by Shawn Boday | Feb 7, 2023 | Real Estate, Shawn Boday
When it comes to buying or selling a home, it’s important to get your information from a trusted source. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation and bad advice online, and if you don’t do your research, you could be caught off guard. Many myths about real estate can be easily debunked with the right information. To help you stay informed and avoid making costly mistakes, here are ten common real estate myths debunked.
Real Estate Myth 01: It’s not necessary to get preapproved.
It is beneficial to get preapproved before beginning the home-buying process. Not only will it lets you know much you can afford, but it will also demonstrate to sellers that you are serious about buying and have the financial means to do it. Contrary to popular belief, getting preapproved won’t hurt your credit score.
Real Estate Myth 02: If you don’t have children, the school system isn’t relevant.
When purchasing a home, consider looking for one with good schools, even if you don’t have kids. Buying in a desirable school district will add to the resale value. This is why schools are an important factor for many homebuyers.
Real Estate Myth 03: Realtors only show homes listed with their own company.
Realtors are bound to a strict code of ethics, meaning they must show you any and all homes that fit your criteria, regardless of the listing company. As long as the property is listed in the MLS system, you have the right to view it.
Real Estate Myth 04: When bidding on a home, offer a lower price.
Making a lowball offer on a house can be risky in a competitive market. If there are multiple offers on the house, submitting a lower offer runs the risk of not being taken seriously and may not result in a counteroffer. Additionally, low offers can come across as disrespectful to the seller and can make for an unpleasant transaction. Therefore, it is best to make an offer that is close to or at the asking price.
Real Estate Myth 05: When pricing your house for sale, set it high.
When it comes to pricing your house for sale, it’s best to list it at a price that is competitive and fair. An overpriced house can be a turn-off for potential buyers and result in fewer offers. To make sure your home grabs the attention of buyers, it’s best to price it realistically so that buyers know they are getting a good deal.
Real Estate Myth 06: To make more money, renovate it beforehand.
Before deciding to renovate your home when selling, it is important to take into account the cost of the improvements and the return on investment. Minor repairs, decluttering, and staging may be all you need to get the best possible price. In today’s market, many buyers are looking for more affordable homes and are willing to do the repairs themselves.
Real Estate Myth 07: If a home is in perfect condition, an inspection isn’t necessary
No matter how new or attractive a home may appear, it is always important to get a professional inspection. This will alert you to any potential issues that need to be addressed before you take possession. Without an inspection, you could be stuck with expensive problems in the future. It is wise to either ask for the problems to be fixed before you buy the home or to have the purchase price lowered to cover the cost of the repairs.
Real Estate Myth 08: Buying is a better option than renting.
It’s not always a given that buying a home is better than renting one. Many variables come into play when considering this decision, including your financial situation, stage in life, and future plans. To make the best decision, it is important to crunch some numbers and compare the costs of each option. You may discover that, depending on your lifestyle and goals, renting could be the right decision for you.
Real Estate Myth 09: Realtors earn a lot of money.
Real estate agents do not have a set salary but instead are paid on commission. This commission is typically split with the brokerage firm that employs them, as well as covers expenses such as driving, hosting open houses, doing research, etc. Furthermore, the commission they receive is not guaranteed, as it is open to negotiation.
Real Estate Myth 10: Having a real estate agent doesn’t offer any benefits.
Having a real estate agent can be a huge advantage when buying or selling a home. They have access to homes for sale that you may not have known about and can use their expertise in order to negotiate the best price possible. They can also help guide you through the paperwork and complex process of buying or selling a property. Without a Realtor, you may find yourself struggling to navigate the market, so having one in your corner can make all the difference.
by ireilly | Jul 28, 2022 | Business, Housing Market, Real Estate, Real Estate Tips, Shawn Boday
Filing your income taxes as a rental property owner is a little different from filing as an individual. You essentially own a small business, and your taxes will be higher for that reason. Fortunately, there are a few different ways you can reduce what you’ll have to pay to the IRS.
Start With Deductions for Property Repairs
You can start to get more out of your taxes by remembering to deduct your repair costs. If you have paid out more than $600 in a 12-month period for professional repair services, you can deduct those expenses on your income tax form. Be sure to keep receipts in case you’re asked to verify your repair expenses.
Don’t Forget Your Home Office
It pays off to use a room in your own home to manage your rental property. As long as you use this room solely for this purpose, you can deduct a portion of your rent or mortgage as a business expense. Be sure your home office is not used for recreation or other purposes, or you may be disqualified from using this deduction.
Add More Revenue Sources
You can increase your income potential by adding amenities and services to your rental property. Consider investing in coin-operated laundry machines, snack and beverage vending machines, and other money-making opportunities. You can also offer services, such as landscaping services, to your tenants. Charge a few dollars over the fee charged by the landscaping service to help you make these services more profitable for you.
Use Schedule-C to Your Advantage
When you file a schedule-C form for your taxes, you can make even more deductions. Under this tax filing method, you can deduct expenses associated with any tasks you perform in the management of your property. For example, you can deduct the gas and mileage used to deposit rental income or to drive to your rental property. You’re also allowed deductions for time spent hanging rental vacancy signs, buying supplies for the property, and performing similar tasks.
