Real Estate at WomanTalkLive
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Make a Smart Move: Finding a Real Estate Agent – As Difficult as Choosing a Bagel?
Thursday, February 23, 2012It happened to me again. I walked into my local Panera Bread, and I made the mistake of walking in hungry. All of a sudden I was confronted with a “baker’s dozen” full of delicious options for bagels–Cinnamon Crunch, Asiago, Blueberry, etc. The choices were overwhelming and completely dependent on my craving at that moment–savory or sweet? The options felt endless.
Alyce and Seth Dailey
I realized that many home buyers probably feel the same way when it comes time to purchase a home. If you go into Panera and see 4 business cards of Realtors, how do you pick a good one? Which one is actually successful? Which one is a full time agent, and which one is part time? Which one works with more buyers? Which one works with more sellers? What questions do you even need to ask of your real estate agent?
It is important to ask the right questions because your agent will be with you throughout the process of buying and selling your biggest asset–your home! Below is a list of questions we feel should be asked of us and our team as well as any agent you choose to represent you:
1. Why did you become a real estate agent?
2. Why should I work with you?
3. What do you do better than other real estate agents?
4. What process do you use in order to ensure a successful sale?
5. What are the most common things that go wrong in a transaction, and how would you handle them?
6. What are some mistakes you feel people make when selling their home?
7. What other professionals do you suggest we work with, and what are their credentials?
8. Can you provide me with references or testimonials from past clients?
9. How many other families have you helped?At the Dailey Group, we are committed to helping you make informed decisions about buying a house in the Baltimore area so that the home buying process can be as simple as possible.
Choosing which bagel you want with your cup of coffee? That’s a decision best left up to you.
Give us a call for a free, no obligation consultation to help you make a SMART decision regarding your home.
Committed to helping you Buy. Sell. Live. SMART,
Seth & Alyce
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Whether you’re in the market now, will be soon, or are planning for the future, Seth & Alyce can help you Buy. Sell. Live. SMART.
Seth & Alyce Dailey are REALTORS with RE/MAX American Dream. They help people buy and sell homes around the Baltimore region and beyond. Find more about them at www.TheDaileyGroup.com and on facebook .
Contact Seth & Alyce at 800.214.1245 or send a message
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Make a Smart Move: Technology and Real Estate
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Alyce and Seth DaileyTechnology changes fast these days. It is hard to keep up with the ever-growing technologies that are out there. In fact, our elementary age daughters seem to be even more technologically savvy than we are, demonstrating that they are the digital natives, and we are just the digital immigrants!
Wading through all of the real estate websites that are out there can make even the most technologically savvy person feel like a beginner again. Not all websites are created equally! Do you know what makes a search engine the SMART site to use? Here are three criteria we use to evaluate some of the Internet search engines that are out there:
1. Is the information up-to-date? Buying SMART means that you are not a time waster. So why would you waste time looking at outdated information? Too many sites show properties that have already been sold or are no longer on the market. This is unhelpful and a time waster. You want a site that is going to give you the most current, up-to-date information so that you do not waste your time.
2. Is the information comprehensive? Buying SMART also means that you pay attention to the details. Does the site tell you how many days the house has been on the market? Are there photographs for you to browse? Does the site reveal prior price adjustments? These are all important details that a SMART buyer examines in the home buying process, and you need a site that makes these details readily available!
3. Does the site increase your efficiency? Once again, buying SMART means that you are efficient with your time. Having the ability to save searches, to make notes on prospective houses and to communicate with your agent about the properties is another tool that makes your home buying process more efficient. You want a site that allows you to go beyond browsing, and you need to be able to interact with the search engine as well as your agent in an efficient way.We’ve come across a search tool that our clients tend to rave about. Want a free account?
Just click here.Committed to helping you Buy. Sell. Live. SMART,
Seth & Alyce
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Whether you’re in the market now, will be soon, or are planning for the future, Seth & Alyce can help you Buy. Sell. Live. SMART.
