Friday, April 29, 2011

CASH SALES ON THE INCREASE

Both nationally and locally real estate brokers have noticed an increase in the number of cash transactions.

For example, between January 1, 2010 and late March 2011 of 166 transactions in Big Sky, 72 or 43 percent have closed with cash. According to a recent article in the San Francisco Examiner in January 2011, 28.7 percent of the sales closed with cash. Also in January, 2011, 46 percent of real estate transactions in Toledo, Ohio were cash sales. The MLS of Central Oregon that tracks sales in the Bend, Oregon area noted that 32 percent of the sales in February were cash transactions.

The National Association of Realtors noted that 54.2 percent of the sales in Miami, 45.9 percent in Las Vegas, 44.9 percent in Tampa and 35.6 percent of the sales in Phoenix were cash transactions. These four cities were all hit pretty hard by the recent recession and prices were dramatically reduced due to numerous foreclosures and short sales.

While there are a number of reasons for this increase in cash sales, such as foreign investment, cashing out equity in other properties or investments or using cash and a quick close as a negotiation strategy, there is also another potential reason: the return of the investment buyer.

Investment buyers look for opportunity; the combination of motivated sellers, short sales and foreclosures combined with a lot of inventory creates an almost ideal situation for those investment minded buyers. This also could be a signal that many buyers believe that we are close or at the bottom of the market. Already in Big Sky we are seeing significant market absorption in certain areas and price ranges.

Posted by
Don Pilotte, Broker, GRI, RRS
Big Sky Office
55 Lone Peak Drive
Suite 3
Big Sky MT 59716
don.pilotte@prumt.com
cell: 406-580-0155

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