The US has approximately 120 million occupied housing units between owners and renters. At some point, all of these homes were bought or sold by homeowners or investors.  Would it surprise you to learn that 92% of all homes sold in 2021, were sold with a realtor involved?

The home buying process can be a daunting one, especially in the current hot housing market. In a bustling market, not only can it be a challenge to find a home, but also tricky to be the one that gets the winning bid. 

Using a realtor is beyond valuable, whether you're buying or selling, to navigate the current real estate climate. When you secure a  real estate agency that understands your needs for home buying or selling, they can make all the difference in the process. 

Read to learn more about why you should use a realtor for your real estate needs. 

Before Buying a Home, What Should You Do?

There are a plethora of home buying mistakes you can make as you look for the perfect home to buy. You want to approach the home buying process with careful thought and planning. 

You want to have a good handle on your financial situation including the amount of debt you have, your credit score, and savings for a down payment. You want to do some real thinking about what you hope to get in a home and from what neighborhoods. 

Before you run out looking at the homes for sale, maybe ones way out of your reach, you need to think through what you can afford too. 

Working through this process can be streamlined and guided by an experienced real estate agent. They know how to help their clients figure out what they want and need in a house and where they can potentially find it within their budget. They will also be honest with you when your expectations might not be in line with reality.

Before you jump too far into the home buying process, interview some real estate agents. Find an agent you feel comfortable with, who can give you honest feedback and guide you through making this huge purchase.  

Before Selling a Home, What Should You Do?

 You might be thinking or hoping the best way to sell my house is to put my home for sale by owner. You would be making a big mistake. 

You might be thinking I can do the things a realtor does and save the commission. Guess what? When homebuyers see a house for sale by owner, they expect to score a bargain. Statistically, homes for sale by owner sell for less money and you still do the work. 

When you list your home with a realtor to sell, you get their expertise at pricing it right. You get their ability to market it for you and you get their feedback to make sure the house is sell-ready. When you get offers, you also get their expertise at navigating a negotiation. 

Yes, you will pay for those services. But in the end, you usually still end up ahead of where you might have been when trying to go it alone.

Why You Need a Realtor to Buy and Sell

For the same reason, you need a mechanic for your car and a stylist for your hair, you need a realtor for your house. They are experts at what they do and know how to navigate the waters of buying and selling a home. 

Let's take a closer look at some of the specific reasons you should work with a realtor for buying or selling. 

Expert Guidance 

There are some common mistakes homebuyers make if they approach the process without a realtor. A licensed real estate agent has the expertise to guide homebuyers through the process and point out potential problems before they happen. 

If a homebuyer is looking at a house, they may not notice things that an experienced agent sees. Likewise, a home seller can get the expertise of a realtor to help them get their home sold quickly. 

Objective Opinions

Buying and selling a home can be an emotional experience. People get excited and it's possible to not see important aspects of the house. 

A realtor can provide an unbiased opinion without the added emotion to guide you through the process.

Market Knowledge

An experienced local real estate agent has market knowledge that can be invaluable as you look at a certain area. Even from one town to the next, knowledge of neighborhoods, schools, and homes that might be available. 

The realtor will have a good understanding of pricing for homes in the area, knowing either how to price a home to sell or whether a home is priced fairly for purchase. 

Experience

One thing that experience brings to the table for homebuyers and sellers is the ability to guide you through the process. They can even help move the process along by managing all the involved parties. 

There are always some who think they can do the work of a real estate agent. Yet, the experience a realtor brings to the table is well worth the fees paid to the realtor for their service. 

Negotiation Skills

An important part of buying and even selling a home involves making an offer on a house or deciding to do with an offer. A realtor brings negotiation skills as you discuss home prices, repairs, and even when you can take possession of the house. 

Their negotiation skills can help you to avoid home buying and home selling mistakes.  

Benefits of Using a Realtor 

The best way to buy a home or sell a home is with the guidance of a realtor. They bring a multitude of skills and experience that make your home buying or home selling experience better.

Before you start to search for homes for sale near me, you need a realtor to work with you. Contact us today to let us help you with the process. 

How To Save On A New Home Purchase

For most of us the home buying is the largest investment and liability we will ever make, so here are some home buying mistakes to avoid. If you consider the size of loan (mortgage loan) you will be committed to pay back and the effort of finding the home you like, there is a lot involved.  If you are lucky enough to narrow your home search, negotiate an acceptable price  and enter a contract agreement, you have entered the "danger zone".  If you already prepared yourself prior to those steps using this How To Save On Home Buying, here is a short list of items to be aware of.

