Selling a home is an emotional process… especially when your home doesn’t sell the first time around. If you’ve had the unfortunate experience of seeing your plans to move fall apart, here’s a little help for getting over the slump and regrouping for the future.  Everyone says selling your home is one of life’s great emotional rollercoasters. From making the leap to moving day, the process is one of surprises, anticipation, and (hopefully) celebration. But what happens if your home doesn’t sell? If your home’s been on the market for the length of your contract with your real estate agent and it hasn’t sold, your home is on its way to becoming “an expired listing.” At this point you have to make a choice whether to continue with your agent, find a new agent, or delay your dreams and take... 09/03/2018

Welcome to the most current Housing Trends eNewsletter. This eNewsletter is specially designed for you, with national and local housing information that you may find useful whether you’re in the market for a home, thinking about selling your home, or just interested in homeowner issues in general. Please click on this link to view the Housing Trends July 2018 Newsletter http://esperanzabutler.housingtrendsenewsletter.com The Housing Trends eNewsletter contains the latest information from the National Association of REALTORS®, the U.S. Census Bureau, Realtor.org reports and other sources. Housing Trends eNewsletter is filled with local and national real estate sales and price activity provided by MLSs and the National Association of Realtors, U.S. Census Bureau key market indicators, con... 07/23/2018

Esperanza's BestRealEstateBlog   Why do you care if your Realtor considers you a good client or not? Because the better client you are, the better results you will have. No, you and your Realtor do not have to be in love with each other, but effort on your part will bring you better results and a more positive transaction. Here are some best practices.1. Be easy to educateMost Realtors are teachers at heart, and the more you can learn, the better prepared you will be. Yes, your friends, family and various websites have lots of good information to give, but nobody has a better "boots-on-the-ground" perspective on your local neighborhood and various current trends than your Realtor. Ask all the questions you like and try to absorb as much info as possible. Yes, there is a lot to learn, bu... 07/18/2018

Esperanza's BestRealEstateBlogWhether you're putting your home on the market or searching for your dream house, a Realtor is going to help you achieve your goal as smoothly and seamlessly as possible. From striking the best deal to simplifying that often-daunting paperwork, these pros truly do and know significantly more than their job title implies. In order to maximize your value and minimize your stress level, your agent must morph into nearly a dozen different roles to get the job done. Let's take a look at some of the other hats your Realtor wears throughout the course of a single transaction.1. Expert photographervia GIPHYWe're all familiar with that expression, "A picture's worth a thousand words," but when it comes to selling houses, a great photo might be worth a thousand walk-... 07/17/2018

Esperanza's BestRalEstateBlogTons of people think the number 13 is unlucky. Some don’t. But pretty much everyone has at least heard that the number 13 is unlucky. With Friday the 13th upon us, I thought it’d be fun and interesting to send along some superstitions we come across in the real estate industry, which you may have never heard about...Lucky numbersReal estate agents sometimes find themselves working with clients who have superstitions based upon lucky (and unlucky) numbers. This is often a cultural superstition. And the lucky or unlucky numbers are different from culture to culture. This can affect whether or not someone will buy a house, if the street address is an unlucky number, or even adds up to an unlucky number. It can also affect the specific dollar amount they will of... 07/12/2018

First Time Home Buyer HOW MUCH YOU CHARGE? I love it when people ask me this, because it makes me sound super nice… You won’t need to whip out your wallet, or a checkbook in order to work with me…ever. You probably wonder how I get paid then…’cause it wouldn’t make sense for me to work for free. I get paid out of the seller’s equity. Not to get too technical, but here’s the basics… The seller pays the company they listed their house with. Part of what they agree to pay them is used to pay the buyer’s agent’s company. Then my company will pay me out of that amount. That doesn’t mean I work for the seller at all! I work for you, and on your behalf. But I’m kinda glad you brought it up. It shows you care about me getting paid. In a nutshell, I don’t get paid until and unless my client buys... 07/12/2018

Esperanza's BestRealEstateBlog  One of the main reasons people aren’t buying homes is they think they can’t afford it—especially the down payment. But, as it turns out, there are plenty of buyers out there who actually can afford to purchase a home, but their misconceptions about affordability are holding them back from making a move. According to a recent survey from lender Laurel Road, 53% of Americans are concerned about their ability to afford a home. But a lot of that concern is because they don’t know what their options are. A solid 58% of Americans surveyed said they planned to put down a 20% payment on a home, but 35% (and 46% of millennials) didn’t think they could afford to save that kind of down payment. But with alternative lending options, you don’t need 20% in order to buy... 07/10/2018

