Sellers whose Ann Arbor homes have lingered on the market for months–or years, in some cases–are banking on this spring to turn the tide.
Foreclosures and short sales are still flooding the market, which means many sellers are still up against big inventories and some big bargains that may pull away buyers.
As such, more real estate pros say it’s time to have tough conversations with sellers about slashing their sales price of their home, particularly if it hasn’t garnered any traffic in recent months or years. After all, spring usually brings out more buyers, as home shoppers look to buy and move before the next school year.
“We have had a problem with sellers who are nostalgic for the way it was,” says Ron Phipps, a Warwick, R.I., real estate professional and the president of the National Association of REALTORS®. He says what home owners could fetch for their home during the housing boom is not practical today. “You have to be where the market is, not where it was,” Phipps says.
Phipps suggests encouraging sellers to check out the competition by visiting open houses or viewing online virtual tours of similar homes for sale to see how the seller’s house compares in price and appearance.
“You have to be very realistic about what is keeping your home from selling,” Phipps says. “Sometimes it may actually be the person in the mirror, if your expectations are not realistic. Ultimately, there is a price at which all things sell.”
Source: “Longtime Listings Try Again in Spring,” Associated Press (March 1, 2011)
As always, we here at Prudential Snyder & Company Realtors are here to assist you with any of your Ann Arbor Area home buying, home selling, rental or other Ann Arbor real estate needs.
Call us at 734-747-7500 or 734-747-7700 weekdays, or 734-660-0105 evenings and weekends. We’re also available via email at info@prusnyder.com or online at www.prusnyder.com anytime. Choose Prudential Snyder and Company for the best Ann Arbor Realtors!

Ann Arbor, Michigan is a city in southeastern Michigan with a population of slightly more that 100,000. It is home to the University of Michigan as well as numerous hi-tech businesses. The recession that gripped much of the state of Michigan and most of the country has been softened in Ann Arbor by the entrepreneurial spirit created by the University of Michigan through the spin-off of businesses it has created in new and emerging fields. Consequently, Ann Arbor housing appears to be stabilizing and appreciating faster that the rest of the state.
With over 25 years as a business professional and entrepreneur, Jeffrey has established a tradition of knowledge, dedication, energy, integrity and creativity. His experience covers a diverse field of industries including entertainment, automotive design, sustainable business and product development, brand marketing, and real estate development and representation.
market and the steady decrease in pricing nationally.
