Barney Watson, with RE/MAX On The Lake (Lake Gaston NC / VA) has earned the nationally recognized Pricing Strategy Advisor (PSA) certification on May 21, 2016. The National Association of REALTORS® offers the PSA certification to REALTORS® as determining property values depends more than ever on professional expertise and competence, the best use of technology, and a commitment to approach the pricing assignment from various perspectives.
"The market demands accurate property value assessments, so NAR is excited to provide Realtors® with enhanced tools, education and expertise to determine the most accurate value for a home and give their clients a leg up when buying or selling," said NAR President Tom Salomone, broker-owner of Real Estate II Inc. in Coral Springs, Florida.
"Pricing Strategies: Mastering the CMA" is the required course for the PSA certification that provides REALTORS® with knowledge and skills to select appropriate comparables and make accurate adjustments, guide sellers and buyers through the details of comparative market analyses and the underlying pricing principles that inform them, and interact effectively with appraisers. Once awarded the certification, REALTORS® will be equipped to guide clients through the anxieties and misperceptions they often have about home values.
Barney Watson can be reached at 252-532-3274 or Web: www.barneywatson.com
Showing posts with label remax lake gaston. Show all posts
Showing posts with label remax lake gaston. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Lake Gaston Real Estate Market Update 1st Qtr 2016
By: Barney Watson – Broker / REALTOR® - RE/MAX On The Lake
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| A Beautiful Lake Gaston Setting taken by: Mandy Matthews |
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Friday, April 17, 2015
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Thinking of Selling? Now is the Time to List Your Lake Gaston Home
by: Barney Watson -
RE/MAX On The Lake
Broker REALTOR® / Managing Partner
Everyone knows early springtime is
when we see many new listings in the Lake Gaston area. Some homeowners might
feel it is worthwhile to wait until late April or May to list their property.
When new listings hit the market
the competition increases. We have
buyers looking to buy their Lake Gaston homes now. They want to get their
property ready and be settled in before first day of spring! The longer you wait to get your home on the
market the likelihood you will find more competition.
Make sure you choose a full-time
local REALTOR® that will provide you with market statistics in writing. The most important thing you can do when
listing your home is to price it correctly the first time. When arriving at a realistic asking price for
your home, a full-time local REALTOR® can help you decide a realistic asking
price. Remember, market value is: what a potential buyer is willing to pay for
your property. How much you paid, the
tax value or how much you will need to satisfy your future plans means nothing
to the willing and able buyer.
Interest rates are still low but
predicted to go higher between now and the end of the year. Don’t wait, if you are thinking of selling
your Lake Gaston property, get it on the market now.
Call Barney at 252-532-3274 or visit his website at www.barneywatson.com. Barney is a full-time local REALTOR® &
Managing Partner at RE/MAX On The Lake.
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| A Beautiful Lake Gaston Sunset - taken by: Barney Watson RE/MAX On The Lake |
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Lake Gaston Real Estate Market Update End of Sept 2013
Lake Gaston Real Estate:
It is time to embrace the fall season; it officially begins on
October 22nd! Some say summer is the most popular time to visit Lake
Gaston, but fall is the best time. I agree with them. I am looking
forward to the cool breezes, pumpkin picking and fall festivals. Check
the Chamber of Commerce, http://www.lakegastonchamber.com/calendar.html
for fall activities in our area.
Through the end of the third
quarter in the Lake Gaston area, real estate sales and listings remain
steady. In September, we had closings on 14 waterfront homes, 4
offshore homes, 4 waterfront lots and 1 offshore lot totaling
$7,138,700. In September last year, we closed 16 waterfront homes, 13
offshore homes, 3 waterfront lots and 1 offshore lot totaling
$8,274,750. In the first nine months of 2013 we have closed 242
transactions equaling $63,689,123 total. In the first nine months of
2012 there were 226 transactions equaling $58,569,715 total. This year
we have an increase of 8.7% in sales dollars over the same time period
last year.
