Category: Sellers

Happy Clients Realty Group - Ali Palacios > Sellers

For sale by owner

Posted on by Ali Palacios - Broker

Since you are selling your home by owner, you’re probably getting swamped by calls, letters, and even some knocks on your door.

But, does it seem like most of them are from real estate agents?

Unfortunately, that’s the way it goes for many people who try to sell on their own.

Also, most of the agents you hear from are trying to convince you…

  • To list with them
  • That you’re going to lose money
  • That they can get you more money
  • That they can sell it quickly
  • Yada, yada, yada…

I’m not touching base to say any of that. In fact, I wish you the best of luck!

The reason I am reaching out is to see if you’re looking to buy a house.

If you are, I would love the chance to work with you on your purchase.

I understand trying to save money when you’re selling a house. I truly do. But on your purchase, the cost of a buyer’s agent is part of the price you’re paying for the house. So, you might as well work with an agent…and the best one you can find, at that.

So, I’d love to chat or meet and give you a feel for why I am the best one for the job.

Just give me a ring. I’m looking forward to hearing from you!

P.S.: Would you like a free estimated market analysis on your home and comps. Now, keep in mind, it is an estimate since I’ve never toured your home to get a true insight. This will be a little more insightful than a “Zestimate” however, those buggers can be pretty off the track sometime. I’ve also attached a disclosure form. You’re going to need one of these to keep you protected after a sale, to ensure the buyer doesn’t come back and try to say you hid anything.

You will also find a FSBO guide. I hope you find it helpful

seller disclosures – FSBO

The Ultimate Guide for FSBOs

Have you ever thought about a career in real estate?

Posted on by Ali Palacios - Broker

Have you ever thought about a career in real estate? Would you like to chat about the possibility?

I won’t say it’s easy but it will give you work/life balance if done right…”

“The greatest thing about being in real estate is that you decide when, and how much, you work…”

How many times have you heard someone in this business say that you should have, or can have, a nice balance between work and life in this business?! It’s almost like a joke…if only it were actually funny.

I set out to do something about it for myself and other agents. I’d love for you to be one of those agents.

If you’re struggling to find the “life” in work / life balance, I’d love to help you find it.

Can you spare some time soon?

Join our Team!

Posted on by Ali Palacios - Broker

There’s a lot of agents who stay at the same company, year after year, even if they’re unhappy.

Why?!

Because they’re kind’ve stuck! It’s not their fault…

The way things work in this business, once you’ve got your “pipeline” filled, it’s really tough to make a move from one company to another. There’s always a deal or two (or more!) in process, and if the agent tries to move, they often have to leave some (or even all) of their clients, deals, and commissions behind.

That’s a great way for a company to retain their agents…

…but an awful way to retain and maintain happy agents.

Which is why I allow any agent who joins our company to change companies at any time, and take all of their clients with them. We want our agents to be here because they want to be, not because they feel they can’t move. And we constantly strive to keep them happy.

If you feel like you can’t make a smooth move and transition over to another company because your pipeline is filled with business…then I want to meet with you and show you how I can help you unclog that pipeline and get it flowing smoothly over to our company (so you don’t miss a beat or lose a penny).

If you’re totally happy where you are, that’s great. If not, give me a call!

 

Our  VISION 

At Happy Clients Realty Group our goal is to serve each client with utmost professionalism, integrity, and outstanding customer service. Our fiduciary relationship with our clients is the highest priority. We work diligently to help them achieve their dreams. We educate and simplify the many challenges of buying and/or selling a home. We provide consistent communication and prompt follow-thru from the beginning of the transaction to the end, and beyond. We utilize our outstanding negotiating skills and vast knowledge of the Houston metro area to the benefit of our clients. We are a team of talented professionals devoted to clients.

What’s Included in the Sales of a House?

Posted on by Ali Palacios - Broker

Did you ever wonder is that beautiful chandelier in the foyer is included in the sale of the property? What about the beautiful potted plants that accent the garden?

