I'm sure you all have heard about staging a vacant home for sale. The idea of staging is to add rented furnitures to help prospects envision what the house could look like and how each space could be used. I'm not talking about conventional staging. I'm talking about a different kind of staging - virtual staging.
Unlike conventional staging, virtual staging uses computer technology to add furniture and other decor to photos, and even change wall colors. Since many buyers today narrow their showings based on online photos, virtual staging is an economic way to show the potential of a vacant property. "While there will always be strong demand for traditional home staging, this virtual staging technology is an affordable solution for cash-strapped sellers".
Check out some of the virtual staging websites www.obeo.com, www.punchsoftware.com, www.belightsoft.com.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Bye Summer. Hello Autumn!
Yesterday was the first day of autumn. Time goes fast when you are having fun. Time goes fast when you are in real estate business.
It's good to live in a place that has four seasons. Washington has four seasons. Visitors vacation here during the sunny summer months want to come back. Visitors visit here during the rainy autumn and winter seasons don't. Rest of locals reside here have to take it all, rain or shine, good or bad.
The first sign of early autumn is that autumn leave colors are turning from their young and lively green into vibrate burning red, fading away into mature golden and yellow, falling on ground, and finally taken away by rain water to rivers and streams. I updated my website today. Hope it captured the sign of autumn.
It's good to live in a place that has four seasons. Washington has four seasons. Visitors vacation here during the sunny summer months want to come back. Visitors visit here during the rainy autumn and winter seasons don't. Rest of locals reside here have to take it all, rain or shine, good or bad.
The first sign of early autumn is that autumn leave colors are turning from their young and lively green into vibrate burning red, fading away into mature golden and yellow, falling on ground, and finally taken away by rain water to rivers and streams. I updated my website today. Hope it captured the sign of autumn.
Friday, September 18, 2009
PING Real Estate New Office in Union
After almost one year's waiting and much anticipation, My PING Real Estate office was finally moved to the new office in the Union Square last week, just in time to joint efforts with other businessness in the Square to have hosted an Open House this Wed Sept 16 to showcase our businesses. We had a great turnout. A big thanks to you all who have come to the Open House and visited my new office.
Union http://www.visitunion.com/ is a central gateway to Shelton, Belfair, Hoodsport, Allyn and Grapeview. As the only real estate office in Union, my business will be an addition to the fast-growing business community. My new office location is in the Union Square on high traffic Dalby Road. The businesses in the same Square are Hood Canal Communications, Post Office, Church (soon to move out), PING Real Estate, Union Deli, Dogwood Construction, Falcon Financial, Union Salon/Spa, Health Fitness Center. It's about 1/4 mile from the 4-star Alderbrook Resort and Spa http://www.alderbrookresort.com/, Texo Gas Station and Alderbrook Golf & Yacht Club http://www.alderbrookgolf.com/golf/proto/alderbrookgolf/. Union as a small resort town is known for its spetacular moutain and water views, recreational and artsy activities.
Union http://www.visitunion.com/ is a central gateway to Shelton, Belfair, Hoodsport, Allyn and Grapeview. As the only real estate office in Union, my business will be an addition to the fast-growing business community. My new office location is in the Union Square on high traffic Dalby Road. The businesses in the same Square are Hood Canal Communications, Post Office, Church (soon to move out), PING Real Estate, Union Deli, Dogwood Construction, Falcon Financial, Union Salon/Spa, Health Fitness Center. It's about 1/4 mile from the 4-star Alderbrook Resort and Spa http://www.alderbrookresort.com/, Texo Gas Station and Alderbrook Golf & Yacht Club http://www.alderbrookgolf.com/golf/proto/alderbrookgolf/. Union as a small resort town is known for its spetacular moutain and water views, recreational and artsy activities.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Website for First Time Home Buyers
I want to share with you the following website. It has all the information you will need for first time home buyers, tax credit and information on how to work well in this market. If you are a first-time home buyer or know someone who is a first-time home buyer, please urge them to check out this website.
http://wahomeowners.com/
http://wahomeowners.com/
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
2009 August Sales Statistics
Hope you all had a relaxing Labor Day weekend! Below are the NWMLS sales statistics for August residential listings in Mason County:
Number of Listing Comparing August 2008:
Active Listings: 131 vs 141 - Down 17%
Pending Listings: 99 vs 86 - Up 10%
Sold Listings: 54 vs 64 - Down 16%
Average Price Comparing August 2008:
Active Listing Median Price: $239,900 vs $260,000 - Down 8%
Pending Sale Listing Median Price: $185,000 vs $189,000 - Down 2%
Sold Listing Median Price: $161,000 vs $201,500 - Down 20%
Number of Listing Comparing August 2008:
Active Listings: 131 vs 141 - Down 17%
Pending Listings: 99 vs 86 - Up 10%
Sold Listings: 54 vs 64 - Down 16%
Average Price Comparing August 2008:
Active Listing Median Price: $239,900 vs $260,000 - Down 8%
Pending Sale Listing Median Price: $185,000 vs $189,000 - Down 2%
Sold Listing Median Price: $161,000 vs $201,500 - Down 20%
NWMLS News Release for August Statistics
Below are quoted from the published NWMLS news release for August Statistics:
Pending sales around Western Washington during August jumped nearly 21 percent from a year ago and inventory dropped more than 18 percent, according to new figures from Northwest Multiple Listing Service. MLS member-brokers say those indicators, along with signs of stabilizing prices, set the stage for brisk activity in the next few months as first-time buyers try to take advantage of the Nov. 30 deadline for tax credits.
On the downside, Estey said many transactions are missing their closing date "for seemingly irrational reasons." Last minute demands from lenders are common and final underwriting reviews are causing delays, she noted, adding, "Inexperienced appraisers are gumming up the works as well." She urges first-time buyers who want to capture the $8,000 tax credit to plan ahead and allow for delays.
On a cautionary note, Beeson expects a new round of bank owned properties to come on the market later this year and into next year. "This inventory will have to be absorbed over time and no one knows for sure just how this will influence prices," he acknowledged, adding, "The best guess is it will be negative, although we have experienced many foreclosures already on the market. . .with no appreciable drop in prices since the beginning of the year."
Summing up last month’s activity, Sparks of CBB, said, "A healthy, balanced market is in everyone’s best interest, and the August report tells us we’re definitely getting closer."
Pending sales around Western Washington during August jumped nearly 21 percent from a year ago and inventory dropped more than 18 percent, according to new figures from Northwest Multiple Listing Service. MLS member-brokers say those indicators, along with signs of stabilizing prices, set the stage for brisk activity in the next few months as first-time buyers try to take advantage of the Nov. 30 deadline for tax credits.
On the downside, Estey said many transactions are missing their closing date "for seemingly irrational reasons." Last minute demands from lenders are common and final underwriting reviews are causing delays, she noted, adding, "Inexperienced appraisers are gumming up the works as well." She urges first-time buyers who want to capture the $8,000 tax credit to plan ahead and allow for delays.
On a cautionary note, Beeson expects a new round of bank owned properties to come on the market later this year and into next year. "This inventory will have to be absorbed over time and no one knows for sure just how this will influence prices," he acknowledged, adding, "The best guess is it will be negative, although we have experienced many foreclosures already on the market. . .with no appreciable drop in prices since the beginning of the year."
Summing up last month’s activity, Sparks of CBB, said, "A healthy, balanced market is in everyone’s best interest, and the August report tells us we’re definitely getting closer."
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