When looking for a new home, many people are tempted to go it alone.  This usually ends up being quite a daunting task, even for the most tenacious and focused homebuyer.  Here are 10 ways that having a Realtor on your side can help:

1. Realtors research desirable neighborhoods and can relay important information to homebuyers such as home values in the area, amount of taxes paid and zoning restrictions.
2. Realtors can help find financing, prequalify you for a loan and can refer you to home inspection companies.
3. With knowledge about the way other homes in the area are selling, a Realtor can help determine a fair buying price.
4. A Realtor can suggest changes to make to the home to make you more comfortable and to make it a better investment, should you need to sell it in the near future.
5. Realtors can handle many of the tedious tasks – such as paperwork – for you, saving you time and energy.
6. A Realtor usually goes to the closing with you, giving you peace of mind that if an issue should come up, it will be taken care of effectively.
7. Realtors must abide by a code of ethics, treating everyone involved in the transaction fairly and equally.
8. A Realtor has the tools and ability to find the best suited home for you in the most affordable price range.
9. Simply put, a Realtor has the professional experience to put in the time and effort and do the job right.
10. A Realtor’s services are usually free to a buyer – commission is normally paid by the seller.

The Importance of Selecting Your Real Estate Agent

~Scott Gordon Realty Inc.

Working with the right Real Estate agent can save you hours of hard work, difficult negotiations and possibly heartbreak. Educated Realtors like those at Scott Gordon Realty and Exclusive Estates assist in the buying process ensuring a smooth transaction by negotiating with the sellers, keeping track of deadlines and due dates. In cases of multiple offers on a home, one missed deadline and your dream home could slip away.

With many years working with buyers and sellers a good Realtor can help point you in the best direction for your home purchase. You may possibly be in need of a single family home for your growing family, a vacation home or a condo to accommodate your busy lifestyle. An educated Realtor knows about local market conditions, neighborhood locations or other specialized factors that are important in the decision making process. A good Realtor takes the time to listen to your needs and adjust the home search accordingly.

One of the first things to consider when searching for a Realtor is the kind of home you are looking for. An agent specializing in acreage and horse farms would probably not be the best suited to help you find your vacation Beachfront home or condo. When searching for your new home or vacation home in Palm Beach County Scott Gordon Realty and Exclusive Estates agents are the best in the industry and have the experience and expertise in Oceanfront and Country Club properties to assure a smooth transaction.

Start your search for an agent utilizing several different routes: ask friends, family or associates for their personal recommendations, talk with the Realtors at well known and respected agencies like Scott Gordon Realty or Exclusive Estates and finally look at what agencies are selling the homes in the niche you’re searching for.

Set up interviews with a few agents, listen to your gut feeling; searching for a home can sometimes be a long process and you want to feel comfortable working with your agent. Avoid high pressure agents, explain what you’re looking for and ask what they feel the best strategy would be. Their concern and dedication to your home search is crucial.

Experience is also important but do not discount a newer agent with a higher level of motivation and commitment. A bonus to using a new excited agent is you can be sure if they don’t know the answer, they will go the extra length to find out.

Look for an agent with a strong team and supportive Broker behind them.  Scott Gordon Realty’s sales team in Manalapan is supported by Broker Scott Gordon. Exclusive Estates managing partner and Realtor Jeffrey Ray supports the Palm Beach office.

Always make sure you’re working with a licensed REALTOR- A realtor is a member of the national association of Realtors (NAR). These agents agree to be held to a higher standard of practice known as the REALTOR Code of Ethics.

Best of Luck in the Search for Your New Home!

You can locate Scott Gordon Realty at

255 S Ocean Blvd * Manalapan, FL 33462 561-533-5888 www.scottgordonrealty.com

According to a recent article, 90% of today’s homebuyers begin their property search on the internet.  They are smart and educated, and are willing to do their own research on a property that interests them long before contacting an agent.

