by Tammy Murphy | Apr 9, 2024 | Buyers, Client Testimonials, Current Events, Neighbor Chat, Networking, Podcast, Real Estate News, Real Homes to Love, Sellers
The #1 question on everyone’s mind, when you are in the search for your house and making an offer… “Did You Get It?” And by IT – we mean the House, actually, did you get your offer ACCEPTED (to be technically correct).
And many times, it may not happen on the first, third or even sixth offer you submit! But ultimately, when “IT” does happen – your work and the process to buying is JUST GETTING STARTED!  In today’s episode of The Real-Tea podcast, Tammy and Elle discuss a bit more of their journey together to share more insights and tips for YOUR adventure.
What exactly happens when the offer is ACCEPTED? Hopefully, a little bit of a happy dance, then the reality of writing a check to cover the Earnest Money hits; a bit of a push to get the inspection(s) scheduled and coordinating the necessary calendars for that; then there’s the getting documents to the lender and all of this is likely to happen that very day (or next business day) to officially get this moving along.
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/real-homes-to-love/episodes/The-Real-Tea-Episode-3-e2hmqr5
via Spotify: https://youtu.be/8YRKslD2hR4
by Tammy Murphy | Mar 26, 2024 | Buyers, Client Testimonials, Current Events, Neighbor Chat, Networking, Podcast, Sellers
Understanding the KEY Negotiation Strategies that are involved with a Purchase Contract to buy a home is critical to ensuring your are not only buying the house for the price that you want – but also for the other TERMS that can be just as important. In this episode, we talk about “all the things” that can make (or break) a contract and WHY you need to TRUST “the process” to work for you 😉 From Escalation Clauses, Appraisal Gaps, To do / or Not to do Inspections… there is more than just “the purchase price” to consider!
Ultimately, helping you to get the “KEY” to your dream home is the goal… but only if all the terms work for YOU. And this could be something as critically important to you as the day you get to MOVE IN to what the seller has to do before they leave the house for you… believe me, the attention to these details can be critical 😉
So everyone of course thinks PRICE is the most important “term” on the purchase contract – any maybe it is is for you; however, the amount of Earnest Money (from ZERO to whatever amount you want to offer) can sometimes be the “thing” that sets your offer apart from the multiples and the reason why a seller may CHOOSE YOUR OFFER over others. So while there are many people who want to put as little in as possible, what they COULD be doing, is sealing their fate to NOT BE ACCEPTED. That’s why we work to ensure that you understand EACH of the key element of the Purchase Contract TERMS that we can use to best serve YOUR INTEREST.
by Tammy Murphy | Mar 19, 2024 | BLOG, Buyers, Current Events, Neighbor Chat, Networking, Podcast, Real Estate News, Real Homes to Love, Sellers
NAR Settlement Announced – Now What? If you are like many, this is the breaking news and hot topic – and depending on your news source – highly debatable! As with ANYTHING you should do your own research, ask questions and seek to understand as to HOW THIS AFFECTS YOU. Everything is being distorted when it comes to the NAR Settlement and it does not necessarily mean that Realtors have CUT their commission, or that you don’t need to use a Realtor, or any other variety of click bait topics being trolled!
First, the settlement that was “announced” is an agreement that is YET TO BE ACCEPTED. It is subject to still change and just as the DOJ previously had made an agreement with NAR that they then RESCINDED – nothing is set and final, until the ‘fat lady of justice process’ actually SINGS.
Second, NEVER has the commission rate been decided or directed by NAR; nor is it set in stone – it has ALWAYS BEEN NEGOTIABLE. It has been a process that was incorporated in the sale of a home to be paid by the seller proceeds, that also allows for the compensation to the BUYER’S AGENT without having the Buyer come out of pocket directly for the payment of their Agent’s fee for services; which for 116 years was an agreeable process and standard industry. Now What??
MY TAKE on this – which I have been in the business since 2001 and seen many changes in the process – some for the better service of our clients; ease of business for the Agents; and in general, just because of technology changes. IF YOU KNOW ME – then you know I have had my pulpit moments for just about all of those changes! LOL
In this case, I think the NEGATIVE IMPACT of this “settlement” stands to hurt our BUYERS and SELLERS – ultimately doing EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE of what “was intended” by this lawsuit / settlement. Why do I say that? Well, if the BUYER is now responsible to PAY for their Realtor FEES, it is currently only able to be done OUT OF POCKET and NOT ROLLED INTO THEIR LOAN. So someone looking to purchase a $100,000 home, not only needs to have the 3.5% (5 or 10 or whatever down-payment percentage determined by them for the loan they are seeking) PLUS the closing costs (which BTW were NOT included in this lawsuit discussion as “needing to be negotiable for the Buyer so they were fully aware of what their costs are / were”) which can be 1%-5% depending on where / what are closing costs are factored into the specific type of loan they are using. This DOES NOT INCLUDE the Out of Pocket Expenses Buyer has for the PROCESS: Inspections and Appraisal fees (typically anywhere from $400-$1500+) again – DEPENDING on the type of property, location and type of loan. SO MANY VARIABLES that go into determining WHAT THE BUYER is going to pay – and yet ANOTHER REASON THE BUYER NEEDS TO HAVE A REALTOR ON THEIR BEHALF THAT IS WORKING TO ENSURE THEY UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING INVOLVED WITH THEIR PURCHASE.
