Robert Mack Group Real Estate Podcast

Here's how you can sell without emotion and receive top dollar. If you're looking to sell your home, you know that it's an emotional process. It's difficult to look at things rationally and make the best decision by yourself, so today I want to talk about how you can sell your home like a pro with no emotion.  The best thing you can do for your home sale is to treat your property like a product. I get it; you've lived in your home for years, and it isn't just a building to you anymore. It's full of memories and completely integrated into your life. However, if you want to get top dollar and find a new home to make memories in, you need to let go of these emotions and understand that your property is a product.  In my experience, three factors determine if you'll get top dollar for your home:  1. Preparation. The properties that sell for the highest and best prices are those that show like model homes. If you can stage your property with a professional designer, the return on your investment will be huge. This is because buyers buy based on emotion. If you can take your own emotions out of the transaction, you can appeal to your buyers' emotions and get a fantastic deal. “You need to let go of your emotions and understand that your property is a product.” 2. Price. This is the bait you use to attract buyers. If you price your home correctly, buyers will want your property because it's a great deal. However, if you've staged it correctly, it should look fantastic. Buyers will be fighting each other tooth and nail to put in the best possible offer for your house.  3. Market exposure. The more buyers see your home, the better. If you can move out of your house before listing, you'll be in a great position to get as many eyes as possible on your property. This way, buyers can visit your property at all hours of the day.  If you follow these tips, you can sell your home for top dollar in a fantastic market. If you have any questions, please call or email me. I'd love to help you!

How homebuyers can lessen their emotions to get a great deal. Every real estate transaction is full of emotions; it's inevitable. However, your feelings might be getting in the way of winning a great home. That's why today I want to discuss how buyers can get serious and take the emotions out of the process.  The world is dealing with a lot right now. There's a war in Ukraine, the pandemic continues to hang around, and some experts are worried a recession is right around the corner. I understand why buyers, especially first-time buyers, might be emotional, but you need to come into the process rationally if you want to find a great deal.  In my experience, there are three things buyers can do to dive into the market successfully: 1. Focus on your why. Everyone has their unique reasons for buying. If your reason is compelling enough, you'll find the strength to make it in this tough market. “If you're shopping for a primary residence, your monthly payment should be your main concern. ” 2. Find an amazing agent. Do some research online, ask your friends, and conduct interviews to find the best agent possible. Hire someone with whom you can build rapport and be vulnerable. When it comes time to make an offer, you need to take your emotions out of the decision. That's why you want an agent in whom you can confide. I find that clients who tell me exactly what they want are easier to help, so don't be afraid to share with your Realtor.  3. Fall in love with the numbers. Interest rates and prices are rising, so you need to focus on the math. There's a lot of noise out there about the economy and housing market, but if you plan on staying in your home for a while, you should be focused on the long term. The everyday ups and downs of the market only really matter for investors and flippers. If you're shopping for a primary residence, your monthly payment should be your primary concern.  If you have questions about today's topic or anything else, please call or email me. I am always willing to help.

Is this market out of control? Well, that depends on who you talk to. Are we currently dealing with an out-of-control housing market? Neither buyers nor sellers typically want anything to do with a market that could be described that way. They'd rather operate under conditions that allow them to make the right decisions when opportunities present themselves. While this market may be unorthodox, there are still tons of opportunities for buyers and sellers, especially when you're considering the long term. Today I'll cover what we've experienced in 2022 so far—a lot has changed since the new year began. Feel free to follow along in the video above, or use the timestamps below to navigate the discussion at your leisure: 0:00 — Introduction 1:00 — How inventory has fluctuated over time 1:45 — Is there really a lack of homes coming on to the market? 2:33 — When can you expect to see more inventory? 2:56 — Rising interest rates and buyer demand 3:53 — Rising interest rates and home prices 4:25 — Is it a good idea to wait for the market to come down before buying? 5:34 — Tips to help buyers and sellers make smart, successful decisions 6:41 — Wrapping up today's topic If you're planning to buy or sell a home soon, it's critical that you connect with a real estate professional to help you get the ball rolling. If you have question or need any assistance with your next transaction, give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you.

Why waiting for things to be perfect will hurt you in the long run. Think about something you've been wanting to do for a very long time. Are you blocked? I've been making videos for 10 years now, so I've gotten very comfortable with it. But when I started, I over-thought the process to no end. Do I have the right camera, does my hair look good, should I change my shirt?  A lot of us wait for things to be perfect before we take action. However, it won't be perfect most of the time, so many of us just don't take action. That is the sad truth. When it comes to real estate, everyone always wants it to be perfect. It's not the best time to buy, so I'm going to stay out of the market. In reality, when's the last time something was perfect?  “It's probably never going to be perfect.” One of my mentors always reminds me that done is better than perfect. The more you do something, the better you'll get at it, but it'll still never be perfect. Are my videos perfect today? Absolutely not, but I stopped caring as much because it's the content that matters at the end of the day. Are you the type of buyer or seller who's waiting for the perfect time? Truthfully, it's probably never going to be perfect, but you should still consider your options.  My team and I rarely work with people who have the perfect scenario. However, we hear from people all the time who wish they had bought a home three years ago when we told them to. Whatever the reason, too many people wait for the perfect time and get nothing done because of it. If you know someone who might value this video, send it to them. If you're looking to buy or sell, my team and I would love the opportunity to serve you. Just call or email us; we look forward to hearing from you. Also, if you have any ideas for future videos, send those my way as well.

If you're wondering when to take action, it's time to explore your options. Is it time to take action? If you're asking that question, it might be. Here's what I mean. I've been getting personal real estate coaching for over 10 years from a company called the Tom Ferry organization. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the guidance that Tom Ferry and his team provided me. About seven years ago, Tom and I were having lunch, and I asked him, “When can I tell it's time to change coaches?” He said if I was asking that question, it was already time. I work with dozens of buyers and sellers who ask these sorts of hypothetical questions. Should I sell, or is it a good time to buy? If you're asking these kinds of questions, it's time to explore your options. Why don't you find out? “Our goal is to enable you to make the best decisions you can.” A lot of people are afraid of reaching out to an agent because they think they'll be pressured to decide before they're ready. In reality, my team and I can do so much for our clients beyond buying and selling. We have dozens of services that can help you make some of the hardest decisions in your life. If you're a buyer or seller, let's explore your options. There's never any cost, commitment, or obligation. Our goal is to enable you to make the best decisions you can. Even if you just want someone to bounce ideas off of, call or email us.  If you think someone else could find value in this video, please send it to them. Also, if you have any ideas for future videos, send those my way as well. We would be happy to help.

If you're looking to sell without going homeless, you have options. Are you afraid to sell your home because you don't know where you'll live afterward? You aren't alone. This market is challenging in a lot of ways, but the biggest hurdle is our low inventory. This is great news when you sell your home, but it makes buying much more stressful. How can you overcome this challenge and take advantage of our fantastic market? Today I want to give you some options.  You can watch my full explanation in the video above, or you can skip to each topic using the timestamps provided: 0:00 — Introduction 0:34 — This market is full of opportunities and challenges 1:09 — Our biggest challenge is inventory 2:15 — Why some sellers are afraid to sell 2:58 — Rent-back agreements are the easiest way to transition between homes 3:48 — Some clients are moving in with family 4:21 — You can always use a short-term rental or Airbnb 5:36 — Wrapping things up If you or anyone you know is struggling in this housing market, please call or email my team. We'd love to help you in any way we can! 

Here are seven things we love to provide our clients after the sale. For most of our clients, we don't just go away after we've helped them buy or sell a property. We strive to bring a lot to the table and be your real estate resource. Our business works by referral, so we continue to add value to the people who have supported us in the hope that you decide to support us again. Let's go over the seven things we provide our clients after the sale so that you can take advantage of them if you're not already. **You can watch the full message above, or you can skip to each section using the timestamps provided below: ** 0:08 — Introducing today's topic 1:01 — No. 1: CMAs and market advice 1:58 — No. 2: Referrals to our vendors 3:06 — No. 3: Community resources 3:36 — No.4: Settlement statements 4:09 — No. 5: Referrals to outside agents 5:10 — No. 6: Upgrade suggestions 6:16 — No. 7: Panic repairs 6:36 — Wrapping up If you found value in this video and know someone else who might, please send it their way. If you want to talk about anything on this list or if you have any video ideas, please feel free to call me or my team. We'd be happy to answer any questions.

Here's why you should be wary of the real estate advice you get. In all the years I've been making videos, I think this is the first time I'm talking about the topic of getting real estate advice from friends and family. Look, I'm not saying that you should brush off the people you love and trust the most when it comes to buying or selling a home. However,I've seen many more friends and family members derail my clients' dreams and goals compared to those that helped. Everyone thinks they're an expert—that's the big problem.  “We have one of the best reputations in the country.” Many times, I'll talk to a buyer or seller, give them my advice as a full-time real estate professional, then they'll go against it based on the expert “advice” of a parent, co-worker, or friend who has a license. I always follow up with, “How many homes has this person sold?” Nine times out of 10, the person isn't even in the industry. It blows my mind that someone would take advice from someone who isn't an expert.  If you don't have experience in an industry, your advice means nothing. My team has the experience. We have one of the best reputations in the country. Just last week, a buyer called me reluctantly. They proceeded to tell me that they wished they would have bought the year before when I advised them to. Their dad told them not to buy, but that decision ended up pricing them out of the market. If they would have taken my advice, they would be riding this wave of appreciation right now. We told another client that they could bump up their sale price significantly with a little staging. We sold it for $30,000 less than we could have because they didn't want to stage based on advice from a friend who wasn't even in the industry. I'm not saying you shouldn't listen to your friends and family or only listen to me, but keep an open mind. Trust the numbers, trust an expert, and let's talk through your situation.  If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

What's going to happen in the 2022 housing market? Find out here. What can we expect from the 2022 housing market? Today we'll share our predictions about the upcoming year, but first, we'll need to discuss a few key components of the housing market: mortgage rates, home prices, and inventory. We expect to see mortgage rates go up at the beginning of 2022. Experts seem to agree that they'll be around 3.3% at the start of the year and rise toward 3.7% by the end of 2022. Of course, no one has a crystal ball that lets them see the future, but we do know that rates tend to go up when things are going badly in the economy and go down when things are good. “We expect to see mortgage rates go up at the beginning of 2022.” Many people are concerned about the home price forecast. Honestly, we expect more of what we've seen in 2021, although not at the same rate. Home prices appreciated around 20% in 2021, give or take 5% or 10% depending on the area. Experts project anywhere between 5% to 7% appreciation year over year for 2022, though reports from Orange County suggest we may see 8% to 10%. Every area is different, and that's part of why it's so important to partner with a real estate professional—they can help you navigate the complexities of the market. In terms of inventory, words like “crisis” and “catastrophe” have been thrown around in 2021. In Orange County, we have somewhere around 1,200 homes on the market; back in 2019, we had over 7,500 at the peak of the market and around 4,000 around this time of year. Truth be told, the lack of inventory is the biggest challenge we're facing in the market. Many buyers are struggling to find homes, and even sellers are having a hard time; they want to put their homes on the market for an amazing price, but they're just not confident they'll be able to find another house to buy. If you're planning to buy or sell a home in 2022 or have any questions about how market conditions will affect your goals, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We'd love to help you.

