Lake Greenwood and Greenwood Real Estate Updates

FSBO'ing-the good, the bad and the ugly!

Everyone wants to save money and many owners with homes for sale in Greenwood think that selling their home themselves is the key to doing that. For some people it may be but there are other factors to consider that come along with FSBO'ing.

Limited Exposure

No FSBO site can give your property for sale on Lake Greenwood or anywhere else the exposure it needs to create interest that can many times create multiple offers being made on your home. A GOOD Real Estate Company website can. With the right exposure your home could very well sell for your full asking price or even over.

We are ALL Creatures...

...of habit! The good news is the yard sign you put out will definitely be seen! The bad news--it will be seen by the same people each and every day. People are creatures of habit who usually take the same routes to the same places on a daily basis. The perfect buyer who has been adoring your home for years and would be willing to pay TOP dollar for your home may live 3 blocks away and never even know it's available.

Realtors put you at a huge DISADVANTAGE

The realtors who are stopping by with their buyers asking for compensation are representing their buyers in that transaction. YOU become an unrepresented seller. For some people that may not be a big deal---but it could be if "issues" arise in financing, inspections, or any other of the numerous potential areas throughout the transaction. The Realtor may or may not keep you as informed as you should be. Which could mean your home is off the market for sometimes 30-45 days, you are missing other potential buyers because you think you have it sold...and suddenly---the deal falls through. (By the way--in this scenario the Realtor "technically" didn't do anything wrong. A buyer's representative is is to represent the best interest of their buyer.) So who is going to be representing you?

Just 3 reasons that came to mind out of many others you should have a real estate professional representing your best interest in the sale of your home in Grand Harbor or any other area of Greenwood. The Bradshaw Group wants to be that company! It's a proven FACT that we can get you the exposure and provide the service to far outweigh the money you think you will save.

Give us a call-you'll be pleasantly surprised when you see the REAL numbers!

We've all heard the saying "a bird in the hand is worth 2 in a bush" right? Well the same thing can be said when talking about Greenwood homes for sale. Let's change it around a little and say "a buyer in the hand is worth 2 in the future".

The Greenwood real estate market is doing great. As of yesterday there were approximately 160 properties currently under contract or pending in our MLS area. One of our most sought after area communities is Stoney Point and there are currently only 11 homes for sale in Stoney Point and of those 11 only 3 are lakefront homes in Stoney Point.  

This is great news for sellers and the current market does put the ball in your court and gives you a slight advantage when it comes to things like

• deciding which offer to work with in a multiple offer situation,
• what repair requests to address following the inspection,
• or even negotiating your closing date.

Remember ANYTHING is negotiable. However, there is a still a line that shouldn't be crossed in order to keep the interested buyer or buyers in the game. In other words don't make the mistake of playing "hard ball" from the start.

The buyer you have right now may be gone tomorrow and if you truly want to sell there is still a risk involved about when the next buyer will come along and what the market will look like then. Will there be more competing properties? Will interest rates be higher that will cause buyers to look in lower price range? Yes, the market is great but the future ALWAYS holds uncertainty.

Interest rates could change, financing could be delayed or the appraisal may not come back as you expected.  Look at these as opportunities that through successful negotiations with your buyer a win-win situation can be arrived at.

Speaking of well-known sayings here's another to consider; "treat others as you would have them treat you" and everything will usually work out just fine!

Give The Bradshaw Group a call at 864-341-7774 if you're considering selling. You'll be glad you did. HEY, and so will we. (Talk about a win-win!)

The Greenwood area's record low inventory levels has the Greenwood real estate market in a frenzy as well as the Greenwood Realtors! It's a double-edged sword. Let's look at what it means for you.

SELLERS

If you're a seller or considering selling it's fantastic news. If your home for sale in Greenwood IS PRICED PROPERLY it should easily sell in less than 30-45 days! So start packing! The "golden nugget" of information is "pricing it right". No one wants to sell their home for less than it's true value and there is no reason you have to. Accurate pricing is the key.

Keep in mind the old saying "if it sounds too good to be true-it probably is".  Don't be fooled by gimmicks! Price your property based on FACTS not opinions. Make sure your greenwood realtor provides you with a detailed history of sales similar to yours and near yours for the past 6 months as well as a strategy for getting YOUR property sold. Do NOT sign with the 1st realtor saying what you want to hear. Always, always (not a typo-I meant to repeat that)  :)  interview at least 2 Realtors. Of course, The Bradshaw Group would love to be one of your choices.

Take a minute read our thoughts on selling by going to our sellers page of our website (scroll past the list of sold properties to the bottom of the page) to see our thoughts, approach and what we offer when it comes to property for sale on Lake Greenwood or the Greenwood area in general. Our marketing is available for all areas.  

