Brad and I just attended and taught classes at the certified residential real estate conference.  This year the conference was in Hawaii which was great given that it's dark and cold here at home.  We met up with Tricia Andreasen, the CEO of Prostep Marketing.  She is the one who designed our current web site and blog.  We took a goofy fun picture together in front of a poster she had made up for the conference on my web site.  The weather on Oahu was terrible.  It rained every day and the wind blew about 25 mph.  Good thing we were inside teaching classes on real estate.  I taught classes on marketing strategies for 2008 and Brad taught on negotiating skills in a soft real estate market.  There were over 900 attendees at the conference.  We had a chance to meet and have dinner with our good friends Bryan & Sharnee Epley who own the RE/MAX of Alyeska real estate company.  It was good to see them.  Funny how you have to travel out of state sometimes to see your good friends.  We also were able to get together in small groups and discuss the big issues facing our industry.  We are well equipped with proven strategies to get homes sold in our current market.  If you have questions, post a comment here or email me.  Kristan

I thought it would be fun to give away two lift tickets and an overnight stay at our condo in Alyeska.  It's right at the base of Chair 3 so you can walk out the door and catch the lift.  If you would like to be entered to win, email me at Kristan@KristanCole.com  and I will enter you to win.  I will be drawing for the winner on February 21. 

Every year we have our open house and give away our trip for two to Mexico.  Our Open House will be February 28th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  Come and join us for some Mexican food and help us celebrate with the winners of this year's trip.  Should be good timing.  If you are like me, January and February are when I could really use some sunshine.  Two lucky people are going to get some.  Don't worry we will have some other prizes also.  See you then.  Call me at 373-3575 if you need directions. 

January 19, 2008

I was humbled, but thrilled when The Grainger Leadership Institute presented me with a leadership award at their annual event honoring those professionals that most personify the qualities of leadership in business.   

“The winner of this award stands tall among even the most accomplished in her industry. Her ability to inspire her team stems from a deep commitment to over-serve her clients. I am very impressed with her understanding of group dynamics and her commitment to delivering a higher standard through the power of team work. These qualities have earned Kristan Cole the 2007 GLI Team Builder of the Year Award.”  Mark Grainger  Click Here

 

I just returned from Dallas where I taught a course to other Realtors from across the country on Team Training and Systems Implementation.  Whenever I teach a class I think I always learn more than the attendees do.  I found myself excited to come home and work on some systems within our own team in order to provide better customer service to all of you.  That's what its all about....exceeding expectations.  Here is a photo of me and some of the attendees. 

Reminder--- Email me to sign up for the FREE giveaway is for tickets for two to the Alaska Native Heritage Center along with a book from the center; great for friends and family that will be visiting this summer.  Also a two gift cards for $20 to North Star Bakery just down the street from me here in Wasilla.  Email me no later than January 14^th to be entered to win.  Also don’t forget about our warm coats—warm hearts coat drive for children.  Drop off at our office anytime this month.

If you are thinking of listing your home in the spring, now is the time to start cleaning up and clearing out the clutter so you’ll be good to go in 2008!  I wrote a “State of the Real Estate Market” article for the Frontiersman newspaper that comes out at the end of the month.  This is good information for anyone looking to sell in 2008 or anyone just wanting to know the real facts about the residential real estate market.

Attention all seniors graduating from High School in May of 2008.  Apply for one of our three scholarships we will be awarding this year.   We give away 3 scholarships totaling $3000 each year to graduation seniors. 

Attention all renters!  This is a great time to buy with low interest rates and several new homes to choose from.  Stop throwing away rent and start earning equity. 

Red Cross award.  The local Red Cross Chapter Thanks the Kristan Cole Team for monetary contributions and whole blood and plasma donations

 

State of the Residential Real Estate Market

 

If You Want To Sell Your Home in 2008, Don't Wait Until Summer

By Kristan Cole

 

Most sellers think they will get more money for their house if they wait and sell in the summer months when the flowers are out and their home looks its best.  Not true!  During late winter and early spring the housing inventory is lower.  When the inventory is lower, sellers have the best chance at getting the highest price.  In early summer months our existing inventory typically doubles and of course the new construction starts.  So if you need to sell this year and want to get the most money for your home, don't wait until summer, start early in February.  Sellers consistently get more money for their homes when they sell in during the months of February, March and April.  After 23 years in the real estate field and selling over 1000 homes here in the Wasilla-Palmer area I have found this trend to be consistent year after year. 

 

So what really happened in 2007?  Fortunately the real estate market here in Alaska did not suffer like much of the lower 48 did.  According to the Alaska Multiple Listing Service, 1480 homes sold here in the Mat Su Borough in 2007.  That is 11.7% fewer homes than 2006, but the average median sales price went up by 1.4%.  The average sales price in 2007 was $227,454 and the average number of days on the market was 78.  As of January 2, 2008 there were 561 homes on the market for sale.  Based on the sales in 2007 and a current inventory of 561 homes, we have about a 3-4 month supply of homes for sale.  According to the National Association of Realtors, when the number of months of supply is less than 6, the market is stable; a “normal market”. 

 

My team and I sold 167 homes in 2007.  Many of our sellers had tried to sell their homes before, but had been unsuccessful.  We sold Bob & Donna Council’s home and they said this about their experience, “We should have called Kristan the first time around.  She sold our home for top dollar in a tough market after it was listed with a different Realtor for three months”.  It would be our pleasure to help you if you are interested in selling, call or email us today 907-373-3575, Kristan@KristanCole.com so that we can put our experience to work for you.  For up to date market information year around, click on my blog on my web site at www.KristanCole.com