Here's why it's never too early to start preparing in real estate. We are officially in the holiday season, so before we get into today's topic, I want to talk a bit about gratitude. In my opinion, no matter the struggles, there is always a silver lining. If you're watching this right now, think about a few things you're grateful for because, in my experience, good things happen to happy people. Let's talk about what this time of year means for buyers and sellers. “ It's never too early to put together a strategy.” Preparation is so important. There's a famous quote that says: “Every minute you spend in preparation will save you 10 minutes in execution.” So every hour will save you 10 hours, and every month will save you 10 months.  As we close out this year, a lot of the people we talk to are thinking about buying next year and say they'll reach out when they're ready. In my experience, it's never too early to put together a strategy. The more time you spend preparing, the smoother the execution will be.  If you're looking to sell next year, it's a great time to get together now and talk about your goals. Who do we need to put you in contact with now so that you're more prepared when you are ready? If you're a buyer, that might mean talking to a lender. If you're a seller, you might want to talk to a designer or a contractor. With the year winding down, you have time to work on all of this. Again, remember to be grateful for everything good in your life. If you're thinking about buying or selling in 2022 or beyond, reach out to me, my team, or an agent that you know. Don't wait to talk about your real estate goals. Call us now, and let's get a plan together. 

The housing market data we have shows us that houses are still affordable. It is so challenging as a real estate agent, a buyer, or a seller to get a grasp of what's going on in real estate sometimes. Today I want to talk about this crazy market and whether housing is becoming unaffordable. I'll walk you through some statistics and also compare them to what we've seen in the past. That way, you can make the best decisions for yourself and your family. Whether you're buying or you're selling, it's all about the numbers, so if we remove emotion from the process, you're going to have a much easier time navigating this real estate market. Cited below for your convenience are timestamps that will direct you to various points in the video. Feel free to watch the full message, or use these timestamps to browse specific topics at your leisure: 1:01 — Are we in a bubble? 2:34 — Low inventory 3:21 — Days on market 4:25 — Summary of market factors 4:52 — Affordability over time 6:20 — Affordability is relative 7:06 — What does this mean for sellers? 7:49 — What does this mean for buyers? 8:44 — Wrapping up If you're thinking about buying or selling a property and you want to learn more about what opportunities are available to you, please feel free to contact me by phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you. 

This is why your mindset is everything in the current housing market. As you know, inventory is historically low. There has been some increase over the past couple of weeks because we've hit the spring market, which is when we typically see 5% to 7% more homes on the market than usual. Still, that inventory isn't lasting long enough to make a real impact. Homes are selling very quickly; the average days on market for homes under $1.5 million is between 14 and 20 days (and many times even less). In the luxury market above $1.5 million, homes are taking a bit longer to sell, but if they're priced right and look good, they typically sell within 30 to 45 days. Since homes are selling so quickly, buyers won't see the relief they're looking for until a lot more homes hit the market. We don't anticipate that happening in 2021, meaning we can expect a strong seller's market for the foreseeable future. Demand for homes is higher than ever.  Interest rates have been fluctuating; they're currently hovering around 3%, and some buyers are still able to lock in rates in the 2s. It all depends on your financial situation, credit, and the type of loan you're getting. If you'd like more information about interest rates, we can connect you to some of the best lenders in Orange County. “Buyers need to go outside their comfort zone if they want to win the property they love.” For those who are thinking about selling, I encourage you to revisit the video I made a few weeks ago about the importance of home preparation. Many sellers are eliminating that portion of the process because they think that since the market is hot, they can just list their homes and they'll automatically sell. However, I believe that home preparation is grossly underrated. If you're looking to sell for the very best price, now is the time to leverage home preparation, staging, and design to maximize your outcome. For buyers, holding the right mindset is everything. The difference between those who are successful and those who are less so is the commitment to winning. Right now, buyers have to have the killer instinct to win at all costs, especially if they want to buy a property that fits all their criteria. I've made dozens of videos about tips to help buyers win, so be sure to review my blog or YouTube channel to learn what it takes to write a winning offer.  You need to trust your agent and follow their advice if you want to get the job done. Though there are many safety nets within a transaction to protect you, you'll still need to go outside your comfort zone if you want to win the property you love. Whether you're buying or selling, if you have any questions at all, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I'd love to help you.

Though it's a hot seller's market, a little home prep can go a long way. When it comes to putting a home on the housing market, I've always been a huge fan of preparation. In the case of preparing to sell a home, preparation might involve making repairs, replacing carpets, painting the walls, and even professional staging. The reason why the prep work is so important is that buyers make their purchases based on emotion. When you prepare your home and make it look bright, inviting, and full of possibilities, buyers will be able to see themselves living there. They'll see how they can grow, how they can make memories, and what kind of life they'll be able to have. We actually spend more time on preparing homes than we do marketing them—that's how much of a difference it makes. However, it's not something that everyone loves to do. Most sellers want to net the most they can on their sale, so they think, “Why should I spend $5,000 on preparing my home if I'm just going to sell it?” Well, to get top dollar, the buyer needs to see a top-quality home. For the seller, that means investing some time and money into the home in order to amplify a buyer's emotions. “If you want to squeeze every cent of equity out of your home, preparation is a no-brainer—especially in our current market.” With today's blazing-hot housing market, though, it's now even more difficult for sellers to get behind the idea. After all, a seller can list their home and be almost guaranteed a sale. However, these homes aren't selling for record-high prices—the ones that are have been fully prepared and stand out. Typically, these prepped homes bring in 3% to 5% more on the sale. If you want to squeeze every cent of equity out of your home, preparation is a no-brainer—especially in our current market. Staging is more profitable now than ever before, and it truly pays to put in the time and money before you list. If you have any questions or would like more information about prepping your home, feel free to reach out to me. Until then, I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Here's a look at what the future might hold for our housing market. Right now, we're used to being in a scaldingly hot seller's market. If you put a home on the market, you're going to get multiple offers and receive more than your asking price. And due to fierce competition, buyers are doing everything they can to get their offers noticed and accepted.  What goes up must come down, however, and the market may soon begin to normalize somewhat. I'm not talking about things turning into a buyer's market, but we do anticipate a shift in the near future. There are a few reasons why. Inventory is still historically low, but more homes begin to come onto the market for the spring selling season in April, May, June, and July. Even now, we're seeing more and more listings pop up. When inventory increases, demand usually decreases a bit.  Additionally, interest rates are beginning to rise. We've enjoyed incredibly low interest rates of around 2.5% for a while, but they're now closer to about 3.25%. When rates go up a half percent, affordability falls by approximately 6%, so these increases have forced some buyers out of the market. As rates continue to rise, more and more buyers will have to drop out. As a result, supply will likely increase and demand will decrease. “Don't let the last few months determine how you price your home going forward.” Interest rates change with world conditions, meaning that as things become more certain, rates increase. We've had stimulus checks, business openings, a better economy, vaccines, and more of a general return to normalcy. Since things are mostly improving, interest rates will likely settle around 3.5% to 4% by the end of the year. With more homes on the housing market and higher interest rates, buyers are going to have more options to choose from. Sellers will need to be extra careful when it comes to pricing their homes, as there simply won't be the same level of competition and demand among buyers. Buyers will be able to be a bit pickier when looking at homes, so you'll need to price yours effectively. Don't let the last few months determine how you price your home going forward. Your price is essentially the bait—if you price your home too high, you'll scare a lot of potential buyers away. However, even if you think you know what your home should be priced at, it's always in your best interest to work with a seasoned professional when selling.  You want a Realtor who has worked through the drastic changes that occur within the market, as they understand how to gauge what buyers are looking for and how you can appeal to them. By knowing the market, your agent can help you secure top dollar on your sale and get as many eyes on your listing as possible. If you're thinking about listing your property or have any questions about our housing market, feel free to reach out to us. We'd be happy to help you with any and all of your real estate needs.

