FSBO.com Press Room

FSBO.COM RELEASES 2008 THIRD QUARTER HOME INDEX RESULTS

Properties Selling Faster, Dip in List/Sell Price

Atlanta (September 30, 2008) – FSBO.com, the most popular global FSBO site, today announced 2008 third quarter results of the FSBO.com Home Index, a quarterly source of statistics and data with an emphasis on the “for sale by owner” real estate market. Data for third quarter shows that properties sold faster, however at a lower price than in the second quarter.

Survey Confirms Properties Selling Faster
The FSBO.com Home Index third quarter results showed an average savings of just over $8,000 in real estate commission. This is a decrease from second quarter results, although still represents significant savings for homeowners. Properties sold at 96% of asking price which is the same as the second quarter, however the average asking price was down 7.4%. The bright spot for homeowners is that the average days on market decreased from 114 to 95 days.

“FSBO.com recgonizes this is a tough real estate market, however we are still seeing properties sell and are proud of the savings our homeowners realized in the third quarter. Sellers need these savings more than ever and FSBO.com is committed to continue our service to assist them.” said Michael T. Malkasian, President of FSBO.com.

Regional Data
The Midwest ended as the most favorable market for FSBO.com properties, averaging 61 days on the market and garnering 97% of list price. Although improved from second quarter, the West struggled at 135 days on the market and averaging 92% of list price. Results by region are as follows…

FSBO.com_2008_Q3_Home_Index_Results

Methodology
The FSBO.com Home Index will be available quarterly for distribution and publication to analysts, media and blogs. It consists of survey data from FSBO.com’s customer database; the customers are polled on their experience selling their homes while listed on FSBO.com.

FSBO.COM RELEASES 2008 SECOND QUARTER HOME INDEX RESULTS

Data Confirms Real Estate Slowdown; Silver Lining In Savings

Atlanta (June 17, 2008) – FSBO.com, the most popular global FSBO site, today announced 2008 second quarter results of the FSBO.com Home Index, a quarterly source of statistics and data with an emphasis on the “for sale by owner” real estate market. Data confirms the real estate slowdown as properties take longer to sell; while significant savings on real estate commission stay consistent.

Survey Confirms Opportunity for Noteworthy Savings The FSBO.com Home Index second quarter results showed an average savings of just over $10,000 in real estate commission. This was comparable with first quarter data and confirms significant savings for homeowners. Properties sales’ price held steady, selling for 96% of the asking price. The average days on market increased from 93 to 114 days.

“FSBO.com is pleased with the savings that our sellers are experiencing in this tough real estate market,” said Michael T. Malkasian, President of FSBO.com. “Our data indicates for sale by owner sellers can realize great savings by marketing their property themselves.”

Regional Data
The bright spot of the country, according to the Q2 FSBO.com Home Index, was the Southwest. Properties moved the quickest staying on the market an average of 63 days and selling for 99% of the list price. The Southeast also fared well, selling after 96 days and for 98% of asking price. The West ended up the most unfavorable with properties selling after 216 days on the market and for 91% of the asking price. Regional results are as follows...
FSBO.com_2008_Q2_Home_Index_Results2

SPRING/SUMMER REAL ESTATE FORECAST: IS YOUR CITY HOT OR NOT?

Consumer Polls Point to Improving Outlook in Memphis, Seattle, Kansas City and Denver

FSBO.com’s National Open House Day Created to Fuel Activity in Key Markets

Atlanta (May 13, 2008) – Although the overall housing market remains in a period of uncertainty, recent FSBO.com consumer polls suggest Memphis, Seattle, Kansas City and Denver are experiencing a rise in consumer confidence and consider their local home selling climate better than the national picture.

National Open House Day, May 17 and 18, Gives Homeowners a Reason to Sell
According to an FSBO.com poll of its nationwide users, 93 percent think that this is a great time to buy a home. With increased inventory, in a buyers’ market, home sellers are forced to think outside of the box when it comes to marketing their homes. That is why FSBO.com is inviting home sellers and buyers across the country, no matter the listing, realtor or affiliation, to participate in the first-ever For Sale By Owner National Open House. Initiatives like these can assist sellers in markets where locals see a better-than-average home-selling climate. Specifically, 84 percent of those polled in Kansas City felt the local real estate market was at or above average; 82 percent of Birmingham residents felt the same.

Sellers around the country—from Memphis, Seattle, Kansas City and Denver to Birmingham, Long Island and Boston—are active participants in National Open House Day
“We are thrilled to see a high level of participation from communities nationwide and hope that this initiative can assist not only our sellers but also anyone who is currently trying to sell by owner,” says Michael Malkasian, president of FSBO.com. “It is well-known that the national housing market is in a tough spot, but as more and more buyers are recognizing that now is a good time to buy, our goal is to give sellers the tools they need to get excited and then get buyers out there to start buying.”

