Podcasts about cmaformgetaction

Every homeowner’s association is different. Here is what you should find out before you make an offer on a home that’s located within one.Selling in the Austin area? Get a market analysis reportPurchasing in the Austin area? Get full MLS accessToday we’re going to be discussing five important things that you want to know when buying a home inside a homeowners association. 1. What is the cost? Location will play a key factor, and the cost can vary greatly from one HOA to another. You want to know your starting costs and your monthly costs prior to making an offer. 2. What does the HOA cover? The scope of this also varies. They might cover maintenance or insurance. You want to know exactly what you’re paying for each month. 3. What are the rules? HOAs tend to have restrictions and some are more strict than others. It’s important to know the rules, the penalties, and everything else. The scope of what an HOA will cover can vary greatly.4. Are you happy with the home’s exterior? You might love the inside and the floor plan, but maybe you aren’t as fond of the color of the home. If you’re buying in an HOA, many times they will dictate what color your home can be. Make sure you know about this up front.5. Can you get involved with the HOA? Many times, the answer is yes. It’s a great way for you to know exactly what’s going on in your neighborhood.If you have any further questions about buying a home in an HOA, give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

 When listing your home on the market, you should know that there are three features that will attract the most buyers. Selling in the Austin area? Get a market analysis reportPurchasing in the Austin area? Get full MLS accessSelling your home can be a bit daunting. That’s why I want to make it a little simpler for you by going over the top three home features that attract buyers. 1. Curb appeal. You want to make sure when a buyer drives up that they have a good first impression. Your yard should be well-maintained, your walkways should be free of debris, and the exterior should look fresh, overall. Power washing can be a great, quick way to make a big difference. 2. Space. Most buyers are looking to buy a new home because they want more space. When you are showing your home, you should make it appear as spacious as possible. Put away personal items or anything else that could clutter up the home. Buyers should be able to see themselves living in your home. Buyers should be able to see themselves living in your home.3. Updates. Buyers love a modern home. Updates, especially to the kitchen and bathroom, will make buyers feel as if your property is more move-in ready.If you have any other questions, would like more information, or would like to talk more about how we can help you sell your home, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

I have four tips that you can use to make your impending move much simpler.Selling in the Austin area? Get a market analysis reportPurchasing in the Austin area? Get full MLS accessSometimes, listing your home can be a daunting process. You might have been living in your home for 10 or 15 years, and now, you’re ready to make that next move. What are some simple things you can do to simplify your next move?1. Start sorting your belongings. Put them into piles according to the things you plan to give away or discard, things you might keep, and things that you are for sure going to keep. If you start this process of purging, I promise that it will make your move so much easier.2. Give yourself plenty of time. It can be a long process to sort through a decade’s worth of stuff. Be patient with yourself and give yourself plenty of time to do it.Starting today just means that your home will get on the market sooner. 3. Store your belongings in clear plastic bins. When you move to your next home, you’ll want to be able to see what’s in each box. This will make unpacking easy since you’ll know exactly what’s in each bin.4. Do it now! Starting today just means that your home will get on the market sooner, meaning that you’ll be on to your next home that much quicker.If you have any questions or you need any help, feel free to contact us. We’re happy to help you in any way we can.

Today, I have special guest Brett Dyer with me to discuss three topics about assessing your insurance needs this year.Selling in the Austin area? Get a market analysis reportPurchasing in the Austin area? Get full MLS accessToday I have a special guest with me, Brett Dyer of Greenway Insurance, to talk about assessing your insurance needs for the year. Brett is actually my own personal insurance agent who we recommend here on the Smith Team.Since we’ve had a lot of floods in the US this year, I thought it would be a good idea to cover the topic of flood insurance first. Especially in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, you can never be too careful when it comes to flooding, regardless of whether you’re in a flood zone or not. I recommend that all my clients purchase a flood insurance package, which comes at a state-regulated rate of $450 per year. There is a 30-day grace period from the time you pay.I recently contacted Brett about replacement costs on my home. What exactly are replacement costs?A lot of insurance companies are starting to veer away from insuring homes with roofs that are older than 15 years. A replacement cost is the amount that the insurance company will reimburse you in the event that you sustain a loss. For example, if you were unfortunate enough to go through a house fire after which you were forced to rebuild some or all of your home, you would need to find a builder and a team of construction workers. Depending on the amount of damage and the type of coverage you had, you would be reimbursed some or all of the amount needed to fix it. This is why it’s so important to regularly reassess the value for which you’re insured.Lastly, how important is the roof of a home?It’s important to know how old the roof of a home is, so make sure that you work with an inspector to determine the exact age of your roof, because a lot of insurance companies are starting to veer away from insuring homes with roofs that are older than 15 years. If you can’t get insurance, then you can’t get a mortgage, either.If you have any further questions about insurance, please contact me and we can get you in touch with Brett. For any questions about real estate in general, feel free to reach out to me as well. I look forward to hearing from you and helping you with your real estate needs.

