There are no shopping home blues this Christmas

Quite frankly, the real estate market in west Michigan for the fourth quarter has been active...very active. For investors, for first-time home buyers and for those who are "sizing-up", it's never been a better time to buy. And, interest rates continue to remain low.

I've been in this long enough to know whatever kind of market it is...buyers versus sellers...sellers always want more and buyers always want it for less. However, sellers have had a more realistic perspective of the market and have been pricing their properties accordingly. Adjusting your mindset from decorating your house for your lifestyle to staging your property for the market are two, completely different mindsets. In a shifting market, maximizing your properties selling potential is crucial for securing a fair market price for your investment.