NAR Leadership Summit: Elizabeth Mendenhall

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Purchase Price V Interest Rate

Today's buyer is facing a conundrum of epic proportions. It is obvious to most that in many areas of Southern California, prices have flattened out. Luxury sales have slowed dramatically. And, all indicators are that sometime in the near future, we will see a slight adjustment in home values. For that reason, many buyers are thinking that the wise move would be to hold off their purchase. And, most likely get the home they want for less money. And, it is true that historically this would have been a good strategy to employ. Today, I am not so sure. In fact, I am telling my friends and family that today, may be the very best time to buy. That there may not be better time to purchase in their lifetime. Let me explain. While it is true that home values are at near record highs for most of the South-land. It is also true that interest rates are still in the high three percent range for a thirty year fixed rate mortgage. And while property values may drop slightly sometime in the ...
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Old Solutions for Today's Problems

Today, I read an article in the newspaper that said Congress had passed a bill asking the banks to rent out their foreclosed homes while they waited to market the homes for sale. The idea is that this will stabilize neighborhoods impacted by a high number of foreclosures. And, in doing so preventing further erosion in values. On the surface this seems like a reasonable request. One well founded in reason. And, this is one possible solution to a concern certain to impact neighborhoods across the country. However the real solution is not in a temporary fix like this. Instead, the solution  is to see that these loans become performing loans once again. Now before I go any further, I must say that the ideas, I am about to discuss are not my own. In fact, they come from Bruce Norris (of whom I spoke last week). As I said in my last article, I have a tremendous respect for  Bruce. His understanding of our market borders on genius. And, having followed his projections for the past f...
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Timing The Market

One of the most difficult things to do in the real estate industry is to accurately time the market. Many have tried, many more claim to have the secret, but the truth is that no one can determine when a market has peaked or hit bottom (except by sheer luck). In fact by the time the media gets around to telling you we have hit the top (or bottom) of a real estate cycle, more often than not we are already well on our way in the other direction. And waiting (for the peak or bottom) can often cause more financial hardship then jumping in. If you will indulge me for a moment, I will explain. I have often said that the best time to sell is just before the peak. During that period, you maximize your profits while facing the least amount of competition. Remember 2007? Once the general public realized that the market had peaked, everyone who was inclined to sell listed their home. And in doing so, ran head on into the law of supply and demand. You see, when supply exceeds demand, buyers dictat...
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