Things are looking up and down in relation to our real estate markets. While the number of houses sold in this year is down from 2013 the price point is up. See what I mean? Understanding what is going on in your market is complex with many variables. While the market is looked at as a whole which includes the entire US, this look is only important in the abstract. Real estate markets are local and by local I mean right down to your neighborhood versus the one down the street and around the corner in your very own town. A Realtor® does not need to live in your neighborhood to understand it, but the Realtor® must be a student of the nieghborhood.
The old axiom of using an agent from your locale has been altered with the internet in the same way that the consumer now has access to information once held privately by the agents. The internet is a wealth of information and disinformation. A Realtor® who is great has the ability to explain to you price in detail and can predict the price a home will sell within a very narrow range. A bad agent allows you to guess your price. Real estate has good people and bad, just like all businesses. Working with a professional who puts your needs and wants in front of their own is not only refreshing, but will also give you exactly what you wished for. A bad agent can get a deal done in the same way that a blind squirrel finds a nut ocassionally. A great case in point is For Sale By Owners who feel an agent just wants a commission. While this may be their belief a great agent will get you more money than you dreamed of. FSBO's forget we do this every day while they may only do so 3-4 times in a lifetime. If you assume the FSBO will pay a 5% commission the owner will still walk away with $14,250 more than they would have themselves. So you see, things are looking up and down.
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