Podcasts about property sea

We unpack Singapore's slowing growth in non-oil domestic exports (NODX) in April since February, and examine the effects of the wheat export ban by India on Indonesia's consumer companies, and the risk of re-imposition of Indonesia's palm oil export ban, and if it is time to bottom-fish regional tech champions, Grab and SEA, ending with what will lift the Renminbi. 00:17 - Roundup - Suhaimi Ilias 05:22 - SG NODX - Chua Hak Bin 08:32 - TH, ID outlook - Lee Ju Ye 13:49 - ID consumers - Willie Goutama 16:20 - Palm oil exports ban - Ong Chee Ting 19:28 - PH monetary policy - Zamros Dzulkifli 23:01 - PH property policies - Miguel Sevidal 25:57 - SEA, tech - Lai Gene Lih 28:02 - RMB weaknesses - Saktiandi Supaat Producer: Noelle Lim

Here at eXp Realty, we pride ourselves on being on the cutting edge of tech innovation, and we want to talk about three innovations that help our agents tremendously.  Follow along in the video above to see our in-depth discussion about these innovations and what they can do for you. We’ve also provided timestamps of the video so you can skip ahead to various sections at your convenience:  0:48—Innovation No. 1: eXp World1:52—How we use eXp in the real estate world4:18—How it’s made training easier 5:42—Innovation No. 2: kvCORE7:00—What kvCORE offers to agents 8:07—What kvCORE apps can do for you9:31—Innovation No. 3: Enterprise 10:32—How it allows you to see an ongoing accounting of your stock 11:14—Wrapping things up If you have any questions about any of these innovations and how they benefit you, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We’d love to speak with you. 

If you’re beginning your career in real estate or are considering making the jump to begin one, there are a few tips that we can give you to help your career get off to a great start. 1. Begin with the end in mind. By that, I mean you need to think about what you want to get out of real estate—do you want to sell homes until you’re 107 years old, or do you want to exit the industry before then? You need to work with a company that has a variety of ways to create a retirement plan so you can get out of the business when the time is right for you. That’s why we work with eXp—they have a great retirement plan that many companies lack. “Begin your career by working with a team that has plans to develop and train you, teach you how to grow your business, and coach you on how best to serve the people you already know.” 2. Know that real estate is a relationship-driven business. It’s all about who you know. Keep track of all the people you know, including those in your phone contacts, your Facebook friends, people you’re connected with on LinkedIn, and all the various social media platforms you’re connected to. Figure out how many people you know, and also think about what you can do to expand your sphere of influence. 3. Work with a great team. Begin your career by working with a team that has plans to develop and train you, teach you how to grow your business, and coach you on how best to serve the people you already know. If you have any questions or would like to have an extended conversation about beginning your career in real estate, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Here at BlueFuse, we make real estate easy for you.

What is an iBuyer? You likely have heard of at least a few iBuyers, like Offerpad, Zillow Offers, and Opendoor. They’re companies that offer to pay you in cash for your home. It seems like a quick, painless way to sell your home.  Is this really the best method to sell your home for the most money possible? Well, when you’re thinking of working with an iBuyer, start by laying out your goal. Your goal could be to make the most money possible. It could also be to get out of the home as quickly as possible and to do the least amount of work to get there. The goal of an iBuyer, on the other hand, is to make the quickest buck they can for themselves. They don’t consult with you to learn what your goals are. “Ultimately, even if you want to sell your home quickly, doing so with an agent is still the better option.” You’ve probably seen signs around town that say, “We buy ugly houses!” These iBuyer companies work in a similar way to the folks behind those signs. They’ll make a cash offer that’s under market value 100% of the time, then they’ll discount for repairs, and that’s on top of the fees they’ll charge you. All in all, you’ll probably get somewhere between 9% and 12% less for your home than you would if you listed it on the market. That’s a lot of money to be left on the table! When we at BlueFuse meet with clients, we take the time to actually ask them questions about how we can help them make the most money possible. We help to streamline the process to be quick and easy, we offer staging services to get top dollar for your home, and many other methods to ensure that you’re successful. Ultimately, even if you want to sell your home quickly, doing so with an agent is still the better option. We work with a lot of investors and cash buyers who could bring you a cash offer anyway—it doesn’t have to be an either-or situation. If you have any questions about iBuyers or about selling your home in general, we want to be the real estate team that helps you. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us anytime!

Lewis Carroll once said, “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there.” We love this quote, and it gets to the heart of why we love eXp, too. The founder of eXp, Glenn Sanford, started the company by first asking, “What kind of company do I want to have?” and, “What kind of people do I want to be in business with?” Glenn designed the culture of his company around nine core values that shape the way both the company itself and its agents operate: 1. Fun. Who doesn’t like to have fun?  2. Community. This refers both to creating a sense of community within the company and contributing to the communities in which we as agents work. 3. Agility. This refers to the drive to move fast and to not be stuck with just one way of doing things. 4. Innovation. The culture of eXp is one that always changes and one that is looking for the next idea and how to improve itself. The best way to predict the future, after all, is to invent it. 5. Integrity. Here, we strive to do the right thing even if it’s not easy, which itself is always the right thing.  “We strive to do the right thing even if it’s not easy, which itself is always the right thing.” 6. Service. Our goal is to always provide the highest level of service we can to our clients. We even measure the net promoter score (NPS) to ensure that agents are always getting a high level of service from the brokerage. 7. Sustainability. This refers both to forming strategies that work and will continue to work over time, as well as being good stewards to the environment and minimizing the impact we make on the planet. 8. Collaboration. The exciting thing about working for a virtual company is that you get to collaborate with people you’d ordinarily never meet otherwise, including some of the top agents around the world.  9. Transparency. Stuff happens, and that’s okay! When you know what’s going on and are communicating openly and honestly, people will work together to create a solution. We love these core values because before we even joined with eXp, we knew that they aligned with our family values. If you’re curious about any of these core values or about eXp as a company, feel free to reach out to us. We’d love to talk to you.

People always ask us to explain the reason behind our real estate group’s name: BlueFuse. The truth is simple—we wanted to choose a name that would be as iconic and memorable as our service. We wanted to choose a name that would be just as unique as the experience we provide our clients. The name also represents the skills and ideas we each bring to the table. Tisha is a design guru. She’s got a great eye for color, among other things, and loves to implement shades of blue in her work. “At BlueFuse, we make real estate easy for you.” As for myself, I’ve got a lot of experience in the business side of things, given that I worked in corporate sales for 20 years. The combination of our two skill sets is how BlueFuse was born. We fused our abilities to form one great brand. At BlueFuse, we make real estate easy for you. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

A home warranty is a great thing to have as protection whether you’re a buyer or seller. The answer to whether or not you need one changes depending on who you are. If you’re a homebuyer, you definitely want a home warranty. Although you’ve probably had an inspection, there could be future issues that didn’t show up on the report. There’s actually a spot in the contract where the buyer can negotiate for the seller to buy them a home warranty. It helps protect you and probably won’t cost you anything. “A home warranty will cover expensive repairs.” On the seller’s side, we also recommend that they always include a home warranty as liability protection. After you’ve sold a home, you really don’t know what’s going to happen. If something major breaks in the next few months, a home warranty will cover any expensive repairs and provide peace of mind to any buyer out there. If you have any questions about home warranties or about 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.   

