The aggrandizement of services that aid homebuyers and sellers in completing their own real estate needs is relatively recent, and it may have left you pondering whether procuring a real estate agent is becoming a relic of a bygone era. Hiring real estate agent is a daunting task. Going solo when it comes down to real estate might save you a handful sum of money. And you can cut down the significant commissions you need to pay the agents.
Well, the question is:
Would you rather try flying solo or reach out for a helping hand?
Hiring Real Estate Agent may save you a lot of money as well as time.
Buying or selling a property even in a buyer’s market is challenging and time-consuming. A significant proportion of people don’t trust or rely on real estate agents to meet their needs. However, these guys will be forever missing the luxuries of what a real estate agent can bring to their plates. Buying and selling properties indeed take time, and with the help of the right expert, one can surely save a lot of time and make things hassle-free for themself.
Here’s how hiring a real estate agent can assure you of achieving the ‘all-time American Dream’ of owning a property in your name…
1. Hiring an Expert
Rather than being entitled as an agent, they prefer being called experts. Real estate agents are the best when it comes to their line of business. You’ll experience the pinnacle of professional real estate services by hiring a property expert. Right from negotiations to the final settlement of the price, they’ll act as a loyal mediator between you and the seller omitting you from all the hectic formalities and paperwork.
Negotiation is a tricky business, and there’s an excellent chance that the other party can easily bamboozle one without an adequate record of experience in this line of business. A real estate expert has enough experience when it comes down to revealing all the ambushes and deceptions and taking countermeasures. So, whether you are selling a property or buying one, hiring a real estate expert will always give you the upper hand.
2. Are The Encyclopedias of Property Listings
Finding a house with your specific interests can be challenging. If you are a working person who rarely gets time to spare, this becomes even more challenging. Moreover, what if the house with your interests is on the other side of the state? This is where a real estate agent comes in handy! They have an enormous database of property listings that can match your interests. Tell them what kind of house, neighborhood, or even locality you need. They can present you with the shortlisted properties which resemble your attention. All you need to do is pick one.
Most real estate agents have a secure and robust network when it comes to property listings. They make use of these networks to keep in touch with all the property owners and sellers all over the state. A real estate agent can not only experience hassle-free services but also be given access to the network mentioned above of extensive property listings.
3. Saves Time and Money
Roaming around your locality or neighboring state in search of available properties can drastically eat your time and money. Well, we would say there’s no point in drifting along with the current without a destination or goal. With the aid of a property dealer, the path toward your target will be apparent, and you can set the course at full speed. Property dealings always include a lot of paperwork and legal procedures and don’t forget the expenses too. A real estate agent can volunteer for you to take all the trouble of hefty paperwork and costs providing you with the ownership of the property or house.
For example, selling a property that is listed under foreclosure or short sale is pretty challenging and hectic. Most of you might feel like you are going through the most terrible phase of your life. With the property listed under foreclosure or short sales even, interested buyers might back off thinking of all the legal troubles they might need to go through. By hiring an experienced real estate agent, selling your foreclosed or distressed properties will be quicker and more straightforward.
Still not convinced about hiring a real estate agent?
Let us brief you on a few more scenarios in the real estate business. When stepping into the real estate business, most of you might have come across the terms like foreclosure, short sales, distressed properties, estate sales, probate sales, and much more. Hiring a real estate agent will make it easy to acquire properties that are under these complex scenarios.
a. Real Estate Agent For Foreclosure
Foreclosure of property occurs when the borrower fails in paying the mortgage he/she is obliged to pay the property owner. Even though the number of foreclosed properties is gradually decreasing in number these days, they still do exist. As for a buyer looking for potential property, there’s a fair chance that a foreclosed property might exactly be the house in his/her dreams. However, the reality is pretty much harsh. Instead of a smiling face handing over the key to the property, you’ll be welcomed with a ton of paperwork and legal procedures which can even last up to a minimum of seven months. The same happens when you are trying to sell one too.
With a real estate expert who knows his way around the market and its characteristics, selling or buying a property in foreclosure doesn’t plot an issue. Since they are experts in their line of business, finding a buyer for your foreclosed home will be more comfortable. Their motto is to help you by leaving you out of all the troubles by providing a hassle-free business deal. You need to select the shortlisted buyers provided by the agent who is willing to give you a fair deal for the property.
b. Real Estate Agent For Short Sales
A short sale specialist or a lawyer? This might be the first question that comes to your head when planning to list your property for short sales. Opting for a short sale specialist rather than sticking to a lawyer can help you in many ways. Since lawyers only know about legal procedures that need to be presented in the court regarding the property they won’t do much help in advising what to do and what not to do when going for a short sale.
A short sale specialist has completed thousands of these cases. He is much more experienced when it comes to such scenarios. They can even find you a proper buyer for your property who can provide you with a fair and desired price. Don’t forget that the legal procedures will be taken over by the agent itself. It’ll indirectly imply they’ll be providing everything a lawyer can provide.
c. Real Estate Agent For Distressed Properties
Distressed properties have always been a headache for property dealers. These are the properties that are rarely maintained or nearly distressed but still pack a punch. Finding potential buyers for your distressed property can be challenging and daunting without a property expert. They are professionals in negotiating and convincing buyers to buy the property. The same goes when you are planning to buy a distressed property to save your wallet. Since every distressed property isn’t approachable even though they look promising from the outside. An expert beside you who knows what to look for in distressed property and understands its market value can land you a great deal without hurting your pocket.
