DONT GET PRE-QUALIFIED FOR A MORTGAGE BEFORE YOU START TO BUY A HOUSE.

GET PRE-APPROVED.  There is a great big difference in pre-approved and pre-qualified.

If you loan officer only pre-qualifies you, he asks you some questions and based on your answers he 'estimates' the mortgage amount the lending institute 'may' loan you. 
If he pre-approves you, he actually verifies your information by checking your credit and obtaining bank statements, pay stubs, tax information, etc. from you, and can tell you the bank will loan you a specific amount based on this information, subject to underwriting and the property appraisal, etc.
When you make an offer on a NICE home in Land o Lakes and Wesley Chapel and find yourself in a bidding war, your pre-approval holds much more weight than a mere pre-qualification letter.  It says you are a knowledgeable, serious buyer who knows what it takes to successfully close on their home.  You are ready, willing, and able to buy their home, and you are the kind of buyer they want to sell their home to.

For more information on successfully buying a home in the Land o Lakes/Wesley Chapel, FL market please contact me at 813-714-9737 or you can visit my website for more information and my Testimonials.  www.DeeSmithSellsHomes.com

BUYERS WILL BE HAPPY TO PAY MORE FOR YOUR HOME

First, let’s understand who the buyers are in the Land o Lakes/ Wesley Chapel, FL market… and what they want, which is the essence of marketing,

and so important in selling your home.  Give them just what they want, and they will be happy to pay the price for it. 

What do they want?  These days the buyers are all expecting to buy a nice home… clean, uncluttered with lots of storage, nice landscaping, with updated appliances, and nice features.  They don’t want to have to do anything to it, except move right in. 

Who are they?  According to the NAR 40% of home buyers are first-time home buyers today.  First-time home buyers have been living in apartments, or rental homes, usually managed by property managers.  They have been prepared and maintained for them, and they are used to that certain level of maintenance and condition.  All they have to do is just move their furniture and possessions into a new apartment.  They are already clean and everything is in working order, usually updated with the latest appliances and features.  This is what they are used to and this is what they are looking to buy.  A large percent of the rest of the buyers are move up buyers and want something better than they have now. Some of the rest are downsizing buyers and want something smaller but nicer than what they have now.   And there are relocating buyers who are going to a lot of trouble moving from far away, and really would like something nice.  The one thing they all have in common is they want something nice and move-in ready.

The buying process is a process of elimination.  If your home is not up to these standards, it will be eliminated within the first 10 seconds.  You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.

These buyer are  pre-approved for their financing, and getting automatic emails from their Realtors with the new listings, so they are ready to move fast when something good shows up.  This is why

the pictures are so important. What are they looking at in those auto-emails? The pictures.

Also, in most cases, the buyers know they are paying a higher price than this time last year, and they want to get something for that.  The better prepared homes will sell almost immediately and at a higher price, most times with multiple offer which can make them sell for more than the asking price.  This alone should be a good incentive for the seller to prepare the home before putting it on the market.  This is a competition, and your home should be the best it could be.

Now that we know who our buyer is, and what he wants we can better understand what we have to do to prepare your home for this market. So what should you do to prepare your home?  Each home is different and the only way to know is to have an experienced Real Estate Professional who specializes in this approach help you.  She knows what buyers are looking for, and she can help you do it without wasting your money on things that don’t work, or may even be detrimental.  Along with professional photography,  massive Internet marketing, and a lot of experience, staging will get your home sold FAST AND FOR MORE. Buyers will be happy to pay more for your home.

Maybe you need some help with repairs, to get the most for your home.  Visit www.FlipMyHouseRealEstate.com

 For more personalized information on getting the most for you home, help staging your home, and marketing it to the masses on the Internet, please feel free to call me on my cell, or text. 813-714-9737 or email DeeSmith@DeeSmith.com  or  visit  www.DeeSmithSellesHomes.com . and for testimonials

* WARNING! - THIS PLAN IS DESIGNED TO SELL YOUR HOME FAST AND FOR MORE... AND IT WORKS!!!   If you are not ready to sell your home quickly, DO NOT list your home with Dee Smith at this time.... we will wait until you are ready.  Help with planning is available before you are ready to list, to make your move less stressful and more enjoyable.  Call Dee today!

I AM TRYING TO BUY A HOME!!! WHY DO MY OFFERS KEEP GETTING TURNED DOWN?

Buying a  nice, move-in-ready home in this market is a competition.  What must you do to be successful?

#1) You must be ready to buy.  Give your pre-approval letter to your Realtor to save valuable time.

