IT IS NOT THE BUYERS' MARKET!

Although the media screams that it is the buyers' market, I have to convince every one of my new clients that IT IS INDEED NOT true. On the opposite, it is very closely controlled by the large banks-sellers that were "saved" by the Government, aka "We the People", from being illiquid and not able to lend. They control the inventory and the prices. Yes, oh yes, it is, unfortunately, the truth about Real Estate nowadays. Banks control buyers AND sellers through short sales. So, here you have it- full control of the marketplace. Don't take me wrong- you still get a low price and a great deal but you DO NOT get to negotiate your terms or conditions; on the opposite, if you do not play by banks' rules, you don't get to buy a bank-owned home or a short sale, which are the majority of the inventory.

Clients often ask me why banks do this and don't do that. The scream in despair: "It is unfair!" Who said anything about business was fair? The law protects a buyer or a seller to some extent but the rest is being set by the marketplace. At this particular moment, the banks are the monopoly in the market and they control prices, terms and who buys and who doesn't. Whether you agree with it or not.

It is not surprising whatsoever. As a matter of fact, the market is ALWAYS controlled by someone. It is not a free commerce like the Government tries to fool us into thinking. It was set up like that and remains till now. It is controlled by powerful group of people that make money manipulating the unaware general public. I have nothing against them and I am not preaching they are bad, I am just trying to portray the situation as it is.

There's a great quote that was said by James Garfield, the 20th President of USA, back in 1881:

"Whoever controls the volume of money in our country is absolute master of all industry and commerce...when you realize that the entire system is very easily controlled, one way or another, by a few powerful men at the top, you will not have to be told how periods of inflation and depression originate."

I think it just explains it all.

UNREALISTIC SELLERS????

So, I received a phone call recently from a lady asking me to do CMA (comparative market analysis) because she wanted to find out the value of her home. As any Realtor would do, I've looked up the comps of what has sold in the neighborhood in the last 90 days. Surely, there were few foreclosures that went for $230,000 -$250,000 for the same floorplan. Once I called the lady back and told her that he home was worth about $230,000-$250,000 in today's market she practically told me that I was out of my mind.

NOW the question is: where is the logic??????? Her reaction: "We bought this house in 2003 for $355,000! We were selling it in 2007 for $615,000! That's impossible!"

So what? Did it sell in 2007 for $615k? NO, it did not....you know why??? In case you missed the recent news, the housing market was ballooned and recently crashed. In case you missed that part and are not aware of the current situation - the foreclosed properties (and some short sales) drive the market values.

A market value is NOT what you paid in .... year, it is NOT what you are wishing to obtain, it is NOT what your neighbor/relative/mom/dad is assuming it to be, it IS what a willing buyer would pay in a competitive market. Therefore, a market value fluctuates depending on the amount of sellers & buyers, current inventory and its pricing. OF course, there are many more factors involved but ultimately this is what drives any market.