Upcoming Free (& non-promotional) Home Buyer Classes:
Saturday, March 4th , from 9am-12pm (ish)
Marshall Community Center, conference room
1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd, Vancouver WA (kitty corner from Clark College)
Monday,March13th, from 5pm-8pm (ish)
Marshall Community Center, conference room
1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd, Vancouver WA (kitty corner from Clark College)
Saturday, March 18th, from 12pm-3pm (ish)
Vancouver YMCA, conference room
11324 NE 51st Circle, Vancouver WA (corner of SR500 & Gher Road/112th Ave)
If these class dates and/or times don't work for you, please let us know. We understand that you have lives, and families, and work. We will work something out that works better with your schedule. Just let us know....
....we also have home seller classes available too...link on left on website
Remember...with reservation...we will throw in lunch, or dinner! :-D
~~~~~~~~~
Hi!
Happy Sunday....well... happy snow showers of the unending winter? Anyhow... I have faith that spring is coming for us all. Why? Because it always does, and sometimes after winters like this one, it comes in gloriously with sunshine and smiles, and we are all grateful! The frogs are also beginning to sing and that is always a good sign that spring is also on its way....and...well, there is another sure sign that spring is coming, and that is OPEN HOUSES!
What is an Open House?
An open house is where and agent sits in a home that is currently on the market and allows the public in to see the home without an agent coming in with those people. There are pros and cons of open houses though....and there are things you should know about them BEFORE you walk over the threshold of the open house.
Why do Realtors hold Open Houses?
I know this seems like a dumb question because you would think that an agent holds the house open so they can get offers on it, and get it sold...right? Well, surprisingly, that is actually wrong. What if I told you that with the lack of current inventory most homes already have offers on it when the home is being held as an open house? I know...crazy, right? So why would a realtor hold an open house at a home that already has offers on it? I got one word for you.... Leads... otherwise known as marketing. So how does this work? Well, you see an open house ad, you go to the open house. Inside the home is an agent...usually this is a new agent who has offered to hold the home open for the sellers agent. Sometimes this is another agent on the sellers agent team, and rarely...but occasionally it is the listing agent themselves. There may be cookies, maybe bottles of water, there will be the agents cards, and flyers regarding the home. Sometimes there will be a lender, or lenders information there. What is always there is a 'sign up sheet'. The agent at the open house will request you to sign the open house log. The agent holding the house open is going to hope you give them your name, number, or phone number. The agent holding the home open is hoping to engage you in conversation, and hoping for the opportunity to work for you in your home buying, or selling adventure. For many new agents this is a great way to 'get their feet wet', and hopefully get some new clients. Open houses, especially in a sellers market as we are in, are a proven marketing strategy to get potential buyers information, and hopefully some new clients. So, you see... open houses are fun to walk through, but surprisingly they really are not done for the seller, or the sellers home...but for the agents marketing. If you are working with a realtor (I'm always available!), be sure to let the agent on site know, and be sure to call your agent with any questions you have about the home, or a potential offer you might want to make. In many cases that agent on site, at the open house, has a first duty to the seller. YOUR agent has a first duty to you. Always address any concerns you have regarding a home, the process, the paperwork, an area, or whatever WITH your agent. We can't help you if we don't know your concerns. Communication really is the most important thing in any relationship...and remember real estate isn't about selling homes...I mean, well, it is, but it is MOSTLY about creating relationships with our clients as we navigate through the real estate process. We are here to HELP you, but we don't know how to do that if we are not talking. Real estate is like any other relationship... we need to communicate, talk, and listen.
I thought you said the market had slowed down Tracie!
Yes, a couple of weeks ago/month ago, I had said we were in a slow patch because of the weather. Snow is not something we deal with well in Washington, but rain? Meh...it's just water. We still have a distinct lack of homes for sale on the market, and as we head into spring (it's going to be coming still, right?), we will get more homes on the market, but we are also going to see more and more buyers. It is tax season, and while for me that means giving old Uncle Sam a pound of flesh, for many people it means tax refunds that can be used for earnest money, inspections, appraisals, and down payments. Spring selling season really is a 'thing'. It is also when many people like to put their homes on the market because yards are prettier, and it means it is easier to move as the weather gets better. We are still seeing multiple offers on many homes, and they are moving very quickly. I don't like change personally... I need to sit and chew on big decisions like a bone...and worry about a million things that may not ever happen. That's just what I do. So, for people like me, this is a more difficult market because homes are moving very quickly...especially in certain price ranges. Just remember that this is YOUR home adventure...no one else's. If you are in doubt...don't. Houses come on the market all the time. You just got to hang in there.... and have patience and faith. :-)
Spring Inspections
One of the best reasons for buying in spring is because of the rain. We do live in a wet climate (I know...Captain Obvious here), so doing a home inspection during this type of weather is ideal for any possible water & leakage issues. Remember though...as I said last week, you don't really know a home until YOU are the one living in it. Make sure you get a home warranty.
