The World of Real Estate According to Kendra - for what it is worth!

Welcome SPRING! Thank goodness you are here - FINALLY!

Kendra McCourt (Re/Max 100) — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 22:45:11 -0500

Well, not only has the warmer weather brought out the flowers, the birds, the pollen, the termites - but guess what ?? It is bringing out the BUYERS!!!

Yep, I saw some the other day - I was in shock - I couldn't remember quite what to do. My family said I looked like a deer in the head lights. I stumbled and I stammered - but I got thru it - and you know what is even more amazing?? I wrote an offer too! Can you believe it? I am still sitting here in shock and disbelief. I was beginning to think Buyers were like the fabled unicorn.

No seriously folks, times I think they might be swaying a bit. Not a full tilt and swing but a gentle subtle movement. Ever so faint that if you were to blink you might miss it. But it is happening.

Last week I read online how an agent sent a mass email out to her sphere about regretting not being a part of this new market. I took a thought from that and made one up of my own. And it seems to have worked a bit. I believe now that our positive messages are getting thru some of the fog and haze of the media. Positive thoughts and words are winning out over the 6 o'clock news! Let's keep it up!

One of my sellers was musing about the current state of affairs, and he said that even though it has been a tough market in some aspects- we as a society are still far better off than we were in the past. Yes, it is a hard adjustment to these new leaner times in values, but what goes up ALWAYS comes down. We all knew it would happen, but I am still baffled as to why so many are dismayed by it?

Now don't get me wrong, I am one of "those" people who probably bit off more than they could chew financially during those times and am paying for it now. But I still think given it all, it has made me more of an understanding agent. It has helped me become more respectful of the market place, of the buyers and sellers needs. I think I can relate more.

I post this blog, not as a way to generate points, readership. But more as a way to tell it like I see it. I am happy we have had a correction in prices and mind set of people. The public as a whole has become a bit less greedy in a way.

Yes some buyers are still trying to stick it to the sellers in some cases. But generally as a whole it has calmed down a bit. No more frenzied times, real estate is more calm. I can actually say I am enjoying this time. I can practice my trade and not be an order taker. I can assist buyers and sellers in the transaction and not be just a paper shuffler. Yes, it can be frustrating when a listing isn't selling, or a buyer wants to see even more houses, but there is a certain sense of satisfaction when you do get a deal ratified and closed now.

Well, the pillow is finally calling me back to bed. The soap box is creeking from my winter weight gain. So thanks for listening - have a wonderful Buying Season!

Gambling on Real Estate

Kendra McCourt (Re/Max 100) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:38:50 -0500

Hello Anyone out there? Any one at all? Hello???

How many people have gambled on real estate in the last few years? I can think of, oh about, maybe millions.

Real estate has been, and probably always will be a good place, no make that a great place to put your earnings to grow personal wealth. How many bank accounts can you put money into and borrow against it to go on vacation, put a kid through college AND get a tax deduction? Then when the time is right cash it in and make a sizeable profit. There are not too many out there that I can think of.

Then how come we are all in such a pickle right now? I think that is because Americans have always been a take the risk kind of society. We like gambling, sometimes we gamble it all, just to try and get ahead. The wild frontier, the gold rush, the oil rush...now the housing rush has come and now gone.

This rush has lasting and far reaching effects to the nation and its citizens. It affects how we buy things, where we buy things, more people are out of jobs or are teatering on the brink of losing everything.

So have we reached the bottom yet? That is a question I hear alot. Is this the bottomw, will it be next week, next month next year? I feel the bottom is reached when you as the buyer or the seller feel like you can;t wait any longer. Only then will it be your bottom.

The media has sold us a rotten bag of no good feelings. Every night you turn on the news, there is something being reported about where we are financially. How are we suppossed to feel better about ourselves, the nation, the economy? Let's turn this around, let's send out the good mojo feelings, good news..let's get the word out.

Buyers, now is the time to buy!!! Deals abound, rates are great..get out there and BUY! Sellers, if you don't HAVE to sell, don't. WAIT! Let's get the homes that are on the market gone before anything new comes on.

Sellers are still in the drivers seat, if they play the market correctly, and that would be wait, wait until you have to make a move. Buyers you too are still in the drivers seat, you need to be a smart shopper. Look, listen, do your research,then buy. Understand the market place, work with seasoned agents, respect the sellers and you will win every time.

