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We Can Help No Matter Where You’re Going

chris.ha@bullsai.com (chris.ha@bullsai.com ) — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 19:41:09 GMT

Buying a Sacramento Area Home? Search ALL Homes For Sale.

Selling Your Sacramento Area Home? Get a FREE Home Value Report.

I’ve had the opportunity to travel around the country a lot this year. I’ve gone on vacations, been to conferences, and even trained and spoke to other offices around the country.

When I go to these different areas of the country, I always make it a point to look at what their local markets are doing. I’ll ask my Uber driver, ask friends who live there, and go see which agents have the most listings in a typical neighborhood.

When I was recently in Nashville, for example, I was told that “everyone” from California is moving there. That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but this was the general consensus.

“ We have a network of over 130,000 Realtors. ”

This got me thinking about the people who are moving away from Sacramento. Just because I’m located in the Sacramento area doesn’t mean that I can’t help you with a move to somewhere else in the world. My team has a network of over 130,000 Realtors across the globe that will give you the same great service I will.

If you have any questions for me or you’d like to talk more about your real estate goals, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

What Springtime Means for Sacramento Sellers

chris.ha@bullsai.com (chris.ha@bullsai.com ) — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 19:39:09 GMT

Buying a Sacramento Area Home? Search ALL Homes For Sale.

Selling Your Sacramento Area Home? Get a FREE Home Value Report.

Many people believe that springtime is the best time to sell a home, and if the latest market statistics are any indication, they’re absolutely right.

The number of homes available for sale was down 11.8% last April compared to April 2018. Furthermore, the number of pending sales rose by 7.3%. In other words, we’re seeing fewer homes hit the market, and demand is ratcheting up.

“ We’re seeing fewer homes hit the market, and demand is ratcheting up. ”

Despite these trends, we’re encountering a lot of sellers who are still on the fence about entering the market right now. If you’re unsure whether you really want to put your home on the market, we’ve created a home seller’s guide that takes you through the sale process from start to finish so you can know exactly what to expect. We also created a homebuyer’s guide for the same purpose.

If you’d like a copy of either of these guides or you’d like to sit down with us and talk more about whether you’re better off selling now or sometime in the future, don’t hesitate to give us a call.

As always, if you have any other real estate questions, feel free to reach out to us as well. We’d love to help you.

What Would You Like to Know About Real Estate?

chris.ha@bullsai.com (chris.ha@bullsai.com ) — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 19:28:02 GMT

Buying a Sacramento Area Home? Search ALL Homes For Sale.

Selling Your Sacramento Area Home? Get a FREE Home Value Report.

I’ve been in Sacramento real estate since 2005, and over the years, I’ve sold homes, managed teams, and run entire brokerages. In fact, one brokerage I headed was the No. 1 Keller Williams brokerage in all of North America—we sold over 20,000 homes and amassed over $4.5 billion in sales.

I’m not sharing this to try and impress you; I’m simply illustrating that there isn’t much I haven’t seen in real estate. However, I need your help to put these experiences to further use.

“ There isn’t much I haven’t seen in real estate. ”

I want to continue covering important real estate topics and ideas, but I need to know what information you would find interesting and valuable. Most of you aren’t looking to buy or sell right now, but I still want to be there as a resource for you in the meantime.

If you want to know about market stats, events in our community, things to do around the house, or anything else related to real estate, let me know; I’d love to share that knowledge with you.

Feel free to send me your suggestions at Patrick@PatrickWoods.net. If you are looking to buy or sell, reach out to me as well. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Your Update for the Sacramento Real Estate Market

chris.ha@bullsai.com (chris.ha@bullsai.com ) — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 19:24:19 GMT

Buying a Sacramento Area Home? Search ALL Homes For Sale.

Selling Your Sacramento Area Home? Get a FREE Home Value Report.

So is the Sacramento market currently a buyer’s market or a seller’s market?

Actually, it’s still a seller’s market , contrary to much of what we’ve been hearing in the news about market trends around the country. Now, the market has softened a little bit, but we still have an inventory that would reflect a seller’s market. What is challenging, however, is that we’re not seeing as much of a hot seller’s market as we had been earlier in 2018.

As far as inventory goes, since we’re in a seller’s market, it means that we have less than six months of supply available at the moment. We have seen inventory drop a little bit due to the current season , but we’ve also seen the number of sales go down in proportion to that, as well, meaning that home prices have softened also—but not a lot.

“ We don’t know for sure what the future will bring for the market, so it’s important to act on what we currently know, not what could possibly happen. ”

What do interest rates look like at the moment?

Interest rates are still historically low; as of the time that this video was taken, we’re still in the 4% range , which is crazy low. I remember when an old roommate of mine was excited to have a 9% interest rate on a condo that he had purchased!

However, we don’t know for sure what the future will bring for the market, so it’s important to act on what we currently know, not what could possibly happen. Interest rates may creep back up a little, but since we don’t have a crystal ball, we can’t say with certainty what will happen.

So what does this mean for buyers and sellers as a whole?

With inventory lower than it was and because of the season, there’s actually less competition for homes currently on the market, which is great for both buyers and sellers. Sellers have little competition , and there are also fewer buyers to compete with since the only ones likely to be out bidding on homes this time of year are the ones who are serious and motivated about buying.

Right now, we know what interest rates are like, but come springtime—who knows? That’s why it’s important for anyone thinking of buying or selling to act quickly.