Don’t even get me started how this is setting the country up for massive issues with Fair Housing Violations, REDLINING, and a complete DISCRIMINATION against all those from First Time Buyers – to our MILITARY – to everyone else who may be in a “situation” that takes special care!
If you are a SELLER – you will be affected in a different way and should ask questions of any Realtor you look to HIRE, as to what this means for YOU.
If you are a BUYER – you will be affected THE MOST, and having a honest discussion with a Realtor you seek to HIRE, is critical to ensure YOU get the representation you want / need and understand HOW THEY WILL BE PAID. Again, so many factors involved depending on the house, location, and loan you want…make sure you get the answers you need to be able to do what is BEST FOR YOU.
For the people who may have ever thought REALTOR SERVICES ARE FREE – that is WRONG. Of course the fee for using a Realtor is being PAID (by someone) and for those who FAILED TO DISCLOSE WHO WAS PAYING FOR THE REALTOR(s) – SHAME ON YOU for getting us all into this mess! (But YES, there is A LOT that we do that is “extra” and sometimes we do A LOT OF WORK and don’t get to the closing table – which means we are NOT GETTING PAID!) Having our commission tied to the actual CLOSING PROCESS ensures that we are COMMITTED TO THE PROCESS FOR OUR CLIENT (otherwise it just becomes an ala cart pricing structure that you pay each time you want us to show a house, write a contract, attend an inspection, negotiate an issue, etc…) my eyes are rolling back in my head at this point!!!
Want to know more about what I think?? I cover it here on an BONUS episode of The Real-Tea Podcast and I am ALWAYS HAPPY TO ANSWER YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTIONS FOR YOUR SPECIFIC SITUATION 😉 Watch the video episode on YouTube at https://youtu.be/aY6P6J3zTr4 or audio version on Spotify at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/real-homes-to-love/episodes/The-RealTea-on-NAR-Lawsuit-Settlement-e2h8dhi.
And YES – there is reliable details about all of the FACTS, this site is PUBLIC and available to update YOU on this subject (without the rhetoric, hype, or click bait!!)Â FACTS.REALTOR
by Tammy Murphy | Mar 12, 2024 | BLOG, Buyers, Client Testimonials, Commercial Properties, Current Events, Estate Planning, Facing Foreclosure, GLOBAL, Investor Relations, LENDERS, Military, Neighbor Chat, Networking, Podcast, Real Estate News, Real Homes to Love, Sellers, Senior Living
We hinted about a project late last year, and are happy to announce that The Real-Tea Podcast is Available Now!
This twist on a Real Estate Podcast presents from a Professional view with a Client Perspective, join Tammy Murphy and Elle Sollenberger, as they spill The Real-Tea about buying and selling Real Estate. You will get to meet our hosts and learn what brought the Realtor and Client together for this fun and sometimes quirky podcast. The years they have shared in working together in multiple deals and different market scenarios is beneficial for anyone looking to Buy or Sell a house.
Curious about our episodes??
check it out on YouTube (video) https://www.youtube.com/@realhomestolove3939/podcasts
or Spotify (audio only) https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/real-homes-to-love
by Tammy Murphy | Dec 22, 2023 | Buyers, Neighbor Chat, Real Estate News, Real Homes to Love, Sellers, Senior Living
This year has been especially difficult for the real estate market – and in many ways has opened our eyes to be ever more diligent about PROTECTION and RIGHTS. Along that lines, criminals seek opportunities to take advantage of a chaotic environment and rely upon those not keeping up with all the things going on / happening. Our desire is to PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS in Real Estate and assist with helpful information – so please take this message as your PSA to: Protect Yourself from Deed Fraud.
Naturally, if you are in the process of buying a home with us, we are going to share with you the BENEFITS OF A TITLE POLICY – and we have seen a number of instances where the client DID follow our advice and ultimately this SAVED THEM from title troubles and legal costs to correct. While ultimately it is the client’s decision as to if they want to purchase a title policy, we believe that being INFORMED and EDUCATED about What is a Title Policy and What does it do for YOU – is the best way to ensure you make the right decision for yourself.
Our counties have registered an INCREASE in Fraudulent DEED ACTIVITIES in 2023, and for this reason, many counties are taking actions to establish further steps in the recording process, as well as setting up notification systems. Even if you are not buying a home anytime soon, or for that matter, even if you do not plan to SELL your home – having a FRAUD ALERT set on your DEED with the County CAN HELP PROTECT YOU. “The sooner you know something is wrong – the sooner you can do something about it.”
Montgomery County DEED Fraud Alert Info
