Birmingham Real Estate Podcast

Is It Time for You to Move? Watch for These 3 Signs

Jason@JasonSecor.com (Jason Secor) — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 16:15:00 +0000

There are three key signs you should watch for to know if it’s time for you to move.

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Is it time for you to move? If you’re unsure, here are three signs to look out for. The first is how your home’s space affects you. Maybe you’re feeling a little cramped because your family has gotten bigger or your kids are getting older and space is tighter inside your house than it used to be. Buying a new house can be a great upgrade in terms of space. It’s also possible that you have too much space and you need to downsize so you don’t have as much maintenance to keep up with or utility costs to cover. The second sign it might be time to move is your financial situation has changed. Maybe you’ve gotten enough promotions over the years that you’re ready to upgrade to the home you’ve been dreaming of. You might also be thinking of retiring and how that will affect your financial situation.

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You may either have too much or too little space in your current home.

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Another aspect to think about in terms of your financial situation is the market itself. Many experts (including myself) believe we’re heading toward a market peak, so you might be in position to cash-out a large chunk of equity. The third sign is you want to register your kids into a different school system. We all have different motivations behind which school systems we want our kids in, so if you’re like me and your kids are in their school-age years, this might factor into your decision. If you have any more questions about this topic or you’re still unsure whether it’s time for you to move, don’t hesitate to call or email me anytime. I’d love to speak with you.

Don’t Buy Into Market Misinformation

Jason@JasonSecor.com (Jason Secor) — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 14:49:00 +0000

The information you hear on social media and the news concerning the market might have you feeling scared of the market, but it could be the product of misinformation.

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Right now is a great time to buy and sell in this real estate market, but there are a few myths circulating that would have you think otherwise. Today, I want to address some misinformation you might have heard and you might now believe. I don’t necessarily mean that it’s bad information, but rather information that is communicated in unclear ways that might prevent those who hear it from being well informed about the market.

Despite the hype surrounding rising interest rates, interest rates are still at all-time lows. Rates are 2.5 points below the market average, based on my tracking the figures over the past 20 to 30 years. You can still take advantage of interest rates—there are mortgage rate deals as well as agent-generated deals, where a good agent can negotiate deals for you.

Another type of deal is the market-generated deal, which is what most people sit around waiting for; there’s a fear of entering the marketplace because people believe that the market can only create so many deals.

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Despite the hype surrounding rising interest rates, interest rates are still at all-time lows.

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If you’re planning to buy or sell a home anytime within the next five years, you should jump in right now. The below market interest rates, the potential to maximize the amount of equity you can pull out of your home, and if you have the right agent, they will help create a generated deal and find a property that you can buy which lines up with your goals.

Many people believe that we’re near the crest of a rising market and will soon be headed back down. None of us has a crystal ball to know exactly where we are in terms of the market crest or trough, but most believe we’re somewhere in upper end.

If you’re thinking of selling your home in the near future, feel free to reach out to us for a free, no-obligation consultation. We’d love to dive into the market and talk about how it could benefit you.

4 Tips for First-Time Homebuyers

Jason@JasonSecor.com (Jason Secor) — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 17:47:00 +0000

These four tips can help first-time home buyers purchase their home at the best price and rate possible.

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Today, I have some tips to help first-time homebuyers purchase a home.

Find a great real estate consultant. The way I differentiate between a real estate consultant and an agent is that a consultant will sit down with you and identify your needs and what you’re looking for. An agent, in my mind, is more reactionary; they’ll show you the houses that you ask to see.
Dig into the market conditions. There are many different markets throughout the country. Here in Birmingham, we’re in a low inventory market and interest rates are spiking. The differences between markets will affect the price of the home you’re trying to buy. A great consultant will help you navigate the market conditions and structure the best deal for your situation.

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First-time homebuyers have many different options in today’s market.

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Work to make sure you’re fully pre-approved. This will require working with a lender. Sit down with them and let them coach you through the various financing options that are available in this rising interest rate climate in order to reduce your payment. It could be an interest rate buydown, negotiating with the seller to have them pay closing costs, or possibly having the lender pay some closing costs.
Look at homes that need renovations. Work with your agent and lender to do a 203(k) renovation loan and renovate a house.

First-time homebuyers have many different options in today’s market. Discuss these with your consultant to get the best deal at the best price with the best terms for you and your family’s goals.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. We’d be glad to help you any way we can.