BUYERS

If you're a buyer when your Realtor texts or calls and says "I have a house that fits your criteria" MAKE TIME to go see it immediately. If you wait until tomorrow it may be under contract. Yes, it's happening just that fast.

If you're one of the 90%+ online shoppers make sure the website you're using is current. Third party sites (zillow, trulia etc) are not the most up to date places. Our website is updated DAILY from the Greenwood MLS.

If you're ready to buy now have a pre-approval from a local lender. Give us a call to be connected and get your pre-approval in as little as an hour. A local lender sometimes carries more weight and higher comfort level to sellers as well as a sellers agent over an "online" based company. 

The market is hot on Lake Greenwood real estate for sale as well. No matter where you're buying or selling make sure to make getting the facts from an expert your #1 priority. 

Even though the market is moving rapidly right now there are still great homes for sale in Grand Harbor as well as other communities. No matter where your home is located here's three things to consider to make sure your home isn't getting passed by. 

1. Pricing

Make sure the Realtors (atleast 3) you interview give you FACTS about current pricing and market conditions. They should compare your home with recent sales of homes in your neighborhood when possible, similar in size, style, features and quality. For example, if you have a home for sale in Pucketts Ferry your Realtor should be showing you recent sales in Pucketts Ferry as opposed to lakefront homes sold in the ninety six area in general.

Did you know there are many agents who will let you set the price for your home? Don't let it happen. We are the professionals so make sure your Realtor proves their knowledge and worthiness of handling your largest asset. Make sure your Realtor SHOWS you what you NEED to know in order to sell. Think of it like hiring a lawyer to represent you in court and you telling them how to plead your case! Nothing good can possibly come of that!

2.  Condition

It's not easy sometimes getting your home in market condition. We understand that having your home on the market can be a hassle. However, by having your home as close to market condition as possible will get you to your end goal much quicker, get you to a higher negotiated sales price and get you into your next home. Start with creating curbside appeal because that's where the buyers start evaluating your home. Before they even drive into the driveway. Ask your Realtor for suggestions--we see enough and should our experiences in a way that benefits your individual situation. The admittedly inconvenience of having your home listed and shown will quickly turn into you being in your new home and being free again!

3.  Marketing

How people buy their next home is probably one of the things that the internet has changed the most through the years. Over 90% of buyers start their search online. Information is there for people who want it and trust me, todays home buyers are hungry for as much as they can get.

First of all your home has to be seen to even be in the competition. Your Realtor MUST have an internet presence. Secondly, it has to be attractively and accurately represented in words and photos; and third because of the plethora of information available it has to be priced right.

The most beautiful photos and well written words will not persuade a buyer to buy a home. Many time the opposite happens. If a buyer comes to see a home that is beautiful online with all the perfect words and what they see when they arrive doesn't match....they'll be immediately turned off and won't even consider looking. On the other hand it's senseless to market a home with only 1 or 2 photos; yet it happens all the time. Don't let it happen to your home.

Bottom Line....

Make sure your Realtor is a true professional with the right info, guidance and tools you need to get your home sold!

Give us a call. We're ready! 

You drive by and see the homes for sale on Lake Greenwood and in the surrounding area. They've been there for little while but you keep hearing the market is great. What's going on? Chances are good that the sellers (or their agent) didn't follow these key pieces of advice.

1. Price It A Little LOW!

This may seem counterproductive and even a bit backwards because everyone wants TOP dollar for their homes for sale in Greenwood. Take a closer look at this concept. Most people (and their agents) want to price their home over what the actual value really is to allow "room for negotiating". In actuality this mindset causes your home to receive LESS attention and there is less demand for your property.

The more attention your property gets the more likely you are to get a FULL PRICE offer and many times multiple offers. I've already been involved in several already this season. Keep in mind the peak buying "season" isn't even officially here yet! Today;s buyers are HIGHLY informed and when they see a deal they know it!

2.  Use a Real Estate Professional

This may seem a little backwards as well but research has proven time and time again that a seller typically nets MORE money when a knowledgeable Realtor with a proven marketing plan markets their property. Again this is because of creating demand that only a real estate professional can create. 

The Economist Outlook blog says:

“The median selling price for all FSBO homes was $210,000 last year. When the buyer knew the seller in FSBO sales, the number sinks to the median selling price of $151,900. However, homes that were sold with the assistance of an agent had a median selling price of $249,000 – nearly $40,000 more for the typical home sale.”

