If you are a prospective real estate buyer or seller, do you want the truth? Do you want a "head in the clouds" version of the truth? Or would you prefer to be lied to so you feel better about your situation?
I know these seem like silly questions, right?
Well they are not, because we witness human behavior mixed with real estate every day. We are big at watching the stats and dealing with the reality of the Jacksonville Real Estate market, no matter what that reality may be. We can not change the current Jacksonville real estate market by spinning it into a story that would be prettier to tell or a story that will massage someone's feelings. We decided a while ago, despite an industry push to always spin pretty, to always tell the truth whether it makes the prospective buyer or seller feel good or not.
When we talk to a seller, we do not tell the seller what they want to hear unless it coincides with reality. If we lie to make a seller feel good, who are we helping? If we tell you that your home is worth $300,000 when the reality is that the comparable sales indicate it is only worth $250,000...are we helping you? What can you anticipate happening in that type of situation? Do you think you will sell your home in this market for $300,000 when the other sales show that $250,000 is what it is worth? Then why would you try? Yet some sellers will chose the agent that says they can sell it for $300,000 (and there will always be somebody who will) when there are no sales even close to that price in recent history.
If you don't have to sell your home right now, then you should not. That is the truth. That being said, we can not predict when it might get better for sellers. We would like to think that the market is going to turn around dramatically next week...but we would not be honest if we made you any type of promise that this is the case.
If you have to sell your home, please be sure you chose a great, honest agent to do the job. Otherwise, the job may never be done and you may end up in worse circumstances than you are in right now.
Buyers--do not buy a home anticipating instant appreciation. There are no guarantees. A bargain today could be grossly overpaid for tomorrow. Or it may not. Buy your home to live in, and make sure it is something you can afford. Ignore industry reports. Be realistic. No one can predict the real estate market. Don't listen to some one who tells you they can. Demand comps before you put in an offer. Educate yourself and make your decisions for the right reasons.