Is Now the Right Time to Buy in Our Market?

Jason@JasonSecor.com (Jason Secor) — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 17:38:00 +0000

Interest rates are on the rise in our market, so if you’re a homebuyer, you should definitely consider buying sooner rather than later.

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How are market conditions and interest rates affecting homebuyers out there?

We’ve talked to a lot of people contemplating buying a home lately, and one of the common trends we’re seeing from homebuyers is wanting to wait 90 or 120 days before entering the market. If you feel the same way, you might want to reevaluate that strategy with a real estate consultant. In the last four months, we’ve seen interest rates go from 4.09% to 4.38%, and all indications are that they will continue to rise over the next 90 days.

Experts at the FMOC expect interest rates to be raised three times in 2018. Historically, interest rates have risen entering the spring markets even without the conditions we’re experiencing right now. Home prices tend to rise as well through this season.

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In the last four months, we’ve seen interest rates go from 4.09% to 4.38%.

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This is why, if you’re thinking about buying a home, meet with a real estate consultant, review your goals, and think about whether now is the time to dive into the market. If you meet with us, we can perhaps create a strategy to purchase a home later in the year all while accomplishing the same goals.

If you’re on the fence, we’d love to give you a free consultation and examine the effects of waiting to enter the market. If you like to sit down with us or you have any other questions about our market, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We look forward to hearing from you.

What to Expect From the 2018 Real Estate Market

Jason@JasonSecor.com (Jason Secor) — Mon, 12 Feb 2018 18:36:00 +0000

How is the Birmingham real estate market? I’ll go over market conditions and what to expect from the 2018 market today.

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Let’s take a look at the state of the market and what those market conditions mean for real estate in 2018.

Inventory reflects the number of homes on the market. Here are the inventory levels for December 31 over the course of the last five years:

2013 - 7,439 homes
2014 - 6,568 homes
2015 - 6,677 homes
2016 - 6,190 homes
2017 - 5,304 homes

As you can see, inventory dropped significantly from December 31, 2016, to December 31, 2017. That means there has been a significant drop in the number of homes available for sale.

If you are a seller, now may be a good time to put your home on the market. Homes are selling quickly if they are priced and positioned properly in the market.

Of those 5,304 homes, 1,000 of them are under contract in some form or fashion.

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Now is a great time to enter the market as a buyer or a seller.

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Another major factor in the real estate market is mortgage rates. Interest rates continue to skyrocket. As rates go up, your buying power goes down. Rates have gone up three-eighths of a point over the last 20 days, which would significantly impact your mortgage payment and your buying power in the real estate market. Check out this attachment for more.

If you are a seller, that means that your buyer pool may be dwindling.

That said, now is a great time to enter the real estate market as a buyer or a seller. If you have any questions, just give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

3 Things You Can Do to Prepare for Your 2018 Home Search

Jason@JasonSecor.com (Jason Secor) — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 19:54:00 +0000

What can you do now to prepare for your 2018 home search? I have three steps to help you be a strong buyer in the new year.

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As we head into the new year, people are talking about resolutions and their future plans. Some of you may be planning on buying your first home or selling your current home to move into a new one.

As we look forward to your 2018 real estate goals, there are a few things you can do now in order to get your home search off to a great start.

1. Get connected with a local lender. They will help you find out what your credit score is and what your buying power will be. They’ll also help you better position yourself in the market and start the pre-approval process. Being pre-approved makes you a strong buyer.

2. Sit down with a real estate consultant who’s going to take the time to identify your needs and match you with the right mortgage consultant. They will make sure that you don’t miss out on any opportunities in the market. It’s a great time to purchase a home. It’s a little busy because of the holidays, but sellers who are on the market now are highly motivated to sell. They are taking advantage of the low inventory to make their house jump out to you, and there are a lot of ways to approach that.

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Don’t do anything that would negatively impact your ability to purchase a home.

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3. Make sure that you don’t do anything to negatively affect your purchasing power, especially during the holidays. Don’t take out new credit lines or new credit cards. Be careful how much you spend on frivolous things, and try not to overspend on gifts. Don’t do anything that would affect your ability to purchase a home.

