Tag Archives: Real Estate

Celebrating 20 Years!!

Today is a day of celebration and reflection for me.  I celebrated 20 years in real estate as I received my real estate license on July 20th 2002.

Many people ask me why I got into real estate.  I got into real estate because a relative of mine told me I should consider real estate and I listened because she was older and wiser, and the bible tells us to listen to our elders and I’m glad I did.  I love real estate because it allows me to use my passion, which is helping people.

A lot has changed over the years, but I navigated the highs and the lows.  The mortgage interest rate in 2002 was 6.54%.  The highs in the last 20 years were the last two years when it was a TRUE Seller’s market.  It was great for my Sellers that could sell and take advantage of the craziness and had a place to go live.  The lows were in the 2007-2008 downturn when I was doing short sales as my clients were losing their homes.  I’m so glad I listened once again and got my CDPE – Certified Distressed Property Expert designation.  It gave me the ability to assist my Sellers by doing a short sale for them vs. them going into foreclosure.

Over the years I have learned how to do what I do better.  I have sought out training and certifications to further help me further my knowledge of the industry so I could help my clients. My certifications are listed in the ‘About‘ section.

What advice would I give someone considering a career in real estate?  The advice I would give to someone thinking about getting into real estate is, that if you are willing to work 24/7, 365 days a year, and you are passionate about helping people with the largest investment they will ever make, then get into real estate and treat your clients and agents like you want to be treated and you’ll be successful.

It’s my passion.  I love it.  Thank you to each and everyone who has given me the opportunity to help you buy or sell.  I am truly grateful.

In appreciation,

Marie Dinsmore

Experience, Passion, and Commitment to Excellence

Fetching Top Dollar for Your Home

Perhaps you have bought and sold a home before, regardless with this crazy market you want to do the things that will help you get top dollar.  This list adds some elements that you may not have considered.

  • Make Your Mailbox look Amazing – First Impressions are key, and your mailbox is definitely part of that first impression. Curb appeal always needs to be a consideration.  In addition to the mailbox, is the driveway cracked?  Does it need pressure washed? Is the yard well kept?
  • Make the right use of your rooms. Maybe you use your dining room as your kid’s playroom or an office.  You might want to stage it before having potential buyers visit.  Buyers want to see the room the traditional way.
  • Update your bathrooms. Reglaze especially if you have an outdated color like green or pink.  Reglazing a bathroom to white can make is look 20 to 30 years younger.  Bathrooms and kitchens sell houses so the smallest of improvements can make a world of difference.
  • What is your neighborhood like? Include in the listing description.  What is nearby? i.e. coffee shops, shopping, walking trails, etc.  What’s the culture like?  More than just what school district the house is located.
  • What extras are included? e., motion-sensitive outdoor lighting, smart home technology, security system, camera doorbell, etc. These little things make seem trivial to you but may sway a buyer.
  • In addition to great photos, do a video tour pointing out all the unique selling points.
  • Get a home pre-inspection – Your buyer will have an idea of the property’s condition before making an offer.

We are here to help you every step of the way whether buying or selling.

In appreciation,

Marie Dinsmore

Experience, Passion, and Commitment to Excellence!

What Is A Seller’s Market?

A seller’s market happens when demand exceeds supply. When there are more buyers, but real estate inventory is low. Since there are fewer homes available, sellers are at an advantage. We have definitely been in a Seller’s Market for many months now.

In a seller’s market, homes sell faster, and buyers compete in order to score a property. These market conditions often make buyers willing to spend more on a home than they would otherwise. Therefore, sellers can raise their asking prices. Furthermore, the increased interest means that buyers rarely have the power to negotiate and are more willing to accept properties as-is.

Due to the shortage of housing, these conditions often lead to multiple offers. During these bidding wars, buyers will make competing offers and drive up the price, typically above what the seller initially asked for.

Tips For Buyers

 Whenever there is a low inventory of houses on the market and an abundance of buyers, timing is crucial.

Act fast: If you find your dream home during a seller’s market, you will have to act fast. If you hem and haw over a house you want to buy, you may find that it’s no longer available by the time you make an offer. You should get preapproved for a loan ahead of time, so your financing is in order when you need it.

Know that you’re at a disadvantage: When it comes to making an offer, keep in mind that you’re the one at a disadvantage. A seller’s market is not the time to try to push contingencies, concessions, specific closing dates or repairs. Focus your attention on what’s most important to you. If there are certain stipulations you want written into the contract, think hard about whether they are worth losing the property over. If you can make an all-cash offer, you should. Sellers prefer buyers who are willing to pay in cash because they don’t have to worry about the deal falling through due to issues with financing.

Be patient: If you find that you keep losing out on the homes you’re interested in, it’s crucial to be patient and not get discouraged. Many buyers end up suffering during a seller’s market because they get frustrated. Inexperienced buyers caught up in multiple offers will often offer more money than a home is actually worth – or they feel comfortable spending – in order to get the home they want. That’s always a mistake.

Don’t settle: On the flip side, some buyers will end up making offers on homes they otherwise wouldn’t be interested in because they’re tired of losing out. Remember, buying any property is a huge investment and often a 30-year commitment. Don’t settle on a home just because it’s cheaper. Unless you have to move immediately, it’s a much better idea to wait it out and resume your home search after the market cools down.