If you’re looking to increase your home’s value before putting it on the market, here are three updates you should focus on: 1. Kitchen updates. You don’t necessarily have to tear out your cabinets, but there are several minor things you can do that will make a big difference, including adding new appliances, repainting, and/or updating the backsplash.  2. Bathroom updates (especially the master bathroom). As with the kitchen, when we say “updates” here, we don’t mean everything has to be ripped out. Repainting, adding new vanity tops, installing new light fixtures, and replacing your shower door are all great updates that will make a big impact.  “Studies show that most buyers make a buying decision within 90 seconds of pulling up to a house, so don’t underestimate the impact of your home’s curb appeal.” 3. Curb appeal updates. Studies show that most buyers make a buying decision within 90 seconds of pulling up to a house, so don’t underestimate the impact of your home’s curb appeal. Make sure the grass is green and well-kept, and consider adding some flowers and fresh mulch to the landscaping. Also, sweep off and clean the entryway so everything looks and feels fresh.  Now that you know what to do to boost your home’s value, be on the lookout for our next video,here we talk about what not to do to your home before putting it on the market.  In the meantime, if you have any other real estate questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to help you. 

Homeowners are often told that they need to upgrade their home right before they go on the market, but there are some guidelines to follow to make sure you get the best ROI for every dollar you spend on the property. The factor that we’ll discuss today is your home-selling timeline. This is very important—how long from now do you intend to sell? If you’re five years away from selling your home, it’s a good idea to upgrade your home’s big-ticket items, like your HVAC system, garage doors, your water heaters, and so on. These items won’t necessarily impact how much money you’ll get for the home, but they do impact your home’s saleability. If you plan to sell two years from now, you’re probably getting more serious about the prospect of selling. Take this time to renovate areas like your kitchen and bathrooms. There are a lot of design trends for kitchens and bathrooms, so you still have time to hit the start of a certain trend so your home isn’t outdated by the time you’re ready to put it on the market. You’ll also get to enjoy these renovated areas yourself for a while before you move on to your next home. “Refreshing your home’s paint one year or closer to the sale of your home means that it will look and smell fresh for potential buyers.” Now, if you’re planning to sell your home in a year or sooner, it’s getting to be crunch-time. This is the time to start cleaning your home out, decluttering, touching up your paint, and repairing/replacing your flooring. Refreshing your home’s paint this close to the sale of your home means that it will look and smell fresh for potential buyers. Feel free to reach out to us if you’re thinking of selling your home and are considering any of these home updates. Not only can we advise you on the best practices, but we also have a network of resources and partners we can recommend to make the process easy. At BlueFuse, we make real estate awesome for you.

Why did the BlueFuse Realty Group join with eXp Realty? The answer starts with relationships. We had a relationship with someone who suggested the idea, so we scheduled a meeting with eXp Realty. We were comfortable where we were at and we were doing well, but once we heard their message and the opportunity was presented, we couldn’t pass it up.  There were five reasons, in particular, that convinced us that this was the best path for us to take. For your convenience, we’ve provided timestamps of the video above where we list each reason and go into detail about how it benefits us and our clients:  1:44—Improved technology 6:40—A firm retirement plan8:35—Better stock options10:36—When you close a transaction, you can purchase up to 5% of the stock at a 20% discount12:07—The Icon program13:45—Bonus reason: revenue sharing  From here on out, we’re all owners of eXp Realty. People are excited to be here, and the energy, culture, and collaboration are all better than we ever could’ve imagined.  If you’d like to hear more about why we joined eXp Realty or you have any real estate questions for us, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We’d love to hear from you.  

When you’re maneuvering through both the home buying and selling process, it’s important to consider what method of representation will best serve your interests. Should you work with two different agents—one to help you sell and one to help you buy—or one agent (or team) for both processes?  If you’ve elected to work with the same agent, there’s a lot to consider with regard to the qualifications and expertise of that agent. You’ll want to work with someone who has tons of experience as a listing agent and an exhaustive knowledge in the area you’re selling in, so they can use expert techniques to market your home.     They’ll also need to have a strong grasp of the area you’re moving to as well. Showing homes and helping buyers make a purchase is very time-consuming. Therefore, doing both demands maturity, an appreciation for the process, and requires systems to ensure that your home sale and purchase are equally profitable.  Hiring one agent to represent you at both stages of the process isn’t always an advisable course of action, though. There are three scenarios in which you’ll be better off going with two different agents or teams. “It’d probably be more advantageous for you to work with a team that has endless resources and can provide you with superb client service.” For one thing, if you’re moving to an entirely different market, it only makes sense to hire two separate agents.  For our part, we actually have a network of agents from other markets that we refer our clients to. Ask your listing agent if they have anyone within their network who represents buyers in the market you’re moving to.  Second, you might just be relocating to another area of the city, but if your listing agent doesn’t have the market-specific knowledge and experience to ensure your success, it’ll be much more to your advantage to hire a buyer’s agent who does.  The last reason you might want to hire one agent to help you buy and another to help you sell is that a decent number of agents specialize in one or the other. We at the BlueFuse Group have buyer specialists and listing specialists whose sole focus is assisting buyers and sellers, respectively.  In truth, it can be difficult for one agent to juggle both transactional sides, so it’d probably be more advantageous for you to work with a team that has endless resources and can provide you with superb client service.  If you have any questions or would like help setting your own buying and/or selling experience in motion, please reach out to us. We’d be happy to help! At BlueFuse, we make real estate awesome.   

