Why Hire a Buyer's Agent to Find Your Next Home?

When buying a home, what are the benefits of working with a buyer's agent? The benefits stretch far beyond what you'd get by simply calling the number of a 'for sale' sign at a house you're interested in.

Looking to buy in Greater Lansing?  Perform a full home search

 Looking to sell in Greater Lansing? Get a Home Price Evaluation

In this week's edition of Mac Facts, we wanted to teach a little bit about buyer's agents and the benefits of hiring one when buying a home.

When looking for a home, many people will find one they like and just call the person listed on the 'for sale' sign. There's nothing wrong with that, but the person you're calling represents the seller and their best interests. They'd be happy to work with you, but their primary commitment is to the seller.

Buyer's agents work exclusively with the buyer. On our team, buyer's agents get to know you and what you want in your next home. We build a relationship so you're comfortable with us both professionally and as someone you'll spend a lot of time with.

A buyer's agent will be very knowledgeable about the homes in your desired area and they're generally always available to you. If there's a home you have a question about or would like to see in person, you can always call the buyer's agent.

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Working with a buyer's agent is a true partnership.

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They will also pull comparable home sales for buyers so they can be sure the value of the home you're looking to buy matches what they want it to be. It's all about working in partnership with a buyer to help them find exactly what they want and negotiate the best possible deal to benefit everyone.

From there, a buyer's agent will work with you in tandem to get through inspections, appraisals, loan underwriting, and getting you through to the closing table so we can get you the home you love.

If you have any other questions about buyer's agent or you're thinking about buying a home in the Lansing market, don't hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We'd be happy to help however we can.

This Week on Mac Facts: It’s Time to Buy

On this episode of “Mac Facts” we’re talking about why it’s time to buy a home.

Looking to buy in Greater Lansing?  Perform a full home search

 Looking to sell in Greater Lansing? Get a Home Price Evaluation

Welcome to this week’s edition of “Mac Facts!” Today we’ll cover why now is the best time to buy a home. 

There is no doubt that now is a great time to buy. Inventory is starting to grow and there are a lot more home sellers calling us to list their homes. 

The market will be flush with inventory as we get closer to spring, so if you’re a seller, you might want to list early and avoid the competition.

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The market will be flush with inventory as we get closer to spring.

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Our average days on market is at about 60 days, which is good, and we are seeing a lot of multiple offers on properties.

If you are looking to take advantage of the current market as a buyer, we have some great buyer’s agents that can get you started on finding that dream home. 

As always, if you’re looking to buy or sell a home or if you have any real estate-related questions, please don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We are here to help and look forward to hearing from you.

Refinance Appraisal Vs. Regular Appraisals

Many times homeowners think that the value that they get back from a refinance appraisal is their home’s true value. Most times, this just isn’t the case.

Looking to buy in Greater Lansing?  Perform a full home search

 Looking to sell in Greater Lansing? Get a Home Price Evaluation

The market is booming here in Michigan, and today I’m joining you from one of the many listing appointments that I’ve been on lately. I’ve noticed that many people at these listings are actually showing me values that they’ve gotten from refinance appraisals, so I just wanted to break down the ways in which refinance appraisals differ today.

In a refinance appraisal, the bottom line is that the bank wants to lend you money no matter what. Because of this, the refinance appraisal is probably going to come in a little bit higher than a traditional appraisal would.

This is important to know because some home sellers see the amount that their house appraised for on the refinance appraisal and expect that it represents the true value of their home. Sometimes this just isn’t true.

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A refinance appraisal isn’t the same as a sale appraisal.

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It’s important to understand that a refinance appraisal isn’t the same as a sale appraisal and that the type of appraisal you get on your property largely depends on the type of loan that’s going to finance the sale of the property. The refinance appraisal will usually be higher than the other types of appraisals because it is in the bank’s best interest to loan you money and make sure that the property appraises at a high price.

If you have any other questions about appraisals or obtaining a loan, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!

