Headlines regularly push the topic of inflation. We usually know it's bad if it goes up, but why? What causes the change, and what industries are affected by it that will affect my life? These are questions answered in this episode.
So what is inflation? We know it can occur in any product or service including need base expenses and want base expenses. We also know that the Federal Reserve Bank monitors the inflation rates.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures what you and I feel at the grocery store, medical care, etc. Inflation rates have moved from 2.5 to 4.16 which is the largest increase since 2008. Food costs are rising twice as fast as pre-COVID. Retail sales are running out of steam after stimulus monies have been spent and sticker shock is settling in. This also pushes interest rates up.
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Being competitive isn't strategic, it's a must. Competitive offer tactics can include:
- appraisal gap insurance
- short closing timelines
- waiving inspection items
- strong loan approval
Here are some loan approval options to make your offer stand out.
- Prequalification is the very first and most common step with online and box lenders. This is the bare minimum.
- Pre-approval submitting the loan documentation to the lender.
- A pre-approval letter gives the listing agent and seller confidence that what you say you make is what you make, and what you say you have is true.
- 10 Day Close Earnest money guarantee loan approval through the Rueth Team.
You can keep shopping, but once approved and no changes to your status, the Rueth Team will guarantee your earnest money.
Sellers want the best experience selling so they can turn around and buy their next home.
Tune in to this short and helpful episode. Learn more about this offer Nicole covers here >
While the economy roars back to life, real estate continues to be judged.
DMAR tells us that 2594 for sale - a lower than low figure. The previous low was 2015 with around 2400. Listen in for this recap.
- The months of inventory is currently .51 months for detached homes, and detached inventory is currently at .46 months.
- Detached homes' median price is $585,000 in 11 counties, whereas attached are at a $376,660 median in 11 counties.
- With a substantial equity cushion, the Denver Metro area has been able to avoid the dreaded and predicted bubble.
- 2.5% of area homeowners have less than 10% equity, and 1.5% in the same region have negative equity.
- Builders have customers, but because lumber prices up 25%, steel up 160%, sheet goods up 400%, this has put a crimp in their ability to build homes ahead of inventory demands.
We continue the Agent Ignite session with Dr. Bruce Lund as he helps us master the four-hour workday. Some of what he covers in this session includes knowing the difference between a promoter and an advocate. Understanding the levels of relationships in business: Connectors, climbers, somedays, aspirational, and experts. He has some actionable homework for you too. Get excited! Listen now.
Have you ever heard of the concept, "Eat the frog"? Eat the frog is basically, do the one thing that you really don't want to do first thing in the morning. So for a lot of us that is working out, and so I'm just a big believer. Here is a time system that works for success. Nicole's guest is Dr. Bruce Lund. He's here to get us started on the successful method of a four-hour work day by starting from the moment your feet hit the floor - the first 90 minutes, then going into the next 30 minutes.
Some of the point covered are:
Physical activity of some type, then move into the walk and talks later in the day after a light lunch.
Stimulating the mind by feeding it helpful information from people and resources you admire and trust, market stats you can share that will show you are of value to your followers and clients, inspirational tips, mediations.
Rely on people of influence rather than people of interest to inspire you. Get the ego out of it.
Practicing gratitude for at least 10 minutes a day. This can be making a list, or making a call.
Who is on your call list? Who is in your database? Take care of your time, your hear, body, mind and spirit by thinning out that list and putting them in the correct buckets. You attracting high-maintenance people that commoditize you? They will ZAP you.
Listen to get the rest of the actionable items to take care of you, and then that will help you increase your success in all corners of your life.
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Here's the quote that impacted me today. Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow." I'm going to get up and I'm going to try again tomorrow. I loved this quote because some days you just feel so beaten down, but I actually love this quote right now from the perspective of the first-time homebuyer. It just really struck out at me because I know we've been working through trying to get those first-time homebuyers under contract. Especially the first-time homebuyers who are FHA or down payment assistance or minimum down, or don't have the money to do the appraisal gaps or put in over asking.
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This is the one topic that has not only generated more calls to our office but to our agent clients, a crazy number of internet searches. People want to know - is the housing bubble about to hit? Let Nicole tell you how it is in Colorado.
Fiction: an imminent collapse is coming.
Fiction: forbearance will lead to foreclosures, especially in Colorado.
Fact: Equity gain is our saving grace.
Fact: What's happening is leaps and bounds different than 2008.
Listen to this 10-minute episode to get the facts.
As part of the continuing Fact vs. Fiction series, Nicole talks about the facts and fiction of home loans. Listen to this 7-minute episode, play again until it sticks.
A preview:
Fact 1 - call your lender first
Fiction 1 - assume the best loan for them is with 20% down or minimum down.
Fact 2 - you have the power to affect your monthly payment.
Fiction 2 - renting is not more cost-effective unless you are only looking at the immediate short term.
You want to pay your OWN mortgage, not your landlord's.
Fiction 3 - getting a home loan isn't possible unless everything is lined up or perfect.
After hitting low historical interest rates 14 times last year, let's set the record straight. The first piece of fiction is that Rate is King. This is not always exactly as it appears. Oh, and the one using your house as a method to save interest rates on credit cards. Be smart. Then we move into the fiction of long-term real estate investments.
A buy and hold strategy provides OPTIONS. But, just as with rates, options also bring misinformation, many times turning people away from a long-term wealth strategy that could open up possibilities for them and their families. Watch as I bust open some very common concerns that are fiction and go through why, even in today's market, real estate is queen.
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If you have ever been involved in a Real Estate transaction, you've dealt with Title. But what do we need to know about the title process and what should we ask our underwriters? Sima Patel from WFT National Title gives us pointers. Some of what she covers includes advice for those who have gone through bankruptcies or are buying a home from someone who has gone through BK, what you need to know about trusts, LLCs, and quick claim deeds to avoid legal disasters.
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