Each week, we usually get together and recap our market’s performance from the week prior, but now that May has come and gone, I thought we’d take a final look at last month’s overall performance and discuss some of the trends worth noting.  Let’s first focus our attention on closed sales, which reached 10,600 for the month of May. That’s a slight dip from where we were this past April. Between May of 2018 and May of 2019, we saw a year-over-year decrease of about 6% or 7% in the number of homes that sold in our North Texas market.   Our pending sales also saw a steep dropoff in May with just 8,600 units going under contract or exiting their option period, compared to 11,300 in the same month a year earlier—a 20% drop year over year.     As for the total number of listings, our market had 16,300 this May versus 16,100 at the same time last year. “With greater momentum, we’re quickly moving toward a balanced market.” With closings and pending sales down and listings remaining relatively flat (at worst, modestly up), our inventory has arrived at a 12-month high in terms of inventory. Across our whole market, there are more than 33,000 homes for sale right now, which tops the peak our market hit last August. For comparison, we had a little over 28,000 homes on the market in May of last year.  We’ve been squarely in a seller’s market over the last few years, but our surplus of inventory is giving buyers more choices and, with greater momentum, we’re quickly moving toward a balanced market.   Remember: Anything less than six months’ worth of inventory is indicative of a seller’s market, and though we’re currently at 3.6 months’ worth, inventory levels are higher than they’ve been in about the last five years. All in all, now is a fantastic time for buyers to dive into the market.  If you’re a seller, bear in mind that more homes are sold in our North Texas market than at any other time of year. Don’t let the summer selling season to pass you by.  We talk a lot about North Texas’s market conditions on the whole, but real estate is hyperlocal, so you’ll want to have an expert in your particular area at your side.  If you have any questions or would just like to have a conversation about the state of the market, please get in touch with us. At BlueFuse, our goal is to make real estate awesome for you. We’ll talk to you soon! 

One thing we emphasize here at BlueFuse is protecting our buyers. Even though it’s a seller’s market, it doesn’t mean the buyer doesn’t still have control over their portion of a transaction. Homebuyers in the market actually have 13 ways that they can get out of a contract, so when you’re looking to purchase a home, make sure that you work with an agent who understands all 13 routes you can take. If you’re a seller, on the other hand, then you’ll want to work with a team who will scour the contract and make sure that all of the details are covered, and that all the i’s are dotted and the t’s are crossed. Additionally, it will benefit you to know all the 13 ways that your potential buyer can get out of their contract. We won’t list all 13 here, but we will cover a few of the main ones so that, no matter which side of the transaction you’re on, you know at least a few ways that a buyer may legally break a contract. 1. If there’s an option period, the buyer is given time to back out of the deal. They can back out for any reason or no reason at all—if they back out during this period, it’s likely because something came up during the inspection that turned them off proceeding with the transaction, because they were unable to negotiate repairs, or because they found a better house. “When you’re looking to purchase a home, make sure that you work with an agent who understands all 13 routes you can take.” 2. If the buyer doesn’t get their financing in time, they’re legally allowed to walk away. Naturally, the buyer has to be able to get the money in order to purchase the house, and if they can’t get their financing approved in a certain timeframe, they’re allowed to walk away. 3. The buyer can opt out if they disagree with the terms of an HOA contract. If the home that a buyer is looking to purchase is within a homeowners association, the seller has to produce documents that outline the HOA covenants. Once the buyer receives these documents, they get the chance to review them; if there’s something in the covenants that the buyer doesn’t like, they’re able to back away. If you have any questions about today’s topic or would like to see the rest of the 13 ways to get out of a deal legally, call the BlueFuse Group first. We make real estate awesome for you.

At BlueFuse Realty, we’re always thinking about the real estate market, and it’s hard to imagine the future of the market without also thinking about the future of the individual agent. Market “disruptors” are popping up everywhere as of late, from the iBuyer to Zillow to Redfin to even Amazon, who might now enter the arena.  This begs the question: What’s going to happen to the individual agent?  Part of what makes real estate such an interesting business is the way in which we utilize technology to market home listings, locate new clients, and more. Be that as it may, real estate is still very much a relationship-based business. Because of that, our primary mission, as agents, is to build relationships with future clients.   “For the individual agent, it’s about being wholly invested in your certifications, expertise, and, most of all, your clients.” Some homebuyers would like to move quickly through the process, which makes them good candidates for an iBuyer. However, so many other buyers are seeking an agent who will be with them every step of the way and who can offer sage advice when it comes to buying or selling a home.  For a large percentage of buyers and sellers, this will be the biggest financial decision of their lives. Given that fact, it bears repeating that people want the proper guidance and advice in the decision-making process—especially in the higher price ranges. After all, one seemingly small mistake could cost a buyer thousands of dollars.  As these disruptors increasingly become bigger players in our market landscape, less active, professionally-oriented agents are likely to be bumped from the industry. Agents who are working day in and day out on their relationships with clients and bringing top-notch service to the table, though, have a great opportunity to succeed.  For the individual agent, it’s about being wholly invested in your certifications, expertise, and, most of all, your clients. 

At BlueFuse Realty, we’re always on the lookout for changing market trends. We like to stay on top of what’s happening in local real estate so that we can advise you on how to make the most of it.  With that in mind, let’s talk today about what our market is doing right now, and what these conditions mean for you.  First of all, despite the slight slowdown we’ve experienced recently, we’re still very much in a seller’s market.  We understand that this can be concerning for buyers, but don’t worry. Our team has the knowledge, skills, and resources to help you achieve your real estate goals no matter the state of the market. With that said, being a successful buyer in a seller’s market is all about crafting the strongest possible offer.  “The perfect offer uses what the seller wants to get you what you want.” Doing this means more than just offering a high dollar amount, though. The first step is to have us, your trusted Realtors, call the seller’s agent in advance. This allows us to determine what the seller is actually looking for in an offer. After this, we will connect you with an exceptional local lender who can get you pre-approved and underwritten right away. This will strengthen your offer exponentially, as underwritten offers are virtually the same as cash.  Once we’ve taken these preparatory steps, we can then help you develop an offer that appeals to a given seller’s specific wants and needs. There are several ways we can tweak an offer to make it as enticing as possible, whether that means removing the option period, eliminating a certain contingency, or making some other such concession. The perfect offer uses what the seller wants to get you what you want.  If you have any other questions or would like more information about how we can help you meet (and exceed) your home buying goals, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

RED Day, which stands for Renew, Energize and Donate, is our annual day of service. Each year on the second Thursday of May, we celebrate RED Day as a part of our legacy worth leaving. Making a difference in the lives of others and bettering the communities that we serve lies at the heart of the Keller Williams culture. This observance defines who we are and is a natural extension of our commitment to the highest level of professional customer service. Over time, a growing number of our family members and friends continue to participate in this extraordinary event. It embodies the generous spirit and commitment associates have to “giving back” to the cities and towns they live and work in. In Westlake Village, our team of almost 300 agents came together for three causes. We had a team of people working together, cutting and tying 200 yards of fabric to make blankets for My Stuffed Bags – which is a charity that gives children who have been separated from parents, possessions and home, bags that are stuffed with handmade blankets, toys, books, school supplies and more. Outside, in our parking lot we had another team working a blood drive – save a life, give your blood! Our third team headed over to Many Mansions – a local organization that serves low income residents of Ventura County. Our team was involved with a beautification project resurfacing cabinets at one of their local complexes. Keller Williams believes to serve oneself, is to serve another and we love being able to partake in giving back to our community. If you have any questions about local real estate in the meantime, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to help.