At Scott Gordon Realty and Exclusive Estates, a division of Scott Gordon Realty, we recognize and welcome this trend.  Our recently revamped website contains the most up-to-date listing information, financial tools such as a mortgage calculator and neighborhood and area maps.

We implemented these devices to give today’s web-savvy buyers the resources they need to be well-informed and to have an educated, realistic view of the current market. 

With access available to the world, we also recognize that the internet is a powerful marketing tool.  Our website is linked to a host of search engines and our listings feed from two separate MLS services, effectively providing double the amount of exposure to buyers and brokers.  Our partnership with Realtor.com and the Palm Beach Post Online also allows potential buyers to view our selection of listings at their leisure, whether they are local, out of the state or out of the country.

Today’s Real Estate firm needs to understand today’s technology and how to use it effectively.  At Scott Gordon Realty  we have the skills and the strategy to use that technology to benefit buyers and sellers alike.

Trying to sell a Palm Beach home in today’s real estate market?  Chances are it’s turning out to be a bit more involved than anticipated.  Neighborhood evaluation, staging, competitive pricing, they’re all crucial factors in successfully selling South Florida homes.

Competitive pricing is however something many Palm Beach Florida homeowners are choosing not to do, instead opting to set a fixed price based upon what they believe the property is worth regardless of market conditions when today’s real estate market practically demands that a seller price competitively.

Most, if not all real estate agents will strongly advise a competitive home sale strategy which usually involves cutting down the asking price to match what property values in the neighborhood are worth.  This makes complete sense yet many sellers hire a real estate agent only to disregard this particular advice.  The home’s value speaks for itself and it therefore shall sell at the price the homeowner believes it’s worth.  A few years ago this would’ve been perfectly fine but in a time when buyers and investors are choosy and looking to save money, it may hinder home sale efforts.

The logic is pretty simple.  Why pay $180,000 for the property when the one next door is equally as nice and is being listed for $140,000?  That translates to over $35,000 dollars in savings that remain in the buyer’s pocket instead of the seller’s so why buy the higher priced home?

“Time is money” literally applies to real estate.  Every month that goes by equals less property value, at least in buyer’s eyes.  Existing market conditions mean a foreclosure can now appear at any time in your neighborhood and if that happens, your property will be valued for much less.  So that whole competitive pricing thing?  Take advantage of it.  Why continue to allow the home to lose value when buyers are looking for a good price?

If you happen to be one of those people who are renting a Palm Beach home at the moment instead of investing in the abundant Palm Beach real estate market, many people will tell you that you’re actually making a smarter decision.  After all, why would you want to buy South Florida homes when the market is still vague and there’s no guarantee your home won’t lose any money?

If you are a renter, you’ll be pleased to know more people are doing the same.  In fact, research by the National Association of Realtors shows a considerable surge in renting this year so far.  So obviously renters are making the more intelligent decision by staying away from buying, correct?

Yes and no.  To its significant credit, the relative “commitment free” approach of renting is a huge perk.  Usual requirements when buying a Palm Beach home like insurance and mortgages become a moot point in renting.  In many cases, the responsibilities on a renter’s end are to pay the determined amount every month, the utilities and in some cases fulfill the length of the lease agreement.  Once that agreement ends, they can leave the home knowing they hold no kind of financial or legal responsibility for it.

In contrast, all that rent money that disappears does not goes towards any sort of investment the renter can benefit from, unlike owning a home in which the property itself becomes a financial asset that builds value over a period of time.  And also, that same rent money could have nearly if not completely covered the cost of a down payment on an inexpensive home.

If renting is working splendidly in terms of ensuring a roof over your head, food on the table and money to pay the bills and enjoy life, buying doesn’t make much sense.  Assuming you do have enough money to buy a home, when you’re evaluating the future of your living situation and are looking for something that you’ll eventually be able to sell for more than its original purchase price, buying remains the more lucrative choice.