These three steps will put you in a strong position to purchase a home. If you have any other questions about buying a home in 2018, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Giving Thanks in Light of the Holiday Season

Jason@JasonSecor.com (Jason Secor) — Thu, 07 Dec 2017 19:48:00 +0000

Now that Thanksgiving is over, I thought it would be a good time to talk about what we’re thankful for.

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If you’re anything like me, this past Thanksgiving was an amazing time to slow down and do something we hopefully try to do every day, which is think about the things we’re thankful for.

One of the things I’m thankful for is you, for taking the time to watch our videos. Whether you’re a past client, future client, referral partner, or otherwise, you’re what allows our team to serve our clients at a high level.

We’re thankful for you and the opportunity to be a small part of your life. We hope you had an amazing Thanksgiving, and we hope you have a very merry Christmas.

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We’re thankful for you and the opportunity to be a small part of your life.

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If you have any questions for us or there’s anything we can do to help you, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’d be happy to speak with you.

How to Get Top Dollar in Today’s Seller’s Market

Jason@JasonSecor.com (Jason Secor) — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 20:55:00 +0000

If you want top dollar in today’s seller’s market, price your home according to market conditions.

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Today I’m excited to share with you some advice about how sellers can price their homes properly in a seller’s market.

One of the things we’re seeing in the marketplace today is that it is absolutely a seller’s market.

However, I want to illustrate why I believe that it’s a seller’s market that is kind of being held up on stilts. What I mean by that is that we’re not in a market where you can just throw any price on a house and expect it to sell.

We’re in a market where you’ve got to price your house according to the market conditions. By doing this, you’re increasing the demand for the house. Buyers will want your house because the market is currently low on inventory of houses that are priced correctly, in good condition, and move-in ready. Meeting these criteria will increase the net money in your pocket.

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We’re in a market where you’ve got to price your house according to the market conditions.

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Something we’ve observed in the marketplace is a number of homes that are being priced a little too aggressively. Both Realtors and sellers are thinking the market is a little stronger than it truly is.

What we want for all of our clients is for you to be able to get top dollar for your house in as little time as possible, and for you to put as much money in your pocket as you can. To do that, you need to work with a real estate professional who will sit down, analyze the numbers with you, come to an agreement on what price the market is positioning your home for, and list your home accordingly.

If you have any questions, just reach out to us and let us know what we can do to help you with your situation. If you have a topic that you’d like us to cover, send it to us, and we would love to address it for you.

The Best Way to Win in a Competitive Market

Jason@JasonSecor.com (Jason Secor) — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 17:19:00 +0000

How can you beat out other buyers in a competitive market? Today, I’ve got some key tips that can help.

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How can you beat out other buyers in a competitive market?

Today, I’d like to give you some information on how you can get the edge. What my team and I have found is that many buyers rely on websites like Zillow and Trulia to find their homes.

What I want to tell you now is to avoid making this mistake. Looking on third-party websites is not a good strategy. If you’ve ever found a property online, you may have had the unfortunate experience of calling your agent only to discover that the home has already gone under contract.

My team and I have a different approach. We ask all of our buyers to come in so that we can really dig into what you’re looking for and set you up with a service that we pay for. This service will give you instant access to home listings before most other buyers even become aware of them.

One of the agents on our team recently helped a buyer get under contract before the property they were interested in even hit Zillow. We are able to do this because we have a team of agents who are always looking for properties.

Ultimately, this is the secret to beating out the competition. To win in a competitive market, you have to get to properties before anyone else. You’ll also need to be backed by a team of agents who can help you in the process.

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To win in a competitive market, you have to get to properties first before anyone else.

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If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

4 Urgent Reasons to Put Your Home on the Market in 2017

Jason@JasonSecor.com (Jason Secor) — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 16:11:00 +0000

There are four reasons why now is the perfect time to jump off the fence and put your home on the market.

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If you’ve been thinking about selling your home, now is the time to get off of the fence. There are four reasons why:

1. Mortgage interest rates are rising. Interest rates have been historically low, so we all knew that this was coming. The Fed raised their rates by a quarter of a point, which will affect the mortgage rates. In fact, the Fed is expected to raise rates several more times this year, which will affect the number of buyers who can afford to purchase your home.

2. Inventory is extremely low. Inventory is shrinking, which means you will have less competition and your home will be more valuable.

Thanks to low inventory, your home is worth more money in our current market.

3. Home prices are rising. Buyer demand is incredibly high right now. That combined with low inventory and rising interest rates means that home prices are going up.