#2) You must be watching the new listings.  Have your Realtor set up auto emails.
#3) You must be working closely with your REALTOR, and
#4) You must be ready to move fast and do whatever it takes to make it happen.

The truth is... this really is a competition if you want a nice, move-in-ready home in Wesley Chapel 

& Land o Lakes, FL!!! Every market is different.  Here the inventory is really low and the nice, new listings are selling quickly, and they are ALL selling for more than they did last year, or even last month.

Many buyers will have to put in 'extra cash' above the appraisal to secure a purchase.  If you don't... the next buyer will.   Why? Because  they are tired of putting in offers and getting beat by a better offer and because the prices are going up.  They understand that the appraisals are based on houses that sold within the last 6 months, which sold for less because the prices are going up.

Nice, move-in-ready short sales and bank owned properties are selling for the same as nice regular re-sales, and just as fast. Sorry to say... the reality is... this is a competition for these nice homes, and you must be ready to compete, willing and able to move fast, and to be on the top of your game.  You must have the right mindset and the right attitude.

This year interest rates are still LOW, but they are increasing... and the prices are going up as well.  Now is the time to get your best buy, your lowest interest rate, and your lowest payment.  Check out the video on my website about buying this year vs buying next year.  THE COST OF WAITING
brought to you by Veterans United Home Loans, which by the way is a great place to get your pre approval letter, veteran or not.

If you are looking for a steal, there are still some ‘discounted’ short sales, foreclosures & re-sales available, but these are usually in need of repairs and updating. We still have the FHA 203K Mortgages with built in repair and ‘reno’ funds to help with these. We make the "in's and out's" of buying and selling real estate easy for you.

For more information on successfully buying or selling a home in the Land o Lakes/Wesley Chapel, FL market please contact me at 813-714-9737 or you can visit my website for more information.  www.DeeSmithSellsHomes.com   and to read my Testimonials.

WHAT??? THE BIG 3 REAL ESTATE SEARCH SITES DON’T CARE IF THEY GIVE YOU INCORRECT INFORMATION???

WHAT???  THE BIG 3 REAL ESTATE SEARCH SITES DON’T CARE IF THEY GIVE YOU INCORRECT INFORMATION???  Or where can I get correct information about the values and availability of homes in Land o Lakes, and Wesley Chapel, Florida?

The whole purpose of the Big Three Real Estate search sites, Zillow.com, Realtor.com, and Trulia.com is to send buyers to Realtors who pay them to do that. The purpose is not to give the buyer or home owner accurate information. 

Zillow.com in their own presentation to Realtors says they know they are as much as 40% off on the value of homes on their site, and accuracy of availability is not a priority to them. 
So in other words, they don’t care if they give you wrong information. They say that is the Realtor’s job. Their purpose is to sell leads to Realtors and sell advertising.  Once you understand that, you can see that your need for a Realtor who can give you the CORRECT value of your property and can tell you what IS available for your criteria is critical.  Realtors have no reason to give you wrong information, to the contrary, they NEED to give you good information so you can make a good decision.  You really should work closely with your Realtor when buying or selling your home.

The Big Three and all the other smaller real estate search sites do serve a good purpose for connecting Buyers with Realtors.  But if you want to get ahead of the game, find a good Realtor in the beginning to help you find that perfect home or sell your property for the most you can get.  Your Realtor can give you comparable sold listings when selling, and also when buying to make sure you know the true value of the property.  Your Realtor can set you up on the new MLS Portal system where you can search just like on the Big Three. There are auto-emails, you can change the search, map searches, and everything else the Big Three has, but it is correct and up to the minute information, which you need.

So find a good Realtor, get the true value of your property or get on the MLS Portal, and cut to the chase! Time wasted is very valuable and irreplaceable. Call today!

Maybe you need some help with repairs, to get the most for your home. Visit www.FlipMyHouseRealEstate.com

For more information on successfully buying or selling a home in the Land o Lakes/Wesley Chapel, FL market please contact me at 813-714-9737 or you can visit my website for more information,  www.DeeSmithSellsHomes.com
and to read my Testimonials

WHAT MAKES A HOME SELL FOR MORE?

What makes a home sell for more?  The same floor plan in the same neighborhood with the same size lot and same amenities. Why does one sell for more than the other?  This may sound like a

mystery, but let’s look closer.
What are the buyers looking for today?  Find what they want and give it to them.  Isn’t this the essence of sales?  Take fishing for an example, when you go fishing you use bait you know the fish like.  So you give the buyers what they like… but what do they like?  Knowing what is trending in your market is very important.  Do you think home preparation and Staging will help?  Information and Pictures? 

