Newsletter – First Quarter 2009
In March, I will celebrate 30 years in this industry! Wow! That being said, this Newsletter comes with optimism for real estate in 2009. This is not a “Pollyanna rose colored glasses” outlook, but something with substance. We are seeing increases in activity this first quarter. Things first started rolling when interest rates dipped below 5% in December. The Presidential Inauguration got consumer confidence up, the phones were ringing, emails were coming in just like the old times! Inventories remain at an all time high – good for buyers! And interest rates are hovering around 5% which is fantastic for both buyers and those who purchased between 2005-2008.
How could anyone have predicted all the cross currents that affected our economies in real estate, banking, finance, Wall Street, auto industry, job markets …. National Association of Realtors forecasted 5.7 million existing home sales for 2008. Reality was 4.9 million existing home sales, off 14%. However, sales jumped 6.5% in December, 2008 over December, 2007 based largely on more attractive interest rates.
While the Consumer Confidence Index dropped .9% in 2008, housing affordability went up 6.5 points! We are working leaner, meaner, smarter and harder, still committed to making a difference in the lives of others by helping them achieve their Lake of the Ozarks real estate goals. That got us through 2008 and it will help us win in 2009. In fact, RE/MAX Lake of the Ozarks saw an increase in market share from 30.1% in 2007 to 35% in 2008.
Some other statistics you might find interesting about Lake real estate in 2008 – waterfront home sales were down 18% in units, 21% in $volume, but only 3.5% in the average sales price! Condo sales were down 19% in units, 19% in $volume, but actually up slightly in average sales price! Foreclosures represented only 7.8% of the total sales in residential properties in 2008 and less than 5% of the waterfront home sales. Similarly condo foreclosures amounted to only 5 units out of 576 sales! The Lake has felt the pinch, no doubt about it, but I will take the Lake economy and the stability of Lake real estate over any other market in the nation!
We thank you, as always, for your help, your support, your referrals, your friendship, your thoughts and prayers. We continue to keep you, our valued clients and friends, in the foremost of our thoughts and prayers. As I finish this newsletter, I am viewing one of the Lake’s most spectacular sunsets, a reminder of the beautiful place we are fortunate to call home! Come see us – our door is always open.
God Bless Each and Every One!
Jane Kelly
Call us at 888-SEE-JANE (888-733-5263). Email us at www.janekelly.com.
Looking for property at Lake of the Ozarks? Search everything the web has to offer, right here! Don't miss our Feature Homes.
Need local real estate information? We've summarized much of what is important about The Lake of the Ozarks real estate market in this site.
Need expert advice? No web site, large or small, can take the place of a top Real Estate Team. Not even ours! This site is filled with ways that you can contact us for one-on-one expert help and advice. That's our job.
Contact us with confidence! We guarantee your privacy will be respected. And we offer the services on this site for free and without obligation. Why? We want to be YOUR Real Estate Team. As your trusted, professional real estate partners, we will help you find the best home in your area within your price range. And together we will sell your home, for as much as the market will bear, and as quickly as possible.
Buying and selling a home is one of the biggest events in your life. As the #1 Real Estate Team at the #1 Real Estate Company at the Lake of the Ozarks, we have the experience and track record you are looking for. Please let us help.
- TEAM JANE KELLY
- NUMBER1EXPERTS™ 
