Sales Pitch Vs Sales Record

Moving to Summerville, or anywhere in the Charleston/Trident region, can be challenging because there are so many real estate agents. I bet you know at least 2-4 agents if you live here, right? This is even more difficult if you are relocating and you don't know anyone so you are literally throwing a dart and choosing whoever you land on. I am a Realtor with Keller Williams and I have had a very successful year. I am in this career for the long haul, good market or bad, which means customer service and satisfaction is my number one priority. 

Recently, my wife and I interviewed companies to provide us a screened-in porch. We narrowed our search down to 2 companies and now we have the challenging job to choose one. I have spoken to each sales representative and I believe we have our decision made. It came down to the record of the company, not the sales pitch. The one salesman told me on the phone yesterday that he will not speak negatively about his competitor but his record speaks enough for him. He said to me, "I'm not a salesman - I'm a builder and we do a great job."  I love that! That's the way I do my business. I can do a great sales pitch but I prefer to be genuine and build a relationship and then partner together to get your home sold. There are born salesman out there that can sell you anything. Have you ever been to a Timeshare sales presentation and walked away with one and the next day you are asking, "How did that happen?"  Great Sales Pitch.  On a side note, if you purchase a timeshare you have 5 days to cancel it under SC law. 

Real Estate is like this

Many real estate agents have fantastic sales presentations but lack the sales record (price, days on market, expired homes, number of homes sold, positive referrals, etc). Real estate is basically the 80/20 rule.  Eighty percent of sales are done by 20% of agents but honestly I think that is more like the 90/10 rule. There are large teams out there that spend a ton of money advertising but their homes sit on the market longer, much longer, than mine. Guess what....the longer a house sits the less money you get. I see pictures on the MLS that are from a cell phone and look awful and you are paying that person the same amount you are paying me to get professional photos done, video, 3-D, fliers, open houses and more.  Anyone can pitch...this does not mean they can sell!

Is this what you want to see? 

I'm going to strongly recommend you interview multiple agents when you decide to list your home and don't fall prey to the sales and marketing gimmicks you hear on the radio, billboards and TV. I am so confident in my sales record and abilities that I am happy to interview against other agents for the job of your Realtor. I think you'll see the difference!

Make sure your loved ones and friends get a strong agent when they are ready to sell.  Call me today and I'll treat your family and friends like my own.

-Jason
843.696.8627

Just how affordable is housing right now?

This article was sent to us from Lucey Mortgage in Mount Pleasant. It's great information on our market and makes a lot of sense. Call one of us if you need help with real estate...

The Truth About Housing Affordability

From a purely economic perspective, this is one of the best times in American history to buy a home. Black Night Financial Services discusses this in their most recent Monthly Mortgage Monitor.

Here are two of the report’s revelations:

1.     The average U.S. home value increased by $13,500 from last year, but low interest rates have kept the monthly principal & interest payment needed to purchase a median-priced home almost equal to one year ago.

2.     Home affordability still remains favorable compared to long-term historic norms.

The report explains:

“Even though the value of the average home in the U.S. increased by about $13,500 over the last year, thanks to declining interest rates it actually costs almost exactly the same in principal and interest each month to purchase as it did this time last year.

Even taking into account the fact that affordability can vary – sometimes significantly – across the country based upon the different rates of home price appreciation we’re seeing, that’s a pretty incredible balancing act between interest rates and home prices at the national level…

Right now, it takes 20 percent of the median monthly income to cover monthly payments on the median-priced home, which is well below historical norms.”

However, the report warns that affordability will be dramatically impacted by an increase in mortgage rates.

“A half-point increase in interest rates would be equivalent to a $17,000 jump in the average home price, and bring that ratio to 21.5 percent. This increase is still below historical norms, but puts more pressure on homebuyers.”

Bottom Line

If you are ready and willing to purchase a home of your own, let's get together to find out if you are able to. Now is a great time to jump in.

Lorcan Lucey
Lucey Mortgage Corporation
861 Coleman Blvd. Mt Pleasant SC 29464
 
Office:  843-884-8133
Mobile: 843-224-3650
Fax:       843-884-6575
NMLS License Per/Corp 185300/185310
lorcan@luceymortgage.net
www.luceymortgage.net

Homeowners Insurance and what it WON'T cover...

We all pay for homeowners insurance with one goal in mind - protect our stuff. I also say insurance is a blessed curse...It's something we all need but rarely use but if we need it we're glad we have it. IT'S EXPENSIVE!  I don't sell insurance so I don't know all the ins and outs but I thought it would be helpful to do a little research on what is not covered.  I think you'll find this information helpful.  As we know, Summerville and our surrounding areas just got hit by Hurricane Matthew so this knowledge may be very useful.

1. Flooding.  When you buy a home you may be required to purchase flood insurance depending on where you are located. It can be as cheap as a few hundred dollars a year  but can easily go up to thousands.  
2.  Earthquakes.  Summerville residents, in my opinion, should have an earthquake policy, since Summerville runs along a fault line and we have multiple quakes every year. 
3. Your deductibles are going up 2-5%/year.  Keep some spare cash around for these.
4. Simultaneous, or co-current events. This means that if 2 bad things happen at once and one of those (such as flooding) is not covered then you are going to be paying out of pocket a lot of money.  
5. Termites - Here in the Low Country I highly recommend having a Termite Bond and renewing it yearly.  Mortgage lenders will require it for a buyer and if there is not one you may have to purchase one and they can cost a thousand dollars. Also, if you get termites the bond will protect you. No bond - no protection.  
6. Jewelry and personal property. Know your policy and ask your salesperson what is covered and not covered.  You may need a separate rider to protect your stuff. 
7. Total rebuild. Many policies have caps that won't cover a rebuild if your home catches fire. Make sure you understand. 
8. Home Businesses - Your probably need a separate insurance policy on your business if you run one out of your home. If you are running a catering business and you get sued for someone getting sick your homeowners does not cover that. If you are running a personal training business and someone breaks an ankle - you are not covered. 
9. Broken/burst pipes.  If there is owner negligence, for example, turning off the heat during winter while you are on vacation, and your pipes freeze you may be at risk of not being covered. 
10. Certain dog breeds - While most dog types are covered there are some that are insurable. Breeds such as Rottweilers, chow chows, Doberman pinschers, pit bull terriers and Akitas are all uninsurable breeds.

These are some things to consider when looking into homeowners insurance. We hope this helps you and feel free to contact us if you have real estate questions.

-Jason
843.696.8627

Who do you know looking to buy, sell or invest in real estate. Please call Jason at 843.696.8627 or email at Jason.Gregg@kw.com for more information.