Is it time to stop paying your landlord’s mortgage and go find your first home? I have five things you should consider before you make the leap into homeownership.Selling in the Austin area? Get a market analysis reportPurchasing in the Austin area? Get full MLS access Is it time to stop renting and buy your first home? If you’re tired of paying your landlord’s mortgage and building their wealth, now may be the time to consider buying your first home. Before you make the jump from leasing to owning, there are a few things you should consider: 1. Are you financially prepared to buy a home? Are you ready to make a down payment? A down payment can be anywhere from 3.5% to 20% of the sales price, or more if you want. Make sure that you have the cash you’ll need for the down payment, as well as your closing costs. 2. Are you ready to make some compromises on where you could potentially live? You may need to compromise on location or size of the home in order to start building your wealth. Your first home may not be your absolute dream home. However, consult with a mortgage lender, hire a Realtor, and find out where those compromises can happen in order to get the best first home possible. Owning a home is a big responsibility. 3. Are you emotionally ready to own a home? It’s a pretty big responsibility. When you lease a home and your fridge goes out, all you have to do is call your landlord and they’ll fix it. Just think of the steps homeowners have to take. Consider what the responsibilities will be after you own the home and ask yourself if you are really ready. 4. Will owning a home pay off in the long run? Depending on where you buy and how much you put down, you can often pay less for a monthly mortgage payment than you are paying in rent. While you’re doing that, you build wealth for yourself. Your home price may increase, causing equity to build even faster. Owning a home can be a great way to build wealth. 5. Has your lifestyle outgrown renting? Things change. Maybe you recently got married or had a baby and it’s time to enter the world of homeownership. Maybe you need to get a bigger place, a place where you can plant your roots and build your new life.If you are interested in buying your first home and have questions about how to start the process, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

If you or someone you know is moving, call the Smith Team to get a great referral to an agent in the area you’re moving to.Selling in the Austin area? Get a market analysis reportPurchasing in the Austin area? Get full MLS accessHow can you find the best Realtor in the country, no matter where you’re moving to?I recently moved my son to college in Omaha, Nebraska, and while I was there, it had me thinking, “Wow, what if someone I knew was moving to Nebraska? Who could I call to help that person?”Just because you or the one you love isn’t in Austin doesn’t mean that the Smith Team can’t help. I work with Keller Williams, the largest real estate company in North America, and because I work with them, I have a great network all over the country. For those people you love who are moving somewhere and you want to make sure they’re taken care of, call me. I’d love the opportunity to refer them to the best agent in the town where they’re moving.This goes for you, too. If you’re moving somewhere, give me a call, and I’d love to help with that as well. Just because you or the one you love isn’t in Austin doesn’t mean that the Smith Team can’t help. Just pick up the phone or send us an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Who are we thankful for this Thanksgiving? You, for allowing us to help you with all of your real estate needs.Selling in the Austin area? Get a market analysis reportPurchasing in the Austin area? Get full MLS access As we enter the Thanksgiving season, my team and I have been reflecting on how truly grateful we are for the business we’ve been able to do this year. Most importantly, we’re thankful for you for allowing us to help you with all your real estate needs this year.Enjoy this Thanksgiving and the ones you’re with. We wish you the very happiest of Thanksgivings. Enjoy the turkey, pie, football, and everything else that comes along during this special holiday, because we certainly will. And don’t forget to hug those you love the most. Again, we want to say thank you. If you have any questions for us or need our help with anything, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d be happy to help.