Compared to previous years, our dollar sales for the
same eight months of 2011 were $53,065,871. In 2010, sales were
$45,629,480 and in 2009 sales were $40,418,349. In 2008, sales were
$74,067,882 and in 2007 sales for the first eight months of the year
totaled $103,061,740. This year, third quarter, we are down 38.2% from
our same period sales in 2007. The real estate market recovery is slow,
but steady and we are confident it will continue to improve.
Waterfront
homes remain strong at 74.7% of total sales this year showing an
increase of 6.9% in dollar sales with the average waterfront home
selling for $403,401. Offshore home sales represent 10.9% of our total
sales showing an increase of 21.5% in dollar sales with the average
off-shore home selling for $100,632. It is good to see the increase in
off-shore sales in the lake area.
Nationally, the National
Association of REALTORS (NAR) reports Existing Home Sales increased 1.7
percent in August and reached the highest level in six-and-a-half years.
Existing Home Sales are completed transactions of single family homes.
NAR also report The Pending Home Sales Index was down in August
by 1.6% from August a year ago. The Pending Home Sales Index in a
forward-looking indicator based on signed contracts but not completed
transactions.
Mortgage rates have eased slightly. The 10-year
Treasury Note has dropped to 2.59%, down from a high of 3.01%. The
30-year mortgage rates are in the 4.25% range and 15-year rates are in
the 3.25% range. The Consumer Confidence Index increased slightly in
August but decreased in September. The decrease reflects concerns about
the short-term outlook for both jobs and earnings. Even with an
improving economy, consumers are uncertain forward momentum will
continue in the months ahead. I hope that low interest rates and an
increase in consumer confidence will help with sales in the lake area.
Have
you been thinking of listing your Lake Gaston property for sale? Our
fall season offers less competition with other sellers compared to our
busy spring and summer seasons. Fewer homes on the market this time of
the year make it a great time to list. Fall buyers are often more
serious with a greater sense of urgency than spring or summer buyers.
Typically, they like to close quickly. The holidays, or year-end tax
advantages for some, are reasons most give. No matter what season a
buyer closes on a Lake Gaston property, they all say they cannot wait to
start “lake living”!
Monday, September 23, 2013
Lake Gaston Real Estate Update End of August - Barney Watson RE/MAX On The Lake
Lake Gaston Real Estate Update - End of August:
Summer slowly fades away and
fall sneaks in bringing us cooler temperatures and the magnificent colors of
fall. Fall is a great time for boating on Lake Gaston. Early in the season, the
water temperature is still perfect for swimming, wake boarding and skiing. A leisurely
boat ride is irresistible when the leaves are reflecting vibrant colors on the
lake. Realtors® love showing property in the fall when we can show our lake in
all of its color and beauty.
Through July Lake Gaston,
real estate sales and listings remain steady.
In August, we had closings on 19 waterfront homes, 15 offshore and 1
waterfront lot totaling $9,678,468. In
August last year, we closed 18 waterfront homes, 7 offshore homes, 4 waterfront
lots and 4 offshore lots totaling $8,025,290.
In the first eight months of 2013 we have closed 219 transactions
equaling $56,550,423 total. In the first eight months of 2012 there were 193
transactions equaling $50,294,965 total. This year we have an increase of 12.4%
in sales dollars over the same time period last year.
Compared to previous years,
our dollar sales for the same eight months of 2011 were $49,405,867. In 2010,
sales were $39,154,888 and in 2009 sales were $32,033,049. In 2008, sales were $62,713,863 and in 2007
sales for the first eight months of the year totaled $91,928,326. The real
estate market recovery is slow, but steady and we hope it will continue to
improve.
The National Association of
REALTORS (NAR) reports existing home sales nationwide were up 6.5% in July. NAR
also reports pending home sales (contracts signed but not yet closed) were down
1.3% in July.
The Conference Board, a New
York based private research group, said last week that its consumer confidence
index rose to 81.5 in August. This is up
from 81 in July, just below 82.1 in June which was the highest since January
2008. After hitting the bottom at 25.3 at the depths of the “Great Recession”
in February 2009, the index has bounced back but has yet to get back to the 90
reading that signals a healthy economy.
