Brian Troop

Ventura County, CA – Declaring that widely reported rising home sales and prices are gradually reducing the number of home owners who are underwater on their loans while sparking increased inventory, the top official of the Ventura County’s leading independent realty firm is advising “fence straddler’s” that now is the time to list their homes.

Brian Troop, president of Troop Real Estate, a firm with 14 county offices, said that while all the news is positive for a housing recovery, the big challenge is lack of inventory.

“So if you are a home owner considering selling, now is a great time to do so because there are literally dozens of buyers for every property and top dollar can be realized,” Troop said.

Troop underlined that the beauty of selling now is that banks are pushing the “Cash For Keys’ program which pays sellers from $2500 to $30,00 in cash on short sales at the close of escrow. “This is a windfall for many, especially if they haven’t made loan payments for some time,” Troop said.

But, this opportunity may not last much longer, he suggested.

“As prices increase,” Troop added, “ fewer home owners will be underwater, which will stabilize the housing market and create more inventory. In fact, the California Association of Realtors’ top economist reported recently that six out of every 10 sales during the first nine months of 2012 were traditional, non-short sale transactions,” he said.

He emphasized that the move-up housing market is even gaining traction, “something we haven’t seen in years.” However, the entry level market is still an problem, he stated.

“Until there are more properties on the market to compete with investors, that segment will continue be an issue,” Troop said, “and once we get more sellers off the fence the inventory will become healthier for all categories of buyers.”

About Troop Real Estate, Inc.
Established in 1987, Troop Real Estate, Inc. is Ventura County’s largest independent brokerage company and has perennially been a leader in the county’s residential market for the number and dollar volume of listings sold. The company, with approximately 650 seasoned sales professionals, provides the full range of residential, property management, REO, commercial, financial, new homes, escrow, estate homes and relocation services.

Troop offices are located in Simi Valley, Simi/Wood Ranch, Simi (Commercial), Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Moorpark, Camarillo, Channel Islands, Ventura, Santa Paula, Fillmore, Ojai, and the Santa Clarita Valley.