If you’re unsure about the deductions and incentives that are available to you, talk to an accountant or tax attorney. A professional can help you prepare your taxes correctly. Additionally, they may know of new tax breaks that are available to you since they will keep up with how tax laws change from year to year.
by Shawn Boday | Jan 1, 2021 | Business, Housing Market, Real Estate, Real Estate Investing, Real Estate Tips, Seattle, Shawn Boday, Washington
The real estate business is one of the most lucrative fields today. From renting to leasing or buying properties, the world is growing at a swift pace. Real estate marketing is, therefore, very crucial for any agent or investor in the industry. You should invest in both online and offline marketing to ensure no market is left out. In this article, you will find some of the creative ways to market your real estate business.
Create a Professional website
You mustn’t create just any website, but a professional one, especially if your focus is on moving property. Ensure that your website is appealing and accessible. The quality of content on the website should encourage visitors to want to see more. Avoid stuffing it with too many ads, and nobody wants that. You can as well include listings on your site and make sure to keep them updated.
Get Social Media Marketing
Make use of all social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Research from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that 92% of real estate customers first use online platforms before consulting an actual agent. So make sure your social media pages are active and highlighting what you are offering. You can even engage social media influencers to help with marketing.
Engage Local Television and Radio Stations
With this, you are sure it will reach the target audience, but make sure you do it right. If you choose to advertise through television, make sure it is one with a large viewership of your target audience. Use appealing and quality images to show your clients what you have. If it is through the radio, give precise details of your location and properties. Do not forget to leave contacts in both.
Start a Blog on Matters Real Estate
If you are a real estate agent or investor and still do not have a blog on the topic, you miss out. It would be best to start a blog to give more details about your services and engage with your potential clients. It is a great way to interact with people and know what they need. From the blog, you can link your website where potential clients can find you.
by Shawn Boday | Dec 29, 2020 | Business, Real Estate, Real Estate Tips, Shawn Boday, Washington
Customers play a significant role in the real estate business. Realtors are more likely to enjoy success if their clients are happy and satisfied with their services. As a result, happy customers will recommend their friends, relatives, or co-workers about a real estate agent. There is a lot of competition in the real estate industry. Unsatisfied customers will have to look for similar services from other agents. It is why realtors need to adopt CRM. It helps them attract and retain customers.
Understanding CRM in Real Estate
Thanks to technology, real estate agents can use CRM tools to interact and create meaningful relationships with clients. Moreover, they can manage the business from a single platform anytime and anywhere. Here is why CRM is vital in the real estate industry.
Quicker Responses
In most cases, CRM tools help realtors track and manage leads. Whether the realtor turns the lead into a client will depend on how quickly an agent responds to the lead. Additionally, existing clients expect real estate agents to respond promptly to their feedback, queries, and complaints. If a client is asking for price estimates, the agent who responds quickly has a better chance of being hired.
CRM tools allow agents to communicate and respond to their clients’ concerns quickly and from anywhere. Moreover, the software will track and record all interactions to help develop effective marketing campaigns.
Long-Lasting Relationships
In the real estate business, relationships between the agents and clients shouldn’t end. It is because previous clients can tell other people about the services. Moreover, they can contact the agent when they need to purchase property in the future.
Realtors should send emails or automated messages to clients during holidays, birthdays, or anniversaries to ensure long-lasting relationships. The timing should be right. Otherwise, they are unlikely to read the email.
Managing Marketing Campaigns
Customer relationship management (CMA) helps realtors track and manage marketing campaigns to identify their business’s most effective campaign.
Easier Decision Making
Sometimes, it can be hard to determine in which client you should invest. Also, real estate agents can spend a lot of time on deals that won’t yield an acceptable profit. CRM analytics helps realtors identify better clients and sales.
From the above, it is evident how CRM software impacts the real estate industry. It allows realtors to maximize their time and also improves productivity and communications.
by Shawn Boday | Dec 23, 2020 | Business, Home Buying Process, House Flipping, Real Estate, Real Estate Investing, Real Estate Tips, Seattle, Shawn Boday, Washington
An essential skill in making a house flipping profit in the real estate business is knowing how to value a house properly. For individuals who are in the industry to make profits from low purchases. Here are ways to determine worthy homes to flip.
Average Value Determination: The house post-rehab value is determined by considering the cost of the houses in the general vicinity and the price of recently sold homes similar to the post-rehab vision. The final worth after repairs is the value you use for determining the worth of the house.
Standard cosmetic rehab: A general rule to estimate repair costs is $20 for every square foot. Based on this assumption, adjustments can be made upwards or downwards depending on the individual house’s specifications. This value will help determine whether to select the house for flipping.
Transactional expenses: Purchase closing costs are usually paid by the seller and account for 0.5 percent of the purchase price. The selling closing costs range between 1-6 percent, with an additional 1 percent as attorney fees. Holding costs such as property taxes, insurance, utilities, and maintenance costs should also be considered.
Offer price-setting- There are formulas to determine what offer price will be stated. One way is to get 70 percent of the average repair value deducting the repair costs. Another way is to subtract the repair costs, closing and holding expenses, and desired profit from the ARV to get the right offer price.
Geographical setting: Proximity to facilities such as shopping malls, transportation services, and school increases the property’s value while highways and airports decrease it. Different locales may have various school taxes, municipal and private trash collection companies with different days.
Physical attributes: As much as the seller wants the house to stand out, it shouldn’t be so significantly marked up in features that it overshadows the neighboring houses. It will only lead to a scenario where it will be too costly for that neighborhood. The most successful house flips are those that have the most work. However, if structural issues are suspected, it would be wiser to buy a house in better condition.
Lenders- Rehab lenders give between 65-70 percent of the ARV. This factor is because an investment is made with the anticipation of making money in the end. If the lender advises otherwise, then there will not be enough equity for the investing party to make money in the end.
