Realtor that knows what to look for

I am a realtor and someone who has sold hundreds of houses, seen hundreds of inspections and has been thru hundreds of appraisals.  I pride myself in knowing what to look for, catching things others might miss, etc.  Experience matters in real estate. I had a client whom I was helping to find a new home.  We found a great home but the pricing and square feet didn't match up.  The pictures looked good and my client wanted to see it.  We scheduled the showing and then as we were walking through the house I noticed again the square feet of the house didn't add up.  I noticed the agent listing the property did not include the heated and cooled finished basement in the square foot price.  I also noticed the agent didn't include the finished bonus room upstairs.  We immediately put an offer in at full price and our offer was accepted. Fast forward a couple of weeks when the appraisal report came back.  The house appraised at $70k more than asking.  Why?  Because an inexperienced agent didn't know what they had and how to price it.  My clients, needless to say, were so happy and thankful.   Research who you use to represent you in one of the biggest purchases in their life time.   It may be something minor or major, but you need to have someone on your side that see opportunities and mistakes.  A great realtor is everything in a transaction.          

Waiting for the crash? Don't.

Are you waiting for the market to crash before you buy a home?  I sit here at 6 am trying to get ready for the day and looking ahead to client appointments.  I am reading industry articles and social media posts about everyone's opinion of the market.  Here is what I do know and anybody thinking of buying or selling a home should think about it. Let me say this, the market is not going to crash.  Quit sitting on the fence waiting for it to crash.  House prices never go down and if you wait for 2-3 yrs to buy a home, the prices are definitely going to be higher.  It is a fact that material costs, labor costs, shipping, etc., all go up and don't come back down usually. One of the people I follow is Dave Ramsey, like him or not, he is a financial expert.  Dave did some research over 44 yrs of housing data and found that only 2 times did home prices actually fluctuate or drop below 3% of market value.  We have a housing shortage that will never go away in our lifetime it seems.  We usually have on average about 5 million transactions a year and 2023 could dip below that.  So a shortage of homes will always keep the prices steady.   People have to understand the housing market is returning to normal.  Normal means no more selling a home in less than 24 hrs but selling it over 30-60 days.  Lenders are getting creative and offering rate buy-down programs to keep payments lower.  The federal government announced that they are cutting PMI premiums for new FHA loans.  This is a huge saving and will drive buyers back to the market with more affordable house payments. It also means buyers might be able to afford more house than before as well.  Financial experts in the residential field also believe that the interest rate hikes the FED as been doing will slow down and allow the rates to soften for buyers.  I would say 2023 is going to be interesting, but good for the housing market.   If you are interested in buying a home get a great realtor that knows the market and knows how to navigate the market.  A good realtor will be aware of current options and ways to negotiate the deal.  Of course, if you need any help in the middle Tennessee area give us a call, 615-207-5602. 

"The Lucas Group of Benchmark Realty: Your Trusted Partner in Real Estate in Middle Tennessee

Welcome to our first blog post! We're the Lucas Group of Benchmark Realty, and we're here to help you navigate the exciting and sometimes overwhelming world of real estate in Middle Tennessee. Whether you're a first-time homebuyer, a seasoned investor, or anywhere in between, we're here to help you achieve your real estate goals. Our team, led by Jeff Lucas, has extensive knowledge of the Middle Tennessee real estate market and a passion for helping our clients. We understand that buying or selling a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you'll ever make, and we're here to make sure you're comfortable every step of the way. Our mission is to provide our clients with a smooth, stress-free experience and ensure that they get the best value for their property or find their dream home. We use a combination of cutting-edge technology and personalized service to make the process as seamless as possible. We're with you from start to finish, guiding you through the buying or selling process and answering any questions you may have. Whether you're looking for your first home, upgrading to a larger property, or looking to invest in real estate, we're here to help. We invite you to get in touch with us today to schedule a consultation and start your real estate journey. Stay tuned for more real estate tips, insights, and information from the Lucas Group of Benchmark Realty. We look forward to helping you achieve your real estate dreams!"