“Commercial clients in mid-size and smaller markets have for the most part been ignored and highly underserved by the larger urban focused commercial real estate companies,” said Michael Krieg, a UC Commercial broker based in Colorado. “These are specialized transactions to deal with and our team realizes that we needed an avenue to better serve commercial clients in rural America. It is a very valuable expertise and program in the markets we serve.”

If you’re ready to invest, United Country Commercial experts are giving advice to those ready to buy.

Do your research.

Before starting the process, do your research. What are your motivations for investing? What type of property are you looking for? What does the market look like? What is the income potential?

Have your financing in order.

When you buy a home, you know you need money for a down payment, closing costs, home inspection and appraisal among other things. With commercial property, you’ll need money for those things plus things like licensing, franchise agreements, litigation and other important business or financial matters. The right real estate agent should be able to help with these items.

Get an experienced commercial agent.

Speaking of getting the right agent, commercial contracts can be complicated so you’ll want to find an agent who is dedicated to commercial properties and can walk you through zoning, deeds and titles, property value and market information.

Learn more about buying and selling commercial real estate and how UC Commercial Properties agents can help at www.UCCommercial.com, where you’ll also be able to find a list of available properties nationwide.

Despite all of the recent activity and communication around the COVID 19 virus and regulations imposed that have slowed the economy, the online auction industry appears to not only be weathering the storm, but thriving in these changing times.

Initial reports inside the auction industry may indicate a noticeable increase in bidder registrations and active participation with online auction bidding platforms. Recently, online (internet) auction software providers have witnessed increased traffic to their bidding platforms over the past couple of months which follows the same timeline of the social distancing restrictions set in place due to the COVID 19 virus concerns. Coincidence? Or is this an indication that consumers are spending more time on the internet which creates higher exposure to internet auctions.

Whatever the cause, auction companies are having a mixed response regarding the impact that social distancing has had on their auction business. Those reports appear to primarily hinge on what type of property is being auctioned. Several auction companies that operate in the non-urban (rural) real estate sector recently disclosed they are seeing very strong success with rural and lifestyle real estate like farms, country homes and remote properties.  United Country Real Estate, the nation’s largest rural and lifestyle real estate and auction company recently reported dramatic increases during the first quarter (2020) in land sales with a 50 percent increase in auction units (number of auctions held), and over 40 percent increase for the amount of acres sold at auction when compared to the same time last year.

Other auction categories that have received a lot of attention and online participation are farm equipment, heavy equipment, guns & firearms, collectible coins and antiques. While these markets are experiencing increased interest from a buying audience that may currently be trapped at home with more than normal idle time on their hands, there are a few others that have reported their auction sales have decreased significantly. For example, a recent article by ArtNet News on April 30^th reports that high-end art markets have declined by as much as 76 percent, however they went on to say that demand remained steady for lower priced items in the art category.

As the U.S. continues to navigate the Coronavirus disruption, many auction companies anticipate the need for non-contact or minimal contact transactions will grow. Online auctions can fill this need by applying the competitive bidding process to expose property (real and personal) to the marketplace in a timed auction event, followed by electronic payment methods and scheduled pickup and delivery.

Pay Off Existing Debt.

In order to get a good mortgage rate on your loan, you’ll obviously need a good credit score. If your score is below 700, it might be time to start paying off existing debts to give your credit a boost before applying for a loan.

Make Home Improvements.

To get your home ready to sell, you might have to make improvements like replacing carpet, updating your bathroom or kitchen or repainting the walls. This will not only increase the appeal, but it can also increase your home’s value.

Make a Down Payment.

You’ll want to put down as much as you can when purchasing a property. Most loans require a 20 percent down payment, but there are loans available that require as little as three percent.

Pay the Appraiser and Inspector.

When you put in an offer on your dream home, you’ll want to get the home inspected and appraised before you close to make sure the home was priced fairly and to assess the risk of your investment. Most lenders require an appraisal in order to get approved for a loan. Expect to pay between $400-$600 for an appraisal and $250-$400 for an inspection.

Use it for Closing Costs.

Closing costs are lender and third-party fees paid at the end of a real estate transaction. Closing costs for a home typically run between two and five percent of the total cost of the home. The buyer will normally pay for these costs, but you can also negotiate with the seller to pay half or even the full amount in some cases.