The Bottom line
Investing in hiring a real estate agent will always be a boon when planning to buy or sell a property. They can lead and guide you in the right way to meet all your real estate needs.
Are you planning to buy a new property? How about a distressed home?
Buying a distressed property might hold the key to your dream home or a considerable fortune. A distressed property is put up in the market for auction when its owner is unable to repay the mortgage that he/she owes to the property lender. Even though finding potentially distressed properties is a lot more challenging than it seems, with the help of an experienced real estate agent it can be as easy as a walk in the park. Some of these might be ready for immediate occupancy while others may take ample time.
You might have come across a lot of responses (both negative and positive) from different people when you tell them you are planning to buy a damaged home. Well, we won’t be ruling out every aspect they say, but getting a property in a prime area and that too at an indubitably amazing price tag does seem tempting. If you are still doubtful about getting one, read some of our takes on it before discarding the idea completely.
Why you should buy a distressed house?
1. The Price Tag
Well, the main catchy factor is the price tag itself. A distressed property is usually listed in the market for an enticingly throw-away price than its market value. Since most of them are almost broken-down homes, home lenders are lurking in the market for a proper buyer.
Not every distressed property can be a great deal for you. Make sure you know your way around real-estate scenarios before buying the property or get the help of a trusted real estate company to experience the whole procedure with no hassle.
2. A Stepping Stone to Your Real-Estate Career
Buying a damaged property might seem frivolous, but it could hold the key to a great fortune. If you are planning to invest in real estate, then getting a distressed property might be a fair choice. Since their price is less than that of the market price, you can save an ample amount of money too. A few repairs here and there will make it approachable to flip. So, if you are planning to build a career as a home flipper, finding and buying distressed properties can give you a head start.
3. Own a Property in Prime Locations
Buying properties in prime locations like Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan can be pretty harsh on your bank balance. So, for these top areas, buying a distressed property rather than a new one will benefit you in many ways. You’ll not only get the property registered in your name but also can enjoy the luxuries of the city. Find a good interior designer to spice up your interiors and you are all set to go!
4. Negotiable
Most of the properties listed under foreclosure and short sales might be damaged or quoted as distressed property. This means the price tag for these properties can vary depending on the home lender. You’ll be having the upper hand in deciding the price when approaching an owner of distressed property. Since most of the owners try to get rid of the property as soon as possible, they might even agree to a price cut of as less as 15% or more (totally depends on your negotiation skills!).
Conclusion
In some cases, a distressed property might require complex paperwork, which in turn delays the whole business process. With the help of a qualified real estate company, you’ll have the luxury to leave all the complicated tasks to them and acquire the home right away. Other than this, having a trustworthy distressed property specialist will help you in finding the best properties listed for sale, and that too for a great deal. Be patient and educate yourself and work with professionals who can recognize the gross value and the future value of the property just by seeing it.
Are you trying to sell or buy a property under short sale?
You probably must have heard the term “short sales” a lot in these past years. Short sales are something we hear more often when it comes down to the real estate area. Short Sale meaning isn’t something every commoner will understand. So, let us be more clear on the topic here. A short sale is when someone sells his house, with the awareness and approval of the mortgage lender for less than what he/she owes to the lender. If the lender accepts the terms, then you can proceed with selling the property.
For example, consider you’ve defaulted on the payments and your mortgage lender has filed a foreclosure in the bank against the property. Panicking won’t do anything when you are facing foreclosure. You can talk with the lender and put your property on short sale hoping for other buyers to buy the property. So, you owe your lender $500,000 but, the new interested buyer is only willing to pay $400,000 for the property. You might not be in a situation to pay off the difference amount too. So, convincing your lender to agree to a less amount than you owe is short sales.
Most lenders and banks agree to the terms as this is time-consuming and a lot of hassle. The final result is a win-win situation as the seller is no longer saddled with the debt and the buyer gets the property at a bargain price.
So, if you are selling or buying a property and are considering short sales in real estate, here are the top things you need to know before proceeding with short sales and fixing the deal…
Know the Difference Between Short Sales and Foreclosure
This is something most of you might get confused about. Short sales and foreclosure are entirely different scenarios. In a foreclosure, the role of the homeowner is slightly less than in short sales. People who try to avoid foreclosure by working out a deal with the lender or bank usually go for short sales. And there isn’t any tension about evicting the previous owners in short sales as in foreclosure. Well, things do get messy in foreclosure!
Unlike a foreclosure, short sales in real estate don’t impact your credit much. Still, it’ll damage your credit score but not for as long as the damage done by a foreclosure. You’ll even have the chance to apply for a home loan for two years while in short sales.
