Follow the Housing Market without lots of clicks and picks

posted by: George Sykes, Broker, Worth Clark Realty on Monday February 15, 2021

New home listings are now posted in near real time to the main home page of local CityPage sites like collinsville.com, edwardsville.com, collinsville.com, ofallon365.com and 40+ more.

47 Percent of New Buyers Surprised by How Affordable Homes Are Today

posted by: George Sykes, Broker, Worth Clark Realty on Saturday February 13, 2021

Headlines matter. Right now, it’s hard to read about real estate without seeing a headline that suggests homes have become unaffordable for most Americans. In reality, there’s hard evidence that shows how owning a home is more affordable than renting in most parts of the country, as record-low interest rates are keeping monthly mortgage payments about 23% lower than the typical payment of 20 years ago. Despite the facts, misleading headlines persist, and they impact how hopeful homebuyers perceive the market.

In a recent survey by realtor.com, home shoppers indicated they were surprised by what they could actually afford when buying their first home. In fact, 47% discovered their budget was larger than they expected. George Ratiu, Senior Economist at realtor.com, explains:

What Happens When Homeowners Leave Their Forbearance Plans?

posted by: George Sykes, Broker, Worth Clark Realty on Friday January 29, 2021

According to the latest report from Black Knight, Inc., a well-respected provider of data and analytics for mortgage companies, 6.48 million households have entered a forbearance plan as a result of financial concerns brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s where these homeowners stand right now:

2,543,000 (39%) are current on their payments and have left the program
625,000 (9%) have paid off their mortgages
434,000 (7%) have negotiated a repayment plan and have left the program
2,254,000 (35%) have extended their original forbearance plan
512,000 (8%) are still in their original forbearance plan
116,000 (2%) have left the program and are still behind on payments

Smart Buyers and Smart Sellers: Class #3 "The Contract"

posted by: George Sykes, Broker, Worth Clark Realty on Friday January 1, 2021

George Sykes, Real Estate Broker with Worth Clark Realty details what every real estate buyer and seller should know about the "Contract To Purchase Real Estate". Buyers and Sellers owe it to themselves to watch this video before they sign their next real estate contract. Understand what you are signing. George Sykes is a licensed Real Estate Broker in Southern Illinois and represents clients in edwardsville, glen carbon, collinsville, granite city, maryville, troy, ofallon, swansea, shiloh and belleville.

Smart Buyers and Smart Sellers: Class #2

posted by: George Sykes, Broker, Worth Clark Realty on Friday December 18, 2020

Class #2: The Listing Agreement

In Smart Buyer and Smart Seller Class #2, George explains what exactly goes into a Listing agreement. This document details key elements of a real estate sale like Price, Commissions, Timing, what stays with the house and Disclosures. If you are selling a property in the Southern Illinois area (edwardsville, glen carbon, collinsville, granite city, maryville, troy, ofallon, swansea, shiloh, belleville) this course is a must see before you list.

Smart Buyers and Smart Sellers: Class #1

posted by: George Sykes, Broker, Worth Clark Realty on Monday December 14, 2020

Real Estate Master Class: Smart Buyers and Smart Sellers

Class #1: Must See Class for Anyone Buying and Selling a Home

Join George as he teaches homeowners, buyers and sellers what they should know before buying or selling a property. This Free Class explains the timeline for both the buyer and the seller and creates a foundation for the "Smart Buyer Smart Seller Real Estate Master Class" series.

Local Special

Don't List Your House, Sell It!

posted by: George Sykes, Broker, Worth Clark Realty on Tuesday December 8, 2020

Isn't that the goal: To Sell your house? I have several ways to help sell your home. Everyone has different reasons to sell. Maybe you are not in a hurry and need the most out of the home, but, maybe, time to close is the most important factor. You may even be in a bit of a hybrid situation where you want the most, have some time, but have a firm deadline you want to be out of your home. Let's use all the options. For more information, go to my website:

Homeownership Helps the Local Economy

posted by: George Sykes, Broker, Worth Clark Realty on Saturday November 28, 2020

Each real estate transaction makes an impact on the local economy, which is a major part of why the housing market is a driver in this year’s economic recovery. This winter is a great time to make a move, so DM me if you’re ready to support our community and find your dream home today.

Your House May Be High on the Buyer Wish List This Holiday Season

posted by: George Sykes, Broker, Worth Clark Realty on Thursday November 26, 2020

Around this time each year, many homeowners decide to wait until after the holidays to sell their houses. Similarly, others who already have their homes on the market remove their listings until the spring. Let’s unpack the top reasons why selling your house now, or keeping it on the market this season, is the best choice you can make. This year, buyers want to purchase homes for the holidays, and your house might be the perfect match.

Here are seven great reasons not to wait to sell your house this holiday season:

Why Working from Home May Spark Your Next Move

posted by: George Sykes, Broker, Worth Clark Realty on Monday November 16, 2020

If you’ve been working from home this year, chances are you’ve been at it a little longer than you initially expected. Businesses all over the country have figured out how to operate remotely to keep their employees healthy, safe, and productive. For many, it may be carrying into next year, and possibly beyond.