If you need help navigating the buying or selling process, contact one of our expert real estate professionals at United Country Real Estate. We have thousands of agents nationwide ready to assist. Visit www.UnitedCountry.com to find an office near you.

With the call for “social distancing,” living in the country provides just that and people are noticing. The Los Angeles Times recently reported many Californians are migrating to the deserts and mountains to prevent being exposed to any health hazards or toxins. The facts highlight the benefits of country living. It offers a peaceful lifestyle and can reduce your stress level by double digits. The risk for anxiety is 21 percent lower and mood disorders are 39 percent lower in rural areas compared to their urban counterparts. Ridding yourself from other stressors found in the city like pollution, traffic, noise, congestion and more can increase your mood and reduce depression. These all have a very positive impact on your overall well-being, health and your immune system.

With the grocery store shelves bare across the nation, having your own supply of food readily available is more beneficial than ever. That’s where having a property in the country can help. Those with more land in rural areas have their gardens, greenhouses and hunted game for fresh food at all times. If you’re a survivalist or just desire to live “off-the-grid,” the country is where you can find properties that are self-sustainable. In addition to food sources, some “survival properties” have innovative off-grid power sources like solar, wind, battery and self-contained fuel to allow you to live on your own for months at a time.

If you’re looking for the benefits of a country lifestyle or just a weekend get away from the crowds and stress of urban living, United Country Real Estate agents, brokers and auctioneers can help you find your dream property in the country, rural areas, small cities and mid-sized towns across the nation. To “Find Your Freedom^©” call 800-444-5044 or visit the United Country website at UnitedCountry.com where you can find properties by property type, location, acreage or keyword(s).

• Leverage video conferencing (like Zoom, etc..) to enhance company, team and client meetings
• Review and measure business plan (company/personal) as we close Q1
• Watch training videos or listen to podcasts
• Use your phone to reconnect to network, friends and family
• Read self-improvement, business strategy or management books – we highly recommend:
  • Zero to One
  • Good to Great
  • The Infinity Game
  • Sapiens
  • Who Moved My Cheese (short)
  • Who Will Do What By When (short).
• Inventory your worthy rivals (aka “competitors”) and note five observations about each.
  • What are they doing well?
  • Ask how are you different / better
  • What can you do to communicate your difference in your marketing and collateral material
• Update your personal and office business website
  • Biography
  • SEO keywords
  • Headshots
• Update all of your listings in Bullseye with a focus on writing proper SEO terminology, embedded links, edit images, etc.
• Clean up and build your contact database
• Review and update all of your marketing material, listing presentation, leave behinds, websites, etc.
• Call five people that you would like to have in your netwo
• Create hand-written notes and/or letters and send to clients, prospects, sphere of influence, etc.
• Do a deep dive review on one new partner offering a day.
• Beef up your digital marketing strategies, like social media, that you can do directly from your phone or home computer.
• Eat well and get some exercise!

United Country Real Estate is the leading network of conventional and auction real estate professionals nationwide. If you’re a real estate agent, broker or auctioneer who would like to sell the types of properties you love like ranch land, farms, hunting property, waterfront property and more, visit www.GrowwithUC.com to learn more.

With home prices high and interest rates low, now is the prime time for sellers to maximize the amount of money a home or property they receive. This coupled with very strong buyer demand makes the timing ideal. Any property on the market will sell fast and at a strong price. There’s just one catch.

“It’s somewhat of a catch-22,” said Mike Duffy, United Country Real Estate president. “Now this successful seller must find a new place to live and listing options are limited. The trick is finding a more favorable area to move to with a bigger supply of homes available. It might take some work, but it will be well worth the effort to capture the current price premiums available to sellers right now.”

The places Duffy is talking about are places in rural America, the towns and smaller cities outside of major metropolitan areas. Those markets are growing, have a lower cost of living and could have a larger supply of listings available. Those areas are also a great idea for those looking for a change.

“The prices and available properties in these outer markets are much better and a smart consideration for someone willing to commute or working remotely, ready for a lifestyle or career change or retiring to a more peaceful life,” said Duffy. “You end up with a very nice property for 20-50 percent less per square foot and, if you are downsizing, you could own more land or save profits from the sale from your more expensive home in the city.”

