1. The Chairmans Report A Message from Lawrence F. Flick, IV, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Prudential Fox & Roach, REALTORS and The Trident Group WINTER 2011 What about the sellers?We all know its a buyers market: a great selection of This is especially true when we trade up to a morehouses, lower yet stable prices, more realistic sellers, and expensive property. And when we consider todaysgenerationally low interest rates. But what about the exceptionally low mortgage interest rates, the potentialsellers can they achieve their goals, or is success just savings soar because we save significant dollars everynot possible in todays market? month throughout the life of the loan.Its been a long four years since the end of the real estate ARE YOU REALLY READY TO SELL?boom. For many of us, life changed dramatically in thattime. Whether because of marriage, divorce, If you are ready to sell your home now, success allhaving children, seeing children leave the nest, or taking comes down to how well your property competesin a parent, we are reevaluating our current living with others on the market. Before listing yours,situation. For first time buyers who feel secure about analyze the market with your Prudential Fox & Roachtheir employment and financial situation, todays sales associate:decision point is clear. Its easy to see the benefits of the Look at the data from comparable sales in the past sixcurrent market. But for some who must sell a home in months. What was their initial list price versus theorder to buy another, the advantages of making a move final selling price? What price reductions did theymay not be so obvious. Many sellers continue to hold make? How long were they on the market?off, waiting until the market improves, making doand postponing plans even though their current Review properties that were for sale but withdrawnsituation is uncomfortable. from the market. Try to determine why they didnt sell.It doesnt have to be this way. In an ideal world,everyone would sell in a sellers market and buy in a Be familiar with competing properties currently onbuyers market. But in reality, those two conditions dont the market. How long have they been for sale? Haveco-exist. So how can a seller find opportunity in a they had price reductions? Then, take the time tobuyers market? Consider this: selling and then buying a tour them with your Prudential Fox & Roach saleshome in a buyers market generally nets positive results. associate. Consider these homes from a buyers pointHow is that possible? The answer is that even if we lose of view to see how yours compares. Is yours the bestsome value when selling our house now, we save when value? If you really want to sell, it needs to be!we buy a new home at a price lower than if we hadbought at the peak of the market. can they achieve their goals, or is success just not possible in todays market? 1

2. Accept the fact that prices in our area have eroded 2. Months Supply of Inventory (MSI) since the peak selling prices of 2006. We often hear of by Price Range dramatic price declines of 30% or more from the In higher price ranges, there is greater supply versus national Case Shiller Price Index, which covers only demand. Though there is no price index that sorts 20 metropolitan areas throughout the United States. properties by price ranges, it has become evident (The Philadelphia tri-state area is not included in that the recession has had a much greater impact on this.) Real estate is local, and the Case Shiller data for properties in higher price ranges: our area suggests a 6% to 15% decline throughout the Prudential Fox & Roach market area. Keep in mind MSI by Price Range that this is an average, and does not necessarily accurately represent some price ranges and/or micro 37.4 $1,000,000+ locations. The following examples illustrate housing supply and demand which impacts the negotiation $1,000,000- 24.8 $750,000 position of buyers and sellers: $750,000- 18.1 $500,000 1. Months Supply of Inventory (MSI) 15.5 $500,000- MSI is calculated by determining how long it would $300,000 take to sell properties listed for sale at the present $300,000- 13.8 $0 months rate of sales. In a normal market, MSI 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 would be six to eight months. Current MSI is elevated and points to a continued buyers market: (Source: Trend MLS), November 2010 Months Supply of Inventory (MSI) 3. Number of Transactions by Price Range The number of properties that have sold clearly 2005 5.5 shows that there is significantly more demand for 2006 7.8 properties priced less than $500,000: 2007 10.7 Number of Marketplace Transactions 2008 15.1 by Price Range 2009 12.2 2010 14 $1,000,000+ 43 1.3% $1,000,000- 61 1.9% 0 5 10 15 $750,000 Number of Months (Source: Trend MLS), November 2010 $750,000- 190 5.9% $500,000 $500,000- 601 18.6% $300,000 $300,000-$0 2,340 72.3% 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 (Source: Trend MLS), November 2010 The answer is that even if we lose some value when selling our house now, we save when we buy a new home at a lower price than if we had bought at the peak of the market.2

