- The 4 Things to Expect From Your Real Estate Agent
Your agent will get homes bought or sold, but there’s so much more you should expect from a real estate professional.
Selling in the Austin area? Get a market analysis report Purchasing in the Austin area? Get full MLS access
When you’re looking to buy or sell a home, it’s important that you find the right agent to fit your needs. What should you expect from someone who represents you as a real estate agent? Here are four things that you should always be able to find in us or other agents:
1. Truth. Your agent should be honest with you about prices. When your home is being listed, we want to tell you what you can realistically expect from a sale. If you’re buying a home, we do everything we can to ensure you’re finding a correct and fair value in potential homes.
2. Timeliness. Your agent should be listening to you and be aware of your time schedule and goals. We want to make sure your needs are met within your timeframe, and a good agent will work to accomplish whatever needs your schedule requires.
3. Ease. Your agent should remove as many challenges as possible along the way. You want an agent who is proactive and is always one step ahead, keeping you aware of what has happened and what’s coming next. Your agent is your consultant and should help make the home buying or selling process a fun experience; not a stressful one.
4. The right home. As a buyer, the ultimate goal of your agent is to find you the right home. We consult with you every step of the way to make sure we know exactly what you’re looking for. We share what we’ve found with you to keep going down the right path in our searches.
"A good agent will work to accomplish whatever needs your schedule requires."
If you’re looking to buy or sell a home (and hire the right agent), feel free to reach out to us at (512) 532-5550. We’d love the opportunity to show you why our team is in the top 3% of all agents here in Austin. We look forward to hearing from you.
21 November 2018, 6:44 pm - What Can You Do Now to Make Sure You’re Ready to Buy in 2019?
Even though we’re a few months away from the end of 2018, it’s never too early to start preparing to buy a home in 2019. Here are four great tips that will make sure you’re ready when the time comes.
Selling in the Austin area? Get a market analysis report Purchasing in the Austin area? Get full MLS access
Here are four steps that you can take right now to make sure that you’re ready to buy a home in 2019: 1. Check your credit score. This will range anywhere from 300 to 850. To qualify for the absolute best mortgage rates, you should aim to have your score be 740 or higher. 2. Resist the temptation to open new credit cards or lines of credit. Even though you’re bombarded with applications to get a new card on a daily basis, not doing so will help you in the long run and make sure that you’re the most qualified candidate to get a great loan with a great rate when the time comes to buy.
"Hiring the right agent is the most important step."
3. Find out what you’ll need for a down payment. Talk with your mortgage lender and determine just how much you’ll need to buy. If you’re going to be a little short, consider asking families for monetary gifts for this purpose during the holiday season. Most of them will be so excited to get in on the process of helping you buy a home and would love to contribute to that goal in lieu of presents.
4. Hire the right agent. This is probably the most important step. When you hire the right real estate agent, they’ll be able to counsel you and take you all the way through the loan process. They can connect you with the right mortgage lender, make sure you get approved, and take you step by step through the rest of the process. That’s exactly what we do on The Smith Team.
When you work with us, you’re in good hands. We would love to help you with your home purchase in 2019. If you have any questions for us or want to learn more about what we can do for you, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email today. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
29 October 2018, 9:09 pm - Is it Time for You to Move?
If you’ve been thinking of moving but aren’t sure whether doing so is right for you, there are four key signs that may help you decide.
Selling in the Austin area? Get a market analysis report Purchasing in the Austin area? Get full MLS access
There are a variety of reasons people decide to move from one home to the next, and today we’ll be highlighting four of the signs it might be time for you to make this choice for yourself: 1. Money. On either end of the financial spectrum, money can be a key motivating factor in a move. Whether you have a lot of equity in your current property and are ready to cash that in, or your current property is a bit more expensive than you’d like, the switch to a new home could be the best next step in your life. 2. Too little space. If your family is expanding and you need more room to accommodate these life changes, it may be time to move on.
"The switch to a new home could be the best next step in your life"
3. Commute time. Driving to and from work every day can become quite a chore if your home and office aren’t nearby to one another. Sometimes, a lengthy commute can be a key sign that a move is in order.
4. Too much space. If your children have flown the nest, downsizing may be a wise choice for your future. Moving to a new home could be just the thing to help you acclimate to your new lifestyle.
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.
17 October 2018, 2:36 pm - What The Smith Team Can Do For You
We want to be your real estate resource. Here are just some of the things we can do for you.
Selling in the Austin area? Get a market analysis report Purchasing in the Austin area? Get full MLS access
When you think of the Smith Team, we definitely want you to think of us as agents who help you buy and sell real estate. However, we also want you to think of us in other ways—we want to be your real estate resource. If you have questions about a lender, call me. I’m in the business daily, and I have access to some of the best lenders available. I’d be happy to refer you. If you’re looking for an insurance agent, call me. I’d love the opportunity to get one of the many agents I know in touch with you. If you’re looking for a hairdresser—I’m not joking here—I can refer you. Just the other day, I referred mine to someone who had just moved into town.
