3. Not being personable: If the buyer or their agent is abrasive, the seller will move to other, friendlier prospects. Sellers want to work with friendly buyers to ensure the entire process is smooth and painless. Additionally, seller’s agents are more likely to do business with agents they have a relationship with, so find a Realtor with good connections.
​
4. Other buyers are offering cash and few contingencies: In real estate, cash offers are king. Cash buyers can skip appraisals, loans, and a variety of contingencies, but a traditional, financed buyer cannot.

5. Asking for things that aren’t for sale: If the seller says an appliance or other item isn’t for sale, listen to them. Avoid asking to purchase it or include it in the sale.
Though it’s a tough market, these tips can help you avoid making mistakes when writing your offer. Additionally, try your best to get too attached to your offers; it’s common to lose in these competitive market environments. If you keep putting in offers, though, you’re bound to find the perfect home eventually. Perseverance is key. 
​
If you have any questions or would like more information about buying or selling, feel free to reach out to me. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Here are the three reasons why I believe the real estate market will stay strong into 2022: 

1. Historically low inventory. Compared to 2011, which had 9.5 months’ worth of inventory, we only currently have one month’s worth. For us to be considered a buyer’s market, we’d need over eight months’ worth of supply. As you can see, we’ll remain a seller’s market well into 2022. 

2. Historically low interest rates. These interest rates are fueling first-time buyers such as millennials. Since this is the largest demographic, we don’t see the market slowing down anytime soon. What if interest rates rose? If you were to get a 3% interest rate right now on an $800,000 house, your monthly mortgage payment would be about $4,200 (along with property taxes and insurance). If rates rose to 4%, you’d only be able to buy a $730,000 house with that same $4,200 monthly payment. Even though prices are strong, these low rates are offsetting your monthly payment, thereby making it a great time to buy. 
​
3. Out of the last five recessions, the real estate market has only been affected twice. Both times were in cases of major economic crises. One, as we all remember, was the 2008 crash. The other was the savings and loan crisis back in the 1990s. During the other three recessions, the market actually continued to appreciate. 

With the market strong and rates still low, now’s the time to move. If you’d like to take advantage of our current market or have any real estate questions at all, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help.

4. Should I contact an agent even if I’m not ready to buy yet? Yes, we help many clients prepare to purchase a home for over a year before they’re ready to truly buy. You can always reach out to us for free, with no commitment, to help you through the process. The process can be complicated, but we’re here to serve you. 
​
Please feel free to reach out to us via phone or email with any questions you have. We would love to be your real estate resource.

Here are the three main reasons you should purchase a home warranty plan:

1. It’s not very expensive. Home warranties usually only cost a few hundred dollars, and the seller often pays for it for you in escrow. Should you need a professional to come look at something, it costs $75.

2. It covers big-ticket items. These include the plumbing, roof, heating and air conditioning units, pool equipment, appliances, etc.

3. It covers your first 12 months in the home. After that time you can either renew it or cancel the coverage.

If you have further questions about the benefits of a home warranty or concerning any other real estate matter, please don’t hesitate to give us a call or send an email. We would love to help you.

​Today we’re busting five myths about buying a home in 2021:

1. You must have 20% down. While yes, it’s beneficial to have a 20% down payment, you can purchase a house via a conventional loan with as little as 3% down, via an FHA loan with as little as 3.5% down, or via a VA loan with as little as 0% down. 

2. You need a perfect credit score. In truth, you can purchase a property with a credit score as low as 580, though it’s better if you have a score over 620. For the most ideal pricing and interest rates, it’s best to have over 720.

3. Now is not the best time to buy. Prices have indeed been increasing, but interest rates are at historic lows. If you’re waiting for the next recession or the real estate market to decline, you’re playing an unlucky game of chance. Out of the last five U.S. recessions, the real estate market only depreciated in two of them; in the other three, the market continued to appreciate. 

4. You should buy at the top of your pre-approval. That may or may not be true for your specific circumstances. It all depends on what you want to spend monthly on housing. That’s the most crucial thing to consider when deciding how much to spend on a new home.

5. It’s cheaper to buy a fixer-upper. This is not always true, especially with the current competitive prices we’re seeing for labor and materials in construction. With our low interest rates, it’s a wonderful time to buy a move-in ready house that doesn’t need so much work. 

If you have further questions about these myths or any other real estate matter, feel free to contact us via phone or email. We would love to help you.

Here’s some information about our upcoming strategy sessions for homebuyers.

​​Looking to buy a home? Click here to search for a home.
Looking to sell a home? Click here for a FREE home valuation.

You’re cordially invited to our Seller Strategy Session on Friday, April 2 at noon on Zoom. We’ll cover everything you need to know to get your home sold for top dollar in today’s market. We’re also having a seminar for homebuyers on Tuesday, April 13 at 7 p.m. to show you how to get ready to buy in this competitive environment and what you need to do to win the home of your dreams. You can register for either or both of these events below!

If you have any questions about these strategy sessions or anything else related to real estate, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Click here to register for the Seller Strategy Session.

Click here to register for the Home Buying Seminar.

Here are the key reasons why it makes sense to list your home before summer hits this year:

1. Lower inventory. This gives you less competition as a seller and helps you stand out more to the buyers who are out there. It gives your home the place it needs to shine.

2. Motivated buyers. In the summer months, we tend to have a lot of casual buyers who aren’t very motivated. If they’re out in the market now, they’re quite motivated and ready to make that purchase that fits their needs.

3. Lower interest rates. They’re generally lower now than they are in the summer. It’s like gas prices: Gas tends to go up in the summer because there is more demand. The same goes for mortgages.

If you have any questions about selling your home or real estate in general, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

​There are four options that you have when your appraisal comes in below the agreed-upon purchase price for your new home:

1. The seller can lower the price from the agreed-upon price to the appraised value.

2. The buyer can bring in cash to make up the difference between the appraised value and the agreed-upon price. This happens a lot with a home that is overly improved for the area. The buyer sees value in bringing in the cash.

3. The buyer and seller can meet in the middle. The buyer brings a little extra cash and the seller lowers the price a little bit. It’s a good compromise to keep the deal together.

4. The buyer can walk away if a compromise cannot be made.

These are your four options for a low appraisal. If you have any questions about appraisals, buying a home, or anything else related to real estate, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

​Most people have visions and foresight, but not everyone takes action. If you don’t act on your dreams, they die in your head and on your lips. Are most people economically free? No, they’re not. If you want to lead, you have to figure out how to thrive.

I’m calling to your soul to say that no matter how great your life is, you can take it to the next level. All you have to do is find a way to thrive on what produces fear inside you and other people. Thrive on something that gives you a higher purpose by being decisive.

Everyone has a list of “shoulds” in their life. I should lose some weight or I should make some more calls. People love when their “should” lists are met, but they’re kind of like New Year’s resolutions: You commit in the short term, but not in the long term. That breeds failure.

​When you turn your goal from a “should” to an absolute “must,” you make it a certainty in your mind. When human beings resolve to do things inside themselves, they can do anything and will always find a way to succeed. 

Everything in life is always changing; change is a given. On the other hand, progress, real progress, takes time.

If you have any questions about how I can help you achieve your 2021 goals, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.