Today, I’m excited to introduce you to the newest member of our team: Britt Schulle.Selling in the Austin area? Get a market analysis reportPurchasing in the Austin area? Get full MLS access Today, I’m excited to introduce you to the newest member of our team: Britt Schulle.Britt has already been working with some of our buyers out there and looks forward to working with even more.Britt feels confident that she’s ready to help people find the perfect home. Between her nearly 20 years in customer service and her passion for architecture and interior design, Britt feels confident that she’s ready to help people find the perfect home. Britt has proven successful here on our team already, even after just a few weeks. She’s truly been a great addition to our team.If you have any other questions, would like more information, or are looking for your dream home, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

There are many more benefits to listing later in the year than people think. For one thing, buyers are much more motivated during fall months.Selling in the Austin area? Get a market analysis reportPurchasing in the Austin area? Get full MLS accessMany people don’t believe that the fall months are a good time to sell your home. However, this simply isn’t the case. Fall is actually a great time to list. There are a few reasons why this is.First of all, selling in the fall means you’ll have a lot less competition. Many sellers plan to wait until spring to list. This lack of competition means your home will stand out. Also, it’s important to remember that there are still buyers out there looking for homes in these later months. Best of all, the buyers you’ll interact with in the fall are going to be much more serious than those who are looking at other times of the year.Buyers in the fall are more motivated. As the holidays draw close, buyers become eager to get into their new home as soon as possible. Additionally, other buyers looking at this time may be doing so as a result of having been relocated by their workplace.Fall colors and seasonal decor will make your home feel warm and inviting to buyers. Finally, listing in the fall comes with the added advantage of the season’s beauty. Fall colors are absolutely gorgeous. Not only will your landscaping look fabulous if it is properly maintained, but you can also take advantage of seasonal decor. Both of these factors will make your home feel warm and inviting to buyers.If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

 I’m pleased to announce the launch of my new video blog. Along with providing consistent real estate expertise, I look forward to answering all of your questions. Selling your home? Get a free home value report Buying a home? Search all homes for saleI have some exciting news I wanted to share with you today. From this point forward, I’ll be sharing my real estate expertise with all of you through my new video blog. I’m extremely excited about this and I want to be able to include all of you. Each month, I’ll be sending out two emails addressing local trends in the market, as well as some tips for navigating the world of real estate. I’d love to answer all of your questions.  Rather than simply guess what’s on your mind, I want to reach out and ask you all what questions you have for me. Are you curious about the market in your neighborhood or area? Do you have any specific questions about the real estate process? I’d love to answer all of them in my videos so that anyone with similar questions can benefit from them, too. If you have any questions about this announcement, please feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you.

Unfortunately, most listing websites out there feature inaccurate information. Today I want to talk about how you can avoid being misled by them.Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home searchSelling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Value ReportToday I’m joined by Amy Schafer, our lead buyer specialist, to discuss something that applies to you whether you’re a buyer or seller: website warnings. When we talk to both buyers and sellers, one of the first questions that we ask is how they find their homes. More than 90% of people nowadays start their search online, with Zillow and Trulia being two of the most popular listing websites. When we list a house, we send that listing’s information to roughly 300 different websites. While all this exposure can be a great marketing tool for sellers, it can be counterproductive for buyers to search all these different websites in the hope that they’ll find a different listing they haven’t seen before. What happens when listing information is exchanged between so many online sources is similar to the game of telephone you probably played in kindergarten—the actual information gets diluted to the point where whatever ends up on Zillow is wildly inaccurate and highly unreliable. A key factor you should be wary of when it comes to this is timeliness. In our market, homes can sell very quickly. Many times, we’ve sold a house before its information even reached Zillow. If you’re relying on a site that’s even further down the line than Zillow, you may end up chasing a home that’s already been sold.Don’t get caught chasing phantom listings.If you frequent Zillow exclusively, don’t trust their Zestimates—they tend to be inaccurate because they’re determined by a preset algorithm rather than current market activity. You’ll also see a lot of what we call “phantom listings.” For example, they’ll list a home on there as a pre-foreclosure and act like it’s for sale, but in reality, it’s only an indication that a seller has simply missed a payment on that house, and it’s not actually for sale. Where should you go for your real estate information? Whether you’re a buyer or seller, you should always go to experts like us. We have a brand-new website called www.sarconeteam.com that’s updated daily with a hot sheet of new listings. We also have some mobile apps that are available for you to download. For buyers, another great source of information is the MLS, which we use during all of our buyer consultations. That way, when we have a property that matches your criteria, we get notified about it right away. If you have any questions about this or any other real estate-related topic, please feel free to email us or give us a call. We’d be happy to help!