If you have any questions or need more information, please feel free to reach out to me. Let’s lock something down for you right now and get you into a home ASAP.

5 Great Reasons to Sell Your Home This Year

chris.ha@bullsai.com (chris.ha@bullsai.com ) — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 19:18:42 GMT

Buying a Sacramento Area Home? Search ALL Homes For Sale.

Selling Your Sacramento Area Home? Get a FREE Home Value Report.

Even though we’ve enjoyed a hot seller’s market over the past few years, they say all good things must come to an end. But does that mean you’ve missed the boat? Absolutely not! Though the market has softened a little bit, we’re still in a seller’s market. Here are five key reasons to sell your home in 2019:

1. You won’t be the only one listing for long. The reason why we’ve seen such a massive increase in home values over the last couple years is that we haven’t had enough inventory for the number of buyers in the market. Due to supply and demand, home prices have gone up. We’ve seen more homes come on the market after the first of the year, so we can expect much more supply as we head into the spring and summer months. This might negatively impact home prices and divert eyeballs away from your listing. Strike now while the iron is hot.

2. You can still make a handsome profit . The great news is that you’ll still be able to take advantage of all those years of appreciation and equity that you’ve built up in your home. Prices aren’t dropping just yet—they’re still appreciating, just not at the clip that they were one to two years ago. You’ll still walk away in a great position, even if you’re selling your home today.

“ We don’t have a crystal ball to tell us exactly what will happen with interest rates, but it’s much more likely they’ll go up in the future than down. ”

3. There is still a demand for homes in the first-time-homebuyer price range. If your home falls on the lower end of your market, you’ll have more visitors and eyeballs on your listings, meaning that you’ll get more exposure and have more control over the outcome of your sale. The number of people looking at your home is directly correlated to your ability to sell it for the most money in the shortest amount of time.

4. Mortgage rates are still really low . Though interest rates were around 3.5% a few years ago and have since risen to around 4.5%, they’re still low in the grand scheme of things. Right now, there is a prime opportunity to sell your house before interest rates go up again—higher interest rates mean reduced buying power, which in turn means that fewer buyers will be able to afford your home. We don’t have a crystal ball to tell us exactly what will happen with interest rates, but it’s much more likely they’ll go up in the future than down.

5. Millennial buyers are flooding the market. Contrary to popular belief, millennials are actually buying homes. In the next two years, we’ll see more 30-year-olds buying property than we’ve seen in decades. That means it’s a great opportunity to put your home out there so as to attract those millennial buyers.

If you have any further questions about selling your home or about the real estate market in general, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We hope to hear from you soon!

10 New Year’s Resolutions for Your Home

chris.ha@bullsai.com (chris.ha@bullsai.com ) — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 19:16:09 GMT

Buying a Sacramento Area Home? Search ALL Homes For Sale.

Selling Your Sacramento Area Home? Get a FREE Home Value Report.

If you’re all about personal resolutions for the new year, here are 10 simple resolutions you can make for your home in 2019:

Lose weight . Cut the amount of energy you use in your home.
Quit smoking . Purify your indoor air.
Get out of debt . Make a budget for home improvements.
Learn something new . Educate yourself on home finances, for instance.
Get organized . Start by decluttering your home.
Volunteer . Get out there and support your local community.
Drink less . Curb the amount of water you use in your home.
Spend time with family . Do projects together with your loved ones.
Get fit . Exercise your DIY skills with simple fixes and improvements.
Be less stressed . Use maintenance-free materials in your household.

If you have any questions or have topics you’d like me to cover in future videos, feel free to reach out to me. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Don’t Let These 5 Vices Ruin Your Home Sale

chris.ha@bullsai.com (chris.ha@bullsai.com ) — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 19:10:06 GMT

What are the five vices you need to avoid if you hope to sell your home in 2017?

The first is over-improving your home . A lot of sellers claim that they have the nicest house on the block, but that can be a bad thing sometimes. Making too many improvements to your home can overprice it and lessen the chance you’ll get a return on its value. Consult with us if you want to make sure you’re not spending a dollar to save a dime.

The second vice to avoid is renovating without permits . While it may seem like the fastest way to get something done to improve your home (getting permits can be a difficult process), it will come back to haunt you down the line when you’re trying to close. Take the extra step to get proper permits when making any improvements to your home.

The third vice is limiting showing hours . Can showing your home be inconvenient at certain times? Absolutely. But part of our job is to make those showings as convenient as possible. The more open you are to showings, the faster your home will get under contract. That means no more showings will have to take place!

The fourth vice is relying too heavily on open houses . While open houses can be great for momentum, the number one reason most people want open houses is because it’s the only time they see their agent work to sell their house. Agents in this day and age use a lot of different avenues to sell homes, so it’s important to know what you’re agent is doing to sell your home beyond the occasional open house. Open houses can also put you at risk because you’re giving people open access to your home to do some damage later on.

“ Always follow your agent’s advice. ”

The final vice to avoid is not following your agent’s advice . Would you walk into your CPA’s office and tell them you know a better way to file your taxes? No way! Your agent is a pro and you’re hiring them for a reason. They’re an expert on the process and they know what they’re doing.

If you have any questions about this topic or are interested in buying or selling a property, feel free to give us a call or shoot us an email. We’d be happy to help you!

Don’t Wait Until Spring to Sell

chris.ha@bullsai.com (chris.ha@bullsai.com ) — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 19:07:50 GMT

Right now is a great time to get your house on the market for a few reasons.

