Is It Time for You to Move? Watch for These 3 Signs

There are three key signs you should watch for to know if it’s time for you to move.

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 Is it time for you to move? If you’re unsure, here are three signs to look out for. The first is how your home’s space affects you. Maybe you’re feeling a little cramped because your family has gotten bigger or your kids are getting older and space is tighter inside your house than it used to be. Buying a new house can be a great upgrade in terms of space. It’s also possible that you have too much space and you need to downsize so you don’t have as much maintenance to keep up with or utility costs to cover. The second sign it might be time to move is your financial situation has changed. Maybe you’ve gotten enough promotions over the years that you’re ready to upgrade to the home you’ve been dreaming of. You might also be thinking of retiring and how that will affect your financial situation.

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You may either have too much or too little space in your current home.

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Another aspect to think about in terms of your financial situation is the market itself. Many experts (including myself) believe we’re heading toward a market peak, so you might be in position to cash-out a large chunk of equity. The third sign is you want to register your kids into a different school system. We all have different motivations behind which school systems we want our kids in, so if you’re like me and your kids are in their school-age years, this might factor into your decision. If you have any more questions about this topic or you’re still unsure whether it’s time for you to move, don’t hesitate to call or email me anytime. I’d love to speak with you.

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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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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 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!