PROview - December 2008 - (Page 4) Are You Ready for the Next Wave of Clients? First-Time Home Buyers Are Ready to Enter the Market By Mathias Bergendahl, CAE, Director of Marketing & Communications Now is a great time to buy. That statement certainly is true for anyone looking to purchase a home, yet perhaps now more than ever is the message especially fitting for those planning to buy their first home. Interest rates are at a record low and FHA loan limits have increased. Consumers have more choices due to a high inventory level compared to a few years ago and home prices have dropped in the last few years to reach drastically more affordable levels. If that isn’t enough, a new law even gives firsttime home buyers a temporary tax credit. Apparently, would-be first-time home buyers are taking notice. A recent survey by the National 4 PINELLAS REALTOR® ORGANIZATION Association of REALTORS® illustrates that the share of first-time buyers has increased. Nationally, the report shows, the number of first-time home buyers rose from 36% in 2006 to 39% in 2007, and to 41% in the last year. There is quite a bit of knowledge required to assist first-time buyers through the home buying process. The rewards, however, can be quite significant given the increased interest among those who previously may have waited on the sidelines. The next call you receive may be buyers looking for their first home. Are you prepared to assist them? December 2008
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.