Here is a closer look at the factors driving our crazy real estate market. Today we're going through the latest news and numbers for our Orange County real estate market. We'll focus on the three key indicators that tell us how the market is doing: inventory, interest rates, and demand. The market is bananas right now. There is so much going on and things are not only changing for consumers, but for us agents as well. We're readjusting to the new market, coming up with strategies for buyers and sellers, and it's all a big learning experience. The more we dive into the data, the better we are. Cited below for your convenience are timestamps that will direct you to various points in the video. Feel free to watch the full message or use these timestamps to skip to topics that interest you most: 1:50- An update on the Orange County home inventory 2:38- The latest on where interest rates are and where they're headed 3:42- A look at why demand for homes is so high in today's market 4:45- My expectations for the market in 2021 and advice for today's buyers and sellers 6:30- Wrapping things up The moral of the story is that wherever you are, find a real estate expert you know that can get the job done for you. If you're in the Orange County area, my team and I would love to be of service. If you have any questions about your situation or real estate in general, don't hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

These strategies will help sellers transition between homes. How are our sellers transitioning in this housing market? First, let me put things into perspective. The reason we're talking about this is that inventory is historically low. There are actually more buyers in our market than we have homes for sale. When a great property pops up and it's priced to sell, we're seeing a swarm of buyers attack it and do whatever it takes to get it. This is creating challenges for sellers because those who have to sell then buy are having trouble finding a replacement property. Many of them don't want to put their homes on the market because they won't have anywhere to go after they sell. This is the bottleneck effect we've been dealing with for the past three or four months. Thus, we've come up with specific ways to help our sellers transition: 1. The rent-back. In the past, for sellers transitioning, we'd asked for a moving timeline of a month or two. Nowadays, sellers are asking for whatever they need. Sometimes it's a month or two, sometimes it's three to six months, sometimes it's up to a year. Regardless of what strategy you use, there will always be pros and cons. A shorter rent-back will be open to more buyers, while a longer rent-back will limit the number of people who can actually accommodate that rent-back. Sometimes with a rent-back, you pay the buyer the cost of owning the property. Other times, it's a discounted rate. With how aggressive the market is, we're seeing a lot of buyers let sellers have a free rent-back for however long they need in order to sweeten the deal. 2. Contingent sale. As a seller, you can list your property, field offers, and accept an offer contingent upon finding another place. Basically, you negotiate a certain amount of time with the buyer to find another place so both escrows can be done at the same time. If you can't find a place, though, the deal is off and you're not selling. That creates certainty for our seller, but not so much for the buyer. Again, there are pros and cons. “Regardless of which of these strategies you use, there will always be pros and cons.” 3. The staycation. Let's say you sell your property and negotiate a rent-back timeline to ease into your transition. Then, you can hire a pod company to take all your stuff, move it to their storage facility, and then rent an Airbnb for three to six months. There are a lot of them out there that come fully furnished and allow you to negotiate many different terms. This allows you to have a vacation from your normal life while you're looking for your next property. It's a fun way to create a short-term transitionary period without having to move all your things twice. 4. A short-term rental. You can go to the Irvine Company, any type of apartment community, or even find a private-party landlord and request to rent their property for six months. 5. Buy first, then sell. I'd say only about 10% of our buyers and sellers have the ability to do this. After you move everything into your new home, you can sell your property as a vacant one. This is the best way to sell a property, but again, many sellers can't do it. If you're looking to sell your current home and buy another property and are worried about the transition, my team has a solution for you. If you have questions about this or any real estate topic, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I'd love to speak with you.

Here are six reasons you should get pre-approved right now. Whether you just decided you want to buy a home or have been thinking about it for a while, or whether you want to buy now or see yourself buying in three to five years, you need to get pre-approved today. There are six reasons why: 1. It provides education and options. When you talk to a lender and open your financial scenario to them, they'll let you know what kind of loans you qualify for, how much you can afford, what your monthly payment will be, how much you'll have to bring to the closing table, whether or not there's any free money out there for you, etc. Understanding all of your options and getting educated about your loan will set you up for success. 2. It buys you time. Most of the buyers my team and I meet with don't say, “I'm ready to go right now.” Instead, they tell us they're thinking about buying, they want to learn more about what that looks like, and are curious what their next step should be. They may be looking to sell six or even 12 months down the road, but getting pre-approved now and understanding their financial situation gives them time to structure their loan, make any adjustments in their personal life, and clear up any blemishes in their credit report. Having time on your side is crucial! 3. It gives you insight into the three key indicators (as alluded to in point No. 1). The first of these is your monthly payment: If you buy a home for x amount of dollars, how much will your monthly payment be? The second is how much you qualify for (i.e., your total purchase price). One of my mentors once told me that purchase price is a one-time thing; your monthly payment is what you need to be focused on. That's why the market is moving so quickly right now—interest rates are historically low. The third indicator is how much money you need to bring to the table. Are there grants you can take advantage of? How much are your closing costs? These indicators are things you'll want to know before embarking on the home-buying process. As Dave Ramsey says, “Fall in love with the numbers before you fall in love with the house.” “Understanding all of your options and getting educated about your loan will set you up for success.” 4. The “just in case.” A lot of our clients get pre-approved knowing they want to buy in six to 12 months, but all of a sudden a beautiful home gets listed in their price range and convinces them that they can't pass it up. The fact that they got pre-approved right when they thought about buying puts them in a position to buy that unicorn property that popped up out of the blue. You need to be ready to strike at a moment's notice in a market like this. 5. It may be required of you. Due to COVID, many homeowners are requiring buyers to send their pre-approvals up front. They don't want just anybody walking through their home. They only want to allow access to those buyers who can afford their property. This doesn't mean every home, but I estimate that 30% to 40% of all sellers are making this stipulation. Just having it allows you to go out and look at more homes. Even if you're not ready to buy, you still have your admission ticket if a home pops up that you like and want to see. 6. It's completely free. There are no commitments or obligations. It's simply an educational experience that will leave you feeling much more empowered to make the right decision. If you're thinking of buying a home or have more questions about this topic, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I'd love to speak with you.

Here's why sellers are calling the shots in our market. What's going on with our Orange County real estate market? In short, sellers are calling all the shots, and today I'll tell you why. I'll also explain how sellers and buyers can navigate this market. Historically low inventory and interest rates have created a massive amount of demand, and I've never seen a market this aggressive.  Cited below for your convenience are timestamps that will direct you to various points in the video. Feel free to watch it in its entirety or use these timestamps to browse specific points at your leisure:  1:36—If a home looks good and is priced near market value, it will get multiple offers and sell for over list price 2:44—We're seeing super short inspection periods, as-is offers, termite clearances, discounted or free rent-back periods, and buyers willing to pay closing costs  5:00—What does this mean for sellers? 6:10—What does this mean for buyers? 6:50—The moral of the story: Working with an expert is in your best interest  7:11—Wrapping things up As always, if you have questions about our market or are thinking of buying or selling a home soon, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I'm happy to help.

Buyers in this current market will have to overpay to get what they want. The Orange County housing market is bananas these days. Nothing is completely making sense right now. A lot of buyers we're working with are telling us that they know rates are low, demand is high, and prices are high, but they want a good deal regardless. The sellers we're working with are saying something similar. They know the market is strong, so if homes are selling for a certain price in their area, they want to sell for higher.  Everyone has unrealistic expectations for how the market is working. At the end of the day, if you want to buy a home in our current market, you'll have to wrap your head around the fact that whatever homes sold for in the past doesn't determine what they'll sell for in the future. As a buyer, you'll have to overpay to get what you want, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.  Feel free to watch the video above in its entirety to find out why, or use these timestamps to skip ahead to various sections at your leisure: 1:06—How one of my recent home sales illustrates what we're dealing with in the market right now 2:08—Understanding what a home is worth on paper versus what a buyer is willing to pay for it  2:55—If you want to buy now, you'll definitely have to overpay for a property  3:37—Going back to my original example to explain current price appreciation 4:31—What to know if you're waiting for the market to turn  5:41—The truth of the matter for buyers 6:04—Wrapping things up As always, if you have questions about this or any real estate topic or are thinking of buying or selling a home soon, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I'm happy to help. Until next time, happy selling!

Don't let FOMO guide your decision-making process as a homebuyer. Is FOMO costing you money? FOMO stands for the “fear of missing out.” If you haven't heard of this term, Google it; it's a real thing.  The bottom line is that my team and I work with a lot of buyers, and these buyers come in all shapes and sizes. 50% of them are focused on what they want. They know the area they're looking in, understand why they're buying, and have fallen in love with the numbers. What I mean by that last part is they've spoken with a lender, understand the loan they're getting and how much they'll bring to the table for a down payment, know what their monthly payment and closing costs will be, etc. They're 100% ready to go; all they're waiting for is the right property to pop up.  The other 50% we work with are playing small. They've spoken to a lender but don't understand their financial options. They've spoken to an agent or two but haven't developed a relationship with them. They have a general idea of where they want to live but aren't committed to a particular area. They don't know why they want to buy, they just know that now is a good time to do so.  We've found that the people who are focused, ready, and prepared are winning. The people who don't know what's going on financially, emotionally, or physically are the ones who have a lot of doubt, and that doubt is costing them tons of money in our market. In short, they have FOMO. They have FOMO because they don't know what they want.  For example, they might find a property, fall in love with it, and want to submit an offer. However, as soon as two other properties they like come on the market in a completely different area, they'll decide they want to look at those properties before moving forward with their first offer. At that point, they're comparing apples and oranges. Most buyers look for 10/10 homes, but unless you have an unlimited budget or are building a custom home, it's difficult to find a 10/10 home. My team and I encourage our clients to look for 7/10 or 8/10 homes because that will give them what they want and allow them to work around the rest as they settle into the property. “Understand why you're buying, where you want to live, and then zero-in on that area.” The point is, the buyer who wants to submit an offer on one property while looking at two others will get even more confused. They'll miss out on the initial home they wanted, and by the time they feel like they want to submit offers for the other two homes, multiple other buyers will have already made offers on them. Thus, they get caught up in these bidding wars but never close the loop because they're not even sure what they want. They keep letting other properties distract them, and all the while the market is moving very aggressively. When one home sells, the next one is selling for more.  If you're a buyer, that's just what you have to deal with in this market. If you don't want to deal with it, then you'll just have to sit on the sidelines and see how things play out for a while. Keep in mind, though, that many are waiting for a market that won't materialize, and a lot of buyers are finding value now because interest rates have never been lower.  What can you do to set yourself up to win? Fall in love with the numbers before you fall in love with the house. If you don't understand what kind of loan you're getting, your down payment, where the money is coming from, etc., there's a lot of doubt in your situation. If you don't know where you want to live, what kind of home you want, or what type of life you want, that doubt will make you a “no.” You'll always be a “no” because in your head there will always be something out there that might be better.  The best advice I can give to any buyer looking to win in this market is to understand why you're buying, where you want to live, and then zero-in on that area. After that, talk to a lender and figure out what type of situation you're getting yourself into financially. If you're not on your game in this market, you'll lose. I'm seeing a lot of people lose, and it's costing them a lot of money.  We're here to help you get the property you want at the price you want. If you take our advice, we guarantee you'll win in this market. If you'd like to talk more about buying or selling a home, have a topic you'd like to see me address in a future video, or any other real estate needs at all, don't hesitate to reach out to me. Until next time, happy selling.

