When Not to Sell High and Buy Low

Conventional marketing wisdom might not work in this market. I’ll share how we adjust accordingly.

You’ve probably heard the old market wisdom of "Sell high, buy low".

Buying and Selling Homes at the Same Time

Today I’m sharing your options for buying and selling simultaneously.

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In today’s market, a lot of people are looking to sell their current home and buy a new one. I’ve been getting many questions about how to buy and sell at the same time, so today I’ll be talking about the ways you can make it happen.

The Top 5 Ways Homebuyers Can Strengthen an Offer

You can strengthen your offer on a home in five simple ways.

How to Use an Escalation Clause to Win Multiple-Offer Situations

Escalation clauses are a buyer’s best friend.

Why Today’s Market Is Perfect for Buyers and Sellers Alike

Our market provides a perfect opportunity for both buyers and sellers.

We Can Make Low Inventory Work for You

We have record-low inventory, but it can work for both buyers and sellers.

How Buyers Can Win in Multiple-Offer Situations

Here’s what I recommend buyers do in a competitive market like this.

Why Is an Agent Necessary for New Construction Buyers?

Here’s why agents are critical in new construction home purchases.

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A lot of buyers have been asking me whether or not they need an agent when buying new construction, and if they’ll be able to get a better price by not hiring one. To answer the main question: Hiring an agent as a new construction buyer will quite often get you the best possible deal. There are many incentives and bonuses that builders offer through agents and brokerages that they don’t offer to the general public. It could be price incentives, more money toward upgrades, and more options in general. There are a ton of different incentives that builders promote specifically to us because they want us to bring them buyers. Rather than working with the builder’s representative, have an agent on your side to ensure you’re not being taken advantage of, and rely on the team’s experience to help you get the job done. We agents are highly skilled negotiation professionals in your corner, so it doesn’t make sense not to have one.

"Builders offer special incentives to agents and their clients."

If you’re thinking about buying, we have the connections to help you, no matter if you’re buying from a builder or a home seller.

If you have any questions, call or text today at (239) 248-8000. I’d love to help you.

How Do I Make My Offer Stand Out to Sellers?

Here are three ways to beef up your offer in this competitive market.

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In this multiple-offer market, buyers are constantly asking me what they can do to help their offer stand out in such a competitive environment. Here’s my advice: 1. Present the strongest offer that you can. When we say strong, what initially comes to mind is the price, and that’s certainly a factor. However, the terms and conditions are important to an offer’s strength as well. If you’re asking a seller to pay assistance, this is going to be deducted from the net proceeds that they receive. An offer with seller assistance is a weaker offer than one without.

If you can manage it, a cash offer is the strongest with a proof of funds letter. The seller doesn’t have to worry about an appraisal or contingencies. If you are getting financing, make sure you get a written pre-approval as well. 2. Remove the appraisal contingency. If your offer is financed, you can include a clause that states that the sale is not contingent on the appraised value. If you’re making an offer with any other contingencies, such as a home inspection, you can put in a clause that has a higher dollar amount for repairs or waive the inspection altogether if you’re comfortable with the property’s condition as is.

"We’ve had buyers win homes because of a personal letter."

3. Write a letter to the seller. A letter can go a long way in the eyes of a seller and could put you over the edge in a competition that’s very close in regard to price and terms. Making a personal connection could be the thing that helps you win the home of your dreams. We’ve had buyers use this strategy with success in the past, and you can use it too. Quite often, a seller will choose a buyer they have a connection with when everything else is equal.

If you have any questions, call or text today at (239) 248-8000. I’d love to help you.

Why is Third Place Such Good News for Florida?

Florida recently came in third place when it comes to the highest state populations. Here’s why that’s great news for homeowners in our state.

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Florida recently moved up to third in terms of state population. What does that mean to you? For sellers, it means that there are a lot of people relocating to sunny Southwest Florida. Many of them are running from the tax hikes in New York, New Jersey, and Illinois. They are looking to take advantage of tax benefits, and we are seeing a mad rush. If you’re thinking of selling, or looking to buy while rates are low, it’s an ideal time to visit our neck of the woods.

If you have any questions, call or text today at (239) 248-8000. I’d love to hear from you.

Rental Property Scams & How to Avoid Being Preyed Upon

Rental property scammers are afoot. How do they operate and how can you protect yourself? Find out in today’s video.

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Scammers are everywhere, and unfortunately, we’re seeing would-be renters fall prey to them as well. Today I’d like to cast some light on how these scams work, so you don’t become a victim yourself. Someone posing as a property owner will post an ad with photos of the property they’re claiming to sell. Typically, those photos have just been pulled from a legitimate listing that has been offered for sale or for rent. The ad will include these lifted photos, a description of the property, and here’s the kicker: a temptingly low rental rate. This “c’mon rate” entices potential renters to respond. Once they do, they’re instructed to either forward a check, a cashier’s check, or to wire funds. As soon as the money goes through, the ad, along with the scammer, vanishes. The deal was too good to be true, after all, and you’ve thrown away the money you forwarded.