The Secret to Home Buying Success in Lansing

Looking to buy in Greater Lansing?  Perform a full home search

 Looking to sell in Greater Lansing? Get a Home Price Evaluation

If you’re looking to buy a home in Lansing, look no further than our team for the expertise you need to get the job done correctly. We have nine full-time buyer’s agents. They ask the best questions in order to get to know you and your specific situation so that they can get you into the perfect home. At the end of the day, they do all they can to find something that will truly make you happy and will keep your best interests at heart throughout the process to ensure you accomplish your goals.

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Everyone has different goals and expectations when they enter the buying process.

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Everyone has different goals and expectations when they enter the buying process, and our agents know that. More importantly, they understand that the area and neighborhood are what you buy first and the home is what you buy second. There’s a process involved, and our agents excel at setting expectations and walking our buyers through it step-by-step. Our ultimate goal is to get you into a home that we can get you out of later on.

If you have questions about how we can help you accomplish your buying goals, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We would love to hear from you!

You Need to Hire a Buyer’s Agent in Lansing

Looking to buy in Greater Lansing?  Perform a full home search

 Looking to sell in Greater Lansing? Get a Home Price Evaluation

Today I want to talk to all the buyers out there. No matter if you’re a first, second or third-time buyer, I have an important message for you today.

My office has a fully dedicated staff of buyer’s agents that no one else in this area has. I have nine full-time buyer’s agents that are handpicked by myself and some of the best in the business. If you’re a first-time buyer and aren’t sure how the process works or what you should be doing in order to have a successful purchase, this is a great place to start.

 
Our buyer’s agents are dedicated to helping all of our clients from the initial conversation all the way to the closing table. If you’re on the fence about hiring a buyer’s agent, you shouldn’t be. You need a buyer’s agent if you want to purchase a home in Lansing. Going through a listing agent just isn’t smart, as they have the interests of the seller in mind first and foremost. You need this kind of help too, and that’s where a buyer’s agent comes in.

If you have any questions for us, or are thinking about buying a home, give us a call or send us an email. We’d love to have a conversation. Talk to you soon!

Why You Should Use a Buyer’s Agent in Grand River

Looking to buy in Greater Lansing?  Perform a full home search

 Looking to sell in Greater Lansing? Get a Home Price Evaluation

Today, we’ll talk about why you should utilize a buyer’s agent. Because I’ve been strictly a seller’s agent for the past six or seven years, many people come to me looking for a good bargain. It’s amazing how many buyers think they’ll immediately score a deal with a client solely because I am the listing agent. This is not true.

I definitely have a responsibility for sellers and have their best interests at heart. Unfortunately, I am not in the buyer’s interest. 
However, we have nine well-educated buyer’s agents in our office. They do a phenomenal job in the home buying process. That’s what you need, instead of someone that burns the candle on both sides of the process. You need a buyer’s agent, not a seller’s agent. Utilize their expertise!

My advice to you is to get a qualified agent. Look for someone with experience and knowledge. We have many in our office in Grand River, Michigan. Give us a call at 517-999-2675 if you would like to learn more. Have a great day!

What's the Secret to a Successful Lansing Home Sale?

Looking to buy in Greater Lansing?  Perform a full home search, 

 Looking to sell in Greater Lansing? Get a Home Price Evaluation

Today, I want to talk about the seven "C's" of real estate when it comes to selling your Lansing home for the most money!

Curb appeal: You have about nine seconds to get a buyer to react positively to your home. Make sure the front of the house pops!

Clutter: If your home is cluttered, it's going to feel much smaller. Declutter surfaces and ensure the space feels open.

Cleanliness: Homeowners are going to react negatively to a dirty home. You want it to be sparkling and like-new.

Countertops: This goes hand-in-hand with decluttering. The cleaner the countertops, the larger your kitchen will look!

Closets: Make sure your closets look spacious, as potential buyers will be looking in them to get a feel for how much space they will have.

