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Buyers and Sellers Should Also Be Excited for Superbowl Weekend

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Whether you are a Patriots fan or a Rams fan, Super Bowl is happening this Sunday, February 3 and it is unofficially the start of the home buying season. Although with the weather around the country, spring seems like light years away, actually, it’s right around the corner and many feel that the Super Bowl Sunday is the major kickoff to the spring home-buying season. Many homebuyers that have been delaying looking at homes or jumping on the ball of the lender situation will now be in full swing come Monday morning.Buyers and Sellers Should Also Be Excited for Superbowl Weekend

So what does this mean for buyers and sellers right now?

As a seller, if your home is already listed on the market don’t be surprised by an influx of showings or interest starting next week. We are seeing some of the more milder temperatures around the country, not like some of our northern states hit with this polar vortex. Because of that, more buyers are willing to venture out and see homes, start conversations with their lender, and get in touch with a buyers agent in their area. But, this also means that buyers will have more competition.

Related: Bargain Hunting is Perfect in the Winter

Because there will be more buyers on the market you’ll see some competition, but I don’t think it will be a competition like we saw last year at this time. The market, while still balanced in a lot of places, is not as hot as it was just a year or two ago. Homes are sitting on the market a little bit longer, which means that buyers have a bit of an advantage. Although we’re not quite into a buyers market, depending on the neighborhood or community, you may have a little bit more time to decide whether the home is right for you. However, newer listings will have more competition than older ones. But, this might be a great time to consider offering a lower price for homes that have been on the market for longer than three months.

What does this mean for sellers?

If you’ve been holding off listing your property, now might be a perfect time. Again, will have more buyers on the market, and you’ll probably get more activity over the next couple of weeks than you would have the previous two weeks. Home prices are steadily rising, so you might be able to get more for your house now than a couple of years ago, but the demand won’t be as strong.

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Buying a Home Next to Vacant Land

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Buying a Home Next to Vacant Land

The biggest thing to do when considering buying a home next to vacant land is to ask questions! And ask a lot! This will protect you from ugly surprises. Find out who owns the land, find out the zoning of the land, and the approved use of the land. Do it before you buy.

Why Ask These Questions? What Could Happen?

If you buy a home next to vacant land without knowing the potential of what could happen, a few things could happen…

– Does your new home have a gorgeous view of the location of the vacant land? Well, that view could eventually get blocked by the building of new homes.

– Do you like your new home because of the quiet area it’s located at? Well, that vacant land you’re next to could one day become a very busy road or a huge shopping center.

Read more: Bargain hunting is perfect in the winter

– Does your new home have a huge yard? Well, is it because you don’t know where the property lines are? Because if so, the owner of the vacant lot next to yours may soon take over.

Check the Emotion at the Door – Be Diligent with Inspections

Buying a home is an emotional process and it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of it all. No matter what your experience with home buying is, you should stay the ground during it all. This is especially true when it comes time to make the offer and during the inspection.

Additionally, don’t rely on the information of one person alone. Do your research to YOUR satisfaction.

Related: Benefits of using a real estate team when buying and selling simultaneously

Research County Records & Ask Neighbors

In a lot of cases, researching a property or vacant property may be as simple as reviewing county records online to see who owns it and what it’s zoned for. If that’s not good enough, then ask other homeowners in the area what they know.

Regardless of what you actually do to research a property or how you do it, make sure you take into consideration all the potential possibilities before you purchase a home next to vacant land. 

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Bargain Hunting is Perfect in the Winter

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Bargain Hunting is Perfect in the Winter

I know we’re not even quite into winter yet but the temperatures are getting a little bit chilly at night and we know it’s only a matter of time before those first few snowflakes fall. Whether you are an investor, first-time homebuyer, or just looking for your next big deal, buying a home in the winter is actually a great time to find a super bargain.

Many top experts agreed that the winter season is one of the best times to buy a home if you don’t want to pay top dollar. Of course, in places like Florida and Southern California, these deals may not work, but in places where we get a little bit of chilly weather or snow, bargains are to be had just about everywhere. Here are some tips to buying in the winter.

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Be ready to negotiate.

