by CRESTICO | Feb 18, 2009 | CRESTICO
In making your decision to work with an agent, there are certain questions you should ask when evaluating a potential agent.
First, you should find out (by asking him/her) whether he/she is a REALTOR®. The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a Real Estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics (which in many cases goes beyond state law). In most areas, it is the REALTOR® who shares information on the homes he or she is marketing, through a Multiple Listing Service (MLS).
Next, get to know a little about your potential agent's license. In California, you can go to www.dre.ca.gov and do a "license check." This means you can see whether this person (a) has a license, (b) has a license in Good Standing and (c) who is the Broker that your agent is affiliated with. All of this information can be quite useful. Odds are that you do NOT want to work with someone who has a questionable past or too many open complaints or inquiries. In this day and age of rampant fraud and dishonesty, and with the mortgage crisis we are currently in, it would certainly be in your BEST interest to make sure your agent's license is CLEAN!
Next, find out about your agent's access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). If he/she is a Realtor® most likely, he/she has access to the MLS in your desired area. If not, you may want to ask him/her to get than access before you agree to use him/her as your agent. A good agent will go to any length to secure your satisfaction. The MLS can be quite useful in helping you to locate your dream home.
Now that you know about his/her license and all that he/she has access to, it is time to find out a little about your actual agent. Remember, this is a person you are going to be working quite closely with for an extended period of time. Many escrows are generally 30 days, and some, especially those for REOs are even longer. Remember, you do not enter escrow until after you have found a home, and sometimes it can take weeks to find the right home, so you want to make sure you are working with an agent that you are pleased with. In order to get to know your agent better, you want to ask him/her if real estate is his/her full time career. An agent who is not fully committed to his/her career, probably cannot be fully committed to your house hunt, either.
Additionally, you will want to find out if this person whom you may be considering as a potential agent, is in fact the seller's agent, as well. What does that mean? Let's say you go to an open house and there is a nice agent there who is extremely helpful and friendly. Now let's say this friendly agent asks you if you have an agent and you say "no." This person will want to be your agent. However, keep in mind, this agent is the Seller's agent, which means that he/she is the Agent who is trying to sell the home you are viewing. You will want to be careful about what kinds of confidential information you give this agent, because he/she has a fiduciary duty to his/her client (the homeowner.) So, it may be in your best interest, to find your own agent so that you can have someone purely interested in YOUR best interest, ONLY.
Finally, before making a final decision regarding an agent, you should ask the prospective agent HOW he/she plans to help you find your dream home. Ask him/her about his plans, you are entitled to know how your agent wants to go about making sure your future home has all of the things you do want and none of the things you do not want.
by CRESTICO | Feb 13, 2009 | CRESTICO
How To Choose The Best Real Estate Agent for You
The real estate industry can be a very tricky one to navigate, especially if you are a newcomer or a first time buyer. As with any other major life decision, it always helps to have guidance and expert advice. However, finding the RIGHT person to provide this for you can seem tricky. Read on for tips on how to choose the right agent and determine if he or she is the best for you.
Finding an agent is not a difficult task, however finding a GOOD agent amongst the many agents you hear about can be a little trickier. A good place to start is with your immediate social circle. Begin by asking for recommendations from people who recently sold and/or bought a home in your area or call a realty office and the manager to recommend an agent who specializes in your type of property and community.
Once you have an agent, get to know him or her a little better, establish a trusting and honest relationship with this person, since you will be counting on him or her a lot during this process. Next, put together some information about your property, highlighting the features and best qualities, especially those that may not be obvious at first glance. Doing this with your agent will help him or her to write the best listing for your home. If you are buying, work with your agent to establish a list of qualities and features you will be seeking in a home. This way, your agent can select the most appropriate listings for you to view.
When talking to your agent, ask him or her how he/she would establish a price and what his/her plan would be for marketing your home. Ask about his/her strategies and networks and contacts. For Buyers, ask about the agent’s past experiences in the area or with the type of home you are seeking. All of this information will help you to determine whether your agent will be able to provide you the level of service and customer care that you will need.
If you are unsatisfied with the agent's plan or personality, thank the agent for taking the time to meet with you, and repeat the process with another agent. Do not "settle" for an agent. Seek out the BEST agent for you. Your agent should be pleased to work with and for you and you should not feel like you are imposing on him/her. Remember, your agent will need you to be a satisfied customer because in our industry, business grows the best through word of mouth. So make sure you have an agent that will leave a lasting and positive impression on you and anyone you may refer him/her to!
Once you are pleased with your agent and have made a final selection, make a commitment. Commit yourself to this agent and that agent will commit to you. Relationships are the most valuable commodity in this industry and sometimes they take work. Your agent is a person just like you and will do his/her best to make you happy as long as you communicate your needs to him/her clearly.
by CRESTICO | Jan 31, 2009 | CRESTICO
At Crestico Realty, we believe an informed client is a happy client, so we do our best to make sure you are informed, every step of the way! The first step we take in doing this, is to inform you before you become our client and give you a taste of our excellent customer service. Below, is information that many first time homebuyers seek from us every day.
You’ve decided to buy a home. It seems like the right and best thing to do, but why. Many first time home buyers ask us why it is better to own a home than to rent one. Renters face many challenges that homeowners do not. Primarily, if you get the right loan (which we can help you with), your mortgage should stay affordable every year and you will not be faced with one of renters’ biggest problems: rent increases. Next, why not let the place you live give you some tax benefits? Renters do not get to enjoy the same tax benefits that are associated with owning your home. If you have a family, or are thinking about having one; wouldn’t it be nice to have your kids born and raised in the same place? We all have fond memories of our childhood and our childhood homes. Kids love backyards and swimming pools and treehouses and slumber parties. These are things that may not be as accessible and as private as you would prefer them to be if you rent an apartment.