When we’re speaking with soon-to-be agents, many of them wonder, “Should I be a buyer’s agent or a seller’s agent?”  Some agents, for example, take on a range of responsibilities and wear many hats in the process. They might work with both buyers and sellers in accounting and in lead generation, which can make for a pretty convoluted juggling act. Not to mention the fact that it becomes difficult to have an expert grasp of any one area.  In response to this, a lot of agents are beginning to develop specialized skills and roles—particularly once they’re in a team environment. One cardinal benefit of joining a team is that agents can swim in their own lanes and excel in a single facet of the business.  Let’s take a closer look at the roles of both a buyer’s agent and a seller’s agent.  “A lot of agents are beginning to develop specialized skills and roles.” With respect to the buyer’s agent, we often look for specific kinds of personalities. One of the leading indicators for whether or not someone is a fit for this role is the DISC profile. We’ve learned that someone with a high “I” personality is a natural fit for becoming a buyer’s agent.  People that possess this personality are influential, socially adept, and relationship-focused. They enjoy building relationships, seeing beautiful homes, and playing an active part in buyers achieving their real estate dreams.  Those who make great listing agents, on the other hand, typically have more experience under their belt. They understand the complexities of listing a home and the negotiations that take place because they’ve put all of this into practice.  Marketing a home is a highly specialized skill, so any listing agent should be well-trained and tenured in their craft.  As for their personality profile, listing agents tend to fall within the “D” category—someone who’s a driven, action-oriented, and decisive. A good listing agent will move quickly and with purpose in order to help their client capture the highest sale price on their home.  If you’re thinking about pursuing a career in real estate and you’re curious which of the two you’d be a better fit for, please get in touch with us. We’d love to have that conversation with you! 

With regards to mortgages, we’re often asked about how long pre-approvals last. This is important to know: If you’ve been looking at homes for a while, you don’t want to be caught off guard and discover that your pre-approval has expired. Typically, a pre-approval lasts about 90 days, but this can vary depending on your market and your lender.  A pre-approval is key to a home purchase. It lets both you and the seller know what you can afford, and it shows that you’re qualified to make a purchase up to a certain value.  “A pre-approval is key to a home purchase.” You can get either a pre-approval or a pre-qualification from your lender, but it’s better to get a pre-approval. To do so, you need to apply for the loan and provide some documentation, including income taxes, W-2s, employment history, debts, assets, and much more. Keep in mind that recent, expensive purchases can affect the process.  After they look over this, they can give you a pre-approval that states how much of a mortgage you can qualify for. You can give this to your Realtor so they’re able to better help you find and make offers on homes.  If you have any questions or would like more information, feel free to reach out to us. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

When building up your real estate business, your sphere of influence (or SOI) should always be a focal point. But what is an SOI? Simply put, your sphere of influence is who you know.  Whether it be friends, family members, acquaintances, or anyone else, your SOI is made up of the people in your life who already know, like, and trust you. In other words, this group of individuals is the perfect starting point for growing your real estate business.  Chances are high that at least one of the people in your SOI is looking to buy or sell, or knows someone who is. This is good news for you, as repeat and referral business is the easiest lead source out there. Acquiring new business is a lot more difficult and a lot more expensive than leveraging leads from your existing relationships.  “Acquiring new business is a lot more difficult and a lot more expensive than leveraging leads from your existing relationships.” So how, and how often, should you reach out to your SOI? Studies show that the people in your sphere will forget about the service you offer every 16 days. To stay top-of-mind, you need to establish a system that will allow you to reach out in some way at least once every two weeks.  It doesn’t always have to be a phone call, though. Texts, video messages, emails, client events, and one-on-one lunches are all methods we at BlueFuse Realty use to stay in touch with our database, and they can work for you and your business, too.  If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

We’re back for another episode of “Real Estate Growth Secrets.” Today’s Guest is Kim Carpenter, a fantastic real estate professional out of Indianapolis with the We Sell Indy Team. We had a great discussion about the business and she shared some fantastic secrets. Here’s an outline of our discussion, with timestamps so that you can skip around to the section(s) that interest you the most: 1:20- How Kim rose in the ranks from an unlicensed assistant to a real estate rockstar2:40- How Kim’s son started answering phones at 14 and eventually became a key member of the team4:45- Kim details some of the finer points of her business and production5:50- How and why Kim schedules all of her own showings7:00- How Kim built such a strong and successful business9:50- Why building relationships and genuinely caring about people is such a powerful thing in this business10:50- How Kim “asks” for referrals12:15- Kim’s favorite ways to show love to her clients14:15- The best piece of advice Kim has given her son about the business16:00- A little bit of “Start! Stop! Continue!” with Kim23:00- Kim’s seamless move to eXp Realty24:21- What brought Kim to eXp?29:10- A few things agents should double down on, according to Kim31:15- What’s Kim’s favorite place to work virtually?32:00- A few final thoughts from Kim If you want to reach out to Kim, send her an email to sold@kimsellsindy.com. If you have any other questions for us in the meantime, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon. 

We recently sat down for another great episode of Real Estate Growth Secrets with an amazing pair of guests, Jason and Amber Esparza. We were excited to talk to these real estate coaches about how they were able to grow their business, as well as share some of our secrets to help everyone in the industry get better together. Here’s an outline of our discussion, with timestamps so that you can skip ahead to the section(s) that interest you the most: 2:20- Jason and Amber tell us their story of how they got to where they are today8:05- How Jason and Amber’s business has changed since they shifted to coaching10:00- How Sphere Influencer was born and how it helps agents16:25- Jason and Amber’s take on buying leads, Opendoor, and what Realtors should do to avoid being disrupted21:50- Why finding your niche is so important in the real estate business25:30- How video content can benefit every single part of your business29:40- How much video is too much video?35:00- How to implement video into your recruiting efforts38:15- Three simple tips to improve your video marketing40:00- One thing that all agents should start doing immediately45:00- Final advice from Jason and Amber Jason and Amber are excited for the launch of their brand-new website soon. In the meantime, check out their Influential Real Estate Marketing podcast, visit them online on Facebook, or give them a call at (469) 213-3072. If you have any other questions for us in the meantime, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

We are so appreciative of the support that you have shown us over the years. We love having you as clients, and we’d love to catch up with you and your family. Join us at Stonehaus on April 27 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. for coffee or tea. Bring the whole family along (even the furry ones)! You can learn more about the event here, where you can also RSVP so that we make sure we have enough drinks to go around. We’ll also be collecting peanut butter and jelly supplies for the Manna Food Bank. Look for the PB&J balloons!  We hope to see you there!

