On November 1st, Pam Vreeland, a local Sparta Realtor® with Realty Executives Exceptional, Realtors® was named Realtor® Of The Year. The award was announced at Farmstead Golf & Country Club during the annual breakfast meeting of the Sussex County Association of Realtors®.

The criteria for selecting the Realtor® Of The Year includes the Realtor® who exemplifies: Realtor® spirit, local, state and national Association of Realtors® involvement, business accomplishments, community service involvement & humanitarian services.

Upon presenting the award to Pam, Association President Sandra Gardner pointed out that Realtor® spirit is a Realtor® with high principles to the regulations of the Realtors® code of ethics, someone who is highly respected by the general public as well as their peers, and someone who continues to educate themselves in their practice.

Realtor® spirit is more than just a set of values, it is a way of life. Pam is the perfect example of what Realtor® spirit is, dedication to the furtherance of good real estate practice, completing an advanced real estate leadership course, mentoring new Realtors®, along with always giving a helping hand or offering advice to those in need. Over the years Pam has dedicated countless hours to the Sussex County Association of Realtors®, serving on its board of directors, involved with numerous committees, bringing new ideas, and always giving a helping hand where needed” stated Gardner.

As far as community involvement, Pam has assisted with applying for grants, fundraising for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and assisted with blood drives. She has dedicated many years to the Lake Mohawk Preservation Foundation and served as a trustee. Two years ago Pam and her husband Mark bought a farm where they work with Aeroflex Equine Therapy, which rents part of the farm to offer therapy through animals for mental health, trauma, autism & special needs.

Recently, Pam became the President of the Sussex County Habitat For Humanity where she works hard promoting its mission of partnering with people in our community to help them build or improve a place they can call home.

Pam will be honored at the Realtors® Triple Play Convention in Atlantic City on December 5th for her accomplishments. Pam can be reached at 201-317-9883 or by calling the Realty Executives branch office at 973-729-7141.

Doug Radford, Regional Developer, Realty Executives New Jersey Region

When it comes to selling your home, hiring the right Realtor® can make all the difference in achieving a successful and stress-free sale. A good Realtor® can provide you with valuable guidance, support, and expertise throughout the entire process. However, not all Realtors® are created equal, and it's essential to ask the right questions before hiring one. In this blog, I’ll discuss the most important questions that every home seller should ask their Realtor® to ensure they are making an informed decision and getting the best possible representation.

Here are a few questions that a home seller should ask before hiring a Realtor®:

What experience do you have in the real estate industry?
It is essential to know the level of experience a Realtor® has in the industry to ensure that they are qualified to handle the sale of your home. Ask how long they have been in the industry, how many homes they have sold locally, and their success rate in closing deals.

What is your marketing strategy for selling my home?
A good Realtor® should have a solid marketing plan that will help your home stand out in the market. Ask about their approach to advertising and how they plan to market your property to potential buyers. This should include things like online listings, professional photography, open houses, and social media campaigns. And do you have a marketing support team to design and properly place the ads.

Who will be handling the inquiries that come in on my home?
With the right marketing plan, buyers will be inquiring about your home. You want to be sure that the brokerage your Realtor® works for gives all online and call in inquiries directly to your listing agent. Many companies give all inquiries to brand new licensees who do not have the experience to properly sell your home. Noone knows your home better and has more motivation to get your home sold than your listing agent.

What is your commission rate?
Realtors typically earn a commission of 5-6% on the sale of a home, so it's important to know how much you'll be paying before you sign any agreements. Ask about their commission rate and if there are any additional fees you should be aware of. Remember that the best Realtors® will get you the highest and best price for your home. If they can’t negotiate a fair commission for themselves, they probably won’t be a good negotiator for you.

How will you communicate with me throughout the process?
Selling a home can be a complicated and stressful process, so it's important to have a Realtor® who will keep you informed and up-to-date throughout the process. Ask about their communication style and how often they will provide updates on the status of your sale. If you call your Realtor® and they do not pick up or their voicemail is full, this could be an indication of things to come.

Can you provide references from past clients?
Finally, it's important to get feedback from past clients to help you make an informed decision. Ask for references from previous clients and contact them to learn about their experience working with the Realtor®. This will give you valuable insights into their professionalism, communication skills, and success in selling homes.

