Mary Haskins, Realtor

10/28/2024

One thing we thought we left in 2021? Bidding wars

The truth is, bidding wars are still very much a thing in 2024.

If you’re a prospective home buyer, you’ve likely heard about the chaos they bring.

Here’s what I've seen work best in these situations.

1) Be fast on your feet
To me, that means you're paperwork ready with a pre-approval letter in hand. You know your wants vs. needs. So when the right house comes along we're ready pounce.

2) Embrace limited information
In a perfect world, we'd know every last detail about the listing, but in some cases, there won’t be time to look into it before offers are due. That doesn't mean you're going in blind - If your offer is chosen and you go under contract, you'll have the inspection period to do more thorough diligence.

3) Present your best offer at the onset. You may need to put it all out early without knowing what anyone else offers. Don’t hesitate to go for it — in many cases, buyers don't have the luxury of amending an offer later.

4) Keep the seller in mind. We’ll do some investigating to understand what’s important to the seller and submit our offer with their motivations in mind. This could look like a shortened closing timeline, a leaseback or a larger earnest money deposit.

Lastly - Choose a savvy agent with experience to guide you through the process. DM me with questions!

10/25/2024

Do you know what you're *actually* paying for in your monthly mortgage?

Let's look at 3️⃣ different home price points with examples of what their payments might look like.

(All estimates assume a 20% down payment and 6.58% mortgage rate but read to the end if you plan to put down less.)

🏠 $400K
Principal & Interest: $2,021
Property Taxes: $417
Homeowner’s Insurance: $100
🧾Total Monthly Payment: $2,538

🏠 $450K
Principal & Interest: $2,274
Property Taxes: $469
Homeowner’s Insurance: $100
🧾Total Monthly Payment: $2,843

🏠 $500K
Principal & Interest: $2,527
Property Taxes: $521
Homeowner’s Insurance: $100
🧾Total Monthly Payment: $3,148

If you put down less than a 20% down payment, you'll also need to add private mortgage insurance (PMI) which ranges from 0.22% to 2.25% of your mortgage (as of 2024).

Disclaimer: These numbers are estimates. When the time is right, you’ll work closely with a reputable lender to determine your actual numbers.

10/22/2024

You started daydreaming about paint colors and furniture layouts and...you didn't get the house you wanted. 😩

Know that this is totally normal, especially in a low-inventory market.

It's my job to understand the seller's needs so we can write an offer that meets them, to the best of our ability...

But if we hear "no" here's what we'll reflect on:

❓ Was the winning offer a higher price, more favorable terms, a quicker closing date, or a larger earnest money deposit?
❓ Should we consider more flexible terms like shortening the closing timeline?
❓ Were there market factors at play that we're likely to see again?
❓ Did we put our best price forward? Often times we won't get the chance to go up on price once we submit.

Nothing is guaranteed in real estate but we will be as strategic as possible to get to 'offer accepted!' on your perfect home.

Have questions about the market? Send me a DM!

10/21/2024

Your win is my win.

If we've worked together, thank you for your continued trust.

10/20/2024

I've surveyed hundreds of them...

And there's ONE thing home buyers have in common when house hunting.

NO SURPRISES.

If you’re thinking of selling in the next few months, here’s your gentle nudge to take care of a few things...

✓ Evaluate major home systems - HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and roof.
✓ Fix leaky faucets and creaky doors. (I love YouTube for home repair tutorials)
✓ Tighten loose cabinet pulls or door k***s.
✓ Give walls, doors, and ceilings a paint refresh (white always brightens a room!)
✓ Freshen up the yard by trimming trees and shrubs and laying mulch.
✓ Deep clean carpets or consider replacing.
✓ Declutter and depersonalize

These are just a few of the things I encourage my sellers to do. If you’re serious about prepping your home for buyers AND getting top dollar, send me a message, and I’ll send over my Home Prep Checklist that will guide you through the process.

https://maryhaskins.divinefogrealty.com/seller-form

10/17/2024

Want a personalized closing breakdown for another price point? Send me a DM and I can provide an estimate.

Remember - the most accurate numbers will come from your lender.

10/15/2024

How did we end up in the last quarter of 2024?? 😮‍💨

Before the rest of the year slips between my hands, I wanted to share some goals for Q4 so you can keep me honest. Hold me to it!

What's on your goals list for the rest of the year? Drop it below!

10/13/2024

Looking for your next business opportunity? This could be it! Check it out, beautiful interior! give me a call lets go check it out!

View photos and detailed information for 3014 Memorial Ave, MLS #355126, don't miss your chance to own this hot property!

10/12/2024

Sellers listen up!

POV: You started receiving offers on your home and your eyes jump straight to the price offered...

The truth is– that's just one piece of the whole package.

My job is to walk you through every line of the offer to ensure you're making the most informed decision.

Like the story in this post, there are other important terms to consider:

Things like:

SELLER CONCESSIONS → This is $ the buyer is asking you to cover for things like repairs, interest rate buy downs or buyer agent compensation.

CLOSING TIME → The longer the buyer takes to close, the more time and $ you’re paying to stay in your house.

DUE DILIGENCE → Reaching out to the lender to confirm the buyer's financial ability and the lender's professionalism (Trust me, this matters!)

REFUNDABLE VS. NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSITS → This is a great indicator of how serious and committed the buyer is.

🫡 It's my duty to help you carefully consider the financial implications of the fine print and weigh them against the potential benefits of a faster sale or a higher priced offer.

https://maryhaskins.divinefogrealty.com/seller-form

10/07/2024

🍁 Can we all agree that seeing the leaves change in the fall is one of the greatest activities of the year?

Let's go on a scavenger hunt to find the best fall leaves!

P.S. Did you know domestic airlines like Allegiant Air and Breeze Airways fly to smaller airports in prime leaf-peepin' areas? Smoky Mountains, I'm coming for you!

10/02/2024

POV: you're popping bubbly and decking the halls in your brand new home.

Think three months isn't enough time to find your dream home?

The good news: I've got a fast-track timeline to help you make the most of the 90 days you've got left of 2024.

Here's the game plan

OCTOBER:
• Secure a pre-approval letter ASAP. Understanding your budget and buying power will streamline your house hunt.

• Connect with an agent: A skilled agent will be your advocate and representative to guide you throughout the entire process.

• Research online listings and attend open houses. This will help you refine your priorities and prepare you to make an offer quickly.

NOVEMBER:
• Find your perfect match and be ready to pounce on it as soon as it hits the market.

• Make an offer. Give your highest and best first and ask for a quick closing date.

• Once your offer is accepted, schedule a thorough inspection the same day so you can uncover any potential issues.

DECEMBER:
• Close the deal and secure your keys. Pop the bubbly — you're a holiday homeowner!

• Lock in reliable movers to ensure a smooth transition into your new space. (I can recommend a great one!)

• Embrace the holiday spirit but keep decorating and meals simple this year. The best gift you can give yourself is time with loved ones in your new home!

Comment “90” and I’ll send you my complimentary value-packed guide. It covers everything you need to know about a speedy buying process.

Questions? Send me a DM - I'm here to be a resource for you!

10/01/2024

October in and around Lynchburg! What will you be doing this month!?