The Savvy Realtor with Angie Cole

Habits That Make An Effective Homebuyer

On this episode of The Savvy Realtor Podcast, we’ll discuss several habits of highly effective homebuyers, as outlined in an article from Realtor.com. Angie shares her thoughts on the first few habits, highlighting the importance of keeping emotions in check and staying realistic when looking for a home.
Throughout the conversation, Angie provides practical tips and advice on how to develop these habits and apply them to your home buying journey. She emphasizes the importance of working with a Realtor who can guide you through the process and help you make informed decisions. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or an experienced investor, this episode is full of valuable insights to help you become a more effective home buyer.
Here are specific highlights we’ll address with Angie on this episode of The Savvy Realtor Podcast:
Homebuyers really need to keep their emotions in check. Buying a home is very personal, but that can often cloud your judgement. Sometimes homebuyers have trouble staying realistic. (2:22)
The article mentions that it’s important to keep an open mind and to not be afraid to move or expand your search to open up your options. Angie says she coaches people to be open-minded all the time. (5:40)
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. (7:24)
Angie agrees with the article that you need to “see beyond” how a home looks. (8:44)
Summary: Stay flexible and available. (11:30)
You can find the article we discuss in today’s episode here: https://www.realtor.com/advice/buy/habits-of-successful-homebuyers-today/
 
See Our Listings: https://www.acolerealty.com/
Contact The A Cole Realty Team: 919-578-3128
 

Why Starter Homes Are Still Expensive & Other “Mailbag” Questions

You might have heard that home prices have dropped a bit in the past several weeks, but one listener points out that the trend hasn’t translated as well to starter homes. We’ll ask Angie about that on this week’s edition of the Savvy Realtor Podcast.
We also open the “mailbag” for some additional questions about fractional ownership, buying homes with friends and family, on advice on where to invest extra cash.
 
Here are the questions we’ll ask Angie on this episode of The Savvy Realtor Podcast:
I keep hearing about lower housing prices, but all the starter homes we’re looking at are still just as expensive as they were months ago. What’s going on there? Why haven’t they dropped much? (0:40)
I saw an article that says more friends and families will buy homes together in the years ahead. How does that work, buying a home with another person or even a group of people? (2:04)
Can you talk about fractional ownership? I’ve seen some listings where you “buy” a property, but you only get to stay there for a few weeks out of the year. And you still have to pay high yearly fees. Is this just a timeshare by a different name? (4:23)
We’re going to be able to buy a new house soon and move out of our current one. We’re stuck on what to do, however. Should we sell it and pocket the cash and invest that elsewhere? Or rent it out for income that way and hold onto it for future growth and property value increase? What do you see as the most successful strategy for our area? (6:20)
 
See Our Listings: https://www.acolerealty.com/
Contact The A Cole Realty Team: 919-578-3128
 

8 Home Selling Mistakes to Avoid

What common home-selling mistakes should you do what you can to avoid? We talk through this list and Angie shares about her experiences as she helps guide sellers through the process. Make sure to be aware of the risks with these mistakes and know what to do instead in order to set yourself up for success. 
 
Here are the mistakes you’ll want to avoid when selling a home:
 
Basing expectations on past information. (1:04)
Blame someone else for missing the top of the market. (2:14)
Underestimating the costs of selling. (3:15)
Choosing the wrong agent. (6:15)
Limited showing availability. (7:25)
Not clearing out clutter. (8:38)
Taking bad pictures. (10:06)
Trying to sell a home on your own. (10:53)
 
See our listings: https://www.acolerealty.com/
Contact the ACole Realty team: 919-578-3128
 

Mailbag: How can I tell if a home has good bones?

When you invest in a home, you want to make sure you get the right fit for your needs. For some people that means a lot of acreage and for others it’s all about having a good layout and flow for the home. How do you know if a home has “good bones”? Angie answers this question and three others from the mailbag.
Here are the questions Angie answers from the mailbag:
• Mailbag: What are my options to move if I’m upside down on my mortgage? (0:38)• Mailbag: Where should I look for 10+ acres of land in the area? (3:10) • Mailbag: Do I need to keep utilities on while selling after I have left? (8:47) • Mailbag: How can I tell if a home has good bones? (9:56) 
See our listings and contact our team at https://www.acolerealty.com/ 

Mailbag: How Many Homes Should I View Before Buying One?