There are a lot of sellers waiting on the sidelines for nice weather in the spring to list their homes. Traditionally, most people consider spring the best time to sell a home, but there’s a flaw in that logic.

There will be a lot more inventory on the market in the spring, which creates more competition between sellers. Right now, there is low competition and high demand, which means you could get way more for your home than if you wait for spring.

“ If you wait until spring to list, you’ll face more competition and possibly less money for your home. ”

Our inventory is actually lower right now than it was at this time last year, and interest rates are starting to creep up. This is causing buyers to get off the fence and submit the strongest, quickest offers to secure a purchase.

If you have any more questions about putting your home on the market now instead of waiting for spring, or if you have any other questions, please feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!

We Want You to Get Into Production ASAP

chris.ha@bullsai.com (chris.ha@bullsai.com ) — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 19:05:31 GMT

When you start working with our team, we want to get you into production as fast as possible. Today, we’d like to take a minute to explain how our agent onboarding process works.

One of the first things that we do is sit down with you to map out your goals. Most people say that they want to net around $100,000 in profit. Based on industry conversion rates, we’ll break down what you need to do on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis in order to achieve that goal.

When that happens, most people are surprised. When you break down the numbers, there’s actually not a whole lot that you have to do on a day-to-day basis in order to profit $100,000. So long as you are consistent, you will meet your goals.

“ We want to set you up for success. ”

We also provide services and value to make it even easier for you to meet your production goals.

If you have any other questions about our agent onboarding process or if you are interested in joining our team, give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

The Value in Joining a Real Estate Team

chris.ha@bullsai.com (chris.ha@bullsai.com ) — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 19:04:01 GMT

Join our real estate team.

There’s a lot to be said about the value of joining the right real estate team.

There are a lot of misconceptions out there about joining a team that aren’t limited to people questioning the notion of ‘sharing their money with someone else.’ Most people will actually discourage you from joining a team thinking that you’ll be sending your money to the rainmaker so that they can go buy a Ferrari. These people don’t take things into account like my trip to Disneyland.

Allow me to elaborate.

When I was a solo agent, I took my family to Disneyland, and we were standing in line for a ride while my phone was blowing up with texts, sign calls, and client calls. Needless to say, my wife wasn’t happy about this during family time. It was discouraging and heartbreaking because my kids were so excited to be there, and yet, I was on the phone most of the time.

You have to consider all these things that go into your net when looking at joining a team. Your expenses will be reduced and you’ll be able to focus on dollar-producing activities. Just one of the intangible values is being able to go on vacation with your family and not having to answer every single call or text message that comes to your phone and truly enjoy your time off.

“ You have to consider everything that goes into your net, both tangible and intangible. ”

Ultimately, isn’t the possibility of unlimited income and freedom of your time to enjoy it why you got into real estate in the first place?

That’s where a lot of people in this industry are backward. We go to many offices and talk to agents who we find don’t have that freedom because they’re so busy and can’t enjoy the fruits of their labor.

If you have any questions about improving your net income without sacrificing that freedom you got into the business for, let’s talk because we might have an opportunity for you. Just give us a call or send us an email soon. We look forward to hearing from you!

Why So Many Are Drawn to a Career in Real Estate

chris.ha@bullsai.com (chris.ha@bullsai.com ) — Wed, 12 Feb 2020 22:03:59 GMT

Most people get into the real estate industry because they want the opportunity for a big life. That’s the number one reason. Whether it’s opportunity in the form of income or freedom of time, real estate can provide you with it.

Having a successful career in real estate is not as easy as you think it may be on HGTV. Some people think they can just copy what their agent does and make a lot of money. It’s not that simple. They don’t take into account the hours that go into the job leading up to that transaction, as well as all the stuff behind the scenes, not to mention the splits, taxes, and expenses that go into your gross vs. net income.

We’ve ran offices and coached a lot of young agents in the process. We’ve seen a lot of agents get their license so they can sell a friend or family member’s home, get the commission, and move on. However, as soon as your family and friends are done referring you business, you don’t have anything in the pipeline.

“ A big life has to be funded by a big business. ”

If you want real estate to provide you with a big life, it has to be funded by a big business. We started this company to create a big business and a big life for our agents. It all comes down to the net income. Agents get too overly concerned about splits and don’t look at the big picture. This includes taking a look at all your expenses too so you can determine what your final take-home number is. The net income is what you really should be focusing on.

If you have any interest in talking to us about joining our team or want to know how we can help you create a big business and a big life in the process, give us a call or send us an email. We would love to teach you how to run a business, not just how to make a sale. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Follow These Steps to Ensure a Successful Home Purchase

chris.ha@bullsai.com (chris.ha@bullsai.com ) — Wed, 12 Feb 2020 22:01:47 GMT

Buying a home for the first time is exciting, but it can be a bit overwhelming as well. Follow these five steps to ensure a smooth and successful purchase as a first-time home buyer.

1. Work with the right real estate agent. Someone you know may have their real estate license and you may have a great relationship with them, but that doesn’t mean they’re the right person to help you with your first home purchase. Make sure you take the time to interview agents to find the one who will be able to help you with your specific needs.

2. Don’t be afraid to talk to multiple lenders. Again, you might know a lender through a personal relationship, but don’t be afraid to talk to a lender your real estate agent recommends to make sure you’re doing the best thing for you in regard to the purchase of your new home.

