Remember the good old days a few years ago when you could put your house on the market
and within a few weeks it sold for more than you asked? Those days are sadly gone and the new reality is homes are not selling at the break neck speed they once did. The home mortgage crisis has definitely changed how the real estate market works and has made it more necessary than ever to have a full service agent who understands the new wrinkles in the real estate market.
One new wrinkle is the new stimulus package passed by the Obama administration gives first time home buyers an $8,500 incentive to buy a home coupled with relatively low interest rates that have made it more attractive for consumers to venture back into the real estate market.
A real estate agent who understands the new buyer program can help guide potential buyers through the paperwork and pitfalls of the system and be a valuable resource to future home buyers.
For those who are trying to sell their homes in this market it is just as important for you to have a full service real estate agent as it is for a buyer to have one. Your agent does more than just host occasional open houses and post flyers. You should expect your agent to represent you with any potential buyers, draw up a legally binding contract and try to get the best price possible for your home as they guide you through offers and counter offers.
Even with the best agent though your home may not sale as quickly as you would like or need it to and for some home owners this means being forced to relocate without a sale in place for a job.
A full service agency can often act as a property management company as well able to lease out your home while it is on the market so you don't have to pay a full mortgage on an empty home. Acting as your management company your real estate agent can ensure a potential tenant is fully screened and understands the need to have the home ready for showings at set times. This can be vital in today's market when potential buyers have more homes available than ever before to choose from. A tenant who makes a home off limits may keep your mortgage cost down with rent but they are also making a home sale slower if not impossible.
Clearly as the market becomes more complex the need to have a full service real estate agent who fully understands how to work in the best interest of buyers, sellers and even leasers becomes more important than ever before.