Word of warning for Sellers - PRICE RIGHT! Remember the show "Price is Right" ? If you didn't get the correct price for those outlandish prizes you were buzzed off the stage? Well, it is the same thing with selling your home. Price it too high and all you have done is sell your neighbor's home for them. Then if you do any price reductions the voltures will come circling and think you are "dying" to sell your home. They will make some low ball offer to see what you have in you. Once that happens your trust in real estate is shot. You don't take the offer and will forever second guess your self. Price is key, actually price and staging are everything in today's market place.

Buyers - do your homework - don't think because the media claims this is a buyer's market that you can just offer a seller a price that is $50,000 under the asking price. Invesitgate the area, check the comparables, is the home truly worth the asking price? Is the neighborhood priced right? Does the home offering you what you are looking for? If you answer yes then write the offer fairly. Remember you might that same seller sometime.

In short, work with a qualified agent, do your homework, price correctly and think about this major decision you are making. Now is the time to invest in the market for future growth.

And let me know if I can help you own your piece of the great American Housing Market!

Why am I a real estate agent?

Kendra McCourt (Re/Max 100) — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 19:16:29 -0600

Hmm - this is a question my daughter asked me the other day. Why is it that I sell houses and not go to work like her friends parents?

Well, how do you answer a 7 year old on that one? We are some of the hardest working professionals out there. I put us, as a profession, up by doctors and lawyers. We work pretty much every day of the week, every week of the year. Even when we go away on vacation, one needs to have major surgery to remove the cell phone, PDA and laptop from our hands.

We promise ourselves that this holiday, vacation, day off would be different, we wouldn't look at the email, check out the local competition to our listings, we would be "normal" people - yeah right who are we kidding? We wake up even before the kids do, we check the email, look at the MLS, make sure everything is just so AND then maybe we can relax some. But wait there is a neighborhood party coming up, we need to get all the business cards and promo items together to hand out, make sure we know all the local goings on in the area "just in case" we are asked by that nosy neighbor who already thinks they know everything. Who are we kidding we aren't normal. We are real estate agents for goodness sake! We are paid professionals that are sometimes looked at by the public like piranhas of the sales industry. How can that be? Have we made such a mockery of ourselves that we are that low? People think we are highly paid, maybe overly so. But let's look at the numbers. Sometimes by the end of a transaction, we may have just made minimum wage.

My daughter was concerned that I don't really work, that all I do is drive around all day looking at other peoples houses. Hmm, I pondered this thought and had to come up with an appropriate response. I told her that most people who want to buy a house need someone to help them buy the house. She then asked, "why not just go to the store and pay for it there,like the commercials?" (Those would be the National Association of Realtors commercials that are like shopping at Lowes or the such) Hmmm I think I am having a hard time with this one. I try again to explain to her the intricacies of home purchasing as I speak she gets this glaze look in her eyes and says " Never mind!", Great I think!

Realtors are a different breed of people. Some are lifers - like me. I have given up my other career to go "whole Hog" into this profession. My family have also given of themselves for my chosen profession. I have been late for soccer games, school plays, can't go on field trips because I am negotiating a deal, showing houses, writing offers or the like. Sometimes the kids understand, sometimes not. I find that my husband has a harder time understanding than the kids do.

I have had clients ask how it is that I can show them houses on a Sunday afternoon? Doesn't my husband mind. For the most part, no. He knows this is the one thing I love to do. I am happiest when I am busy showing houses, writing offers, educating a 1st time home buyer. This is not only a job, but a passion of mine. I truly love what I do and want to help everyone buy a home of their own.

This is how it should be. You should have a passion for this job. It isn't about the final pay day. It is about knowing that you helped a family buy their new home. It is a feeling you get when you can go into a community and see your clients and the pride they have in their home. You know you helped then realize their dreams.

This is a great profession, I finally tell my daughter. This is the only career I can think of that I can be myself, I can be my own boss and help put a smile on a clients face at the end of my day! She hugs me and says she loves me, and runs off! That's that!

What is your sign and is it worth it?

Kendra McCourt (Re/Max 100) — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 19:10:36 -0500

What am I speaking about you ask? I am talking about the "branding" some of us work with every day.Whether it is Re/Max, Century 21, Long and Foster, Prudential or whatever; we pay sometimes a large portion of our income to these brand names.

The questions is - is it worth it? What exactly are we receiving for our brand loyalty to these names? Are the no name generic companies making more money than we are at the big boys? Do we have the true market clout that we think we do?

