The Savvy Realtor with Angie Cole

Home Upgrades Millennials Are Not Looking For When Buying

With more and more millennials becoming home buyers, it’s time to start considering their wants and needs when you prepare to sell your house. We’ll run through a list of areas that you might be able to ignore and save money because it actually fits the buyer’s preferences better.
On this episode: 
0:38 – Introducing today’s topic of upgrades millennials don’t prefer when buying a house.
1:01 – First upgrade: over the top landscaping.
3:48 – Are there some easy landscaping updates you can do?
4:34 – Next upgrade: A formal dining room isn’t always necessary.
6:40 – One trend that has popped up in recent years is eating more in the kitchen.
7:44 – Another upgrade: A designated floor plan.
8:56 – Another upgrade: Don’t bother putting in new carpet.
11:24 – Last upgrade: Don’t upgrade memorabilia or game rooms.
13:05 – Real estate agents can help you decide which upgrades are needed on your home before you list it.
See the full show notes and get additional resources by clicking here: http://acolerealty.com/blog/home-upgrades-millennials-are-not-looking-for/

Whose Opinion To Listen To When Buying A Home

If you welcome friends or family alongside you in the homebuying process, you are bound to get some opinions. But is it helpful or harmful to open up to this form of “advice” when making such a big decision?
Show Notes: https://www.acolerealty.com/blog/whose-opinion-to-listen-to-when-buying-a-home/
0:18 - You’re going to hear a lot of opinions about what you should do when buying a home. How do you weigh out these opinions?
1:00 - When have kids carried stronger opinions than the homebuyers? How involved should kids be?
3:25 - Open communication with your children might open up the possibilities of what will best suit your family.
5:17 - How have parents of the homebuyers gotten in the way? Or are they helpful?
8:45 - Look for help, but do not let someone else make the decision.
10:31 - It may be worth spending the money on a professional for opinions on a home.

How To Write A Letter To The Sellers When Making An Offer On A Home

When you find a home you love, sometimes writing a letter to the sellers can help you get the winning bid. But are there downsides to it? We’ll answer this question as well as two others from the mailbag this week.
On this episode:
0:38 - Mailbag: Are there any advantages to be aware of when living outside of the city limits?
3:48 - Mailbag: When writing a letter to the sellers, what should the tone be?
5:25 - In a letter to a seller, tell about yourself and tell them what you like about the home.
7:56 - Mailbag: Are HOA dues negotiable?
To see the show notes and additional resources, click here: https://www.acolerealty.com/blog/how-to-write-a-letter-to-the-sellers-when-making-an-offer-on-a-home/

How Do You Handle Bad Credit When Buying A Home?

Worried your bad credit from past mistakes will prevent you from buying a home with a decent mortgage rate now? Looking for a home in Wake Forest? Want to sell a home as-is or for sale by owner? We’ll answer all of these questions from the mailbag in this week’s podcast.
On this show: 
0:38 - Mailbag: Carl has poor credit but needs a competitive mortgage rate. What can he do?
2:57 - Mailbag: Dana wants to sell her home on her own. What is the worst-case scenario when it comes to for-sale-by-owner?
5:36 - What’s the number one mistake made when selling a home as for-sale-by-owner?
6:44 - Mailbag: What are some of your favorite neighborhoods in Wake Forest? 
10:28 - Mailbag: Dan inherited his father’s home, but it is a fixer upper. How do you sell a house as-is?
Get the full show notes and learn more here: https://www.acolerealty.com/blog/how-do-you-handle-bad-credit-when-buying-a-home/

Lighting Your Home the Right Way By Avoiding These Common Mistakes

Look out! Look up! Look down! Where do the lights in your house direct your eyes? Are they highlighting your home’s best features? We discuss the good and bad of home lighting design. 
Today's rundown: 
0:38 - Lighting mistakes people often make include too many kitchen lights pointing to the floor instead of other areas.  
4:36 - Another mistake is to highlight only drywall with lighting instead of molding, arches, and shelving.
5:42 - Instead of harsh bathroom lighting, try using wall sconces.
7:01 - National data on mortgage closing happening faster than ever.
Get the full show notes and additional resources by clicking here. 

Is It Risky To Buy A House For Sale By Owner?

You may have seen the signs with “For Sale By Owner” on the top. Is there a danger in purchasing one of these homes or anything you should be considering? In the mailbag this week are two questions from listeners that Angie Cole answers with her expert opinion.
Click here to see the full show notes.

How Your Mortgage Might Change Your Life

Does having a mortgage increase your lifespan? How hot should your house be? We’ll talk through three recent real estate headlines and get a realtor’s take on the latest in the news.
Check out the full show notes by clicking here.
Today's rundown:
0:38 - In the News: Mortgage debt may increase your life expectancy.
2:31 - Home ownership gives us a sense of responsibility and purpose. 
3:29 - In the News: EnergyStar claims the optimal temperature when you are home is 78 degrees.
5:50 - In the News: From April-June, 78 percent of home contracts made it to close on time.
7:21 - One of the top roadblocks to closing on time has to do with financing.

Finding Investment Properties And Other Questions From The Mailbag

Have a burning question that needs answering? When it comes to real estate matters, there are hundreds of questions as you make big decisions (attached to even bigger dollar amounts). We will dive into the mailbag to answer four questions from our listeners. 
Check out the full show notes by clicking here. 

Headline Reactions: Thoughts on the Latest Real Estate News

You might read a headline or article and wonder, is that right? What would my realtor say about that? Angie gives her professional opinion on three recent headlines in real estate news.
Check out the full show notes by clicking here.
Today's rundown:
0:44 - More millennials are paying mortgages themselves instead of asking for help.
4:41 - Bill passed in the house proposes cutting upfront mortgage insurance fees in FHA loans after housing counseling.
7:25 - Survey asks, How long before you drop your sales price on a house?
8:53 - The market in the Triangle is dramatically different than the results of this survey.
10:37 - Be sure to consider your expectations vs. reality when it comes to selling a home.
 

What You Need to Ask a Potential Real Estate Agent

How do you pick a real estate agent? Turns out, finding the perfect house is not the only important decision you’ll need to make. It all starts with a real estate agent. We’ll help you narrow it down by asking a potential agent these questions ahead of time to make sure you know what you’re getting into.
Check out the show notes for this episode by clicking here.