Real Estate and Mortgage Info about buying a home and apply mortgage

Why You Need a Top Real Estate Professional

Why You Need a Top Real Estate Professional

So the real estate bubble has burst, and doom and gloom fill the air; what a great time to buy a new home! I know, you think I am crazy, but it is true. If you had your sights set on moving to a new home, now is the time. Of course your existing home will sell for less than it would have a couple of years ago. On the flip side, there are many bargains available in real estate. When you sell your home for less, the sales commission will be smaller. In California, property tax is based on your purchase price so buying in the down market will mean lower property taxes for years to come. It’s all good!

The important part is to get excellent help from a top real estate professional. Now is not the time to get cheap and try to avoid paying the commission. There may be websites that offer estimates of what a home is worth, but these are just computerized guesses. It takes an experienced Realtor with knowledge of the local market to correctly assess the market value of your home. There are also firms that offer bargain commission rates. If your Realtor can’t negotiate a full commission, then why do you think they could negotiate the full price of your home?  Quality advice will pay for itself in the long run; cheap advice can be very expensive.

A skilled professional will be able to market your home to maximize exposure to the greatest number of potential buyers through the multiple listing service, personal connections, and the appropriate use of open home showings. This professional will be able to offer suggestions on staging your home for that all important first impression. Selling in a cool real estate market takes patience and extra effort. It will be the attention to details that will sell your property instead of the empty, bank owned property on the next block over that is offered at a rock bottom price.

Home buyers need representation just as much as the home seller. Don’t think you will be able to negotiate a better deal with a “FiSBO” or For Sale By Owner home because they won’t be paying a sales commission to a Realtor. In this ever changing market you may pay too much for a home that was improperly marketed based on the desires of the owner and not on what the comparable homes in the area sold for.

Both buyers and sellers need the skills of an expert Realtor to negotiate the best deal and to know what concessions to ask for. To find a terrific agent, ask friends and neighbors in the area for recommendations. Be sure to ask if they would use the agent they are recommending again. Sellers should interview at least three agents and have each give a competitive market analysis and provide a sales presentation of their home. Choose the agent that has the best marketing skills and also makes you feel confident and comfortable about working with them.

Good luck and remember- it’s a great time to buy a new home!