Kathleen's Blog

The start of 2012 gives a much more positive outlook for Saginaw residential real estate than the beginning of 2011.  To give you a true idea of what is happening in our local market, I need to include both the closed and pending contracts for Saginaw from December.  Because of the holidays, many of the houses that are actually sold are not in our sold statics yet, but they may have closed at the end of December right when offices were closed.  The pending sales will include these.

Sixteen houses sold in Saginaw in December of 2011.  The least expensive was a house on Opal Street in Rancho North that sold for $64,150. The average sales price of a Saginaw home was $114,483. The most expensive sale was my listing at 657 Chestnut Lane with a sales price of $168,650.  I listed this beautiful home in the spring of 2010.  The seller canceled the listing when we were unable to sell it and then relisted with me last spring in 2011. We had a contract months ago with a sale contingent on the sale of the buyer’s home, but that first buyer was unable to complete the sale because his potential buyer lost his job just before closing.   We finally were able to close the sale in December.

Who sold homes in Saginaw in December and how long were houses on the market?  Eleven homes were sold by individuals, three of the homes were bank foreclosures and two of the houses were new construction. The average home was on the market for 109 days, a market time that hasn’t changed very much in months.

Now here is the summary information for the pending listings.  Twenty eight houses are still showing as pending with an average price of $115,729.  This price is slightly higher than the price for the closed listings because it reflects a list price, not a sold price and includes more new construction.  Of the pending listings eleven were foreclosures and four were new construction.  The average time on the market was 80 days.  I believe the shorter time on the market reflects the greater number of foreclosures among the pending sales. Foreclosure sales appear to be slower to be recorded as sold than many traditional sales.

The active sales for Saginaw at the start of 2012 had buying opportunities for everyone with 64 homes for sale in our city.  The least expensive was $29,900. The highest priced home is beautiful new construction in Creekwood built by Standard Pacific and listed for $215,062. New construction accounts for seven of the listings.  Only four foreclosures and five short sales (preforeclosures) are included in the active listings.

- Kathleen Wheeler -

As of December 2, 2011, the MLS records showed that fifteen homes sold in Saginaw during November 2011.  There were some interesting market changes during the last month, including the days on the market, percentage of foreclosures and type of sellers.

The average days on the market dropped to 80 days.  The average had been around 100 days earlier in the year.  Four homes sold in less than two weeks.  Very desirable homes at competitive prices can still sell fast.

One third of the homes last month were foreclosure sales.  The percentage had been about half of the sales several months ago.  The homes that sold as HUD foreclosures in Saginaw North sold for $42,000 and $58,200.  These were the least expensive sales in Saginaw in November.  The average price for a home was $103,385.

Who were the home sellers in Saginaw in November?  Five homes were sold as bank foreclosures, and two were relocation sales.  Four homes belonged to investors who had leased the property previously or purchased the house to remodel and resell at a profit.  Two homes, the most expensive sales which sold for $142,850 and $145,414, were new construction. Of all of the sales, only two homes belonged to owner-occupants who decided to sell their homes.

Early last spring about 100 houses were actively for sale in Saginaw.  Now seventy houses are for sale.  The shorter time on the market and smaller inventory are good signs for those who wish to sell homes in Saginaw.

- Kathleen Wheeler -

The basic trend for Saginaw home sales continued with six foreclosures and six homes for sale by individuals selling in October. The most amazing sale in Saginaw in October was the newly constructed home in Willow Creek Estates that sold for $205,060, high above the average price for Saginaw homes.  The price range for the foreclosure sales was $52,000 to $131,000.  The homes owned by individuals sold for between $123,000 and $137,500 with an average sales price of $128,650.

The average days on the market for homes owned by individuals last month was only 81 days.  This shorter time on the market reflects the fact that some homes that were priced correctly and were in excellent condition sold quickly. 