Second, you fish where the fish are.  Where are the buyers today?  Well, 95% of today’s buyers say they started their search on the Internet.  Do you think massive internet marketing to over 500 Internet search sites would be effective?

There are more cash buyers in the market today than there have been in years… But what do they want, and how do you find them?  You need to find a Realtor who understands today’s trends and marketing techniques, what the buyers like and where to find them. This Realtor will more than pay for her services by getting you that much more for your home. 

But your home needs some updating, repairs?  To get the most for your home. Visit www.FlipMyHouseRealEstate.com

For more info contact Dee Smith at 813-714-9737, call or text, or deesmith@deesmith.com or you can visit my websites for more information and to read my Testimonials.     www.DeeSmithSellsHomes.com   

ZILLOW TOLD ME MY HOUSE WAS WORTH THAT.

"No, I don't need a professional, I can look it up on Zillow.  It's on the Internet, it has to be true. "

Did you know that Zillow says they use an algorithm to determine the value of your home?  It uses every home that has sold in the same zip code, or geographic area, whether it is old or new, out of date or updated, pool or no pool.  It doesn't take into consideration the size of lot, size of home, amenities of the community, surrounding businesses, school grade, etc.  

Did you know, Zillow says it is in business to sell advertising to Realtors and Mortgage Loan Officers, not to tell you what your house is worth?  That is the job of your Realtor.  The Zestimate is just to get the homeowners on the site.  It doesn't have to be correct.

Think about it....  Do you need an expert to just tell you what your home is really worth in today’s market?  I am glad to do that for you...  just the facts, a free CMA, Current Market Analysis.
Call, text or email me.  

Maybe you need some help with repairs, to get the most for your home. Visit www.FlipMyHouseRealEstate.com

For more information on successfully buying or selling a home in the Land o Lakes & Wesley Chapel, FL market please contact me at 813-714-9737 or you can visit my website for more information & Testimonials.  www.DeeSmithSellsHomes.com 

BUYING A BANK OWNED HOME * IS IT A GAMBLE AT BEST AND USUALLY A NIGHTMARE!

So you think you are going to get a great deal on a foreclosure. Think again.  Those days are gone and you could be stepping into something you should really want to avoid.  You could lose hundreds of dollars and not have a house to show for it, or find yourself owning a money pit!

Do you really need a place to live soon? 

Never put in an offer when you have any time constraints. There is no guaranty you will close on time or at all, when you enter into an agreement to purchase a bank owned property. One reason is the bank doesn’t have the title company search for a clear title until they have a buyer.  Then when a lien or unpaid HOA fees, or other problems are found it goes back to the legal department to investigate before they will pay it, which takes more time.   Meanwhile the buyer could be left waiting and wondering what is going on.

Are you a gambler?  Don’t put in an offer if you don’t have much cash to gamble on the transaction.  Just ask the buyer who has paid for an appraisal, a home inspection, termite inspection, wind mitigation inspection, paid to turn on the utilities for inspections, and a survey and finds out after laying out hundreds of dollars, the bank can’t close on time, or may not close at all. If it doesn’t close, the buyer,  having paid out all these fees, may have nothing to show for it, and there is no recourse. 

Do you think you want to do a little real estate investing?  You are not going to get a good deal on a bank owned property.  The days of discounted foreclosed properties are gone, because the banks are all pricing them higher than the market in order to push the market up more.  They have lots more foreclosed properties to sell. If the property is in bad condition, you should know you are buying it ‘as is’, and you should do the inspection first because many banks don’t allow an inspection contingency.  Many don’t do repairs. Many won’t even turn on the utilities for you to do the inspection.  You are on your own and it may become a money pit.  Beware!

What about auctions?  These are good, if you have an extra 5% buyer fee to throw in above the price of your bid.  This fee pays the auctioneer.  You're welcome!

Do you think you know what you are buying?  The bank has no legal responsibility to disclose anything they know about the property, that materially affects the value of the property, or anything about the property’s history.  It could have Chinese drywall, it could be haunted, there could have been a mass murder there, settling issues or even an active sinkhole.  They don’t have to tell you anything like normal sellers do.  It is all up to you to find that out on your own.

How can these nightmares be avoided?  Don’t buy a bank owned property. Hello! Don’t even look at them and they can’t rob you of your time and money.  Ok. You know someone who got a wonderful deal on a bank owned property. When was that?  Was it recently? 

For more information on successfully buying or selling a home in the Land o Lakes/Wesley Chapel, FL market please contact me at 813-714-9737 or you can visit my website for more information and Testimonials  www.DeeSmithSellsHomes.com