEM! As long as they keep telling you how bad things are they are going to stay that way.  If no one is buying anything, products aren't moving, people aren't working, and everyone loses.  I know we have been through a rough three years but you must have faith that things are going to get better or they never will.

Let me know if I can direct you to a good lender or help you find what you are looking for in a White Mountain home.  I am here to help you with your search.

Thanks for reading.  Have a wonderful rest of your weekend.

Sandra Paulow, Associate Broker, GRI, SFR, REALTOR®

(928) 242-0300