Jason Secor Real Estate Advisors Has a New Partner

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We have very exciting news to share with you today! Jason Secor Real Estate Advisors has joined forces with Keller Williams Realty to better serve you! We are going to talk about all the ways we’ll be better able to serve you today. 

We are very excited about this move and what it’s going to do to allow us to increase our already high level of service. The addition of a great team of people that are going to help us better deliver a world-class experience to you, our clients. 

We are going to be able to help you get your home sold faster, find homes you like with less stress, less inconvenience, quicker, for better prices, and an overall better experience. This move is going to allow us to serve you at a higher level!

If you have any questions, or want to know exactly how this move is going to affect you, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to serving you in 2016!

Don't Forget to Research the Neighborhood that You're Looking to Buy a Home In

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If you're looking to buy a home in a particular neighborhood, it's important to do some research before you buy. Planning ahead is important, and so is making sure that you're going to fit in and appreciate the community that you belong to. This is why I urge you to do some research on the neighborhood that you're planning to buy a home in.

You never want to assume anything, and part of our job here is to drive through communities at different times of the day. We want to make sure that you're buying a home in a quality neighborhood, and we spend a lot of time out in the community. We may be able to tell you some specifics about certain neighborhoods, so please reach out to us.

One other thing that you should consider doing is to call the school boards and make sure that the school you planned on sending your kids to is actually in the right area. You may have moved somewhere specifically for the schools, so this is an important part of the process. Nothing should be left to chance when it comes to the future of your family.

If you have any questions about certain parts of town, please don't hesitate to contact us. We would love to hear from you!

When Is the Best Time to Sell?

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Today I am excited to share with you a piece of wisdom I’ve learned throughout my years in real estate. People think you need to wait until spring to sell, but that is a myth in real estate. So is the myth that the only time you can get top dollar is in the spring. Here’s where that comes from.

It’s true that there are a lot of home buyers out in the market in the spring, looking to purchase homes and move in by the end of summer. However, after extensive market research, we have found that buyers are always buying homes. If you look at the market totals over a 12-month cumulative period, there is minimal decrease in activity month-over-month. It’s usually less than 1% in most months, which turns into maybe 50-70 buyers tops. 

In reality, we have had some of our best months during the holidays, because a lot of people are ready to buy at that time. If buyers are out looking at homes during the cold, dark winter months, they are serious and ready to make an offer if the right property comes along. 

If you are ready to sell, now is the time to list your home on the market and get top dollar. If you have any questions for us, or want to know more about how you can sell your home for top dollar, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!

Why Should Your Home Be Accessible to Buyers?

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If you are selling your home, one of the most important qualities you can have as a seller is flexibility. Today we’ll talk about why it’s so important to make your home accessible for showings while it’s on the market. 

It’s so important to make your home available for showings on a moment’s notice. You have put it on the market at this point, and we are doing everything in our power to get as many buyers as possible through the door, but the number one problem we run into is sellers not making the home available for buyers when they can see it. 

I know from experience how stressful it is to sell a home, but to sell effectively in today’s market, you’ve got to be willing to accommodate last-minute showings. It’s a huge risk to turn away even one buyer because they could be the one buyer you are looking for. Not making the home available for showings also frustrates home buyers and their agents. 

Besides pricing your home effectively from the get-go, the best piece of advice I can give you about selling your home is to not turn down any showings. You are just looking for that one perfect buyer, and they could come along at any time. 

If you have any questions for me or my team, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Don't Forget About Hidden Fees When Buying a Home in Birmingham

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Buying a Birmingham home? Search all homes for sale

A lot of my buyers don't realize the amount and extent of hidden fees when they're purchasing a home. There are taxes, insurance, HOA fees, title search fees, and more.

One thing that you can do in order to prepare for these fees is ask your Realtor to help you prepare for them. Do your research and ask whether or not there are any additional community fees.

It's also a good idea to have some extra cash lying around because you will inevitably spend more than you think you will, no matter how much planning you've done. Things will break, and expenses will be incurred. It's best to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

As always, if you need any assistance buying or selling real estate in Birmingham, please don't hesitate to contact me. I would be very happy to help you!

How Can You Ensure Your Offer Is Accepted?

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The spring market here in Birmingham is on fire right now. To help you make the most of a crowded market, I want to share some advice on how to handle a multiple offer situation. Here are a few things to think about when you're competing against other offers:

• How much are you asking the sellers to pay in closing costs? 
• How flexible are you on the closing date?
• Are you working with a reputable lender? 
• Are you conditionally approved? 
• Do you know what the seller is looking for?

As you can see, it's crucial to have a general idea of your needs and the seller's needs when trying to get your offer accepted. If you have any questions for us, or if you would like our assistance, give us a call or shoot us a quick email. We would love to hear from you! 

 

Can You Avoid These Common Real Estate Mistakes?