Seth & Alyce Dailey are REALTORS with RE/MAX American Dream. They help people buy and sell homes around the Baltimore region and beyond. Find more about them at www.TheDaileyGroup.com and on facebook .
Contact Seth & Alyce at 800.214.1245 or send a message
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Make a Smart Move: How to Make an Offer That Will Be Accepted
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Alyce and Seth DaileyYou have finally found the house of your dreams. It is priced right and is receiving a lot of attention from other buyers. You don’t want to miss this opportunity so you are ready to put in an offer immediately. What can you do to guarantee your offer is the one accepted? Financially, offers can be broken down into three categories:
1.) An All-Cash Offer
Obviously, a cash purchaser is always favored by any seller. In today’s real estate market, an all-cash offer is even more enticing. Last month, one in four real estate transactions were impacted by a low appraisal. An all-cash buyer eliminates the need for the bank appraisal. Cash is king!
2.) A Non-Contingent Offer
If you don’t have the cash reserves for an all-cash purchase, the next best thing would be to make a non-contingent offer. To do this you should be already pre-approved for a mortgage and have your current house already in contract. This gives the seller the confidence that you are already a qualified buyer who will be able to complete the purchase.
3.) A Contingent Offer
Some buyers start the process of looking for a new home before their current home is sold. This could be a big mistake. If you find the home you were hoping for (perfect for your family AND priced right), it will be very difficult to get your offer accepted because you are not actually qualified to buy.
Asking a seller to wait for your home to sell is somewhat unreasonable in today’s environment. One of the reasons you would want the home is because the seller priced the home at a value to sell it NOW. They want to know it is sold when they accept an offer. They normally will not even entertain a contingent offer.
Want to know the smartest way for you and your family to make a move? Give us a call for a free no obligation consultation.
Committed to helping you Buy. Sell. Live. SMART,
Seth & Alyce
***
Whether you’re in the market now, will be soon, or are planning for the future, Seth & Alyce can help you Buy. Sell. Live. SMART.
Seth & Alyce Dailey are REALTORS with RE/MAX American Dream. They help people buy and sell homes around the Baltimore region and beyond. Find more about them at www.TheDaileyGroup.com and on facebook .
Contact Seth & Alyce at 800.214.1245 or send a message
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Make a Smart Move: Is a Short Sale or a Foreclosure My Best Option?
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Alyce and Seth DaileyWe get asked this question quite often. In a rapidly changing market, it is difficult to give absolute answers. Much depends on your family’s personal situation. However, if you realize that you can no longer make the payments, you may have to decide between doing a short sale or letting the home go to foreclosure. Here are three things you may wish to consider:
1.) Impact on Your Future Ability to Get a Mortgage
There are many different lending institutions, each with their own requirements when it comes to your ability to obtain a mortgage in the future. However, a common trend is to be much more lenient with someone working through a short sale rather than letting the house go to foreclosure. As an example, the Fannie Mae site,Know Your Options explains that you:
May be able to get a Fannie Mae mortgage to purchase a home sooner (in as little as 2 years) than if you went through foreclosure (at least 7 years)
You can get further information here. However, in a rapidly changing environment, make sure you get the latest information available from the actual lending institutions mentioned.2.) Impact on Your Credit Score
There has been much dialogue on this issue. The question is whether or not a foreclosure will have a more severe impact on your credit score than a short sale. A recent FICO study sheds needed light on this question. According to the report,there is very little difference in impact on your credit score whether you choose a short sale or a foreclosure.
3.) Impact on Your Family during the Move
Usually a family asking this question is already experiencing major financial difficulties. This may be putting immense pressure on both parents and the children. If you allow your home to go to foreclosure, you move and leave it vacant or you stay waiting for an official to knock on your door demanding you move. That added burden can cause even more stress for a family.