We meet sellers all the time who want to know the best ways to sell quickly and for top dollar. There are actually six things sellers should focus on to do so, so don’t forget to implement these critical steps when the time comes for you to list:  1. Focus on staging. The way you live in your house is different from the way you sell your house. While your home is on the market, it should look neat, tidy, and well-staged at all times.  2. Spruce up your curb appeal. What buyers see when they first pull up next to your home on the street will serve as their first in-person impression, so make sure it leaves a good one. Keep sidewalks and driveways clean and clear, and make sure your landscaping is presentable. A little bit of fresh mulch can go a long way.  3. Highlight your home’s smart tech. Today’s buyers love efficiency, and that’s exactly what smart tech provides. If your home has a smart thermometer or any other similar features, remember to position these items as a selling point during your listing process.  “Sellers will often get the most bang for their buck by focusing on small, yet important, details.” 4. Get rid of unpleasant odors. After living in a home for an extended time, it’s easy to become noseblind to the smells that lurk within your walls. If you have pets or a smoker, it’s important to neutralize and eliminate any associated odors. With that said, it’s also crucial not to overdo it. Don’t overload the air in your home with super-strong perfume or a dozen, differently scented candles. Even pleasant smells can become overwhelming when used in excess.  5. Update the lighting, hardware, and fixtures. The truth about updating your home before you list is that bigger projects aren’t always better. Sellers will often get the most bang for their buck by focusing on small, yet important, details. Swapping out an old, worse-for-wear doorknob or a lighting fixture that’s straight out of the 90s will help put more money in your pocket at closing.  6. Minimize your decor. It’s easy to become overzealous with the design elements in your home. When it comes time to list, however, much of the staging process involves undecorating, not just redecorating. Keep design choices simple and neutral to appeal to the most buyers possible. Hopefully each of these tips gave you a good idea on where to begin as you prepare for your home search. If they did, we’d be happy to help you even more. If you’d like to learn more about preparing your home for sale, or if you have any questions about how we can assist you with your real estate goals, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

People love to ask us about beginning a career in real estate, usually starting with the question, “Is now a good time to get into real estate?” To provide a definitive answer to that question, we need to ask three of our own:  1. What’s going on in the market? Our market has been very strong for several years now. There are many reasons for this, but one of the biggest influencing factors is that so many employers are moving into the area. As more and more people move here, the number of homebuyers increases, keeping the demand for real estate high. “Really, success in real estate hinges on follow-ups, building relationships, and communication. If you have those systems, you can build a long-term, lucrative, and sustainable career.” 2. Will the current trends continue? Of course, we don’t have a crystal ball to say for sure, but we can say that because employers continue to find our area so attractive, our market is likely to continue being stable. Prices and values may not continue to increase in the same way that they have been over the past couple of years, but they will rise at a slower, more stable rate.  3. What makes for a stable real estate career? If you’re looking for a stable career in real estate, you’ll want a steady income—not one that comes and goes, but rather a sustainable income you can plan on. But how do you get a sustainable income in real estate? The secret is great, repeatable lead generation systems. It’s not just about being able to generate a lead; you need to have the systems, tools, and training to be able to generate them consistently and to follow up with them. Really, success in real estate hinges on follow-ups, building relationships, and communication. If you have those systems, you can build a long-term, lucrative, and sustainable career. If you’d like to speak with us about starting your career in real estate, don’t hesitate to reach out to us today. We’d love to have that conversation with you.  

In today’s comparison of the market trends in two different markets, we’ll begin with Flower Mound. Flower Mound’s median home price is $423,000—that’s an 11% increase over this time last year. If the median price went up by 11%, that means homeowners in Flower Mound gain $44,000 in equity, which is great news. The number of listings in Flower Mound was also up significantly year over year: Comparing February 2018 to February 2019, we saw that the number of listings increased by 45%. Homeowners in the area, it seems, were trying to get ahead of the market, which is exactly what they did. Home sales in Flower Mound increased year over year, as well, growing by 38%. Since the number of listings grew faster than the number of sales closed, that means that the months of inventory must also have increased. And indeed, they did—we currently have 2.4 months of inventory here. Remember: Anything less than six months of inventory makes the market a seller’s market, so Flower Mound is in the midst of an extreme seller’s market. If you’re thinking of selling your Flower Mound home, now could be a great time to do so. You’ll get a lot of attention, make a lot of money, and you’ll get to sell it quickly. “You can get the best of both worlds if you sell your home at the top of the market in Flower Mound, and then negotiate a great deal for a home in Prosper.” If you’re selling your home and are in search of an area in which to buy a new home, consider Prosper. This is a great, growing area composed primarily of big, new construction homes, and there are still sizeable lots available. Although it’s in the northern part of town, Prosper actually has great access to Frisco and the Legacy area. At $521,000, the median home price in Prosper is a bit higher than Flower Mound, making it a great move-up opportunity. This is a 12% jump over last year, meaning that homeowners here gained a nice chunk of equity in the last year. The number of active listings in Prosper increased by 20% over last year due to the area’s growth, and many of those are new builds. The number of homes sold, however, dropped by 11% over 2018. It’s a great time to get in there and negotiate a great deal with builders. When the months of inventory are up, that is a great sign for buyers, since it means you’ll have more choices and more power in the negotiation process. You can get the best of both worlds if you sell your home at the top of the market in Flower Mound, and then negotiate a great deal for a home in Prosper. We’ve helped our clients do this, and we can help you do the same. If you have any questions or need a real estate team who really understands the market and studies the numbers to help you get the best deal possible, reach out to us. We’d love to help you make the transition.

We have the latest numbers for the Argyle and Lantana real estate markets, so today we’d like to compare the year-to-year statistics and analyze the trends we’re seeing. Here’s how February 2019 stacks up to February 2018. There’s a lot going on in the Argyle market; while it’s a fairly small area, it’s experiencing a huge amount of growth:  The median home price grew 20% to $484,000.  There were 86 listings, which was a 53% increase.  The number of closed sales went up 17%.  “When the number of listings is increasing faster than the number of homes sold, it means there’s more inventory.” When the number of listings is increasing faster than the number of homes sold, it means there’s more inventory. That’s certainly the case in Argyle, which currently has five months’ worth of supply. As a buyer, this means you have some options. We live in Lantana, which is a beautiful, master-planned community. It’s still experiencing some new home construction, but most of the neighborhood is already built:  The median home price grew 5% to $420,000.  The number of active listings fell by 1%; we have more homes coming soon, though. The number of closed sales dropped 43%. Lantana only has 2.8 months’ worth of inventory, which means it’s a seller’s market. As a seller, you’d have little competition, increased visibility for your home, and an easy time finding a buyer.  If you would like to talk about listing your home in the future, have any questions, or need more information, feel free to reach out to us. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

