Real Estate Market in Ulster County New York

I sell real estate in Ulster County. I love selling real estate in Ulster County. I also consider myself the type of person who thinks or envisions her cup half full. I also do not give out what I don't want coming back, that is my religion. So, that said it is my humble opinion, based on all that I have been reading to include Standard Poor's, my peer website called activerain.com, which compiles blogs from Realtors, bankers and other in the real estate industry, and other info that this year will see a deluge of foreclosures that will bring home prices down more. That coupled with the not so good report on unemployment going up again leaves me to believe if you need to sell now you must go out of your way to make your home the best it can be at the best price you can sell it at. I also think now is the time. We do not have an overabundance of great homes at great prices on the market right now( again this is my humble opinion) as people tend to wait until Spring to put their homes on the market.

So here are my simple steps to ready your house-

1- Clear out, clear out clear out. Get as much as you can out of the house the basement, the garage, the yard etc. as you possibly can. Less is more. Think model home.

2- Paint is the most inexpensive home improvement. It is hard enough to think you need to lower your house price to be competitive and SELL, you don't want to spend money unnecessarily. If your house is totally dated expect that you will not be getting today's prices for yesterdays goods. Paint and clean it to sparkle. Accept that you have a dated house and price it accordingly

3-Hire a great real estate company. That said, our company, Westwood Metes & Bounds has been the top selling company(based on mls statistics) for 17 years in a row. You don't get there by accident.

4- Hire a great real estate sales agent. Get numbers of her current and recent clients and ask how that person took care of them.

5- Price your house right. Look at the recent comps your real estate agent gives you to help establish price. Don't think about how Betty down the block got that great price two years ago. If you are paying for a professional real estate agent trust their knowledge. Understand that they work on commission so if they price your house higher they will make more so if they price your house lower than you think your castle will sell for ----hello--- there must be reason.

The one thing positive to think about is when you do sell, if you are buying another house, it will probably be a lateral move as the same circumstances will apply to the home you are buying and again my reco is to get a great real estate agent that will do a comparative market analysis on the home you are buying to make sure its value is there( also remember to to have a contingency that the appraisal shall meet or exceed the selling price so if the appraisal comes in lower you have a way to exit sale or renegotiate).


That all said:


I do think that now is a good time to put your house on the market. I do think this is going to be a challenging year. I also think if you price your house right and present it right, it may take longer(they are estimating 5 months now) it will sell. So good luck and call for any help from me at 845-417-1314- Remember a good Realtor is worth every penny you pay them.