Home Inspection

Never skip or wave a home inspection.  A professional home inspection service will provide you with all the "good, bad and ugly".  There are so many hidden and unforeseen conditions that your inspection report will provide you, here are some:

• Roof age and condition, are there any current or prior leaks which caused damage to roof structure such as decking or beams.  Even the smallest leaks or drips can cause wood rot, mold and weakened structure.
• Mechanical (Electrical, Plumbing and HVAC) inspection will allow you to seek the comfort knowing that you will not need a new AC unit, Water Heater or Plumbing for years to come.  If those items have aged and are past their life expectancies, you should reconsider your offer or account for additional funds for repairs after closing. Electrical that is not up to code or that which uses aluminum wiring may cause insurance companies to drop or refuse coverage on your home.

If you are buying a "fixer upper" the above is even more important and as the cost of improving the home may exceed your funds.

Survey 

Be sure to review a current survey of the property to insure that what you think you are buying is actually what you will be entitled to after closing.  Sometimes walking the property is deceiving or there maybe easements with restriction that may cause you to change your mind.

Neighbors & Neighborhood

Often buyers regret their purchase when learning about the neighbor or neighborhood.  You just never know who lives next door, remember this movie?  https://youtu.be/4zEUuzj3a2g 

Amenities

Do living in the home provide you all the amenities you need both short term and long term, here are some amenities to consider:

• Conveniences such as grocery store, gas station, pharmacy
• Services such as medical, dental and healthy & beauty
• Social & Entertainment such as restaurants, movie theater, library, musem, parks
• Schools & Education such as public school or a college  

Unless your new home gets the check marks for the above, chances are you will be ready to move again shortly after.  You should also consider seeking the help of a local real estate agent, realtors typically can help your with resources and advise you on the neighborhood and nearby amenities.  If you doute the value a realtor or agent can provide we suggest you read Benefits Of Real Estate Agent

More:

• Homes For Sale in Clemson
• Homes in Lake Hartwell 
• Homes For Sale Lake Keowee
  

Here is how to save on a new home, whether you are a first time home buyer or past homeowner.  We made it easy by providing you a breakdown and explanation of these key activities which will save you lots of money on your next purchase. 

Your Credit Score

Your credit score is one of the most important factors in your home purchase success.  Most home buyers look at their credit score as "Approved or Declined", such is a myth.  Your good credit score may entitle you to a lower interest mortgage loan or even a choice of which mortgage lender to choose from, it helps put you in the driver's seat.  A lower interest mortgage will save you lots of money and help you build equity in your home faster.

Preparing Your Credit For Future Home Purchase

Ways you can prepare your credit in advance in order to qualify for a mortgage and receive the best rate possible:

• Make sure that all the credit data recorded is accurate.  You can request a copy of your credit information from companies like Equifax, TransUnion and Experian.  Take the time to clear your credit and update your records.  Look out for:
  • Any personal contact information that is inaccurate and needing updating.
  • Are there any credit accounts in which do not belong to you or those in which you did not apply for or open.
  • Are there any redundancy in accounts or loans, any duplication of credit records.
  • Are there any credit accounts in which you have closed in the past or satisfied the loans.
• If you have any debt that is in collection, make good on it.  You do not want "collection" status on your credit report.  
• Always have a savings account with reserved cash. Lenders frown on large withdrawals or deposits that cause your cash account to fluctuate. 

Partner With An Agent

A Realtor or Real Estate Agent is a cornerstone to finding the right home at the right price, and more.  One of the biggest mistakes homebuyers make is overlook the value of a qualified realtor or real-estate agent.  A smart home buyer knows that they don't know what they don't know hence, they seek the "secret weapon"... a realtor.  Here are some invaluable benefits of partnering with a qualified realtor from a local real estate agency.

Real-Estate Agents Cost Nothing

A realtor or real-estate agent costs you, the buyer, nothing.  Yet, their services are invaluable both monetarily and personally.  A real-estate agency which has qualified local agents can provide you with the following advantages where those who seek to buy a home alone are missing. 

