Jeanie Fraley

DRE: BR671993000


(602) 526-5305
(602) 230-7600 (Office)

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What is the Difference Between a Buyer's Agent & Listing Agent?

Posted On: November 15th, 2018 5:53PM

What’s the Difference Between a Buyer’s Agent & Listing Agent?

 

There are so many players involved in the real estate industry that it can be hard to keep track.

Chances are if you’re looking to enter a real estate transaction, you’ll encounter two types of agents- a buyer’s agent and a listing agent.

If we simply look at the textbook definitions- listing agents help you sell and buyer’s agents help you buy. BUT there’s much more to these agents than that.

Let’s dive a little deeper.

 

A good listing agent doesn’t just help sell a piece of property, but also works with home sellers to help them get their homes ready for sale. They will analyze the market, the area and the home to help sellers set a reasonable asking price, as well as suggest possible improvements and fixes that will increase a home’s value. They’re master marketers that understand the current state of the market and the concept of home staging and will do everything in their power to sell a home quickly and for top profit.

On the other hand, a good buyer’s agent is there to be an advocate for the buyer and represent his or her best interests. These agents work closely with those interested in buying a home to figure out exactly what they’re looking for, then they go find it. They’re experts in the area, know the neighborhood and can help buyers find their perfect property. Once the property is found, buyer’s agents handle offers and negotiate on the buyer’s behalf.

 

Now here’s where things get tricky- many real estate agents take on both of these roles. While some agents choose to specialize in one or the other, any licensed real estate agent can work as both a listing agent and a buyer’s agent, it mostly depends on who they are representing for the specific transaction.

Think you’re ready to buy or sell? Or simple interested in learning more about the different types of real estate agents out there? Contact me today! Jeanie Fraley, HomeSmart Elite Group, 602-526-5305

 

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Thinking of buying a home? Do these 6 things first.

Posted On: October 31st, 2018 7:59PM

Thinking of buying a home? Do these 6 things first.

 

Like most sizeable purchases, buying a home isn’t something to take lightly. It’s advisable to take some time and consider certain factors in order to make the best purchase decision for you.

As a real estate agent, I’m here to help you with this process, from beginning to end, so don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions you may have!

Before you decide to buy a home, we can take care of these 6 things together.

1. Do your homework.

Before you decide to buy a home, do some research. Are you interested in staying in the same area? Would you rather relocate? What type of property (house, condo, townhome, etc.) are you interested in purchasing? Doing a bit of investigation ahead of time will help you figure out what you want and if purchasing a property right now is the right choice for you.

2. Find a good real estate agent.

If you’re feeling ready to invest in a real estate purchase, one of the very first things you should do is find yourself a good agent. We’re here to walk you through the process as well as listen to and assess your needs. We’re experts in the area and in the market and can provide you with helpful information before taking any other steps.

 

3. Get pre-approval.

As any good agent will tell you, it’s a good idea to get preapproved for a mortgage before even starting the home search. This will give us a good idea of what you can realistically afford and will eventually help any offer we make hold more weight.

4. Keep your credit in check.

Once you’ve been preapproved for a home loan, you won’t want to do anything to jeopardize your credit score. Any changes to your financial situation can result in the denial of your loan request. That means no opening new credit cards, racking up debt or even making other large purchases until the real estate transaction is complete.

5. Look into the fine print.

Before signing the dotted line, you’ll want to make sure you understand exactly what you’re getting yourself into. Are there any extra costs that come along with this property purchase, for example HOA fees. Are there any restrictions or regulations in the neighborhood or community you’re interested in? These are all questions I can help you answer.

 

6. Inspect the home.

Another thing we’ll need to do before committing is set up a home inspection. We’ll want to know ahead of time if there is anything that needs fixing, as it will help me negotiate appropriately on your behalf. This will also let us know if there are any deal breakers that you can’t bear to live with.

Like I mentioned earlier, purchasing a home is no easy task, but I’m here to help. Contact me today to get all your questions answered!

 

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Learn the Lingo: 5 Real Estate Words you Should Know

Posted On: October 26th, 2018 3:08AM

Learn the Lingo: 5 Real Estate Words you Should Know

 

Ever leave a doctor’s appointment more confused then when you arrived, because the doctor was speaking in medical tongues when all you wanted was a simple explanation of your shoulder pain?

 

Buying or selling a home can sometimes feel the same way when you are dealing with lingo you just don’t use on a day to day basis. As a real estate agent, I’ve seen the confused faces of clients when words like “escrow” and “closing costs” are thrown into the mix. That’s why I created this list of 5 real estate words to know when you are getting ready to buy or sell a home.

  1. Appraisal?—?An appraisal is a property valuation usually ordered by the lender, and conducted by a professionally licensed appraiser to determine the value of the property.
  2. Escrow?—?Escrow is when an amount of money is held by a third party until a transaction is complete. In the case of buying a home, an amount of money from the buyer is put “in escrow” while the home is being inspected. This protects both the buyer and the seller while the process is overseen by a licensed real estate agent.
  3. MLS?—?MLS stands for “Multiple Listing Service” and is a online marketing database for brokers to share their real estate listings.
  4. CMA?—?CMA stands for “Comparative market analysis” or “competitive market analysis.” When a seller is determining the price of the home, a CMA report will be created to see what other homes in the market are being valued at and the cost of homes recently sold.
  5. Closing Costs?—?When a real estate deal closes, the buyer and the seller have expenses such as mortgage fees, taxes, title insurance and brokerage commission. Closing costs vary depending on the sale and should be consulted with a real estate agent.

Have any questions about the above real estate lingo and/or want to learn more lingo? Feel free to contact me today and we can set up a time to chat!

 
Jeanie Fraley
(602) 526-5305

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