3. Mind your credit. There are many outlets to get a free credit report. It’s important that you know what is going on with your credit throughout the entire process of buying your home. Your credit score makes a huge difference in the type of loan and interest rate you will be approved for to purchase the home.

4. Stay at your job. OK, so this is an obvious one, but changing jobs while going through the pre-approval process will harm your chances of getting pre-approved.

5. Don’t make any big purchases during the pre-approval process. Don’t sign up for new credit cards or buy a new car until after closing. Don’t spend money unless your lender says it’s OK. That may sound extreme, but they are there to make sure everything goes smoothly for you.

“ Make sure you know what’s going on with your credit throughout the entire home buying process. ”

If you have any other questions about buying a home, or if you have any other questions about real estate, please give us a call or send us an email. We’re here to help.

How Will Millennials Revolutionize the 2017 Housing Market?

chris.ha@bullsai.com (chris.ha@bullsai.com ) — Wed, 12 Feb 2020 21:51:53 GMT

Today we wanted to talk a little bit about the effect first-time millennial home buyers are expected to have on the 2017 real estate market.

In 2016, millennials only made up about 33% of all first-time home buyers. This year, that percentage is expected to rise all the way up to 52%. Not only that, but they’re also expected to make up more than half of the entire buying market.

“Millennials are expected to make up more than half of the entire buying market.”

Why is this generation expected to make such an enormous leap? They’re getting out of college, getting married, and starting families. Thus, they need homes to accommodate this lifestyle shift.

If you have any other questions about a topic we can answer on video, please feel free to reach out to us by phone or email. We look forward to hearing from you!

Why Join the Maverick Real Estate Group?

chris.ha@bullsai.com (chris.ha@bullsai.com ) — Wed, 12 Feb 2020 21:41:36 GMT

One of the things that typically happens when somebody joins a team is that they end up paying a portion of their commission to the rainmaker while doing their own lead generation, marketing, and a slew of other things within the transaction. This can lead to a feeling of unfairness.

With that in mind, today we’ve brought in Lauren Davis, one of our administrative assistants, to share with you some of the things we do to offload pieces of your business and reduce your number of tasks so you can focus on the most important things, which are working with your clients, getting them under contract, and closing deals.

“ We’re looking for hard-working, motivated, dedicated people to join our team. ”

To help our associates so that they can focus on their top 20%, Lauren does everything from the marketing to the open house fliers while simultaneously acting as a client liaison to ensure that you have a smooth transaction from start to finish and any type of paperwork or other tertiary client care is handled properly. .

If you’re considering joining the Maverick Real Estate Group, Lauren’s message explaining why our team would be the best fit for you is simple. There is a lot of opportunity to grow here, and what sets us apart is that we aren’t salespeople running a business—we’re business people running a business. If you want to have an empire, this is your team.

5 Photography Mistakes for Home Sellers to Avoid

chris.ha@bullsai.com (chris.ha@bullsai.com ) — Wed, 12 Feb 2020 21:37:22 GMT

Professional listing photos are incredibly important in today’s market, as most buyers begin their home search online. As a home seller, there are five mistakes that you need to avoid when taking listing photos:

1. No more corners. For some reason, everyone likes to take pictures of bare, lonely, boring corners. Do not take pictures of corners; they do you no good whatsoever.

2. The grass is always greener. Make sure you take a wide photo to showcase the outside of your home rather than a narrow photo.

3. From the outside looking in. We see listings all the time without interior photos. Why isn’t the photographer allowed in your house? You need to make sure that they come into the home so they can take pictures and record what is magnificent about your house so that we can sell your house effectively..

“ If your house looks haunted, it won’t sell. ”

4. A haunted look doesn’t help. Grainy photos, poorly lit photos, and shadowy photos do not make your home look presentable. They can actually make your house look haunted, which will not get you the maximum price for your home.

5. Let the sun in . Open up your windows, blinds, and drapes to let the sun in. Natural lighting makes your home look bigger while highlighting its beauty. Let the sun in so that we can actually show your home online.

If you follow these five tips, your listing photos will be fantastic. If you have any other questions about listing photos or preparing your home for the market, just give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

We’re Looking for Motivated People to Join Our Team

chris.ha@bullsai.com (chris.ha@bullsai.com ) — Wed, 12 Feb 2020 21:35:18 GMT

Here at the Maverick Real Estate Group, we’re looking for motivated, hard-working individuals to join our team.

Why should you join our amazing team? Allow buyer specialist Caitlyn Tweedy to explain why she joined us.

“I knew that I wanted to be the best, and in order to be the best, you need to join the best,” she says. “I knew right away that this was a team that is motivated and striving to be the best and have the results to prove it.”

And don’t fall for the misconception that joining a team means less money.

“If you look at all the things a team offers you, you’re getting more money because you have more time to put toward what really counts, lead generating and going out there getting clients ,” Caitlyn says.

“ We’re the best out there. ”

At the end of the day, it’s all about netting more money. When you join a team, that’s what you can focus on and count on. As Caitlyn says, if you want to be part of a family-like environment that will push you and support you and give you accountability, then you want to be on our team.

“We’re the best out there,” she says.

Think you’d be a good fit for our team? Give us a call or simply reply to this email to get the conversation started. We look forward to hearing from you!

Our Top 6 Tips for Selling Your Home This Fall or Winter

chris.ha@bullsai.com (chris.ha@bullsai.com ) — Wed, 12 Feb 2020 21:32:15 GMT

Today we’re here with our top tips for selling your home in the fall and winter:

1. Pay close attention to your curb appeal . It’s obviously not spring anymore, so the blooming flowers aren’t going to be there. Still, keep your curb appeal neat and simple.