Contracts commonly used in Texas home sales state that the house, fixtures, improvements, and accessories are part of the sale. Here are examples of what stays and goes

Vocabulary: Agency & Agency Relationships

Posted on by Ali Palacios - Broker

The term “agency” is used in real estate to help determine what legal responsibilities your real estate professional owes to you and other parties in the transaction.

The seller’s representative (also known as a listing agent or seller’s agent) is hired by and represents the seller. All fiduciary duties are owed to the seller, meaning this person’s job is to get the best price and terms for the seller. The agency relationship usually is created by a signed listing contract.

The buyer’s representative (also known as a buyer’s agent) is hired by prospective buyers to and works in the buyer’s best interest throughout the transaction. The buyer can pay the agent directly through a negotiated fee, or the buyer’s rep may be paid by the seller or through a commission split with the seller’s agent.

A subagent owes the same fiduciary duties to the agent’s customer as the agent does. Subagency usually arises when a cooperating sales associate from another brokerage, who is not the buyer’s agent, shows property to a buyer. The subagent works with the buyer to show the property but owes fiduciary duties to the listing broker and the seller. Although a subagent cannot assist the buyer in any way that would be detrimental to the seller, a buyer customer can expect to be treated honestly by the subagent.

A disclosed dual agent represents both the buyer and the seller in the same real estate transaction. In such relationships, dual agents owe limited fiduciary duties to both buyer and seller clients. Because of the potential for conflicts of interest in a dual-agency relationship, all parties must give their informed consent. Disclosed dual agency is legal in most states, but often requires written consent from all parties.

Designated agents (also called appointed agents) are chosen by a managing broker to act as an exclusive agent of the seller or buyer. This allows the brokerage to avoid problems arising from dual-agency relationships for licensees at the brokerage. The designated agents give their clients full representation, with all of the attendant fiduciary duties.

A transaction broker (sometimes referred to as a facilitator) is permitted in states where nonagency relationships are allowed. These relationships vary considerably from state to state. Generally, the duties owed to the consumer in a nonagency relationship are less than the complete, traditional fiduciary duties of an agency relationship.

Source: Realtor.com

Texas Real Estate Commission Consumer Protection Notice Texas Real Estate Commission Consumer Protection Notice

I moved

Posted on by Ali Palacios - Broker

I moved.

But, not to a new house. I moved to a new company. My own company. 🙂

I’m now an independent broker with Happy Clients Realty Group.

Not that the brand an agent/broker works at is entirely important for you. The brand that really matters is the agent/broker. It’s your real estate agent who’s ultimately responsible for providing you the best results and quality service.

As usual you can and should call me. Anytime. For any real estate need or question.

Here are some things that might come up. If you want more insight on any of these, give me a ring, or reply to this e-mail, and I’m happy to get into more detail with you.

1. You just want to go see a house that is on the market…

(Yes, even if you aren’t serious about buying it. I won’t be pushing you to buy the house. I will be protecting you from making any regrettable decisions. Unfortunately, I hear from people after they got swept up in the moment and bought a house, and they are feeling regret, or have questions about the process or their decision. At that point, I can’t chime in. Because another agent represents them.)

2. You want to know how much your home is worth.

(Yup, I know all about all of those websites that show you the value of your home. And I know how inaccurate they are. Whether you are just curious, are wondering if it makes sense to sell, or need to get a handle on your net worth…just call me. I will give you an accurate value of your home. My pleasure. Not a bother at all.)

3. You are considering a home improvement project.

(Almost any project you choose to do will certainly raise the value of your home. But, will it raise the value more than it cost you? Better to know whether or not it is money worth spending before you even start.)

4. You are thinking of refinancing.

(Being in the business, I get to know who the good lenders are, and who the not-so-good ones are. I hear way too many horror stories from people about the process being horrendous with such-and-such bank. Or that they felt duped because they were quoted one rate, and were ultimately given a higher rate. Just call me, and I’m glad to give you the names of some people I would trust handling your needs.)