Bottom Line---

Use a knowledgeable Realtor who thinks a little differently. Afterall, it's a new world when it comes to real estate. Find a Realtor with a strategy (not just a sign) and one who knows how to market your property. Doing this will get you TOP DOLLAR. Give The Bradshaw Group a call. We would love to assist you!

What Are You Waiting For?

With spring thankfully right around the corner you may be thinking about whether or not now is the time to buy a home for sale in the Greenwood area?

Below you will find the top 4 reasons why you should buy now and NOT wait.

1. Prices Will CONTINUE To Rise

CoreLogic’s latest Home Price Index reports that home prices have appreciated by 6.3% over the last 12 months. The same report predicts that prices will continue to increase at a rate of 5.4% over the next year. The bottom in home prices has come and gone. Greenwood homes for sale will continue to rise for the coming years. That's great news for sellers but for for buyers waiting no longer makes sense.

2. Interest Rates Are Predicted To Rise

Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey shows that interest rates for a 30-year mortgage have remained below 4%. Most experts predict that they will begin to rise over the next 12 months. The higher the interest rate the less house you can buy. To repeat....waiting no longer makes sense.

3. Renting or Owning-Either Way You Are Paying A Mortgage

The question to ask here is whose mortgage do you want to pay? Your own mortgage and reap the rewards of home ownership or your landlords mortgage as well as an added rate of return? Again...waiting no longer makes sense.

4. It's Time To Move On With Your Life

The overall cost of a home is determined by two things; 1 being the actual price of the home and the other being the interest rate. We've established BOTH of these components are on the rise; but what if they weren't? Would you still wait?

Think about your individual "whys" of purchasing a home. What is YOUR motivation? What is YOUR why? Is it so you can start a family and have a place to call "home"? Maybe to have your own place so you can have freedom in decorating? Or it may be as simple as you want your own back yard to enjoy this spring and summer or whenever the notion strikes.

Whatever your whys are if you decide that it is time for you to buy ...waiting no longer makes sense. Whether it's a condo for sale in Greenwood or home for sale in Stoney Point give us a call and we will help you begin the search for your dream hoome.  At The Bradshaw Group we don't pressure people into doing what they're not sure of--we simply provide the facts to help you make an informed decision. 

Buying a home for sale in Greenwood or even selling your current home can be like a game of chess.

Whereas a game of checkers is simple and reactive a game of chess requires forethought and needs to be strategic. A game of chess requires an understanding of the function of each of the pieces and how they work together. The same holds true for buying or selling a home.

You may have heard the old saying "Play Chess not Checkers". Did you ever relate it to real estate? Probably not but here's the relation.

Plan Your Move

For example if you have a home for sale in Stoney Point you may be tempted to put a sign in the front yard, call it a day and wait for the phone ring. Simple enough, right? WRONG! It's a bit more complicated than that and you need to look at the next move.

According to the Orlando Regional REALTOR Association, there are over 230 possible actions that need to take place during every successful real estate transaction. Don’t you want someone who has been there before, and who knows what these actions are to make sure that you acquire your dream?

As I've mentioned before approximately 92% of buyers begin their search online in comparison to only 28% looking in newspapers. On top of that with so many people relocating to Greenwood for retirement your Grand Harbor home for sale may never get seen by the perfect buyer for several months if you're counting solely on that sign in your yard. A full time realtor in Greenwood or anywhere else will usually have a proven internet marketing strategy and  proven way of using it once your buyer is found. Names and numbers don't necessarily mean a buyer!

Identify Potential Risks and Defend Against Them

An experienced Realtor can identify potential risks and is prepared ahead of time to defend against them. We know what questions to ask many times to help us spot areas of concern on both the buying side as well as the selling side. From potential "red flags" of a buyers financing ability to knowing how to turn a potential neighborhood negative into a positive. Let's face it, no matter how wonderful your community is potential buyers who are on high alert to begin with and on constant look-out for anything resembling a negative can usually find atleast one.

Practice Makes Perfect 

Just like with any skill, practice and experience bring a sense of confidence and expertise. Before you decide to take on the challenges of selling your house on your own, give us a call and see how we can benefit you and help you towards your goal of getting your property SOLD! 

Bottom Line

With The Bradshaw Group on your side, even the complex process of buying your next home or selling your current home can be strategically navigated.

Every three years the Federal Reserve conducts a Survey of Consumer Finances in which they collect data across all economic and social groups. The latest survey, which includes data from 2010-2013, reports that a homeowner’s net worth is 36 times greater than that of a renter ($194,500 vs. $5,400).

In a Forbes article the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) Chief EconomistLawrence Yun predicts that in 2016 the net worth gap will widen even further to 45 times greater. It's a great time to start considering Greenwood real estate as a commodity.

