SEARCH THE RIGHT WAY
Since the market is moving so quickly, buyers need to use reliable property searches provided by real estate professionals. Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com are all great places to search for homes; however, they are not always up to date. I have buyers on a regular basis send me homes that are already under contract from these sources. Ask your real estate professional to set you up for a search that meets your criteria, so you can view homes as soon as they hit the market or experience a price reduction.
Bottom line: Sellers, now is the time to list. Buyers, use a reliable property search and sign up to receive listing alerts when homes come on the market or experience price reductions.
HOME PRICES ARE ON THE RISE
Lower inventory increases demand, resulting in higher house prices. This is giving additional value to homes and incentive for sellers to move. Buyers, get pre-approved before you start your home search so that you know what you can afford and don’t miss out on a home. Please note that being pre-qualified and pre-approved are not the same thing. Pre-qualification is more of a guess, while pre-approval is a guarantee contingent upon the home. Speak with your lender today or ask your real estate professional for a trusted lender they can recommend.
Bottom line: Lower inventory increases demand, resulting in higher house prices. Get pre-approved before you start your home search, so that you know what you can afford and don’t miss out on a home.
THE DANGER OF “FOR SALE BY OWNERS” (FSBO)
The home buying and selling process has many complexities. Trying to navigate this process without a real estate professional, is similar to representing yourself in court. Would you hire an attorney or would you risk representing yourself? I’d bet that you would choose the latter option with such high risks at stake. For buyers, it literally doesn’t cost a dime to have representation, because commissions are paid by the sellers. For sellers, statistics show that homes sell faster if listed with a Realtor. The cost savings on additional mortgage payments while your home sits on the FSBO market, effective pricing and marketing strategies used by real estate professionals, and the safety benefits of pre-screened showings, make a real estate professional worth the commission.
Bottom line: Real Estate Agents are here to help you through the process. Find a Realtor that you trust to walk you through the home buying and selling process.
