If you are reading this by way of doing research before putting your house on the market in Greensboro, take this one, key idea away with you:

Don’t do it.

Just don’t list a property for sale right now unless you really need to. It will only hurt your feelings. And you risk leaving money on the table if you do get an offer. That’s what happens in a buyer’s market. And there hasn’t been a buyer’s market like this since James Stewart played George Bailey going toe to toe with Mr. Potter. And while life may still be wonderful, being a seller in this market is not.

On the other hand, if you are a buyer – and don’t have a house to sell before you can buy – you should be doing a happy dance right about now. Seriously. Low interest rates, tons of inventory and, if you’re a 1st time buyer, the government will throw $8,000 at you to get you off the fence.

So get off the danged fence already!

The total number of houses on the market in Greensboro are down from last week. But that’s due to the fact that pending properties tend to close at the end of a month. So, while lower inventory is good, in relation to the inventory after end of month closings in January, we’re up.

Ugh. We’re just going to have to get through the houses on the market. Only then will there be what can really be considered a turn around.

Inventory is still quite a bit lower than in was in the 4th quarter of 2008. But we need to see month over month numbers improving.

Here are the numbers for properties on the market in Greensboro.

As always, whether the news is good or bad, you’ll see it here.

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If you have questions, comments or a good joke to share shoot me an email.  I’m a full time Realtor®, I love what I do and would be thrilled to hear from you.

* All data from Triad Multiple Listing Service (MLS). “Single-family” does not include Duplexes or manufactured homes.

I’m often asked this by first-time buyers. And the answer is: whenever you’re ready, willing and able.

Buying a house is not like planting tomatoes where, if you plant seedlings in March you can count on a freeze wiping out your crop. (BTW, in the Greensboro area, don’t plant before the end of April)

Other than the very broad idea that one should ‘buy low’ and ‘sell high’, there is not a particular season. And even the low/high thing is only part of what should be considered.

Certainly you don’t want to pay more for a house than it or its area are worth. But getting the help of a reputable lender, appraiser and Realtor can all help avoid doing that. Remember that you’re buying a home. And a home has intrinsic value that goes beyond making a quick profit. Indeed, making a quick profit is something you see some folks attempting on cable network shows and infomercials. There are people who have done it.

And there are people who have reduced their caloric intake by 30% for months at at time. That, too, is easier said than done.

No, it makes sense to buy a home because you want to control at least a part of your life. Sure, there are hassles to having to fix your own water heater if it goes out. But you get to paint your living room lavender if you so desire. You can deduct mortgage interest from your taxes. You get to show your parents that you are an adult after all. You can plant 50 tomato plants – after April 30th.

It just feels great walking into your own home for the first time. Really. It does.

And now is an historic “buyer’s market”. Plenty of inventory from which to choose. Still great interest rates. And as I’ve written before, if you’re paying rent, you are paying a mortgage. It’s just that someone else is getting the benefit.

If home ownership made sense 200 years ago, and through the Great Depression, and in the middle of WWII and even during the disco years – all times of real trauma – it makes sense now.

Start doing some research. And dream about lavender and tax deductions and tomatoes.

Are they thinking about the season finale of  “30 Rock”?

Have they taken some Smiley-Grinny pills?

Did someone just tickle them?

No. They all just bought their first home. That’s right. They purchased real estate.

“But that can’t be”, you might say. “Don’t they know that it’s a BAD IDEA to buy real estate these days? Don’t they read the papers?! Someone should have stopped them!!”

But just look at Mindy…

And Ken….

And Karen….

And Feliz and Maria…

So, why ARE they smiling? Because, frightening press stories nothwithstanding, they know that owning your own home is a good thing. They are all first time buyers and were able to get good interest rates. They worked with a reputable lender, looked at homes that met their needs and their budgets, asked good questions and are all now enjoying the personal and financial rewards of investing in their futures.

Mind you, not one of them is looking at their houses as if they’re slot machines, spewing cash. Again, here in the Greensboro NC area, we’ve never looked for double digit appreciation. Steady, sustainable growth. That’s us.

And that’s why they’re smiling.

Now, drop me a note and let’s see if we can get grin out of you.