Picking an Orlando real estate agent is a big decision. Buying a home isn't something most people do on a regular basis and rarely do they know agents personally or have one on retainer like they may have a lawyer for regular business purposes.
If your job doesn't entail a lot of property transactions you might feel like a fish out of water when looking around for a Orlando real estate agent. Fortunately, deciding on the right one isn't as hard as you might think.
Real Estate Agents Are People Too
That's right, they have the same qualities you would think of in any other individual you might do business with. So, finding an agent really comes down to measuring many of the same values you'd use to choose another business associate.
• Honesty
• Reputation
• Track Record
• Associations
Here are two tips to help you determine which real estate agent is right for you:
• Ask the agents you're considering for a list of past clients. Contact those past clients to find out what they thought of the agents and if they'd use them again.
• Interview the real estate agents. Ask them how long they've been in the Orlando real estate business, how many homes they've sold in the past year, how they can help you find a home.
If you're looking for an Orlando real estate agent, we would be honored if you'd give us the opportunity to interview for the job. Contact us now at 407-876-5771.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Orlando Homes for Sale: 2010 Market Forecasts
Those with Orlando homes for sale are buckling down for the long haul, but exactly how long will that be? I spent a little bit of time roaming the Internet to get the general “feel” from people on the housing market. It turns out that the answer all depends on who you ask…
Housing Predictor
Housing Predictor.com says, yes, the housing market appears to be making a rebound. However, that rebound, says economist, John Hines, is a false front. The government is pushing the rise in sales to make the housing markets look good and increase buyer confidence. Will the market ever get back on track? According to Hines, if Congress can get the lending pipeline going again, we might finally see a bottom around the third quarter of next year.
The Ledger
According to an article at The Ledger, Stephen Blank of the Urban Land Institute isn’t at all optimistic. Blank says there’s no quick fix, and that 2010 will be sobering. While the housing market is being helped by various factors, the foreclosure rate probably isn’t going to drop and lenders aren’t lending. Blank worries that financing may be lacking, even for those wanting to buy. He doesn’t see the market doing much for another year.
CBS Money Watch
The best article I’ve come across so far, however, was written back in June at CBS MoneyWatch. The article says give the market at least seven years to recover. The author doesn’t just quote doom and gloom, however. She has some great points for people with Orlando homes for sale. I highly recommend the read, but here is the quote that stuck firmly in my mind:
“If you are a seller, get realistic about what you can get for your house. With so little upside in the foreseeable future, you may be better off to sell, even at a loss, since you can probably get back into a similar house at a lower price and very low interest rates.”
It’s a buyer’s market; the supply of empty homes is much higher than the demand for them. If you have one of the Orlando homes for sale and it’s not selling, you may need to change your mindset a little. In this buyer’s market, sellers may just have to bite the bullet.
Ready to buy or sell? We can help. Give us a call today at 407-876-5771.
Housing Predictor
Housing Predictor.com says, yes, the housing market appears to be making a rebound. However, that rebound, says economist, John Hines, is a false front. The government is pushing the rise in sales to make the housing markets look good and increase buyer confidence. Will the market ever get back on track? According to Hines, if Congress can get the lending pipeline going again, we might finally see a bottom around the third quarter of next year.
The Ledger
According to an article at The Ledger, Stephen Blank of the Urban Land Institute isn’t at all optimistic. Blank says there’s no quick fix, and that 2010 will be sobering. While the housing market is being helped by various factors, the foreclosure rate probably isn’t going to drop and lenders aren’t lending. Blank worries that financing may be lacking, even for those wanting to buy. He doesn’t see the market doing much for another year.
CBS Money Watch
The best article I’ve come across so far, however, was written back in June at CBS MoneyWatch. The article says give the market at least seven years to recover. The author doesn’t just quote doom and gloom, however. She has some great points for people with Orlando homes for sale. I highly recommend the read, but here is the quote that stuck firmly in my mind:
“If you are a seller, get realistic about what you can get for your house. With so little upside in the foreseeable future, you may be better off to sell, even at a loss, since you can probably get back into a similar house at a lower price and very low interest rates.”
It’s a buyer’s market; the supply of empty homes is much higher than the demand for them. If you have one of the Orlando homes for sale and it’s not selling, you may need to change your mindset a little. In this buyer’s market, sellers may just have to bite the bullet.
Ready to buy or sell? We can help. Give us a call today at 407-876-5771.
4 New Year's Resolutions for Orlando Homes for Sale
New Years is just around the corner, and for many with Orlando homes for sale, it’s the perfect time to make some resolutions. Let’s be expansive, though, shall we? Don’t say, “I will sell my house by April.” We can be more specific than that. Here’s a short list of resolutions that might help you take that home off the sales shelf:
1. Resolve to look over the competition. Not just one or two of the Orlando homes for sale, but ten or eleven. Look at them with the buyer’s mindset. What selling points do they have? What negative points do they have? Your goal should be to outshine the competition. You can’t do that if you don’t know what the competition is.
2. Resolve to do a little home improvement. These don’t have to be big projects. Your project could be as simple as adding a few bushes for better curb appeal. You don’t have to spend a lot of money or a huge amount of time for the home improvement to count. What you do have to do, however, is make the improvement count. In other words, don’t forget to walk buyers past whatever you’ve decided to do, or tell your real estate agent about it.
3. Resolve to check with your agent about the state of your home. Not when they think it will sell, but what you can do to up the value. Remember, “value” is a relative term. Upping the value for buyers may be as simple as cutting $5,000 off your price.
4. Resolve to be calm if a buyer suggests a lower price than you want. Consider the options fully – don’t just snap his or her nose off. Can you afford to let the house go at the offered price? If you can and still want to say no, think about it… how long did it take to get this potential buyer? Can you afford to wait longer?
If you have one of the Orlando homes for sale, keep in mind that it’s just one of the homes for sale. You have an amazing amount of competition; not just here, but around the nation. Take a chance to do something a little different. Your New Years may turn out to be even happier than you expected!
If you’re looking for unique ways to sell your home, we can help. Call us at 407-876-5771 for more information.
1. Resolve to look over the competition. Not just one or two of the Orlando homes for sale, but ten or eleven. Look at them with the buyer’s mindset. What selling points do they have? What negative points do they have? Your goal should be to outshine the competition. You can’t do that if you don’t know what the competition is.
2. Resolve to do a little home improvement. These don’t have to be big projects. Your project could be as simple as adding a few bushes for better curb appeal. You don’t have to spend a lot of money or a huge amount of time for the home improvement to count. What you do have to do, however, is make the improvement count. In other words, don’t forget to walk buyers past whatever you’ve decided to do, or tell your real estate agent about it.
3. Resolve to check with your agent about the state of your home. Not when they think it will sell, but what you can do to up the value. Remember, “value” is a relative term. Upping the value for buyers may be as simple as cutting $5,000 off your price.
4. Resolve to be calm if a buyer suggests a lower price than you want. Consider the options fully – don’t just snap his or her nose off. Can you afford to let the house go at the offered price? If you can and still want to say no, think about it… how long did it take to get this potential buyer? Can you afford to wait longer?
If you have one of the Orlando homes for sale, keep in mind that it’s just one of the homes for sale. You have an amazing amount of competition; not just here, but around the nation. Take a chance to do something a little different. Your New Years may turn out to be even happier than you expected!
If you’re looking for unique ways to sell your home, we can help. Call us at 407-876-5771 for more information.
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