Sarah Brown Interviews Rob Myers
The real estate market is about as hot as our weather: sizzling! Having the right real estate professional can make all the difference in selling one of your biggest investments, or finding your dream home. Not having the right one can have serious consequences on your bottom line.
Finding a real estate professional shouldn't be a problem. Like insurance, your options are seemingly endless. And that can be a problem because choosing the right real estate professional for you is another matter. How do you know who the right one is?
I asked Rob Myers of McCallister & Myers to pull back the curtain on the current market and give pointers to people looking to find the right real estate professional.
But first, a little about this dynamic duo who is taking the area by storm.
McCallister & Myers Real Estate Services is a team founded by Adam McCallister & Rob Myers, with the involvement and support of their wives Angela McCallister and Jessica Myers. They are a locally owned and operated real estate brokerage business seriously vested in the community. Having spent years working with nationwide brokerage houses, they felt the urge to do things their own way and made the choice to start their own firm. They put people before profits and have high ethical standards. Doing the right thing for the customer has earned them referrals and repeat customers, which has fueled their growth. If you need proof, just check out their Google reviews! Their culture aligns perfectly with ours here at Keller-Brown, so they were a natural fit to be our first Realtor Spotlight.
Sarah: What makes McCallister & Myers different?
Rob: Our size makes us nimble. We are easily able to pivot to shifting market appetite and trends while keeping the core real estate fundamentals. We love what we do, and our customers can feel that. We are able to think outside of the box and execute on ideas quickly. Finally, we've on top of the latest trends with all things digital. You might still walk through a house before buying it, but we've levered the online game to get the right house, in front of the right buyer, at the right time.
Sarah: I'm hearing that the market is hot, but you're in the trenches every day. What are you seeing?
Rob: If you're selling, it's like unicorn hunting and there are a ton of unicorns! If you want top dollar on your house, now is the time to sell. There are a ton of buyers and supply is low. Conversely, if you're a buyer, be prepared to be aggressive to get the house you want. You may come out of it with a house and a few bruises.
Sarah: What is fueling these conditions?
Rob: Mortgage rates are as low as they've ever been and people are taking advantage of rates below 3%. So, even though there's a lot of competition for buyers, rates are so low that now is a time to lock in a low rate for 30 years. We've had a sellers' market for a few years, but coming out of the lockdown, it's been on steroids. The other driver in this market is that rent has been steadily increasing. Renters are realizing they can actually buy a house and spend less a month on the mortgage then they could on rent.
Sarah: What can sellers do to maximize their investment and sell quickly?
Rob: Declutter. Go through the house and get rid of or pack up what you really don't need. De-personalize it. Buyers need to be able to see themselves in your house. In this process, you're getting your house ready for two things: The photoshoot and the walkthrough. People are looking at houses online before they decide to do a walk-through, so good pictures are critical. Once people have decided they want to see your house, the walkthrough is often more laid back.
Sarah: If the market is so difficult for buyers, what can they do to give themselves an advantage over other buyers?
Rob: Pre-approval is first and foremost most important. There's a lot to say around the topic of pre-approvals.
You can get pre-approved from any variety of lenders, from nationwide brands, online institutions, and local lenders. Pre-approval from a local lender is best. A seller's real estate professional is evaluating offers that will put their seller in the best position for a quick and smooth settlement. Dealing with local lenders who have proven they can get to closing adds strength to your offer. If you are pre-approved by a lender the sellers real estate professional has never heard of, or is known to have made settlement difficult makes your offer less attractive. Local is always better because reputations are better known and trust is established.
Pre-approval is also important because it can help determine the price point of your housing search.
And finally, properties are moving on and off the market as quickly as 72 hours. If you fall in love with a house before getting pre-approved, there's a good chance it will be sold while you're in the process of getting approved.
Sarah: With so many real estate professionals to choose from, what questions can you ask to help determine the best fit for you?
Rob: Choose a real estate professional who can think outside the box. There are ways to strengthen the position of buyers right now. Ask, "I understand it's a seller's market right now. How can you help me gain leverage? What have you done recently to demonstrate that? Can you access the properties I want to see in the area I am looking to buy?
For sellers, the real estate professional must prove they have a digital presence. Ask what the real estate professional is doing to advertise the house online. Do they offer 3D tours? Do they understand analytics with Google, Facebook, and Instagram? Do you understand the market in my area?
Ask about experience. In this market, experience may be a key differentiator. Are they a full time or part-time real estate professional? Where do you fall in their priority in a market that is moving so fast? The more settlements a real estate professional has been to, the more problems they've had to solve, and the more problems they can avoid for you.
To boil it down, the real estate professional's experience in the sales process and experience in relationships can make all the difference in getting you to a settlement.
A real estate professional should never steer you to use a bank or insurance agent. But, they can share their experience with institutions they've worked with in the past. Big real estate brands often have their own in-house insurance and lender. It's packaged as a convenience, but convenience doesn't always equate to value, or what's best for the buyer.
Experience is where Keller-Brown comes in! Keller-Brown has made the process of our buyers getting insurance very easy. The whole buying process can be new, complicated, and overwhelming. Keller-Brown helps our buyers understand the homeowner coverages our buyers need. And, they shop around with multiple insurance companies for the best value for our buyers, which always helps minimize the costs and maximize the home our buyers can acquire.
Want to learn more about McCallister & Myers or reach out? Here's how:
Office: 717-885-2027
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southcentralpaliving
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MMRealEstatePA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mccallisterandmyers/?hl=en
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/searchinpa?reload=9
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mccallister-myers-real-estate-services/
Website: https://www.southcentralpaliving.com/