You may have a new baby, a new employment situation, a parent who moved in with you, you just built a home that’s finally ready to move into, or some other major part of your life that has changed in recent weeks. Buyers have those needs too, so rest assured that someone is likely looking for a home just like yours.

Don’t forget, you only need one buyer – the right one for your home.

Here’s the other thing – people are spending a lot of time on the Internet right now, given the stay-at-home orders implemented across the country. Buyers are actively looking at homes for sale online. Some of them are reaching out to real estate professionals for virtual tours and getting ready to make offers too. Homes are being sold in many markets.

There Is Less Competition Right Now

The same survey indicates that 56% of NAR members said sellers are removing their homes from the market right now. This can definitely work in your favor. If other sellers are removing their listings, your home has a better chance of rising to the top of a buyer’s search list and being seen. Keep in mind, listings will pick up again soon, as 57% of the respondents note that sellers are only planning to delay the process by a couple of months. If you need to sell right now, don’t wait for the competition to get back into the market again.

This year, delayed listings from the typically busy spring season will push into the summer months, so more competition will be coming to the market as the pandemic passes. Getting ahead of that wave now might be your biggest opportunity.

Your Trusted Real Estate Advisor Can Help

Real estate agents are working hard every single day under untraditional circumstances, utilizing technology to help both buyers and sellers who need to continue with their plans. We’re using virtual tours to show homes currently on the market, staying connected with the buyers and sellers through video chats, and leveraging resources to complete transactions electronically. We’re making sure the families we support remain safe and can keep their real estate needs on track, especially as life is changing so rapidly.

So, homes are still being bought and sold in the midst of this pandemic. If you need to sell your house and would like to know the current status in our local market, let’s work together to create a safe and effective plan that works for you and your family.

Find a Real Estate Expert

Look for an agent who specializes in the type of community or properties you are interested in purchasing. If you are considering a Southwest Florida Golf Community, there are more than 150 golf course communities to chose from. How do you know which one is right for you and your family?  Find a specialist who has the knowledge and experience about golf community real estate to help you navigate the various clubs, courses, membership options, amenities and location that will best match your lifestyles.

“Luxury Lifestyle” has different meanings for different people. What does it mean to you? Golf course communities in our area have enhanced their amenities to provide members with the ultimate luxury experience. From wellness centers to pickleball and everything in between. We will help you identify the best communities to visit.

View Testimonials…

If you are  Considering Selling Your Home Keep These Tips in Mind

If you are considering selling a home in Bonita Springs, Estero, Naples or Fort Myers, we encourage you to work with a Professional Real Estate Agent or REALTOR® who has the experience and knowledge to provide an accurate market comparison so you can determine the right asking price. Now more than ever, an agents presence on the internet is critical to selling your home. What type of on-line marketing does your agent offer? High end videos and photography, e-mail marketing, social media marketing and more.

If you live in a golf community in southwest Florida, you are competing with more than 150 other golf communities.  Contact us today to learn how your home or condo stacks up against the competition and how we can position your property to sell quickly and for a fair price.

Should I Use a Realtor or Sell on My Own?

Some Highlights:

• Believe it or not, there are lots of things you can do to prep your house for a sale without even going to the store.
• Your real estate plans don’t have to be completely on hold even while we’ve hit the pause button on other parts of daily life.
• Tackling small projects from cleaning the corners you may normally skip to tidying up your yard are easy and necessary wins if you’re thinking of listing your house and making a move.

How do You Find a Real Estate Expert

Look for an agent who specializes in the type of community or properties you are interested in purchasing. If you are considering a Southwest Florida Golf Community, there are more than 150 golf course communities to chose from. How do you know which one is right for you and your family?  Find a specialist who has the knowledge and experience about golf community real estate to help you navigate the various clubs, courses, membership options, amenities and location that will best match your lifestyles.

“Luxury Lifestyle” has different meanings for different people. What does it mean to you? Golf course communities in our area have enhanced their amenities to provide members with the ultimate luxury experience. From wellness centers to pickleball and everything in between. We will help you identify the best communities to visit.

View Testimonials…

In a recent article by George Ratiu, Senior Economist with realtor.com, he notes how listings with an office are selling quickly:

“As more companies have been embracing remote work, buyers are driving demand for houses with home offices higher. Homes featuring the term ‘office’ are selling 9 days faster than the overall housing inventory.”

Today, more and more people are working remotely, and that’s not just because the current pandemic is prompting businesses to operate virtually. According to the same piece and the most recent data available, the number of employees working at home was fairly steady from 1997 – 2004 but has been climbing ever since (see graph below):

Clearly, the work-from-home population is growing, and technology is making it possible. Just last month, according to an article on Think Google, searches for telecommuting hit an all-time high, and that’s certainly no surprise given our current situation.

People all over the U.S. are looking for answers on how to be most effective at home, and it’s making the ideal workspace more and more desirable. In fact, best practices from seasoned work-from-home professionals, like Chris Anderson, Senior Account Executive at HousingWire, tout that having a dedicated space is a must for productivity.

