Stacey's Spartanburg Real Estate Blog

Now an Insurance Professional Too!

Stacey Matsuda (Century 21 Blackwell & Co.) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 11:14:46 -0600

I have recently become licensed to sell P & C insurance and look forward to doing many FREE QUOTES in the new year for my past real estate clients, my friends, and family alike to see if I can provide you great coverage for a competitive rate. Our Independent Insurance Company called Quest Insurance Group was started by a former top Farm Bureau agent in 2002 and has quickly grown to be one of the top independent agencies in South Carolina. We are now licensed to sell P & C Insurance in both NC & SC and look forward to serving all our clients in both states with unmatched customer service. Please feel free to call me for a quote. As an independent agent, we work for our clients rather than just one company.

The state of the real estate market

Stacey Matsuda (Century 21 Blackwell & Co.) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:01:04 -0500

As we get ready to enter the fourth quarter of the year, a typical time for a real estate slow down, I wonder what this year will be like. It seems to me that last year at this time is when our local real estate market started to change.

I am encouraged that here in the Upstate of South Carolina have not suffered losses that some other areas have., including the coast and even Charlotte, NC. Our current days on the market is about 126 days and our average price point has stayed around $120,000. What is discouraging is the lack of sales that we are actually closing. At a recent real estate board meeting is was revealed to us that our local sales are down by 24 1/2%.

So what does that mean to the average real estate consumer you might be asking? It means, NOW is a GREAT TIME TO BUY a house. We still have amazingly low interest rates, which historically has not been the case in previous economic recessions. Inventory of houses to choose from are at an all time high and in many cases priced aggressively to sell. Qualifing for a loan can be much more difficult right now though and I reccommend you get an excellent mortgage broker to help you with the process. (I am married to one if you need any help!) If you have credit issues today, start working to repair them immediately! A responsible lender is someone who will take the time to help you correct problems on your credit report and step you through the buying process with confidence.

If you are considering selling a house right now, there are a few things to keep in mind. #1 PRICE IS EVERYTHING #2 CONDITION IS KING #3 BE NEGOTIABLE You might not get that "pie in the sky" asking price but if you are selling so that you can make another purchase- chances are you will more than make up for any loss on your new home. Hire a real estate professional that will advise you everystep of the way on what is the best way to get your home sold.

Move up buyer beware

Stacey Matsuda (Century 21 Blackwell & Co.) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:48:23 -0500

Making sure your credit report is accurate has never been so important. Home Buyers today need to start way in advance of looking at homes to make sure that they can qualify for a home.

I learned a lesson the hard way and would like to share it with other agents so they will not make the same mistake that I did. I listed someone's house that I had sold to them years before and they were ready to do a move up.

I had them do a lot of updating, decluttering and obtain a storage unit to make the house more saleable and it was! We received a offer and were just about ready to sign the contract when the seller called me and told me he could not sell because he did not qualify at this time for the new loan on the move up house.

What a blow to the sellers, the prospective buyers, the buyers agent who had to start over again and me, who had spent a good deal of time and money listing the home. Now when I go to list a home that someone has not already moved out of, I educate them on the importance of getting pre-approved before we actually list so they will not have to suffer the disappointment my seller clients did.

I recently heard that the required credit score was going to go up to 700 for a buyer to obtain a construction loan. Any one else out there hearing the same thing?

BIC Salary

Stacey Matsuda (Century 21 Blackwell & Co.) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:33:14 -0500

What would be an appropriate salary for a BIC position for a national real estate company?

Greenville/Spartanburg, SC Area Market Statistics

Stacey Matsuda (Century 21 Blackwell & Co.) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:13:08 -0500

Real Estate is not national, it is local...I know. Well, our area has not been effected too much by the negative publicity that we have been enduring from the mass media USA- until now. Apparently, the Greenville/Spartanburg Area lags behind in real estate trends by about 6-9 months. It is finally showing up in our MLS stats that sales are down. That being said, last year was still (I believe) the 5th busiest year in real estate history. So down- yes, BUT what goes UP must come DOWN, right? I have read in several places that the real estate market is cyclical and it must correct itself periodically. Sellers need us now more than ever! Unless of course they want their house to be lost in the sea of other listings. A professional realtor knows the market, knows what buyers are looking for and knows how to price their house to get it sold. It always comes down to price. Hire a real estate professional with experience. Call me if you need to sell and I will tell you what it will take, honesty.

To Buy Down or Not To Buy Down

Stacey Matsuda (Century 21 Blackwell & Co.) — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 09:45:52 -0500

Anyone out there using buy downs to help buyers qualify for loans? No one is advertising this in our area, but I have seen it before in a major metropolitan area. In the real estate magazine they had pictures of homes that they did not have listed, but as examples of what they have helped their buyers purchase. The ad contains monthly payments that include PITI based on an average and using a buy down. While I am not interested in selling people a home that is more than they can afford, if the buy down helps them qualify for a loan then I would think it would be a win/win situation. With lenders getting so much tighter on their approvals it seems tougher to get buyer prospects approved.

