2008 created a lot of fear and, for some, a lot of stress.  But we will all get through it without living under a bridge as a result.  Real estate is still the best investment on Earth.  Like any investment, someone has to get bad news.  But that’s what the newspapers hope for.  Without bad news, there wouldn’t be anything to print.  My key learning for the year is that given sufficient education, people will accomplish great things.  The greatest accomplishments are possible when competition is scarce which is when others are running away.  Do you run away from opportunities? 

Banks have the bulk of listings on the market and there are more coming.  December was a big month for Notices of Default (NODs) which means most of those will be foreclosures (REOs) in 2-4 months.  Municipalities want to levy fines on owners (Banks) who neglect their homes.  Buyers who buy REOs can possibly qualify for a tax credit.  Buyers who buy NEWLY constructed homes, it is proposed, will also qualify for a tax credit.  The direct lenders are trying to rebuild their performing asset bases.  Mortgage rates are tremendous.   The math is simple:  Money is available, sellers are motivated, and buyers are getting deals and incentives.  Some of the tax credits will be temporary, however.  Don’t sit on the fence and watch this opportunity pass you by. 

Our region has not been this affordable for over 9 years.  And affordability is key.  This is a two-edged sword though.  As prices decline, so does buyer confidence.  More people stay on the sidelines.  It’s the demand that we need to spur.  Congress has ideas.  Some are good ideas and others need to be scrapped.  Because the economy goes in cycles like real estate, my opinion is that this is a necessary correction and we will come out MUCH better on the other side as long as we have a memory of the causes.  Our current market is full of great opportunities and for the right buyer in the right mindset, it’s a perfect time to buy.  Investors are getting product at deep discounts, doing some cosmetic fixes, and finding property managers who get renters.  The tax benefits can add to the bottom line (talk to a qualified CPA) which should be taken into account when crunching the numbers.  Cash flow is king right now and my system of locating, previewing, and communicating great homes is not matched in Northern California.  In fact, I’ve not found ANYONE with this level of research and analysis.  Go to my Investor Portal (www.BuyHomesInSac.com) and learn how you can start. 

Part of my research entails zip code trending.  I have charted years of price trending for over 45 zip codes in Sacramento, Placer, and El Dorado Counties.  When someone says “real estate is local”, “local” can mean “down to the street/neighborhood/zip code”.  My trending analysis shows that some zip codes can go nowhere but UP.  These zip codes are great targets.  Other zip codes still have some decrease left in them.  When the news media mention more declines, ask them “which zip codes”.  They can’t tell you.  

What the indicators cannot show are the pending legislative changes.  Bank motivation is going up.  Demand is increasing. My analysis is similar to what is used in commodity trading (real estate is a commodity).  While most useful to an investor, understanding the market is always helpful.  This is a tool to predict the NEXT data point.  Explaining history should be done but it’s the NEXT action that makes a difference.  Refer to this month’s charts and note where the Momentum indicator crosses it’s zero axis (red axis & typeface) — it has been a predictor of the change in actual volumes.

Let me help you proceed prudently.  No investment is risk-free, by definition.  My promises to you:  1) Give you an education in real estate.  2) Add value to your life.  3) Be the best Realtor I can be for you and anyone you refer to me.  You can see that these are not just goals but, rather, promises.  If I’m falling down on any of these, please let me know and give me a chance to correct it.  YOU are the reason I chose this career.