There's no doubt that a buyer's market can be challenging for sellers. Yet it does not mean that sellers cannot enter the market - or that they cannot garner a fair price for their homes. Home sales in a buyer's market may take longer. But a little creativity can go a long way toward help sellers move homes, without having to significantly drop the price.

The professionals at Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC offer the following suggestions for sellers who want to speed the process:

Price Your Home According to the Current Market. Just because a house comparable to yours sold for a very high price last year does not mean you will be able to realize the same price when selling your home now. Work with a full-service real estate professional to determine the appropriate, competitive listing price for your home. Remember that in this market, your sales associate may encourage a list price in accordance with others currently on the market, rather than those previously sold. Visit the Home Value Estimator to get a sense of comparative sales prior to meeting with your sales associate.

Be Realistic About Appreciation. Since the housing market began to slow significantly in late 2007, home prices have fallen all over the country. Yet understanding trends in your specific market is critical - as not all areas have experienced the same drops. Some regions of the country have remained more steady relative to prices, and are even back to experiencing modest appreciations. And if you bought your home many years ago, the gains you made in the decades before the downturn may still be far more than recent drops. So speak with your real estate professional to get a realistic view on how your home has gained or lost, relative to its value and potential price.

Make Your Home More Marketable. When a buyer sees your house for the first time, a critical first impression is made. If applicable, maximize curb appeal by trimming trees and planting flowers. A fresh exterior coat of paint might also prove valuable. Consider neutral colors for interior walls and carpets. Dark colors on walls, along with unnecessary clutter, make rooms look smaller.

Conduct a Full Home Inspection. If repairs are required, it is a good idea to go ahead and fix the problems. Potential buyers will cast an extremely critical eye over your home and, in a situation when more houses are available on the market, they may take a pass on a home that needs too many repairs. Be sure to have the home inspection report available for prospective buyers itemizing all of the repairs that have been made and the associated cost for each.

Offer a "Seller's Contribution." A seller can sweeten the deal by offering assistance to the buyer in ways that do not require lowering the asking price. These tactics can help your home to stand out from the crowd. For example:

• Offer to buy down the interest rate on the buyer's mortgage.
  
• Offer to pay a portion of the closing costs.
  
• Cover the buyer's mortgage payments for up to the first six months. Depending upon the size of the mortgage, the buyer can save several thousand dollars and the seller still gets the original asking price for the home. It is generally more financially advantageous to do this than dropping the asking price by $30-, $20- or even just $10,000.
• Many condos and houses across the country belong to homeowners' associations that require annual dues. Paying the first year's fees could be a big incentive to a buyer nearing the limit of his or her liquid assets.
• Offer to pay off a buyer's bills. According to Realty Times, some loan programs allow sellers to pay off the credit card debt or auto loans of the buyer which will help him or her qualify for a better mortgage and prevent the need to buy a smaller, less expensive house.

Don't Worry. Properly priced homes that stand out from the competition are likely to sell. Speak to your Coldwell Banker® sales associate to find out how long an appropriately priced home is expected to remain on the market in your area. Back to Top of Page.

When is the best time to buy a house? With many markets reporting an abundance of homes for sale, and interest rates remaining at near historic lows, now might be one of the best times in recent memory. While today's real estate market does offer advantages to buyers, consumers still need to be savvy in order to get the best deal they can.

Following are some valuable home buying information that the professionals at Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC think every homebuyer should keep in mind:

Don't Try to Time the Market. When home prices are lower, it is very tempting for potential buyers to try to wait as long as possible in the hopes that prices will decline even further. This strategy can be detrimental because when there is high inventory, smart sellers price their homes properly -- not according to past sales but according to current conditions -- so their homes will sell in a timely fashion. Once a home is priced to what the current market will bear, buyers will make offers.

Shop Around. But Don't Wait Too Long. The National Association of REALTORS reports that homes are staying on the market for several months. Recent increased inventory gives homebuyers a great opportunity to compare homes that meet their needs. However, this does not mean that homebuyers should procrastinate. If you find a house you love, put in your bid and negotiate. Don't provide an opportunity for another buyer to make an offer.

Watch Mortgage Rates. As of early 2009, mortgage rates were continuing to fall to historic lows. This presents a strong opportunity to enter the real estate market, particularly for first time homebuyers who have no need to sell another home. Simple mortgage calculators widely available online can help you determine just how much you will pay per month, based on a given rate. For example, a monthly payment on a 30-year fixed 5.875 mortgage rate on a 300,000 loan will be $1,774.61.

Negotiate on the Incentives. Sellers eager to move may offer you a variety of incentives such as cars, trips, furnishings and even credit card bill payment. If you accept an incentive, make sure it makes sense for you. Instead of having your bills paid, you may opt to have the seller renovate the master bathroom or install new flooring. Of course, you can always ask the seller to simply deduct the amount in question from the list price. Back to Top of Page.