House Hunt: Open houses in Healdsburg

Open Houses For Sunday June 26th

$415,000. 1168 Mitchell Lane, Windsor, 3Bdrm, 2Bth. Century 21 NorthBay Alliance

$699,500. 898 Limerick Lane, Healdsburg, 3Bdrm, 1Bth + 1Bdrm, 1Bth Coldwell Banker

$255,000. 230 Red Mountain Dr, Cloverdale, 2Bdrm, 2Bth. Century 21 NorthBay Alliance

$649,000. 1705 Scenic Lane, Healdsburg, 3Bdrm, 2Bth. Century 21 NorthBay Alliance

$829,000. 14707 Grove Street, Healdsburg, 4Bdrm, 2Bth. Wine Country Group

$599,000. 402 Haydon Street, Healdsburg.  2 bed/2 bath.

This week in real estate has proven again that consumers are very thin skinned when it comes to negative news in the market place at this point. Early in the week it was reported that sales were much lower than the previous reporting period. What was not said was that the numbers had exceeded analysts’ predictions.

Are you a glass half full or half empty type of person? Thank goodness that there are a lot of both in this world. Last week at the MLS meeting Hunt Conrad of Prospect Mortgage said, “Why all of the negative headlines, they should read, mortgage rates at historic lows.” With all of the emotional insecurity we need more positive news and to look for the silver lining.

Here are some tips if you are starting your home search or have found a home but are worried that it may be overpriced.

1. The price of a home is based on what a qualified buyer is willing to pay on the open market. There is no way to see if what you think is the right price or the seller thinks is the right price until you make a bona fide offer. The power of a written offer in this market has never been stronger. Talk is cheap and easy.
2. Do the research and be your own advocate. Although Realtors are supposed to be experts in the market place it is difficult at best in this market that is changing daily. Many homes that have been sold never went on the MLS. Check Trulia.com to see what foreclosed home sold for as well as radarforecloseure.com to see all of the homes that have sold in the area.
3. Be prepared to embrace this as a process and not an event. It takes a lot of patience to go through the process. It may very well turn out that you are not ready to buy at this time. Use the process to develop a plan  purchase in the future if you are not ready yet. Many plans take a year to develop. This is even true or more so for some very qualified people but there are complex financial situations such as long term businesses involved.