As we near the end of 2016, our market has leveled out considerably. However, as you’ll see, there is still good news for buyers and sellers heading into the last part of the fourth quarter.Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home searchSelling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Value Report2016 is almost over, so it’s time to look back on what’s happened in the real estate market over the past year to get a good idea of what you should expect heading into the last months of the fourth quarter. At the start of the year, the market was so strong that we couldn’t list homes fast enough. Current sellers have the perception that the market is still that strong, but it’s actually slowed down since then. There are still a few hot areas in our market, but that’s more due to the attractiveness of specific price points. In general, we’re seeing price reductions across the board. Since perception is what we’re dealing with, it’s worth mentioning that many people assumed that the market must have been crazy year over year during the summer, when in fact the third quarter numbers (July to September) tell a different story. Compared to the third quarter of last year, the difference in the number of homes listed was literally just one house: 4,771 in 2015 vs. 4,772 in 2016. As you can see, after the initial onslaught, things leveled out considerably.It’s still a great time to buy or sell in our market.In predicting what will happen for the rest of the fourth quarter, we look at seasonality and year over year numbers. We’ve been talking about an impending downshift for the last 18 months or so, and now with the election over and interest rates beginning to rise, we should see that downshift happening soon. However, there is still good news. Though they’re beginning to increase, we still have great interest rates. If you’re a buyer, you can still save a lot of money by buying a house now. Not only that, but you’ll have less competition from other buyers. If you’re a seller, you should see a lot of buyers entering the market very soon because they thought they couldn’t compete in the previous quarter’s market. These buyers are less likely to suffer from buyer’s remorse, and during the inspection period, they’re less likely to get cold feet and flake out. As with buyers, you should also face less competition. Stay tuned for our full 2016 market recap coming in January. In the meantime, if you have any questions or you’re thinking about buying or selling, please reach out to us so we can help you be on your way!

Our team has had a record year and will likely be growing. Here’s how you can get involved.Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home searchSelling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Value ReportI am happy to be joined today by Amy Schafer, our lead buyer’s agent, to talk a little about our team and how we help those who are interested in a career in real estate get started. This year has been crazy. It’s been a record year for our team. Since we’ve been growing so fast, we have been getting a lot of questions about how to get into the industry. We’ve got a lot of different roles on our team, and some of them don’t even require a real estate license.We have a school here at Keller Williams to help you get licensed if real estate is a career you’re considering. We have regular career nights here at KW and also teach a live class for the 60-hour pre-license. We also teach listing practices, buying practices, and developing professional ethics, which are the three classes you need to complete to get your license.We'll help you get your real estate career started!The total time for the classes is 96 hours, but we make it fun with Amy as your instructor. Another good contact for you to have if you’re thinking about a career in real estate is the Professional Licensing Bureau, which deals with the Iowa Real Estate Commission. Gaby, our agent services coordinator, is also available to help walk you through the process.If you have any questions for us or would like to talk about getting a career started in real estate, give us a call or send us an email. We can send you some information so you can determine if it’s the right fit for you. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Now that fall is here, we have some really great events coming up that we're excited to see you at. We've also got a new addition to the team that we'd like you to meet.Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home searchSelling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Value ReportWe have some really fun and exciting things happening right now, and some great events planned for the fall. First, I'm happy to introduce Michelle Soquet, our new executive assistant and customer care specialist. She's awesome and thrilled to be here. Additionally, we have lots of great inventory right now that we think you should check out from investment properties at $50,000 to a high-end contemporary home at $650,000. As for events, we're starting with "Have a Good Night" at Gilroy's on October 12th from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. We're hosting this event with food and live music–hopefully we'll get nice some weather to enjoy the patio!We're really excited to see you at these events!On October 20th, we'll have a really fun Trunk or Treat event here at the office to get ready for Halloween. Get the kids dressed up and come get some candy with us!We're also bringing back the popular event "Gather the Girls" on November 3rd with Meghan Blum Interiors. You can start your Christmas shopping here; we'll have local vendors and local artists. Finally, we want you to save the date for our third annual Reindeer Day. Last year, we had 800 people show up, so we'll have VIP tickets for our clients and contacts so you won't have to wait in line. We're really excited for these events! If you have any questions in the meantime, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Buying a Northern Virginia home? Get a full Home Search   Selling your Northern Virginia home? Free Home Price EvaluationTypically in real estate transactions, everything is negotiable. However, there are certain costs that buyers and sellers can usually expect to pay. Usually, the seller will pay the commission to the broker they hire. The broker then pays out a commission (the amount of which the seller has agreed upon) to both the agent selling the house and the buyer’s agent. Remember, the agent works on behalf of the broker. As a buyer, you typically have to pay for the appraisal, the termite inspection, loan fees, title processing fees, and the title search. When you select your title company, the title company will search to make sure there are no defects and the title is free and clear. That way, you won’t wind up with hostile claims or other people claiming they own the property once you buy it. “Remember, everything is negotiable. ”Things like taxes are paid on both sides of the transaction. The buyer will be responsible for flood certification, prepaid interest, homeowner’s insurance, and property taxes. Sellers can always contribute to closing costs. Remember, everything is negotiable. If you have any questions about what you can expect from your specific transaction, give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you!