4. Consumer confidence is on the rise. Thanks to an improving job market and economy, buyers are more confident about purchasing homes.

So, if you are ready to jump off the fence, now is the time. If you have any other questions about our current market or the home selling process, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

How to Sell Faster and for More Money

Jason@JasonSecor.com (Jason Secor) — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 17:29:00 +0000

We want to help you sell your home faster and for more money in 2017. Here’s how we can help ensure a successful home sale.

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2017 is going to be a great year for real estate, and if you’re thinking about selling, we want to help you sell your home as quickly as possible.

There are a couple key factors in making sure your home gets sold quickly and for top dollar.

The first is pricing. When we price a home, we look at the market data and figure out the range, low, median, and high. We then price the home on the lower end of that spectrum to make sure we don’t end up chasing the market or scare off any potential buyers. This pricing strategy combined with our marketing will likely increase demand and result in a bidding war which will drive up the price.

The second factor that will influence a successful home sale is maintenance. You want to make sure you have all those repairs or upgrades done before you list. Get new paint on the walls, make sure your yard looks great, and complete any other projects that will get your home in tip-top shape.

A staged home sells 88% faster and for 20% more than a non-staged home.

Finally, make sure your home is decluttered and have it staged. One of the biggest complaints we hear from buyers is how much clutter is present during a home showing. So, it’s very important that you have decluttering taken care of. As far as staging goes, a staged home sells 88% faster and for 20% more than a non-staged home on average, so it’s something you definitely want to consider doing.

If you have any further questions about this topic, or if you have any other real estate-related questions, please don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help!

Why Consider Buying Early in 2017?

Jason@JasonSecor.com (Jason Secor) — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 17:36:00 +0000

Buying a home should be on your list of New Year’s resolutions. Here’s why.

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If you haven’t already, you should make buying a home one of your New Year’s resolutions based on what we are seeing in the Birmingham market.

2017 is shaping up to be a great year in real estate. If your goal is to buy a home, you should start the process as soon as possible. We don’t want you to postpone your goals for a few reasons, such as:

Consumer confidence is at an all-time high.
Unemployment is as low as it has been since August 2007.
Most major markets have completely recovered from the mortgage and economic crisis.

It’s a perfect storm for buyers.

Based on this information alone, it’s a great time to buy this year. However, there are two key factors that will make you want to move sooner rather than later:

1. Mortgage interest rates. The Federal Reserve recently upped their base interest rate, and all signs point to even more increases in 2017. When rates go up, it impacts your buying power significantly. We can get you in touch with some great mortgage lenders if you need a recommendation.

2. Inventory. Our supply of homes is getting lower than ever. We are sinking to record lows in desirable markets.

Even with those potential problems, we still think 2017 is a great time to make your resolution of buying a home a reality. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.

Big Opportunities in the 2017 Birmingham Market

Jason@JasonSecor.com (Jason Secor) — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 21:26:00 +0000

The year is almost over, so we're seeing expert predictions for the 2017 real estate market start to pour in. Most of the experts share the same opinion for what the market will look like next year.

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The year is winding down and I'm excited to share our 2017 real estate market forecast with you today.

The market looks like it could be really hot—scorching, you might say!

There's a lot of information going into this prediction from experts who are a lot smarter than I am, like the National Association of Realtors, the Mortgage Bankers Association, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac, to name a few. They're all predicting a hot year for home sales in 2017.

The NAR is predicting that home sales will reach 6 million next year after predicting 5.8 million homes sales this year. Other organizations predict well over 6 million home sales in 2017—that would be a stronger market than we've seen in a long time.

All signs point to a strong, hot market in 2017.

So what's driving this trend?

First, the economy is solid and growing right now. Another big factor is Generation Y (millennials) finally entering the market after putting off homeownership in many cases. They typically buy later in life, but they're getting to the point of being a major driving force in the real estate market. When they drive up home sales, it will be great for the economy.

This will also drive up your home's value. If you're even just thinking about selling your house, be sure to give us a call or send me an email soon. I'd love to talk you through all the opportunities the market will provide in 2017.

How Do You Find the Right Inspector?

Jason@JasonSecor.com (Jason Secor) — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 20:09:00 +0000

You shouldn’t overlook the importance of a home inspector when buying a house. How do you find the right one for you?

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When you hire a home inspector, there are few distinct things you need to know.