5. You don’t even work in my area.

(Even if you live hundreds of miles away, I can help… before you decide to buy or sell a house. I can’t chime in once you are represented by an agent. But if you call me before, I can remain involved and add my two cents, as long as I have referred you to the agent you use. And I can really help find you a great agent in your area. It’s not always the one with all the signs and sales! Let me do some digging before you just hire anyone.)

————-

Like I said, this is not a thorough list. I just wanted to give you a sense of some things you may not have wanted to “bother” me with, that I would never consider to be bothersome.

I’m excited about starting my own company and I wanted to share! Thanks to all of you for all of the encouragement and support you have already sent my way. It is much appreciated.

I hope all is well with you!

Ali Palacios, GRI, ABR, MCNE, TAHS, ASPRE, HARRL, CSMS
Broker
Happy Clients Realty Group
ali@happyclientsrealtygroup.com
Mobile – 832-418-0670
www.ilovehappyclients.com

P.S. Please make sure to make note of my new contact info!

Concerned about mortgage rates going up?

Posted on by Ali Palacios - Broker

You might have heard that mortgage interest rates are going up.

Most of the time, the question is asked by people who are thinking of buying a home. It makes total sense that they would be concerned about whether the rates are going up or not.

But what most people don’t consider is the effect it can have on someone considering selling their home.

Before we go further…

Whether or not interest rates are going to rise is kind of a constant topic in real estate. They go up, and they go down constantly. But not by all that much usually. But the buzz lately is whether they are about to go up considerably.

The fact is, rates have been historically low for so long now. And at some point, yes, they probably will go up a good amount. With that said, people have been expecting it to happen for years.

So, the only real answer to whether rates are going up is… maybe… maybe not. Only time will definitely tell.

But the concern is valid. Yes, for buyers. But also for sellers…

Because:

  • It could lower the amount buyers are willing to pay for houses.
  • It could lower the amount buyers are able to pay for a house.
  • It could slow the market down…buyers could decide to stop buying as readily.
  • It could knock buyers completely out of the market.
  • It could affect you as a buyer once you sell your home and purchase your move-up, or downsize home.

This is not to say that you should base your decision to sell your home solely on the possibility of interest rates going up. There is certainly more to consider.

But if you’ve been considering selling, and you have been concerned with the chatter about interest rates, let’s just talk.

These are general thoughts…

Everyone’s situation is different. Maybe interest rates going up would affect you…but maybe not.

Feel free to give me a call, or simply reply to this e-mail.

Would you please bother me?

Posted on by Ali Palacios - Broker

“I didn’t want to bother you. I know how busy you are…”

I hear that from past clients, friends, and even family, all the time.

But, at that point, it’s too late. And I’m not talking about it being too late for me to make money…

I’m talking about mistakes having been made, and regrets seeping in. And, at that point, there is nothing I can do to help.

So, it just occured to me that it would probably help if I just reached out to you, to let you know that you can and should call me. Anytime. For any real estate need or question. Before you find yourself in the same position as some other folks.

I know how busy you are, so I won’t go into every detail, of every scenario I’ve seen happen in this e-mail.

Here’s a short list, just to give you an idea…

But please, if you want more insight on any of these, give me a ring, or reply to this e-mail, and I’m happy to get into more detail with you.

1. You just want to go see a house that is on the market…

(Yes, even if you aren’t serious about buying it. I won’t be pushing you to buy the house. I will be protecting you from making any regrettable decisions. Unfortunately, I hear from people after they got swept up in the moment and bought a house, and they are feeling regret, or have questions about the process or their decision. At that point, I can’t chime in. Because another agent represents them.)

