My Bellaire Blog

The Houston Business Journal reported today that the Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown metropolitan area unemployment rate dipped to 8.2 percent in November from 8.4 percent the previous month. We gained a net 9,300 jobs, a 0.4 percent rise from October.

However, the construction and manufacturing sectors still lost a combined 3,400 jobs in November.  When will construction and manufacturing score employment gains again?  To me, that is the real indicator of a recovery…  Hopefully, those numbers will improve soon, helping the Houston 2010 economical outlook!  In the meantime, if you have a job, be extremely thankful this holiday season and make sure to count your blessings and share with the less fortunate.  Texas is still doing very well compared to the rest of the nation:  According to same article Texas had the largest over-the-month increase in employment nationwide for the second consecutive month, besting second place Ohio’s job gains by more than three times!

If you are hesitant to list your home during the holidays, consider these 10 reasons why you should put your home on the market this time a year:

January is traditionally the month for employees to begin new jobs. Since transferees cannot wait until spring to buy, you need to be on the market during the Holidays to capture that market!

Some people must buy before the end of the year for tax reasons!

Buyers have more time to look for a home during the holidays than they do during a working week!

Buyers are more emotional during the Holidays, so they are more likely to pay your price!

Houses show better when decorated for the Holidays!

Since the supply of listings will dramatically increase in January, there will be less demand for your particular home! Less demand means less money for you!

Serious buyers have fewer houses to choose from during the Holidays and less competition means more money for you!

People who look for homes during the Holidays are more serious buyers!

By selling now, you may have an opportunity to be a non-contingent buyer in early Spring, when many more houses are on the market for less money! This will allow you to sell high and buy low!

You can sell now for more money and we will provide for a delayed closing or extended occupancy until early next year!

Even though your house will be on the market, you still have the option to restrict showings during the six or seven days around the Holidays!