Real Estate- Calculating Absorption Rates

There are only a certain number of houses that will sell in any market in any given period of time. Would you like to see the odds of your house being one of them?

If 12 homes sold in the last 12 months in a given market that means that the market will absorb 1 house per month on average.  If there are 10 homes currently on the market there is a 10 month supply.  A 6 month supply is a balanced market, less is a seller’s market and more is a buyer’s market.  We can calculate the absorption rates for your specific home and market and provide price and staging parameters. 

Thanks to all of you for your many referrals!   Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Birth Weeks

Ever heard of Birth Weeks?  That is a birthday celebrated by spreading the parties over 7 days! I swear our girls have this down to a science.  Last week was another one or should I say one and counting; friends, family, work, siblings only, best friends, boyfriend, etc.

The first volley was our family gathering after the Chief’s game.  Oh, yes, Sarah was it this time.  We were blessed to be joined by Tom Skorupa who is staying with us through mid December.  With grandkids playing in a large leaf pile, great food by special birthday request and a song of joy, the birthday tradition of our household was repeated.

We know each of you have family birthday traditions; we would like to hear from you.  Send your experiences to b@barbarasnyder.com or our mailing address with a note.  We will share some of those with you after the first of the year.

Barbara’s brother lost 75 pounds on Slim 4 Life so we decided we could do this.  Barbara enrolled and I mimicked her (Actually the menu changed and I complied).  So far between us – down 50 pounds.  You will be seeing less of us.  God’s gifts keep coming in surprising ways.

I mentioned Tom living with us now.  He is a faith filled individual who works tirelessly for St. Therese Church on Faith Formation and many other critical functions.  Tom is moving to Albuquerque, NM where Jan is already working.  We look forward to the brief daily interactions with Tom before he begins each marathon day.  We wish him the very best.

Real Estate- Buyer Activiy & Home Marketing

Buyer activity in the market this fall has been as strong as we have seen it all year.  In three weeks, 5 of our listings sold –we need more.  The referral cards in our mailings have been effective to communicate the value of referrals – thank you!

Key Elements for Home Marketing – Home staging –cleanliness – front door impressions – high return upgrade investments – marketing flyers and pictures – attention to detail in marketing – buyer interaction – good market comparables – and a plan.

A feature coming soon in our mailings (we hope) – “Meet the Nerdbots”

Thanks for your friendship.

Virginia

For the past four years our family undertook the responsibility of caring for my elderly mother who suffered from dementia.  At times it was an arduous and humbling experience.  The daily needs were sometimes overwhelming.  Looking back we understand the great blessing it was to be close to Mom in her waning years- to appreciate and honor all she had given to her family and guide her through the confusion of the last few years.  Family was the core of her being and she poured out her life for us in many ways. As we pass through the many transitions in life, the basic values of faith, family, and friends become more and more central to our lives. 

Mom passed away October 3^rd to be reunited with her husband and all her family who had gone before her.  Rest in peace, Mom. 

Barb’s words on her mom’s passing leads me to reflect on the blessing she brought to our house.  I often did not recognize the gift.  Saint Faustina in her book “Diary” discussed her weaknesses and one was that when presented with a vessel of grace she was often distracted with the vessel, Virginia was a vessel of grace to us. 

As you know by now, family events consume our free time.  With Barb’s mom no longer sharing our daily lives, we have just begun to realize the grandkid trip to Omaha or Hannibal areas can be done in a day. 

We saw the most interesting state park Halloween theme “horror” night sponsored by wonderful campers near Hannibal last week.  Miles of night lighted trails and competing attention grabbing goodie stations were a thrill for young and old alike; something new for us and the grandkids. 

FAMILY
What a great time of year! New Grandchild number 16 has been announced. (Matt and Tricia) A spring arrival I think. What is it that happens one day in our lives where all joy explodes with the new arrival of family? Our oldest grandchild left for college, first time, in Pennsylvania this year. First week’s grades: Earthquake 1, Hurricane 1, Tornados plenty, optimism 100. Tony took a position at Bank of America, Zona Rosa branch. Just loves it.

Barbara and I have started the Slim 4 Life program. You will be seeing less of us. (In a good way)

REFERRALS
Thanks for your efforts! In the future each of our mailings will include a pair of referral support cards. Two thoughts: Your referrals of us reflect your support, and referrals are possible anywhere in the world on any property or land sold. The RE/MAX system has the top agents and market share for residential and commercial property worldwide. Contact us and we will refer agents that will do a professional job for you and your family. Thanks.

Full Circle

Shortly before my husband, Wayne, and I were married almost 45 years ago he gave me a pearl rosary which I highly treasured. A year later when our daughter, Kathryn, was born I took that rosary to the hospital with me. Somehow while I was in the hospital the rosary disappeared. I prefer to think it was “lost” rather than believe someone would steal a rosary! The loss was regrettable and I missed it. I talked about the rosary from time to time, but never replaced it.

Recently out youngest son, Christopher, returned from a trip from Spain bearing gifts- a magnet souvenir for Wayne and for me…a pearl rosary. He was totally unaware of the history of the first pearl rosary, but from the first child to the last, and a span of 45 years, I couldn’t help but believe the rosary had at last come a “full circle”.