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Buying a Birmingham home? Search all homes for sale

 With the busy spring real estate season in full swing, there is no better time to discuss common home buying mistakes you should be aware of! Here are a few of the mistakes unwitting home buyers make:

1. Relying on information found online: A lot of times, the information you find on the Internet is outdated or flat out inaccurate. If you want reliable real estate information, your best resource is a real estate professional.
2. Failing to get pre-approved: If you submit an offer on a home that has garnered offers from other buyers, your offer will likely be rejected if it doesn't have a pre-approval letter from a lender along with it. If you have a pre-approval from a reputable lender, you offer is almost as good as a cash offer.
3. Not knowing the market shifts frequently: Market conditions are constantly changing and are location dependent. About 24 months ago, it was a strong buyer's market; prospective buyers could make various requests that the seller would likely fulfill. Now, there are a ton of buyers out there looking for a home! To get good information so you make informed decisions, you need to speak with a real estate professional!
4. Getting Picky: If you get picky about paying a few extra dollars on a home, you're giving up the lifestyle that you and your family deserve. Keep in mind that in a few years you'll probably not mind paying the extra money for the home because you and your family deserve it.

Avoiding these mistakes is crucial if you want the buying process to go smoothly. Give us a call or shoot us an email if you need real estate assistance of any kind. We would love to give you a hand!

What Real Estate Agents Do to Keep Protected

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Recently there have been some unsettling things in the news that involve the safety of real estate agents, so I just wanted to take a moment to explain how we take precautions to safeguard ourselves in this line of work. What we do is inherently dangerous, but we can take steps to avoid bad situations.

One of the things we avoid doing is meeting a prospective client at a house before we've met them. We always insist that you come speak with us at our office before we take you to a listing. We just ask that you consider how you'd feel if your wife, daughter or son were being asked to meet a stranger in a vacant house. It's just not a safe situation at all. 

This is why we like to screen our potential buyers, so we can ensure that they're serious about buying and do not have any other intentions. Other than safety concerns, we think the experience you have with us is always much better when you come in and meet us, because that gives us the opportunity to cater to all of your individual needs. Almost all of the problems that arise in a real estate transaction will come from a lack of communication, and this can be avoided with a consultation at the beginning of a home search.

If you ever need any help buying or selling homes in Birmingham, please don't hesitate to contact me. I'm always willing to help you!

How Can You Make the Most of Buying in Birmingham This Spring?

Selling your Birmingham home? Get a free home value report

Buying a Birmingham home? Search all homes for sale

 The spring real estate season is right around the corner! To prepare all our first-time home buyers, we thought we would share some tips today to help ease the process for you! 

1. Learn about the process: Sit down with a real estate expert so you can find out what it's going to cost you out of pocket for things like home inspections and other common steps in the process.
2. Contact a great lender: Knowing what you can afford is crucial to the home search. Closing costs and unexpected fees are only a few of the many things that could surprise you in a real estate transaction. 
3. Purchasing will cost less: If you're still thinking about renting to save money, you may be mistaken. In many instances, we've been able to find a home that buyers love and that is cheaper than renting.

We hope you found some of this information helpful. If you would like some more detailed tips on how you can make informed decisions when buying in the spring market, give us a call or shoot us a quick email. We would love to give you a hand!

How Can You Accomplish Your Birmingham Real Estate Goals in 2015?

There are many great Birmingham 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 205-536-9194 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Hello, and welcome back! We hope you're having a great start to the new year!

We're very excited about 2015. Our team sat down and discussed our goals for the year, and we think it's going to be even better than last. We're going to need your help in order to accomplish the HUGE goals we've set for 2015! 

If you or anyone you know is looking to buy or sell real estate this year, don't keep us a secret. We would love to help you accomplish your real estate goals! Whether you're a first-time buyer or someone who is having trouble getting their home sold, we can help you get the results you desire. During our buyer advantage consultation, we will develop a strategy to find your dream home. We have our team divided into buying and listing specialists to help you meet and exceed your real estate expectations. 

Want to know whether now is the time to sell? We would love to put together a market analysis for you, so you can make an informed decision. Our goal is to provide the highest level of service in order to be worthy of introductions to your family, friends, and acquaintances. 

If you have questions about how we can help you and your loved ones, or would like real estate assistance of any kind, don't hesitate to give us a call or shoot us a quick email. We would be honored to serve you!

 

What Can You Expect from Birmingham Real Estate in 2015?

There are many great Birmingham 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 205-536-9194 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

We just wrapped up another incredible year for real estate here in the Birmingham area! The recovery of the market is in full swing, and 2015 looks to be even better than 2014!

We saw an increase in sales of 5.5% over 2013, as well as a decrease in inventory of about 4%! Shrinking inventory is great for homeowners, as it results in an increase in home values. Additionally, the fact that sales are up shows that the public has more confidence in the market and the economy at large.

When you look at these fantastic conditions and combine them with the fact that interest rates are at an all-time low, it becomes clear that now is a fantastic time to buy or sell a home!

If you or anyone you know is looking to take advantage of these fantastic conditions, don't hesitate to give us call or shoot us a quick email. We would love to give you a hand!

Thanks, and make it a great day!