  I recently had the chance to speak with certified mortgage advisor Wally Elibiary of Fairway Independent Mortgage regarding the state of our market, and I’m excited to share our full conversation with you today. First of all, it’s a fantastic time to move up. Home prices have risen dramatically over the last several years, meaning homeowners who have built up equity over that time can now apply it toward purchasing their next home. This is especially true given the recent influx of inventory. Increased supply equals, first, an increased number of choices for today’s buyers, and second: greater leverage. If you are interested in purchasing a home, you’ll need to get pre-approved. According to Wally, there are three basic types of pre-approval: pre-qualification, conditional loan approval, or my personal favorite: the TBD pre-approval. With a pre-qualification, the lender may offer a letter that tentatively asserts you’re qualified to buy a home. This isn’t very concrete, however, and won’t garner much faith when presented to a seller. “Getting a TBD approval is a great way to solidify your chances as a buyer.” A conditional loan approval, on the other hand, involves turning in your paperwork and having lenders produce a letter stating that they’ve verified your capacity to secure a loan. This option is better than the first, but still not as strong as the TBD approval. TBD approvals put you through the underwriting process up front, so that you can (potentially) submit a non-contingent offer when you find the perfect home. A TBD approval could even help you beat out a cash offer. All in all, getting a TBD approval is a great way to solidify your chances as a buyer. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Please enjoy some highlights from our recent trip. We made it to the 2019 Keller Williams Family Reunion, and we wanted to share with you some highlights from our trip. Family Reunion is the industry’s most powerful training event. Agents from all over the world have the opportunity to gather with thousands of top associates for four days to network, re-energize and take our business to the next level. Close to 18,000 associates attended this year in New Orleans, Louisiana! We had the extreme pleasure of attending as a team, and learned so much! We love attending, because as much as it helps our business, it helps us refocus on what is most important as well. As a team we were able to gain knowledge from top associates all over the world, giving us insights others may not have. Family Reunion is set up convention style – with multiple breakout sessions throughout the day on various topics and issues affecting the industry. We not only learned about the technological advances our company is making, but we also found time to bask in the amazing culture that Keller Williams has. We love being a part of the Keller Williams family for many reasons, but our culture is at the top of the list. The fact is, Family Reunion is one of the few times each year that we are able to experience educational events and training from those who have already achieved success in their careers in mass quantities. If you have any questions about local real estate in the meantime, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to help.

1:35 Jeff and Renee talk about their past and how they got together1:54 How long have you been in business?4:26 Tell us about the size of your team and how your team works.6:44 Are you all in Orlando or have you branched out to other areas?8:19 What is your secret to growing your business?11:00 The importance of relationships in our business.12:45 How to incorporate video into your marketing and getting beyond the fear of video. 15:35 How Jeff and Renee started with video and how to leverage it.19:14 What are your favorite things to do to “love” on your clients?21:52 Where do you find most of the agents who are on your team?23:58 What originally attracted you to eXp?26:07 Is there anything about eXp that you didn’t like at first?30:22 Talk about your daily schedule and how you make it work day to day.33:34 What would be your one piece of advice for a new agent?36:47 What’s your focus for this year?

If you’re looking to upgrade to a new home, you may be wondering the best way to do it. You’ll need to decide if you want to sell your home first and then buy the next one, buy first and then sell, or do both at the same time by making a concurrent sale. Before you decide which option to choose, you’ll need to review your finances. Work with a mortgage lender to see how much you can afford to pay for your next home. You’ll also want to consult your agent to determine what your current home can sell for—you want to know how much equity you can use as a down payment. Once your finances are figured out, it’s time to decide which route you’ll take: 1. Buying first. If you buy a home first, it eliminates the pressure of timing your home sale. You can move whenever you want and explore all the options that are available to you. However, you may become stuck with two mortgages for a time. 2. Selling first. When you sell first, you’ll know exactly how much equity you have for your next home. And because you’ll know when your home is closing, you’ll have a better timeline for finding the next one. However, you may need to work out a leaseback with your buyer or find interim housing in the meantime. 3. Buying and selling at the same time. A concurrent sale is possible, but you’ll need to have a plan. Make sure the kinds of homes you’re interested in are actually on the market. Then, you want to find a home when yours goes under contract. “Before you decide which one to choose, you’ll need to review your finances.” We can help you through every step of the process, regardless of which one you choose. If you’d like to get started on making a plan, have any questions, or need further information, feel free to reach out to us. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Today, Brian is talking with Rick Raanes, who was influential in helping BlueFuse move to eXp Realty.   2:45 Tell us about yourself and your background. 5:08 How many agents are on your team today? 6:52 Rick talks about the time he had a 7-hour listing presentation! 7:55 On Facebook, I see you engage in a lot of varied groups and pages, do you have a system for doing that? 13:28 You often speak about hustle vs. skill. Why are you focused more on the skill side? 16:50 Let’s go back to when you started the team. Tell me why you started to build the teams and what was your thought process behind that? 23:12 We talk about scalability of your business. 25:58 What made you reevaluate your options and move over to eXp Realty? 28:17 What’s something you don’t like about eXp Realty? 30:52 What’s your favorite thing to do to “love” on your past clients? 32:11 Where does most of your business come from? If anyone wants to reach out to Rick, Rick@TexasRockstarGroup.com or call me at 281-690-1900.

It’s hard to believe how far we’ve already made it into 2019. Whether you’ve been keeping up with your resolutions or not, there’s still plenty of time left in the year for us all to pursue our various goals.  If any of your goals happen to do with real estate, I highly encourage you to keep tabs on our ever-changing market. With that in mind, it’s also important to realize that market conditions are like the weather—you can make close predictions about what may be on the horizon, but there’s no way to know for certain what’s ahead.  Having said that, let’s review the forecast that Realtor.com’s economic research team has laid out. There are four main points to take away from this forecast:  1. There will be more homes for sale, especially luxury properties. Inventory has been super tight for years now. Yes, homes have been hitting the market—but not at an adequate pace to keep up with current demand. In fact, national inventory levels reached their lowest point in recorded history last winter. Supply has begun to recover in 2019, and homes in higher price points will be especially abundant. “Market conditions are like the weather—you can make close predictions about what may be on the horizon, but there’s no way to know for certain what’s ahead.” 2. Affordability will remain low. It’s no secret that we’ve been in a seller’s market for the past few years. While buyers are soon to face improved conditions as a result of rising inventory, the matter of affordability will remain a problem moving forward as interest rates continue to climb.  3. Millennials will keep buying. Just a few years ago, millennials were the “new kids on the block” in our marketplace. Now, they make up the largest generational demographic of homebuyers—accounting for 45% of all mortgages.  4. The new tax law is still a wild card. Last year, while the GOP’s proposed tax law was still being batted around Congress, many believed that, if passed, it would discourage buyers from entering the market. Even now that that the bill has been signed, the full impact of this change will remain unclear until tax season is over.  To read Realtor.com’s full report, click here. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