2. Go easy on the holiday decorations . Don’t go crazy with pumpkins, hay bales, and holiday lights. Just make your home look appealing and attractive to all potential buyers.

3.Let in the light. Keep your blinds and curtains open as much as possible, especially if an agent is showing your property.

“ Don’t go overboard with the holiday decorations. ”

4. Make your space more inviting . As the weather cools and the gray skies roll in, it’s important to warm up your home. You can do that by using decorative throw pillows, vases with fall foliage, or bowls with fresh fruit. These small touches will liven up your property and make it feel warm and inviting.

5. Prepare your fireplace . Just like warm chocolate chip cookies prepared for a showing, your fireplace can really add that extra wow factor. Make sure your fireplace is clean. If you can, light a fire before showings to really impress potential buyers.

6. Add the scent of fall or winter to your home . Smells like cinnamon, pumpkin spice, and vanilla will connect the buyers to the season and make your home more appealing.

If you have any other questions about preparing your home for the market or about selling in the fall and winter, give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

What Jeff Imahara Loves About Working for the Maverick Group

chris.ha@bullsai.com (chris.ha@bullsai.com ) — Wed, 12 Feb 2020 21:29:58 GMT

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Jeff Imahara, a buyer specialist on our team.

Jeff moved to Sacramento from the Bay Area earlier this year and knew coming into a new area and new location that he’d want to join a team. He met with a few brokers and actually found one that he liked so much that he planned on canceling his meeting with Jesse! Fortunately, Jeff forged an instant connection with Jesse, not just on professional goals, but on the family-oriented direction of the team as well. This personal connection was as important to Jeff as their professional common ground was.

When Jeff joined the Maverick Team, the group was only a few months old. Jeff enjoyed the startup phase of the business and learned a lot in those early days. He was happy that he could rely on the team for answers to any of the questions that he had about contracts or specific issues within a transaction.

“ The Maverick Group has helped Jeff cut his overhead costs and get more leads. ”

To those real estate agents who are hesitant about joining a team, Jeff says that there are a lot of benefits to being part of a group. Jeff has found that the Maverick Team has helped him cut his overhead costs, get more leads, and hold him accountable, which has helped him stay focused and stay driven.

Jeff also says that it’s possible to net more money as part of a team than as a solo agent. Being on a team has allowed Jeff to delegate a lot of tasks so that he can focus on his main goals: lead generation, setting appointments, and closing deals. This gives Jeff the freedom to leverage his time so that he can work to meet and exceed his financial goals.

If you have any questions for Jeff, give him a call at 916-580-6081. If you have any questions about joining our team, feel free to reach out to us by phone or email anytime. We look forward to hearing from you!

Should You Buy a Home During the Holidays?

chris.ha@bullsai.com (chris.ha@bullsai.com ) — Wed, 12 Feb 2020 21:25:46 GMT

Are you uncertain about buying a home this holiday season? Today, we have five compelling reasons why the holidays are actually a fantastic time to do so.

1. There is less market activity. With the holidays and all the family events, there’s less going on in the market. That makes it a great time to strike and take advantage of the slow market.

2. Sellers are motivated during the holiday season. If a home is on the market during the holidays, it can mean that the owners are selling because of a major life event and they absolutely need to sell during this time. You’ll have an opportunity to get a good deal from a highly motivated buyer.

3. Potential tax advantages. By closing on the house before the end of the year, you may have certain items from that real estate transaction that you can write off on your 2016 taxes. Be sure to consult your CPA or tax advisor before you do anything.

“ Lenders are more competitive at year’s end, so you can get a lower rate. ”

4. Rates tend to be lower during the end of the year. Banks and lenders are more competitive at this time, so in turn, you can get a lower rate, which makes it a great time to buy.

5. You’ll be able to close faster. Lenders want to close out their books before the calendar year ends, real estate agents want to make their commissions for the year, and buyers want to move in before the holidays. Everyone is working together to close fast during this time.

We hope this gives you a little more motivation to buy a home if you were hesitant to act during the holidays. There are great deals to be made during this time. If you have any more questions or you’re ready to buy a home, give us a call or send us an email. We’d love to help you out!

5 Ways to Start a Bidding War on Your Home

chris.ha@bullsai.com (chris.ha@bullsai.com ) — Wed, 12 Feb 2020 21:23:03 GMT

If you are thinking of selling your home, there are a few things you can do to start a bidding war:

1. Price your home to move. It can be a little scary to price your home below its perceived market value, but it’s economics 101. When buyers see a deal, there will be more interest in your home. More buyers will see your home in a shorter amount of time, which puts you in the driver’s seat to negotiate the best terms, the best price, and drive the value up. Strategically pricing your home ultimately helps you get the price you want.

2. Set deadlines for your offers. People will not want to miss out on a deal when they know a deadline is set. That deadline will get procrastinators off of the bench and into the game. You have to be priced right to stir up the buzz, and setting a deadline will help you capture that buzz.

3. Take a different view of the listing photos. Most online listings feature the same standard photos of a home: the front of the house, the living space, and the kitchen. We want to convey what it would be like to live in the house to potential buyers. Use professional photos to showcase what it would be like to cook in your kitchen or entertain in your backyard.