With today’s increasing demand for home offices, it’s a great feature to highlight within your listing if you’re selling a house that may meet this growing need. From bright natural light with large windows to built-in bookshelves or a quiet and secluded atmosphere, whatever makes your office space shine is worth mentioning to buyers when you’re ready to list your house.

Ratiu concludes:

“For housing, the continued increase in the share of remote workers implies that demand for homes with offices or dedicated work spaces will continue to increase. The current coronavirus pandemic offers a dramatic indication of the fact that companies and employees will have to develop plans and clearer policies for remote work beyond the current crisis.”

So, remote work may become more widely accepted as this current crisis teaches businesses throughout the country what it takes to function virtually. So, what seems like a business challenge today may be more of the norm tomorrow. With that in mind, if you have a home office, your house may be more desirable to buyers than you think.

Here’s a look at some of the elements of the process that are changing (at least in the near-term), due to stay-at-home orders and social distancing, and what you may need to know about each one if you’re thinking of buying or selling a home sooner rather than later.

The New Norm in Today’s Real Estate Process

1. Virtual Consultations – Instead of heading into an office, you can meet with real estate and lending professionals through video chat. Whether it’s your first initial needs analysis as a buyer or your listing appointment as a seller, you can still get the process started remotely and create a plan together. Your trusted advisor is still on your side.

2. Home Searches & Virtual Showings – According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the Internet is one of the three most popular information sources buyers use when searching for homes. Your real estate agent can send you listing information and help you request a virtual showing when you’re ready to start looking. This means you can virtually walk through the homes on your wish list while keeping your family safe. As a seller, you can still have virtual open houses and virtual tours too, so as not to miss those buyers looking to find a home right now.

3. Document Signing – Although this is another area that varies by state, today more portions of the transaction are being done digitally. In many areas, your agent or loan officer can set up an account where you can upload all of the required documents and sign electronically right from your computer.

4. Sending Money – Whether you need to pay for an appraisal or submit closing costs, there are options available. Depending on the transaction and local regulations, you may be able to pay by credit card, and most banks will also allow you to wire funds from your account. Sometimes you can send a check by mail, and in some states, a mobile escrow agent will pick up a check from your home.

5. Closing Process – Again, depending on your area, a mobile notary may be able to bring the required documents to your home before the closing. If your state requires an attorney to be present, check with your legal counsel to see what options are available. Also, depending on the title company, some are allowing drive-thru closings, which is similar to doing a transaction at a bank window.

Although these virtual processes are starting to become more widely accepted, it does not mean that this is the way things are going to get done from now on. Under the current circumstances, however, technology is making it possible to continue much of the real estate transaction today.

So, the real estate process must go on. If you need to move today, technology can help make it happen; there are options available. Let’s touch base today to discuss your situation and our local regulations, so you don’t have to put your real estate plans on hold.

Find a Real Estate Expert

Look for an agent who specializes in the type of community or properties you are interested in purchasing. If you are considering a Southwest Florida Golf Community, there are more than 150 golf course communities to chose from. How do you know which one is right for you and your family?  Find a specialist who has the knowledge and experience about golf community real estate to help you navigate the various clubs, courses, membership options, amenities and location that will best match your lifestyles.

“Luxury Lifestyle” has different meanings for different people. What does it mean to you? Golf course communities in our area have enhanced their amenities to provide members with the ultimate luxury experience. From wellness centers to pickleball and everything in between. We will help you identify the best communities to visit.

View Testimonials…

Ready to Start Your Naples Property Search

If you’re thinking of buying or selling this year, you need an agent who can help you:

• Make sense of this rapidly evolving housing market
• Navigate everything from virtual showings to new online marketing strategies
• Price your home correctly at the beginning of the selling process
• Determine what to offer on your dream home without paying too much or offending the seller

Dave Ramsey, a financial guru, advises:

“When getting help with money, whether it’s insurance, real estate or investments, you should always look for someone with the heart of a teacher, not the heart of a salesman.”

Hiring an agent who has a finger on the pulse of the current market will make your buying or selling experience so much easier.

So, how do you identify who truly understands what’s happening right now? How do you know who will take the time to simply and effectively explain what today’s market conditions mean to you and your family?

Check out the agent on social media

What are they posting on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and more? Are they using their social media platforms to share relevant, helpful information, or are they just posting memes and recipes? The best agents are committed to educating the consumer so they can feel confident when buying or selling a home.

So, what agents are posting online will help you determine who meets the criteria Dave Ramsey suggested you look for: someone with the heart of a teacher. Let’s connect today, so you can work with a true trusted real estate professional.

Find a Real Estate Expert

Look for an agent who specializes in the type of community or properties you are interested in purchasing. If you are considering a Southwest Florida Golf Community, there are more than 150 golf course communities to chose from. How do you know which one is right for you and your family?  Find a specialist who has the knowledge and experience about golf community real estate to help you navigate the various clubs, courses, membership options, amenities and location that will best match your lifestyles.

“Luxury Lifestyle” has different meanings for different people. What does it mean to you? Golf course communities in our area have enhanced their amenities to provide members with the ultimate luxury experience. From wellness centers to pickleball and everything in between. We will help you identify the best communities to visit.

View Testimonials…

Begin Your Naples Property Search