Second Place Agent Wants to Be First

Stacey Matsuda (Century 21 Blackwell & Co.) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 13:07:44 -0500

In my 6 year career of selling real estate, I have been fortunate to have sold a large number of homes. However, I seem to have a knack of getting a listing when another real estate agent has been unable to successfully sell the property.

Just so you know, I do not intentionally seek out expired listings. Most of my business has come to me through referrals!

I am just trying to figure out how I can communicate to potential sellers out there that I want to be the first agent they choose instead of being the second agent they have to use. I also want my clients to know how important it is that to listen to my professional advice. Chances are, if the first agent had given the same advice and they had followed it, their home probably would have already been sold before I ever got the chance.

In other words, all agents are not created the same. Some enjoy working with buyers, others are top notch negotiaters and there are those of us that are good at getting sellers to do the right things to their home to make it sell. Now I just want to be the first agent they choose instead of being second.

Home Values Not Declining

Stacey Matsuda (Century 21 Blackwell & Co.) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 09:57:39 -0600

Wow! I have good news for all of you potential sellers out there. I was at a real estate meeting the other day and a mortgage broker joined us after he finished his continuing education class. We asked what he learned, jokingly, but what he said drew a round of applause. An appraiser speaking for the CE class, like an angel from heaven, brought the best news we have heard in a long time. In our market- Greenville/Spartanburg, South Carolina, our home values are holding steady, not declining. HOLY COW! All the gloom and doom we read in the local newspapers, hear on the radio, see on the TV about how bad the market is. NOT US BABY- Remember real estate is local! I just had to share that good news. Give me a call so I can help you get your house sold.

1st Time Home Buyers Seminar

Stacey Matsuda (Century 21 Blackwell & Co.) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:55:16 -0600

More now than ever we need to reach out to 1st time home buyers and start counseling them on the process of home buying. The mortgages are getting harder to come by for the average client and I believe that teaching potential buyers what to expect before they start looking is key. I am interested in hosting a 1st time buyers seminar in local resource center and was wondering if anyone out there has a Power Point presentation or at least outline they would be willing to share for a 1st time home buyers seminar? Thanks in advance!

Bad mortgage lenders out there- BEWARE!!!

Stacey Matsuda (Century 21 Blackwell & Co.) — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:50:46 -0600

I had the occassion to close on a property recently that had been repeatedly post-poned due to financing issues. When the closing was finally in progress and I received the third HUD to review for my seller clients, I was mortified by what the buyer's lender was charging and making in fees. The buyer agent was new and did not know any better...but I tried to explain to her after the closing what a raw deal her buyers got (since they said that they were going to re-finance again in October). The kicker was the mortgage broker was her "friend". Practices like that are so maddening to me and I guess you could call me spoiled. Since my husband is a mortgage broker, I hate to see other people doing those kind loans that he would never dream of. I have a good mind to file a complaint against the lender. Then again, if it wasn't legally outside the limits of what they can make- would it do any good?

Selling in today market takes expertise

Stacey Matsuda (Century 21 Blackwell & Co.) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 20:27:10 -0600

I would just like to share that I have been in the real estate market for 6 years now and have done better than your average real estate agent. I attribute my success to having a professional real estate coach that has taught me that treating every client as a relationship, not a transaction will get me further in business than any type of "marketing" will. I have built many successful relationships, done multiple transactions with the same folks-their families, friends, co-workers, church members, etc in just a short amount of time. Why? you might ask...I am guilty of being as honest as they come. I will will ask permission to be frank and then tell you what I really think. I am not going to tell you I can sell for X amount of dollars because that is what you want to hear. This may not be the most accepted practice in real estate, however, it is one of the most successful. So, while I do not carry 30+ listings at any given time, I will truly give you the time that each client deserves to have a quick, stress free, enjoyable, listing period and an agent that is there for you when you call. So, give me a call today to see how I can get you moving! Right now my listings have all sold in record time and yours should be the next one to go "under contract".

Boiling Springs SC Real Estate

Stacey Matsuda (Century 21 Blackwell & Co.) — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 14:39:01 -0600

I live in Boiling Springs, South Carolina and sell real estate here. Starting my first blog should naturally be about my area of expertise, right? Our growing community has amazing qualities, from our superior schools, mountain views, Lakes Bowen and Blalock, easy interstate access, friendly people, youth sports organizations to an abundance of shopping areas and great restaurants. There has been more growth in our school district than any of the other six districts in Spartanburg County! So, I begin to blog from here and welcome comments about how to make this blog valuable to other viewers.