Are you a first time home buyer? With so many choices to make and so much at stake, it’s essential that you prepare. For advice, check out the First Time Home Buyer Guide from realtor.com® to learn the 10 steps to purchasing your first home without a hitch.

See the complete article Find out more here

Click Here to See if I Should Be Your Agent 

We’ll get right down to it: Shopping for a home is fun. But once you find “The One,” things start to get real—real fast. Think of making an offer on a home as setting the roller coaster in motion: You might have sharp drops in emotion and slow, trudging climbs to success, but the ride won’t end until the car slows down and the safety bar is lifted. (OK, this metaphor is now officially over.)

You need to learn how to make the right offer, the one that will end with your receiving the keys to your new house. So check out some of these agent-approved negotiation tactics to make the process a whole lot less bumpy.

The offer process

The written offer is legally binding, so in most cases a simple letter won’t work. There are many state, and sometimes local, laws guiding the process, so you’ll want to cover all the bases by using a legally approved form.

Your real estate agent will write the offer for you but with your full participation.  In Louisiana this is called a Residential Purchase Agreement which complies with applicable state and local laws.

Pick the right price

Just because the home is listed at $300,000, it doesn’t mean it’s actually worth that much. It all depends on the market. If you’re buying somewhere hot—especially places with low inventories—offering substantially below asking price is “probably wasting your time,” says Mindy Jensen, a Realtor® with Equity Colorado. But if the place has been sitting unsold for a few months, even the sellers probably don’t expect full price. Your best reality gauge are comps, or what similarly sized homes nearby have sold for recently.

Work with your real estate agent to determine a fair asking price; he or she will have the best read on pricing and marketplace dynamics, and can walk through the comps with you. Your agent can help you determine what a fair discount would be without offending the seller. While specific numbers will depend on your market, experts estimate that it’s unrealistic to go below 5% of the list price unless it’s been sitting on the market for months. Which leads us to…

Lowball with care

Sometimes a home is priced just too high—no ifs, ands, or buts—or perhaps it’s been sitting unsold for half a year. In those situations, a lowball offer well under asking price might be the right strategy to get the home you love for a bargain price. However, this is a tool to be deployed rarely and with great care—especially if the current owners have lived there for many years.

“Longtime owners usually have tons of pride in their home, and want the new owners to love it like they do,” says Jodie Burns, a Realtor with McEnearney Associates. “Buyers who lowball run a risk of angering the seller and losing the house. Ideally, you’re looking for a closing where both sides feel like they got a fair deal.”

So don’t lowball unless both you and your Realtor agree that it’s the best strategy for the occasion. Think about the big picture: “If a couple of thousand dollars is going to keep them out of a home they love, I remind buyers how little that amount translates into a monthly payment,” Burns says.

Write a letter

If the market’s tight and you’ve decided that you must have that stunning Colonial, you can boost your chances by writing a personal letter. Maybe you’ve heard this before? It helps, really.

“Top dollar will typically win the bid, but the sellers get to choose which offer they like best,” says Jensen. “Including a letter can sway them toward you, or at least give you the opportunity to match the highest offer.”

Jensen recommends scouting the house to figure out what’s important to the sellers and mentioning it in your letter. For example, a dog shed in the backyard means they’re probably canine lovers—and more likely to respond to your excitement over little Humbert’s potential new backyard. If they’re mountain bikers, they’ll love that you’re excited about the nearby trails, too. And, of course, parents who raised their (now grown-up) kiddos in this home will appreciate your intentions to do the same.

Consider contingencies

Along with the price, you’ll also want to factor contingencies into your contract: For example, do you need to sell your own home first, requiring a selling contingency? Work with your Realtor to decide what you’ll ask for off the bat—and consider dropping some requests if the market is hot.

As Jensen explains, “Your chances are best if you ask for the fewest things.” Don’t put yourself at risk to get the home you love, though. Some people might advocate dropping the inspection clause to sweeten your offer, but that can be dangerous, especially in older homes.

Keep your emotions in check

Yes, the search seems to have dragged on forever; yes, this home has everything you need. But keep your wits about you.

“Don’t fall in love,” Jensen says. “Falling in head over heels with a home can make you do ridiculous things, like overpay.”

Plus sometimes, even an “excellent offer may not be accepted,” says Vici Boguess, a Realtor with the Burke Boguess Zimmerman Group in Alexandria, VA. Don’t assume a rejection is an insult—the sellers might just dislike some of your contingencies or are holding out for a better offer. So, don’t assume it’s over until it’s over.

The offer also includes the closing costs … that comes next in this list.

**Ryan Wheeler is an expert real estate agent and military veteran serving buyers and sellers of homes in the Shreveport Bossier City area.  Connect With Me

Are you a first time home buyer? With so many choices to make and so much at stake, it’s essential that you prepare. For advice, check out the First Time Home Buyer Guide from realtor.com® to learn the 10 steps to purchasing your first home without a hitch.