When was the best time to buy a home? The answer: probably a couple years ago. Home prices have gone up dramatically over the past couple of years. Rates and prices were relatively low, and for folks who owned a home, there was a great opportunity. Historically speaking, however, now is still a great time to buy. Rates have ticked up a little bit, but we can remember a time when people were buying homes at 12% or 13% rates. It’s also still a terrific market for sellers. We’ve been in a crazy seller’s market for the last two years, and that’s starting to shift. “Just because buyers are getting more opportunities to purchase, it doesn’t mean that sellers won’t still get great prices for their home.” To us, this shift is a good thing; the market was frenzied, and those who wanted to move often couldn’t because they couldn’t get the house that they wanted. Now, things have slowed down, allowing people to get the home they’ve always wanted. But just because buyers are getting more opportunities to purchase, it doesn’t mean that sellers won’t still get great prices for their homes; it just means that we’re now in more of a balanced market. To hear in more detail our analysis of the market regarding when buyers and sellers should act, refer to the video above. For your convenience, we’ve provided timestamps for you below so that you can navigate the discussion at your leisure: 2:00—Why now is a great time to buy a resale home 2:37—Why now is an opportune time to build a new construction home 3:50—Buying a home with a bad agent versus a great agent: What makes the difference? 5:40—The consequences of overimproving 6:20—Why an agent is crucial for buying new construction 7:30—Can you save money by purchasing a home without an agent? 9:15—A lot of things can go wrong in a new construction home 10:20—The value of getting your new construction home re-inspected after living in it for a year Hopefully, you found the information in this discussion beneficial! If you have any questions about when is a good time to act in the market or about purchasing new construction homes, feel free to reach out to us. We’d be happy to help.

One of the questions we hear the most from our clients is, “How long is it going to take to sell my house?” According to Realtor.com, the average number of days that a home is on the market before it’s sold is 65. That means if your home was listed today, you can expect it to go under contract in about 65 days. However, you can speed up the process by paying attention to these five factors that make a huge difference: 1. Location. This is a big one. Are you on a busy street, or located near major employers or schools? All of this will play a factor. 2. Price. First, and most importantly, you want to make sure you don’t overprice your home, because that will severely limit your buyer pool. You want to make sure that you look at what prices other homes like yours have sold for and price your home accordingly. 3. The home’s condition. Every home is a little different. What have you done to maintain your home? What updates have you made to it? 4. Inventory. This refers to how many homes are on the market. Supply and demand matter. If there are a lot of homes on the market, there’s a lot more competition for you. If there are fewer homes, then you have less competition and your home is more likely to sell more quickly. 5. School district. This is a particularly important factor for buyers with children. There are plenty of websites out there where people check the rankings of certain school districts. “Inventory refers to how many homes are on the market.” As you can see, these five factors really play a huge role in how quickly your home will sell when you list it for sale. If you have any questions for us in the meantime about your home’s value or about real estate in general, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Happy holidays to you! The holiday season has officially arrived. We hope you enjoy this wonderful time of year and make some fantastic memories with your family and friends. We just wanted to take a moment to thank you for your continued support. We love helping people make their real estate dreams come true, so thank you for working with us. Just as a heads up, we are looking for a new charity to support. We’ll be sending out another email soon with details on this. This may be a busy time of year, but we are always here to help you and answer any questions you may have. Just give us a call or reply to this email. And in case we don’t hear from you, have a happy New Year as well!

Can you renew or get home insurance on your property after all these fires? Robert Feldman from Allstate is here to explain your options. Today, Robert Feldman from Allstate is here to talk about insurance. A lot of our clients have not been able to renew insurance due to all the fires.  “Due to the fires of last year, it’s the worst I’ve seen it in 20 years,” says Robert. “Multiple insurance carriers are not renewing clients due to the fires, so it’s a bad scene right now. The key thing is to know your fire scores.”  If your property is on a hillside or you can see wild brush from your property, it’s especially important to know your fire score.  There are opportunities out there. One of the biggest myths out there is that insurers will nominate clients with the California Fair Plan as a last resort. However, Robert represents Allstate and says there are a lot of carriers who will write in the fire zone areas. “It’s very important to know your fire score.” We’ve had a few cases where we’re getting ready to close escrow only to discover that the buyer cannot get insurance because of the fire scores. It’s important to get that information early in the process, as there are a few insurances companies who are not insuring based on the fire score. If you are interested in a fire score, you can email Robert at RobertFeldman@Allstate.com or call 888-983-6400 (Robert recommends sending an email). I would like to thank Robert for joining me today. If you have any other real estate questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I would be happy to help you.

Our annual pie giveaway is coming up. Will we see you there? Here at Radke Agency and Associates, fall is our favorite time of year. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, we’re excited to announce that, once again, we’ve got your Turkey Day dessert covered. That’s right—on Tuesday, November 20th from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., we’ll be hosting our annual pie giveaway to thank you for your continued support. “Help us feed families in need by donating to the Manna Food Bank” We hope you’ll stop by to pick up a complimentary pie, enjoy some wine, and, if you can, help us feed families in need by bringing canned goods for us to donate to the Manna Food Bank. Register Here If you have any questions about real estate in the meantime, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to help.

Heather Case, the Radke Agency's Buyers Agent, recently had a new addition to her family. Today I want to introduce you to baby Isabelle. I’m here at Foxfield Park in Westlake Village with Heather Case, the Radke Agency’s Buyers Agent who is very near and dear to me. Heather has been really busy these past two months, and now she has a new addition to her family! Today I wanted to let Heather introduce her new bundle of joy to you all. Isabelle Michaela Case was born on May 1, and she is doing really well. Her big sisters are with us as well—Violet and Caroline are being the best big sisters to baby Isabelle! Caroline especially loves to give Isabelle kisses and hugs. We are so excited for Heather and her growing family, and we can’t wait to watch baby Isabelle grow into a beautiful person. “We are so excited for Heather and her growing family.” If you have any questions about real estate in the meantime, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to help.