Ok... it's now very late on Sunday night...in fact, I think it is actually Monday morning so I think I am going to get this to you later today because my brain is turning into mush. :-) So much for getting this out on time this week! LOL
As always, please contact me anytime with any questions, and how I can HELP you. I'd love for the opportunity to be able to help you buy (or sell) your home.
Information is power, and I hope that I am able to help you. Good luck, and as always...May the odds be ever in your favor out there.... AND If you are looking for a real estate agent, I would love to be able to help you.
As always....this is just a quick overview.... again...and I can't say this enough...please remember that your agent is NOT a salesperson, and should not be acting like one. Real Estate is not really about houses, it is about relationships. Your agent, and your lender work for YOU. You drive the bus...we are merely GPS to help you get to your goals. Like the classes, this weekly blog email is to help you with your home adventure. The goal is to be informative and non-promotional. :-) We are, however, hoping you will call and want us to help with your adventure.
If you have any questions about this, or something you have heard...or if you would like me to help you with your home adventure, please call, email, text, or facebook me anytime. I am, as always, happy to help!
Thank you again for your business and your referrals!! ...and thank you for referring these classes to your friends, family, and co-workers.
. ..disclaimer...if you have already purchased a home, or would no longer like to receive these emails, please let me know and I will be happy to remove you from any further mailings...
Upcoming Topics: What are the 'Hidden' Costs of Buying a Home? .....
What if I don't have a Down Payment? ..... &....
What happens after an offer is made?
Last Week: What are Closing costs?
Have a great day, and I will talk to you soon,
;-D
Tracie DeMars
Real Estate broker
Re/Max - Van Mall
360/ 903-3504 cell
360/ 882-3600 fax
www.traciedemars.com
traciedemars@aol.com
“Interested in free and non promotional home education classes? Go to www.freehomebuyerclasses.com for local upcoming home buyer and home SELLER classes, or facebook: Tracie DeMars Real Estate for my home buyer education blog.”
"Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be."
- Shel Silverstein, American poet, cartoonist and composer, (1930 - 1999).
Saturday, March 4th , from 9am-12pm (ish)
Marshall Community Center, conference room
1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd, Vancouver WA (kitty corner from Clark College)
Monday,March13th, from 5pm-8pm (ish)
Marshall Community Center, conference room
1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd, Vancouver WA (kitty corner from Clark College)
Saturday, March 18th, from 12pm-3pm (ish)
Vancouver YMCA, conference room
11324 NE 51st Circle, Vancouver WA (corner of SR500 & Gher Road/112th Ave)
If these class dates and/or times don't work for you, please let us know. We understand that you have lives, and families, and work. We will work something out that works better with your schedule. Just let us know....
....we also have home seller classes available too...link on left on website
Remember...with reservation...we will throw in lunch, or dinner! :-D
~~~~~~~~~
Hi!
Happy Sunday....well... happy snow showers of the unending winter? Anyhow... I have faith that spring is coming for us all. Why? Because it always does, and sometimes after winters like this one, it comes in gloriously with sunshine and smiles, and we are all grateful! The frogs are also beginning to sing and that is always a good sign that spring is also on its way....and...well, there is another sure sign that spring is coming, and that is OPEN HOUSES!
What is an Open House?
An open house is where and agent sits in a home that is currently on the market and allows the public in to see the home without an agent coming in with those people. There are pros and cons of open houses though....and there are things you should know about them BEFORE you walk over the threshold of the open house.
Why do Realtors hold Open Houses?