“ Price your home strategically to generate buzz. ”

4. Fuel buyers’ interest ahead of time. Most real estate agents put the sign in the front yard, get a lockbox on the house, and wait for people to come in. When you list with us, we go above and beyond to get your home the exposure it needs via many different marketing outlets, including social media, websites, and print.

5. Stage an extravagant open house event . We do everything to drive as much traffic through your home as possible, so hosting a fantastic open house is a great way to do just that. The more traffic your home gets, the more offers you will get, and the bidding war will begin.

If you have any other questions about preparing your home for a bidding war or if you want to know more about real estate in general, give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

The Truth About Real Estate Teams

chris.ha@bullsai.com (chris.ha@bullsai.com ) — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 19:51:11 GMT

There are three main misconceptions about joining a real estate team that you’ve probably heard before:

1. You make less money. One of the quotes we always like to bring up is, “Would you rather have 100% of a grape, or 50% of a watermelon?” We’d all choose 50% of a watermelon because we understand what the denominator is. It’s no different than choosing 50% of a million dollars over 100% of $20,000. The focus of joining a real estate team should be freeing you up so you can do the parts of the transaction you actually love, which will then allow you to make more transactions and net more money. The money that’s brought in should be going toward increasing your business and leveraging your time more efficiently.

2.The split profit from the team is only for the team owners. If you join the right team that’s doing it the right way, the amount of money that’s coming in from a revenue standpoint should be going back into the business. This will provide more systems which will then provide more leads, more training, and more education. This way, you’re allowed to get where you want to be from a goal standpoint because every other aspect of the business is taken care of.

“ Would you rather have 100% of a grape or 50% of a watermelon? ”

3. You lose your identity. All of us got into this business for both the financial opportunity and the freedom. Joining a team, while it may seem counterintuitive, will actually help you accomplish those two things because for each transaction you have more support and more people behind you.

As you can see, when you join the right team, not only will you have the opportunity to net the kind of money you want to make, but you’ll also have the freedom of time to enjoy the fruits of your labor. On a team, everybody succeeds together.

If you’re curious about exploring any opportunities with our real estate group, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. You can check out our website, send us an email, or just give us a call. We look forward to hearing from you!

3 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying

chris.ha@bullsai.com (chris.ha@bullsai.com ) — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 19:48:38 GMT

Buying a home is a complicated process. You can easily leave yourself open to mistakes without even trying. Here are three things you should definitely avoid doing while buying:

1. Failing to confide in a trusted advisor. We see home buyers hire agents all the time who they are either not comfortable with or don’t fully trust. It’s tough for an advisor to give you the best advice if you’re not being honest and candid with them. It’s always a smart idea to have a conversation with this person before you begin the search process. They have a fiduciary duty to take care of you, so let them know exactly what you want.

2. Altering your financial picture. Going out and buying something like a new car, new furniture, or maxing out a credit card will negatively impact your purchasing power. A lot of times, purchases like this will stop you from buying altogether.

“ Your agent has a fiduciary duty to take care of you. ”

3. Buying the wrong house. When you go out looking at homes, it’s important that your agent knows exactly what you are looking for. They need to know what you want, but they also need to know what you can’t live without. We go through this list before we even start looking at homes to make sure every property we show you is something you want to see.

If you have any questions for us about the buying process or how we can help you, give us a call or send us a quick email. We look forward to hearing from you.

Start Preparing for the New Year Now

chris.ha@bullsai.com (chris.ha@bullsai.com ) — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 19:45:52 GMT

Happy New Year! Why are we saying this in October?

We are now in the fourth quarter and the effects of the activities that we do today will show up 90 days from now. The actions that you take right now will determine how great 2017 will be for you.

What’s the one thing we have control over as real estate professionals? Our activities. In other words, our lead generation. You want to make sure that you stay consistent with lead generating activities so that you end 2016 with a bang and start 2017 with insane momentum.

Many agents say that the fourth quarter and the first quarter are typically slow seasons in the real estate market. Other agents say that these are the best quarters in the year. Why? These agents have consistent lead generating activities.

“ End 2016 with a bang and jump into 2017 with incredible momentum! ”

Most real estate agents take October, November, December, and January off due to weather, holidays, or vacation. The other agents who stay consistent with their lead generating activities will see those results in November, December, and January. Those agents will end the year on a high note and start 2017 on a high note, while other agents will struggle to catch up after January 1st.

When you lose momentum, it’s harder to get started. With all of this talk about an impending market shift on the horizon, why not put the pedal to the metal? Take advantage of the opportunities the fourth and first quarter present (including less competition from other agents) and kick your career into high gear.

If you have any questions for us about lead generation or anything else real estate-related, just give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!

Turn a Lowball Offer into a Home Run in 5 Steps

chris.ha@bullsai.com (chris.ha@bullsai.com ) — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 19:44:01 GMT

Don’t be insulted by a lowball offer on your home. Here are a few steps you can take that will help you turn that lowball offer into a home run.

If you’re selling your home in Sacramento and you receive a lowball offer on it from a potential buyer, you may be wondering whether it’s still possible to get a great deal on your home. Today we’d like to share five steps you should take to turn that lowball offer into a home run:

1. Don’t be insulted by a lowball offer. Keep in mind that this is a starting point of the negotiation. You can’t hit a home run without stepping up to the plate first. This is our opportunity to step up to the plate and negotiate on your behalf.

