Selling your home in today's market has gotten easier in the last month or so, and harder at the same time. Easier in that the banks are beginning to slowly loosen the underwriting and appraising issues that have been plaguing them since the crash.  Harder in the best way because if you have a house for sale at the right price right now--it will be sold quickly.  The key issue here is getting the home priced right and prepared for the sale correctly.  Make sure your Realtor® shows you the marketing plan.  If the marketing plan does not include weekly blogs, video and photo updates you will be missing the vast majority of buyers.

It is clear over the last couple of years that the industry has changed.  I think for the better.  Old school agents think it is about thier agency and they are wrong.  Lazy agents think it is about putting it on the MLS, planting a sign and  having an open house or two will get it done.  They are wrong.  To get a house sold today you absolutely need to have an internet marketing strategy in place before you put the house on the market. The agent should have no problem showing you the agenda and updating you weekly on the progress.

Communication is biggest complaint Seller's have with their agents.  Communication with the buying public is the single best way to gather the eyes and minds of the consumer.  If your agent is not great at communicating to you and to the public your house will languish on the market.  There really is a difference between agents just like there is in every other profession out there.

Buyers are still in pig heaven out there right now. Prices are low, interest rates are historically low, but things are changing.  In the last couple of months the market has come alive.  If you have found a good house at a good price to buy you can expect to have competition when you bid. Representing both buyers and sellers I have had multiple situation the last two months where there are multiple offers at and near the asking price.  Homes that are staged to sell with a competative price determined by the competition on the market at the same time will get purchased in less than 90 days, sometimes in the first week.

Be prepared when you go out looking.  Have your pre-approval letter from the bank in hand.  Buyers today can spend months looking on-line before contacting an agent.  They can compare and contrast listings right on line so the Seller really needs to know how their house compares and price it accordingly.  Keep in mind that what you find on the internet is not always accurate. Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, Redfin are all excellent tools, but they pull only web based content from the MLS and depending on the way the MLS allows that content to be re-distributed to the consumer sites it can be inaccurate.

As you get close to your purchase, or you find an excellent agent who has your interests in mind you should work with a professional.  A buyers agent should cost you nothing as the commission is paid by the Seller. For this reason alone you should work with an agent.  I had three deals in the last month where I worked as the Dual Agent. This means that I represent both sides in the transaction. This is old school--buyers agents came recently to the market. A good agent can provide you accurate information about the market and that information is the same whether you are the buyer or seller.

The days of the investor leading the industry in purchases may be giving way to the individual consumers. There is still a good amount of shadow inventory, especially in a Judicial State like Massachusetts.  There will be more foreclosures and short sales on the market. These homes are likely to be in a more delapidated condition which are attractive to Investors who will put the property under agreement at 20-30% below market value.  Right now I am seeing a 20% underprice as the average investors are getting. This allows the investor to put in 10-15% or less back into the home and sell it for market value.

The investor has played a huge and important role in the growth  and stability of the housing market the last couple of years.  Deals were everywhere.  Right now there are fewer of these deals and the investors are finding the great houses harder to find.  If you are an investor looking to get homes under agreement it is in your interest to find a Realtor® who is tied into the pre-market listing inventory.  An agent who understands Probate and can acquire homes for you before they come on the market.