See the complete article Find out more here

Click Here to See if I Should Be Your Agent 

Have a long talk with your agent

Here’s something to consider: Only you will know which home is just right for you; but, a great agent will have a better handle on the local market. Not only is your agent keeping a constant eye out for newly listed homes you might love, but he/she can also quickly go through your wish list and help you understand what is (and what isn’t) realistic.

So be sure to tell your agent not only what you’re looking for, but why you’re moving, too.  The more your agent can understand you and your needs to better in synch they will be with your wants and needs.

Are you downsizing or perhaps you are moving closer to work? Accommodating a growing family?  The reason it all matters: A savvy Realtor will point out things you might not have considered—such as the importance of a one-story home if you’re near retirement and planning to stick around for the long haul.

Don’t worry about timing

Patience can be difficult. You want your new home right away. Waiting for something to fall into place can feel like endless purgatory. But that doesn’t mean you should rush the hunt.

“I’ve had clients who spend years in house-hunting mode,” says Gretchen Koitz, a Realtor with The Koitz Group in Bethesda, MD. Not that this is necessarily a good thing either.

Of course there’s nothing wrong with finding a great home right away. But it’s best not to prioritize timing above all else unless it’s absolutely necessary. Koitz says the idea of purchasing one of the first homes they see can be “very unsettling” for buyers. “They somehow think they’re not doing their due diligence if they don’t look for a predetermined amount of time,” she says. “Since we never know what’s coming on the market, we also never know when ‘your’ house will show up.”

See beyond the decor

Most people are not very good decorators, so it’s ok to be turned off by an ugly home. But you shouldn’t let stylistic choices of another affect your judgment of what a home could be. As Koitz puts it, “‘I hate the red paint in the dining room’ is not a valid concern.” Look beyond those garish drapes to the bones beneath. Is the picture window hidden behind them stunning? Is the hardwood floor good quality, despite the stained rugs layered on top? Think of the long term. Remember, the current owners’ raggedy stuff will leave with them.

Bring a camera

When you’re our home shopping, remembering which one had the dark flooring and which one had the bright pink bedroom can get more confusing than you might think. Even after looking at 5 homes, recalling exactly what bothered you so much about the bathroom of one home requires an impeccable memory and keen attention to detail. A great way to counter that is by snapping a few pics of every room you see. If you want to go above and beyond, consider categorizing them on a computer by house and room.

Tune in to your emotions

Not to get too woo-woo spiritual about it, but house hunting isn’t just about what you see. It’s also about how you feel.

“A big part of home buying is pure emotion,” says Koitz. And this swirl of feelings may surprise you, drawing you toward homes you never thought you’d love and away from ones that hit every box on your checklist.

“Agents have a secret saying, which is that ‘Buyers are liars,’ says Koitz. “We don’t mean that buyers really mean to lie, but that what they think they want in a home often goes out the window when emotion kicks in.”

Don’t forget your must-have list, but don’t feel bad about skipping something you thought you wanted. A wonderful house without a his-and-her bathroom is still a wonderful house—you just might have to shuffle your expectations.

“It’s important for buyers to keep in mind that there is no such thing as the perfect house,” Dart says. “At the end of the day, you’ll find some place that hits the high notes and that includes the things that were most important to you.”

Found a home that feels just right? Next comes the essential art of making an offer that will be accepted.

A Few Ways to Know You Found the Right House

1) You Want to Go Inside the House

Part of the excitement of looking at homes is not knowing which could be your new home when you pull up to the curb. Is it the one on the left, or does the house on the right strike your fancy? If it is the house on the right, and you like it better than the house on the left, that could be a sign. It means there is something about this house that appeals to you. Curb appeal is talking.

2) The House Welcomes You the Moment You Enter

Within a few seconds of entering the house, you will know whether it feels warm and comforting. Does it seem to speak to you? Does the house invite you to explore? Does it feel, well . . . right? Like home? Then it probably is.

3) You Start to Picture Furniture Arrangements

If you walk into the master bedroom and immediately can envision your bed against a particular wall, this might be your house. If you find yourself thinking that the living room window is a perfect spot to put a tree come Christmas, you’re already hooked.

4) You Can See Yourself Painting a Wall Your Favorite Color

Perhaps deep purple is not your favorite color. Maybe it’s blue. Maybe you’re thinking those purple walls in the kid’s room would look better in a pale blue jean color. In fact, you might even know the name of the paint color you plan to use because you’ve been thumbing through Pottery Barn catalogs and this home looks just like those.

5) You Want to Stop Looking at Other Homes

All of the other homes you’ve been looking at no longer appeal to you. The homes on that list you’ve been carrying around seem insignificant. Moreover, the homes you had previously rated a #8 have now fallen to a #2 rating. The homes you have seen pale in comparison. You would feel like a traitor to this home if you went to visit other homes. This is it. I’m telling you.

