Your Annual Real Estate Horoscope for 2008

Friends are saying, Aries, this is not the right time to sell your home. You may see neighbors making home selling mistakes or worry buyers may pass up your home because of a bad layout. You've sold homes before in down markets and made up the loss through your expert negotiating power on the trade up. You can do it again.

Tongues may wag you are a risk taker, but there is no risk in following logic. You're a leader. Resist the impulse to hire the first real estate agent you meet. Interview three, and by choosing the best listing agent, your home will sell before school is out in June. Optimism rules. Make an offer to purchase during a full moon, and your friends will be amazed at the outcome. But you won't. You knew it would happen.

You may have tried to buy a home last year, Taurus, and had your offer rejected. But you're not about to give up hope. You want that gourmet kitchen with the granite counters and stainless steel appliances, and shouldn't feel guilty one little bit about it. You deserve to move up into a four-bedroom home with a spacious master suite and indoor spa.

You may be drawn to a certain model home in a new subdivision, but the builder of those homes might have a reputation for inferior work. Pass it up. Look at homes constructed at higher elevations. Wait until the summer rush is over before entering into negotiations, and the builder of your new home may throw in tons of free upgrades, including a temperature controlled wine cellar.

You never signed a buyer's broker agreement, Gemini, so don't feel like you're obligated to work with that buyer's agent. You love looking at homes, talking to agents, even if you don't understand open house etiquette. It's a social event, and that's OK. You've almost bought any number of homes because you found an element you love in each. So many choices. Too many homes.

Take the time to look at homes twice because you may discover a defective home is not up to your high standards, even though family may be pressuring you to buy. Don't let yourself get pushed into any purchase that is not 100% right. Besides, if you wait for fall, you might finally get that raise you've been promised, and then you can buy any home you desire.

Cheer up, Cancer, although it 's dreary in January, your home is out there. You know the pros and cons of various neighborhoods but may decide that security is more important than material trappings. You can be happy in a smaller more modest home as long the neighborhood feels safe to you.

You are a likely candidate to buy a fixer upper home because you don't mind putting in sweat equity to raise the value of your home and make it your own. Don't worry about saving enough money because the seller of your home will offer to pay the buyer's closing costs and quite possibly save you even more by doing a buy down mortgage for you. May is the perfect time to buy because you can finally plant that summer flower garden in your very own yard.

Isn't it frustrating, Leo, when your agent doesn't listen to you? Contrary to your demands, she shows you homes in areas where you wouldn't walk your dog. Fire that agent. How many times do you have to ask for a swimming pool home with a four-car garage?

You'll do better to look for homes in the spring, when choices are plentiful. Start by interviewing agents and don't settle for a novice, hire an experienced agent. An agent who has been around the block a few times will know how to present a lowball offer for you and get it accepted. But try expanding your home parameters to include homes where you can put in a pool and build an outdoor kitchen. You can afford it after all the money you will save from your hard-nosed negotiations.

If you continue to weigh the benefits of buying vs. renting, Virgo, eventually you will come to realize that being a first-time home buyer will handsomely reward you. It's not like you've been able to think about anything else for months. Songs about houses have been constantly running through your head. Why are you waiting?

Interview mortgage brokers. If you can get an interest rate below 7%, you're historically ahead of the curve. If you are unmarried, realize that single women buy homes now more than ever. Married Virgos may be thinking about home downsizing, and August is the perfect time to buy. Be overly cautious about buying before selling. You'll be less pressured to sell at a discount if you sell your existing home first.

In the event you've never considered buying into a homeowner's association, Libra, a condo or townhome could be perfect for you. You may be attracted to a condo because it offers all the benefits of home ownership without the inconvenience of yard work. In fact, if you buy a short sale condo, you might pay less than market value.

But get a home inspection, and think about whether you want to install ceiling fans or make minor repairs. If you're wondering about the best time to buy a home, consider buying in the months that contain the letter "R". Above all, don't make your earnest money deposit payable to the seller and remember to buy flood insurance, even if you don't think you need it.

You've earned that promotion, Scorpio, and now it's time to celebrate by moving out of your tiny quarters. You might buy a multi-level home sporting a huge master suite on the top floor. Don't liquidate every account. Save funds for buying things after buying a home. You might need a larger bed for that huge master suite. Buying in a slowing market may open previously closed doors.

You may find that sellers who are selling in spring are more reasonable and willing to throw in a new Mercedes to seal the deal. Don't settle for blah. Get a shiny black convertible. Nobody has to offer negotiation tips to you. You have the drive to succeed on your own. If you haven't found a home to buy by May, wait for the fall market.

No matter how tempting, Sagittarius, stay away from those get-rich-quick real estate seminars. On the surface it may appear those seminar gurus offer secrets to wealth, but you'll be sorely disappointed. Besides, deep down you know the 10 ways to lose your home and don't want to be one of those statistics. As fun loving as you are, dealing with foreclosure is not your idea of an enjoyable party.

You enjoy exploring, so make sure you hire a real estate agent who possesses the patience to spend months showing homes. Your practical side says buy green homes and consider exterior siding that is eco-friendly. Early November is an excellent time for you to schedule a home closing, especially if the timing coincides with your birthday celebration.

You have the discipline, Capricorn, to do a for sale by owner. It's not that you don't want to hire a discount broker, it's because you don't want to pay a fee for services you can perform yourself. Plus, you know how to market a home, stage a home and obtain buyer feedback from showings.

You may have friends who can film a virtual tour for you. Besides, if your home doesn't sell within a reasonable time frame, you can always hire a full-service broker to do it all, but you have faith in your abilities. You have likely analyzed the secrets for timing the real estate market and have concluded that February is the perfect time to put your home up for sale. You may secretly worry, but selling before buying is your smartest move.

As the New Year begins, Aquarius, you've already packed up your holiday decorations and are the first to arrive at work. It's tough to concentrate on your job, though, and you may find yourself clicking on sites to read about real estate market temperatures and checking bank sites for types of mortgages. You know your financial status down to the penny.

Your analytical nature tells you it is a buyer's market. You know deals are available; that waiting for summer might mean inventory will dwindle and interest rates might increase. The problem is winning over your spouse. Winning your spouse's support will mean you aren't selling when divorcing. Trust the numbers. They speak truth. First quarter of 2008 is your best time to buy a home.

After it stops raining, Pisces, you're on the lookout for a rainbow on the horizon. This year is no different. You've been procrastinating, wondering if you should call your real estate agent. On the weekends, you sit glued to your computer, clicking through Internet listings of homes for sale. One home has captured your heart.

But you may feel torn between that larger home with a bigger mortgage payment or the smaller home. Buy the larger home. It's a home pets love, and you want a big back yard for your dog. The only thing that is holding you back right now is confusion. Listen to your heart, and by mid-summer, you will be mowing your very own lawn.

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