2. You want to know how much your home is worth.

(Yup, I know all about all of those websites that show you the value of your home. And I know how inaccurate they are. Whether you are just curious, are wondering if it makes sense to sell, or need to get a handle on your net worth…just call me. I will give you an accurate value of your home. My pleasure. Not a bother at all.)

3. You are considering a home improvement project.

(Almost any project you choose to do will certainly raise the value of your home. But, will it raise the value more than it cost you? Better to know whether or not it is money worth spending before you even start.)

4. You are thinking of refinancing.

(Being in the business, I get to know who the good lenders are, and who the not-so-good ones are. I hear way too many horror stories from people about the process being horrendous with such-and-such bank. Or that they felt duped because they were quoted one rate, and were ultimately given a higher rate. Just call me, and I’m glad to give you the names of some people I would trust handling your needs.)

5. You don’t even work in my area.

(Even if you live hundreds of miles away, I can help… before you decide to buy or sell a house. I can’t chime in once you are represented by an agent. But if you call me before, I can remain involved and add my two cents, as long as I have referred you to the agent you use. And I can really help find you a great agent in your area. It’s not always the one with all the signs and sales! Let me do some digging before you just hire anyone.)

————-

Like I said, this is not a thorough list. I just wanted to give you a sense of some things you may not have wanted to “bother” me with, that I would never consider to be bothersome.

So, would you please “bother” me? It will only bother me if you don’t!

Avoid These Mistakes Before Your Closing Day

Posted on by Ali Palacios - Broker

Don’t let a small mistake ruin your chances to close on your home. Lenders are checking employment and credit up through the day of closing. You spend days going through the finance procedure and you finally received approval for a mortgage loan. It’s time to celebrate, right?

Not yet! Your lender will recheck your credit right before closing. Don’t give them a reason to deny your loan. Nothing is official until everything is signed and funded. Avoid these most common mistakes:

1. Changing jobs

Changing employers could mean delays due to employment and salary verifications or possibly cause your lender to deny your loan. If you can wait, wait. It’s not worth the risk.

2. Making a big purchase

You need new furniture, a new car, a boat etc. Your debt-to-income ratio is an important factor when being considered for a loan. If you add to your debt by making a large purchase, you risk exceeding the ratio that your lender finds acceptable.

3. Opening credit accounts

You might apply for a credit card so you’re ready to buy furniture for your new house. But similar to taking on new debt, applying for a new credit account can harm your mortgage approval. The credit inquiry necessary for the new account will ding your credit score a few points.

 

When in doubt it’s best to consult your lender before making any changes to your finance.

Wire and mail fraud

Posted on by Ali Palacios - Broker

Unfortunately there are scammers everywhere and there are many that involve real estate transactions. Here are a few to avoid:

Wire Fraud

Hacker will send you an email acting as your Realtor® or title company. They will provide wire instructions for your down payment and closing costs. These emails look very real.

The hacker will provide their bank information and the buyer/seller will send the funds to the hacker’s account. A Realtor® (including myself) will never send you wire information.

One of the way to avoid this is by calling the title company and confirming the banking information before you initiate a transfer. Alternatively, you can bring a cashier’s check to the closing.

Get verification of the transfer ASAP. If you suspect a scam, have the  receiving bank freeze any withdrawal attempt of the newly deposited  funds—if you’ve reached the bank in time, that is.

Mail Fraud

You will get lots of mail from different people offering to submit your homestead application or offering you copies of deed or other documents.

Scammers are contacting new home buyers with a seemingly legitimate solicitation offering to send a copy of their property deed and other information for a fee. Those documents are mailed to you free after a sale or transfer. And if you need another copy, you can order one through your county clerk’s office for a few dollars

You might get an offer for a property profile, which comes with information such as transfer histories, property lines, county tax amounts, even the number of rooms … basically everything you need to know about your house.  It’s all information that is either not needed, or already known.

Generally, if you receive a solicitation asking for more money after your closing, it isn’t legitimate. But if you aren’t sure or want more information, contact your county clerk’s office or your real estate agent.