Florida Homes and Condos for Sale

I received a call yesterday from someone who just had "let" their Viera home for sale listing expire.  He had kept my card from a showing several months ago.

He asked me if I would consider listing his house for sale since the listing had expired.   I love to list homes for sale in Brevard County, especially in Viera, so I was ready to talk.

He asked about my feedback from the previous showing of his house months earlier. I told him it was simply the price was greater than the contenders in his neighborhood.

I stopped short of telling him I would not have shown it but my buyers really wanted to see it so they could compare other better priced houses in the neighborhood.

I then told him what I thought his house would sell for in the current Viera Florida market.

He said he would rather let it sit.

I wished home luck as I know the market will likely not rise in the near future - in Florida or elsewhere.  A buyer's market requires serious, motivated sellers as there are way too many homes on the market and so few buyers!

If your are serious about selling your house in 2011, you must price it to be a contender and not a pretender!

The housing market, particularly in Florida,  can be brutal or rewarding.  There are tremendous values in this market for motivated buyers.

Considering the inventory of short sales, foreclosures, and even new construction in areas like Brevard County, sellers must be motivated to compete.

While walking the "Boss"ton Terrier (Diesel Dog) this morning I noticed a house a few blocks over where the real estate signage had changed again.

I am not sure but I believe this may be the third real estate company to to take this listing. [Third works best with my title so three it is!]

This time the price has been lowered toward a more reasonably competitive price.

I wonder if the new real estate agent convinced the seller to price it correctly for this market or is the seller beginning to get rid of the rose tinting on the glasses?

I wonder if the previous real estate agent understood the market?   Or, was the previous real estate agent just using the signage out front to get new leads? [I have heard that happens!]

Finally, I wonder if the seller finally agreed with what the agent(s) had been recommending all along but felt less embarrassed about admitting it to a new agent?

I don't know the answers to the above questions but perhaps the most appropriate questions to ask include:

I heard a seller remark yesterday she had been told she priced her home way too low because "it has only been on the market a week and she already had a contract!"

My thoughts (I did not respond as she was not my client) included...

1. Sellers are not obligated to accept any offer.
2. The longer a home is on the market the less desirable it gets (Buyers think "what is wrong with it?")
3. In a declining market waiting may result in even lower offers especially with an unknown number of foreclosures that will eventually hit the Brevard County Florida real estate market.
4. Will you feel better if your home sits for 110 days (the average days on the market) before you get an offer?
   

The reality is simple: Homes that are priced right are selling.  Sellers may negotiate a little but for the most part they have been presented with the comps and know what a good offer should be!

There are some signs your house is not priced right.  Competent real estate agents will look for homes that are priced right ( for the location, condition and competition (market)) and will show their motivated clients these competitve gems.

One other thought....if your house has been on the market for a month or more and you have had little activity, consider the 30-10-1 rule [on the market for 30 days, less than 10 showings and not even one offer, then the price is not right].

If you are considering selling your Viera, Suntree and Rockledge home, call me to discuss how I can work for you. Call me directly at 321-693-3850 or email me.