Real Estate stories from Central Valley area Merced and Atwater

Rates continue to be historically low so it’s a great time to buy. The tricky part is that short sales remain high and although the short sale success rate has been going up we are seeing some long waits of 60 days plus just for a decision to a buyer’s offer. In addition some sellers are making it difficult for the listing agent to provide exposure of the home. Once listed the goal of any agent and seller is to receive offers at the highest price possible. However many sellers are limiting access to the house to restricted days or times. This past week I made several calls setting up appointments but often was told that Seller X didn’t return their call or that Seller X was only available to show it on Sunday between 5 and 7pm. An agents job is to get the home sold. It still amazes me that agents will take listings and not do everything in their power to get the home sold for their seller. Yes there are difficult sellers out there but it’s up to agents to work with difficult people and make sure the home gains the exposure needed.

In terms of the real estate market right now we see it as a mixture of good and not so good news. We say mixture for we see limited inventory in certain price ranges. With limited inventory it’s more difficult for buyers to negotiate over the price and other terms of the contract. In higher price ranges such as greater than $250,000 buyers have more leeway yet some sellers are reluctant to lower the prices as they realize how much equity was lost during those inflated years. Writing a solid offer based on comparables and with some seller incentives will go a long way in giving you the best chance at owning a coveted home.

We also provide selling and buying services to many cities surrounding these areas. Call or email us today for information.

The You’re The Focus team will help you navigate the market representing your best interests throughout the process. Contact us today and watch us work with and for you. Real estate services where you’re the focus!

Looking for some general sales information on East Bay cities or in the Central Valley region see our snapshot charts for approximate calculations here.