Buying a Northern Virginia home? Get a full Home Search   Selling your Northern Virginia home? Free Home Price EvaluationThere are four crucial numbers that affect your buying power that you need to be aware of, especially from a lender's perspective. Keep the following four things in mind if you plan on buying a home anytime soon:Credit Score. This helps a lender understand your creditworthiness. The higher your credit, the better chance you have of getting the loan amount you desire. Down payment. The higher your down payment is up front, the lower your payment is going to be. In many cases, a high down payment also results in a lower interest rate!Debt-to-income ratio. How much debt do you have compared to your income? The lower this ratio is, the better. Your assets. What are your financial resources? A lender will want to take a look at your income and your financial assets. The more impressive they are, the better luck you’ll have getting the financing you seek.We work with reputable lenders who can help you wade through the process and get the best possible rates and terms. Whatever your financial situation, we can put you in touch with someone who can get you what you need to accomplish your buying goals.  Give us a call or shoot us an email with any questions. We would love to help you! 

Buying a Northern Virginia home? Get a full Home Search   Selling your Northern Virginia home? Free Home Price EvaluationToday, I want to take this opportunity to invite you to a movie night my team is hosting at Kingstowne Regal Cinemas. Anytime between 4-7 p.m. on July 24th, you can enjoy any movie that’s playing, my treat.The reason I do this is because we appreciate you either as a past client, a friend, or a referral partner. We ask for nothing in return, but if you do know anyone looking to buy, sell, or invest in real estate, we always appreciate you referring us! “Please come by and be my guest at the movies! ”Please come by and be my guest at the movies! Give me a call or shoot me an email to see how you can RSVP! I look forward to hearing from you soon!Click here to register for your tickets!

Buying a Northern Virginia home? Get a full Home Search   Selling your Northern Virginia home? Free Home Price EvaluationToday we are going to talk to you all about the home inspection process in Northern Virginia when you’re out there looking to buy a home. The home inspection process only happens for buyers after they have gone through their due diligence with the seller. Once the buyer and seller agree on the price and terms of their deal, the time comes for the inspection period. You want to protect your investment and make sure you know what condition the home you're buying is in before you make the deal final. The best way to do this is with a home inspection from a home inspector that is ASHI certified. This is a special certification that holds home inspectors to a higher standard. When you get your inspection report, there are definitely going to be items listed. However, we recommend that you focus on the big problems and the big systems instead of minor cosmetic issues. Pay special attention to any and all problems associated with your HVAC system, the roof, electric, plumbing, and appliances. You can still ask the seller to repair those smaller items, but it all depends on your particular situation.If you have any questions for us about home inspections, or would like us to recommend a good home inspector, just give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help out in any way we can!

Buying a Northern Virginia home? Get a full Home Search   Selling your Northern Virginia home? Free Home Price EvaluationThere are a few different theories in regards to the best possible time to close on a home. Some people believe that it’s better to close later on in a month, and others believe that it is better to close earlier in the month, but there are advantages and disadvantages to both. If you wait until later in the month, you can avoid more closing costs and pay less overall. However, if you wait until the end of the month, closing deadlines can get in the way because it’s a bottleneck at the end of the month. All of the lenders want to clear their books at the end of the month, and this is the same with the title companies.When you close on the first day of the month you can skip a month of payment. This is a good strategy for saving a little bit of money. These extra funds can be used for repairs or upgrades on your home. Because things can get so hectic at the end of the month, we think that it’s better to close at the beginning of the month. It’s the least stressful way to close on a home. If you have any further questions about real estate in Alexandria, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me!We look forward to hearing from you!

