Why is it best to use a real estate agent when selling your home?

A homeowner will always have an attachment to their own home which will cause them to set a price for their home that might be unrealistic. The worse thing that can happen with an overpriced home is that it will sit on the market for a very long time. A potential buyer will get the wrong idea if they see that a home has been on the market for a long time. The homeowner will neglect to complete necessary home improvements that could possibly bring more value to their home. A homeowner will have limited ability to advertise their home fully. An agent will have company websites and local MLS services that puts the listing on larger networks to share with other agents that will more than likely attract a buyer. The agent has been trained and equipped with the knowledge to understand the market and the selling process to get the house sold for the price that is comparable with the market in the homeowners area. The agent would compare the recently sold and the current listed properties to set the realistic price for the home. They would be taking all the stress and weight off of the homeowner to get results that they might not be able to get if they try to sell on their own.

Takia Walker
Real Estate Professional
Fairfax Realty, Inc.

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Why should a purchaser take advantage of a buyer's market?

A buyer's market is a market that has more more houses for sale than buyer's. Home prices are lower, which means mortgages are lower. Property taxes are lower, which means it helps to keep the mortgage lower, if taxes are included in escrow. Interest rates are lower, which means lower mortgage. So from the sound of it, you can save more money when purchasing a home now, in this buyer's market. Many sellers are offering more incentives in order to sell their homes now, which a purchase can reap the benefit of. Many sellers are paying more closing costs now, just to sell. You also have the advantage of buying a more expensive house for a lower price. Financing has been stiffened and is more difficult to obtain in today's market. Many banks and mortgage companies have created programs for the individuals that have the income but don't have perfect credit. You will still need to have fairly decent credit and meet other guidelines as well, to qualify. There are many down payment assistance programs available to assist, if you qualify. The market will not stay this way forever. Eventually, home prices and interest rates will rise again and then the great advantage to buy will be over. Don't miss out on your opportunity to own with a low interest rate and a low purchase price of a home that would already have equity years later when the market picks up.