Are the clients seeking us out because who is on our sign or is it the caliber of the agent? Do we really think that all those national ads on tv spark a persons interest to pick up the phone?

I am one who does believe that in fact the name on the sign can influence a potential clients views. It could be a good way or a bad way - it all depends on THEIR past experience with the brand name. If a person had a relative that had an awful time with an agent from XYZ brokerage in California, that person may be less inclined to work with an agent on the east coast from the same brokerage; even if they are not related except by the sign. On the positive spin, a person who is unsure of where to turn for help may chose the brand name that they see the most of and feel comfortable with.

I can say that the brand name of Re/Max has helped me. I can attribute 4 closed transactions to that brand name and commercials. The clients logged onto www.remax.com and were forwarded as a lead to me. They saw the commercials and were compelled to try it out.

Now, I am a small fish in this big pond of real estate; but I can say that if I can close 4 deals in small suburb of DC, then just imagine what the big boys are doing in larger cities!

So to answer my questions, I do believe name branding can help your real estate career. I don't think it is the be all and end all of a career. You should not make it the only part, but it can help it a lot. I think the other key is the person themselves. Who they are, what they believe in and how they conduct their business is a large part of it too. You also want to make sure the agents that are affiliated with your brand name are of the same caliber as you. Why would you want to be in the company of people who will only drag down your reputation?

Basically, what I have discovered in my short real estate career, brand name equals exposure equals reputation equals success!

Southern Maryland Real Estate....

Kendra McCourt (Re/Max 100) — Mon, 07 May 2007 11:40:14 -0500

Welcome to my new blog! Wow - what do I write all the many questions and thoughts rolling thru my head at one time!

There is so much going on locally in Charles, Calvert and St. Mary's counties, that it is hard to pin point a thought or one solid topic. Sales are all over the books, whcih way are we headed is a common question asked by clients. My response - my crystal ball is in the shop being fixed.

Where do I think sales are headed? Well, I had hoped up. they seemed to be going that way just before Easter. But then they began to flat line again. What happened? The pending elections, that are really 1 year away, the ever present and now annoying war in Iraq? ( just bring them home already) the Queen visiting from England? Are we afraid she will take back the original charter and we will now become EU members? Who knows?

But the present theme is - sales are ok, in Southern Maryland, - if you are in the lower priced bracket up to $350,000 you are golden. Why? Because the last two years have made it impossible for anyone to afford a home in our area. Sure it is great in one aspect, home values, but it has taken a huge chuck of potential home owners out of the market and that is not right. Builders are still building new homes at a staggering pace, with all the incentives that a privte home seller can't offer. So what is going to happen? We will have more and more empty homes on the streets. More and more home owners will leave the area to find more affordable homes to live in, better schools and such. Where does that leave us as real estate professionals? That leaves us trying to pick up the pieces and hold them all together. The county's growth almost depends on professionals to stick together, not inflate values, not manipulate the ,MLS data, and keep this a profession to be respected.

As a full time agent,with Re/Max 100, I am presented daily with new gimmicks to help people buy or sell homes. Some are ethical some are way off base. But you know what will get a home sold, solid marketing, a well positioned home in the market place, reasonable sellers and, a real estate agent, that knows their stuff. I am not one to tell a seller I can guarantee that I will sell their home, there are no guarantees in this business. But I am honest, I provide all the current market details, I give them the current comparables of homes just like theirs that are in the market. We work as a team to sell the home. There are agents out there that are desparate for the business, we all are; but there is also line that needs to be maintained to keep this a "profession" not just a "past time".

I am worth every penny that a seller pays me. I will not sell myself short to get a listing, if I did that then I might be willing to sell the seller short just to get a sale. Sellers, think about that. Would you tell your boss that you are worth less in your job? I doubt it, but then why would you want an agent that would take less just to get a listing? There is an old saying - you get what you pay for.

As a buyer - I am here for you. I will help you find the perfect place to call home. I listen and I ask a ton of questions. I do this not to be nosy, but to get a better understanding of what it is that you really want. We a humans have a tendency to say on thing but really mean something else. Why is that? Because we are afraid of upsetting some one - we always want to please as a rule. But I am here to help you - I don't care if you don't really like a particular house - you are the one making the payment not me. So be honest with your agent, it should be me :) but whom ever it is.

So now that I am done with that soap box speech. I will keep thinking about what to write - if you have any suggestions, please let me know.

Thanks and happy home searching! If you are in the market for a homeor to sell a home check out my website for all sorts of useful data - www.kendramccourt.remax.com