Savvy Home Buyer Multiple Choice [Editor’s Note: The views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not represent Edina Realty, Berkshire Hathaway, or any other entity referenced. If you need legal advice, please consult an attorney.] Test your knowledge of today’s housing market, and answer the following question: How can Buyers’ agents...Read More
Mourning the Loss of a House: not “The One,” after all Just because no one died, doesn’t mean that home Buyers who feel compelled to cancel a deal — typically in the wake of a (very) bad inspection — aren’t disappointed. In fact, depending on how excited the Buyer was about the home in question, how...Read More
Scrubbed Showings, or, “The Customer Home Buyer Is Always Right” Once in a while, prospective home Buyers know a house isn’t for them before their agent can even open the front door. The curb appeal (or lack thereof) is a turn-off**; the next-door-neighbor looks like they’re raising pit bulls (or collecting broken-down snowmobiles); or something...Read More
Conspicuously Missing: The “I-Want-To-Meet-My-Interior Decorator” Showing Once upon a time, Buyers’ agents who wanted to get their clients into a “For Sale” home simply logged onto MLS; selected the home they wanted to show and the requested time and date; and clicked “submit.” No more. Now, MLS has a pull-down menu (above) listing no fewer than nine types...Read More
Proof That High Pressure Sales Tactics Don’t Work At least in my experience, the odds of any one showing leading to a consummated transaction are perhaps 1 in 10. The exception to that? If the Buyer’s agent is headed to the airport, or otherwise under acute time pressure. When that’s the case, I’d estimate that...Read More
Counting Down to December 31 December 29 At least for Buyers’ agents, the answer to the question, “should I close on my home purchase in 2017, before any new tax laws take effect?” is easy: “consult your tax advisor.” Fortunately, agents are able to field a related question: “is it still possible to close in 2017?” Closing Hurdles Whether a 2017 close...Read More