Buying a Northern Virginia home? Get a full Home Search   Selling your Northern Virginia home? Free Home Price EvaluationClients often ask me, “When I have multiple offers, which offer should I accept?” It’s important to keep in mind that not all offers are created the same. My job is to advise you on the pros and cons of each different offer. Price is an important factor to consider. However, if you have one offer for $400,000 and another for $405,000, the higher offer might not be the best. You also have to consider things like terms and financing. For example, if you get an all cash offer that can close in 15 days, that might be your very best offer. An offer that uses conventional financing is better than an FHA or VA loan for various reasons. For example. VA and FHA loans come with stringent appraisal guidelines. Also, a buyer using conventional financing can typically put more money down. “The highest price may not be the best offer. ”You should also consider the earnest deposit. Usually, someone will put around $1,000 into an escrow account to show that they are committed to purchasing your property. The more earnest money a buyer offers, the more skin they have in the game. In other words, would you rather have $1,000 in earnest money or $20,000 in earnest money? You would want the $20,000! Finally, there are inspection and appraisal contingencies to consider. As you can see, all offers are not considered the same. You need someone who has a lot of experience to walk you through the process and help you make the best decision. If you have any questions, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Buying a Northern Virginia home? Get a full Home Search   Selling your Northern Virginia home? Free Home Price EvaluationI wanted quickly share with you the top four reasons to sell your Northern Virginia home - today!You’re feeling too cramped. Maybe you live in a townhome and you have kids and a dog now. It may be time to sell and find something bigger.You have too much space. On the other hand, you might be an empty nester and you actually have too much space, it may be time to downsize. The neighborhood no longer works for you. You might find yourself on toll roads or a beltway all the time and that hour-long commute is just not working for you anymore. Maybe the HOA president comes around with requests like requiring you to plant a fruit tree in your lawn - you might be sick of it. Your home should fit your lifestyle.You want to take advantage of today’s seller’s market. We’ve been in this market since the bottom in 2009. We’re seven years into the cycle, and historically, the market has gone in seven-year cycles. The other piece is that interest rates continue to be at an all-time low, and we don’t know when they’re going to rise. When they do rise, affordability will take a hit.“Interest rates continue to be at an all-time low. ”If you want to have a conversation or even just find out a little bit more about your situation, contact me today! Send me an email or give me a call and let’s keep this conversation going.

Buying a Northern Virginia home? Get a full Home Search   Selling your Northern Virginia home? Free Home Price EvaluationThe other day, I was working with someone who had previously listed with another agent who failed to get their home sold. In my opinion, one of the primary reasons it failed to sell was the way they chose to showcase the property. One thing I noticed in particular was how shoddy the photographs were. They did not give online buyers a good idea of just how beautiful the home was. When selling, you want to get the best possible marketing photographs of the property. These photos will be the first impression buyers have when searching for homes online.  This is crucial, as 90-95% of buyers begin the home search online!“You want to get the best possible marketing photographs of your property when selling. ”In addition to crisp, clean, professionally done photographs, you need to hire an experienced real estate team to assist you. We will do floor plans of your property and present them to buyers in order to give them an idea of the benefits of buying your home, among many other things. We have the tools and resources necessary to get you the best possible selling results.If you have any questions about the real estate market, or if you need our assistance with anything, we’re always available to chat. Give us a call or shoot us an email for the real estate help you need!

Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home searchSelling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Value ReportToday we are excited to be giving you a market update and talk about some fun things going on in Des Moines right now.Not only are presidential candidates flooding the city, people who want to live here are flocking to the area as well. We have had some amazing referrals over the last month, from all over the country. People have come to us not only through our large referral network, but through our friends and family that live all over. Those referrals mean a lot to us, and we thank you for trusting us and thinking of us when it comes to Des Moines real estate.If you're not in Des Moines and reading this, we just want you to know we can help you move no matter where your destination is. We have fantastic agent relationships all over the country with Keller Williams, and we can get you in touch with a great agent no matter where you are.In Des Moines, we had a huge surge in business in 2016. January is the busiest month I've ever had in real estate. We have a ton of buyers coming in, a lot of businesses coming in, and we are still short on listings. If you are ready to sell, now is the time to make your move. Even if you're just thinking about selling in the future, but don't want to formally list your home, we might just have the perfect buyer for your home. It can never hurt to have the option on the table.If you have any questions for us, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We would love to hear from you!

Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home searchSelling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Value ReportToday I'm excited to answer some questions about remodeling. We are always getting questions from clients about where they should put their money. Today we are going to answer some of those questions. There are a few key concepts that I advise people to go by. The first is square footage. Whenever you are adding square footage to your home, you're adding value. Another thing that adds a lot of value is an extra bedroom. If you go from being a 3-bedroom home to a 4-bedroom home, your home will be in a higher price bracket. Adding another full or half-bathroom is another great idea. Even if you can't add anything, remodeling your bathroom will bring you a pretty good return on investment.When you do decide to add value to your home through home renovation or remodeling projects, understand that you won't always get a full return on your investment. I found a cool graph in Realtor Mag, that shows how much value certain home repairs bring. If you update your heating and cooling system, you can expect to get around 71% of that cost back. However, with hardwood floor refinishing, you can expect to get 100% of that value back when you decide to sell.My best advice is this. If you are considering adding value to your home through renovations or remodels, give us a call first. We can help you get started, and put you in touch with some of the best contractors in the area who will be able to take it from there. We are happy to help out, and would love to hear from you. Give us a call or send us an email today!

Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home searchSelling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Value ReportMost people who are interested in buying wait until the spring to do so. If you're one of those people who plan on buying in the next six months, now is the time to start getting your ducks in a row.Over the years, we've seen people do absolutely nothing between now and the springtime. When the weather starts to improve, these people are completely unprepared to begin their home search!Right now, time is your ally. Use this time to figure out your budget, find out how much money you are going to use for the down payment, and know what your credit score is! If your score is pretty low, there are things you can do to improve it between now and the spring. Knowing what hurts your credit and when credit companies record their reports can help you do all the right things to improve your score. In just about 60 days, you can see a drastic change in your credit score.If you want to keep your credit score in good shape, you need to avoid exceeding 30% of your max limit on your credit card. If you have a credit limit of $1,000, you need to keep your debt at $300 or under. If it's above that, your credit is going to get dinged.Your credit score is what lenders use to determine your risk. A lot of the credit programs are risk based, so the better the credit score, the better the interest rate, and the better the interest rate, the lower the monthly payment. A great credit score can have a huge impact on your monthly mortgage payments.If you're planning on buying in the next six months, get all your ducks in a row! Find your 14 tax returns, look at what's in your bank account, and start budgeting. These are the things a lender is going to need to determine your viability for getting a home loan.Give us a call or shoot us an email if you would like real estate or lending assistance of any kind. We're always here to help you!

Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home searchSelling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Value ReportToday I'm with one of our best buyer's agents, Karoline Benskin. She's going to be speaking about her journey of becoming a licensed Realtor and what it took to get her where she is today.Karoline has been licensed for two years now. She had to take a 60-hour course that lasted about a week and a half, and after that she took a test related to the course. After passing the exam, she then had to take an 18-hour course that focused on the ins and outs of being a Realtor.Something that most people don't realize about being a real estate agent is that you don't have endless amounts of free time. We have to cater to the needs of our clients, and we take this very seriously. The market never stops running, so we never really stop working.Another thing to remember is that success does not come overnight. Some people expect sales right away, but usually nobody gets a sale until 60 days in. We did, however, have an agent get five deals in his first few days.Another thing to consider is which brokerage you want to work with. Certain companies offer you varying levels of independence, so you need to do some research and find out where you would fit best. We've both been with Keller Williams, and we love it. Anyone who starts working with KW has to read "The Millionaire Real Estate Agent". It's like the bible around here, and it contains all the systems and models you need to succeed in this business.What drove me to get into the business was when I lost my job at a marketing firm in 2008. I decided I never wanted anyone else to determine my wealth again, so I became an agent. I also used the skills I acquired at the marketing firm to build my business here.As always, please don't hesitate to contact us with questions. We look forward to hearing from you!

Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home searchSelling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Value ReportToday, we're going to talk about our top tips for a stress-free moving day.First of all, start early. Don't leave everything for the last minute and get overwhelmed. Being overwhelmed just makes the entire process more stressful than it needs to be. Start early and do one room at a time. It will be more manageable, and you won't feel overwhelmed by the amount of stuff you have to pack.While you're packing one room at a time, keep all the rooms together. Don't have a bunch of miscellaneous boxes that aren't labeled. Put your kitchen things in boxes labeled "kitchen," your living room things in boxes labeled "living room," and so on.While you're packing, however, make sure you leave important documents out. You don't want to have to unpack everything to find your checkbook so you can pay the mover. Leave out things like credit cards, bills, or anything you may need to give your lender at the last minute, such as tax forms.If you're moving with kids, it's a good idea to take the kids over to the new house while it's still vacant. Have them "pick" their rooms (even though you probably already know where they're going to go), and pick the room color. Doing this helps your kids get excited about the move. When you are moving, pack some snacks and have activities to keep them focused so you can do what you need to do. If you can, have grandma come out for the day and keep the kids busy.Finally, if you're moving with pets, you need to plan ahead. You may need someone to watch your pets. Leave their food and toys out so they have something to do while you are moving.Those are our top tips for a stress-free move! If you have any questions, please give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home searchSelling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Value ReportToday we'll discuss some of the most common buyer mistakes. First off, it's very important that you work with a buyer's agent. We work with all of our buyers under exclusive agency, meaning we advise you on everything from start to finish.Before you even start looking at homes, it is very important that you get pre-approved.Lately, we've seen a lot of buyers relying on estimates from sites like Zillow. You need an expert to determine the true market value of a property. That way, you can make a good offer.One lesser known mistake we've seen buyers make in the past is relying heavily on friends and family for advice. I know that people have family members who bought houses or who have been realtors; however, each market is different. You need up-to-date information on the specific market where you are looking to buy. We do see buyers make some outrageous mistakes that can be very expensive. We always advise our buyers to bring a reasonable offer to the table. A good offer should always be backed by recent market statistics.We have had buyers come to the table thinking they need to offer 20% or 30% less than the list price, when the property is actually priced right for the market.I can think of one instance in particular when we came in very low with the offer, took a day negotiating with the seller, and during that day, two other offers came in. The buyer ended up spending over list price for the property. It's one of those instances where if we had come to the table with a reasonable offer, they could have gotten the home for up to $10,000 less than what they paid.We have an exclusive agreement with all of our buyers. We offer education up front before even looking at homes. We do a buyer consultation, where we go through the entire home buying process and go through everything up front. We really want our buyers to be educated before going through the home buying process.If you are interested in buying a home, or if you have any questions about real estate in general, please give us a call or send us an email. We would love to hear from you!