Memphis, Kansas City and Denver Trends
In a national poll commissioned by FSBO.com, 62 percent of respondents believe homes are on the market for more than 100 days. However, even in the face of challenging market conditions nationwide, Seattle and Kansas City buck the trend by seeing homes on the market for far less of a time than most with 74 percent and 69 percent estimating it takes less than 100 days to sell, respectively. Memphis and Denver residents are pointing to lesser days at 64 percent and 63 percent.

Methodology
The national survey was conducted through a FSBO.com poll of its users. Local market information was achieved using Facebook polls to localized residents.

FSBO.COM ANNOUNCES FIRST ANNUAL NATIONAL OPEN HOUSE DAY

ATLANTA (April 17, 2008) – FSBO.com, the most popular global FSBO site, today announced plans for its first annual National Open House Day, to be held on May 17 and 18, 2008. The announcement follows the unveiling of significant home seller and buyer features and benefits to the FSBO.com website.

Spring has sprung, spring cleaning is done—it’s the perfect time to sell your home In the face of increasingly challenging market conditions, home sellers are forced to think more and more outside of the box when it comes to marketing their homes. FSBO.com is answering the clarion call for new approaches to this process by galvanizing home sellers and buyers across the country to participate in the first-ever For Sale By Owner National Open House. In recognition of May as “National Prepare to Buy a Home Month,” FSBO.com has set two dates for National Open House Day to give their customers increased flexibility to participate in this grassroots event.

“At a time when most news about the housing market is decidedly grim, our recent research indicates opportunities for significant savings when selling by owner,” said Michael T. Malkasian, President of FSBO.com. “We have always taken great pride in our ability to provide simple yet effective tools that put control of the home selling and buying process into the hands of our customers, and National Open House Day is an extension of that philosophy.”

Updated Website Offers Increased Functionality and Detail
FSBO.com has added a number of upgrades and additions to its cache of easy-to-navigate and effective tools that aid customers in selling, buying and renting properties online. New functionality augments FSBO.com’s existing feature set—ultimately improving customer control. “We’re extremely proud to introduce improvements on our core services as well as the addition of new and innovative features to our site the same week we announce National Open House Day,” said Malkasian. New FSBO.com features include:

• Video uploads at no additional charge
• Unlimited photo uploads at no additional charge
• International property
• Rental property listings

With its new and improved features and utility, FSBO.com has positioned itself as the go-to web destination for by-owner real estate properties.

FSBO.COM DEBUTS QUARTERLY HOME INDEX

ATLANTA (March 12, 2008) – FSBO.com, the most popular global FSBO site, today announced the introduction of the FSBO.com Home Index, a quarterly source of statistics and data reviewing current trends in today’s constantly shifting real estate market with an emphasis on the FSBO market.

“The FSBO.com Home Index provides a unique and needed perspective on current housing trends in the FSBO market,” said Michael T. Malkasian, President of FSBO.com. “Every day we pick up the newspapers and see more ‘doom & gloom’ stories—that’s a big part of the recent narrative, obviously, but it’s not necessarily providing a complete picture. No one is really examining trends in the FSBO market, and our data highlights this underreported segment of the industry, one which is showing promise in an otherwise flat market.”

Data Point to Shift in Regional Hierarchy
According to the initial FSBO.com Home Index data broken down by region, properties in the west moved quickest, with an average of thirty-three days on the market, and sold on average for ninety-nine percent of the asking price. On the other end of the spectrum, properties in the southeast spent an average of 110 days on the market and sold for an average of ninety-five percent of the list price. Over the last three years, average listing prices were highest in the northeast ($468,632), followed by the west ($309,817) and the southwest ($243,800), then the southeast ($217,890) and Midwest ($186,825). However, a recent survey of FSBO.com property listings points to a shift in the regional hierarchy. The west ($525,124) now claims the top spot, while the northeast, which experienced a slight decline ($468,346), slips to number two, and the southeast ($276,355) just edges out the southwest ($265,072) in the rankings.

Initial Survey Indicates Clear Opportunity for Significant Savings
At a time when homeowners are looking for new and creative ways to sell their properties in a down market, the initial FSBO.com Home Index data show significant savings for those selling their properties themselves. On average, properties were on the market for ninety-three days and sold for ninety-six percent of the asking price. The average amount saved on real estate commissions totaled more than $10,000.

Methodology
The FSBO.com Home Index will be available quarterly for distribution and publication to analysts, media and blogs.

The FSBO.com Home Index consists of survey data from FSBO.com’s customer database; the customers are polled on their experiences selling their homes while listed on FSBO.com.

About FSBO.com
FSBO.com is the most popular global For Sale by Owner Real Estate site on the web. FSBO.com has been bringing buyers and sellers together since 1997 by providing them the simplest and most cost-effective route to selling, buying or renting properties online and saving them thousands of dollars each in the process. Among their many innovative features, FSBO.com offers sellers the option of uploading video footage and unlimited photos to each property listings at no additional charge. FSBO.com is based in Atlanta, Georgia.

For all FSBO.com media inquires, please contact: press@fsbo.com