When you start your home search, there’s a lot to learn before making your decision. Angie answers one listener question about how many homes buyers see before putting in an offer. Viewing different homes in person, checking the MLS, and keeping an eye on the market will help you get a feel for what is typical and what is a good deal. It’s not as common to make an offer sight unseen like it was a mere year or two ago. Are you on the home search right now?  
Here are the questions Angie answers from the mailbag:
Mailbag: How many homes should I view before buying one? (0:38)
Mailbag: Is it okay to push back on closing date? (4:14)
Mailbag: How do we determine a good list price? (8:43)
Mailbag: Can we offer under list price? (11:39)
 
See our listings and contact our team at https://www.acolerealty.com/ 

Real Estate Market True or False

As the real estate market continues to evolve, you may be wondering what is normal right now and what’s a thing of the past. Angie sets the record straight as we play a game of real estate true or false. Do your guesses align with her answers?
 
Here are the statements we discuss today to find out whether they are true or false:
 
True or false: Home prices are very high. (0:52)
True or false: The work-from-home impact on the housing market will normalize. (1:48)
True or false: It’s still a seller’s market. (2:53)
True or false: You’ll need to do light renovations before selling. (3:35)
True or false: It’s in bad taste to ask an agent how many homes they sell a year. (4:05)
True or false: The home inspection is the most daunting part of the process. (6:45)
True or false: You don’t need much due diligence these days. (9:10)
True or false: Prepare for problems with the appraisal. (10:09)
True or false: My house is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. (12:27)
True or false: Low ball offers are back in style. (13:59)
See our listings and contact Angie at https://www.acolerealty.com/ 

Mailbag: When Should We Include 3D Photos in a Home Listing?

When you go to buy or sell a home, you want everything to go as well as possible. For some people, they choose to include 3D photos with the listing, and others may choose to do an open house. Angie talks through the pros and cons of some of these different decisions as she answers this question and three other questions from the mailbag.
Here are the mailbag questions we cover today:
Mailbag: Why do some people choose to do a 3D tour on a home listing? (0:38)
Mailbag: Should we knock down walls to make our bedrooms bigger? (3:36)
Mailbag: Will our aging systems hurt our home sale? (6:00)
Mailbag: Should we build a home? What will that process include? (8:33)
 
See our listings: http://acolerealty.com 

4 Reasons Real Estate Deals Fall Through

What are four surprising reasons that a real estate deal might fall through? Based on a recent article from realtor.com, we discuss these possibilities and find out if Angie has seen similar situations. Make sure none of these situations happen to you!
Here are some reasons real estate deals don’t happen:   
Rising interest rates impact financing. (1:14)
Houses don’t appraise for what the buyer offered. (2:40)
Buyers rack up too much debt. (3:44)
Buyers found a different house after prices dropped. (5:12)
 
See our listings: http://acolerealty.com 

Mailbag: How Much Home Can I Afford?

When you buy a home, the costs are more than just the monthly mortgage. So, how can you determine how much home you can afford? Whether you hit big with the lottery, got a sizeable inheritance, or a big bonus at work, you’ll still want to factor in what is sustainable for you and your budget. Angie answers this question and three others on today’s episode of the podcast.
 
Here's what we discuss on today’s show:
How much should I have for competitive due diligence? (0:38)
How do you determine how much someone can afford on a home? (4:45)
What is a seller consultation? (8:41)
Will we have a hard time selling if we don’t live in city limits? (11:28)
 
See our listings: http://acolerealty.com 

End of Year Real Estate Questions

As the end of the year approaches, we address some of the last few trends and questions in 2022. Angie shares what you’ll want to know as you look toward buying or selling a house in the near future.
 
Here's what we discuss on today’s show:
Signs show mortgage rates might dip. Will homebuying pick up? (1:38)
Will people list their home during the holidays? (2:48)
The best deal Angie has ever seen on a home purchase. (4:45)
Does Angie’s team take a break over the holidays? (6:37)
What Angie predicts will happen with the market in 2023. (8:50)
 
See our listings: http://acolerealty.com