The recent situation with
mortgage interest rates will be interesting.
The average 30 yr fixed rate has risen from 3.62% in March to 4.615$ in
August. The 10yr Treasury Note (leading
indicator of mortgage rates) is currently yielding 2.89%. The 52 week low was
1.56% & the 52 week high was 3.01%.
To put this increase into perspective,
the average waterfront home on Lake Gaston has sold for $400,000. If the buyer
makes a down payment of 20% and borrows $320,000 the principal and interest
payment will be at $1,645 for 30 years at 4.625%. In March borrowing the same
amount at 3.625% the payment would have been $1,459, roughly a $200 per month
increase.
Lake Gaston real estate is
still a great investment. Our market continues to grow and we are optimistic
about the future. Lake Gaston Realtors® work year round, they are ready to show
their clients the beauty of Lake Gaston in the fall.
You can reach Barney at 252-532-3274 or on the web at www.barneywatson.com or lakegastonrealestatencva.com
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Lake Gaston Real Estate Market Update - End of June 2013
Lake
Gaston Real Estate Market Update:
Summertime
is in full swing at Lake Gaston.
Property owners are enjoying the hot weather on the lake as well as
folks spending their well-deserved vacations.
The “Splash” celebration drew a large crowd at Morningstar Marina on the
22nd celebrating Lake Gaston’s 50th birthday.
In June, we closed 29 properties which
included 14 waterfront homes, 11 offshore homes, 2 waterfront lots and 2
offshore lots. Together the closings totaled of $6,634,315 compared to 35 properties
closed in June of 2012 for $9,631,250.
Our sales through June are $41,306,805 compared to sales to the first
six months of 2012 totaling $34,072,500.
Since the beginning of the year, consumer
outlook is more positive about current business and labor market conditions. Expectations
have improved, suggesting the pace of growth is unlikely to slow in the
short-term, possibly even picking up moderately. The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®,
which had improved in May, standing at 74.3, increased again in June. Currently,
the index figure is 81.4. The standard index, fixed in 1985 is 100. The Present
Situation Index increased to 69.2 from 64.8. The Expectations Index improved to
89.5 from 80.6 last month.
Existing Home Sales and Pending Home Sales across the country continue to
show improvement according the National Association of REALTORS (NAR).
Existing-home sales are at the highest level since November 2009 when the
market jumped to 5.44 million as buyers took advantage of tax stimulus. Sales
have stayed above year-ago levels for 23 months, while the national median
price shows 15 consecutive months of year-over-year increases. The Pending Home Sales Index, a
forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, increased 6.7 percent to
112.3 in May. That figure is 12.1 percent above May 2012. The data reflect
contracts but not closings. Contract
activity is at the strongest pace since December 2006 when it reached 112.8;
pending sales have been above year-ago levels for the past 25 months.
As the economy recovers, second-home markets are
improving. According to the National Association of Realtors, vacation-home
sales were up 10% in 2012 after falling 56% between 2006 and 2010. But the pace
of increase is well below the 17% gain in sales of primary homes last year. One reason: Buying a second home is a luxury.
"A vacation home is the ultimate discretionary purchase," says Paul
Bishop, Vice President of Research at the Realtors group.
The recent rise of interest rates may have an effect on
sales of vacation homes in the Lake Gaston area. We have experienced 30 year mortgage rates rising
from 3.75% to 4.5% and 15 year mortgage money go from 2.65% to 3.625%. Rates are expected to go higher.
Higher mortgage rates and indecision in the legislature about
tax reform could possibly slow down the housing market. We will continue to watch
the mortgage interest deduction, taxes of fees and transfer tax proposals. We
hope our representatives will reach a compromise favorable to all.
As stated by NAR, second-homes and vacation homes are a
discretionary purchase. We are marketing and selling a product folks do not
have to have.
We are optimistic 2013 will be a great year for property
sales in the Lake Gaston market.
Barney Watson with RE/MAX On The Lake can be reached at 252-532-3274 or Email: lakegaston1@gmail.com and on the web at: www.barneywatson.com and www.lakegastonrealestatencva.com
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