Buying or selling?

1. What’s the real estate market in Holyoke like right now?
    With plenty of houses with FOR SALE signs in their yards, Holyoke is seeing a strong real estate market this summer.
    It’s fairly steady, said Shannon Schlachter, an associate broker with Shay Realty. There are people going in an out of Holyoke, so there’s a steady demand for the homes coming and going off the market.
    The good news is there’s lots of options on the market right now. Holyoke has everything from starter homes to large family homes, said Casey Blake, broker for Choice Real Estate.
    However, while there are definitely homes to pick from, they aren’t necessarily matching up with what buyers are looking for. Lighthouse Real Estate broker Julie Wiebke said lower-end homes are selling while houses on the higher end are sitting on the market. There’s a shortage of homes in the $100,000-$175,000 range.
    Karina Davis, a realtor with HomeSmart Realty Group, recently transitioned from the Front Range to northeastern Colorado and can testify that Holyoke has a busy market for the size of the community.

2. What does it mean for someone trying to sell a house?
    Industry professionals agreed it’s a good time to sell a home, but sellers must not overprice.
    “We all love our houses, but there’s not necessarily a buyer willing to pay that price,” said Wiebke. Both the house itself and the price must be attractive.
    There’s lots of buyers looking, added Schlachter, so sellers must be realistic about the value of their home. Don’t let emotions get in the way. Around $150,000 is the most desirable price right now, while $250,000 or more will make selling much more difficult, she added.

The full article is available in our e-Edition. Click here to subscribe.