Here's why our Orange County market is in uncharted territory. What's going on with our 2021 Orange County real estate market? Ever since March of last year, when we saw such a rise in demand and activity, the market has been going bananas. Today I'll take a deep dive into the numbers behind our supply and demand and explain what they mean for buyers and sellers. The bottom line is that we're in uncharted territory.  Cited below for your convenience are timestamps that will direct you to various points in the video. Feel free to watch it in its entirety or use these timestamps to browse specific points at your leisure:  0:33—Inventory is dramatically low  2:24—Demand is through the roof  2:40—Interest rates have never been lower 3:26—What's all of this done to sales activity? 4:48—What do you do if you're a seller? 5:06—What do you do if you're a buyer? 5:36—Wrapping things up  As always, if you have questions about our Orange County market or are thinking of buying or selling a home soon, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I'm happy to help.

Here's a closer look at how you should approach pricing your home for sale. As I've touched on in previous videos, three specific factors translate into selling a property for the highest price and best terms:  1. Price the home right.  2. Make the home look as good as possible with the resources available to you. 3. Leverage online and offline marketing to get the word out about it.  Let's take a closer look at the first of those factors; though we know the price you set for your home isn't everything, it's certainly darn close. Whether you have a newly remodeled home or a complete fixer-upper, it always comes down to price, right? If you've priced your home according to its condition and that number is in line with what buyers in your area are willing to pay, then you're on the right track. Unfortunately, too many sellers in our market are overly optimistic about their advantage and are therefore overpricing their homes.  Even in a persistent seller's market like ours, you must price your home appropriately, if not even a tad aggressively. Doing so will help you expose your home to the largest number of people, generate a high volume of showings, attract strong offers, and ultimately lead to a fantastic sale price (assuming your agent did everything they were supposed to do). Several pricing strategies can be implemented, but ultimately, your approach should be dependent on the type of home you have. For example, if yours is a unique property that's in an area where comparable sales data is scarce, perhaps you should go ahead and price high just to see what the market will bring. However, many of the homes we sell in Orange County tend to have a lot of model matches that give us a good indication of what that home is worth. Oftentimes, homes will sell for a range; some homes have been upgraded while others boast better locations, and others still may require a bit of work. Depending on different factors like upgrades, showability, and (most importantly) list price, any specific home in a given area could sell for somewhere between $900,000 and $1 million.  So, if homes in a specific area are selling for a range like that, then fair market value would be roughly in the middle. Slightly aggressive would be somewhere under $900,000, whereas aggressive would be above $1 million. There are pros and cons to each strategy. If you price high, you just might get lucky and fetch your price, but know that it's not likely.  “You could lose anywhere from 2% to 4% on your potential sale price due to the wrong pricing strategy.” Today's buyers are savvier than those of yesteryear, with boatloads of information and user-friendly real estate tech at their disposal. We're just not seeing many buyers significantly overpaying for properties in our current market.  The most likely scenario if you price high: You sit on the market, have a few showings, lower your price a little, have some more showings, lower your price once again, and then toil away in this fashion until you finally decide to just sell to someone out of desperation. I see this happen all the time. You could lose anywhere from 2% to 4% on your potential sale price due to the wrong pricing strategy.  The second approach you could take is to price your home within market value and show buyers that you're motivated by cleaning it up and making it look stellar. In that scenario, you attract multiple offers and sell for a great price.  Here's the third and most successful strategy we've been seeing in our market lately: pricing the home slightly aggressively. We know demand is high, rates are low, and everybody on the planet wants a great deal. We also know it's possible to price your home too low—too many offers pour in, and deciding which one of out 30 has a legitimate chance of closing at the best terms quickly becomes a major stressor for sellers. Pricing slightly aggressively, therefore, is the sweet spot where you'll be able to maximize exposure.  There's no one-size-fits-all pricing strategy, but the bottom line is that your list price has to be in line with the expectations of buyers in your market if you want to create the reaction you want. As always, reach out to me by phone, email, or direct message if you want to chat about your particular selling plans. I'm always here to help. Happy selling!

The home-buying woes continue; here's how to rise to the challenge. It's the new year, and so far, we're experiencing most of what we've been experiencing for the last eight months of 2020: low inventory, super-low interest rates, and very high buyer demand. I'm hoping we'll see a steady increase over time so buyers can have some relief from this relentless market, but for now, our shared reality is that of an aggressive, highly competitive market. If you're looking for a new home at the moment or soon will be, you need to have a clear and decisive strategy in place. Here are three simple tips for how to win as a buyer in this 2021 seller's market:  1. Fall in love with the numbers before you fall in love with a property. You need to talk to a lender and make sure you understand every component of your financing. Sadly, 86% of people skip this step, but it's essential to avoid headaches later on in the process. Are you paying with cash? Are you financing your home purchase with a loan? Do you have the down payment ready, and if not, are you anticipating that those funds will be gifted to you by family? Do you know what your closing costs will be? What's the maximum monthly payment that you could stomach? Do you know the difference between your “comfort zone” budget and your “stretch” budget? These are the questions that will need to be answered before you start looking for properties in earnest.  “You need to talk to a lender and make sure you understand every component of your financing.” 2. Get realistic, and focus on what you want. Right now, most properties are selling for above asking price if the home looks great and the price is right. Knowing this, you may want to set your expectations a little lower. In the past, when buyers had more inventory and more time to find a property, I'd help clients look at houses that were just above their target price range because the market allowed more room for negotiation. While deals still exist in today's market, they're few and far between. So, if you qualify for a $1 million mortgage, it may be in your best interest to cap your search at $950,000—with biddings wars as prevalent as they are, a property listed at that price could easily sell for $990,000 or $1 million.  3. Submit fast and strong. If you're a smart buyer who's done all their homework up front and know exactly how much you can afford, then be ready to pull the trigger. In this market, you need to act to win—don't try to play games with the seller. If you want to learn more about what it means to submit a strong offer right out of the gate, then check out any one of the dozens of videos I've churned out on that exact topic over the past eight months.  I hope you found value in today's message. If so, feel free to share it with someone you know who could also benefit from this information. If you want to chat with me about buying or selling a home, you can always reach out via phone, email, or direct message. I'm more than happy to answer your questions and provide some insight into your situation.

This current holiday housing market is unlike any other. Here's why. This Orange County housing market is relentless, and it's time for an update on how the holidays are affecting everything. Generally, everything slows down during the holiday season, and only the most motivated buyers and sellers stay in the market. Now, however, we're seeing a very different market. Inventory is low and demand is falling but not for the reasons you might think. If you're a buyer or seller, you might be pleasantly surprised by the opportunities out there.  Cited below for your convenience are timestamps that will direct you to various points in the video. Feel free to watch it in its entirety, or use these timestamps to browse specific points at your leisure:  0:56—The impact of low inventory and why the drop in demand isn't what you think 3:35—There are fewer buyers and sellers, but those who remain in the market are far more competitive  3:56—A recent client sale that summarizes the relentless state of our market  5:51—Why now's an unbelievable time to sell  7:20—Why the buyers who are losing out now are the ones who are “playing small”  9:07—Wrapping things up  As always, if you have questions about our Orange County housing market or are thinking of buying or selling a home soon, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I'm happy to help, and I hope you have a wonderful holiday season and a great start to 2021. Happy selling!

If your home doesn't sell, what's the next step to take? Homes exit the market all the time for various reasons—the sellers might have been unmotivated, or they might have partnered with inept agents. Statistics show that homeowners often hire the first agent they talk to, but that person may not always be the best for the job. There are over 20,000 agents in Orange County, and last year, only 400 of those agents sold 10 homes or more. Not everybody has the experience that a seller needs to get the best price, and some sellers are finding that out the hard way. Once your home falls off the market, you may find that you're being contacted by many agents who are looking for ways to generate new business. Expired listings are an easy way to have a conversation with a motivated seller that may lead to a potential listing. “Statistics show that homeowners often hire the first agent they talk to, but that person may not always be the best for the job.” So, once your home fails to sell, what's the next step? Here are three things you can do to set yourself up for success as you field all those incoming calls from agents: 1. Focus on the agents who make an impression. Around 90% of the agents who call you on day one will never call you again. So if you don't want to sell, don't worry; the calls will stop. But if you are committed to selling, think about which agents are leaving an impression on you and ask them questions to ensure they know what they're talking about. 2. Ask the agent how many houses they sold in the last 12 months. That will help you determine if the agent you're speaking to has the experience necessary to sell your home. 3. Ask the agent what separates them from the others who are calling you. Most great agents will immediately be able to list two or three things that separate them from their competition.  If you've found yourself in the situation where you tried to sell your home and still need to, reach out to me and my team. I'd love the opportunity to talk with you about how we can help.

Buyers don't want to pay more than market value—but what is market value? Many buyers in the market have been saying that they don't want to pay above market value for a home. But here's the thing: Market value is not a number. Market value is a price that a buyer is willing to pay based on demand. So understand that there's no specific price set when it comes to market value. Now, you will want to look back at the neighborhood's history to see what prices homes have sold for, what condition they were in, what time of year it was, and what demand was like at the time. Those are all factors that are considered when a home's market value is decided. Buyers who tell me they don't want to pay over market value are often the buyers who may end up losing out on the home. Here's an example to help me explain: A few years ago, my parents were looking for a condo in my neighborhood. For them, being close to me was the most important factor in their purchase. There was a home that was listed for $620,000, and at the time, the market value was probably between $615,000 and $625,000. It was a strong market, the home was priced right, and it looked great.  “Once your home closes escrow, the next home will be listed for slightly more and probably sell for more.” The listing agent for the condo said they had offers of up to $625,000 and that they counteroffered everyone. Since this neighborhood was so important to my parents, my mom said to counteroffer them at $640,000. My dad asked me if that was too much. I told him that there's no such thing as too much—they would be paying more than what recent homes have sold for, but if it made sense for them to pay that much and it was in their price range, $640,000 would be a great number. My mom looked at us both and said, “I don't want to play any games; offer them $642,000.” We submitted that offer, which was accepted, and they've been living in that property for two years now. They absolutely love it. The great news is that the minute the transaction closed and became official, that price became the market value. Now that property is one that appraisers will look at to determine what homebuyers are willing to pay in a specific area. With inventory and interest rates so low and demand so high, we're seeing homes sell for more than what appraisers can justify, so many buyers feel like they're overpaying for properties. In some cases, they may technically be, but remember that as long as the monthly payment is within your comfort zone and you're getting a fixed rate on your loan, then it doesn't matter if you spent an extra $5,000 or $10,000. At the end of the day, once your home closes escrow, the next one will be listed for slightly more and probably sell for more, thus continuing the trend. If you want to dive deeper into the subject of market value or have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I'd love to talk to you.

