Realty Executives strives to provide our brokers and agents with the top technology to help keep you connected to your clients and create a seamless experience. In our comprehensive suite, we have several tools that will set you up for success and enhance your productivity. Take a look below for a breakdown of each of our new technology tools.
Buying a home is probably a lot more manageable than you think. Somewhere along the line, these crazy misconceptions have crept into the home buying conversation and made the dream of home ownership seem less attainable.
It’s time to set the record straight. Here are five common homebuyer misconceptions and the truth about each:
1. You need to save 20 percent for the down payment before you can buy a home.
There are several ways to buy a home without a 20 percent down payment!
FHA loans are the most popular option. They allow you to buy a home with as little as 3.5 percent down. There are also zero percent down options for special cases, like military personnel (active or veteran) or rural properties. Simply contact a lender to discuss your options. You may be closer to home ownership than you think!
Quick side note: you should also understand that your down payment won’t be your only home buying expense. You’ll need money to pay for closing costs (typically 2-5 percent of the purchase price). And you should have a little money set aside to make any urgent renovations or necessary upgrades.
The world of mortgage financing can be a little overwhelming for first-time home buyers.
The good news is that there are professionals to guide you through the process of qualifying for a home loan. Lenders are happy to educate buyers on the different mortgage options. You just need to know a few basics so you can have a productive conversation with your lender.
Here are finance basics for first-time buyers:
By: Kellyn Vale, originally published in ValpoLife.com
Spirits were high as Realty Executives Premier, a real estate company based in Valparaiso, hosted their public and official grand opening of their brand new location in Crown Point.
Several locations were considered for the new office, including spaces on Broadway and areas in Winfield. However, the company hit a stroke of luck when they caught wind of the Crown Point location’s availability before it even went to market.
“We love being in downtown Crown Point,” said Pam Tezak, who runs the agency alongside her husband Mike. “We started in downtown Valpo, so we decided to continue that downtown trend in Crown Point; we could not be happier with the location,” continued Tezak.
Realty Executives International is excited to announce the recent opening and growing success of the Southeastern Michigan Regional Headquarters and training facility. The headquarters, located in Shelby Township, a northern suburb of Detroit, is used for office and training space for regional real estate professionals.
The facility is named under the Realty Executives Home Towne brand, making it Home Towne’s fourth location. It is a meeting and training space for eight brokerages and over 100 real estate professionals in the region, including Home Towne’s own team of 82 real estate broker/owners and executives.The areas serviced by these brokerages include Metro Detroit, Macomb, Oakland, St.Clair, Sanilac and Lapeer counties.
Realty Executives Premiere is excited to announce that Lisa Hoffmann has joined as Director of Agent Development, bringing her skills and passion to work with new and experienced agents across Illinois. As part of her new role, Hoffmann will offer a whole new curriculum for Executives while incorporating elements of Realty Executives’ EXEC™ University, and will conduct one-on-one classes that are focused on agents’ long-term goals.
Hoffmann will be a great asset to Realty Executives Premiere as they focus on bringing in new energy and attracting new Executives to the brand. The office takes pride in developing its Executives, providing onsite coaching to help them escalate their real estate careers and perform at the highest level.
That 30-60 day period between accepting a buyer’s offer and closing the deal is a busy time for both parties.
While the buyers are focused securing financing and making sure the house is as it appears to be, sellers are mainly concerned with 1) proving that they have the right to sell the property, and 2) making sure the buyers are aware of the true condition of the property.
Here’s an outline of what sellers can expect during the closing process.
Hosting family and friends during the holiday can be stressful. Crazy relatives, little ones and of course the family dog, all in one place with different opinions, expectations and food allergies. It may seem chaotic at first, but the tips below can offer some solutions to make you and your home the hit of the holidays.
Smart homes are the next big thing. You may not realize it yet, but somewhere your day will be easier because of it. Smart home technology is not only impacting the homes its installed into. Its reach stretches to other industries like business, science and even health care. Continue reading
Whether you’re early in your career or a long-time renter, there are many reasons why you may want to consider renting or buying a home. Here are some questions to ask yourself when debating whether to rent or buy your next home.