Overall, with the economy still booming and mortgage interest rates at an all-time low, Chief Economist for Freddie Mac, Sam Khater, said in a recent article that we have steady job growth, good wage growth, a flat rate environment and will have less broker competition that will make 2020 a great year for home buyers.

United Country Real Estate specializes in real estate in small cities, towns and rural areas across the United States. If you’re looking for a home in the country, hunting property, farmland, a mountain home or vacation property, visit www.UnitedCountry.com.

UC Ranch Properties is an enhanced platform for selling premier ranches. The brokers and agents involved must meet specific and demanding qualifications on ranch property experience, knowledge and results to guarantee unmatched service and consultation. The UC Ranch Property team offers extensive expertise in ranch management, land use issues, agricultural production, real estate and property law, water and resource management, ranch construction, restoration, wildlife habitat and more. This group of experts offer the most extensive marketing and advertising for premier ranches and the UCRanchProperties.com website also provides the largest private selection of premier ranches for sale nationwide.

If you’re looking for luxury ranchland, a cattle ranch, recreational ranch or hunting ranch, our experts offer some advice.

“Once you’re ready to buy, make sure you choose an agent who is experienced in the type of ranch you want,” said Ted Harvey, experienced United Country ranch broker in Wyoming. “A lot of people tend to choose an agent for the wrong reasons. Like it’s your brother or friend, but if they don’t know the ins and outs of ranchland, it could hurt you in the long run.”

Many ranch experts also say that land is always a good investment. Land investments are generally safer and appreciate more long-term as opposed to the stock market. However, if you’re at the point of retirement or just ready to sell your current operation, make sure you’re doing it the right way.

“If you’re selling, make sure you price your property correctly from the beginning instead of chasing the market later. The buyers out there are savvy so it’s better to be competitive than overpriced,” said Dustin Ray, United Country ranch expert in Texas.

“Set realistic expectations of the process,” adds Harvey. “The average time it takes to sell from beginning to close is around 18 months. But as always, hire the right agent who really understands ranch land and can guide you through the process.”

If you’re ready to buy or sell your premier ranch and want marketing power, local and national representation and the support of hundreds of highly experienced and talented ranchland professionals, contact an agent with UC Ranch Properties today. You can view all the available listings and find someone near you by visiting www.UCRanchProperties.com.

Depending on the look and stabilization you’re looking for, there are different options for roofing you should take into consideration. Price is another factor to look into depending on your budget. Here are some options for you to consider.

Asphalt

Asphalt shingles are the least expensive and the most popular. They have a long life of up to 30 years and you can get them in a variety of colors. You can also save by installing the shingles yourself as it’s fairly simple to do. The downfall of asphalt? If you want a unique look to your home, asphalt doesn’t really stand out. There are also a variety of factors that negatively affect the life span like hot climates, drastic temperature/weather changes or a poorly ventilated attic.

Metal

Metal is the most durable of all other roofing options. Many farms are built with metal roofing and are still going strong nearly 100 years later. Other perks include: visually appealing, chic designs, it helps control energy costs by reflecting solar heat, it has a higher fire rating for safety and is better for the environment since many are used from recycled material. That being said, keep in mind that metal roofing can be a little noisy when it rains.

Wood

Perhaps the most attractive roofing option due to the smooth and unique look, wood shingles are naturally resistant to insects and moisture, have a long life span (longer than asphalt), and they offer great insulation. However, wood can be high maintenance, expensive to repair and can fade over time if not properly maintained. If you live in an area prone to forest fires, you’ll want to skip this material.

Asphalt, metal and wood are three of the most commonly used materials for roofing, but there are many other options if you’re looking for something different like vinyl, clay and concrete tiles, and solar tiles. It’s important to look into every option before making your decision.

If you’re looking to sell your home, get an estimate on your home’s value, or  buy your next property, visit www.UnitedCountry.com. United Country Real Estate has thousands of qualified and experienced professionals ready to help you find what you’re looking for and to get you the best value for your property.