The key to selling your home for the most money lies in your marketing plan. Whether you plan to put your home on the market in the next month or the next couple of years, there are three things that you need to focus on as a seller when you're working with an agent to list your home for sale. Fortunately for you, it all comes down to marketing. I've broken our marketing strategy into three parts: 1. Price. Think about a time when a product you were waiting to buy suddenly dropped in price. What did that make you want to do? Chances are that it made you want to go out there and get it right away. When it comes to listing your home, my team uses several different pricing strategies depending on the client, the market, and what our goals are. That said, how you price a property directly affects the number of buyers who will see your home. 2. Home preparation. That doesn't necessarily mean home upgrades, although sometimes it may. Most of the time, the goal is to take the property and use the resources and time available to us to make it look as good as possible when it goes live on the market. Sometimes that involves cleaning the carpets, interior/exterior paint touch-ups, deep cleaning, and/or making minor repairs. 3. Traditional real estate marketing. Word of your home's availability will be sent to everyone via the MLS, which is the primary database that all agents use. Through the MLS, your listing will also be sent to other, third-party consumer websites such as Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com, Trulia, Homes.com, and so many other sites.  “You have to work with an agent who understands how to market using price, preparation, and all the resources available.” Beyond those, there are other online and offline strategies available (too many to list here), but the one unifying fact behind them all is that selling is all about psychology. The higher the emotional connection a buyer has with a property that you're selling, the more they'll be willing to pay. We in the Robert Mack Group specialize in telling a story. Buyers love them. It doesn't matter what they're buying—if there's a story behind it, it means there's more value behind it. We tell stories using tactics like print advertising, and mail. If you want the best price for your home, you have to work with an agent who understands how to market using price, preparation, and all the resources available to us to help get the word out. If you or someone you know is thinking about listing a home, reach out to the Robert Mack Group. I want to tell you about what we can do to set you up for success.

The fluff will be removed from the market; what does that mean for you? A lot of people are saying that because the holidays are right around the corner, they're not sure if now is the right time to buy or sell or if they'd be better off waiting. Now, before I share my response, remember that real estate doesn't have a one-size-fits-all approach, so my advice today may or may not apply to your specific situation. That said, you can always reach out to me if you'd like to discuss it in more detail. Interest rates are currently low, and though we do anticipate an increase in 2021, they're holding steady for now. Beyond that, there are two key issues at play when it comes to buying and selling during the holidays: inventory and demand.  If you've been following my blog, you'll know that inventory has been super low, which has raised demand. It's slim pickings out there for buyers, meaning that they're paying premium prices for properties. That, in turn, means sellers are selling their homes for record prices. However, 80% of our sellers are also buyers, and like all buyers, they're having trouble finding properties. Will it get worse? It likely will for the next few weeks until the new year, when inventory rises again. “We are in a sweet spot right now where it's a great time for both buyers and sellers to act.” However, a whole other series of issues come when inventory begins to rise. As I discussed in previous posts, 30% of our current inventory is stale inventory, meaning that it's either an unmotivated seller who, in their attempt to test out the market, has overpriced their home, or it's a property that needs a lot of work. As the holiday season approaches, that 30% of homeowners whose homes have been sitting on the market for too long may pull their homes from the market and deal with it next year. That's why today's post is titled “Removing the Fluff.” Although inventory is falling, the inventory of sellable homes is actually going to stay right where it is. Demand is also going to fall, just like the unmotivated sellers. The buyers who don't have a real need to purchase right now are also going to leave the market in favor of celebrating the holidays. That means sellers have a great opportunity if they list their homes now. You'll have less competition from other sellers, and the motivated buyers will still be in the market to search for a home. Demand for individual homes is still very, very high, and we expect that to continue through the new year. You're sure to get a very good price in our current market. Keep in mind, though, that not every agent is the same. A great agent can squeeze in an extra 2% to 5% more out of your home than the average agent. Even though the market is hot, don't list your home with just anyone. Make sure you work with a professional. For buyers, it's a great time to consider a purchase. Yes, you're going to pay a premium for the available properties, but the beauty of it is that you have less competition from other buyers, and interest rates are low. Don't forget that the people who are still in the market are playing to win, so competition will still be fierce. All in all, we are in a sweet spot right now where it's a great time for both buyers and sellers to act. If you'd like to have a more in-depth conversation about your position in the market or you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me. I'd love to be your resource.

Here are five ways to make your offer stand out. If you're a buyer and ready to start shopping for homes, you should know that it's brutal out there. There isn't a lot of inventory, which has made it hard for a lot of buyers to find the right home. Historically low interest rates are only adding fuel to the fire—buyers want to get their offer accepted now even though they know they're paying a premium because they also know that these rates equate to long-term savings.  Let me tell you a quick story. Back in 1982, the Cabbage Patch Kids dolls were introduced to the world and started selling faster than stores could restock their shelves with them. The savvy buyers (i.e., those who knew when the deliveries of these dolls were being made) were able to get in line at stores and buy a doll for just $30. The unprepared buyers had to offer as much as $100 to the savvy buyers for a single doll because their kids wanted them so badly—three times as much as the retail value.  That's what we're seeing right now. Only the most prepared, aggressive buyers are winning. If you're not willing to play ball, you're going to lose. With that in mind, there are five ways you can make your offer stand out among the competition. Price is what will get sellers' attention, but these tips will help you stand out from other buyers: 1. Remove the appraisal contingency. Right now, we're dealing with appraisal issues. Appraisers value properties based on past sales, and homes are sold based on what a buyer feels it's worth and its future value. We're finding that there's a gap between what banks think homes are worth and what buyers think they're worth. If you have the cash reserves, consider removing the appraisal contingency from your offer and offer to pay the difference between the appraised value and the agreed-upon price (within reason). For example, you can offer to pay up to $20,000 to cover any appraisal gap. That will give the seller peace of mind.  2. Call the listing agent to ensure you understand the seller's situation. Do they want a long or short escrow period? What else is important to them? Write your offer based on their needs, because most sellers are choosing offers based on what makes sense to them, even if those offers don't include the highest price.  3. Tighten your inspection timelines. As a buyer, you'll have time to do inspections, review disclosures and HOA documents, have the appraisal, etc. All of these inspections come with contingency timelines that are usually between 17 and 21 days. Consider doing your inspections in, say, 10 days, or reviewing the appraisal in 12 days. Anything you can do to add peace of mind to the seller and show them you're motivated will make you look stronger.  “Only the most prepared, aggressive buyers are winning.” 4. Remove certain seller closing costs. For example, a lot of buyers ask sellers to pay for a home warranty worth $550. If you can pay that yourself, it will net the seller more money. Or instead of the seller paying for and scheduling the termite inspection, you can offer to do it. Whatever the case may be, many buyers are offering to pay the sellers' customary closing costs to add value to their net without improving the purchase price, so you should do the same.  5. Work with a good agent. If I'm a seller and get multiple offers, I look for the best price and terms, the most motivated buyer, and one who will stay in escrow even when things get tough. Additionally, I'm looking to work with a great agent, and I know the buyer's agent is looking for the same thing. This means you should work with an agent who knows how to make an offer that sellers will fall in love with.  If you'd like to know more about how to get your offer accepted or have any other real estate questions, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I'd love to speak with you.

To sell in this market, you need to be willing to take a leap of faith. Are you willing to take a leap of faith? If you've tried selling your home in the past but for one reason or another were unsuccessful, this message is for you. The good news is that you can still accomplish your real estate goals, and I'll tell you how. It starts with taking a leap of faith and a willingness to explore alternative options. Cited below for your convenience are timestamps that will direct you to various points in the video. Feel free to watch it in its entirety or use these timestamps to browse specific points at your leisure: 0:35—Why I'm always calling sellers of expired listings 1:20—The primary reason potential sellers aren't selling  2:17—Why you must take a leap of faith as a seller in this housing market and what options will buy you time to find your next property 2:43—Tip No. 1: Ask the buyer for a rent-back 3:31—Tip No. 2: Find a short-term rental  4:36— Tip No. 3: Let go of what you want and focus on what you need 5:29—Wrapping things up If you're ready to put your home back on the market or have any other real estate questions, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I'd love to speak with you. 

Here's what kind of seller you need to be to sell for top dollar. What kind of seller are you? I've been selling real estate for 15 years, and in that time, I've dissected many types of clients.  I've found that there are three types of sellers: The seller who wants to do nothing to their home except list it.  The seller who wants to do everything to their home before listing it. The seller who's willing to keep an open mind and make minor repairs and modifications to their home so it shows as a high-quality product and maximizes their ROI. If you haven't figured it out by now, I'm a big fan of the last type. In other words, I'm a big fan of considering minor repairs and design modifications to make your home look and feel more expensive than it is and make buyers comfortable about submitting their highest offer. As a seller, it's important to understand that fewer than 5% of all homes are ready to sell right away. Most people have to do something to make their homes show better.  “Figure out where you stand as a seller.” In my world, buyers buy based on perceived value. They'll make an offer based on emotion, then justify it based on logic. Oftentimes, with just a small investment, you can make your home look $30,000, $40,000, $50,000, or even $100,000 more expensive. By “small investment,” I mean typically as little as $5,000 to $10,000.  As I've said many times before: Real estate is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Sellers who aren't willing to make upgrades or enhancements before selling are potentially leaving money on the table. Similarly, sellers who want to upgrade everything are also potentially leaving money on the table.  Sellers who keep an open mind and consider making small repairs, though, are the ones who win. This could mean repainting the interior, steam cleaning the carpets, getting the home professionally staged, etc. Statistically, staged homes sell for 5% to 6% more and 75% quicker than unstaged homes.  So, figure out where you stand as a seller. Do you want to make a ton of upgrades, no upgrades at all, or work with a real estate expert who knows exactly what buyers are looking for so you can maximize your ROI? That's what my team and I specialize in: Helping people invest a minimal amount of money to gain a maximum amount of net proceeds.  If you'd like to know more about how to sell your home for top dollar or have any other real estate questions, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I'd love to speak with you.