"Our tagline is 'Smart. Service. Sold.'"
If you’re in need of a handyman or some other trade service to make a repair at your home, think of us.
Our tagline is “Smart. Service. Sold.” We want to educate you on the Austin market and provide you the best service possible during the home buying process, and in general. We want you to be sold on us, but we also want to make sure your home is sold for as much as possible.
So, ultimately, if you’re in need of any referrals in the Austin area, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re happy to help you in any way we can. Hope to hear from you soon!
26 September 2018, 8:28 pm - What Appraisals Mean to Both Buyers and Sellers
How can an appraisal affect the sale of your home? Let's take a look.
Selling in the Austin area? Get a market analysis report Purchasing in the Austin area? Get full MLS access
What are appraisals and why are they important? Today I want to answer these questions from both the buyer's and seller's perspective. To start with, what is an appraisal? When you're looking to purchase a home with a mortgage, your mortgage company will want to make sure that the value of the home matches what you're paying for the home. An approved appraiser will come to the home and do an inspection of the place and then compare it to other properties that have sold on the market in that area. As a buyer, how does an appraisal affect you? To answer this question, consider this scenario: If you're buying a home and agreeing with the seller to pay $200,000 and an appraiser decides that the home is only worth $150,000, that's a $50,000 difference. This will make it very difficult for the bank to give you a loan for $200,000 and, as a buyer, you could be asked to pay that difference or you won't be able to get the loan.
"When you're looking to purchase a home with a mortgage, your mortgage company will want to make sure that the value of the home matches what you're paying for the home."
How does an appraisal affect you as a seller? Looking at the same scenario, that buyer may be unable to purchase your home. And, it may mean that other buyers are also unable to purchase your property, so you may need to adjust the sales price of your house entirely.
So, why is an appraisal important? From the very beginning, as a seller, you want to think about the value of your home and how you're pricing it because it could mean whether or not a potential buyer can get the loan to buy it.
If you have any questions about the appraisal process, or if you're interested in buying or selling, please feel free to reach out to me. I look forward to speaking with you soon.
17 September 2018, 7:36 pm - How to Stand out and Win in a Multiple Offer Situation
What’s the key to standing out as a buyer in a multiple offer situation? Allow us to shed some light on this question, today.
Selling in the Austin area? Get a market analysis report Purchasing in the Austin area? Get full MLS access
When the market is hot and competition between buyers is high, what is the best way to stand out from among the crowd? What’s the secret to having your offer accepted over the numerous others a seller might receive? Some buyers may speculate that it’s best to wait and see what other offers on a given home might look like before submitting their own, but this strategy doesn’t generally reap results. If you’re interested in a home, submit your highest and best offer as soon as possible. Yet, if this advice goes to all buyers, how can you make sure your “highest and best” is superior to another buyer’s? There are actually many steps you can take to set yourself apart. Offers above list price, offers with a high down payment, and offers with favorable terms will all spark a seller’s interest.
"If you’re interested in a home, submit your highest and best offer as soon as possible."
One tactic that may be less obvious, though, is to submit an offer letter. Writing the seller a letter that details why you’re interested in their home, and how living there would benefit you and your family could add the personal touch your offer needs to win.
Of course, such tactics will be much more effective if you employ them under the guidance of an experienced, qualified real estate professional. Our team would love to help serve you on this front. We don’t like to lose and we would be happy to help you win.
If you have any other questions, would like more information, or are interested in how we can help you secure your dream home, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
21 August 2018, 3:08 pm - How Home Sellers Should Handle Multiple Offer Situations
How should you deal with multiple offers as a seller? This is what we recommend.
Selling in the Austin area? Get a market analysis report Purchasing in the Austin area? Get full MLS access
Today we are going to talk about multiple offer situations and how you should handle them as a home seller. A multiple offer situation simply means that your home is in demand and there is more than one person out there who seriously wants to buy it. When you have a multiple offer situation, is the highest offer always the best? Not necessarily. While you want to get the highest price possible, you want to make sure that the sale will close too. Is the buyer paying cash, or do they have a loan? Are we worried about the appraisal? When do they want to close? There are a number of different questions to consider and the highest priced offer may not always be the best.
"A cash offer is great, but it is not always the best option"
How do you select the right offer? Cash is always great because you don’t have to worry about the appraisal or a loan being underwritten. However, cash offers may not be in your best interest if the buyer is trying to lowball you. If a buyer with financing offers more money with a solid loan, that could be a better option.