In conclusion, selling your home is a significant transaction that requires careful consideration and attention to detail. Choosing the right Realtor® can make all the difference in achieving a successful sale and maximizing your return on investment. By asking these five key questions, you can gain a better understanding of a Realtor's qualifications, experience, and approach to selling homes. Ultimately, the right Realtor® will work tirelessly to ensure that you get the best possible outcome and have a positive selling experience

If you’re planning to buy a home this year, you might have heard that pre-approval is a necessary step to take before starting out on your journey. But why is that? And is it still important in today’s shifting market?

The truth is, getting a pre-approval letter from your lender is critical, and when it comes to your home search, it can be a game changer in so many ways.

To better understand why, it’s important to know what pre-approval is. Freddie Mac defines the process like this:

“A pre-approval is an indication from your lender that they are willing to lend you a certain amount of money to buy your future home. The lender you work with will provide you with a pre-approval letter, which is an official document that states the maximum amount they are willing to lend you, . . .”

Put simply, pre-approval from a lender helps you understand your true price range and how much money you can borrow for your loan. That can make it easier when you set out to search for homes. And since you’ll know what you’re approved for, it’ll also help once it’s time to submit an offer on the home of your dreams.

Another added benefit is that pre-approval lets the seller know you’re qualified to buy their house. Paul Centopani, Editor for the Mortgage Reports, explains:

“. . . most sellers won’t even consider an offer unless the buyer is pre-approved at the right price point. Sellers and their agents want to know you’re ready and able to finance your offer amount. So you’ll want to have your preapproval teed up as soon as you’re serious about bidding on a home you like.”

Every advantage you can gain as a buyer is crucial in a market that’s constantly changing. You’re going to need guidance to navigate these waters, so it’s important to have a team of professionals, such as a real estate advisor and trusted lender, on your side. They’ll help make sure you’re ready to put your best foot forward.

Bottom Line
Getting pre-approved for a mortgage helps you better understand what you can borrow and shows sellers you’re serious about purchasing their home. Connect with a local real estate professional so you have the tools you need to succeed as a homebuyer in today’s shifting market.

Keeping Current Matters

KEEPING CURRENT MATTERS - Whether you’ve just retired or you’re thinking about retirement, you may be considering your options and trying to picture a whole new stage of your life. And you’re not alone. Research from the Retirement Industry Trust Association (RITA) shows 10,000 Baby Boomers reach the typical retirement age (65) every day, and only 47% of the people in that generation have already retired.

If this sounds like you, one thing worth considering is whether or not your current home will suit your new lifestyle. If your home doesn’t have the features or benefits you’re looking for, the good news is, you may be in a better position to move than you realize.

That’s because, if you already own a home, you’ve likely built-up significant equity, and that can help you fuel your next move. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR):

“A homeowner who purchased a typical home five years ago would have gained $125,300 from just price appreciation alone.”

In fact, over the last twelve months, CoreLogic reports the average homeowner in the United States gained roughly $64,000 in equity due to home price appreciation.

You can use your equity to help you achieve your homeownership goals. Whether you want to downsize, move closer to loved ones, or buy a home in a dream destination, your equity can help get you there. It may be some (if not all) of what you’d need as your down payment on a home that better fits your changing needs.

To find out how much equity to have in your home, reach out to our trusted real estate professionals today.

Bottom Line
Retirement is a big step and so is buying or selling a home. As you move into this new phase of life, a trusted real estate advisor can guide you through the process as you sell your current home and give you expert advice as you buy one that’ll better suit your needs.

If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home, chances are you’re focusing on the many extraordinary ways it’ll change your life. But do you know it has a large impact on your community too?

To measure that impact, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) releases a report each year to highlight just how much economic activity a home sale generates. The chart below shows how the sale of both a newly built home and an existing home impact the economy:

As the visual shows, a single home sale can have a significant effect on the overall economy. To dive a level deeper, NAR also provides a detailed look at how that varies state-by-state for newly built homes (see map below):

You may be wondering: how can a single home sale have such a major effect on the economy?

For starters, there are multiple industries that play a role in the process. Numerous contractors, specialists, lawyers, town and city officials, and so many other professionals are all necessary at various stages during the transaction. Every individual you work with, like your trusted real estate advisor, has a team of professionals involved behind the scenes.

That means when you buy or sell a home, you’re leaving a lasting impression on the community at large. Let the knowledge that you’re contributing to those around you while also meeting your own needs help you feel even more empowered when you decide to make your move this year.

Bottom Line
Homebuyers and sellers are economic drivers in their community and beyond. Reach out to our trusted real estate advisors today if you’re ready to get started. It won’t just change your life; it’ll make a powerful impact on your entire community.