Tips For Sellers

Since sellers must compete to attract buyers in a seller’s market, it’s helpful to know how to increase interest in your property.

Clean and organize: To begin, make sure that your home is in good condition and has been cleaned and organized before you list, market, or show the property.

Price fairly: Even though homes tend to sell for more money in a seller’s market, it still helps to price your home fairly. If you set your asking price at or slightly below fair market value, you are likely to attract more interested buyers. Some sellers choose to list their homes for slightly less than the assessed value in order to encourage multiple offers.

Carefully consider offers: It’s even more important during a seller’s market that you carefully review the offers you receive. Sellers are often so focused on choosing the highest offer that they fail to examine the financial strength of each buyer. Just because buyers say they’ll pay a certain amount for your home doesn’t guarantee they’ll actually be able to obtain those funds. Lenders will not allow buyers to borrow more than the assessed value of your home.

The last thing you want is to accept an unrealistic offer and be forced to put your home back on the market when the deal falls through. The longer your home is on the market, the more questionable it will seem to buyers, and the more power they will have when negotiating. For ALL these reasons, is why you need an experienced real estate agent.

Ensure preapproval: For any buyers who require financing, you should ensure that they have been preapproved for a loan. Preapproval requires that buyers’ finances and credit history are verified, making it far more likely they’ll ultimately be able to obtain a loan for a specific amount of money. Prequalification, on the other hand, is just an estimate of buyers’ finances.

Be aware of contingencies: Also, be on the lookout for offers that include contingencies. Offers that include stipulations, like mortgage contingencies, home sale contingencies, appraisal contingencies, and inspection contingencies, enable buyers to back out of sales contracts if certain conditions aren’t met.

Is It A Buyer’s Market Or A Seller’s Market?

In the North Georgia area, it is definitely a Seller’s Market.  The inventory of homes for sale is at an all-time low which is preventing some potential sellers to list their property.  Here are some things to consider if you are one of those sellers:

  • Consider new construction. Often times you will have a more definitive timeframe and have somewhere to move.
  • Consider renting for a while. Yes, it may require two moves, but will also give you time to find just the right property.
  • Consider moving in with family. Not the most ideal situation, but some have the extra space and would agree for a limited time.
  • Go on an extended vacation. Have an RV or rent one? With work from anywhere situations, this might be the opportunity to travel until the market has more inventory.
  • If you have a beach/mountain rental, use it until you find your next forever home.

Bottom line is, if you can be flexible, you can take advantage of getting top dollar for your current home and still find your next home.  Give me a call and let’s work out a plan for you.

Best Regards,

Marie Dinsmore

Experience, Passion, and Commitment to Excellence

Still Listing / Still Showing Homes / Homes Still Being Sold

These are challenging times, but, Yes, we are still listing, showing homes, and selling homes.  Granted we have had to get creative in order to do so, but that is what a good experienced real estate agent does.

Some of our clients are willing to do Facetime Virtual tours.  Others have created a virtual tour of their home that we can send to prospects.  For those clients who decide they want to visit the property and see it in person, we are taking every precaution.  We ask the property owner to open all doors as well as cabinet doors, so we don’t have to touch anything.  Or if we do, we’re using gloves.  We are sanitizing upon entry and when we leave the property.  Our buyers and seller’s safety are our primary concern at this time.

There are also other ways to receive offers for your home rather than the traditional listing.  As an iRep Real Estate Pro, I can help you receive cash offers on your home and a retail market valuation in 48 hours.  So, if you were planning to sell this spring but are apprehensive, due to our current situation, this might be an option to consider.

Contact me and we can discuss all your options.

Marie Dinsmore

The Dinsmore Team

RE/MAX Around Atlanta

www.DinsmoreTeam.com

Cell 770-712-7789/Fax 770-888-7793

Experience, Passion, and Commitment to Excellence!

Why Now Might be the Best Time to Sell Your Home

Trying to decide when is the best time to sell your home can be tricky, but also is determining the final profit on your home.

Here is some information to help you make that decision.

  • Home prices are trending upward. According to Georgia Realtors, home prices from 2018 to 2019 increased by 3%. Prices are looking to trend even higher for 2020. That is good news for the seller, but if you are also buying, it’s another consideration.
  • Housing markets are low. When the housing inventory is low, buyers tend to contemplate all options in the market area and make quick offers. This is good news for sellers because it often leads to bidding wars in attempts from buyers to get the best house in the area.
  • Homes are spending less time on the market. As with inventory being low, buyers are acting fast. The average time on the market in 2019 was 56 days. That was a 5% decrease over the previous year’s statistics.

So, are you still trying to decide when is the best time to sell?  Still wondering what your final profit might be? We can help with that. We are now iRep certified.  What does that mean? We can test the market for you without doing a formal traditional listing. We can help you receive cash offers on your home and a retail market valuation in 48 hours. Then you can decide whether or not to accept the offers or go the traditional route of selling your home.

The time is right. All the pieces are falling into place. With increased housing costs, lower inventory, and fewer days on the market, now is the best time to sell a home.  Let the Dinsmore Team help you through the process.