A qualified professional can really help you out in a situation like this. My team and I deal with multiple offer situations all the time, and we always make sure that we are dealing with offers that are going to get your home sold. Anybody can write an offer, but it is our job to make sure that we choose the right offer with the right price and the right terms to get your home sold as quickly as possible and meet your needs.
If you’re looking to sell your home and have any questions about multiple offer situations, please feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
1 August 2018, 4:28 pm - What Is a Market Analysis, Anyway?
What is a market analysis and how can it help buyers and sellers?
Selling in the Austin area? Get a market analysis report Purchasing in the Austin area? Get full MLS access
What is a market analysis? A market analysis is a collection of data that helps us determine how to price a seller’s home when they go to sell. For buyers, it will help us show what has sold in a home’s area in the past, allowing us to know what kind of offer they should make to the seller. These analyses are simply comparisons to all homes that are on the market, pending, and, most importantly, homes that have sold in the past 30 to 90 days in one’s immediate area.
"A market analysis allows us to see what’s going on in your neighborhood."
It’s important to know what’s happening in your neighborhood. A market analysis allows us to do just that. If you have questions about your home’s value, feel free to reach out to me. I’d be happy to give you a market analysis and educate you on what’s going on in your neighborhood.
23 July 2018, 5:19 pm - Thank You for Supporting Us Through 14 Years in Real Estate
The Smith Team has been helping area buyers and sellers for 14 years, and so today I’d like to extend a message of gratitude.
Selling in the Austin area? Get a market analysis report Purchasing in the Austin area? Get full MLS access
This July, the Smith Team is celebrating 14 years in real estate. It’s been an amazing experience to help so many people achieve their buying and selling goals, and we’ve learned a lot in the process. For that, we thank you. Our growth over this 14 years would not have been possible without your support. If we can ever be of assistance to you or someone you know, please don’t hesitate to reach out. To see my full message, watch this short video.5 July 2018, 8:15 pm - How to Save Money for a Down Payment
If you want to purchase your first home, you will need a down payment. Today I have a few tips to help you save enough money.
Selling in the Austin area? Get a market analysis report Purchasing in the Austin area? Get full MLS access
If you are currently renting a home, you are probably paying your landlord's mortgage. If you are renting an apartment, you are most likely lining an investor’s pocket and helping them build wealth. How about you build some wealth for yourself by buying? To do this, you will have to have a down payment. Today I'd like to share a few ways you can save for a down payment. The first step to saving is to set a target goal. Meet with a mortgage lender and have a consultation. They can help you find out exactly what you will be able to afford and exactly how much you will need to save up. The second step is to assess your spending habits and find ways to save. Are there things you are spending money on each month that you could cut back on? You could allocate the money you save toward your down payment. This will help you get into your first home more quickly.
"Owning a home is a great way to pay yourself while building equity and future wealth."
Another option for saving additional funds is to get a second job. Many people today have a second job where they take the money they earn and use it toward a down payment nest egg. You could also open a high-yield savings account. Putting your down payment savings into this kind of account will help it grow more quickly thanks to the account's high interest rate. Finally, save your tax returns and apply the funds toward your down payment. Put that money all together with the other money you have saved and help grow your down payment. Owning a home is a great way to build equity and wealth for your future. If you have any other questions, would like more information, or want to know how my team can help you pursue your real estate goals, please give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
21 June 2018, 6:06 pm - 4 Home Features That Turn Off Buyers
Buyer preferences come and go, but right now there are four home features that they definitely don’t want to see.
Selling in the Austin area? Get a market analysis report Purchasing in the Austin area? Get full MLS access
Many homeowners have lived in their home for at least a decade, but buyer preferences come and go faster than that. If you’re planning on selling your home in the near future, here are some features that you should consider replacing or upgrading if your home has them:
"If your home has some of these features, don’t worry—I can help. " 1. Laminate countertops. Buyers nowadays want to walk into a kitchen and see a granite countertop or some other natural stone countertop. They’re no longer a luxury item—they’re a must- have. 2. Outdated bathrooms. Buyers want to move into a home where they don’t have to make many updates. Fixing your bathrooms and giving them fresh looks really appeals to buyers. 3. A carpeted main level. Buyers don’t like carpet on the main levels of homes anymore. They prefer either hardwood or tile because it’s easier maintenance. 4. Energy inefficiency. Buyers pay attention to whether the home they are going to live in is energy-efficient or not. They want to be comfortable in their homes and not have to pay extra on utility bills. Making your home energy efficient can go a long way in making it appeal toward buyers. If your home has some of these features, don’t worry. Just give me a call and I’d be glad to speak with you about how you can fix these items up and get the highest return on your investment when you’re ready to put your home on the market. As always, if you have any other questions or real estate needs, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to hear from you!
30 May 2018, 2:45 pm - More Episodes? Get the App