Also, when you rent, you are not making an investment, you are merely spending money. Money you spend on repairs, upgrades, decorations, renovations and rent loses its value once it leaves your checking account. But when you own a home, the money you spend on everything from landscaping to decorations becomes an investment, and you will see a return on that investment. You might say that everyone is talking about losing value and losing equity, but that’s only applicable to today’s market. If you look at the Real Estate market, over time, you will see that it is a cycle and any money you spend today will eventually regain its value tomorrow. And finally, above all owning a home means you OWN it and can do anything you like with it. You can decorate it and express yourself in a way you would not be as free to, if you were renting someone else’s property.
Next, first time home buyers find themselves faces with the question of location. We’ve all heard the saying “location, location, location!” That should give you a clue that location is very important. You will need to consider your lifestyle and your needs when determining a location for your home. Do you have children? Is the quality of the schools in the area an issue? Are you looking to join a community? Your Crestico agent can help you determine your needs and find the perfect location for you.
The next thing to consider is the money. The amount of money you will need to buy a home depends on many things including the cost of the home and the mortgage you get. Your Crestico agent will go over each and every step with you and introduce you to our preferred lender, American Guardian Home Loans and together they will explain the entire process to you. Generally, when you are purchasing a home, you will need to have cash on hand to pay a deposit when you submit your offer so that the seller will take your offer seriously. Also, you will need cash for the down payment and the closing costs (to cover the processing of the paperwork involved).
Most people purchasing a home do not do it entirely with cash. Most buyers needs loans. Choosing a first time home buyers loan can be a daunting task. It may seem overwhelming because there are so many different types of loans with different names and options associated with them. Not to worry, Crestico Realty has a dedicated representative at American Guardian Home Loans who is there only for our clients.
Finally, one more thing a first time home buyer should be aware of is insurance. Having the right homeowner’s insurance policy is an important part of being a homeowner. Homeowner’s insurance differs from renter's insurance in that it protects your home and its valuable contents from occurrences like theft, fire, floods and earthquakes (depending on your location and type of policy). There are other kinds of insurance, such as Private Mortgage Insurance (also known as PMI) which may be required, depending on your loan and mortgage terms. Your Crestico agent will work with you to get you the best value in insurance policies because Crestico Realty is your one stop shop for all your home buying needs. We are part of a network of professionals and have extensive relationships in the industry that we use every day to make sure you are getting the best the industry has to offer.
by CRESTICO | Jan 15, 2009 | CRESTICO
Right Agent?
Your agent will play an important role in helping you, the buyer, find and get into your dream home. Many agents hold themselves out to be “Buyer’s Agents” but they may not be. Here, you will find some tips and information on how to tell whether your agent is really right for you.
A good agent will be clear. This means you will know clearly and concisely what services he/she will be providing you, what his/her relationship is to you and he/she will be getting paid. A good agent is unbiased. This means that you will never feel pressured into approving or disapproving any one specific property you are shown, especially because it may affect your agent’s compensation.
A good agent is meticulous. This means that your agent will spend time and effort determining a fair and reasonable price on the property you are considering. Your agent should review comparable sales in light of inventory levels and the economic environment as well as considering your individual property’s attributes. This also means that all your documents (whether being submitted or received by you) will be proofread and reviewed to insure against errors and omissions.
A good agent is a good negotiator. This means that you will not feel alone and abandoned when it comes time to negotiate with the seller and his/her agent.
A good agent uses his/her resources. This means that your agent, who is more knowledgeable about the Real Estate industry than you are, will use his/her resources to help you get the best value in home inspectors, appraisers, repairmen, decorators or any other “expert” advice and opinions you may need.
We at Crestico pledge our commitment to you as being some of the best Buyer’s Agents around. Not only do we do all of the above for you, but we take that commitment even further. We have networks of professionals in related industries from financing to decorating to make sure that when you work with a Crestico Agent, you are taken care of from start to finish. Call us today for a consultation so we can show you the Crestico advantage.
We truly are your ONE STOP SHOP for all your home-buying needs.
For more information please visit www.crestico.com or call (818) 784-2929
by CRESTICO | Jan 13, 2009 | CRESTICO
Size DOES Matter! You’ve said it, you’ve heard, you know it’s true! Size matters! Especially when it comes to your Realtor!
If you’ve been watching the news, you know that it’s a Buyer’s Market and it’s a GREAT time to buy a home! But when you’re looking for an agent to give you the personalized attention you deserve, remember, SIZE MATTERS! Do you want to be just another file number or do you want your agent to become your partner!
Choosing and buying a home is one of, if not the most important decision you will make in your life. Don’t get lost in the crowd with agents that are more concerned with getting listings and closing deals than they are concerned about meeting your needs and EXCEEDING your expectations!
At Crestico Realty, we have a specialized Buyer’s Team that focuses ONLY on the needs of Buyers. The Agents on this team do not spend their time getting listings, they spend their time SEARCHING listings for YOU! They each want to help you get into the home of your dreams in the most hassle-free manner you can imagine! We work to make sure you don’t have to!
For more information please visit www.crestico.com or call (818) 784-2929