3. A TEST THAT FAILS an entry that welcomes visitors or moving furniture to show your rooms to their best advantage, stagingMany home sellers try to test the market by listing their transforms your property from the place you live intoproperty at a higher price and then reducing it later. a showpiece for potential buyers.Unfortunately, those who do usually end up making lesson the sale than if they had priced it competitively from 3. Marketing Plan Phase IIthe start. Experience shows us that houses that are priced We know the importance of a traditional marketingright sell closer to their list price in a shorter period of plan that targets potential buyers via varied outlets.time. Heres an example from our marketplace: But too often we overlook a crucial part of marketing that occurs after potential buyers come through our 0-30 97% home. Yet the time to think through the entire transaction is before we place a house on the market. DAYS ON MARKET 31-60 92% Sellers must prepare themselves to hear buyer feedback 61-90 89% objectively and make adjustments if needed, and plan 91-120 83% a negotiating strategy that will allow them to review 121-180 80% offers wisely, without the emotions that too often keep 181+ 76% many from thinking clearly. And, home inspection 0 20 40 60 80 100 concerns should be addressed before an offer. The % OF ASKING PRICE more we prepare to manage this crucial phase of the selling process, the better chance we have of achieving(Source: Trend MLS) our ultimate goal.BEYOND PRICING 4. Financing OptionsAside from proper pricing, other important factors will When you do get an offer, you want to be confidentaffect whether or not your house sells: that the buyer is pre-approved for a mortgage with a reputable lender, especially if the property will likely 1. Condition require a non-conforming loan. Your Trident After weve lived in a house for a while, many of us mortgage consultant will prepare the best financing tend not to notice the little flaws that weve been options available and pre-approve the buyer so you are meaning to repair. However, you can count on assured that everyone gets to closing on time and with potential buyers seeing them right away. Before the least amount of stress. putting your house on the market, tackle your to-do list and complete it. Many buyers dont want to face If you want to make a move but have been waiting to additional projects after their purchase, so make it sell, youve waited long enough. Now is the time to easier for them to select your home as their next one. make it happen. Contact your Prudential Fox & Roach sales associate and Trident loan consultant and get ready 2. Staging to get on with your life! Before, in the previously overheated market, if you wanted to sell your house you just needed to tidy up and bake cookies so your home smelled inviting. Now staging a home for sale is a sophisticated practice, one which your Prudential Fox & Roach sales professional will guide you through. If youve watched HGTV or Lawrence F. Flick, IV similar home shows, you know the positive impact a Chairman and Chief Executive Officer few strategic changes can make. Whether its creating Prudential Fox & Roach, Realtors and The Trident Group 3

4. AN INDEPENDENT VIEW Kevin C. Gillen, Ph.D. is a performance compared to national trends, households Research Fellow with are well aware that we are in a challenging economy University of Pennsylvanias and understandably remain wary about the future. Institute for Urban Research While the uncertainty of the future and softness of and a Vice-President with the economy must be recognized, it should not Philadelphia-based Econsult overshadow the fact that not all the news here is Corporation. His quarterly negative. Our mix of major employers (educational report on the Philadelphia institutions, hospitals, pharmaceuticals and medical housing market regularly research) is relatively recession-proof and makes the receives widespread media Philadelphia area much less susceptible to severe coverage, and he has been economic downturns like the one the nation is quoted in the Wall Street Journal, the NY Times, the currently experiencing. And even though credit may Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Magazine. be tighter than it was during the boom years of mid-decade, the data indicate that credit is readily The greater Philadelphia metro area continues to available for qualified buyers. And, while it is true outperform the nation during the current downturn. that we did not experience the wild house price Unemployment here is below the national average, inflation and over-building that many other areas of and the decline in local house prices remains among the country did during the boom years, it also means the smallest for large U.S. cities. Yet, home sales that we fall less and land softer during the bust years. continue to be sluggish, and are currently below their Lastly, the plus side of lower house prices is increased historic average. And even with historically low housing affordability. When you combine this with interest rates, both mortgage applications and the current high levels of inventory, there is now a originations also remain relatively low. More selection of homes to choose from that have more importantly, despite our better-than-average variety and are more affordable than ever before. An Independently Owned and Operated Member of the Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc.4