SURVEY SAYS......

I was recently reading my favorite real estate publication when I came across an article titled,

"SURVEY: Owners Still Overvalue Homes." (RISMedia Real Estate/April 2009)

By the numbers, this is what their survey found:

• Close to 50% of homeowners think their houses should be priced 10% to 20% higher than their sales agents have recommended.
• Fewer than 20% of agents nationwide are reporting that homebuyers are telling them that homes on the market are priced fairly.
• Almost 60% of agents say potential buyers are telling them that home asking prices are too high.

Our own Willamette Valley Multiple Listing Service shows most sales in the Salem/Keizer area are occuring at about 90% of asking price!

Looks like we have an expectation gap!

Here's the bottom line; if you want to sell, most likely, get ready for some tough news - and let's not kill the messenger!

On the upside - think what you can buy!!!