What's the difference between Realtors, real estate agents, and brokers.
A Realtor is a licensed real estate agent that belongs to the National Association of Realtors. It’s one of the largest trade groups in the entire country. They’re held to a higher set of standards and adhere to a code of ethics. Not all real estate agent are Realtors, but most are. When hiring an agent, ask if they’re a licensed real estate agent.
Some Realtors can also be brokers. Unfortunately, people misuse these terms all the time. There is a huge difference between being an agent and being a broker. Brokers typically manage the office and take care of daily operations;they might even own the entire business. Agents work underneath brokers as sales people.
If you’re looking to buy or selling a Northern Texas home, give me a call or send me an email. I’d be happy to answer any questions you have real estate!
How should you prepare your Northern Texas home for a spring sale? Here are five things you need to do:
Staging the home.
Staging is important. First, examine the outside of the house. Make sure the grass is mowed and the shutters are in good shape. When buyers drive by your home, they should feel compelled to see the inside. To prepare the inside of your house, reduce clutter and depersonalize. Remove oversized furniture and personal photos. Staging the home helps them see it in the best light.
Take professional photos.
Pictures are worth 1,000 words in real estate. 98% of buyers begin their home search online and we need quality pictures to attract them. Hire a professional photographer. They have the right equipment and the right eye to help your home stand out online. Studies show listings with professional pictures attract significantly more buyers compared to those without them.
Look at absorption rates.
We compare your home to previously sold properties and others available on the market. This analysis indicates how long it will take to sell your property. Many sellers need to move into their new home within 60 to 90 days, so we can ensure you move on time as well.
Consider competition.
Measure your house against what’s coming on the market and what’s currently on the market. We need to see how your property stacks up against the competition. Keeping track of comparable listings also helps us get the best price for your property.
Explore exposure.
We expose your home to the largest pool of buyers possible by using several different marketing strategies. We put our sign in the yard and list the property on the MLS, but we also add the property to our website and several others. We also have an incredibly strong social media campaign to attract as many buyers as possible.
If you have any questions about today’s video, give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!
Many buyers have been asking how long it takes to close on a home loan. Before we can answer that question, we need to dive into how the loan process works.
What type of loan is the buyer getting?
Are you getting a VA, a USDA, an FHA, or a conventional loan? There are a lot of different programs out there, and the length of time it takes to close on a loan varies depending on which you pursue.
Who is the lender, and are they local?
You want to have a local lender so that you can physically meet with your loan officer, deliver paperwork, and get immediate responses to questions you might have. There are many documents you’ll need to share with your loan officer. Doing it in person is the most secure and the easiest way to do that.
What is the lender’s track record?
Most lenders will be rated, so make sure you don’t hire someone with a weak track record. We recommend hiring someone who was referred to you, or sitting down with your real estate advisor and having them recommend a few. That way, you can interview a few loan officers and select the one you’re most comfortable with.
What is the turnaround time for the loan?
A good lender will be able to give you an estimated time, from the time they get all the paperwork, get the file complete, and turn it over to underwriting, to the time it will take to close. Most lenders have a timeframe for each loan, so they generally know how long it is going to take.
What is the turnaround time for the appraisal?
All lenders have to use an outside vendor to do appraisals, and you want to have an estimated time to know how long that appraisal is going to take.
What can you do to help the process go smoothly?
Whenever a lender reaches out to you for additional documentation, it’s important that you respond quickly. When they ask for more information during the process, it’s probably because the underwriter has requested it. The sooner you get information to your lender, the faster and smoother the process will go.
If you have any questions about this topic, or if you have real estate questions of any kind, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re here to be your Northern Texas real estate resource, so we would love to hear from you!
