New Home Sales at 5 year high!

30 Second Real Estate Update

New Homes Sales at highest level since 2008 and consumer confidence highest level in 5 years.  These are all good news for Current Homeowners and potential Sellers in this market, but there are indicators on the horizon that these large increases won't last.

Interest Rates are rising. We have certainly seen the bottom, at least for now.  As rates continue to rise, it will make home ownership less affordable relatively speaking.  This will cause some pressure on the demand side.

Investor appetite also appears to be fading.  In the markets like Southern California where we have seen a dramatic rise in values, that eats into returns for investors who are wanting to buy and hold.  It also diminishes opportunity for those who were in the market of buying and flipping.  This will also impact the demand side of the business.

These are just two of the things that should begin to stabilize market values.  So, if you are thinking about selling, now is still a really good time to do so.  Call me to set up a private, one-on-one real estate strategy session today.

Real Estate Values Up 22% from 2 years ago

Real Estate Values are up 22% in Ventura County from 2 years ago.  There are many reasons why that is the case which we will evaluate over the next few weeks.  Have a great real estate day!

http://viddy.it/zOIM1w

What if?

My focus for this blog is usually to update my friends, family, clients and others on what is happening in the world of real estate.  But today, I just felt moved to share a different topic with everyone.  

I just had the chance to listen to the new single by my friend @johnondrasik called "What If".  He is the classic American story. His whole life he had a dream! He stayed focus on that dream, worked hard and has now found success...as a Father! Oh yes, he's also a successful musician and an example to us all through his lyrics and his actions. I am proud of him and am not surprised at his latest song.  As art goes, it can always be interpreted in many ways, but the theme is consistent with a book I am reading now called "Peace Be Upon You" by Zachary Karabell. In this book he describes so many times in human history when Muslims, Christians and Jews have come together, in peace, to make their lives and the lives of those around them a better. He describes in these times were these very different groups have come together to live in peace. He believes that "there is a possibility of peace and constructive coexistence between Muslims, Christians, and Jews - and more to the point, between believing Muslims, Christians, and Jews who, in their heart of hearts, think that their creed and their creed alone reflects God's will."

We are a divided country in a divided world. We segregate ourselves into pockets of those that are most familiar with us and to us.  Families, religions, nationalities, race, color, political affiliations, economics, sexuality, education, etc. Some of these groups outline very real differences in how and what people believe, but many times these differences are perceptions that have been developed over time that take hold in our hearts and in our minds and in our societies and they become very difficult to break. John's new song asks a new question. "What if?" Maybe this question has been around for all of human history and this is what has caused these walls to break down over time.  But, in these times where it seems there is discontent and separation at every turn, it feels like a new question. "What if?" "What if I had your heart? What if you wore my scars? What if you were me and what if I were you? What if I cried with your eyes?" 

I believe that this is it. These are the things that bring us together. We pump the same blood, we cry the same tears, we scar the same scars. We all want to love and be loved. All the rest is just noise. What would happen in this world if we spent more time focussing on the things that we have in common. Start each new day believing that my brother, my neighbor, my co-worker, my enemy, my congregation have so many things in common. What would happen in this world? 

Is it possible? Is it possible to come together first before we begin to see where things are so different? I know its utopia and I know that I am a dreamer, but I believe its possible. We will always fight for the things that we believe in. We will always stand up to protect those that we love. But if first we focus on the things that we have in common, it might change our approach, it might change our world. So I join @johnondrasik by encouraging you to "Take a chance for a minute, jump in it, imagine if you asked yourself for a minute...What if?" 

You can find John's new song on iTunes at http://ow.ly/lXuz2 OR at http://www.fiveforfighting.com 

Have a great day!