In the short sale process, you work with the bank and pre-determine the day you will move. The new purchasers usually move in the same day. Your family moves with a plan and you don’t leave the neighborhood with a vacant house to deal with. There is a level of dignity in this type of move that does not always take place in a foreclosure situation.Knowledge is power. Feel free to give us a call for a free, no obligation consultation to find out the best option for your particular situation.
Committed to helping you Buy. Sell. Live. SMART,
Seth & Alyce
***
Whether you’re in the market now, will be soon, or are planning for the future, Seth & Alyce can help you Buy. Sell. Live. SMART.
Seth & Alyce Dailey are REALTORS with RE/MAX American Dream. They help people buy and sell homes around the Baltimore region and beyond. Find more about them at www.TheDaileyGroup.com and on facebook .
Contact Seth & Alyce at 800.214.1245 or send a message
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Make a Smart Move: What Do Homeowners Say About Homeownership?
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Alyce and Seth DaileyThere is no shortage of experts that want to let us know how Americans feel about owning a home after the collapse of the residential market in the last five years. They MUST be devastated. They MUST feel trapped like prisoners in their own homes. They MUST be sorry they ever bought the house. These assumptions seem logical at times and can occasionally be supported by anecdotal evidence.
However, we want to go to the only people who truly understand how homeowners feel -the homeowners themselves. There have been three major surveys done this year that can shed light on the issue.
The National Housing Survey
This survey conducted by Fannie Mae showed:
- 96% of all homeowners said homeownership has been a positive experience.
- 64% consider buying a home as a safe investment. Buying a home was considered safer than buying stocks by over three times the number of people (64% vs 17%).
The top four reasons to buy:
- It means having a good place to raise children and provide a good education
- You have a physical structure where you and your family feel safe
- It allows you to have more space for your family
- It gives you control over what you do with your living space (renovations & updates)
American Attitudes About Home Ownership
According to this survey conducted by Harris Interactive for the National Association of Realtors, homeowners believe that home ownership benefits individuals and families and strengthens our communities:
The vast majority of homeowners say that owning a home is a smart decision over the long term. Even in today’s challenging economy, 95% of owners believe that over a period of several years, it makes more sense to own a home.
Homeowners are much more likely to be satisfied with the quality of their family and community life than renters. While more than half of owners (56%) are “very” or “extremely” satisfied with the overall quality of their family life, only about one-third (36%) of renters report the same levels of satisfaction. Also, 43% of homeowners are “very” or “extremely” satisfied with their community life, compared with 30% of renters.
An overwhelming majority of homeowners are happy with their decision to own a home. A full 93% of owners surveyed would buy again.
Pew Research Center Survey
This recent survey titled “Home Sweet Home. Still” delves into homeowners’ current belief in homeownership as a long term investment:
Homeowners whose home value has fallen only a little are equally enthusiastic about housing as a long-term investment: 85% say buying a home is the best long-term investment a person can make. Among those who say their home has maintained it value or increased in value, 88% agree…
Even those who have seen their home values plummet are still committed to the idea that buying a home is a solid, long-term investment. Among those who say their home has lost a lot of its value, 80% agree that buying a home is the best long-term investment (36% strongly agree, 44% agree somewhat).
Bottom Line
There have been families that have been devastated by the current economy. However, through it all, homeowners have not wavered in their belief in homeownership as the best long-term investment.
To find out if buying or selling a home is a smart decision for you or someone you know. Give us a call for a free, no obligation consultation.
Committed to helping you Buy. Sell. Live. SMART,
Seth & Alyce
***
Whether you’re in the market now, will be soon, or are planning for the future, Seth & Alyce can help you Buy. Sell. Live. SMART.
Seth & Alyce Dailey are REALTORS with RE/MAX American Dream. They help people buy and sell homes around the Baltimore region and beyond. Find more about them at www.TheDaileyGroup.com and on facebook .
Contact Seth & Alyce at 800.214.1245 or send a message