That comment prompted me to write Five Rules to Remember When Dealing with Real Estate Agents
Rule Number One
Real estate agents will always say "Now is a Great Time to Buy" no matter what the trend of prices, mortgage rates, or inventory.
Here are some phrases to expect depending on current conditions.
- Prices are going up, better act fast.
- Alternatively, prices are falling, homes won't last long at these prices.
- Interest rates are going up, better buy quick before you get priced out.
- Alternatively, mortgage rates are falling, they won't go much lower.
- Inventory is huge. It's a buyers' market.
- Alternatively, Inventory is shrinking fast. Don't let your dream home pass you by.
Rule Number Two
Unless you specifically have a buyers' agent negotiating on your behalf, the agent represents the seller.
Rule Number Three
The agent has only two missions:
- To get you to buy something
- To get you to pay as much as possible so the agent make the largest commission possible
Rule Number Four
As a result of rules one, two, and three, it is imperative to be skeptical about anything positive your agent says.
Rule Number Five
It's equally important, if not more important, to take cues from what the agent does not say. For example, if the agent does not say anything about the school district, it is probably a poorly rated school district. Also, don't expect the agent to tell you if a crack house is next door, gangs have taken over a neighboring block, the tap water tastes like sulfur, or the street floods every April. At most, agents will only disclose what the law says they must.
How Big is the Pool of Eligible Home Buyers?
Here is a set of questions that will explain what is happening now.
How many people ....
- Don't have a house?
- Want a house?
- Can afford a house, upkeep, and property taxes?
- Have a needed cash cushion in the bank?
- Have a decent down payment for a house?
- Have a salary that can support interest and principal payments even at these low rates?
- Are not scared s*less about the loss of a job, assuming they do want a house and meet the rest of the conditions?
I just happen to have the answer.
New Home Sales at 1963 Levels
The Los Angeles Times reports New home sales drop to six-month low
Sales of newly built homes fell in July to the lowest level in six months, as the nation's housing market continues to struggle.Is the eligible buyers' pool getting bigger or smaller?
Newly constructed single-family homes sold at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 298,000, putting the industry on a pace to post the lowest annual sales since the Commerce Department began keeping data in 1963.
The trend says smaller, in spite of falling interest rates and falling prices. Many items on my 7 point list are more important than interest rates, notably 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7.
That is the psychology of the situation and I see little reason for it to change until the labor market changes first.
Mike "Mish" Shedlock
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com
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Mike "Mish" Shedlock is a registered investment advisor representative for SitkaPacific Capital Management. Sitka Pacific is an asset management firm whose goal is strong performance and low volatility, regardless of market direction. Visit http://www.sitkapacific.com/account_management.html to learn more about wealth management and capital preservation strategies of Sitka Pacific.
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