Purchasing a home protection plan can help cover many of the items in your home if something happens. I am joined today by Jessica Wood from Old Republic Home Protection to talk to you about home protection plans and the process of getting one. Jessica helps us purchase home protection plans for our clients at the Radke Agency. A home protection plan, or a home warranty, is an annually renewable limited service contract which covers major systems and appliances in the home due to normal wear and tear. This includes your water heater, kitchen appliances, plumbing, electrical, air conditioner, etc. According to Jessica, many people do not realize that you can purchase a home protection plan at any time. It does not need to be when you purchase a new home. There does not need to be a purchase. In fact, you can even buy a home warranty for the home you are selling. You may wonder why you would do this. Well, by offering a home warranty when selling, you can get top dollar for your house. In addition, there are three major benefits to offering a home warranty: 1. They separate you from your competition. If there is a house for sale down the street from yours that does not offer a home warranty, the buyer will be uneasy about purchasing that house. When buyers look at your house, the home warranty will give them peace of mind. 2. They cover all major mechanical issues. Buyers will be covered if any issues arise during the listing period and one year after closing. 3. They give you a competitive edge over new construction homes. All new home builders offer at least a one-year home warranty. If you want to compete with new construction homes, you need to offer a home warranty. “Many people do not realize that you can purchase a home protection plan at any time.” Coverage is very important to buyers and current owners, and a lot of important pieces of the home are covered. However, a home warranty does not cover things such as mold, natural disaster, and secondary damage which would be covered by a homeowner’s insurance claim. Filing a claim for the items which are covered is pretty easy. You can file a claim online or contact the service department directly and provide your address or plan number if it is available. All you have to do is tell them what is going on and they set up a work order. Work orders are then carried out by one of the many local contractors who is certified per trade. Each contractor has applied to be in the network, and they’re then vetted by the contractor relation department to make sure they are qualified to serve our plan holders. What makes Old Republic Home Protection different from the competition? While there are some relevant and noteworthy differences in coverage, Jessica says that what makes them really shine is their service. Many home warranty companies offer similar prices and coverage, but Old Republic Home Protection provides exceptional coverage and service to their plan holders. If you want to order a home protection plan with Jessica, you can visit their website at ORHP.com or call (800) 282-7131 to reach out directly. And, if you mention “Barbara and the Radke Agency,” you can even get an agent referral discount. If you are thinking about selling your house, she can go over the warranty and tell you what the coverage is and how much it costs. Most home warranties only cost a few hundred dollars.  If you have any other questions about home warranties or about real estate in general, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you in any way that I can.

We want to invite you to our upcoming summer barbecue bash and introduce you to the newest member of our team. We have a couple exciting announcements from our team to make as our spring market moves along.  First, we want to thank you if you were able to join us at the Malibu Café for our Earth Day event this past April. We had such a blast meeting all of the clients who joined us, and with that in mind, we want to remind you to mark your calendars for our next upcoming event—our Summer BBQ Bash on July 28 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.. We plan on having lots of fun, and you’re officially invited. We’ll release more information about the event in coming weeks, so be on the lookout for updates. “We’re excited to have Ruth on board, and we’re excited to see you on July 28.” In addition to this announcement, we’d like to introduce you to the newest member of our team, Ruth Cavanah. Ruth has become a great addition to our team. She’s been adjusting seamlessly into her permanent role as a showing agent while also temporarily covering for another team member, Heather, who is taking time to enjoy her newest baby girl. Ruth will be out every day previewing and showing properties for us, which will enable us to see homes the minute they hit the market and meet with you so you can get the first look at them.  We’re excited to have Ruth on board. You can reach her by calling 805-990-8900 or emailing ruth@radkeagency.com. As always, if you have any questions or you’re thinking of buying or selling a home in our market, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d be glad to help you.

Let us show you how grateful we are for your service by coming to our client appreciation event on April 22. Click here to RSVP Today we have a special invite we want to extend your way. Our latest client appreciation event is happening at the Malibu Cafe on Sunday, April 22 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and we’d love to see you there. Bring your family along and join us for drinks, food, and a fun-filled afternoon. “We look forward to seeing you there!” RSVP’s are due by the 7th of April. Click here to RSVP

Today, Malay Wadhwa is here to talk about title insurance. Today, I have a special guest with me, Malay Wadhwa from Pacific Coast Title, to give us some insight about the role of title insurance in the real estate process. What is the role of title insurance? Title insurance is very insignificant, but at the same time, a very significant part of our transaction. We make sure that the homeowner that is coming onto the property is free of any unforeseen challenges and that they have a free and clear title. What are the most important things that a client should be looking for when they’re reviewing their title policy? They should definitely be looking at the legal listings, the liens, and the statement of information. There are two types of liens that are commonly attached: unsecured liens and secured liens. Secured liens are attached with to property and are available through the public records. Examples include child support liens, mechanic liens, or deeds of trust. Unsecured liens can be any liens that are attached to the individual that owns the house. “Sometimes it’s best to put the property in a living trust.” When clients are buying a home, how should they hold their vesting? If, for example, a husband and wife are buying a property, they can buy it as a joint community property with the right of survivorship. Two individuals can also buy a property together, each with 50% interest on it. The reason that we specify the interest is so that, if need be, one can assign their interest to their spouse and children. It is important to do this because if, say, they just acquired a property without specifying the interest, then they have to go to the court to analyze who owns what percentage of the property. Additionally, sometimes it’s best to put the property in a living trust. A living trust allows the homeowner to assign a beneficiary without going into the court. It adds an extra layer of protection for their property from any online frauds that people sometimes try to commit on free and clear properties. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to reach out to me. I’d be glad to help.

I want to thank you all for your support in 2017! You helped us exceed our goals and win four awards. I want to give a big shoutout and thank you to all of our past clients, family, and friends who helped us exceed our goals in 2017. We were the recipients this week of four special awards based on closings and productions, and we couldn’t have done it without you! “We couldn’t have done it without you!” Keller Williams World Class has over 350 associates in our market center here in Westlake Village, and we are honored to have received the following awards for 2017: First Place Team Associate by Closed Volume—Heather Case First Place Team by Closed Volume First Place Listing Team by Units Closed Third Place Team by Units Closed I would like to thank everyone for helping us get there. As always, feel free to reach out if you have any real estate questions. We look forward to helping you all in 2018.

Manna Food Bank is a great addition to our community. Let’s take a look inside at what they do. Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale Today, we’re going to be talking about the Manna Food Bank, which is a 45-year-old independent organization that helps feed people in need. The week before Thanksgiving, we worked with them on a food drive. The drive was a success, and we are so thankful for the work Manna is doing for our community. Right now, they’re actually in the process of moving to a new facility, which will be 4.5 times larger than the current facility. There, they’ll host classes in nutrition, cooking, and more. These classes will focus on helping people with health problems learn more about their nutritional needs and how to meet them. Additionally, Manna will provide education on financial literacy and household management. “The more food Manna gets from the community, the more they are able to give.” When people hear about hunger, they often think of a fairly narrow demographic. But the people who benefit from Manna’s services actually come from all walks of life. This is especially true following the recession years ago. In fact, over 85% of Manna’s clients are employed families. The remaining 15% is made up of senior citizens and disabled people on fixed incomes. Of course, community support plays a massive role in what Manna does. The more food they get from the community, the more they are able to give. While all donations are welcome, they do have a list of preferred items on the front page of their website: mannafoodbank.org. Manna is classified as a choice-based pantry, meaning their clients can choose their food as opposed to being limited to pre-bagged selections. Clients can visit three times a week with no appointment necessary. 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.