What If You Find a For Sale by Owner?
Beware of the temptation to call the number on a For Sale By Owner (FSBO) sign when looking to buy a home. This seemingly convenient option can actually work against you in several ways, particularly by giving away sensitive information that your agent wouldn't want disclosed. When dealing with a FSBO, they have no legal obligation to keep your information confidential or prioritize your interests. While it may seem appealing to negotiate directly with the seller, keep in mind that your REALTOR® is a professional who can provide you with valuable insights and potentially secure an even better deal for you. FSBOs often lack access to recent sales data, which, combined with their pride in their home, can lead to buyers overpaying for a property. Of course, exceptions to this scenario exist, but it's important to remember that your agent's role is to safeguard your interests. So, instead of making direct contact with a FSBO, simply make note of their contact details and pass it on to your trusted agent, who will not only help you find a home but also ensure a successful purchase. Looking for the right place in New Orleans to call home? We’ve got them all, right here. Thousands of homes for sale, experienced agents, and someone waiting to help you today. Call us at 504-327-5303
Should Home Buyers Write Love Letters to Sellers?
Should buyers write letters to home sellers? In a hot real estate market, buyers sometimes feel tempted to include a letter with their offer. It's a way to express their love for the house and their desire to turn it into a home of their own. Agents often encourage this letter-writing campaign, suggesting it as a method to make your offer stand out amidst multiple offers. The good Writing a letter to a homeowner helps humanize you as buyers in the eyes of the seller. It transforms you from just a name on a purchase agreement into a real, live person or family. Making yourself stand out from the crowd can't be a bad thing, right? Read on. The bad Including photos and personal information in your letter is a potential Fair Housing violation. If a seller based their decision on anything related to a protected class (race, color, religion, sex, familial status, or national origin), it could lead to trouble. A responsible agent shouldn't encourage you to offer information that might be used for discrimination. An even more cautious listing agent would refuse to accept or present the letter, avoiding any appearance of impropriety. We strongly advise against participating in this practice, as fair housing violations can result in hefty penalties starting from $10,000. How can you make your offer stand out? If you know you'll be competing with other buyers, focus on writing the strongest offer right from the start. In the end, the bottom line is the only thing the seller should consider.
Finding Your New Orleans Home is the Easy Part
Finding your New Orleans home is the easy part When you start your next home search, you’ll probably be all over the place. Realtor.com. Zillow. Various national brokerage websites. Some local real estate sites. Your hunt is on, and you're in the zone as you explore new listings, price reductions, open houses, and spread the word that you're eager to find your next place. With so many options to consider, you might find yourself spending hours, days, and even weeks exploring different types of homes and neighborhoods. Perhaps you're lucky to have a fantastic REALTOR showing you around, and your lunch breaks are now spent touring potential homes. But here's the thing – the real work starts once you find the right house. What happens after you find the right house is when the hard work begins Just getting your offer written and accepted could be a post of it’s own, but there are so many moving parts to a real estate transaction. Several people have to do their job correctly, because even one of them dropping the ball can delay everyone else – and your closing. Once you've found that perfect place, the journey continues with a checklist of tasks: - Negotiating offer price, terms, and closing date- Submitting your deposit- Scheduling and attending home inspections- Negotiating any necessary repairs- Choosing a title company and opening your file- Providing contract terms and deadlines to your mortgage lender- Battling a hint of buyer's remorse and getting reassured (it happens!)- Scheduling and attending the appraisal- Impatiently waiting for final loan approval- Coordinating the act of sale with the lender, title company, agents, and sellers- Scheduling packing and movers- Transferring utilities As you can see, there's a lot to handle. If the hard work is neglected, you might find yourself back online, browsing through listings for the *next* house. But here's the good news: we have a plan to guide you through this challenging part with absolute ease. Don't hesitate to call us today! Need home buying help? Call us at 504-327-5303
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