Important Information

We got some really important information yesterday from a number of sources. The MBA shared that purchase activity was up 8% year over year and refinances were up 116% in the same period. Clearly the desire to buy homes is not wavering in the least, and the appetite to save money, reduces loan terms, change programs, consolidate debt, or access equity remains strong! This wave of activity is largely being captured by those who kept working hard in the fourth quarter of last year, and given the rate of new applications and the preapproval numbers being reported back by those I have been speaking to, we are in for a very strong first quarter!

The FHFA reported that in November, property values of homes financed with a conforming loan were up 4.9%. Now, any number of properties could be financed with a conforming loan program, but this number is likely to put more weight in more typical homes and less in larger homes. Certainly you could use a conforming loan on a two million dollar house, but most of these homes are likely represent what is the hottest part of the market right now, which are homes of more average market values.

Existing home sales were reported higher this month by 3.6% and almost 11% higher than this time last year! When you couple this with NAR reporting that housing inventories are at the lowest levels ever reported, and they started keeping this data forty years ago, we are in a real purchase housing demand cycle that makes sense given the rise of household formations, rising wages, consumer confidence, and the high cost of renting!

As supply continues to struggle to meet demand, new construction can only help so much! It will be those agents who can generate listing activity that will see the greatest advantage. For those mortgage professionals out there looking for an opportunity to forge new relationships with the best of the best, knowing the strategies to help generate those listing opportunities are essential! Buying leads will not create the relationships, value, and quality of experience needed this year; being a successful strategic partner in listing opportunities will be GOLD!

The cost of waiting will be enormous for those who wait to buy, sell, refinance, or learn the strategies needed to help create listing opportunities in your market! So use the tools and strategies on the website to help you create opportunities and build the very relationships you will need to defeat the algorithm enemy!

Questions or comments: Mike@IMTcoaching.com

 

 

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2020 Isn’t Just A New Decade, It Means Perfect Vision!

Welcome to the first blog post of a new decade! Much gets put on a new year; even more thought around a new decade! Some look back to the “Roaring 20’s” of a century ago and wonder if there is any special meaning? While those 20’s were free and easy with what seemed to be growth, wealth, and an endless party; it ended with a stock market crash and the great depression!

The coming decade is full of promise and excitement, but I also urge caution. While things change, those jumping onboard some of those changes may be making a huge mistake! While change is inevitable, not all change is good! It is important to look at the future and examine the changes that are being presented to us and make good choices.

What I think will make a difference in 2020 verses 1920 is that we have awareness and the ability to understand history. What I also like to think is that 2020 in our minds also needs to be understood in a way that we already accept; the understanding that 2020 implies perfect vision! Adapting that meaning, I feel we can look down the road of change and be prepared to make choices and adjustments if we have perfect vision!

The obvious point is clearly planning. It will become more difficult to just “wing it” in the mortgage and real estate industries! You will need a plan, complete with strategies, schedules, and accountability toward a higher expectation! To be clear, overall performance will have to improve!

One of the choices we have to make is the path we will take. It becomes clearer every day that the battle in the industry will be around transactional verses relational business models. Simply put, leads verses opportunity; price verses value!

As more and more people chase leads, that market will become saturated with people focused on price and quantity! What will remain will be a smaller, but more individually profitable arena that some will enjoy. When the mortgage and real estate business becomes about the quality of the customer experience and the current and future value of that experience there will be unlimited potential.

The choices are clear and the competition will be significant. For those in the high volume, transaction based, low margin arena, the risk becomes dependence on outside resources beyond your control. For those taking the other path, the focus needs to be on consistency and value driven process. Both paths will yield results; what is the choice you will make?

Is your vision of the new decade 20/20?

Questions or comments: Mike@IMTcoaching.com