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5 Reasons Why You Need to Hire a Real Estate Agent

There are many great San Diego area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Value Report so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (619) 562-6800 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

5 Reasons Why You Need to Hire a Real Estate Agent

There are many reasons why you should hire a real estate professional, but I'm going to take a few moments and lay out 5 reasons why I believe this is true.

1. Paper work: You will likely be signing mounds of paperwork when you buy or sell a home. Luckily, real estate agents can help guide you through this process. Also, at my office, we digitize all of your paperwork into a handy CD-ROM for your convenience.


2. Experience: Every real estate transaction is going to have some sort of 'turbulence'. In all my years of real estate, not once has a deal gone perfectly according to plan. Experience is our intangible asset to help guide you through these bumps in the road.


3. Negotiations: I believe a good realtor needs to act as a buffer between you and your purchase. However, not all realtors have the gift of negotiation. A good realtor can net you an extra $15,000 throughout all of the negotiations, so this is where it really pays off to have a professional working for you.


4. Pricing: Good agents have a feel for the market. Good agents also spend a certain amount of time each day studying prices, just like I do. Don't trust online evaluations like Zillow. Although they're convenient, they're not always accurate.


5. Understanding Current Market Conditions: This is our biggest job as realtors. We have a keen knowledge of where the market is now and where it will be going in the future. This awareness can help us to advise you in your decisions and also to capitalize on your real estate opportunities. Again, this can be the difference between saving, making, or losing $15,000 dollars.

These are the reasons why you must hire a real estate professional every time you enter the market. We're only here to help you, and that is exactly what I can do for you. If you need any assistance buying, selling, or investing in the San Diego area, then give me a call at (619) 562-6800 or email me at richard@richardelias.com

13140 Rio Brava Court - Your own Retreat In Jamul!!

Rising Interest Rates: Is Now the Time to Buy or Sell?

There are many great San Diego area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Value Report so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (619) 562-6800 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Rising Interest Rates: Is Now the Time to Buy or Sell?

Today I wanted to offer my 2014 predictions and what direction interest rates are headed in. What I can tell you is that interest rates are going up. According to the National Association of Realtors, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Mortgage Bankers Association are predicting rates to be anywhere between 5-6% in 2014. What does this mean for buyers and sellers?

For buyers, if you can get into a home now and still take advantage of the low rates and pricing, I would do it! As for sellers, as rates begin to climb, it will discourage buyers from wanting to purchase property. In result there will be fewer buyers in the market for your home.

With the economy continuing to improve, the job marketing strengthening and all the reports from the various news outlets and economists, the economy’s upward movement will continue to push interest rates up.

If you’re in the market, call me. Let’s talk about helping you in the right direction; I can even tell you if this is the right time for you to buy or sell! Real estate is not like buying a car. My goal is to help you make a decision that’s in your best interest. Thanks and make it a great day!

5 Reasons You Shouldn’t For Sale by Owner

by The KCM Crew on February 5, 2014 

Some homeowners consider trying to sell their home on their own, known in the industry as a For Sale by Owner (FSBO). We think there are several reasons this might not be a good idea for the vast majority of sellers.

 

Here are five of our reasons:

 

1. There Are Too Many People to Negotiate With

Here is a list of some of the people with whom you must be prepared to negotiate if you decide to FSBO.

• The buyer who wants the best deal possible
• The buyer’s agent who solely represents the best interest of the buyer
• The buyer’s attorney (in some parts of the country)
• The home inspection companies which work for the buyer and will almost always find some problems with the house
• The appraiser if there is a question of value
• Your bank in the case of a short sale

2. Exposure to Prospective Purchasers 

 

Recent studies have shown that 92% of buyers search online for a home. That is in comparison to only 28% looking at print newspaper ads. Most real estate agents have an internet strategy to promote the sale of your home. Do you?

 

3.  Results Come from the Internet

Where do buyers find the home they actually purchased?

• 43% on the internet
• 9% from a yard sign
• 1% from newspapers

The days of selling your house by just putting up a sign and putting it in the paper are long gone. Having a strong internet strategy is crucial.

 

4. FSBOing has Become More and More Difficult 

 

The paperwork involved in selling and buying a home has increased dramatically as industry disclosures and regulations have become mandatory. This is one of the reasons that the percentage of people FSBOing has dropped from 19% to 9% over the last 20+ years.

 

5. You Net More Money when Using an Agent 

 

Many homeowners believe that they will save the real estate commission by selling on their own. Realize that the main reason buyers look at FSBOs is because they also believe they can save the real commission. The seller and buyer can’t both save the commission.

Studies have shown that the typical house sold by the homeowner sells for $184,000 while the typical house sold by an agent sells for $230,000.   This doesn’t mean that an agent can get $46,000 more for your home as studies have shown that people are more likely to FSBO in markets with lower price points. However, it does show that selling on your own might not make sense.

 

Bottom Line

Before you decide to take on the challenges of selling your house on your own, sit with a real estate professional in your marketplace and see what they have to offer.