Just because you are looking for a deal doesn’t mean the sellers want you to have one. It’s important to have a great buyers agent on your side that negotiates on your behalf. This is not the time to Oooo and Awe over a home saying you must absolutely have it. Sellers sense that and usually won’t budge on the price. Keep your cards close to you and never insult the seller. Allowing your real estate agent to guide the process and negotiate on your behalf is really the best way to find a great deal.

Be ready at a moments notice.

Although there is not that many buyers on the market as in the spring and summer, you still have to be ready to jump on a great deal. Be flexible, not only with your real estate agent but with the sellers as well. You might need to see a home in the morning, afternoon, or evening to get that great deal.

Find an agent that is winter-savvy.

Because we have bought and sold property throughout southern North Carolina for decades, we have the know-how and the skills to help you negotiate for the best price this time of year. Winter sellers are very different than spring and summer sellers and you have to know how to communicate with them.

Remember the end goal.

If you keep the end goal in mind, buying a great home at a great price, then you won’t let the small stuff get to you. You may lose out on a home but realize that the point is to try and get a good deal, not pay top dollar for any home. Let’s talk about your needs, what you’re looking for in a home, and your price range and find exactly what you’re looking for at a great price.

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4 Truths About Real Estate Agents

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We want our clients, whether it’s a buyer or a seller, to be well informed about the home buying and selling process and that sometimes means being honest about real estate agents. Not all agents are ethical, shocker! But by weeding out to those that might have unethical practices, we can help you be more informed and better able to make a wise decision when it comes to selling and buying and who to represent you.

4 Truths About Real Estate Agents

With that in mind, here are four things you should probably know about real estate agents before buying or selling.

Real estate agents can work both sides of the transaction.

This means that the same real estate agent can assess the buyer and the seller in the same transaction. Typically, the buyers have their own representation and the sellers have their own listing representation but dual agency is allowed in most states and this is where the same real estate agent can represent both the buyer and the seller. You can probably already start to see the discrepancies and conflicts of interest that this can create. If an agent is representing a buyer and a seller, how can they hold up to their fiduciary duty and be honest both sides? Confidentiality can be skewed when it comes to representing both sides. If a buyer is trying to negotiate for a lower price but the seller knows that the buyer can afford more, chances are that buyer is getting the short end of the stick. Similarly, if the seller can come way down on the price and the buyer knows it, they’re going to keep negotiating for that lower price. You can see how this can be a huge conflict. It’s best to have your own agent representing you, regardless of which side you are on.

Commission is negotiable.

Most listing agents will tell you a flat 6% commission but it is negotiable. However, that 6% is split in half between the buyer’s agent and the seller’s agent. For higher-priced homes, there is a pricing strategy that can be used but when negotiating, just remember that you can always negotiate for a lower or a different type of split to be more attractive to buyers agents, drawing in more buyers.

Open houses may not work.

Sellers expect open houses but they usually don’t necessarily sell the house. Statistics show us that only 7% of buyers find their home at an open house. Often times, agents will sit open houses simply to gain more buyers, rather than to actually sell the house. When it comes to an open house, it’s truly up to the homeowner whether they choose to have an open house or not. There’s always the security aspect so think carefully before deciding on an open house.

Read More: Is it okay to find a Realtor® at an open house?

You are free to choose your own service provider.

Because we work with both buyers and sellers (because we have listing agents) we have a plethora of resources such as home inspectors, real estate attorneys, escrow and title companies, but you have the ultimate choice on who to use. One little piece of advice when it comes to service providers, experienced, long-term agents have usually built up a better book of referrals and resources the new agents. Because we have sold real estate for decades, we have found excellent service providers that are reputable, honorable, and affordable.

Great Questions to Ask Your Realtor®

The point is to choose your real estate agent carefully. We have listing agents and we are buyers agents so even though we are on the same team are loyalty lies to one side or the other during a transaction. Feel free to interview us, ask questions, and contact us when you’re ready to buy or sell throughout Brunswick County in both North and South Carolina.

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Benefits of Using a Real Estate Team to Buy & Sell Simultaneously

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Benefits of Using a Real Estate Team to Buy & Sell Simultaneously

Our team has been buyer focused for decades. We love homebuyers and there’s nothing more joyful then the look on homebuyers faces when we hand over the keys and they can walk to the door of their very first home or even their dream home after years of saving. Recently we have partnered with listing agents, George and Elisabeth Smith, who also have years of experience listing North Carolina real estate. While we love helping buyers, they have the same passion for homeowners and sellers. We figured this is an amazing team because when people need to buy and sell simultaneously, the thought of having different agents for both sides of the transaction just adds to the stress of the process.