2. Respond gracefully. Even though this is a lowball offer, show some gratitude that you received an offer in the first place. Grace can go a long way. Put yourself in the buyer’s shoes: if a seller launches a personal attack on you after making an offer, are you likely to come up on your price? Don’t respond with your first gut reaction; take a moment to digest it, then respond.

3. Write a strategic counteroffer. Receiving a lowball offer doesn’t mean that you need to be aggressive in your counteroffer, and sometimes people leave too much money on the table. Respond in kind – this is a negotiation, so let us work until we get to a point where you feel comfortable selling your home at the right price.

4. Expect a counter to your counteroffer. It’s natural for this negotiation to feel a bit like a chess game, and you may counter back and forth a few different times. Be patient during this process and realize that your agent will keep your best interest in mind.

5. Negotiate other terms . If you’re having trouble settling on a price on the property, get creative with terms like the closing date, rent-backs, included appliances, or other terms that might make it worth your while. Let your agent help you negotiate a win-win situation for all parties involved.

“ Remember that this a negotiation first and foremost. ”

If you have any questions about lowball offers or real estate in general, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We’d be happy to point you in the right direction!

3 Benefits of Joining a Real Estate Team

chris.ha@bullsai.com (chris.ha@bullsai.com ) — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 19:41:50 GMT

If you’re on a real estate career path, you may be wondering whether you should list homes on your own or join a team. Here are some of the reasons you may want to think about joining a team:

1. Leverage. A good team will build systems and administrative support around their team to ensure that you’re successful in doing what you do best: lead generating, going on appointments, and closing deals. These are the only things that a team should want you to do so that you achieve your overall goals.

2. Expenses. Joining a team affords you the opportunity to not only make more money, but to reduce your expenses as well by allowing the other members of the team to take on more of them. This will help generate more leads while giving you the systems, tools, and resources to focus on what you do best – meeting with clients, converting leads, and closing transactions.

3. Synergy, fun, camaraderie. If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go with others. By joining a real estate team, you’ll be surrounded by like-minded, highly-motivated people who are on the same path as you. They want to see you succeed, they want to achieve their goals, and that symbiosis creates an energy that is inspiring enough to push everyone forward quickly.

“ If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go with others. ”

If you’re interested in joining our team or have other questions about the benefits that a team can provide you, feel free to reach out to us by phone or email. We’d love to tell you more.

6 Easy Ways to Increase Your Home’s Value

chris.ha@bullsai.com (chris.ha@bullsai.com ) — Fri, 07 Feb 2020 19:05:30 GMT

There are six easy ways to increase your home’s value for a summer sale:

Repaint . Adding a fresh pop of color updates the look and gets rid of the smudges, blemishes, and fingerprints on the walls. If you really want that modern look, try going for some of the popular gray tones you see on the market today.
Address your front door . Add some extra color and decorative effects so that you create a welcoming feeling for people when they walk up to your house.
Cultivate curb appeal . Plant some flowers. Pull out all the weeds. Make sure the lawn is properly manicured. Spread a new layer of mulch. All of these simple outdoor chores can make a world of difference, aesthetically.
Add new appliances to your kitchen . Even if your kitchen needs remodeling, adding stainless steel appliances can have a very positive impact on people when they walk through your kitchen.
Make some quick bathroom updates . A fresh coat of paint on the vanity mirror, updated lighting and hardware, fresh towels, and modernized shower curtains can do the trick even if your bathroom needs a major renovation.
Add new bedding . It sounds simple, but it’s well worth spending a few bucks to go out and buy a bedding in a bag. The look of new bedding always makes a good impression.

“ Create a welcoming feeling for people. ”

If you’re getting ready to put your house on the market or have a specific topic in mind that you would like to know more about, please give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!

The 20 Hottest Home Features Right Now

chris.ha@bullsai.com (chris.ha@bullsai.com ) — Fri, 07 Feb 2020 19:00:04 GMT

Must-have home features are constantly evolving. After all, just a half century ago, shag carpeting in all hues – gold, orange, and purple – were all “in.” But what’s hot with home owners and buyers now .

Realtor.com® set out to find out, evaluating what must-have home features are hot right now by analyzing millions of listings at its site for the most commonly used phrases of home features.

The following 20 features were most often used in listings on realtor.com® in 2015:

Fireplace (gas fireplaces were the leading type of fireplace mentioned)
Wood floor
Carpet
Granite counter
Stainless steel appliances
Open floor plan
Walk-in closet
Formal dining room
Vaulted ceiling
Open kitchen
Tile floor
Covered patio
Finished basement
Breakfast bar
French doors
Chef’s kitchen
Crown molding
Central air
Separate showera
Garden tub

Source: realtor.com®

Feds Pass Debt Forgiveness Tax Relief Extension

chris.ha@bullsai.com (chris.ha@bullsai.com ) — Fri, 07 Feb 2020 18:52:41 GMT

In 2007, the Federal Government passed The Mortgage Debt Forgiveness Relief Act as a means of enabling upside down property owners to possibly avoid paying income tax on unpaid loan debt after a foreclosure, short sale, or even a loan modification. The Act was passed in response to the collapsing real estate market as we entered what has come to be called the Great Recession. Although it originally was set to end in 2009, the severe depth and longevity of the economic crisis caused the Act to be repeatedly extended to the end of 2013.

In similar fashion, most States, including California, adopted similar laws to exempt forgiven debt from State taxes. Although these laws were in part modeled on the Federal Act, they were separate and had separate termination dates.