Inventory is tight, but there are three tips to remember to win the home you want. We're nearing the end of October, and our Orange County real estate market is absolutely bananas. Today I'll discuss why our market is so aggressive and what you can do about it as a buyer. Essentially, inventory is low and so are interest rates. COVID started this trend all the way back in March, but there are three tips to remember if you want to win the home you love.  Cited below for your convenience are timestamps that will direct you to various points in the video. Feel free to watch it in its entirety or use these timestamps to browse specific points at your leisure:  0:52—How COVID negatively affected inventory and caused home sales to soar 2:15—Buyers are buying faster than inventory can keep up, which is keeping demand high and creating new challenges for buyers 3:59—Tip No. 1 for winning the home you want: Be prepared 4:56—Tip No. 2: Go in strong 5:49—Tip No. 3: Be flexible and think outside the box  7:22—Wrapping things up  As always, if you have questions about this or any real estate topic, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I'm happy to help.

Here's how to determine the best time for you to buy a home. When is the best time to buy a home? Before I answer that question, I'll address another question I get asked frequently: How's the market? That is a difficult question to answer because everyone is different. If you ask an agent how the market is and they tell you it's hot, that's not a great answer. Some people want to buy, and within that category alone, there are people who want to buy primary residences, second homes, and investment properties. Others want to sell or just rent. On top of that, different price ranges require different answers. There are so many criteria to consider that we can't always say definitively whether it's a good time to buy or sell.  However, there are clearly times in the market where it makes sense to buy—especially if you're a buyer who can afford to buy a property and have a compelling reason to buy. So when people ask me about the best time to buy, it's very rarely related to the market. Instead, it's usually related to their personal situation. That's why my answer boils down to two factors: 1) when you can afford to buy, and 2) when you have the desire to buy.  “If you are interested in buying and can afford to do so, though, it's a great time to make your move.” I should also stress that not everyone is a potential buyer. Sometimes people contact me because someone else told them to buy, but I'm not a big fan of people buying properties if they don't feel the need to do so on their own. If you are interested in buying and can afford to do so, though, it's a great time to make your move.  Right now, affordability is as high as it's ever been. I know it sounds counterintuitive, but interest rates control everything. As a mentor of mine once said, “When you buy a property, price is a one-time thing, but your interest rate is what you have to see every single month.” Nowadays, people are getting fixed mortgages, so if you're approved for a loan, you can feel comfortable knowing your monthly payment will be the same for the life of your loan. If you're renting, on the other hand, you never know what your landlord will do. Will they raise your rent or not? If you're not sure you can afford to buy a property, give me a call and I'd be happy to refer you to a great local lender who can help you understand your financial capabilities. If you have questions about this or any other real estate topic, feel free to reach out to me as well. 

Here's why you're getting so many phone calls from agents. My team and I have been selling homes in the Orange County area for 15 years, and a big portion of our business comes from helping homeowners who tried selling in the past but were unsuccessful. We call these ‘canceled' or ‘expired' listings (and, sometimes, ‘withdrawn'). There are rules we have to follow when handling these types of listings.  So if you've failed to sell your home in the past and are now receiving a ton of calls from different agents, you may be wondering: “Where the heck were these people when my home was for sale?” “35% of all homes that come off the market are relisted within 60 days.” When a home doesn't sell and comes off the market, it becomes public record. In my experience, I know that homes come off the market for a variety of reasons. The problem could've been the agent, the home itself, personal issues with the seller, etc. You name it, I've heard it. I also know that 35% of all homes that come off the market are relisted within 60 days. Basically, you're getting all these phone calls because agents are looking for more business.  I'll go out on a limb here and say that roughly nine out of every 10 agents don't have the experience to help you rebrand and reposition your property so that it sells at a record price. My team and I absolutely understand why homes don't sell, and we call canceled listings daily. We know that there are would-be sellers out there who are confused and frustrated because they have all these agents calling them, sending them things in the mail, and knocking on their door. It can all be quite overwhelming—especially during the first week.  The best advice I can give you to deal with this situation is to listen to what these agents have to say. If you still need to sell, make a list of the agents you feel have the necessary experience to get the job done. I recommend interviewing anywhere from three to five agents to find the best one. Remember, not all agents are the same. We all have different experience levels, marketing strategies, team structures, networks, and processes we follow.  If you're thinking of putting your home back on the market or need to sell but don't know where to start, give me a call. My team and I would love to be a resource for you and apply for the job of being your real estate agent. Until then, happy selling! 

Here's how sellers can avoid appraisal issues when listing their property. How can you avoid appraisal issues as a seller? Before answering that question, let's talk for a moment about value. Many of my team's buyer clients ask us what their options are if they submit an offer on a home but the appraisal doesn't match that value. The thing is, value is a relative term. In other words, a home is only worth what a buyer is willing to pay for it.  When a buyer gets a loan to buy a home, they must get an appraisal, but this appraisal isn't designed to protect the consumer—it's designed to protect the lender. Appraisals exist because, if a lender allows a buyer to borrow money, they need to ensure that they'll be able to recover their funds if the buyer can't pay back their loan and they have to foreclose on the home and sell it.  Appraisers will do their best to justify the price a buyer offers for a home, but there's a bit of a disconnect with the process because they justify value based on past sales. These past sales can be anywhere from one to six months old, and the market is changing rapidly. When I work with a seller, my job is to justify the highest possible price based on future values. What will a homebuyer pay for this property? What do we have to do to get them to see the value of it?  A seller accepting an offer for a price the appraiser can't justify is a common occurrence in our low-inventory, high-demand market where homes are selling for record prices. Homes are selling at never-before-seen prices, and it's hard for a conservative lender to justify this.  “If a buyer wants to pay more for a home than what the appraiser thinks it's worth, that's on them.” So, to avoid future appraisal issues, the solution is simple. If you have an offer with a price you don't think can be justified by an appraisal, do your due diligence and make sure the buyer has enough funds to cover the gap. Again, a home is only worth what a buyer is willing to pay for it. If a buyer wants to pay more for a home than what the appraiser thinks it's worth, that's on them.  In this situation, we'll remove the appraisal contingency, which states that if the home appraises for less than what the buyer agrees to pay for it, they have to pay the difference in cash. The buyer will have to increase their down payment to cover that gap because the lender will only lend you a certain amount of the appraised value for your loan.  There's a lot more that goes into this, but we at the Robert Mack Group have spent the last seven years dissecting the home-selling experience. We've identified the pain points such as this and do everything we can to get in front of this issue to reduce friction during the transaction. Make sure you work with an agent who understands this because the last thing you want is the buyer renegotiating the price of the property because their appraisal came in low.  Keep in mind that appraisers are human beings. If you were to hire three or four of them to appraise the same home, it wouldn't be unusual if they all came back with a different value.  If you want your home sale to be a smooth transaction, please give me a call. If you're curious about your home's value or have any other real estate questions, feel free to reach out to me as well. I'd love to help. Until then, happy selling!

Why are homes more affordable now than ever before? Let's discuss this. One of my old mentors told me a long time ago that prices are a one-time thing; your monthly payments and your interest rates are what you have to see every month. If you were to buy a $1-million property today with a 3.25% interest rate and 20% down, your monthly payment would be $3,482. If those rates went up to 4.25%, your monthly payment would be $3,936—that's a $500-difference for just a 1% increase!  If you're thinking about waiting until prices fall to make a purchase, here are a few questions to consider to decide whether it makes sense to buy now or wait: 1. How much will prices fall when they do? Based on the inventory and demand in our market, I don't see prices falling more than 10%. I think we'll see prices stabilize in the future and maybe drop by 3% to 5% depending on the area. However, I do see interest rates rising by 1% as the world and economy get stronger. “I haven't seen a better time to sell a property than right now.” 2. When is that price fall going to happen? Do you think it will happen in six months? 12 months? 18 months? It's hard to be sure. And for that matter… 3. How high will prices be? If prices from today's market rise 15% over the next 18 months and then begin to fall, they're going to have to fall another 15% to get to a point where buyers feel like they're getting the deal they've been waiting for. 4. How high will the interest rates be when the prices fall? Interest rates are much more likely to rise than prices are to fall, which is why I believe you'll get a better deal buying a home now than you will in 12 to 24 months when the prices fall. In my opinion, many buyers are going to be paying more per month for a home they bought for less.  For sellers in the market, know that I haven't seen a better time to sell a property than right now. If you're waiting to liquidate your assets to take that money and do something else with it, you probably still have more time. The market is likely still going to appreciate, though there's no guarantee—the election is coming up, unemployment is still high, and the pandemic is still active.  We don't know for sure what the future is going to look like, but if you list your home now, you'll almost certainly get a great price for it if you work with the right agent, price your home correctly, and improve its condition. You might get a little more for it in six months, but whether or not you should wait and see depends on your bigger-picture plans. For those who are selling their homes in order to buy a new one, right now is the time to make it happen. Those low interest rates work in your favor, too, and they might not be around forever. If you have any questions about buying or selling in our market, please reach out to us. We would love to explore your options with you and help you find success.

If you tried to sell in the past, your home may be worth more now. To all you homeowners who tried to sell your home in the past and were unsuccessful for whatever reason: Your house is likely worth more now. There are dozens of reasons why properties don't sell, but there's an excellent silver lining. Maybe it was meant to be; it may have been a frustrating experience, perhaps you weren't satisfied with your agent, or maybe something happened that was out of your control.  The fantastic news is values have continued to rise month over month for years. We're currently experiencing one of the most aggressive seller's markets I've seen in my 15 years in real estate. Just today, I spoke to three different people whose homes didn't sell in the past, and now I can probably get them a bit more than what they listed it for in the past. That's the silver lining of not selling then: You can get more now.  “Values have continued to rise month over month for years.” Your next step is to talk to real estate agents and decide who to hire to get your house sold. If you're in Orange County, I would love the opportunity to work with you. My team and I are in the top 1% of all the agents in the U.S., and we specialize in working with sellers who tried to sell in the past and were unsuccessful. Don't get too down on yourself; reach out to us and let us help you come up with a strategy that will get you what you want.  If you're not in this area, I have referral partners all over the country, and I can refer you to the top agent in your neighborhood. If you're considering putting your property back on the market, you want to know the current value of your home, or you have any questions, reach out to me via phone or email. I'd love to be a resource for you and maybe earn your future business. Happy selling!

