February 2018 – Johnson Hometown Realty

Buyer Tips to Make the Property Purchasing Process Painless #4!

The final step in the buying process is our topic for today – Buyer Tip #4 – Writing an Offer!!

A) Plan on spending 60-90 minutes with your Johnson Hometown Realty expert, especially if you have not written an offer recently. We want to be thorough and explain all of your options to you so that you know exactly what you are signing and exactly what the process involves. B) If you have not yet done so, have your lender forward a copy of your pre-qualification letter to your agent to be included with the offer. C) There are several things you need to know prior to writing the offer. Here is a partial list: 1) How much do you intend to offer? 2) How soon would you like to close on the property? (take possession) 45 days or so is typical. 3) What type of financing will you be using? 4) Will you be asking the seller to assist you with your closing costs? And if so, how much will you be asking for? 5) How much of a down payment will you be making? 6) What personal property, if any, will you be asking for? 7) Exactly whose names are going on the purchase agreement? (We will need full legal names of each person involved.) D) Finally, be prepared to have an earnest money check made out to the listing company to accompany your offer. This is typically made out for $500. to $1000. These funds are part of your offer, it is not extra money…

Four tips for buyers that will help to make your next property purchase painless!! Call us ANYTIME with questions of any kind about real estate!!! 218-263-4411.

Buyer Tips to Make the Property Purchasing Process Painless #3!

To keep purchasing property as simple, easy, and low-stress as possible, a buyer should follow 4 simple tips. Tip #1 was to become pre-qualified through a lender. Tip #2 was to learn what is available that meets your needs and fits into your budget. (See our previous blog posts for details.)

Today property buyer’s tip is Tip #3 – Viewing Suggestions. Going to visit homes/cabins/properties in person can be the most exciting and enjoyable parts of the real estate process! To keep it fun rather than frantic, follow these suggestions: A) Give your Realtor at least a day or two notice ahead of your preferred tour time. Appointments need to be asked for and approved, renters/owners need to be contacted, and your agent no doubt has a busy schedule, too. (But at Johnson Hometown Realty we ALWAYS do our best to accommodate your needs.) B) Wear slip on shoes. Sellers don’t want us tracking water or mud into their homes, and slip ons are quicker and far more convenient for you. C) Kids….We love kids!! And they can accompany us on showing tours, but you will need to keep them with you and away from the sellers things to avoid any damage to the property or injury to your children. Also, it is much easier for you to focus on the features of a home if you do not have to focus on your kids throughout the showing. D) Be efficient. Keep moving. We typically plan on 15-20 minutes per home on our first visit. Make the first look a preview and plan to go back later for a second look at any home you really like. E) We have found it helpful for buyers to take notes on the property spec sheets during viewings and then to organize those sheets into 3 folders – 1 folder of homes you really like, 1 folder of homes you aren’t sure about but that may work, and 1 folder of those homes you wouldn’t live in if they were given to you for free (and there will be homes in each of those categories if you look at more than a few…) This will make it easier for you to identify the properties you want to take a more careful, second look at, and it will help you remember which homes you have already viewed.

Watch for Tip #4 – Writing An Offer – coming to a blog post near here soon!!

Buyer Tips To Make the Property Purchasing Process Painless

The process of buying property can be difficult, complicated, scary, and stressful…..BUT it does NOT have to be any of these things. To make the property purchasing process go smoothly, follow these 4 simple tips:

Tip #1) Get pre-qualified through a lender. This process and the reasons for it are covered in a previous blog – “Why Should I Pre-Qualify?” – and in the “Financing” section of the “Buyer” tab of the Johnson Hometown Realty homepage. After you you have been pre-qualified, it is time to begin actively looking for your new home/cabin/building lot or recreational property.

Tip #2) is our topic for today: Learn What Is Available in your Price Range and in the Areas you are Most Interested in. A) Use the “Search Listings” or “Search” link on the homepage of Johnson Hometown Realty to check on everything currently listed for sale that may fit your needs. B) Contact one of our Johnson Hometown Realty experts and ask to receive an automatic e-mail every time a new property comes on the market or is reduced within your parameters. C) Begin doing drive-bys to check on the neighborhood, distance, exterior etc of those properties that appear interesting to you. D) Call your Johnson Hometown Realty expert to set up a tour of those properties you think you may like.

Watch for Tip #3 – “Viewing Suggestions” – coming in the next couple of days…..

Hibbing’s Richard Martin Named to Team MN for Special Olympic Tennis

Congratulations to Richard Martin from Hibbing, a member of our Hibbing/Chisholm Rangers Special Olympic Tennis Team! Richard, a State Champion singles player, was recently selected to be a part of Team Minnesota and participate in the USA Special Olympic National Games to be held in Seattle, WA in July! Richard is the son of Ivan and Mary Martin of Hibbing.

It’s Never Too Early to Get Pre-Qualified for a Home Loan!

Iron Range Real Estate: The Market is Good and Property is Selling!

A few days ago on this site I predicted a strong year for Iron Range real estate, and I stand by that prediction. But neither Nostradomus nor I, nor even Punxsutawney Phil would have predicted what has taken place over the past 2 weeks….In just the last 14 days, agents from Johnson Hometown Realty have listed more than a million dollars worth of property – $1,233,780, to be exact….Additionally, during the same short time period, this office has been involved in accepted purchase agreements that total more than a million dollars – specifically $1,163,500. All this during a traditionally “slow time” of the real estate year.

Judging by the number of buyers and sellers we are still continuing to work with, things will remain busy through the next few months, at the very least. Thank you again to those of you who are calling us, and referring us, and trusting us to help with your real estate decisions and transactions!!

So, Is timing really everything??

In real estate the clear answer is a definite “sometimes.” But when it comes to listing property for sale, the answer is a resounding “no.” The best time to put property on the market is simple – list it as soon as you are ready to sell it. It is true that certain periods have more activity than others – Home buyers are generally busiest from April until mid-October, but we are working with a bunch of buyers right now; Lake shore sales are most common from around the first of May through the 4th of July, but I have closed on lake homes in December and January; And recreational property is most popular from mid-August through the end of deer season, but we are in the process of putting together a purchase agreement on 40 acres of prime hunting property right now.

The point to remember is this: Yes, more home buyers will be in the market in May than there are now in February, however, there will be lots more homes listed then, too. More buyers, but much more competition. And remember, YOU DO NOT NEED A WHOLE BUNCH OF BUYERS TO GET YOUR PROPERTY SOLD, YOU ONLY NEED ONE. And if you wait for May to list, and if the right buyer is looking now, you will miss that buyer.

So if you have real estate you want to sell, now is the right time to contact Johnson Hometown Realty (218-263-4411) and get that home/land/lake shore on the market and in front of buyers!! Remember any time that you would like to ask questions, explore options, or simply start a conversation about any real estate transaction, give us a call. We are always open!

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