REAL ESTATE FAQS

You got Questions We Got Answers!

CHECKLIST: WHAT DO I DO FIRST WHEN BUYING OR SELLING A HOME?

When buying a home things you should do first?

Save up for a down payment.

Strengthen your credit.

Talk to a Mortgage banker to get a pre-approval letter to know in what price range you can search. They can also talk to you about any government programs or special loans that you may qualify for to help you in your home purchase.

Decide what you like and don’t about your current home or apartment. Try to narrow down what it is you are looking for exactly. Distinguish your needs from your wants.

Find a local agent to assist you in the home buying experience.It must be someone you trust and feel comfortable to work with.

When selling a home things you should do first?

When selling a home, find out the value of the home by having a local agent prepare a Comparative Market Analysis.

Run the figures and check to see if the amount you can sell it for will work with your financial plan.

Spruce up the home and remove any clutter.

Organize.

Clean.

Remove personalized items like pictures, posters and knick-knacks.

Paint to spruce up the outside and paint the inside in neutral colors.

Landscape the yard.

WHY PAY A REAL ESTATE AGENT A COMMISSION TO SELL MY HOUSE?

Why pay a Real Estate agent a commission to sell my house?
There are numerous reasons - here are just a few.

You will make more money. The average agent assisted home sale sold for $230,000 where as a For Sale By Owner only brought in $184,000. Most people fail to sell their home on their own and wind up having to work with an agent anyway to sell their home. 80% of all “For Sale By Owners” wind up working with an agent. Last year “For Sale By Owners” only accounted for 9% of all Homes Sales.

Accurate pricing. Only a person intimately involved in Real Estate particularly the local market you are trying to sell in can price your home at Market value. Online Evaluations and websites are never truly accurate and are normally grossly under or overpriced. A local agent will know what type of market you are in and how to price accordingly to get the most for your home in the least amount of time. Bad pricing will have your home sitting on market and the longer it sits the less likely to sell and at a greater discount off the original listing price. Let the agent use their tools and skill set which include: pricing, MLS, their own pool of buyers, advertising, negotiating and marketing to lead you to hit the bull’s-eye when selling your home.

Saves time and work. An agent will save you time and paperwork. The agent takes time to judiciously photograph your property, write an appealing ad, stage your home to present it in its best light, take care of the paperwork
and make sure that the transaction is within the confines of the law.

Why use an agent when buying?

The reason to use an agent when buying a home is almost a no brainer! A Buyers agent costs you no money. The agent being intimately involved in your market in can skillfully guide you through the process. A good agent will help you save money. They can give advice on offers and negotiating with the listing agent to try to get as much discount as possible from the listing price. They can get you in touch with other reputable professionals for services you might need. They will help you become familiar with the area and are by your side from start to finish. They have the tools to help you find the home of your dreams.

Do I have to spend a lot of money to get what I want out of selling my house?

NO! Several things go into what price your home will get once placed on the market including the U.S. economy, your local market, what are the homes selling for in your neighborhood with features like yours. You do not need to spend $30,000 updating your kitchen to get top price for your home. In fact you may not need to spend a dime. The only improvements on a national average that even have 100% return on investment or higher right now are windows, doors and paint. Talk to an Agent to help guide you if you need to make any improvements or changes to your house before selling it.

IS RENTING CHEAPER THAN OWING A HOUSE?

Yes and no. It depends on your unique situation as well as the market. In today’s current market with historically low interest rates and rising rents, yes, owing, in most cases, is almost always cheaper than renting if you can afford it. With renting, all your money is just going to your landlord’s pocket or paying your landlord’s mortgage. Whereas, if you own your home, your payments are going toward equity in the property which acts as a savings vehicle not to mention being able to sell your home for profit or rent it out yourself. Owning a home though has risks like liquidity, the ability to get the money it is worth quickly, taxes and cost of repairs. So you will want to have a small amount of money in reserve so you can make sure your home stays yours.

HOW IS THE MARKET RIGHT NOW?

The current real estate market in the Florida Sun Coast is very active. One might say it is on fire. Properties are selling and they are selling fast. Homes that are priced competitively and advertised properly are being sold almost as fast as they are listed. Others are being sold before they are even listed in the MLS.
In this type of market, timing is a key element when buying a home. I have experienced firsthand with my clients the ups and downs of the home buying process. My clients have made competitive offers only to find out another offer was accepted or the property just went under contract. It is certainly a roller coaster. Yet, I have found that each client will find the right house to meet their specific needs.
I recently had a client who was extremely disappointed when their offer wasn't accepted. They almost stopped looking. It took a little longer to find another property they liked. But with their patience and my dedication we found a home that was less money and better suited to their needs.
My advice to any home buyer is to be patient and hire a real estate agent who is willing to put in the effort and time necessary to find the home of your dreams. A good Agent is worth waiting for they will help you save money, time, headaches and steer you into a good investment if you allow them the time necessary.