Do You Need to Know More about Forbearance and Mortgage Relief Options?

posted by: George Sykes, Broker, Worth Clark Realty on Monday October 19, 2020

Earlier this year when the nation pressed pause on the economy and unemployment rates jumped up significantly, many homeowners were immediately concerned about being able to pay their mortgages, and understandably so. To assist in this challenging time, two protection plans were put into place to help support those in need.

First, there was a pause placed on initiating foreclosures for government-backed loans. This plan started on March 18, 2020, and it extends at least through December 31, 2020. Second, homeowners were able to obtain forbearance for up to 180 days, followed by a potential extension for up to another 180 days. This way, there is a relief period in which homeowners have the opportunity to halt payments on their mortgages for up to one year.

The Cost of a Home Is Far More Important than the Price

posted by: George Sykes, Broker, Worth Clark Realty on Tuesday September 29, 2020

Housing inventory is at an all-time low. There are 39% fewer homes for sale today than at this time last year, and buyer demand continues to set records. Zillow recently reported: ...

Home Use is Changing

posted by: George Sykes, Broker, Worth Clark Realty on Wednesday September 9, 2020

We’ve seen a lot of change this year, and many of them have impacted the demands made on our homes.

How Will the Presidential Election Impact Real Estate in Places Like Dardenne Prairie?

posted by: George Sykes, Broker, Worth Clark Realty on Wednesday September 2, 2020

The year 2020 will be remembered as one of the most challenging times of our lives. A worldwide pandemic, a recession causing historic unemployment, and a level of social unrest perhaps never seen before have all changed the way we live. Only the real estate market seems to be unaffected, as a new forecast projects there may be more homes purchased this year than last year.

As we come to the end of this tumultuous year, we’re preparing for perhaps the most contentious presidential election of the century. Today, it’s important to look at the impact past presidential election years have had on the real estate market.

Why Foreclosures Won’t Crush the Housing Market Next Year

posted by: George Sykes, Broker, Worth Clark Realty on Friday August 14, 2020

With the strength of the current housing market growing every day and more Americans returning to work, a faster-than-expected recovery in the housing sector is already well underway. Regardless, many are still asking the question: will we see a wave of foreclosures as a result of the current crisis? Thankfully, research shows the number of foreclosures is expected to be much lower than what this country experienced during the last recession. Here’s why.

Will We See a Surge of Homebuyers Moving to the Suburbs?

posted by: George Sykes, Broker, Worth Clark Realty on Monday August 10, 2020

As remote work continues on for many businesses and Americans weigh the risks of being in densely populated areas, will more people start to move out of bigger cities? Spending extra time at home and dreaming of more indoor and outdoor space is certainly sparking some interest among homebuyers. Early data shows an initial trend in this direction of moving from urban to suburban communities, but the question is: will the trend continue?

Local Special

Help Find These Homes in the 618 Area

posted by: George Sykes, Broker, Worth Clark Realty on Wednesday July 29, 2020

I'm looking for a few specific homes to sell. I have buyer clients who are ready to purchase, and we can't find the perfect house in the MLS. Maybe you know of a matching property.

Remember Algebra? Things are balanced: Low rates and rising prices.

posted by: George Sykes, Broker, Worth Clark Realty on Wednesday July 29, 2020

Record-low interest rates are balancing out rising prices to keep buyers in the market this summer. DM me to learn more about why buying a home while interest rates are low is so powerful.

Local Special

How about something Positive? Housing Market Helping Economic Recovery

posted by: George Sykes, Broker, Worth Clark Realty on Thursday July 23, 2020

According to Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at NAR, “This has been a spectacular recovery for contract signings and goes to show the resiliency of American consumers and their evergreen desire for homeownership. This bounce back also speaks to how the housing sector could lead the way for a broader economic recovery.” DM me to learn why 2020 is shaping up to be a strong year to buy or sell a home.

Local Special

Bidding Wars ... Real Estate is a Contact Sport This Year

posted by: George Sykes, Broker, Worth Clark Realty on Tuesday July 21, 2020

With the number of homebuyers outweighing the number of houses being listed for sale this season, more and more people are facing bidding wars. Whether you’re buying a home or selling your house, DM me to talk about how we can simply and effectively navigate this process together.

A Remarkable Recovery for the Housing Market

posted by: George Sykes, Broker, Worth Clark Realty on Tuesday July 21, 2020

For months now the vast majority of Americans have been asking the same question: When will the economy turn around? Many experts have been saying the housing market will lead the way to a recovery, and today we’re seeing signs of that coming to light. With record-low mortgage rates driving high demand from potential buyers, homes are being purchased at an accelerating pace, and it’s keeping the housing market and the economy moving.

Here’s a look at what a few of the experts have to say about today’s astonishing recovery. In more than one instance, it’s being noted as truly remarkable.

Local Special

Buying or Selling? Let's talk numbers.

posted by: George Sykes, Broker, Worth Clark Realty on Tuesday July 7, 2020

Homeowner equity is continuing to rise year-over-year, meaning many families have more wealth to leverage than they may realize. DM me to learn how you can put your equity to use when selling your house and making your next move.