Home Sellers: Rebuilding Equity Will Take Time

After three years of slumping house prices, the end of the real estate bust may finally be in sight. Home sales are rising, inventories are shrinking, and most economists believe values nationwide will hit bottom in the second half of 2010 — but not before falling another 5% to 10% first.

One positive byproduct of the 30% plunge in prices since the 2006 peak: Houses are now more affordable than at any time in the past two decades, according to the National Association of Home Builders — good news for anyone looking to buy.

If you hope to sell your home or rebuild lost equity, there’s new hope. One plus is that Congress has recently extended the first-time homebuyer credit, and even expanded it to include those with higher incomes and current homeowners.

If you’re thinking of selling your home, if at all possible, postpone those plans. Sellers next year will be unloading property at what’s likely to be the very bottom. Ouch. Hold out for a few more years, so you’ll compete against fewer foreclosures, increasing the chances your home will fetch a higher price.

Delaying your sale isn’t an option? Act fast before prices drop further. To expedite a sale, don’t try to compete on price with foreclosures and short sales (when the bank allows owners to sell for less than they owe on their mortgage); most of the time, you can’t win. Instead play up your home’s strengths. Foreclosures typically need a lot of work, and short sales can take months. So make necessary repairs, throw in a paint job and new carpeting since buyers may be short on cash after the down payment, and offer a fast and flexible closing date. That will attract people willing to pay more for a home that’s in move-in condition and a deal they can close quickly.

As for fixing up the place, now’s not the time to spend serious money; since prices aren’t likely to snap back soon, you won’t see much of a return on your investment. Focus on lower-cost cosmetic fixes, like painting and landscaping, and basic projects that improve functionality and design, such as adding molding or doing a basic bathroom remodel.

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