Register Real Estate Advisors

Do you need to sell your home? Are you planning to purchase a home in the Houston area? Either way, now is a great time! Right now, interest rates remain low. Indictors predict they will be rising soon. So now might be the best time to purchase before rates go up. If you have good credit, stable income, and a down payment, it’s even a good time to qualify for a loan. In general, it’s usually more cost effective to buy rather than lease a home right now. On the other hand, if you are selling, it’s nice to know our Houston area home prices have not fluctuated a lot like the homes on a national level have gone down. According to the MLS, home prices are actually up now compared to last year at this time. The amount of inventory on the market has reduced, so there’s less competition on the market now. It’s a great time to consider buying or selling a home in the Houston area! Right now you can purchase more home for less money – so if you have been thinking about making a move – now could be the very best time! Call RREA today to find an agent that can meet all of your buying and selling needs.
There are a few things to consider when purchasing a home. You will need to consider factors like your finances, what areas of town you prefer to live in, proximity to your employment, and where you like to socialize. At RREA, our in house lender can pre-qualify you for your next home within twenty four hours. You can apply online anytime through our website.
Your lender will print off a list of your purchasing costs. Use that to compare lenders based on interest rates, fees, monthly expenses, and upfront costs. Our in house lender has a track record for saving our clients money on purchases. He works closely with our Realtors to find the best mortgage for your buying needs. It will take time to compile all of the necessary documents, so plan with your lender before the purchase. Lenders are asking for a lot of additional documentation these days.
The bottom line is that although now is a great time to buy or sell a home – you need someone on your side protecting your best interest. You need someone who understands the changes going on with new complicated laws, regulations, and a more conservative mortgage industry. The Realtors at RREA are very well educated on this changing market and can help protect you and maximize your savings when buying or selling a home.

There is a formula to selling in this market:  Passion + Technology = SOLD.  It is working for my sellers.  Allow me to elaborate.

First, the house must be findable and appealing online because that is where 87% of the buyers start their home search.  This is essential to maximizing the value of your home in a timely manner.  It is not enough to simply add your home into the Multiple Listing Service. It is no longer enough to simply have “curb appeal,”  it must have “google appeal” as well and be search engine optimized and key word search-able for the scarce qualified buyer to find your home.  Professional quality pictures and video tours help turn visitors on the web pages into offers on your home.  As a Social Media Pro and ePro Realtor, I have geared my training to help me improve my web marketing and website to showcase listings with photos, videos, and information about the property that is trickled out to over 40 websites.  Social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn also add to the listing’s “web footprint” and increase the odds of the right qualified buyer finding it.  I don’t leave the sale of your home to chance, I put it in front of buyers as well as the Realtors in the North West Houston area via e-fliers. 

Bottom line – my online marketing is proven to sell houses. I offer online home tours via videos and comprehensive real estate news and data and distribute this information through multiple channels. I am committed to cutting edge technology that improves your bottom line in real estate transactions.

Relocating to the area? With the tools for your research on my website, you can make a decision on a home without traveling or with a few days visit. I have recognized and responded to today’s consumer by staying on top of the market and the internet technology that ensures their home stands out from the crowd in any market. That’s why I can honestly tell my clients that Passion + Technology = SOLD.

Second, Passionate about Real Estate.  One of the ways I chose to drive traffic to my website is by writing my blog.  I have been awarded “The Best Real Estate Blog in Texas” according to The Mays Business School and Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University. 

To sell in this market, you must have a Realtor that knows the market and knows that in a down market, marketing and packaging matters.  Don’t let my use of technology intimidate you if you’re not a social media bug, just use it to sell your home.  I continue to use the traditional Realtor marketing techniques as well.  My marketing plan is proven to work even in a down market.  If you need to sell your home, call me for the help it is going to require to sell in this economy.  I’d love to help you and since I am a relocation specialist, I can help you relocate to anywhere in the world.  Of course, I think Texas is the best place to live.

Let me start by telling you how NOT to pick a real estate agent. Do not call a real estate company and pick the first agent that answers the phone. Don’t let a relocation company assign an agent to you.

Is that how you’d pick a doctor, a dentist, or even an item you’re buying?

There are many real estate companies and many real estate agents. All agents are not Realtors.  Only Realtors are members of the National Association of Realtors.  Carefully select the agent you are going to use. Buying or selling a home is a big decision. Selling is the most important because how the agent markets your home will be the difference between selling and sitting on the market showing and never selling. After your home sits on the market for a year without selling, it becomes increasingly harder to sell and you are most likely not going to maximize your value after sitting on the market for over a year.  Plus, you’re going to be really frustrated!  Do some homework on the internet and figure out who specializes in your area. If you are moving out of town, ask a trusted Realtor for a referral to an agent that specializes in the market you are moving to.

It amazes me how many people walk into a builder’s model home and look at what they offer and pick a house and sign a contract. STOP! You have no representation when you do that. You have no one looking out for your best interest or reading the fine lines in the contract or negotiating a better deal for you or asking hard questions on your behalf.

The reputation, distrust and dislike for Realtors in our culture pains me. Unlike car sales man and investment bankers, we actually have to follow a strict code of conduct. We actually have a duty to disclose information to our clients.  We have to follow high standards, but it is our service that varies between agents.

When you need a Realtor there are several things you should think about. First, why do you need a Realtor? If you are a buyer your main concerns should be with finding an agent that knows the market where you are moving and can find you the property that meets your search criteria. If you are a seller, you will want a Realtor that can price the house right, has an outstanding marketing plan and negotiating skills. You want that Realtor to get your home sold in the least amount of time and maximize your value.  Ask them about their Realtor designations, education level, continuing education, their broker, their communication style, availability, and what services they can offer you.  Negotiating skills are also very important.

Many real estate companies have a phone desk at their office where people call in about houses and agents are answering the phone. I sit on “property desk” a few hours every month.  Sometimes buyers call in, they make an appointment, and we go see the property. Then they buy it. They just randomly called in and happened to get a me – a good agent.  But there are bad agents out there and I always think about the fact that they could have gotten a bad agent. You want an agent that will truely represent your needs and work for you in your best interest.  You want someone that will keep you updated and stay in communication.  Buying or selling a home is a big decision. Don’t leave it to chance. Choose a Realtor that you will enjoy working with that has been educated and is a leader in the real estate industry.

Nomatter where you live, if you need help choosing a good agent, call me. I can help you find a good agent nomatter where you live or where you’re moving to. I have built a great network of Realtors that I trust to take great care of my clients. If you are buying or selling in The Woodlands, Spring, or anywhere in Northwest Houston, I’d like to help you about your real estate needs. Google my name and read about me on my website.  I offer informative videos, information, news, and you can search the entire Houston Multiple Listing Service on my site.  I want you to have the best real estate representation you can get, so don’t leave your home buying and selling to chance.  Call me today to see how I can help you Buy or Sell.

832.628.SELL – Direct  

Sellers, Check out BuyandSellwithShannon.com/Sell
Buyers, Check out BuyandSellwithShannon.com/Buy