Buyers are currently paying too much for homes. Here's how to avoid that. These days, most buyers are paying too much for the homes they're buying. I'm not talking just about the price of the property; I'm also talking about their experience from the day they begin looking until their offer is accepted. I've been doing a ton of research on this, most of it through our clients, and what I've found is that the standard buyer in our current market is missing out on an average of three properties before they get an offer accepted. This then results in buyers paying too much money for homes. More is less in a market that's appreciating as aggressively as the one we're in right now.  A real-life example: I had a client that was pre-approved for $750,000. She was looking in a particular area she liked, and we found an excellent house that was listed for $740,000. At first, she was tentative and wanted to negotiate. Many buyers want to do this; they'll offer $730,000 to see what happens.  Well, what happens is we won't even receive a counteroffer. In this case, the property sold for $742,000. Had my client come in a bit higher on her offer, she still would have gotten the home for within her price range.  “The standard buyer in our current market is missing out on an average of three properties before they get an offer accepted.” Then, the next house in the area that was comparable was listed for $745,000. They understood that they could get a little more for their property based on what the previous one sold for. I told her to offer $747,000 and show the seller we mean business before she missed out on another home. However, she decided to offer $740,000, and again, we didn't get a counteroffer.  The third house that was comparable was listed for $755,000, and she doesn't qualify for it. We submitted an offer of $750,000, and it wasn't accepted. Now she's looking in another area because she can no longer afford the appreciating home prices in her first-choice neighborhood. Unfortunately, she's now settling for an area that isn't her top choice because she didn't offer the best price in the beginning. Also, the person that paid $755,000 could have gotten the property earlier for $742,000 but overpaid because they weren't as aggressive from the get-go.  If you're a buyer looking for a home, understand what you qualify for and know that you may have to go a bit higher to get the house you want. However, the sooner you get that property, the better—because each home will get more expensive, and that trend will continue. Then you'll either have to settle or pay more than you wanted. If you want to discuss buying a property and learn how my team and I support our clients and get them the best deal possible, send me an email or give me a call. I'd love to connect with you. Also, if you have any ideas for videos you'd like to see in the future, send those my way too.

These are the two main things that will help you sell for top dollar. Today I want to keep it very simple. There are two things you should focus on if you're considering selling your home. Houses that look great and are priced accurately are the ones that sell for top dollar in the shortest time. If you're working with me or my team, we take this off your plate and do it for you. However, if you're working with another team or agent, these are the two things to keep in mind: 1. How can I put out the best product? This doesn't necessarily mean making upgrades—I'm not a fan of that. Unless you're going to upgrade the entire home, you're virtually wasting your time because no one likes a Frankenstein house. I prefer cleaning up the property, making minor repairs, removing eyesores, steam-cleaning carpets, repainting rooms, and staging. These things will make the property look so appealing to the buyer that they will be instantly connected emotionally and imagine themselves living there.  “Houses that look great and are priced accurately are the ones that sell for top dollar.” 2. How can I price it to maximize exposure? Let all the buyers out there know your home is not only available, but also that you're motivated to sell it. If you do this right, it will result in multiple offers. Right now, we're seeing many homeowners price their houses very high. They're thinking that because inventory and interest rates are low, people will pay a premium. This isn't the case.  Buyers want to buy, but they're very savvy and have a ton of information at their fingertips. I recommend pricing your property right around the same price that other homes have been selling for in the area. For example, if your house is worth $1 million and homes in your neighborhood are selling for $975,000 to $1 million, price yours at $998,000. You'll be within the correct price range and get many offers.  If you know anyone who may benefit from this message, send it to them. If you're thinking about selling your property and want to discuss how we get the job done, I'd love the opportunity to work with you. Call or email me if you have any questions about selling or real estate in general. I look forward to speaking with you.

Here are some tips for both homebuyers and sellers out in our market. Buying a home now is like buying toilet paper back in April or May. I've seen this joke circulating the internet about how difficult it is to secure a home right now, but it's very relatable. Our market is currently on fire for sellers. It's the strongest seller's market I've seen since joining the business. However, buyers are having a much more difficult time than usual because competition for limited homes is fierce. Cited below for your convenience are timestamps that will direct you to various points in the video. Feel free to watch it in its entirety, or use these timestamps to browse specific points at your leisure: 1:00- Two reasons why this is the hottest seller's market I've seen since 2006 2:30- My advice for homebuyers in our market right now 4:00- The importance of being flexible and unattached as a buyer 4:55- Tips for maximizing your sale price as a home seller 5:35- Why is a good selling strategy essential even in this market? 6:42- Wrapping things up for buyers and sellers If you have questions about anything I discussed in today's video or related to real estate, don't hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you.

If your previous attempts to sell have failed, here's what NOT to do next. Not every agent is created equal; if your agent couldn't sell your home, it doesn't mean your house is unsellable. My team and I sell previously expired or canceled listings all the time—sometimes for more than what the other agent tried (and failed) to sell it at.  That being said, if your home stagnated on the market for months before the plug was pulled, you need to be prepared to enact some sort of dramatic change by way of price, condition, marketing, or representation. Today I'm sharing the top five mistakes I see unsuccessful sellers make to remedy their situation. Cited below for your convenience are timestamps that will direct you to various points in the video. Feel free to watch the full message or use these timestamps to skip to topics that interest you most:  0:27 — Expired/Cancelled Seller Mistake No. 1: Simply giving up  1:27 — Expired/Cancelled Seller Mistake No. 2: Not changing your strategy 2:08 — Expired/Cancelled Seller Mistake No. 3: Not being open to interviewing a new agent       3:05 — Expired/Cancelled Seller Mistake No. 4: Hiring a ‘yes' agent  4:19 — Expired/Cancelled Seller Mistake No. 4: Not focusing on the bigger picture  I hope you found value in this message; share this video with someone you know who's been struggling with a home sale, and show some social media love while you're at it. If you have any ideas for future video topics, don't hesitate to send them my way. Reach out by phone or email if you ever want to chat with me and my team about revising your home selling approach. We're always here to help!

Here are the biggest home selling mistakes I see in our market today. Ours is a strong seller's market, but sometimes people get overeager and make more mistakes when the cards are stacked in their favor. Many sellers don't realize that it can take two to three months to get their home ready to sell quickly and for top dollar.  Even though we're super low on inventory, about 30% to 35% of that supply is what's considered ‘stale' because some sellers think this market gives them the privilege to price their homes ridiculously. Yes, the market is on fire, but buyers aren't stupid. Today I'm sharing the five big mistakes sellers need to avoid for their home sale to go off without a hitch. Cited below for your convenience are timestamps that will direct you to various points in the video. Feel free to watch the full message or use these timestamps to skip to topics that interest you most:  0:25 — Seller Mistake No. 1: Waiting to call an agent  1:28 — Seller Mistake No. 2: Hiring the first agent you talk to  2:17 — Seller Mistake No. 3: Not prepping your home for sale 3:05 — Seller Mistake No. 4: Overpricing 4:27 — Seller Mistake No. 5: Not being flexible  Sellers: Never forget your main motivation for selling. For example, let's say you get an offer that's $10,000 below what you want. If you know you can get more than that, go for it, but if there's room for doubt, consider accepting that offer; doing so means you'll be one step closer to selling the home, and therefore one step closer to your big picture goal.  I hope you found my message valuable; share this video with someone else who might benefit and show some social media love as well. If you have any ideas for future video topics, don't hesitate to send them my way. Reach out by phone or email if you ever want to chat with me and my team about getting the home selling process started. We're always here to help!

Here are the five mistakes buyers should avoid at all costs. This market can be frustrating for buyers, and many feel that there's simply no way they'll be able to get themselves into the new home they want. However, that feeling doesn't reflect reality—amid all the craziness, I'm helping plenty of buyers achieve their goals. Today I'm sharing the five mistakes you'll want to avoid if you want to join their ranks. From our RAW approach (Ready, Aim, Wait), to the dangers of playing it small, to the ‘law of reciprocity,' I'll cover the most common choices and mindsets that hold buyers back in any market Cited below for your convenience are timestamps that will direct you to various points in the video. Feel free to watch the full message or use these timestamps to skip to topics that interest you most:  0:32 — Buyer Mistake No. 1: Waiting to get pre-approved  2:07 — Buyer Mistake No. 2: Playing it small from the very beginning 3:55 — Buyer Mistake No. 3: Not having a go-to agent  4:48 — Buyer Mistake No. 4: Focusing on price instead of payment 5:48 — Buyer Mistake No. 5: Having a bad mindset As a homebuyer in today's market (or a soon-to-be buyer) you may feel like you're boxed-in by barriers, but remember: What you focus on expands; if you focus on the good, more good will happen. If you do your best to avoid these five common mistakes, you'll be able to enjoy the milestone of buying a new home and celebrate a new chapter in your life.  Hopefully you found my message enlightening and empowering; share this video with someone else who might benefit and show some social media love as well. If you have any ideas for future video topics, don't hesitate to send them my way. Reach out by phone or email if you ever want to chat with me and my team about starting the buying process. We're always here to help! 

Here's why some homes are taking longer to sell in our housing market. We've been hearing a lot of news about the strength of our housing market lately. We're in a seller's market, which means there's less inventory than there are buyers looking to buy. We have about 3,000 fewer homes on the market than we had during this time last year. To add fuel to the fire, the cost of borrowing money is low. Since interest rates are historically low, it's created a frenzy among homebuyers. Over the last few months, we've seen demand skyrocket, inventory drop, and prices rise steadily.  Despite this, some homes are taking longer to sell, and today I'll tell you why.  Cited below for your convenience are timestamps that will direct you to various points in the video. Feel free to watch it in its entirety or use these timestamps to browse specific points at your leisure:  1:03—The types of buyers this situation has created  1:35—How stale inventory has crept into our market  3:02—Why buyers would rather walk away from an overpriced property than submit an offer 3:51—If your home's on the market for more than 60 days, you've priced it too high 4:16—Why your home's exact value is hard to pin down  5:15—What sellers need to remember to price their home correctly  6:02—How frustrated buyers can find sellers who are more willing to negotiate  6:22—Wrapping things up As always, if you have questions about this or any real estate topic or are thinking of buying or selling a home soon, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I'm happy to help. 