First and foremost, the answer to the question “Should we hire a home inspector?” is absolutely yes. You also get to choose the home inspector. We will recommend a list of home inspectors to you if you want, because you need to hire a professional, not your uncle or cousin.

A professional inspector will give you pictures that we can use to negotiate repairs on the house. If we don’t have that official formalized report, it’s much harder to do these negotiations on your behalf.

Not all inspectors are created equal.

So how do you choose an inspector and what questions should you ask? The one you hire will be based on conversations you have and how comfortable you are with them in helping you protect the future of your investment. You want to ask things like whether they actually get up on the roof or if they just take photos. Do they actually go up and find out what’s going on in the attic? Also, ask them how they test things like electrical systems and heating and AC.

Finally, realize that not all home inspectors are created equal. As you talk with them, compare costs to the value they present to you. An inspector may charge less, but they might not get in the attic or up on the roof, for example.

If you need a recommendation for a good inspector or you’re thinking of buying or selling a home in the Birmingham market, give us a call or send us an email. We’d be happy to help you!

Why You Should Never Buy or Sell Without an Agent

Jason@JasonSecor.com (Jason Secor) — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 17:41:00 +0000

Many people who think they don’t need an agent underestimate how complicated a real estate transaction can be. Not only should you hire an agent, you should hire an expert agent.

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You should never buy or sell a home without a real estate agent. I think there are a lot of people out there who get taken advantage of because they are unaware of what can happen during a transaction or because they work with an agent who is not an expert. Some agents are simply inexperienced or only working for the sale. These agents will not look out for your best interests.

There are four things you should look for when hiring a real estate agent:

1. Expertise: Look for someone who knows a lot about the market and will take the time to find out what you’re looking for. A real estate agent should act as your consultant and advisor, not a salesperson. A good agent invests their time in finding the best transaction for you. They are not just trying to sell you a house so they can move on to the next deal.

2. Search power: Real estate agents who treat this as our profession are networking constantly. We talk with sellers and other agents to find out exactly what’s going on in the market. A lot of the time, we even have the ability to match up a buyer and a seller before the seller even puts their house on the market. Not all agents can do that.

Your Realtor should act as your advisor and consultant.

3. Negotiating skills: A lot of Realtors may not be trained in negotiation. On my team, we take negotiating very seriously. In fact, we are all getting certified as negotiation experts so that we can provide extra value to you during your transaction.

4. Connections: We are networking every day to find you the best lenders, home inspectors, pest inspectors, and contractors. No matter what you need for your home, we want to be able to connect you with someone who can take care of you and your property.

Real estate transactions can be complicated, so it’s incredibly important that you find the right agent to work with. Don’t just go in alone. If you have any questions about buying or selling a home, give us a call or send us an email. My team and I would be happy to help you!

Can You Sell a Home During Fall or Winter?

Jason@JasonSecor.com (Jason Secor) — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 16:18:00 +0000

Thinking about selling your home? Contrary to popular belief, fall and winter are actually great times to get top dollar for your home.

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I feel pretty strongly that the fall and winter seasons are actually great times to sell your home.

A lot of people worry that fewer homes sell in the fall and winter than in the spring and summer. While this may be true, the difference is due to the fact that not as many sellers have their homes on the market. If you look at Birmingham historically, it is a minuscule difference.

I was talking with some folks looking to get into the real estate business and I explained to them that homes in Birmingham sell at almost as high a rate in the slowest month as they do during the fastest month. It's only a difference of 50 to 60 houses, which may seem like a lot, but in terms of the 10,000 to 12,000 houses that sell in the Birmingham market each year, it's not that much of a difference.

You'll have less competition and higher demand.

If you sell in the fall or winter, you will have less competition and higher demand from buyers who are looking at homes. There are also a lot of people who are relocating–companies relocate around the first of the year to get people in for the next year.

Also, remember that interest rates are at an all-time low right now. There is no guarantee that they will stay low going into spring, so that buyer that may qualify for your house today may not qualify in a couple months. The demand for your home in the fall and winter will be a lot higher, which will allow you to collect more money for the sale of your house.

If you've been thinking about selling your home, I hope you found this information helpful. If you have any questions for us, don't hesitate to give us a call or send an email. We look forward to talking with you soon.

