Blog :: 10-2008

Don't Believe all the Bad News

By Brian French
Posted Wednesday, Oct 29, 2008

Have you noticed how negative the print media and television new's anchors have been recently concerning the economy? Well I certainly have and Iwonder to myself, do you think they might be creating some of the misconceptions out there? Sure things are not what we would like them to be, but on a local level, the real estate market is prime to be taken advantage of. We have a better than average supply of homes (homes for sale between $100,000 and $250,000) with better than average interest rates and people can make great purchases at this time. Don't believe that you can't get a loan. We have a number of local lenders that are more than happy to loan to a good qualified customer. Are you trying to time the market? If so, you are gambling a potential good thing away.

Time to Exercise

By Brian French
Posted Thursday, Oct 23, 2008

Well now that summer is over you might start thinking about either starting an exercise program or extend your current one. If you are like me, you might have gained a few pounds over the summer from all the barbecuing and back yard get togethers. If this is accurate, now may be the time to shed a few extra pounds before the cold weather really sets in and you don't feel like going outside. Remember, before you know it, Halloween candy will be on your counter followed up with turkey and all the fixings not far after that. The way that i look at it, if i can really sharpen my workouts right now, it will give me some room to grow over the Holidays. I guess i shouldn't think that way, but i know the reality of the cycle.

The Real Estate Debate

By Brian French
Posted Tuesday, Oct 21, 2008

After watchingthe political debates it made me stop and think what people must be thinking about the current real estate market. On one hand, we have the group that thinks it is better to wait and not purchase to see if they can time the market, and on the other hand, we have those individuals that are out looking to purchase their dream home at these reduced prices. The sideliners would tell those people to wait, prices will come down more. In truth, they may come down more in some areas of the country ,but what you are risking is the rise in interest rates to pay for these homes. In the end, you may pay more in the long run because of the increased interest you will pay over thelife of the loan. These past couple of weeks we have seen interest rates rise at least a half of a percent. Is this the beginning of a trend ? I don't know but whatI do know is, that there are some incredible deals out there right now when the interest rates are hovering at 6.5% or less. In fact, I am in the process of buying a property right now that will be a great investment in the years to come. Prices will rise again they always have.

The Economy of Real Estate

By Brian French
Posted Thursday, Oct 16, 2008

To say that these past few weeks have been an emotional roller coaster ride would be a huge understatement to say the least. With that said, I have had a front and center seat to what is happening in our local real estate market. First and foremost, the interest rates are extremely volatile right now, although all in all, they are still extremely attractive, although once this past week they did reach 7% only to come down to 6.875% the next day. The price adjustments some people have made are extremely exciting if you are looking to buy. The inventory and choices are incredible and most Sellers want to make a deal work. The market right now favors the Buyers. When was the last time that happened? A long, long time ago. So if you are trying to time this market, I would suggest getting on board soon, before a rise in interest rates eliminates any small savings you may see in pricing.

Congratulations to our top agents in September!

By Brian French
Posted Monday, Oct 13, 2008

Kelly Lydia

Kelly Farr and Lydia Wisloski Sales Associates with CENTURY 21 Advantage in South Burlington, were named the offices top sales associate in the month of September.

We are pleased to recognizeKelly and Lydia with this honor. Their competitive intelligence, professionalism and dedication to homebuyers and sellers have made them a valued and trusted real estate resource for the Greater Burlington community and a major contributor to the overall success of our office.

Customer Service Excels

By Brian French
Posted Wednesday, Oct 8, 2008

We are in the process of implementing a new customer follow up software program that will allow us to convert internet inquiries to phone calls. By instituting this new way of doing business it will allow us to provide the consumer with real time feedback and information. In today's busy world, people want answers and they want them now. We feel that we should be able to provide a better service to all our buyers and sellers by using this software. Give us a try and see if we can respond while you are still searching our site on line at www.c21-advantage.com We do our homework and yours.

A New Site

By Brian French
Posted Friday, Oct 3, 2008

This is the first time that i am writing a blog from our new site. I hope you enjoy its new features and functionality. We have focused on what the consumer is looking to have when they visit our real estate web site, and we believe we have provided it. People can save searches, search the entire Multiple Listing Service, view videos and chat with us online. Check it out and let us know what you think.

Here We Go Again

By Brian French
Posted Friday, Oct 3, 2008

Well the Senate just passed a bill that they say will help the economy get back on track. It will now go to the House for their vote. I wonder what the real impact is going to be on us down the road. If we really knew how much this is going to cost us, I wonder if we would be in favor of this bail out. It is amazing to me that Wall Street has put our economy in such dire straits. We are damned if we do and damned if we don't. Not a real positive place to be considering the market was already feeling the effects of over pricing and over speculation.