Esperanza's bestrealestateblog.com  Listed here are 184 typical actions, research steps, procedures, processes and review stages in a successful residential real estate transaction that are normally provided by full service real estate brokerages in return for their sales commission. Depending on the transaction, some may take minutes, hours, or even days to complete, while some may not be needed. More importantly, they reflect the level of skill, knowledge and attention to detail required in today’s real estate transaction, underscoring the importance of having help and guidance from someone who fully understands the process – a REALTOR®. Pre-Listing Activities   Make appointment with seller for listing presentation Send seller a written or e-mail confirmation of listing appointment an... 07/09/2018

5 Adjectives You Should Look For In Your Real Estate AgentEsperanza's bestrealestateblog Who you choose to represent you when you buy or sell your home is one of the biggest decisions you'll make during your move. Your real estate agent can make the process easy, quick, and painless - or long, expensive, and painful. Here are 5 adjectives you should for in your real estate agent if you want to get the most out of your sale or purchase:1. TenaciousReal estate is a tough world. There are seemingly endless challenges to navigate: the house you love was snatched up by someone else, someone put a bid in on your home and then pulled out at the last minute, there's issues with the neighbors or zoning or construction. That's why you need a real estate agent who is tenacious, never gives up, and... 07/08/2018

 We can’t help who we fall in love with, and even more frustratingly, who falls in love with us. It’s simply one of life’s mysteries. And we might not know exactly why we fell in love with real estate, but we probably have our suspicions. Here are six reasons why I fell in love with real estate:1. The peopleYou have to enjoy working with people in order to be a successful real estate agent. Coworkers, clients, baristas who recognize you as you bring in a gallon-sized travel mug for your daily caffeine dose — you’re always around people. It would be dishonest to say that it always goes smoothly, but the relationships and interactions are a huge part of the overall experience, and allow you to connect with people in a way you don’t get to in many other careers.2. No two days are ever the ... 07/07/2018

These Trendy “Stock Tank” Pools Are Popping Up In Back Yards Everywhere.Esperanza's bestrealestateblogHow would you like a soaking pool that is big enough to comfortably fit the family, easy to maintain, and costs around $440 to get started?Whether you live in a place like this... Or this, you can't beat a deal like that Stock tank pools are a new trend quickly rising in popularity. You might be thinking, “I don’t know how I’d feel swimming in a cow trough.” But these pools aren’t just inexpensive. They are highly versatile.For instance, this "cow trough" has a salt water filter, a waterfall, and quite the setup for day or night soaking Tractor Company Supply has commented, "More and more, we see our customers turning to this innovative solution as a way to enjoy many of the benefits of... 07/06/2018

When you hire a real estate agent to sell your home, there are obvious things you notice them doing to help your house sell. Things like: hosting open houses, bringing potential buyers on home tours, and marketing your property in multiple ways to make sure it gets enough exposure. But when it comes to adding value to your home sale, that's just the tip of the iceberg. A huge percentage of your agent's job takes place behind-the-scenes, and they're working around the clock to get your house sold — even when you're not looking. Here are 4 behind-the-scenes way your real estate agent is working to get your house sold:1. Performing market research.When it comes to pricing your home, your agent doesn't just pull a random number out of a hat. Your agent's recommendation is a result of extens... 06/18/2018

 Did you know that living next door to someone doesn’t make you a neighbor?. It makes you an adjacent homeowner.  One of the great opportunities we have in our communities is the chance to build real, meaningful relationships with the people who live closest to us. While I understand the desire for privacy, I think it’s important we realize that regular, helpful communication with our neighbors makes us both safer and paves a smooth road for difficult conversations we might face with our neighbors in the future. Small gestures such as a nice note about landscaping, an invitation to a potluck, or an “all hands on deck” community improvement project allow us to get to know our neighbors. This is vital when you consider the people around you are the most likely to spot smoke in a fire, clu... 04/24/2018

via GIPHYFrom leaving the house for showings and open houses to having to keep the place spotless at all times, having a home on the market can be a nerve-wracking endeavor. Once you’ve made the decision to sell, you want to know that you won’t be in this anxiety-filled limbo forever. You want to hand over those keys, collect your check and move on — literally!So, without lowering your asking price, what can you do to sell your home in a hurry? The following are 11 strategies that will help your property sell quickly without your wallet taking a heavy hit. 1. Declutter.Few things detract from the beauty of a home quite like clutter. Though straightening and organizing is rarely the way most homeowners want to spend their days, it makes a huge difference. We're not just talking about scr... 04/23/2018

