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While trying to keep up during the holidays, are you thinking about your next Real Estate move? Probably not…This time of year we always see a drastic down shift in numbers due to the regular seasonal change in the focus of most people. This lack of movement doesn’t, however, mean people are planning for the future. As always, people are dreaming about their next move. How can you be prepared? A few important ideas to keep in mind: statistic lag and preparations. If you look at any chart over the last 10 years or so, January and February always look like low sale/low price months. However, a deeper look at these numbers show that these months start the spring time rise in sales and prices. This means that while a chart shows slow numbers, there isn’t a statistic showing what consumers are actually doing; having those conversations about buying and selling and doing all the preparations to buy or sell. This lag time prep work then shows up in March/April/May as all of those homes that were listed and then put into escrow in January and February actually close escrow which puts their statistic onto the chart. January and February can actually be a good time to sell and buy because there will be less competition as there will be in the spring and summer months. The 2nd topic thats important to consider is your preparation. If you are planning on selling what can you do now to make your property look its best? Call the contractors and take a trip to Home Depot. If you are planning on buying who can you talk to to nail down your plan? Call your Realtor and lender to be sure you have the right ideas.
ONE: This below market summary is Camarillo focused, however, it is indicative of all markets in Ventura County right now. If you have a specific city you would like more information on, let me know.

TWO: Here are the current mortgage rates over the last few months. Trending downward!

Investors
There are certainly opportunities out there and chances for you to create a good investment. If you have cash you are positioning yourself even better than before to get a good deal. As I mentioned, there are many challenges with getting homes to appraise right now. If you buy all cash there is typically no appraisal which is very attractive to sellers. There is RISK but over a long enough time frame you WILL make money. Let me know if you want to chat about your options and how to find that good deal.
Buyers
Timing is important to consider in a larger perspective…if you are afraid that the market will drop in the short term then your stress level will probably be very high and be incredibly hard for you to actually purchase. But if you have a longer term perspective of growing your equity and your value in your home over a period of time of 5+ years, then our area of Ventura County is unbeatable. This upcoming spring you can EXPECT for rates to drop even more…which can create some great opportunities.
Sellers
Choosing what upgrades and fixes to do with your home is an important decision so you can increase your value without breaking your budget. By doing a few small things it can make a big difference. Mulch. Yes, mulch. New mulch is quite cheap but it makes the areas around bushes and planters look much more appealing to first time viewers of your home. Curb appeal is real. Paint and general clean up of the home can also put an important finished look for your home. A seller must understand the psychology of a buyer…if a buyer is going to pay a lot of their hard earned money into your home shouldn’t it look worth it? Talk with me to help you decide what is right for you.
If you liked these stats please reach out and let me know about it! If you have any questions about the Real Estate market or the process of buying or selling a home please contact me. Contact me today if you are ready to buy or sell a home.
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Cheers!