Today 79 homes are actively for sale in Saginaw.  In the spring about one hundred homes were on the market.  The average home has been on the market for 114 days at an average price of $139,900.  Only thirteen homes are on the market for less than $100,000.  Surprisingly, only two of these were foreclosures.

- Kathleen Wheeler -

Are you thinking of purchasing a foreclosure?  Would you like a foreclosure with new carpet and fresh paint that’s move-in ready?  Let me find a Fannie Mae HomePath foreclosure for you.  These foreclosures save you the cost and time of doing the cosmetic repairs often found on the HUD foreclosures.

The popularity of these HomePath foreclosures and their great prices may mean that the bank will receive more than one offer on a home, but I am experienced in helping you negotiate your price.  Upon request I will set you up a free multiple listing search for foreclosures that will e-mail you daily with information about the newest listings.  With the latest information constantly available, I will help you view homes and make offers until we have just the right house under contract for you.  Please call me or e-mail me so I can set up your special search today.

The September home sales in Saginaw followed the general pattern of the previous months.  Thirteen homes sold, eight that belonged to individual owners and five that were bank foreclosures.  The homes sold for between $53,500 and $136,000.  Here are the sales by subdivision: 

Rancho North: 2 (the least expensive homes and one foreclosure)

Parkwest:  3 (one foreclosure)

Heather Ridge: 3 (one foreclosure)

Willowstone: 1 (one foreclosure)

Creekwood: 1 (one foreclosure)

Highland Station: 1

Commons at Willow Creek: 1

Willow Creek: 1 (the most expensive sale)

As of October 17, 2011, 92 homes were for sale in Saginaw.  The prices ranged from $56,700 for a foreclosure in Saginaw North to $243,440 for new construction in Creekwood.  Forty one houses were on the market for more than $136,000, the highest price of last month’s most expensive sale.  The average list price of the houses for sale inSaginawwas $134,000.  The average time on the market for these homes was 107 days.

Two Fannie Mae Home Path properties are currently for sale in Saginaw.  These foreclosures are a wonderful buying opportunity for buyers, but tough competition for sellers.  Instead of being fixer-uppers that need time, money and a vision to make beautiful, these homes have new carpet and paint and are move-in ready.  They even smell new!  These special foreclosures include the house at 524 Buckstone listed for $95,000 and the house at 900 Chestnut Lanefor $146,500.  These popular homes often receive multiple offers from buyers who often drive the final price up above the list price, but they still can be a dream come true for their purchaser.

Home sales increased in August as compared to earlier months of the year.  Twenty four Saginaw homes sold last month.  Seven of these were foreclosures, and one was new construction.  JRW Investments built the 1812 square foot, new home and sold it for $143,000.  The other Saginaw sales ranged from $50,000 to $160,000 with the average sales price of $106,034.  Ten homes sold for less than $100,000.

Houses continued to be on the market for many weeks.  The average time on the market was 98 days, and nine houses sold after more than 100 days.  Some of the foreclosure homes are in relatively good condition and sell quickly for distressed property prices.  These quicker foreclosure sales bring down the average time on the market for all of the houses.  At the time of this writing, ninety-nine houses are for sale in Saginaw through multiple listing, and they range in price from $56,700 to $235,440.  The number of houses for sale in Saginaw has been close to one hundred for several months.  Now is a great time for buyers to choose a Saginaw home because of the wide selection of homes as well as the greatly reduced prices on many houses.

- Kathleen Wheeler -

The important news for July was the single foreclosure among the ten homes that sold in Saginaw last month.  Of the other nine homes that sold, one home was new construction built by Cheldan, and eight homes belonged to individuals. Highland Station was the subdivision with the most sales activity with four homes that sold in July.  The average days on the market for homes that sold in Saginaw was 95 days, and the average home sales price was $129,580.  Information for individual Saginaw subdivisions can be found by clicking on the “Saginaw Subdivisions” link above and then selecting the desired subdivision.

The chart information is from NTREIS.

