5 Things To Consider When Looking At How To Choose A Real Estate Professional

When selling your home or looking to purchase a home finding a reliable real estate sales representative is essential. While this tends to be an obvious statement many people do not know how to choose a real estate professional. It can take time to find the right sales representative for you. Here are five things to consider when looking for the perfect real estate professional.

1. Avoid duel agencies
Too many people fall into the problem of getting involved with dual agencies. A dual agency is one that represents both the buyer and the seller. The problem with this is it is virtually impossible to be equally represented. You want an agency that is going to get you the best offer possible which is not that easy when you have an agency trying to get both sides a deal.
Typically when a real estate professional represents a buyer or a seller their duty is to get the buyer or seller the best possible terms and the best possible price. This can be difficult when the sales representative in representing both the buyer and seller. Before signing any contract ask how the broker you wish to deal with would handle a potential dual agency situation and that you are comfortable with their answer.

2. Within your price range
Look into a brokerage that is used to handling homes within your price range. These brokerages will have much more experience and will know how to get you the best deal. If they are unfamiliar with your price range sometimes the brokerage will not understand what a good deal is.

3. You have the power
While it is important you learn how to choose a real estate professional it is also important you understand that you have the power. Once you have hired a real estate sales representative they are working for you. Therefore a quality professional is one that will listen to your wants and needs. And if they begin speaking a language you do not understand they should have no problem explaining things to you in further detail.

4. Plan around your schedule
Remember that you are paying the sales representative to help you out. This means find an professional that can and will work around your schedule. If you work during the days and your sales representative works only during the days you are never going to be able to get anything accomplished. Find a professional that can work for you whenever you need them.

5. The total package
When looking for a real estate professional you want someone that can bring the total package. Your sales representative should be able to do much more than sell your home or help you find a home. They should arrange a house inspection refer you to lending professionals find real estate attorneys and much more.

It is not the easiest thing to find a real estate professional. But if you want to know how to choose a real estate professional the answer is to take the time to research. Look at the facets listed in this article and make sure the sales representative you settle with fits the criteria.

About the writer:  Harry Saggu is a Brampton Ontario real estate professional with a background in economics. Visit the site to search for MLS listings in Mississauga Ontario and the Brampton area.

Six Factors You Need To Know If Now Is The Time To Build A Custom Home

Is Building a custom home in today’s Real Estate Market a Good Idea?

As a home builder we often get asked “Is now such a good time to build?”. The short answer is “yes” but to be truthful we feel it’s always a good time to build but right now is a great time to build and probably the best time in decades and I’ll explain why.

If you are asking the question stated above then we can probably skip over your financial picture to an extent it probably means you have an income you feel pretty secure with your financial outlook and you have a nest egg or equity in your existing home.

For many people this is simply not the case and for that this is the number one reason why it is the time to buy a lot and build your dream home.

We’re not suggesting you take advantage of those harder hit in this economy but let’s be honest a lot of people out there are motivated to sell their land at discounted prices and there are much more construction workers willing to work at a price at significantly lower rates than just a few short months ago including the good ones.

Material costs obviously make up a large portion of the home building budget and as the economy goes so do these costs. Oil prices directly affect many materials that include plastic as well as those fuel surcharges we all love so much. The price of copper as a commodity is half what it was a year ago and even with so many mills being shut down lumber material is close to what it was several years ago.

Add the fact that interest rates are at the lowest in decades and you have the perfect storm for building a custom home.

Eventually the economy will rebound it’s anybody’s guess when that will be but when the economic indicator’s improve for several consecutive months investors will be fueling the demand for lots interest rates will increase oil and other commodities will rise and the cost of building a home will increase dramatically.

We quickly glazed over the topic of interest rates earlier but it’s really important to understand the costs associated with interest rates rising. Right now there are 30 year fixed mortgages that can be locked in as low as 4.5. Financing a home at 450000 is a payment of approximately 2280 a month. Increase the interest rate to 6.0 and you are now only financing 380000 for the same payment. That’s an amazing difference in buying power that you could have right now.

Because the tax incentives are constantly changing we’re not going to go into too much detail but the federal government and your local utility company is also offering all kinds of tax rebates and credits for installing energy efficient products and buying a home now.

So you really have to stop and ask yourself based on everything you’ve read here and other place if you are willing to sacrifice all the monetary gains you could achieve right now or is it worth waiting?

Remember with a custom home this is the dream house you plan on being in for a long period of time. You don’t have to worry about the direction of the real estate market in the short term and you get to utilize these cost savings to add all the features you’ve ever wanted or seen at those home shows. Regardless if done right you will have instant equity in your home.

About the writer:  Kelly B. Peterson builds custom and spec homes in the greater Seattle area including Whidbey Island.

Practical Applications: Using Facebook Applications To Sell Homes

At over 70 million users and with more joining every day Facebook is one of the most formidable social networking sites on the Net. It started as social networking for Harvard University students but gradually opened its doors to more and more people until anyone over the age of 13 can have a profile. With its streamlined interface it is easy to join create your profile and add contacts.

One of Facebook’s unique features are the applications that anyone can create and publish on the site. Applications can range from using vampires and werewolves to “attack” your friends to the more useful ones like Photos Groups and Events.

“Neighborhoods” is an application that allows you to pick your city and your neighborhood find other Facebook users who have added the application and post information and pictures about your local area. It’s amusing and fun to check out what people have to say about their neighborhood and get tips on where to shop and eat. Initially that’s why most people add it.

However Neighborhoods is more than just another social networking application on a social networking site. It is a calculated tool to disseminate information about real estate. Point2 National Listing Service has made a brilliant move by combining entertainment and information about the homes it sells using people’s natural interest in their neighborhoods to motivate them to add this application and thus expose themselves to the little box in the righthand corner titled “Real Estate Listings”.

Point2 has gone a step farther. You can’t add your own listing to Facebook Neighborhoods. In order to get your listing on this application you must obtain a Point2 NLS website. Point2 has a free sign up for agents brokers builders and property managers. However and here’s where it can be lucrative outside of actually selling property they charge a monthly fee after the first 6 months. It’s only 9.95 at the time of this article but that’s enough to make some money when enough people join for the service. And how did I find all of this out? Through Facebook Neighborhoods an application I added for fun.

One thing that Neighborhoods succeeds with is the combination of a real estaterelated application with real estate listings. Since people who are interested in their neighborhoods may be more likely to be interested in any properties associated with those neighborhoods Point2 is in an excellent position to market their real estate to an interested buyer.

For the real estate agent with a bit of Web savvy or who knows someone who creates applications for fun this could be an opportunity to pull in potential clients or the people who know them. Or check out Point2 NLS and see what they have to offer you as a real estate professional. Neighborhoods is a growing application that certainly drew my attention to real estate in my neighborhood that I would have otherwise not seen. Exploring Facebook applications may be a key to real estate marketing on this social network giant.

About the writer:  PorchLight Real Estate Group brings you a simple but effective search for Denver homes for sale. For more information on Westminster CO real estate or to search Denver homes for sale visit us online at PorchLightGroup.com.