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Monday, July 23, 2018

The Ins and Outs of Counteroffers and the Option Period

Today I have everything that you need to know about counteroffers and negotiations whether you are a seller or a buyer. 

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You've put your house up for sale, potential buyers have come to look at it, and now you’ve received an offer. Congratulations! At this point you can do one of three things: accept it, deny it, or make a counteroffer and negotiate.

When making a counteroffer, you draft an offer with your agent that states you will sell your property to the buyer with the terms you have outlined. The two most commonly renegotiated points made in counteroffers are prices and dates.

In terms of the price, sellers always want to sell at a higher price while buyers always want to buy at a lower price. The key is to find a happy medium that satisfies both parties. As far as the dates go, the best way to resolve any issues is to have both parties' agents discuss the issue before any offer is written. Doing this can also determine if there are any other issues that need to be dealt with before a pen is put to the paper. The more information each side has, the simpler the transaction will be.

For example, the seller might need the funds from the sale to purchase their next property. Or, the buyer might have already sold their home and now they have a date in mind when they need to transfer the funds to purchase the property in question.

When making a counteroffer, you draft an offer with your agent that states you will sell your property to the buyer with the terms you have outlined.

You might also have to counteroffer what appliances or other attachments are included in the deal. If an agreement is reached, another renegotiation typically happens after the inspection. When an inspector has looked at the property, there may be issues with the home that the buyer was not aware of beforehand. They are still buying the property, but if they are fixing any of the repairs themselves, they want that reflected in the final sales price.

If the buyer is getting a mortgage loan to buy your house, the bank will also hire an appraiser to evaluate the property. If there is any discrepancy between the price you and the buyer agreed to and what the appraiser values the house at, there will be a renegotiation over how to bridge the gap between the two numbers.

During the counteroffer and renegotiation period, the key is to establish a baseline for what you are looking for. If you are a buyer, you do not want to spend all your money on the sale and have nothing left over for repairs or renovations. As for the seller, they have an idea of what they need to take away from the property. They will need to communicate that early and often with their Realtor. The more we know, the more we can help you.

If you have any questions about counteroffers or renegotiations that either my team or I can assist you with, please feel free to reach out to us. We look forward to your calls and emails.

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

How to Determine Your Wants and Your Needs When Buying

When looking for your next home, it's important to be able to separate your wants from your needs. 

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When you're looking for a home to buy, it's important to determine both what you need and what you want. Oftentimes, we see homebuyers confuse the two.

One of the first things you need to do is get pre-qualified for a mortgage because most sellers won't even entertain an offer if you don't have a letter of pre-qualification. It also helps narrow your search by keeping you from wasting time looking at homes you can't afford. 

Once you've been pre-qualified, you want to sit down and write out your wants and needs. Your needs list might include a two-car garage, a large yard, a nice school district, and three bedrooms. These items should be non-negotiable, meaning you won't even look at homes that don't fulfill your needs.

Most of your wants will be cosmetic things that can be added later.

Most of your wants are cosmetic. You might want granite or quartz countertops, but a home not having them shouldn't be a deal-breaker. They can always be added later. That's why you need to determine which items you can and can't live without. Examine homes that fill all your needs before you start considering your wants.

If you have any questions about this step or you're thinking about selling or investing in real estate, give us a call or send us an email. We'd love to hear from you!

Monday, March 6, 2017

5 Habits for a Successful Home Purchase

If you’re looking to buy a home this year, you need to start these five habits right now. 

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If you vowed to buy a home this year, it’s time to get moving. Even if you’re months away from hiring an agent and looking at houses, there are things you need to do right now to make your dream of homeownership come true. In fact, there are five habits you need to start now to ensure a smooth transition from renting to owning a home.
Always be ready when you have the opportunity to lock down that perfect home.

     1. Automate your down payment savings.

     2. Build your credit and keep it clear.

     3. Practice living on a budget.

     4. Get your tools and make repairs.

     5. Prepare to pounce on a great deal.

As always, if you’re looking to buy, sell, or invest in real estate, please feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you!