As I go to various states pursuing distressed property acquisitions, I am finding an uptick in the number of sellers willing to sell their off-market properties. These include probate situations, tired landlords, elderly moving to assisted living, vacants, bankruptcies, and pre-foreclosures. The problem is sellers still have the impression their homes are worth more than they are. They remember their neighbors getting multiple offers and selling above the norm, but that has changed somewhat. I live in a high-demand area, and houses can sit on the market for 30 days before they go under contract. It can be even longer around other parts of the nation that I visit. Although most of the country is still seeing lower-than-normal inventory, The higher interest rates and the uncertainty of government affairs have an effect.
The reason I say proceed but with caution, is because if you are going to rehab a property, the rehab costs are outrageous. The cost of materials has come down a little from the pandemic but they are still high and I think they are here to stay. Businesses know that people are willing to pay and consumers are spending like crazy. On the other hand, contractors are charging much higher labor costs. Sheetrockers, framers, painters, plumbers
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