Takes A Lot of Time
A short sale doesn’t refer to the time involved as the whole term is somewhat misleading. A short sale can take up to five to nine months to close; sometimes even longer. If it’s the bank you are dealing with, don’t expect the bank to come to you and tell you how much it would accept for the property. So, what you must make sure of is that while negotiating with the interested buyer, you should get the price that has been approved by the lender or the bank for the property.
Finding a suitable buyer to buy a short-sale property or buy a short-sale house can be troublesome without the help of an experienced short-sale negotiator. So, the whole short sale process is time consuming and a bit nettling.
Make Sure You Are Eligible For Short Sales
Saving your property by avoiding foreclosure with short sales seems pretty alluring. But, have you cross-checked your eligibility for proceeding with the short sale services? You must meet all the criteria and might require written proof stating your eligibility from the bank or the mortgage lender. This itself will be time-consuming but have patience!
For being eligible for short sales, you must owe more money to the bank or the lender than the house’s total worth. If you are eligible for any loan modification, then you can rule out all the possibilities of a short sale approval. Written proof that states you can no longer afford the monthly payment and any proof of financial hardships, like being laid off or divorced or having excessive medical bills will make you eligible for proceeding with a short sale.
Make sure you pass all these eligibility criteria before even trying for short sales as this is full of hassle and time-consuming.
It’s Time You Consider a Helping Hand
Buying or selling the short-sale property will be a lot more troublesome if you are planning to go ahead alone. You’ll be facing a lot of pressure mentally and emotionally through the whole process. The first thing you need to do is find a trustworthy agent to sort out your problem. A real estate agent who’s experienced in every aspect of real estate can make a huge difference especially if you are selling short-sale property.
The short sale process involves a lot of legal procedures and paper works. It will leave you frustrated in no time. A Short Sale specialist who’s familiar with all these stages will help you push further without any difficulties. Well, the time flies, and you need to act more quickly in finding a buyer, or you can still face foreclosure.
Conclusion
Keeping your patience and confidence is the main key to every successful short sale. The right agent who knows his way around will be a boosting factor when going for short sales in real estate. Also, beware of the cunning smiling-faced agents who disguise and mislead you by offering a helping hand when you are vulnerable.
Last year in 2017, the U.S. economy started with a boom with heavy investments in the stock market and investing in real estate but slowed down during mid-year followed by climatic disasters which solely contributed to approx. $93 billion in economic losses which were mostly covered up with a major rise in imports at the end of the year – resulted in an overall economy of 2.6% annual growth rate.
The three dominant factors that will be a driven impact on the real estate investment:
The rise in demand for warehouse needs with E-commerce growth:
With a tremendous sweep in the e-commerce market fueling, the gargantuan warehouses’ need for goods storage has expanded drastically in the recent past. Business analysts already have estimated the future demands which are going to grow exponentially in the coming years. With demands including for large distribution centers or mini delivery hubs, will still be remaining high even if the pricing goes up as per the market set standards.
Pent-up housing demand among millennials:
The need for housing in the forthcoming lustrum is the second big dominant factor. Housing prevails over other secondary investments and therefore bolsters real estate demands.
It is to be estimated that around 23 million millennials in coming next five years who are currently studying and residing with their parents are likely to be moving to bigger cities like NYC, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Chicago, and Las Vegas for job and work opportunities and thus demand for housing apartments will be going to rise up.
Increased Interest rates:
The Increasing economic growth results in a rise in interest rates. Real Estate is likely to be beneficial from it. The shift in the mortgage interest rates and properties, and state and local sales taxes are likely to be beneficial to commercial real estate investors. These interest states are in high-cost metro regions like New York, DC, LA, Chicago DC, and the Bay areas. As job seekers and workers, are moving to the suburbs for renting closer to their work areas. This will be good news for house owners and landlords.
The New Tax scheme favors the real estate
As for now, there are no changes have been made to the prevailing FIRPTA (Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act), LIHTC (Low Income Housing Tax Credit), carried interest rules, and 1031 revenue reinvestment laws, which suggests that commercial real estate market continues to remain irresistible to both overseas and domestic investors.
Real estate experts forecast the GDP growth to be increased by approximately 2.6% in 2018. This is a more rapid growth than the average of a 2% annual pace over the past seven years.
Why does investing in Real Estate bring a hefty return?
It is to believe that investing in the stock market is one sort of investment. It brings a huge return in a very short period of time. But also, it takes moments of time for it to crash and incur major return losses.
But this doesn’t generally happen in the case of investing in real estate. The investment should be made in the right market under the right conditions. This can be really helpful in generating the most consistent flow of passive income. Also, you will have the privilege of the increased property value over time with appreciation.
A city’s asset plays a big role
Every city has its key asset which attracts new visitors and residents – investing
In those cities initially may cost you big, but it definitely yields a high return in a long run.
Also, many of the small cities like – Portland, Telluride, Aspen, or the other new developing ones, are trying to create an environment. This allows residents, tenants, and visitors – to live, work, and have all needful amenities covered up. It should be with a mix of office, retail and residential spaces so residents don’t have to travel far for their needs. These small cities in the coming years will be a boon for real estate business and investing in these cities will definitely be a smart choice.