**Ryan Wheeler is an expert real estate agent and military veteran serving buyers and sellers of homes in the Shreveport Bossier City area.  Connect With Me

Are you a first time home buyer? With so many choices to make and so much at stake, it’s essential that you prepare. For advice, check out the First Time Home Buyer Guide from realtor.com® to learn the 10 steps to purchasing your first home without a hitch.

When you’re buying or selling a house, you’ll likely reach out for professional help from a real estate agent. But how to choose? There are Realtors and just plain real estate agents, part-time and full-time agents, family friends who are in the business, maybe even neighbors down the street. Which one is right for you?

See the complete article Find out more here

How to choose a Realtor®

The first thing you might notice while trying to find home-buying help is all the different titles: agent, broker, Realtor®, etc. Are they all the same thing? Not exactly.

A Realtor® is either an agent or broker who is a member of the National Association of Realtors®. Realtors adhere to a detailed code of ethics to treat their clients honestly and fairly. Consider it added insurance that they’re committed to your cause.

A real estate agent is anyone who’s earned a license to sell property, which typically entails taking 100+ hours of course work and then passing a state exam. A broker is someone who’s continued his studies and can hire agents to work under him.

Conduct a preliminary search online

We shop online for everything these days, and finding a real estate agent is no different. Make sure to check out their Facebook page Reviews as well which will give you useful information.  Also, feel free to ask the Agent about the  number of years of job experience, number of homes sold, and the price of homes typically dealt with. Take note of a Realtor’s track record, because this can tip you off to superstar agents nearby and whether they’re a fit for your needs.

Work with a professional agent

Devin and Karen Carroll of Texarkana, Texas, found what they thought was the perfect house. So they reached out to a convenient real estate connection.

“I called a family friend who is a part-time real estate agent,” Devin Carroll says. “She showed us the house and we submitted an offer. It was at this point the fireworks began.”

Carroll says the seller’s agent was an experienced negotiator “ready to go to war for her clients.” His agent was immediately intimidated. It took only one phone call for the veteran agent to stand her ground on price, and “from that point on, my agent was scared to negotiate.”

Lesson learned. Carroll says the next time around, he’ll look for a professional agent, one who’s not scared to negotiate and who is more concerned with getting a great deal than with sealing just any deal.

Finding the right agent for home sellers

“The days are gone where a real estate broker simply places a sign in the yard, enters it into (the Multiple Listing Service) and sits around their office waiting for it to sell,” says Damian D. Hall, a real estate broker in Greenville, South Carolina.

For sellers, that means searching for a proactive, technology-savvy agent, Hall says. Because buyers start with the internet, he says “photos must be professional, magazine quality, and the description has to be detailed and really sizzle.”

Also, look for an agent who has some social-media marketing muscle. “It’s scary how much Facebook alone knows about its users, but at the same time it’s pure gold for those looking to put a product — or in our case, a listing — in front of the consumer most likely to buy the house,” he says.

Finding the right agent for home buyers

On the other side of the transaction, Scott Durham, a Realtor in Reno, Nevada, says there’s something to be said for a buyer’s agent with a solid track record of closing deals.

“The average real estate agent sold only four homes last year,” Durham says. “Think about if you are purchasing a home and you represent 25% of that person’s income for the entire year. Do you really think they have your best interest at heart, or will they do just about anything to get the deal closed?”

He says a typical buyer’s agent will simply search the MLS for homes, but great agents will hunt down homes that aren’t even on the market yet. They’ll contact homeowners in the desired neighborhood or launch a direct mail campaign in the desired area with specifics on the buyers and their family.

Ask questions

Ask all of these questions. This is no time for being shy:

• How long have you been in real estate? You’re looking for a seasoned agent and while she doesn’t need decades of experience under her belt, less than a year of experience can be concerning.
• How long have you lived in this area? One noteworthy exception to the previous question is if she’s lived in the area for a long time. A newly licensed agent shouldn’t be automatically removed from consideration,” says Mindy Jensen, a Realtor with Equity Colorado Real Estate. If they’ve lived in the area their entire life, they likely know more about it than an agent who has been in the business for years but only recently moved to the region.” Weigh overall experience against local experience when making your decision.
• Do you have a team, or do you work alone? Many standalone agents are excellent, but don’t ignore the value of a team. Working with a team is important,” says Angelo Puma, a real estate agent in Keller, TX. It increases response time and availability. Often, solo-run agents are double-booked when you need their attention, and you may lose that perfect property.”  
• What is your schedule? If they’re not a full-time agent, you need to know when they’ll be available. If the only time you can see houses is in direct conflict with times they have to be working their other jobs, you could miss out on a lot of properties,” says Jensen.
• Do you have any vacations planned? If they’re heading out of the city anytime soon, make sure they have a back-up in case you find the perfect home while they’re out of the country. Murphy’s Law rules Realtor vacations,” says Jensen.

**Ryan Wheeler is an expert real estate agent and military veteran serving buyers and sellers of homes in the Shreveport Bossier City area.  Click Here to See if I Should Be Your Agent