January 2008

Market Overview for Collin County - December 2007

The Market Overview for Collin County through December 2007 is now available. Click the logo to open the report.

This report is compiled from data in the North Texas Real Estate Information System (NTREIS). NTREIS is the provider of the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for all of North Texas including Collin County. If you would like more detail or want to see the data for a specific city, please email me and I will be happy to send you the data.

Demand Versus Buyer Hesistation

While conditions are largely favorable for buyers right now, many are hesitating in anticipation of falling home prices. NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun takes a look at pent-up demand, buyer hesistation, and the peculiarities of the current market. Click the Real Estate Insights logo for the full story.

Source: National Association of REALTORs - Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist

Market Activity On The Increase

The Spring Sales Season may be just around the corner! The graph below shows the number of hits on our listings on realtor.com. Site visitor traffic bottomed-out the week before the holidays at 1350 views for the week ending December 16, 2007. The good news is the marked rise in site visitors so far in January 2008 with 5400 views for the week ending January 13, 2008.

While we have not seen this traffic resulting in showings, we believe it is an indicator that buyers are beginning to look at properties. Typically we will begin to see showings within a month or so.

If you have been waiting out this market, now may be the time to get your property ready to list!

January 2008 Newsletter

Our January 2008 Newsletter is now available for viewing. January's lead story is titled, "The Facts About Mortgage Buy Downs." For the average person, making sense of the different types of mortgages available and understanding the industry's terms can be a lesson in patience. It's a constantly changing industry and one that is always trying to make it easier for the home buyer to achieve the dream of home ownership.

Be sure to check out the charts on Page 2. Note these charts reflect trends across the nation rather than in the local DFW market.

Click here for our January Newsletter

Pending Sales Index and Forecast Release

This release shows that over the next few months, existing-home sales are expected to hold fairly steady, then rise later in the year and continue to improve in 2009. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said there is a pull and tug exerting itself on the market, making the exact timing and strength of a home sales recovery uncertain. “On the one hand, we have a pent-up demand from the four million jobs added to our economy over the past two years of sales decline,” he said. “On the other, consumers continue to wait for additional signs of market stabilization. There are more people with financial capacity now than in 2005, but many are trying to market-time their purchase. A meaningful recovery in existing-home sales could occur as early as this spring, or it may be further delayed toward late 2008.”

Click here to read the full story.

Source: National Association of REALTOR(R)s

Homes4Hams Website Updated

We are pleased to announce we have completed a major overhaul of Homes4Hams.com (www.homes4hams.com). Homes4Hams is the premier website catering to the real estate needs of amateur radio operators.

Homes4Hams was formed in 2003 in an effort to assist hams in finding Real Estate Professionals and Mortgage Loan Officers who understand the unique needs of amateur radio operators. All Real Estate Professionals and Mortgage Loan Officers listed on the site are licensed amateur radio operators and have real estate or mortgage loan licenses if required by their state.

We believe that being assisted by a fellow amateur radio operator is the best way to make sure all your home-buying and -selling needs are addressed.

Homes4hams is owned and operated by Realty Revolution LLC, a licensed real estate brokerage in the State of Texas. Homes4hams does not provide brokerage services and was formed as a resource for the amateur radio community.

Monthly Real Estate Agent Survey - Dallas Market

Tom Branch, the Designated REALTOR(R) and Broker for Realty Revolution LLC, is one of 2400 real estate professionals nationwide who take part in a Monthly Real Estate Agent Survey for Bank of America (BOA) Equity Research. BOA states, "...we believe that agents will provide an accurate assessment of housing market trends in both the new and existing home markets." While this survey is used as part of an Equity Research Report for the Home Builders and Building Products market, the results are indicative of local agents' perspectives on the DFW market. Note this report is not based on sales or other market data, but a survey of agents and what they perceive to be happening in the market.

Click here for the December report for the Dallas market.