[schletterer]

We have been trying to move to the villages for the past 16 months. Of course we are trying to sell our house during that period of time.
I have kept track of every showing and as of Sunday August 16th, we have had 85 showings. Saturday August 15th we just got our first offer.
The house is listed for $299 and the offer was for $275 - PLUS the buyer wanted us to pay $9,000 towards his closing costs. VA loan with 100% financing. Well of course we countered. (nixed the $9000 for his closing costs). The buyer did not respond and has vanished (back to Kansas City).
I have found if buyers tell me the house is "just beautiful" - we never see them again. However, if they say nothing, seems they may take a second look the next day or so.
I'm sure there are many stories of excessive showings but I will attempt to keep the thread going as we have more showings.
I estimate that if we keep the same trend we will need to show it another 85 times.

[champion6]

It's tough... but it only takes ONE! Hang in there.

[kittylecroix]

I know it's discouraging, and but having a lot of showings is how it's going to get sold. Keep the faith!

[conn8757]

We sold our Orlando home (closed in June, 2009). We had about 20 showings and that was our 7th offer. (some were ridiculous). I retired right before we sold it and we had decided we did not want to wait any longer to get here - so took the next offer which was less than we wanted, but not terrible. Good luck to you. I think the Florida market is picking up - it is just the competition includes so many bankruptcies and short sales.

[Ronnies]

Hang in there. Our home in NJ was on the market for 2 1/2 years. Lots and lots of showings, open houses, people coming back 3 times and spending hours, and not one offer. We kept dropping the price. Finally, in July we received an offer, countered, and SOLD. Yeah, it only takes ONE, but waiting for that one is frustrating.

[chuckinca]

Two weeks ago, priced ours about 30K more than our broker recommended. First people going thru it made an offer and we accepted - at our brokers number. Sold in 4 days.

[katezbox]

Only you know what you can accept - but $24,000 plus $9,000 off your asking price is a discount of about 11%. I'm not sure that is a bad offer in this market, I would compare the price/sq ft with similar properties.

[cashman]

Why do you want to leave Sarasota?

[graciegirl]

We have friends who live in a prestigious golf course community in Sarasota looking here in TV. We met a delightful couple at the pool looking to move here too, when they sell their million dollar home in West Palm Beach.

They want to move here, I am sure for the same reasons we all do. It isn't about the HOUSE anymore, it is about what we do all day and who we do it with.

I have been accused of being a maybe too enthusiastic cheerleader for TV, but I have to say that the last year with our house in Hadley has been the most fun in our lives, and we have been here and there and haven't had too shabby a life. It is so NICE to be surrounded with people who have the same leanings and wisdom and sense of acceptance and the same sense of humor...and aren't caring about your wrinkles or your tummy. They look at you like you're smart...instead of the way a lot of younger people kind of "dismiss' you.

I feel validated about our choice to buy in TV every day when I meet people who have had a very good life elsewhere choosing to move here.

PLEASE. Someone get me down off this soap box. Do you think the Morses should hire me??

[jmemc46]

I have been trying to sell in Ma. for 2 yrs. now. Market is still awful, there are so many forclosers and mark downs that the market is saturated. But your right it only takes one so I am hanking in there. I can't wait to get there.
jmemc

[Taj44]

Originally Posted by katezbox

Only you know what you can accept - but $24,000 plus $9,000 off your asking price is a discount of about 11%. I'm not sure that is a bad offer in this market, I would compare the price/sq ft with similar properties.

My thoughts exactly. Plus, you're putting your life on hold. At some point, you have to ask yourself is it really worth it. We sold some possessions last year, along with our house, at a price lower than what I would have liked. But the friends we 've made here, and the activities we've joined have more than made up for it, for us.

[F16 1UB]

On the market for 13 months - Price reduced 38% before home sold. Only had 4 showings. Said screw it. Aint gettin any younger and TV is awesome. The people are pretty nice too. LOL

The stories I've heard echo the sentiments of many. Paradise awaits you.

F16

[captgeo]

We put our home on the market last month. We tried to sell 1 & 1/2 years ago, but the market crashed. This time we priced it more realistically and we had 2 contracts this past Sunday after only 33 days on the market. The 1st offer had many contingicies, was FHA and required us to pay $7000. towards the settlement. The 2d offer was for $5000.less than our asking price, conventinal loan for only 40% no contingincies and settle whenever we were ready, this 1 also netted us $5000. more than the 1st. We are happy campers . Buyer already has commitment and we bought a Begonia over the internet! We will be down this Thursday to finalize and then settle on both on the 25th of Sept. We are staying in the Villas visit deal for $75. per night and the 6th night is free. Life is good. If all goes well we might even make the Crispers luncheon on Fri.

[kofficer]

I've been wondering about that. You see all these shows on TV about reducing your price because of the turndown, and the appraisers are not even giving you a fair appraisal sometimes, even if you do get the price, as one of my co-workers recently found out. So, as we mark down our houses, are the realtors following suit with what they charge? Anybody know? We are trying to figure out how long to wait before putting our house up for sale, I know I want to wait at least another year in hope of a little better market, but whether we wait longer than that depends on how long it is taking to sell. We don't retire till 2012, but may go into an apartment for a while here if we sell early.

Lee in Tampa

[cher54461]

Most realtors are charging 6 percent. We got our realtor to agree to four percent. Most of the time right now you can bargain with them. I am in NE I don't know how it is in rest of country.