Posts made by author 'Bruce Butler'
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16
Stuck?
I wasn't planning on writing a blog, but a recent conversation changed my mind.
Seems like quite a few people are feeling stuck right now because:
- They want to sell, but they don't know what their home's worth today
- They'd like to buy, but can't find what they're looking for
- They need to do both, but they're debating whether to wait until the spring
Out of curiosity, do any of these apply to your situation?
I'm not saying I have a magic wand, but there are some things we could do to help if you're in this position.
Send me an email or text and let's see where you are stuck.
9
Think Like a Buyer
The mistake I see a lot of people making - especially in this market - is aggressively pricing their home to see if buyers will bite.
If it doesn't happen, they reduce the price.
This might feel like a harmless strategy.
But the reality is that 75% of the initial attention your listing gets is in the first 72 hours.
If you overprice your home, a potential buyer who likely would've been interested, will skip your home and move onto better options.
That's why the advice I give my clients is to think like a buyer.
Pricing is hard to get right because the market is always moving.
But if you can see it through this lens, it can help avoid a downward spiral of inactivity, stress, and price reductions.
I'm currently updating several clients on their 2025 home values. If it'd be helpful to get...
2
A Unique Advantage for Sellers
A lot of sellers hit this point in the year and feel the tug to take their home off the market.
The holidays don't exactly pair well with constant tidying and disappearing for every showing.
But here's the advantage sellers have during the holiday slowdown…
A lot of people will take their home off the market and relist.
Which means the homes that stay active get a disproportionate share of buyer attention.
And buyers are out there. In fact, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is near the lowest level in a year, which is probably why mortgage applications just jumped 8% in a week.
Thought I'd share this because I see this a lot. It's common for sellers to miss how much leverage they can have during a so-called "slow" season.
P.S. If you're tor...
25
Reasons to Be Optimistic About the Market
A lot of homeowners are watching the market right now and thinking the same thing -
"Maybe we should wait to list."
I was just analyzing the recent market data and this stood out to me:
- Buyers aren't waiting for spring. Weekly home sales are 15% higher than last year, the strongest November since 2021. (HousingWire)
- Affordability is improving. ICE Mortgage Monitor shows the monthly payment on a typical home dropped to ~30% of a typical income. Affordability is still a challenge, but it's at the best level we've seen in over two years.
- Well-priced, move-in-ready homes are drawing serious buyers. These are the ones selling fastest.
Even if you don't *have* to sell (but want to), there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic. :)
P.S. If it's been more than 6...
12
Up 56%
Selling is getting harder but there's a solution. I came across a stat this week that made me instantly want to share it with you. The number of homeowners who listed their home and then took it off the market is up 56% year-over-year.
That tells me a lot of people are feeling uncertain, and I get it.
Deciding whether to sell your home is a big decision, especially in a shifting market. If I were in your shoes, here's what I'd be doing right now:
1️⃣ Review what's actually happening on the market.
I'd work with my Realtor to analyze how similar homes are performing: showings, feedback, offers, and price reductions. This helps you see what buyers are responding to right now, not six months ago.
2️⃣ Tighten up the little things that matter.