 How much can you really get for your home? There are many strategies to maximize its value. Staging can dramatically raise the value and certain areas are more important than others.Learn how to neutralize your home to make it more open to viewers, stage each room and what to take out or bring in.  Here's what you will learn in this book...Part 1:How Much Can Staging Really Make You? Using Curb Appeal to Sell Your Home for More Neutralizing Your Home Declutter the Entire House Staging Your Kitchen to Attract More Buyers Staging your bathrooms and getting it ready to show and sell Master Bedroom Staging Part 2:Main Living Room Staging Main Dining Area Staging Furniture Staging Solutions and Options Importance of Good Pictures Repairs or Touch-ups to Improve Value Dealing with Animals or... 04/23/2018

  As a real estate agent, I’m always working on getting people into their houses. Today, I’m just writing to encourage you to get out of your house… …and enjoy Earth Day!  Sunday, April 22nd   Spend some time outside. Enjoy the bigger home that is our planet. Celebrate Earth Day. Celebrate Earth. Take a walk. Take a hike. Hit a park. Ride a bike.   Spend some time with friends or family. Or, spend some time alone.... Even if it’s just in your own backyard. And, if your own backyard just isn’t everything you hope for, and you want to find a home with a better one…remember, I’m always here to help you find your piece of this earth. Enjoy, P.S. Where’s your favorite nook of nature in our area? I always like to find some new places to check out. Earth Day 2018 activities and ideas.   Pleas... 04/20/2018

When a seller prepares to put their home on the market, they have one of two choices: working with a real estate professional to sell their home, or attempting to sell it on their own (aka "FSBO" - for sale by owner). The reason most sellers decide to go the FSBO route is to avoid paying a commission to a real estate agent. But turns out, FSBO doesn't save money at all. In fact, in the end, it may cost you. According to the 2017 National Association of Realtors Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, homes sold using an agent sell for significantly more than FSBOs. In fact, the study found that the median price of a home sold by an agent was $250,000, compared to $190,000 for FSBOs—an astounding $60,000 difference. Will you avoid paying a commission fee if you go the FSBO route? Yes. But if... 04/19/2018

You've received an offer on your home and you're thrilled at the prospect of getting the deal done. But first you need to make it through the next hurdle: the home inspection. In most real estate contracts, a home inspection contingency is in place, allowing the buyer a chance to back out should significant mechanical or structural issues come to light during the inspection. While you may think your home will pass with flying colors, it's at this stage that many deals fall through. With so much at stake, it makes sense that sellers would want to do as much as they can in advance to get their home in the best possible shape before this top-to-bottom review. By addressing any problems, sellers can assure buyers that the property is in move-in condition and save themselves a lot of negotia... 04/18/2018

  Moving into your new, amazing home can be one of the happiest and exciting moments of your life. It is the end of a chapter and the start of a whole new amazing part of your life that you will experience. However, if not done properly, moving houses can also be an endless source of stress and frustration. That is why we are going to focus, below, on all the best, most efficient and clever ways to organize a perfect move, the move that you will later want to remember and refer to.  #1. Best Tips and Tricks for an Easy MovePacking all your belongings in boxes and moving them around can be tough. We've all been there. Chances are we all have had unforgettable moves as well as dreadful moments. First, make a list. Before starting the moving process, stop and give yourself time to imagine ... 04/18/2018

 When you are away from the property and trying to sell it vacant, you have too many challenges in front of you to ensure that the home is projected and showed in good condition to the prospective clients, the maintenance is done from time to time, the safety and security of the property is ensured, all the bills are regularly paid and the buyers are engaged correctly. Market studies show that those houses with enough representations are sold faster for top dollar than those in which marketing agents are not involved. Especially when it comes to selling vacant homes, choosing to sell it yourself is one of the gravest and most expensive mistakes that you can make. Also, know what good real estate agents can do to sell your property so that you will value its importance and hire the right... 04/18/2018