The conditions of the market cause sellers to change their motivations when pricing properties. The ones that do not need to sell, generally do not. Our market is almost exclusively motivated sellers.
Irvine Home Address … 47 Straw Flower Irvine, CA 92620
Resale Home Price …… $850,000
{book1}
Cross off the names
Of all who died here,
And I’ll become the sacred faith you lost.
I’m thinking…
Every second changes everything
In my life.
Every second changes everything –
The panic will see me through.
The Panic — Strata
Sellers are feeling the upper hand in the market locally due to the lack of available inventory. Motivation is suffering and WTF listing prices are springing up like greedy weeds. Buyers are beginning to panic — hopefully, the IHB readership is calm during this storm. You are not priced out forever.
When I wrote Negotiating for Real Estate, I included a graph showing basic negotiating concepts:
The third column represents seller motivation. As their motivation increases, they just want to get rid of the property, and they lower their price until they do so. Today, we are going to look at two properties purchased by knife catchers in early 2007. One of them has accepted his fate as a knife catcher and priced the property to sell; the other has not.
Irvine Home Address … 47 Straw Flower Irvine, CA 92620
Resale Home Price … $850,000
Income Requirement ……. $156,445
Downpayment Needed … $170,000
Home Purchase Price … $810,000
Home Purchase Date …. 8/2/2007
Net Gain (Loss) ………. $(11,000)
Percent Change ………. 4.9%
Annual Appreciation … 2.4%
Monthly Mortgage Payment … $3,650
Monthly Cash Outlays ………… $4,760
Monthly Cost of Ownership … $3,560
Redfin Property Details for 47 Straw Flower Irvine, CA 92620
Beds 3
Baths 2 full 1 part baths
Size 1,900 sq ft
($447 / sq ft)
Lot Size 3,988 sq ft
Year Built 1997
Days on Market 5
Listing Updated 10/11/2009
MLS Number S592398
Property Type Single Family, Residential
Community Northwood
Tract Trem
SHOWS LIKE MODEL Private community in a quiet area within Northwood. Living Room w/ textured hardwood floors & vaulted ceilings w/ plenty of natural light. Travertine throughout the kitchen w/ whisper-quiet BOSCH dishwasher & enjoy the spacious Family room w/ cozy fireplace- watch a movie w/ a built-in space saving entertainment area; The garage has cabinets, shelves, and overhead storage; Best schools in the Nation; Olympic-size pool and largest Neighborhood park in Irvine just steps away!
Do you think this property has appreciated since late 2007? This seller is following the typical pattern: (1) price to breakeven, (2) price to preserve some equity, (3) price to avoid short sale, (4) give up.
The owner of our second featured property is more motivated — or he has given up — the results are the same; lower prices.
BTW, is it snowing in that kitchen?
Irvine Home Address … 412 Quail Rdg Irvine, CA 92603
Resale Home Price … $379,000
Income Requirement ……. $69,756
Downpayment Needed … $75,800
Home Purchase Price … $490,000
Home Purchase Date …. 3/1/2007
Net Gain (Loss) ………. $(133,740)
Percent Change ………. -22.7%
Annual Appreciation … -12.1%
Monthly Mortgage Payment … $1,628
Monthly Cash Outlays ………… $2,310
Monthly Cost of Ownership … $1,770
Redfin Property Details for 412 Quail Rdg Irvine, CA 92603
Beds 2
Baths 2 baths
Size 1,112 sq ft
($341 / sq ft)
Lot Size n/a
Year Built 2004
Days on Market 2
Listing Updated 10/14/2009
MLS Number S592734
Property Type Condominium, Residential
Community Quail Hill
Tract Ambr
According to the listing agent, this listing may be a pre-foreclosure or short sale.
Quiet upper end unit with no one above or below. Centrally located close to Irvine Spectrum. Resort style amenities including association pool, tennis courts, gym and parks.
The family losing this place at least tried to be responsible. They overpaid, but they put some money down, and when they refinanced in 2007, they did not take out much equity. They still had some of their own money in the property when prices when south.
{book2}
Maybe some sellers just need a little more motivation….