• Time, think of the hours you would be spending in searching, reviewing, contacting the seller or seller's agent etc.  With an agent you would be enjoying time with family or personal activities while the agent is out searching fore your exact fit.
• Client priority.  Often agents are knowledgeable about upcoming homes for sale.  These "not on the market" homes are often sold and go under contract immediately with the agent's client.  This is happening daily in a market which lacks inventory and has high demand. 
• Resources, a good real-estate agency will provide a client all the resources needed to succeed in purchasing a home. Your realtor along with the agency will provide or assist you with:
  • A local mortgage lender and mortgage pre-qualifying documents.
  • Reports on local schools, crime, local socials and entertainment, commuting, future planned growth and more.  Remember you don't know what you don't know!
  • Comparables, offering, negotiation and legal contract.
  • Inspection is a must and should not be passed on.  A local agent who works the area understands and knows what to look for.  Such agent knows the typical problems and how to find them.  More so, an agent often partners with a trustworthy inspector that is on YOUR side not the seller's side.
  • Appraisal and closing documents.  Your agent will assist and guide you from discovering your home purchase goals through the closing process.  A good agent will communicate with the closing agency to save you time and provide them with all they need to make your home buying process efficient and smooth.

You simply can not put a price tag on the services a qualified real-estate agent provides, however, if you decide to find and purchase a home alone, your mistake or oversight could be costly.

Down Payment 

Your down payment percentage could save you more than you think.  If you purchase a home and place a down payment of 20% or more, you will not be required to purchase PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance). PMI can cost as much as $280.00 per month if your mortgage loan is $400,000.00, that's a heft monthly liability. 

Stay True and Discipline

A home buying process can be emotionally overwhelming and those emotions can often side track your plan.  Such risk and mistake is more likely to happen with first time home buyers where emotions blanket the discipline.  Some of those mistakes are:

• Over extending the budget
• Compromise with future regrets
• Over pay for a home
• Commit to risky or expensive loans
• Willing to accept the home's defects. Buy "AS-IS".

You can save thousands of dollars if you properly prepare for the home buying adventure.  Those who plan and prepare in advance are often rewarded by their effort and avoid the common pitfalls.  

MORE:

• Benefits Of Real Estate Agent
• Home Buying Mistakes To Avoid
• Buying A Home With A Friend

Need Help? Call Us: 864-722-5558

The Importance and Benefits of a Real-Estate Agent

Benefits of having a Real Estate Agent are greater than the risk and often are valuable in many ways.  If you’re just starting out in the home buying process, you’re probably finding out just how complex it can be to buy a house. Some parts of this process, such as getting pre-approved for a mortgage, are necessarily time-consuming. Other aspects of purchasing a home, such as searching for home, don’t have to be complicated or lengthy endeavors. When you work with a real estate agent, you’ll shorten your search in several ways.

Access To MLS Listings

The primary reason to work with an agent is that it will free up your time. Once you tell your agent what you’re looking for in a new home, you can leave the search to them. When they find properties that meet your criteria, they will send you those listings. This legwork saves you from spending hours of your time combing through listings. Here is a helpful link to MLS Search of Homes For Sale near Clemson & Upstate, SC

New Listing Notification

Be the first to know, especially when homes are in demand, a new listing may not last long on the market. When buyers work with an agent, they can find out about new listings before publishing them online. This early notification helps the buyers make an offer before the general public learns that a particular home is for sale.

Home Showing and Open House

An open house is an excellent opportunity to explore available homes and meet the sellers. When you’re searching for homes for sale in Clemson, you may miss open houses if you don’t happen to find them through your search. Real estate agents network with one another, so they’re often the first ones to find out about open houses in your community. This is another way that working with a real estate agent will help you find your new home faster.

Area Knowledge

An agent that is experienced in the area can provide you with the understanding of school rating, social activities, local culture, commute and more.  As a buyer it is important that you not only buy a home with a desirable physical appearance, its also important that your buy into the desirable community.  Always ask your agent for additional reports about the community in which you are considering to purchase a home in.

Deal Negotiation 

A Realtor should not be just a Realtor, a Realtor should be YOUR REALTOR.  It is important that you find a realtor that is trustworthy, experienced and skilled in negotiating the purchase amount for you.  Home buying contract negotiation is not easy.  Negotiating takes great amount of time, skill and understanding of the process. Here are some of the variables and facts that a Realtor will often use in negotiating a purchase price:

• Comparable 
• Local Demand
• Property Condition
• Pent-up Demand

MORE:

• How To Save On A New Home Purchase
• Home Buying Mistakes To Avoid
• Buying A Home With A Friend

Need Help? Call Us: 864-722-5558

MORE:

• How To Save On A New Home Purchase
• Benefits Of Real Estate Agent
• Home Search MLS
• Lakefront Homes For Sale on Lake Keowee

Need Help? Call Us: 864-722-5558