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Buying a home? Click here to perform a full Home SearchSelling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation Call us at (808) 426-7211 for a FREE home buying or selling consultationToday we are excited to talk about multiple offers, from both a buyer’s and a seller’s perspective. Currently, we are seeing a lot of multiple offer situations in the Phoenix area. Some of this is due to our inventory, which is extremely low at just 2.5 months. When you are buying and looking to make the best offer possible on a home, offering the most money may seem like the only way to go. While it’s true that a higher figure will get your offer more attention, it’s the terms and details where an offer is really decided. Things like closing dates and inspections all need to be figured out by the buyer to see what will make the deal work. Cash can or cannot be king, depending on whether you are a buyer or not. If you are a buyer, obviously you want to emphasize the fact that you have a cash offer and can close quickly, without any lender contingencies. As a seller, you sometimes have to look past a cash offer to look at the terms. The key is to talk to the seller’s agent to find out what they want in the contract and what’s important to them. We do recommend writing a personal letter to the seller. As a listing agent, we have received multiple offers plenty times before, and sometimes all it takes is that little extra push to get your offer accepted. You may remember a time when rates were around 7 or 8%. Right now, we are more in the 3-4% range, making homes more affordable than ever. Before you start looking for a home, though it’s important for you to get pre-approved by a reputable lender. If you have any questions for us, we would be more than happy to answer them. Just give us a call or send us an email!

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home searchSelling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Value ReportToday we're going to discuss new developments and new construction in the Des Moines area.Compared to 2014, 2015 has certainly seen a rise in new construction. We have huge gains in new builds, and there are many new developments coming online as well. Those developments are going up primarily on the west side of town.When considering new construction, it's very important to have a real estate agent who is well-versed in the industry. There are so many things that go into building; thousands of parts go into a new home. From lots and developments to different builders and the home itself, it's important to have an adviser who protects your interests.There are a lot of major components to consider when you build a new home: Which builders suit your needs? What price point are you looking for? Where do you want to live? Which development is best for you? We want to make sure that your home is going to fit into your new neighborhood.Financing is also a huge consideration. There are products you can get that lock in your rate when you start the home building process. That way, you know what your payments will be, and you know what the interest rate will be.If you have any questions about today's topic, or about real estate in general, please give me a call or shoot me an email. We'd love to hear from you!

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home searchSelling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Value ReportWe're halfway through 2015 right now, so I thought I'd let you know a little about the kind of market that we're seeing right now.We're currently seeing a seller's market, but it's beginning to even out quite a bit. We have just under 3,600 homes on the market right now, and this is actually a little low for the amount of inventory we usually see.Sellers are seeing multiple offer situations, and we're seeing a lot of properties beginning to sell very quickly. This means that buyers need to move quickly in this market and make strong offers on homes that they like. Don't be afraid to be a little aggressive, otherwise you may not get the home that you really want. With the shortage of inventory we had this spring, we have seen home values rise. However, we expect prices to stabilize because we have been getting a lot more homes on the market lately. If you're looking to buy, please get into contact with us. We can show you homes that aren't even on the market yet. We can also help you sell for top dollar. Reach out to us at any time!