Hi Everyone, I hope you had a nice holiday and were able to spend time with family and friends. Most of the people I have spoken with seemed to miss that extra week between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I know it had my wife and I scrambling trying to get everything done on time.

2013 to me was a bounce back year for Real Estate in our area. I know personally it was one of my best years ever. In speaking with other agents in my office, all of them told me they had a much better year. I also spoke to my office manager, and by August 1 we had closed as many transactions as we did in all of 2012.
Brokers and lenders are all bullish on 2014. I think the keys are as always, pricing your home correctly and making it look like it’s the best of what’s out there in the same price range. Also, keeping your home looking sharp and ready for a moments notice showing helps everyone.

Prices are firming and ticking up slightly in our area. Hopefully it’s the beginning of a slow and steady recovery.
Now that January is here we tend to see less buyers, but they are a more serious group. If you’re looking at homes when it’s frigid out, usually it’s for good reason. I love this time of year because if you get a lead generally it’s a good one. I also like listing homes this time of year, I know many of you think, “Hey I want to wait for the spring market,” but in the spring – guess what – everyone puts there home on the market. And the more homes available means more competition.

I know I sound like a broken record, but again, price it right and it should sell. Houses in the higher price range do take longer to sell, of course due to the fact that you are working with a smaller pool of qualified buyers. Generally a $200,000 home will sell quicker than a $600,000 home.

If you’re a buyer, there are still nice deals out there, look around. Rates continue to be historically low, sellers are still willing to negotiate, and we all want to put a deal together.

Here are some statistics from Westchester Putnam MLS regarding the number of homes currently on the market in Pawling in a given price range, and the number of solds in the last 6 months as of 12/30/13

$200,000 to $300,000 24 Active on the market and 13 Sold
$300,000 to $400,000 20 Active on the market and 9 Sold
$400,000 to $500,000 7 Active on the market and 1 Sold
$500,000 to $600,000 7 Active on the market and 0 Sold
$600,000 to $1,000,000 11 Active on the market and 3 Sold

In Summary, I think the worst is now behind us and the market is improving. Everyone I have spoken to in the business thinks that 2014 will be an even better year than 2013. Time will tell, and for everyone’s sake I hope so. I tend to be a bit more cautious than most but I must say I am very happy with the activity, sales, and slow but steady recovery of the last year.

Good Luck everyone, and stay warm!