I know this seems like a dumb question because you would think that an agent holds the house open so they can get offers on it, and get it sold...right? Well, surprisingly, that is actually wrong. What if I told you that with the lack of current inventory most homes already have offers on it when the home is being held as an open house? I know...crazy, right? So why would a realtor hold an open house at a home that already has offers on it? I got one word for you.... Leads... otherwise known as marketing. So how does this work? Well, you see an open house ad, you go to the open house. Inside the home is an agent...usually this is a new agent who has offered to hold the home open for the sellers agent. Sometimes this is another agent on the sellers agent team, and rarely...but occasionally it is the listing agent themselves. There may be cookies, maybe bottles of water, there will be the agents cards, and flyers regarding the home. Sometimes there will be a lender, or lenders information there. What is always there is a 'sign up sheet'. The agent at the open house will request you to sign the open house log. The agent holding the house open is going to hope you give them your name, number, or phone number. The agent holding the home open is hoping to engage you in conversation, and hoping for the opportunity to work for you in your home buying, or selling adventure. For many new agents this is a great way to 'get their feet wet', and hopefully get some new clients. Open houses, especially in a sellers market as we are in, are a proven marketing strategy to get potential buyers information, and hopefully some new clients. So, you see... open houses are fun to walk through, but surprisingly they really are not done for the seller, or the sellers home...but for the agents marketing. If you are working with a realtor (I'm always available!), be sure to let the agent on site know, and be sure to call your agent with any questions you have about the home, or a potential offer you might want to make. In many cases that agent on site, at the open house, has a first duty to the seller. YOUR agent has a first duty to you. Always address any concerns you have regarding a home, the process, the paperwork, an area, or whatever WITH your agent. We can't help you if we don't know your concerns. Communication really is the most important thing in any relationship...and remember real estate isn't about selling homes...I mean, well, it is, but it is MOSTLY about creating relationships with our clients as we navigate through the real estate process. We are here to HELP you, but we don't know how to do that if we are not talking. Real estate is like any other relationship... we need to communicate, talk, and listen.
I thought you said the market had slowed down Tracie!
Yes, a couple of weeks ago/month ago, I had said we were in a slow patch because of the weather. Snow is not something we deal with well in Washington, but rain? Meh...it's just water. We still have a distinct lack of homes for sale on the market, and as we head into spring (it's going to be coming still, right?), we will get more homes on the market, but we are also going to see more and more buyers. It is tax season, and while for me that means giving old Uncle Sam a pound of flesh, for many people it means tax refunds that can be used for earnest money, inspections, appraisals, and down payments. Spring selling season really is a 'thing'. It is also when many people like to put their homes on the market because yards are prettier, and it means it is easier to move as the weather gets better. We are still seeing multiple offers on many homes, and they are moving very quickly. I don't like change personally... I need to sit and chew on big decisions like a bone...and worry about a million things that may not ever happen. That's just what I do. So, for people like me, this is a more difficult market because homes are moving very quickly...especially in certain price ranges. Just remember that this is YOUR home adventure...no one else's. If you are in doubt...don't. Houses come on the market all the time. You just got to hang in there.... and have patience and faith. :-)
Spring Inspections
One of the best reasons for buying in spring is because of the rain. We do live in a wet climate (I know...Captain Obvious here), so doing a home inspection during this type of weather is ideal for any possible water & leakage issues. Remember though...as I said last week, you don't really know a home until YOU are the one living in it. Make sure you get a home warranty.
Ok... it's now very late on Sunday night...in fact, I think it is actually Monday morning so I think I am going to get this to you later today because my brain is turning into mush. :-) So much for getting this out on time this week! LOL
As always, please contact me anytime with any questions, and how I can HELP you. I'd love for the opportunity to be able to help you buy (or sell) your home.
Information is power, and I hope that I am able to help you. Good luck, and as always...May the odds be ever in your favor out there.... AND If you are looking for a real estate agent, I would love to be able to help you.
As always....this is just a quick overview.... again...and I can't say this enough...please remember that your agent is NOT a salesperson, and should not be acting like one. Real Estate is not really about houses, it is about relationships. Your agent, and your lender work for YOU. You drive the bus...we are merely GPS to help you get to your goals. Like the classes, this weekly blog email is to help you with your home adventure. The goal is to be informative and non-promotional. :-) We are, however, hoping you will call and want us to help with your adventure.
If you have any questions about this, or something you have heard...or if you would like me to help you with your home adventure, please call, email, text, or facebook me anytime. I am, as always, happy to help!
Thank you again for your business and your referrals!! ...and thank you for referring these classes to your friends, family, and co-workers.
. ..disclaimer...if you have already purchased a home, or would no longer like to receive these emails, please let me know and I will be happy to remove you from any further mailings...
Upcoming Topics: What are the 'Hidden' Costs of Buying a Home? .....
What if I don't have a Down Payment? ..... &....
What happens after an offer is made?
Last Week: What are Closing costs?
Have a great day, and I will talk to you soon,
;-D
Tracie DeMars
Real Estate broker
Re/Max - Van Mall
360/ 903-3504 cell
360/ 882-3600 fax
www.traciedemars.com
traciedemars@aol.com
“Interested in free and non promotional home education classes? Go to www.freehomebuyerclasses.com for local upcoming home buyer and home SELLER classes, or facebook: Tracie DeMars Real Estate for my home buyer education blog.”
"Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be."
- Shel Silverstein, American poet, cartoonist and composer, (1930 - 1999).
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