State of Real(i)ty

This episode covers a very specific topic. What happens when you consider downsizing? There are lots of reasons why people consider downsizing, but when you get right down to it, it doesn't always make sense. First, there's the financial side of it. Most people downsize, thinking their monthly mortgage payments will be less. Second, a smaller home should be less of a burden on you. Althoug...

This episode covers a relatively new set of products in the real estate industry that allow buyers to literally buy before they sell. In other words, buying their new home before they sell their old one. But that's backwards, yes, I know. It's the age-old problem of having to sell your current home first because you need that cash in order to buy your new home. For most people, the equity in their...

This episode covers the topic of going under contract on your home. Also know as going binding because when both sides agree to the contract, it's now considered a legal and binding agreement. This is a great milestone in the sale of your home because it means you not only found a buyer, but you reached an agreement with that buyer on the terms of selling your home to them. But don't pop the champ...

This episode covers the topic of fielding offers on your home. This can be either the most exciting time in the selling process or one of the worst. So, the more you know up front about what to expect, the better prepared you'll be for what happens and how you respond to it. Understanding the Purchase & Sale Agreement is important, as it lists all the terms of the offer. Fielding multiple offers c...

This episode covers the topic of holding your home open to help ensure a quick and successful sale. There are plusses and minuses to having an open house. You should explore both the traditional approach as well as virtual open houses. Discuss holding a Caravan for other agents to see the home. Your agent should plan these well in advance and discuss all aspects of them with you. Review the outcom...

This episode covers the topic of how to best market the home you're selling to get the results you want. Marketing your home is probably the most important part of the selling process once you've decided on the price and made it look visually stunning. Make sure your agent goes beyond the simple approach of putting it in the MLS and placing a sign in the yard. They should be able to explain to you...

This episode covers the topic of how to best photograph the home you're selling to get the best results. The old adage, a picture is worth a thousand words, couldn't be more true. But when selling your home, think of it instead as the idea that "a picture is worth a thousand dollars . . . Or many thousands of dollars." That's right, having great pictures of your home is one of if not THE most impo...

This episode covers the topic of how buying and selling real estate has changed now that we're in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. My heart goes out to everyone impacted by this, and I guess that means all of us. It's not a situation anyone could have imagined just a few months ago, and our lives have been forever changed. I’ve been asked “How do I sell my home at this time?” because of the...

This episode covers the topic of staging your home to sell. I mentioned in a prior episode that there are five things that impact your home's value and that you can control only two of them. Price and Condition. Part of its condition is physical, but part of it is surface-level and more emotional. This is staging. Studies show that staging your home can help it sell more quickly and for more money...

This episode covers the topic of preparing your home to sell, which is one of the most critical aspects of the process. As I stated in a prior episode, there are five things that impact your home's value and you can control only two of them. Price and Condition. This is about condition. Getting your home in its best possible condition is critical to getting buyers to love your home, make great off...

This episode covers the topic of pricing your home, which is undoubtedly the most difficult part of the process. Why? Because no one has a crystal ball that tells you what your home will sell for. Your agent uses data on recent sales of comparable homes to estimate what they expect buyers will pay for your home. You, the Seller, set a listing price that represents what you would like to get for th...

This episode covers how to find a listing agent to sell your home. There are lots of ways to engage with agents and hire one to sell your property, but many people don't put much thought into the importance of making this decision, which can mean the difference between a successful sale and a failed attempt that lingers on for months or years. I this episode, I describe key criteria to look for wh...

This episode covers motivations for selling. Without a strong motivation, your home sale can linger for much longer than it needs to and whatever challenges you encounter could lead you to quit early.  Seller motivation is either an external force driving you to sell your home or simply and internal desire to sell and move on. Know what your motivation is and discuss it with your agent. Moving for...

What you need to know about iBuyers: what they are, how they differ from a traditional home sale, and why they may or may not make sense for you when you decide to sell. An iBuyer is a technology- and data-driven cash investor whose goal is to buy homes and quickly sell them for a profit. For a Seller, the timing is quick, there's a huge convenience factor, and they have more control and less risk...

This episode covers the appraisal contingency, which is common when the buyer is getting a loan to purchase a property. The appraisal contingency allows the lender to appraise the home and provide an appraised value to the buyer.  If the appraised value is lower than the contract price, the buyer has the right to ask the seller to lower the price to the appraised value. This difference can be nego...

This episode covers the financing contingency, which is what you ask for in your offer if you need to get a loan to buy the property. It basically means that if you cannot get a loan, you can terminate and get your earnest money back. As long as you follow the details of the contract. Financing contingencies are very common since most buyers need to get a mortgage to buy a property. However, there...

This episode is all about Due Diligence, the period just after you go binding (all parties have signed the Purchase and Sale Agreement). This is when the Buyer has inspections done, negotiates asks of of the Seller, and reaches agreement or chooses to terminate. Thanks for listening. RateThisPodcast.com/stateofreality If you like what you heard and want to see more, here are my social media links:...

This episode covers everything you need to know about making a strong offer that gets accepted. Thanks for listening. RateThisPodcast.com/stateofreality If you like what you heard and want to see more, here are my social media links: Facebook: D. J. Stavropoulos Homes facebook.com/d.j.stavropoulos.homes Instagram: D. J. Stavropoulos Homes instagram.com/djstavropoulos.homes/ Pinterest: D. J. Stavro...

This episode covers the process of finding and viewing properties before making an offer. There are a plethora of ways to find new homes on the market, and some are better than others. Regardless of how you find a home, it's important to reconcile each against your list of Must Haves, Wants, and Nice To Haves to see how good a fit it is. Sometimes, you won't find what you want in the neighborhoods...

This episode is about your wants and needs when buying a home. Why you should make a list of Must Haves, Wants, and Nice to Haves and reconcile every potential home against this criteria. And do the same for neighborhoods. Regardless of what these are, you probably won't find them all in a single home, but look to get as many as you can. Regardless, your needs and wants will change over time throu...

This episode covers motivations for buying. Without motivation, your search can drag on forever.  It's either an external or internal force that will lead you to buy. Know what your motivation is, discuss it with your agent, and keep it top of mind to drive you forward. First-time buyers and investors are examples of very specific motivating factors. Thanks for listening. RateThisPodcast.com/state...

This episode provides a high-level overview of the selling process. This includes Finding an Agent, Setting a Price, Preparing the Home, Photography, Marketing, Fielding Offers, Removing Contingencies, and Closing. Since this is an overview, many of these topics will be covered in more detail in future episodes and/or have an entire episode devoted to the specific topic. Thanks for listening. Rate...

In this episode, I give a high-level overview of the buying process. This includes Finding an Agent, Searching for Homes, Viewing Properties, Making Offers, Removing Contingencies, and Closing. Since this is an overview, many of these topics will be covered in more detail in future episodes and/or have an entire episode devoted to the specific topic. Thanks for listening. RateThisPodcast.com/state...

In this introductory episode, I explain the purpose of my podcast, who I am, and what I have to say. That way, you can all understand where I'm coming from and the value I'll provide should you choose to listen and/or subscribe. Thanks for listening. Anchors away! RateThisPodcast.com/stateofreality If you like what you heard and want to see more, here are my social media links: Facebook: D. J. Sta...