At Home with Team Gabriel

You’ll find our blog to be a wealth of information, covering everything from local market statistics and home values to community happenings. That’s because we care about the community and want to help you find your place in it. Please reach out if you have any questions at all. We’d love to talk with you!

May 13, 2022

Should You Update Your House Before Selling? Ask a Real Estate Professional

Some Highlights

If you’re deciding whether you should make updates before you sell your house, lean on your trusted real estate advisor to be your guide.

In today’s sellers’ market, buyers have limited options and may be more willing to take on repairs themselves.

If you’re thinking about selling your house, let’s connect so you have expert advice that’s customized to your home and our local area.

Posted in Sellers
May 13, 2022

Give Your Curb Appeal a Boost Before You Sell

 

Some Highlights

If you’re thinking about selling your house this season, focusing on a few quick and easy updates outside can help your home look its best.

78% of real estate agents polled say poor landscaping affects property values. As a seller, that means your yard could impact your bottom line.

When getting your house ready to sell, let’s connect to discuss what you should do to make sure your house shows well and catches the eyes of more potential buyers.

Give us a Call for a FREE NO OBLIGATION Market Analysis of Your Home's Value, Call (860) 618-6233!

Posted in Sellers
May 12, 2022

Things That Could Help You Win a Bidding War on a Home

 

With a limited number of homes for sale today and so many buyers looking to make a purchase before mortgage rates rise further, bidding wars are common. According to the latest report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), nationwide, homes are getting an average of 4.8 offers per sale. Here’s a look at how that breaks down state-by-state (see map below):

The same report from NAR shows the average buyer made two offers before getting their third offer accepted. In this type of competitive housing market, it’s important to know what levers you can pull to help you beat the competition. While a real estate professional is your ultimate guide to presenting a strong offer, here are a few things you could consider.

Offering over Asking Price

When you think of sweetening the deal for sellers, the first thought you likely have is around the price of the home. In today’s housing market, it’s true more homes are selling for over asking price because there are more buyers than there are homes for sale. You just want to make sure your offer is still within your budget and realistic for the market value in your area – that’s where a local real estate professional can help you through the process. Bankrate says:

“Simply put, being willing to pay more money than other buyers is one of the best ways to get your offer accepted. You may not have to increase it by a lot — it’ll depend on the area and other factors — so look to your real estate agent for guidance.”

 

Putting Down a Bigger Earnest Money Deposit

You could also consider putting down a larger deposit up front. An earnest money deposit is a check you write to go along with your offer. If your offer is accepted, this deposit is credited toward your home purchase. NerdWallet explains how it works:

“A typical earnest money deposit is 1% to 2% of the home’s purchase price, but the amount varies by location. A higher earnest money deposit may catch a seller’s attention in a hot housing market.”

 

That’s because it shows the seller you’re seriously interested in their house and have already set aside money that you’re ready to put toward the purchase. Talk to a professional to see if this is something you can do in your area. 

 

Making a Higher Down Payment 

Another option is increasing how much of a down payment you’re going to make. The benefit of a higher down payment is you won’t have to finance as much. This helps the seller feel like there’s less risk of the deal or the financing falling through. And if other buyers put less down, it could be what helps your offer stand out from the crowd.

 

Non-Financial Options To Make a Strong Offer

Realtor.com points out that while increasing these financial portions of the deal can help, they’re not your only options:

“. . . Price is not the only factor sellers weigh when they look at offers. The buyer’s terms and contingencies are also taken into account, as well as pre-approval letters, appraisal requirements, and the closing time the buyer is asking for.”

 

When it’s time to make an offer, partner with a trusted professional. They have insight into what sellers are looking for in your local market and can give you expert advice on what levers you may or may not want to pull when it’s time to write an offer.

 

From a non-financial perspective, this can include things like flexible move-in dates or minimal contingencies (conditions you set that the seller must meet for the purchase to be finalized). For example, you could make an offer that’s not contingent on the sale of your current home. Just remember, there are certain contingencies you don’t want to forego, like your home inspection. Ultimately, the options you have can vary state-to-state, so it’s best to lean on an expert real estate professional for guidance.

In Conclusion 

In today’s hot housing market, you need a partner who can serve as your guide, especially when it comes to making a strong offer. Let’s connect so you have a trusted resource and coach on how to make the strongest offer possible for your specific situation.

Posted in Buyers
May 9, 2022

Myths About Today’s Housing Market

Some Highlights

If you’re planning to buy or sell a home today, it’s important to be aware of common misconceptions.

Whether it’s timing your purchase as a buyer based on home prices and mortgage rates or knowing what to upgrade or repair before listing your house as a seller, it takes a professional to guide you through those decisions.

Let’s connect so you have an expert to help separate fact from fiction in today’s housing market.

May 6, 2022

NEW Listing! 62 Brook Rd, Enfield

May 3, 2022

First Look: 62 Brook Rd, Enfield CT

Posted in First Look
May 2, 2022

A Valuable New Resource For You

Want to sell your home? Get a home value report
Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale

 

I’d like to welcome you to my new video blog.

On my blog, you’ll find tips for both buyers and sellers in the real estate market, as well as updates on what’s happening in our local market. The real estate market affects all of us!

I really want this page to be a valuable resource for you. If you have any questions about our market or about real estate in general, send me an email. Odds are good that if you have a question about a topic, someone else does as well; so, send your questions my way and we’ll make an educational video.

 

Take a look around. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Posted in The Gabriel Team
April 29, 2022

NEW Listing! 17 Chapman Chase

April 29, 2022

NEW Listing! 30 Marjorie Lane

April 26, 2022

Cook Hill Drone Update: 3/23 - 4/12/22