Color: If you have wild colors in your home, be sure to paint over them with neutral colors before listing. You want your home to appeal to as many people as possible.

Critters: We all love our pets, but guests can often smell them when we can't. Try to neutralize those odors when you're preparing to sell.

If you would like a detailed copy of this list to help you get your home ready for the market, don't hesitate to give us a call or shoot us an email. I would love to hear from you!

How to Find the Best Possible Lansing Home

Looking to buy in Greater Lansing?  Perform a full home search, 

 Looking to sell in Greater Lansing? Get a Home Price Evaluation

Since the Lansing market is awfully competitive right now, there's no better time to discuss the buyer's wish list, and how to go about putting one together.

In just about every real estate transaction, we work with our buyers to find out what qualities of a home are of the highest priority. Is location, neighborhood, school district, home size, or something else the top priority? With every home purchase comes a compromise.

Just know going into a real estate deal that you may have to give up some things. Some people know exactly what they want and what they can live without, while for others it takes a long time to decide. It really depends on your preferences as a homeowner!

Always remember that the perfect home isn't out there, but we can help you find something close. If you would like our assistance, or if you have real estate questions of any kind, give us a call or shoot us an email. We would love to help!

Where Can You Find Reliable Market Data for Lansing?

Looking to buy in Greater Lansing?  Perform a full home search,
Looking to sell in Greater Lansing? Get a Home Price Evaluation

Around 2006 or so, Zillow started to make an impact on the real estate world. Nowadays, there are many websites that provide a wealth of information about the real estate market.

It's great that information is more accessible than ever before, but you need to be aware that not everything you see online is accurate. Especially when it comes to buying a home, you need to meet with an agent if you want to be sure you are making the right decision.
 
We recommend having a free consultation with us, so we can go over the buying process from start to finish. There are a lot of things you can find online, but nothing compares to the expertise and experience of a real estate professional. Your best resource is a consultation with a trained real estate agent, especially if you don't want to pay more for a home than it's worth.

For the most reliable Lansing real estate information, give us a call or shoot us a quick email. We're always here to help, and we would love to hear from you!

Why Is Now the Time to Make Your Move?

Looking to buy in Greater Lansing?  Perform a full home search,

 Looking to sell in Greater Lansing? Get a free home price evaluation

Is it just us, or does 2015 seem to be flying by? It's mid-March already, and the warm weather is finally starting to return to the Lansing area. 

The weather isn't the only thing to be happy about: now is a great time to put your home on the market! If you've been waiting for an ideal time to get the right price for your home, the spring and summer market is the best time to do just that. There's so much market activity that we actually have an extra person on hand to help us handle all of our listings!

We expect people to keep coming to the market, so the sooner you list your home, the better. Competition is only going to increase the longer you wait, so we recommend listing soon! If you're interested in making the most of the market, give us a call or shoot us a quick email. We would love to help you accomplish your selling goals!

How Can You Find the Perfect Neighborhood When Buying?

There are many Greater Lansing area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (517) 999-2675 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

One of the most important decisions people will make in their lifetime is to buy or sell a home. The number one priority is typically the neighborhood: Is it Safe? Is it close to good schools? What are the neighbors like? These questions really show that neighborhoods are as critical as the home itself. 

It's really important you get to know the neighborhood before moving to it. You can't learn about an unfamiliar neighborhood without physically visiting it. Get out, take a look around, and talk to the locals about the neighborhood in question to get a good feel for it. 

Bottom line: location is everything. When making one of the biggest investments of your life, you need to hit the pavement and walk the neighborhood of interest. That way, you can know for sure how you feel about the area and can be confident you'll be able to build good equity in the neighborhood.

If you have any questions about this topic, or would like assistance of any kind in real estate, don't hesitate to give me a call or shoot me a quick email. I would love to help you make informed decisions in our marketplace! 

Thanks, and have a wonderful day!