With the housing market being center stage right now on the news, it is hard to get through a day without hearing someone who claims to be an expert, or who knows what is going to happen with the national market regardless of where they live. I am hoping that you will listen to just one more commentary, from me.
My credentials are local; I sell real estate in about a one hundred mile radius in and around Columbus. Our team will sell over one hundred homes this year and we are extremely active in the market. I peruse daily the new listings, the in contracts and the sold homes. I consider myself an expert of the local real estate market.
It is imperative to be located in the city which you are discussing. Real estate markets are local, they are not national. Although the national market is down overall, there are pockets in the US that are very strong. If you are going to listen to someone about the market, please choose a local expert, not an expert from say, New York.
Most of the people talking about the market right now really are not educated about the subject. They do not study the listings and the sold properties. They are not writing contracts and negotiating between buyers and sellers. What they do is get opinions from many sources. And opinions are not in short supply. That is why it is tough right now to know who to listen to, everyone has become an expert.
Buying a new home and working with a realtor require trust. They are going to be assisting you in the largest purchase you have made in your life. They are not your buddy, they are a professional who studies the market and who can show you the properties that best fit your needs. It is important to have a realtor that you can and will listen to. If you feel you know more than the realtor, discuss it.
Many buyers right now feel that they are very knowledgeable about the market. In some cases, buyers feel that they can make any offer, but don't have the facts to back up what they say. This is a common problem right now. As professionals, we are happy to address these issues with our clients.
That is why this question is so important; the listening question. My advice on who you listen to is your trusted local real estate professional. They don't make up an answer and they don't give an opinion without doing the research. They look at facts, cold hard facts. They then take those facts and apply their experience and their knowledge of the market. It is not easy to be a realtor right now, it is normally hard work, and currently it is more than challenging.
Most realtors are happy to provide help to buyers, so if you have a question about the market, or a house in particular, ask your local realtor. They are the experts!
Regards,
Charlene
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