How to Live in Your Home While You Sell

Jason@JasonSecor.com (Jason Secor) — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 20:51:00 +0000

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I’m excited to give you four great tips today about how to sell your home for top dollar while still living in it. It’s a dilemma many home sellers face, and these four tips will make things a little easier:

1. Start packing. Go ahead and get started. The move is coming eventually, and you might as well be prepared in advance.

2. Get the home squeaky clean. We all love living in our homes, but it can get hard sometimes to keep things squeaky clean. While you’re showing your home, it needs to be squeaky clean to show well and make a good first impression on buyers.

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These four tips will make things a little easier.

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3. Maintain your privacy and safety. It amazes me that people will leave cash, jewelry, and other valuables out when they know that people are going to be walking through the home. Make sure anything that’s valuable or dangerous is put away, locked up, and unavailable for people to see.

4. Clear your schedule. If you are trying to sell your home, you’ve got to make it available for people to see. You also need to be willing to be flexible, on a moment’s notice, to let people check it out.

If you have any questions for us, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.

4 Tips for Adding Value to Your Birmingham Home

Jason@JasonSecor.com (Jason Secor) — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 18:35:00 +0000

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Before you list your home, there are four simple things you can do to add value to your property. First, improve your curb appeal. This is what buyers see when they first look at your home. Pay attention to landscaping. Are there any fresh flowers? Do you need to add rocks to flower beds? Does your front door need to be painted or replaced? Whatever you have to do, make sure the outside of your house looks great in order to capture the buyer’s attention. Next, declutter your home. As homeowners, we collect a ton of stuff over the years. You should get rid of all that extra stuff. Get it out of the house. Throw it away or put it in storage. Once your house is decluttered, it will feel larger.

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Neutral colors appeal to more buyers than bright, bold colors.

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You should also paint the interior of your home. Use light, neutral colors for the walls. Don’t go crazy with bold colors; some people may like them but a lot of people don’t. Going neutral with paint is your best chance at reaching the vast majority of people. Finally, update your faucets and fixtures. They do have a life cycle. One day, silver faucets and fixtures are popular, and before you know it, people are switching those out for bronze fixtures. Updating the fixtures can make you feel like you updated the whole bathroom. If you have any questions about adding value to your property or real estate in general, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Why You Need a Buyer’s Agent in Birmingham

Jason@JasonSecor.com (Jason Secor) — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 21:19:00 +0000

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I started out my real estate career working with buyers. Even today, I still see buyers making the same mistake. They approach the buying process without proper representation. Why is it so important to hire a buyer’s agent in Birmingham?

A buyer’s agent represents you. They don’t have any other interests other than your own. You have to compete with the listing agent, who serves as representation for the sellers.
A buyer’s agent knows what homes are available. They’re familiar with the MLS, especially which homes are newly listed. They interact with a real estate network you wouldn't otherwise have without their help.

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You need someone to help you stay focused!

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A buyer’s agent has connections in the industry. Beyond other agents, they know home inspectors, loan officers, and other professionals involved with the real estate process.
A buyer’s agent helps you stay on track with your goals. There is so much involved with the buying process and it’s easy to lose track of your progress. You need someone to help you stay focused!

These are only four of many reasons why buyer’s agents are crucial in our marketplace. Don’t make the mistake and not hire one!

If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home in the surrounding Birmingham area, give me a call or send me an email. I’d be happy to help you!

What Do Rising Interest Rates Mean for Birmingham Home Sellers?

Jason@JasonSecor.com (Jason Secor) — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 22:13:00 +0000

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Late last year the Fed met and raised interest rates for the first time in years. It was a small increase, but what many people don't understand is that even small interest rate increases have a huge impact on affordability.

We're predicting interest rates to rise slowly over the course of 2016 as the market continues to stabilize. Inventory is down and home values will continue to rise. Additionally, on-the-fence buyers are going to enter the market in order to make a purchase before rates increase significantly.

It all comes down to supply and demand when it comes to the pricing of homes. We already have a low inventory, and we're expecting an influx of buyers trying to avoid high interest rates. This is a perfect storm for sellers in our area; your home's value will likely be at a premium in 2016!

If you have any thoughts of selling your home this year, now is the time to start looking into the process. Give us a call or shoot us an email at any time so we can start talking about how much we can get for your home! We look forward to helping you take advantage of these fabulous conditions soon!