Significantly, no further action to extend the federal Act for 2014 was taken until December 26, 2014, which only extended the Act for 2014. California failed to join in this process and so California provided no relief after 2013.

For 2015, a similar lack of action was occurring although several Bills were introduced in Congress to extend the Act through both 2015 and 2016. President Obama further voiced his desire for this two year extension but throughout almost all of 2015, nothing happened and the Congressional Bills went nowhere. Finally however on December 18, 2015, Congress and the President agreed on and passed a 2016 Federal Spending Bill containing some 2000 pages of spending items. Buried deep within the Spending Bill was the extension of the Act for 2015 and 2016.

So, what this means is that people who have experienced Debt Forgiveness in 2015 or will experience it in 2016, may be able to avoid having to pay income tax on the forgiven amount. Put into real terms, this means that a person who sells their home for $100,000 less than they owe may avoid adding this amount to their overall income and paying income tax on the whole amount which could be up to $35,000 or more!

Unfortunately, California has not agreed to any further extension since its tax relief ended in 2013. Two things to remember:

1. Not all forgiven debt is protected by the Act. It is limited to debt incurred to acquire or make improvements to your personal residence (typically where you have lived three of the past 5 years); and

2. The Act is only one of several exemptions that may apply. The following may also be usable to avoid the tax on forgiven debt:

– Purchase Money Debt on your Personal Residence

– Capital Loss Offset on Investment Property

– Insolvency

– Bankruptcy

If you have or expect to incur forgiven debt, we recommend that you consult a knowledgeable real estate attorney to determine what exemptions may apply to your situation. Some exemptions require action by you before the debt forgiveness occurs, ie: before the property is sold or foreclosed. Our friends at BPE Law have counseled thousands of upside down owners on these and other real estate issues and they have a $300 flat fee consultation for this purpose. If you would like such a consultation with one of their knowledgeable attorneys, please call BPE Law at (916) 966-2260.

This article is not intended to be legal advice, and should not be taken as legal advice. Every case requires review of specific facts and history, and a formal agreement for service.

Source: BPE Law

Mortgage Rates Still on a Downward Trend

chris.ha@bullsai.com (chris.ha@bullsai.com ) — Fri, 07 Feb 2020 18:35:17 GMT

Mortgage rates continue to defy forecasts, as the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage falls even lower this week. This marks the second consecutive week where 30-year fixed-rate mortgages declined.

“Long-term Treasury yields continue to drop, dragging mortgage rates down with them,” says Sean Becketti, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “Turbulence in overseas financial markets is generating a flight-to-quality which benefits U.S. Treasury securities. In addition, sagging oil prices are capping inflation expectations. The net effect on the 30-year mortgage rate was a 5 basis point drop to 3.92 percent.”

Freddie Mac reports the following national averages with mortgage rates for the week ending Jan. 14:

30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.92 percent, with an average 0.6 point, dropping from last week’s 3.97 percent average. Last year at this time, 30-year rates averaged 3.66 percent.

15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.19 percent, with an average 0.5 point, falling from 3.26 percent the prior week. A year ago, 15-year rates averaged 2.98 percent.

5-year hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages: averaged 3.01 percent, with an average 0.4 point, falling from 3.09 percent last week. Last year at this time, 5-year ARMs averaged 2.90 percent.

Source: Freddie Mac

5 Things to Never Say When Selling a Home

chris.ha@bullsai.com (chris.ha@bullsai.com ) — Fri, 07 Feb 2020 18:33:45 GMT

It’s a lesson worth remembering: Home sellers need to watch what they say to home buyers and their real estate agents.

Real estate professionals recently shared with realtor.com® the phrases they say sellers should never utter:

1. “Our house is in perfect condition.”

“The home inspection may reveal otherwise, and, as a seller, you don’t want to wind up putting your foot in your mouth,” says Cara Ameer, a real estate professional with Coldwell Banker. “There simply is no such thing as ‘perfect condition.’ Every house, whether it is brand new or a resale, has something that needs to be fixed, adjusted, replaced, or improved upon.”

2. “We’ve never had a problem with …”

Sellers need to be careful to not utter any fibs, even those that seemingly are small, when selling their home. “You’re setting yourself up for potential liability,” Ameer says. “You may not even be aware of the problem at first, but it could translate into an embarrassing moment upon inspection.”

3. “It’s been on the market for …”

Sellers should never talk how long the home has been on the market with potential buyers, says Pam Santoro, a real estate professional with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. The information is available on the home’s information sheet for buyers to see for themselves. Sellers who wish to highlight this may find buyers believing they can get cheaper since it’s been on the market longer or have buyers wonder what’s wrong with the home that it has been lingering.

4. “We spent a ton of money on X, Y, and Z.”

Sellers who think that just because they spent a ton of money on some upgrade to the home shouldn’t believe that upgrade will be so desired by home buyers nor will it necessarily get them a ton of money back at resale. “The buyer doesn’t care whether you spent $10,000 or $100,000 on your kitchen,” says Ameer. “They are only going to offer what they feel the home is worth in relation to area comparable sales.”

5. “I’m not taking less than X amount for my home.”

“If you send a message that you are inflexible or not open to negotiating, it may not invite buyers to even try to work out acceptable price and terms as they will feel defeated from the start,” says Ameer. “Word may spread that you have this sentiment as a seller, and people may start to avoid the house.”

View all of the phrases at realtor.com®.

Source: “ 6 Things You Should Never Say When You’re Selling Your Home ,” realtor.com® (Jan. 12, 2016)

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