- Kathleen Wheeler -

Twenty-eight houses sold in Saginaw in June.  Ten of these were foreclosures, four were new construction and fourteen belonged to individuals.  The new construction included two homes built by Cheldan, one by McBee and one by Antares.  Eleven of the fourteen homes sold by individuals were on the market for less than three months.

- Kathleen Wheeler -

May sales continued the rather slow trend of the earlier months of the year.  A total of twenty homes sold.  Nine of these homes belonged to individuals, and four were in the Highland Station Addition.  Of the twenty total sales, eight were in Highland Station and Heather Ridge in the 76131 zip code and convenient to Saginaw High School.  About half of the sales were still bank foreclosures or short sales. 

A surprise for May was the two new construction sales.  These were Cheldan homes.  One was built in the Dominion and the other in Spring Creek.  The quality and popularity of Cheldan construction and corporate practices has sold these homes when there were no other sales of new homes. 

For the sales of homes owned by individuals, the average price of the home that sold in Saginaw was $119,000.  The prices ranged from $102,700 to $165,000.  The most expensive sale was on Sky Wood Ct in Willow Creek Estates and the least expensive was in Highland Station. Houses still took an average of more than 100 days to sell. 

May sales reflect contracts written in April.  The Saginaw market has shown new life in May and June, and as of June 16 there are thirty pending sales contracts for future sales.  Please return to my blog in July for future updates as our real estate recovery moves forward.

- Kathleen Wheeler -

Saginaw Real Estate Sales Update for April 2011 

Bank properties continued to be the majority of homes sold in Saginaw in April.  Of the twenty one houses that sold last month, twelve were foreclosures, short sales, or Tarrant County Housing Partnership properties.  The prices on these properties ranged from $69,000 to $129,900.

 The builder, Antares Homes, sold two new homes in the Commons at Willow Creek.  One sold for $149,154 and the other for $165, 381.

 Individuals sold seven homes in April.  The prices ranged from $95,000 for a remodeled home in Saginaw North Addition to $171,500 for a newer home on Big Willow Court in Willow Creek Addition near Willow Creek Park.

 USDA Financing for Saginaw No Longer Available

In the past USDA financing provided no-money down rural loans to moderate income families who purchased homes in Saginaw if they met certain requirements.  The new census data is compiled, and Saginaw has grown in population density.  Saginaw no longer qualifies as a “rural” community for USDA financing.  First time home buyers who wish to apply for a USDA loan might want to consider purchasing a home in Azle or one of the more rural areas where this financing is still available.  Please contact me for more information.

 - Kathleen Wheeler -

Are you are losing out because of your credit?  Have you hired credit repair companies only to be disappointed?  Learn more about credit and the credit repair process so that you can raise your own credit score and have a better financial future.  You will be guided from start to finish on how to repair your own credit. Come to our Free Credit Repair Class.  For information click here.

- Kathleen Wheeler -

Sixteen homes sold in Saginaw in March according to our NETRIS Multiple Listing Service.  They ranged in price from $60,000 to $162,000.  The average home sales price was $97,000.  Only four of these homes were sold by individuals; twelve were bank foreclosures or short sales.  I represented buyers who purchased a foreclosure home with 1878 square feet and sold for $76,000.

As of April 2, 2011, one hundred homes are for sale in Saginaw.  The prices range from $259,900 for a home in Creekwood with an inground pool to a house in Rancho North for $64,400.  Currently listed homes have been on the market an average of 139 days.

The better employment reports, the time of the year, continued low interest rates and the large inventory of homes in all price ranges are finally sparking interest among potential home buyers.  The telephones are ringing in our office, and we agents are showing houses again.  We are hoping that better sales results will follow soon.  Our agents have recently written several contracts on desirable, well maintained homes belonging to individuals, not just on short sales or foreclosures.  We like getting great bargains for our clients, but we love to be able to serve our sellers, too.  What a joy to have buyers really love their new home!

- Kathleen Wheeler -