One-Stop Shop

This is why if you are buying and selling a home in the Sunset Beach area or anywhere up and down the Intracoastal waterway of North Carolina and parts of South Carolina, we would love to be your one-stop shop for real estate needs.

Experience on both sides

Because we worked with buyers for years we’ve not only built up good experience under our belt, but a good and healthy mix of resources and referrals. You need someone dedicated and reliable when it comes to real estate appraisers, home inspectors, survey specialists, lenders, escrow, and title companies. Because we’ve done this for years we have collected a group of individuals that specialize in the real estate transaction. We are not amateur agents or brokers; because we’ve done this for years, we have experience and we have experience with others involved in the transaction.

Don’t just trust anyone

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen amateur agents out there tried to give referrals to businesses they’ve never worked with. If you’ve never worked with a lender or a home inspector, how can you know they are going to be a good fit for your client? And, we don’t just have one reference or referral; we have several because everybody works differently with different people. We have lenders and inspectors that work with real estate investors and others that work with first time home buyers. A well seasoned real estate investor knows what they’re looking for and they don’t need all of the handholding and detailed reports that a first-time homebuyer needs and should want.

But, back to the simultaneous buying and selling. When you’re selling a home and buying another in the same area or within close proximity to each other, having the same teamwork on the transaction will keep things on point, on time, and help you close simultaneously. This is no easy feat. Selling and buying simultaneously takes a lot of communication, exact timelines and time frames, and excellent time management between all the parties involved. There are so many people when it comes to a real estate transaction that if you don’t have people all on the same page, mistakes are going to happen. I’m not saying that every deal you do with us will be perfect because every transaction is different and every home and buyer is unique, but, having everyone communicate together and having everyone familiar with each parties attitude, work ethic, and communication preferences really help to pull the entire deal together.

If you need to buy and sell anywhere along the Intercoastal waterway of North Carolina even stretching down into Little River and Myrtle Beach South Carolina, give us a call. Our team handles all types of real estate, golf properties, homes on the Intracoastal Waterway and can help close your deal in a timely manner with as a minimal stress on you as possible.

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How Does a Buyer’s Agent Get Paid?

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Many homebuyers don’t realize that they pay a buyer’s agent nothing to use their services. So, it begs the question:   how does a buyer’s agent get paid?How Does a Buyer's Agent Get Paid?

A buyer’s agent works strictly with a homebuyer helping them negotiate for their terms, find the right home for their needs and their budget and need a mediator between the buyer and seller. The buyer’s agent is a licensed real estate agent for their area and can facilitate a real estate transaction on the buyer’s behalf. It is vital for buyers to have their own representation when conducting a real estate transaction. If the buyer chose to utilize the services of the listing agent when purchasing property, their best interest may not be considered since the listing agent’s primary job is to sell that particular house for the seller. A buyer’s agent’s primary job is to work exclusively with the buyer without any hidden agenda on selling one particular property over another.

However, this brings up the interesting topic of how agents get paid. Regardless of which home the buyer chooses, the buyer’s agent will receive half of the commission that was originally agreed upon between the listing agent and the seller.

For instance: let’s say the sellers of a particular property enlist the help of a listing agent. That agent writes up the contract with a pre-negotiated set of agreements such as the commission, listing price etc. The commission can be negotiated but is typically between 6 and 7% of the sale of the property. This percentage is then split between the listing agent and whoever brings the buyer, typically the buyer’s agent. This percentage of the commission can be split equally or it can be split unequally depending on the type of negotiations. Sometimes listing agents will decrease the listing agent commission to boost more buyer’s agents to bring in a buyer or because they are also helping the seller purchase another home in which case they would receive the buyer’s agent’s commission on another deal.

But, make no mistake, a buyer’s agent’s total responsibility is first to their buyer and not to the seller. Even though the seller will pay the commission to both agents, the buyer’s agent is still working exclusively for the buyer. Regardless of which home the buyer chooses, that agent will get paid off of the sale of the home. Buyer’s agents are responsible for negotiating their own commissions so it’s not something that the buyer ever needs to worry about.

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