Networking...

Networking is a way to build relationships with people and get to know individuals through other people. This is an important part of real estate. If buyers and seller don't know your name, then how would you ever have property to sell? You wouldn't, it's that simple.

When you are out with a client it's always important to ask these simple questions:
Have you always lived in this area?
What brings you to North Carolina?
Do you have family within this area?
What do you do for a living?

Each of these questions opens up a conversation for you to get to know your clients and other people they are familiar with. Building a steady relationship and caring about your clients opens doors for them to share your business with other friends looking to sell or purchase a home. Word of mouth is the best type of advertisement. It comes right from the heart!

In an overall nutshell networking is the key to opening successful doors in the future. After all it's all about who you know!<

Three New Listings...

This week there are two different houses going on the market for sale. With this I am responsible for making three different flyers and writing house bios for newspapers and MLS sites. I have to be sure to use creative adjectives that will draw buyers attention.

If you know anyone looking for a home be sure to show them these advertisements. These homes are both move-in-ready. You won't be disappointed!

Steps to Purchasing a Home...

Are you ready to make the biggest purchase of your life? If so here are a few steps the average home buyer needs to know:

1. Price Point- go to your local bank and see what your qualifications are for a loan. I suggest you don't exceed this amount because you will have to put cash in at the time of closing to cover the difference. It is better to be able to take the downpayment and start paying off on your loan.

2. Amenities- square footage, acreage, updates, age of home, shop, large kitchen, storage, bonus room, basement, etc. these are things you want your home to have.

3. Location- you must ask yourself if you want to live in the country, city limits, or maybe an home owners association (HOA) neighborhood where you have different regulations and monthly fees.

4. Shop- look for different properties online, through relators, or by driving around.

Once you have found your dream home it is now time to go through the process of making it yours:

1. Make an offer- the original offer may not be taken by the owner and you must be willing to accept that and either move on to another or raise your offer. The negotiating process can go back and forth for a while, depending on how easy the seller is to work with. When you make an offer contracts have to be typed and signed by the seller and potential buyer. This process can go fast or slow.

2. Due-diligence period- this is the time between the offer being accepted and the closing date. During this time a home inspection must be passed and the home must appraise out, meaning if you are trying to purchase the home for $149,900 an appraiser must come out and calculate the value of the home. If the house doesn't appraise for 149,900 then the bank will not give you a loan for this amount. If this occurs you must be willing you put cash down at the time of closing to make up for the extra cost or try to counter back with a lower offer.

3. Closing- after everything has been legally passed off it is now time for the buyer and seller to make a trip to an attorneys office to sign papers and make the house officially yours. For a lack of better words many say this is the day you sign your life away, but for me I see it very exciting and an accomplishment of hard work.

4. Move in- you have now completed the long and stressful trip of purchasing a home. It is now time to move in and celebrate!

I hope these many steps of purchasing a home will help you in the future when you decide to make the biggest decision of your life. As an intern I love seeing the buyers and sellers face at closing. It is a sense of hard work and accomplishment.

Rental Properties

Real Estate agents don't only handle properties that are for sell, but also deal with rental properties. Many times home owners will choose to rent their property if it sits on the market for a while without selling. Today this couple signed papers to rent a house that has been on the market for 2 years.

The home-owner hasn't lived in this house since 2007 and has the property completely payed off. This was an answered prayer for this couple to come along and rent this house. They didn't want to jump in to purchasing a house they would regret buying and the owner wasn't selling his home. 

This couple has signed a contract to rent this home for at least one year. After the year the couple is able to move or stay for as long as possible. When you rent property you have to come to a mutual agreement with the owner about monthly rent and different things the renters can and cannot do. In this case the owner is giving the renters free range and allowing them to do as they please with the exception that the home is in meant condition at the end of one year. 

If you are not ready to be fully committed to a house payment and settle down on a house, I suggest you try renting. This way you don't have to take loans out and risk dropping your credit. Renting is never a bad thing! 

When Real Estate Throws Curve Balls

In my last blog I discussed how phone calls can change the route of your planned day in real estate...well if that wasn't an understatement!

Cathy and I went over to a house off E Innes Street where we had to shut off the power. There were a few pictures that needed to be taken of a hole in the kitchen and paint that was left unfinished. As I was taking these pictures for our repair guy I heard what sounded like dogs barking. I peaked through the blinds of the back door that led out to a deck and saw two innocent dogs. As I walked out the backdoor I noticed they were enclosed in the fence of this backyard. Neither of the dogs had food or water and they gave me the innocent little puppy dog look. It was right then that my heart melted for these dogs and knew there was something Cathy and I had to do. 

We scrummaged around the vacant house to find a bag of dog food that was left and poured water into bowls that had also been left in the yard. Both dogs consumed the food so fast, it was like they hadn't eaten for days. Before leaving the house we emailed the owner, who is on his way to England, and said, "There are two dogs in your backyard that have not been fed for days. Do you happen to know anything about this?" The man replied and said he had made arrangements for the dogs to be picked up, but for us to continue checking on them and contact his son to see what to do with the dogs. 

Today I am going back over to the house to feed and tend to those two precious dogs. I hope to find them both a safe and secure home within the next few days! 

Real Estate can always re-route your intended direction for the day, but I wouldn't change my internship for the world. This career will allow be to build relationships with individuals and find their dream home, or get away from a home they don't enjoy. 

Life of an Agent

If you decide to pursue a career in real estate you better like to be up and on the go. Each day you will have a to do list and a set of times to be at different appointments; however this does not always happen. Working along side Cathy Griffin I have noticed that each phone call can change the route you take during the day. For example today, we had all intentions of being back in the office after we ran to concord to list a house, but this didn't happen. We had several phone calls where people needed our assistance at different locations. We were called change the power over to our name for a vacant listing, and let a plumber into a house that needs repairs before a closing. Each of these appointments where things that needed to be done in a timely manner, so we didn't arrive back at the office till around 4:30-5:00.

Being tugged in different directions is never a bad thing because it means you are successful at what you do. If know one called for information, assistance, or new listings then you wouldn't have the business or cliental needed to make a profit. The work you put in to your career shows how much you truly care about what you do!

Always on the go!!

Forclosed Homes

If you are currently in the market to buy a home you may want to consider foreclosures. These homes are either real estate owned or bank owned property because of the previous owner being unable to pay on their loan. The family was incapable of affording their home, and being able to keep up the bills. Therefore when the home is taken out of their hands and turned in to the hands of real estate agents or the bank you are able to get the home at a discounted price.

Although you are probably receiving a good deal on foreclosed homes there is little room for negotiating the price, and you must be willing to take the home as is with no repairs. Banks and real estate agents are ready to get these homes out of their hands and move them on to a family who will take care of the property.

There is money to made in this area. Many times foreclosed homes aren't in the best shape because the owners didn't have the money to spend of appliances and renovation. In this case you can pick property up at a low price point and renovate the home. After making the home look its best with updates and a little touch of TLC you can put the home for sale and make a little profit!