The graph below demonstrates the results of the last two Federal Reserve studies and Yun’s prediction:

Put Your Housing Cost to Work For You

Simply put, homeownership is a form of ‘forced savings’. Every time you pay your mortgage you are contributing to your net worth. Every time you pay your rent, you are contributing to your landlord’s net worth.

The latest National Housing Pulse Survey from NAR reveals that 85% of consumers believe that purchasing a home is a good financial decision. Yun comments:

“Though there will always be discussion about whether to buy or rent, or whether the stock market offers a bigger return than real estate, the reality is that homeowners steadily build wealth. The simplest math shouldn’t be overlooked.”

Bottom Line

If you are interested in finding out if you could put your housing cost to work for you by purchasing a home, give us a call and let us guide you through the process and provide all the information you need to make an informed decision.

In today's market, with homes selling quickly and prices rising, some homeowners might consider trying to sell their home on their own, known in the industry as a For Sale by Owner (FSBO). There are several reasons this might not be a good idea for the vast majority of sellers.

Here are the top five of those reasons:

1. There Are Too Many People to Negotiate With

Here is a partial list of some of the people with whom you must be prepared to negotiate if you decide to For Sale By Owner:

• The buyer who wants the best deal possible
• The buyer’s agent who solely represents the best interest of the buyer
• The buyer’s attorney (in some parts of the country)
• The home inspection companies, which work for the buyer and will almost always, find some problems with the house
• The appraiser if the appraisal  comes in low and should be challenged. (TIP--You don't have to settle for the appraised price.) 

2. Exposure to Prospective Purchasers

10 Years ago only about 70% of buyers began their search for a home for sale in Greenwood on the internet. Recent studies have shown that number has grown to 89% of buyers search online for a home. Not to mention the many different avenues of online places to shop. That is in comparison to only 20% looking at print newspaper ads. Is your home able to be seen in the RIGHT locations? Your Greenwood real estate agent should have a proven internet strategy to promote the sale of your home. Do you?

3. Results Come from the Internet

Where do buyers find the home they actually purchased?

• 44% on the internet
• 33% from a Real Estate Agent
• 9% from a yard sign
• 1% from newspaper

The days of selling your house by just putting up a sign and putting it in the paper are long gone even though that's about what some agents still do. Having a strong internet strategy is critical. We are all creatures of habit. What does that mean? The sign in your yard will be seen by the same people on a consistent basis but few new people. Your perfect buyer could be 5 miles away and never know your house is for sale.  After awhile it's no longer noticed and the people who do see it wonder "why hasn't it sold? It must have problems." It quickly becomes passed by.

4. FSBOing has Become More and More Difficult

The paperwork involved in selling and buying a home has increased dramatically as industry disclosures and regulations have become mandatory. This is one of the reasons that the percentage of people FSBOing has dropped from 19% to 8% over the last 20+ years.

The 8% share represents the lowest recorded figure since NAR began collecting data in 1981.People are figuring out we are called real estate professionals for a reason. Most DO add value and and create better outcomes than thought.

5. You Net More Money when Using an Agent

Many homeowners believe that they will save the real estate commission by selling on their own. Keep in mind the main reason buyers look at FSBOs is because they also believe they can save the real estate agent’s commission too. The seller and buyer can’t both save the same money.

Studies have shown that the typical house sold by the homeowner sells for $210,000 while the typical house sold by an agent sells for $249,000. This doesn’t mean that an agent can get $39,000 more for your home as studies have shown that people are more likely to FSBO in markets with lower price points. However, it does show that selling on your own might not make sense. By allowing us to provide the necessary exposure for your home it can increase the overall sales price and decrease alot of stress throughout the transaction.

Bottom Line

Before you decide to take on the challenges of selling your home in Stoney Point or any other neighborhood and find yourself bogged down in the middle of a southbound transaction, give us a call The Bradshaw Group today and see what we have to offer. You will be pleasantly surprised and glad you did.  341-7774.

Greenwood homes for sale remains low. Here's some more information to helo you decide if now is the time for you.

 According to the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) Existing Home Sales Report, homes were on market for an average of 58 days in December. This was slightly longer than the 54 days in November, but still better than the 66 days experienced in December 2014.

32% of homes across the country were on the market for less than a month!

Colorado, Utah and Delaware led all states as homes are selling in 30 days or less on average. The map below was created using results from NAR’s Monthly Realtor Confidence Survey.

Bottom Line

Buyer demand remains strong. The inventory of Greenwood homes for sale remains low. If you are thinking about listing your Greenwood home for sale this year, give us a call and let us help you take advantage of current market conditions...and start packing!