Sources:

https://www.homeadvisor.com/r/add-value-with-new-roof/

https://www.roofingcalc.com/best-roofing-materials/

Here is a short guide to help you navigate what you’ll need to do financially in order to purchase your next property.

Build up your credit score.

If you don’t have a good credit score (700 or above), it could take years to build it up to a place that will help you get approved for a good mortgage rate. If you’re buying a home with a spouse or partner, your lender will probably consider both of your credit scores. The best way to build your credit is to pay down your credit card balances and avoid applying for new credit like a loan or another credit card. You’ll also want to use a free credit report monitoring service like Credit Karma that can help you keep track of your credit and offer you other recommendations.

Determine a budget.

Even though it would be nice to just look at million-dollar homes and think we can buy them, most of us can’t afford that kind of luxury living. Determine your budget for the property you want to purchase. How much do you bring home each month? Your mortgage payment shouldn’t be more than 30 percent of your total monthly income in order to keep you financially sound.

Save for a down payment.

After you’ve determined your budget and started working on your credit, the next step would be to start saving for a down payment. Lenders typically want between a three to 20 percent down payment of the purchase price. For example, if you’re thinking about a $200,000 home, expect to pay between $6,000 and $40,000 upfront depending on the loan. You’ll also need some extra money to pay for an appraisal, an inspection and closing costs. If you’re one of the lucky ones, many people choose to save their tax returns to help with these costs.

Once you’ve accomplished these three tasks, you’ll want to continue to educate yourself on mortgage options and also find an experienced real estate agent to help guide you through the process. Contact United Country Real Estate if you’d like to find a qualified agent near you to help you get started. Learn more at www.UnitedCountry.com.

Additional Sources:

https://www.moneyunder30.com/buying-your-first-home

http://www.plannersearch.org/assets/brochures/fpa_home%20of%20your%20own_web_0603151.pdf

If the auction method is for you, here are 10 terms we think you should know now.

1. Absolute auction – An auction where the property is sold to the highest qualified bidder with no limiting conditions or amount. The seller may not bid personally or through an agent. Also known as an auction without reserve.
2. Auctioneer –The agent of the seller who, for a fee, conducts the auction, recognizing the bidders and acknowledging the highest bidder, who becomes the buyer.  In many states and communities, auctioneers must be licensed and bonded.
3. Bid – A prospective buyer’s indication or offer of a price he or she will pay to purchase property at auction. Bids are usually in standardized increments established by the auctioneer
4. Buyer’s Premium– An advertised percentage of the high bid or flat fee added to the high bid to determine the total contract price to be paid by the buyer.
5. Multi-property auction – An auction event in which a group of properties offered through a common promotional campaign. The properties to be auctioned may be owned by one seller or multiple sellers.
6. Multi-parcel auction (“MultiPar”) – An auction method used when a property can be purchased in parts (eg: tracts or units) or as a whole. Bidding is offered on each part, combinations of parts, and the whole property. Bidders have the ultimate flexibility in what they want to buy as the auction concludes only when bidding subsides on all possible combinations. Whichever combinations produced the highest bid (or group of bids) will be the way the property is declared sold.
7. Property Information Package (PIP) – The package of information and instructions pertaining to the property to be sold at an auction obtained by prospective bidders at an auction. Sometimes called a bidder packet or due diligence package.

8. Reserve Auction –The minimum price that a seller is willing to accept for a property sold at auction.  Usually not disclosed. If the high bid falls above the reserve, the auctioneer has the authority to declare the property sold. If the high bid falls below the reserve, the seller reserves the right to accept or reject it.
9. Ringmen – Individuals who are positioned throughout the attendees at the auction to assist the auctioneer, spot bidders and assist prospective bidders with information to help them in their buying decision. Also known as bid assistants, bid consultants, bid spotters, or groundsmen
10. Terms & Conditions – The legal terms that govern the conduct of an auction, including acceptable methods of payment, terms, buyer’s premiums, possession, reserves and any other limiting factors of an auction. Usually included in published advertisements or announced by the auctioneer prior to the start of the auction.

If you’re ready to get started and sell your property, or if you’re a buyer thinking about purchasing real estate or property from an auction, contact our auction division, United Country Auction Services, where we have professional staff who can answer all of your questions.