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To avoid becoming a victim of this trap, work only with a reputable real estate broker, property management company, or vacation rental agency.

”

To avoid becoming a victim of this trap, work only with a reputable real estate broker, property management company, or vacation rental agency. If you’re directly doing business with an owner or a private party, be certain that they own the property. The best way to do that is to go meet the owner and see the property. There are publicly available options for you to check the legitimacy of a homeowner’s claim of possession and to cross-reference that information with the phone number they list. However, I strongly caution you against putting too much stock in a phone number because scammers have ways to duplicate them, and fraudulent calling systems operating outside of the country disguise themselves as local numbers. If you have any questions or would like more information, call or email today. Our phone numbers are (239) 248-8000 or (239) 280-0939. I’d love to hear from you.

Worried About Competing With New Construction Homes?

Today we’ll be reviewing a few essential tips to help traditional sellers compete with the new construction properties on our market.

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Given the popularity of new construction properties, how do traditional home sellers compete? Actually, there are several ways to make sure your listing stands an equal chance on the market and we’ll be discussing a few such tips today. First, walk through your property and examine it with an objective eye. Does your paint need to be freshened up? Are your carpets in good shape? Asking yourself questions like these will help guide you through any necessary updates your property may need. You may even want to consider staging. Also, don’t forget to check your curb appeal. The exterior of your home and the landscaping that surrounds it should make your property look appealing and inviting. After you’ve followed this first step, consider how the location of your property will factor into your sale. To compete against a new construction home, you’ll need to be able to show buyers why your property’s location is better than that of a new construction home. Thankfully, this shouldn’t be too difficult, as most resale home sites in our area were built in prime locations. The “better dirt” sold first, so to speak, whereas today’s builders are tending to build farther east and farther south than those before them. In other words: Many existing communities have more desirable locations. Considering who built your home, and then leveraging any positive information about that builder, may also benefit you during the listing process. At some point, every property started out as a new construction home. If your home was built under a higher standard, use this fact to your advantage when competing with today’s new construction properties. Next, when considering what your property has to offer over a current new construction home, you should also talk to your agent about what drew you to purchase it to begin with. After all, these reasons may be the same ones that motivate your home’s next buyer to make an offer as well.

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At some point, every property started out
as a new construction home.

”

When your agent knows what features and amenities you love most about your home, they will be able to create a more comprehensive description of it when presenting it to buyers. Of course, you’ve likely made some improvements and upgrades since moving in, so be sure to make note of these as well.

Make a definitive list of all the ways you’ve improved the home, taking care to include the value added by each of these improvements. Buyers will get a better idea of your home’s true worth when it’s laid out this way. Our team has gotten top dollar for our sellers using this tip alone. Oftentimes, buyers are shocked to see the price difference between a high-quality resale home and a new construction property with similar features.

With all of this in mind, the way you present your home to the market will be just as important as your property itself. For example, using professional photography, including drone footage, will be essential to how your home performs on the market.

By leveraging this and the other tips we’ve shared today, you will be more than capable of competing with any new construction home.

If you have any other questions, would like more information, or are curious how our team helps you compete with home builders in our area, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Why Buyers and Sellers Should Enter Our Market Right Now

What makes our fall market so advantageous for buyers and sellers alike? Let’s find out.

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This year’s fall market is very busy. Buyer activity is high, while the inventory is very low. So, those looking to list in the near future will have a distinct advantage in our market as a result of these factors. In other words, now is the perfect time to sell.

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Buyers and sellers need to act now
while current opportunities last.

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And buyers, too, should make their move, as interest rates are set to rise twice more by the end of this year.

The bottom line is this: Buyers and sellers need to act now while current opportunities last.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Should You Buy First, Sell First, or Do Both at the Same Time

Buying and selling a home at the same time is tricky, but it can be done. Here’s how you can accomplish the feat.

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Today our topic is how to buy and sell a home at the same time. A lot of homeowners are unsure of whether they should buy first and then sell or sell first and then buy when they need to do both. The best way to handle this situation is by completing both transactions simultaneously, although that can be tricky. If you can financially afford to do so, the least stressful method is to buy your new home first, then sell your current one. If finances are a concern, you may want to list your home first, find a buyer, then focus on your own purchase.

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Today's buyers will pay more money and
offer more favorable terms for your home.

”

Right now, in the summer and early fall markets, you will have a much better chance at getting more flexible terms from a buyer. A lot of buyers looking today don’t need to move into their property right away, so they can either give you a fall closing or an immediate closing with a leaseback option that will put cash in your pocket now.

The key to selling your home quickly is pricing competitively. With my appraisal background, our team is very accurate at doing this. We also make sure that your home is show-ready by utilizing professional stagers, professional photography, and proactive, targeted marketing.
I’d love to share all the details with you. If you’re thinking of buying and/or selling a home anytime in the near future, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

How Hurricane Season Actually Impacts Buyers and Sellers

Are you concerned about how hurricane season might impact your buying or selling goals? If so, I have an important message to share with you today.

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Today’s subject is not one of my favorites, but it is important nonetheless. I am talking about hurricanes, which have become a hot topic in the media as we enter hurricane season.

Buyers and sellers alike have been asking a lot of questions lately about what to expect from hurricane season. Specifically, people are wondering what they should do. They want to know how hurricane season may impact their real estate goals. Well, allow me to shed some light on this.

Sellers have two choices. They can either hold on to their property through the season or list now. When it comes to purchasing real estate, today’s buyers are not concerned about the storms. They are much more focused on finding the right home and enjoying our fabulous Florida weather through the winter. In other words, now is an excellent time to sell. Inventory is down and demand is up.

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If you are thinking of buying or selling,
now is still a fantastic time to do so.

”

If you are a buyer yourself, then I have good news for you as well. Whether you are looking to spend your winters in our sunny state or are interested in relocating here permanently, it is still a great time to move. Locals here will tell you that we tend to quickly recover from issues such as wind and rain during hurricane season. Overall, you’re sure to love life here in sunny Southwest Florida.

So if you are thinking of buying or selling, now is still a fantastic time to do so. If you have any other questions, would like more information, or would like my team’s help in accomplishing your real estate goals, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Things You Should Know About Upsizing

How do you know when it’s time to upsize? I’ll go over a few important factors of this decision today.

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Is it time for you to upsize? That's really a personal question! The answer depends on your needs. Maybe you have a growing family that needs more space. Maybe you were only living part time here in Florida, but now you’re here full time. You might need a bigger garage, or to accommodate a golf cart. Lifestyle changes also play an important part in any decision to upsize. Maybe you want to dock your boat at the back door, or to live in a gated, golfing community. Maybe you want to get out of a golfing community and into a larger home elsewhere. Sometimes it’s a matter of location: You had a nice home up north, but now you’d rather have a nice home in South Florida.

If you plan on upsizing, take advantage of low interest rates.

Your financial situation will always factor considerably in any decision to upsize. Is now the right time to move in the market? You may want to sell your old home first before buying a bigger home and the buy something larger. If you’re trading up, you’ll want to do it before prices go up and while interest rates are still low. That will give you a much better position in the market. For example, if you’re selling a smaller home and buying a larger home, you may take a lower price on the sale, but you can make up for it when you purchase. At the end of the day, it’s a better deal for you all around. Buying when rates are low will save you thousands and thousands of dollars over the life of the loan. So if you’re considering upsizing or have any questions at all about buying or selling a home, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Should You Work With a Team or With a Single Agent?

Are you wondering about whether you should work with a single agent or a team of specialists? To us, it’s a no-brainer.

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Sellers today are asking quite often which is better: working with a team of real estate professionals or working with a single agent?
Well, we all start as individual agents. When we’re new in the business, we do everything, and that’s how we learn. As our experience grows, we often find that one person can’t really effectively do it all.
The benefits of a team come from the fact that we have people who specialize in certain parts of the transaction. As an example, I’ll briefly introduce you to my team: Laura, our listing manager, has been in the business for 28 years. She specializes in every detail of listing a property up until close—contracts, title, mortgage, and so much more.

TEAM stands for ‘Together, each achieves more.’

James, our listing specialist, has been on the team for 11 years and is a third-generation real estate agent here in Southwest Florida. He is passionate about helping people get their home sold, so he deals with showings and feedback, as well as communicating with agents, buyers, and sellers. Additionally, he also does the marketing we use to help your home get sold.
We also have showing agents—buyer agents who are out in the field every day showing properties. They stay up to date on current market trends: what’s hot, what’s stale, and what the best values are.
Further still, we have a variety of different ancillary services. We work with the title companies, mortgage lenders, etc., who all act as an extended part of our team. We even have a list of vendors we’d recommend you to.
Unfortunately, as a single agent, you can’t be everywhere and do everything. The value of a team is that there is always someone in the office to show property, answer a question, or lend a hand to get it done.
The acronym TEAM stands for ‘Together, each achieves more.’ We feel that with a team, you get better service, communication, and a better job done.
If you have any questions about our team, always feel free to reach out to us. We’re here to help.

3 Factors to Consider Before Investing in an Airbnb Property

Investing in short-term rentals is a great way to make money in today’s market. There are a few things you should know before diving in.

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The biggest buzzword in real estate today is “rental.” Airbnb has created a lot of excitement around short-term rentals. People are making a lot of money renting out parts or all of their investment properties for the day or weekend.

These investors are choosing properties that specifically meet the needs for short-term travel.

Before you invest in a short-term rental of your own, you should pay attention to these three things:

1. Location and zoning. Are there any restrictions in your community? Does the area allow short-term rentals? Many HOAs and even some cities frown on short-term rentals, so make sure you know the rules and that the property will meet your needs.

Make sure that short-term rentals are allowed in your area.

2. Management. If you’re not local or you don’t want to handle the property personally, then you need to make sure that you have a management company that has experience with short-term rentals and are equipped to handle them. If you can’t handle those midnight calls about failing air conditioning, the value of your property will go down, as will your enjoyment of being a landlord.

3. What is your exit strategy? When you no longer wish to have a short-term rental, what will you do with the property? Will you use it as a long-term or seasonal rental, live in the property yourself, or sell it? If you do decide to sell your home, remember that you can use a 1031 exchange to get you from one investment to another.

If you can make it work, short-term rentals are a great investment. If you have any other questions about real estate investments, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

How Buyers and Sellers Can Win in Multiple Offer Situations

In a competitive market like ours, both homebuyers and sellers need a strategy to be prepared to handle multiple offers on a home.

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Whether you're buying or selling a home, it's important to have a strategy to win in a busy market like southwest Florida where multiple offers on a home are common. 

When our team has a seller, we always recommend that they look at all aspects of the offer, not just the price. This included terms and conditions. Price is certainly still important, and it's usually the first thing the seller wants to know. As a buyer, you want to make an informed offer, meaning you've considered recent sales and current active sales. 

When our sellers receive multiple offers, we want to be fair, so we go to the agents and let them know that we have multiple offers. We want to give them an opportunity by suggesting that they come back with their highest and best offer to give it the best chance. 

Next, we look at inspections and contingencies; if an offer comes in clean without them, it certainly moves up a notch in our minds. We don't necessarily suggest going without inspections as a buyer, but at the same time, you may be competing with another buyer who waived inspections. In fact, many buyers will use a home inspection as a negotiating tool. 

A creative Realtor will help you find the best deal that's a win-win for buyer and seller alike.

You might have a financing contingency in an offer. Cash offers are the best type to deal with, but if there's a mortgage contingency, we want a written pre-approval letter, not a pre-qualification letter. There's a huge difference between those two, but we'll address that in more detail in the near future. As a buyer, you want to be sure you have your pre-approval letter before you even look at your first property. There's nothing more heartbreaking than not having your offer accepted because you didn't do your homework! We make sure our buyers are ready, willing, and able. This is important for sellers as well as it will help you be sure you get to closing when you accept an offer. Finally, you have to consider the closing date. What works for the seller and what works for the buyer? Are the dates set in stone? How important are the dates to both parties? We'll ask a lot of questions to find out what the needs and the wants are. We might be able to give on a 'want' but those needs are set in stone and can't be compromised. If a seller has already bought another property, for example, they might be willing to accept an offer with a lower price if it has a faster closing. They probably won't want to have to get interim financing. Tons of things come into play when determining the best offer for a home, and a creative Realtor will help you find the best deal that's a win-win for buyer and seller alike. If you're thinking about buying or selling a home in the area and you need a creative Realtor to help you out in our hot market, just give me a call or send me an email. I'd love to help you!

4 Types of Buyers in Florida

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People always ask whether or not we have a spring real estate market in Florida. Although we sell homes all year, we do have a distinct spring market where we see four different types of buyers.

1. Locals: They buy and sell homes during the off-season, but they also come out in the spring.
2. Families: Anyone who has children wants to buy right now so that they can close the deal during the summer before their kids return to school.
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   This is a great time to
   be a home seller in Florida.

   
   ”
3. Northern buyers: These people have been waiting for homes to sell up north and then they come down here to buy.
4. Snowbirds: They come back for long weekends specifically to buy homes. They want to make sure they’ll have a property that they can come use in the fall. They don’t want to buy a home in the fall - they want it ready to use by then.

If you’re thinking about selling in Florida, please remember that the inventory is the lowest that we have seen all year. This means you’ll get a great price for your home and possibly even a multiple offer situation. In addition, with interest rates at historic lows, buyers have more buying power than ever, giving you the chance to make the most money on your home if you sell soon.

The upcoming election is yet another reason not to wait to sell! Why wait until everyone’s mind is on the election - which is typically a time when the market slows down?

If you’re curious about selling, please give us a call, we would love to hear from you and discuss what we could do to sell your home quickly and for top dollar. The next 30-60 days will be the best time to sell, so don’t wait and miss out on the great market we’re seeing right now.

Thanks for tuning in, and don’t hesitate to call or email me with any questions!