What’s the Best Way to Narrow Down Your Home Search?

Buying a Central or Southwest Virginia Area home? 
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Today we are here to talk about how you can keep track of all the different homes you will be seeing when it comes time to buy. We get asked all the time how we recommend buyers go about this, and we wanted to share our simple system with you today.

In real estate, we aren’t legally allowed to tell you which neighborhoods, streets, and areas are better than others. What we will do, however, is send you all the homes that match your criteria, and you can check them out for yourself and see the kinds of areas they are in. This is a really easy way to get a feel for a neighborhood, one that has available properties that match your search criteria. 

After you take a look for yourself, we will take you to visit any and all of the houses that you want to pursue. We will give you an MLS sheet for every listing, and when you like one, you can keep it and take notes on it. If you don’t like the home, just fold it in half and put it on the clipboard we will provide you.

Our average client looks at 7-10 homes and they are all homes that match their criteria and that they want to see. It’s a really good, simple way to ensure you won’t waste your time looking at homes you don’t want to see, and it will be a good use of your time.

If you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!

 

The Pros and Cons of the Zillow/Trulia Merger

There are many great Lynchburg, Roanoke and New River Valley 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 (540) 278-1401 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

The Pros and Cons of the Zillow/Trulia Merger

If you have been following the news recently, you may have noticed that internet home search giant Zillow has announced that they have purchased their top competitor, Trulia. What does this mean for you and your home search? We are here to answer the question. A lot of people have been discussing the buyout and we are hearing a lot of pros and a lot of cons.

Basically, you have 2 sites here that are owned outside of the real estate industry. Their data is still being gathered by 3rd and 4th parties and isn't near as accurate as that data that a real estate agent can provide you.

Realtors have access to the MLS and sold data. They are local professionals, whereas Zillow and Trulia don't know specific markets. These sites are good at assimilating information by not necessarily good at deciphering it and explaining it to the customer.

A lot of people want to be able to go online and find a source that will do everything for them. But the truth is, your big purchases and large financial investments are important, and it pays to use someone local who knows what they are doing, especially in your area. You want to use people that are responsible and liable so that when decisions are made, they are made by individuals who understand everything about the market in your specific area. You can't make those kinds of decisions in the internet.


If you have any questions about the Zillow/Trulia merger or anything about real estate in general, give us a call or send us an e-mail. We would be happy to answer any question you may have.

Can You Really Trust Zillow?

There are many great Lynchburg, Roanoke and New River Valley 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 (540) 278-1401 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Can You Really Trust Zillow?

In the real estate industry there are a lot people that love Zillow, and also a lot of people that Zillow. Whether you like it or not, Zillow is here to stay. Zillow is like any other company – they want to provide you with good information! However, Zillow does have a disclaimer that states their values can be anywhere from 15-20% off.

This inaccuracy derives from Zillow packaging their information from various sources. Remember, Zillow doesn’t have any office here or anywhere else in Virginia. This prevents Zillow from knowing communities, school systems or the benefits of specific areas. Zillow does have good intentions in sharing their information, but their method does leave room for discrepancies.

Real estate agents and appraisers use the same database – we compile accurate information by using the MLS and sold data from the County Courthouses. If you want an accurate value of what your home is worth, contact a real estate agent. You will even avoid the $450 fee that is charged by appraisers!

Remember, we are the only real estate agent in town at the guarantees the sale of your home. If you have any questions, please give me a call or send me an email. Thanks and have a great day!

Invest Properties: Act Now While Interest Rates and Property Values Are Low!

There are many great Lynchburg, Roanoke and New River Valley homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search in Roanoke and New River Valley and here for a full home search in Lynchburg, 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 (540) 278-1401 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Why Now is a Great Time to Invest in Real Estate 

Now is a great time to pursue investment properties; interest rates are low and so are property values. There is a much larger profit margin in regards to investment properties in comparison to 5-6 years ago. If you are looking into investment properties, I strongly suggest that you to find a real estate agent that will take the time to advise you.

You need to look at what properties are going to rent for versus what you will pay for them; too many people jump into the rental game and find out that rent won’t support the monthly payment. A good realtor will take the time to sit down with you, take the time to explain the process, set you up with a lender that will explain the process and make sure that your purchase will put you in the “green”, not the “red.”

If you have any questions about purchasing investment properties, or just buying and selling in general, feel free to call me or send me an email. Thanks and have a great day!