- A referral is the best way to choose a REALTOR®
Simply trusting that a REALTOR® has your best interests at heart can lead to disappointment. Your needs are unique. Qualify all REALTOR®s to ensure they are competent and motivated to properly represent you.
- Pay off your mortgage quickly
If you reduce your payment, or simply pay interest-only (secure line of credit financing) and invest the savings into a compounding interest account, your savings will be much higher than the value of your original mortgage.
- You don’t qualify for a mortgage
Regardless of your credit or income, anyone can purchase a house. Creative options such as joint ventures, vendor financing, second mortgages, and many more, provide endless opportunities.
- When to buy real estate
If the papers say that a city is booming, everyone wants to buy. Therefore, this is the perfect time to sell. When everybody is selling because of a recession, then you buy, while prices are rock bottom.
- It’s all about price
Negotiating mainly on the price of a property will limit your opportunity. If you can offer more favorable terms to the other party, then the price will become secondary.
- “#1 Agent”… Someone is lying
Every agent seems to advertise that they are #1. You may not be getting the whole story (ex. 5 agents working under one name). Be careful of what you believe, as the criteria of measurement may lack relevance, or be severely outdated.
- More experience the better
If a REALTOR® has not kept up to date with the changing technology, regulations, market conditions, or modern service style, then all of their past experience won’t help you be properly represented.
- Super agents
If an agent works alone, be careful. It is impossible for someone to be accessible at all times. Your business may be handled by a REALTOR® you have never met until your REALTOR® is available.
- Every agent in a brokerage is the same
REALTOR®s choose their own methods of customer service and business practices within their brokerage. Only very basic standards are in place, therefore, don’t assume one agent is the same as the next.
- Calling off signs is the best way to find a property
A REALTOR® selling a property cannot represent their seller’s best interests and yours at the same time. This is a conflict of interest. Save yourself, potentially thousands of dollars, and find your own REALTOR®.
- Banks are the best financing source
Banks have different mortgage options, but can only ever provide you with their interest rates and handful of options to choose from. A mortgage broker works with most major banks, has way more options and tons of different lenders’ interest rates to choose from. Plus, they can work to fit your schedule.