Residential property exchange is an emotionally loaded transaction.  I equate it to selling your first bike, that scratched up ‘The Wall’ album, or shopping for a wedding dress, your first marathon shoes, or THE backpack for a trip to Europe.

The statistics for last month couldn’t exemplify this more.  The amount of listings are down substantially year over year, but sold transactions are UP.   The recession weary have decided to sell their starter home and purchase more square footage so they may grow their family or purchase closer to work and clientele in order to ride the cruiser bike equipped with saddlebags and coffee mug holder to meetings.  Empty nest-ers are selling the extra square footage and purchasing close to where they spend spare time.

Real Estate Brokers and their sellers are partnering to take great care in preparing their homes for sale, creating a sense of place for the next generation.  ‘Window dressing’ your home, making it look, smell, and feel like a new home for a new owner is vital in the market success.  Here’s a blog for 8 quick fixes to help you get your home ready to show.

Lives continue to be lived.  Stagnant we are not.

Cruising through the January 2011 Market Stats for Ada County I found our overall supply is down to 5.24 months supply for homes under 500K.  If you’re a seller in this price range, define this as a broad view of good news.  An average, healthy market is 6 months supply, meaning the market is low in supply for homes under 500K.

Please take note, average price of homes sold is still down from December 2010 and year over year.

Now, if your a buyer and have 500K and upwards of a cool Mill you need to put somewhere, it’s time to buy in Boise, Idaho.  There is a beautiful inventory to choose from and you’ll have the market negotiating power.

Finally getting December 2010 Market Stats for Ada and Canyon Counties in Idaho posted on the blog.  A good indicator that I was behind, the neighbors are taking down their Christmas lights today.

The aggregated data shows inventory is down, sold homes are up from last year at the same time and available homes on market equal a 5.5 month supply.

Buyers are now having a difficult time purchasing at their leisure.  When a desirable home hits the market, competing offers are the norm.  Sellers know though, you must still appraise and buyers are still negotiating low and prices are at considerable lower threshold than those in the beginning of 2009.

Sellers and potential sellers, there is a shadow market out there.  Shadow markets consist of homes not yet on the market but will come in waves from a variety of sources; banks and investors to name a few.  If you’re thinking of waiting to market in the Spring for a higher price, data suggests you will have extra competition.  Sell now if you’re ready, willing, and able.