If you failed to sell your home, these may be the five reasons why. If you've tried to sell your home in the past but didn't succeed, what went wrong? The reason I've chosen to discuss this topic today is that the housing market is extremely hot for sellers right now. Inventory and interest rates are so low that any house that looks good and is priced to sell is gone within days, often with multiple offers. That's why today I'm discussing what may have gone wrong if you've already tried to sell in this great seller's market.  Cited below for your convenience are timestamps that will direct you to various points in the video. Feel free to watch the full message, or use these timestamps to browse specific topics at your leisure:  0:10: Introduction to today's topic 1:05: Price 2:05: Condition 3:10: Showability 4:10: Access 4:40: Exposure 6:10: Wrapping up today's topic If you have any questions at all about a property you tried to sell in the past, or if you know someone who was unsuccessful with their sale, reach out to us via phone or email. We would love to help you.

In this intense seller's market, buyers need to know a few things. If you're a buyer who's actively looking or getting ready to start looking for a home, it can be a little frustrating right now. Last year at this time, Orange County had over 7,500 properties available for sale, and it was considered a low inventory market. Flash forward to today, and we're hovering under 5,000 properties for sale.  You may think this sounds like a ton of homes, but when you dissect that inventory per city, house type, number of bedrooms, and price range, we're finding there are really only about a dozen houses for what each buyer is looking for. If you're a buyer and only have 12 properties to look at, that may not be enough to find the right one for you and your family. These days we're seeing many buyers do the “ready, aim, wait” approach. This means they've spoken to a lender and have been pre-approved, but they're waiting on the sidelines because they haven't found a home they love yet.  With all of these things at play, a ton of buyers feel as if they've missed the bus. Had they bought in the last few years they would have a lot more equity, and they've been seeing prices steadily increase, so now they're waiting until the market turns before they buy. While that's something to consider, keep this in mind: Most economists and top real estate agents believe prices will continue to rise for at least 18 to 24 months.  You can certainly wait for lower prices, but how high are they going to increase before dropping again? How far will they fall once they do begin to decrease? There's a chance that home prices may increase another 10% to 15%, then only fall 5% to 7%. Here's the bottom line: No one has a crystal ball and knows exactly what's going to happen.  “Most economists and top real estate agents believe prices will continue to rise for at least 18 to 24 months.” So here's the best advice I can give to any buyer: 1. Be prepared. Speak to a lender, understand what you can afford, and know the kind of loan you'll be applying for. 2. Work with an agent. Know the type of house you're looking for. 3. Be flexible.  4. Be patient.  These four things together will put you in a position to find the right property. We could all sit back and wait for deals, or we can remember that life goes on, and we can't put our lives on hold indefinitely. With interest rates where they are right now, it's an excellent opportunity to get out there. It may not be the best time for everyone to buy, but it's a fantastic time to build equity and set yourself up for future wealth.  If you have any questions about buying a home or real estate in general, reach out to my us via phone or email. We would be glad to help you.

Now is a great time to sell, and these are the four main reasons why. Now is one of the best times to sell a home that I've ever seen. However, this doesn't apply to everyone. My team and I specialize in helping people sell homes when unforeseen life circumstances arise. It may not be the right time for you personally to sell, for various reasons.  Nevertheless, if you've been considering or need to sell, today's housing market presents an incredible opportunity. Here are the top four reasons that right now is the best time to sell: 1. Inventory is exceptionally low. To put this into perspective, last year at this time Orange County as a whole had 7,500 houses available for sale, and even then we were still in a low inventory season. Today, Orange County has fewer than 5,000 houses available for sale. Inventory is about 30% to 35% lower compared to this time in 2019. If you thought it was slim pickings then, now we're in a whole other ballgame.  2. Interest rates are historically low. When we look at the strongest seller's markets from the past 20 years, 2001 to 2005 was the best period, where interest rates were hovering around 5% to 6%. Today, rates are in the high twos and low threes. Even though that earlier market was appreciating, buyers are more excited to buy now.  3. Buyer demand and confidence are through the roof. Buyers feel good about purchasing properties right now; they feel it's a great life decision and investment.  4. There's no end in sight. Many of my current clients are asking if prices are going to fall, but everything we see right now indicates this will continue for a while. Someday prices will decrease; the real estate market is cyclical. However, we don't expect prices to drop for another 18 to 24 months, maybe even longer.  “Buyers feel good about purchasing properties right now.” If you're considering selling, you have very little competition, buyers want to buy, and interest rates are so low it's almost free to borrow money. All this is a recipe for success.  If you're thinking about selling, reach out, and let us know how we can help. The real estate agent you hire matters. Just because it's a strong seller's market doesn't mean you don't need a professional's help. Strategy is still required for you to sell in the right amount of time for top dollar. If you're interested in selling your home or want to know a bit more about how the process works, reach out to me or my team. We would love to help you. Also, if you ever have anything you want me to cover in a future video, please let me know. 

We're experiencing some unprecedented times right now and trying our best to roll with the punches. Today I wanted to share some advice in terms of what you can be using your spare time for these days while you're at home. For example, this is a great opportunity to take a step back, reconnect with family and friends, and be present. Exercise is also a great way to snap out of any funk, too.

Interest rates are lower than I ever thought they would be. Here's what that means for you. The buzz around town right now has to do with interest rates and how low they are. We are currently locking in our clients with rates between 3% and 3.5% for 30-year fixed mortgages and under 3% for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages. I'm not saying that just because rates are so low you need to make a move, but it's important to think about how you can leverage these rates to increase the quality of your life. It doesn't always make sense to buy or refinance, but it would be careless to not consider how you could leverage rates this low. “If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.” There are a few different options. You might live in a home that you already love and have no intentions of moving from, but you can still talk to a lender about what a refinance could save you in the long term. If you could save a few hundred dollars per month, you want to strike while the iron is hot. Another option you have is leveraging these low rates to buy your first home—or a better home. People move for all different kinds of reasons, and if you're looking to buy something that better fits your needs, see if it's going to work out for you. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. Sometimes, short-term pain will give you long term pleasure. Spending a week talking to a lender could result in you qualifying for a better mortgage and a lower monthly payment. Don't miss out on this opportunity. If you have any questions for me, don't hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I would love to hear from you.

If your home has failed to sell in the past and you blamed the market, I have news for you: The real culprit is your motivation and your strategy. If you're a current home seller who is having a hard time selling, or a homeowner who has failed to sell in the past, it's not the market—it's your strategy. Let me explain: I talk to a lot of homeowners who have tried to sell in the past unsuccessfully and their No. 1 scapegoat is the market. Does the market play a massive role in what you sell your home for? Absolutely. Can you sell a home for a lot more when the market's hot? Yes. However, there is one thing I want you to think about. When I meet with a client, the first thing I focus on is their motivation. What I have found is that the homeowners who don't really have to sell, but would like to sell, know they just won't sell unless they get the price they want. When I hear that, I hear an unmotivated seller. “Not motivated” doesn't mean that they're not willing to sell, but it does mean that they're not willing to sell for a price that makes sense to buyers. If the situation isn't perfect, they aren't willing to sacrifice what's necessary to get the price they want. “Unmotivated buyers are just waiting for the perfect situation that may never come.” When I meet a client who is motivated for one reason or another, the next question they have is, “What can you sell our home for now?” and “What can we do to squeeze a little bit more money out now?” Think about it like this. If you must sell your stocks and the next day the price goes up, you can't get mad. When the prices are high and you cash out, you're happy, but the stock is going to sell for what the going rate is today. The same thing happens with real estate. If you aren't going to put your strategy together based on the current market, you're going to lose. We can't create miracles and get buyers to pay 10% to 15% more than it's worth. If you are thinking about getting your home back on the market, here are a few questions you should ask yourself and your agent: How was my home presented the last time it was on the market? How did the photos look online? Did we price the home according to what homes in the area are selling for? Are we competitive based on what else is out there? What was the agent's feedback? What was the buyer's feedback? I call this a listing experience audit, and everytime I meet with a seller who failed to sell in the past, this is what we start with. Once we answer these questions, we can find solutions to your future home sale. If you have any questions for me, don't hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Until then, Happy selling!

Every home seller wants to maximize their final sale price. Here's our best strategy for doing so. Traditionally, home sellers meet with an agent, look at comparable sales, look at your current competition, consider the aspects of the market in your area, consider interest rates, then generally come up with a price that you think your home is worth. We already know that a home is worth whatever a buyer is willing to pay for it. If you think your home is worth $1 million, but you can't get anyone to pay $1 million, then it's not worth $1 million in the end. You have to come up with a price that your home will sell for based on what a buyer thinks it's worth. If you've been to an auction before, you know that sometimes peoples' competitive spirit can take over. When people get competitive, they often lose sight of what's important. Many people go to auctions looking for a great deal, but end up leaving paying a premium for something that they really wanted because of the transparent bidding. When there's someone in this room willing to pay more than you, you might want to end up paying more than they are willing to. “Buyers might pay a bit more than they have to in a hot market like this.” In this kind of market, we love to give buyers the ability to determine what they feel is market value. We do this by pricing the home a little aggressively and slightly below market value. Once that home gets listed, everyone is going to see the price, and that's going to get them through the door. You're dangling a carrot and showing buyers that they could be missing out on a huge deal. Once you attract the masses, you'll start to receive offers, and the bidding wars will commence. Many times, we have been able to sell homes for more than we thought they were worth on paper through this strategy. Buyers are willing to pay a little bit more than they have to in a hot market like this when there's a lot of competition. If you want to sell your home for the absolute best price, this is the strategy we recommend. If you have any questions for me about our home-selling strategies, or anything else related to real estate, don't hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.