Our 2016 Forecast for Real Estate in Birmingham

Jason@JasonSecor.com (Jason Secor) — Tue, 05 Jan 2016 22:48:00 +0000

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We’re thrilled to discuss the real estate forecast for 2016 today. Although interest rates are increasing, things are looking up. It means the economy is in great shape, especially in the Birmingham area.

That’s also a great indicator for housing prices. Prices will continue to rise this year. Homes that are priced well have a high likelihood of selling quickly. We’re experiencing multiple offer situations more often, which means demand is going up. Now is a great time to buy or sell, as we’re now in a balanced market.

If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home this year, give us a call today! We look forward to answering any of your real estate questions.

Jason Secor Real Estate Advisors Has a New Partner

Jason@JasonSecor.com (Jason Secor) — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 18:19:00 +0000

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We have very exciting news to share with you today! Jason Secor Real Estate Advisors has joined forces with Keller Williams Realty to better serve you! We are going to talk about all the ways we’ll be better able to serve you today.

We are very excited about this move and what it’s going to do to allow us to increase our already high level of service. The addition of a great team of people that are going to help us better deliver a world-class experience to you, our clients.

We are going to be able to help you get your home sold faster, find homes you like with less stress, less inconvenience, quicker, for better prices, and an overall better experience. This move is going to allow us to serve you at a higher level!

If you have any questions, or want to know exactly how this move is going to affect you, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to serving you in 2016!

Don't Forget to Research the Neighborhood that You're Looking to Buy a Home In

Jason@JasonSecor.com (Jason Secor) — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 17:48:00 +0000

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If you're looking to buy a home in a particular neighborhood, it's important to do some research before you buy. Planning ahead is important, and so is making sure that you're going to fit in and appreciate the community that you belong to. This is why I urge you to do some research on the neighborhood that you're planning to buy a home in.

You never want to assume anything, and part of our job here is to drive through communities at different times of the day. We want to make sure that you're buying a home in a quality neighborhood, and we spend a lot of time out in the community. We may be able to tell you some specifics about certain neighborhoods, so please reach out to us.

One other thing that you should consider doing is to call the school boards and make sure that the school you planned on sending your kids to is actually in the right area. You may have moved somewhere specifically for the schools, so this is an important part of the process. Nothing should be left to chance when it comes to the future of your family.

If you have any questions about certain parts of town, please don't hesitate to contact us. We would love to hear from you!

When Is the Best Time to Sell?

Jason@JasonSecor.com (Jason Secor) — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 16:26:00 +0000

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Today I am excited to share with you a piece of wisdom I’ve learned throughout my years in real estate. People think you need to wait until spring to sell, but that is a myth in real estate. So is the myth that the only time you can get top dollar is in the spring. Here’s where that comes from.

It’s true that there are a lot of home buyers out in the market in the spring, looking to purchase homes and move in by the end of summer. However, after extensive market research, we have found that buyers are always buying homes. If you look at the market totals over a 12-month cumulative period, there is minimal decrease in activity month-over-month. It’s usually less than 1% in most months, which turns into maybe 50-70 buyers tops.

In reality, we have had some of our best months during the holidays, because a lot of people are ready to buy at that time. If buyers are out looking at homes during the cold, dark winter months, they are serious and ready to make an offer if the right property comes along.

If you are ready to sell, now is the time to list your home on the market and get top dollar. If you have any questions for us, or want to know more about how you can sell your home for top dollar, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!

Why Should Your Home Be Accessible to Buyers?

Jason@JasonSecor.com (Jason Secor) — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 22:02:00 +0000

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If you are selling your home, one of the most important qualities you can have as a seller is flexibility. Today we’ll talk about why it’s so important to make your home accessible for showings while it’s on the market.

It’s so important to make your home available for showings on a moment’s notice. You have put it on the market at this point, and we are doing everything in our power to get as many buyers as possible through the door, but the number one problem we run into is sellers not making the home available for buyers when they can see it.

I know from experience how stressful it is to sell a home, but to sell effectively in today’s market, you’ve got to be willing to accommodate last-minute showings. It’s a huge risk to turn away even one buyer because they could be the one buyer you are looking for. Not making the home available for showings also frustrates home buyers and their agents.

Besides pricing your home effectively from the get-go, the best piece of advice I can give you about selling your home is to not turn down any showings. You are just looking for that one perfect buyer, and they could come along at any time.

If you have any questions for me or my team, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon!