An abundance of homes for sale, aggressive pricing and low mortgage rates has created the “perfect storm” for homebuyers in 2008. And, with spring fast approaching, typically the busiest season for home sales, prospective buyers are gearing up for weekend model home tours and open house events

“As spring approaches, we expect to see buyers who have been sitting on the fence begin to take action,” said Jackie Alexander, a vice president of sales and marketing for Beazer Homes, one of the nation’s top-10 home builders. “More and more people are waking up to the tremendous buying opportunities that are out there today.”

Indeed, the National Association of Home Builders reported in February that prospective buyer traffic has picked up considerably in model homes across the country. And, a recent consumer poll conducted on behalf of Beazer found that 64 percent of respondents believe that for those with good credit and a down payment “this is an ideal time to buy a home.

Alexander advises those shopping for a new home to develop a list of questions to ask sellers along with their must-have features. She says doing the due diligence up front is the key to getting the most “bang for the buck” in the current housing market.

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Despite plenty of evidence to the contrary, 77 percent of homeowners believe that their homes are worth as much or more as they were in 2006, according to a Harris Interactive survey conducted for Zillow.com.

And 36 percent say their homes increased in value in 2007.

The slow market also isn’t discouraging homeowners from major transactions. Despite what they read and hear about the real estate market, 34 percent say they are equally or more likely to consider selling their homes this year, and 35 percent are just as likely as before to take out a home equity loan. 36 percent would consider a second mortgage.

Homeowners continue to forge ahead on projects that they believe improve the value of their homes. In 2008:

82 percent will spend the same or more on minor home improvements (install new garbage disposal, repaint or wallpaper a room).
67 percent say they will spend the same or more on major home improvements (replace the roof, remodel the kitchen).

Are people just in denial? Not really, says Stan Humphries, Zillow.com vice president of data and analytics. “This likely reflects the fact that most Americans have not realized home-related losses because they’re staying in their homes,”

Source: Zillow.com (02/07/2008)

I have a keen interest in psychology and the humanities.

I regularly check About.com’s psychology section. They have links to interesting theories regarding human nature. Including results from the latest studies on how people or other animals react to their environment.

Here is an excerpt from an excellent article published by the New York Times that gives you some insight into the characteristics of priming and subliminal influences:

“New studies have found that people tidy up more thoroughly when there’s a faint tang of cleaning liquid in the air; they become more competitive if there’s a briefcase in sight, or more cooperative if they glimpse words like “dependable” and “support” — all without being aware of the change, or what prompted it.

Psychologists say that “priming” people in this way is not some form of hypnotism, or even subliminal seduction; rather, it’s a demonstration of how everyday sights, smells and sounds can selectively activate goals or motives that people already have.”

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