Success is Easy to Recognize, You Just Need to Know What to Look for

There are many great St. Cloud area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (320) 240-3363 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

With so many real estate agents out there, how can you know which ones to trust? What are the true marks of success?

The first thing you should know is that the real estate industry is very easy to get into - to get licensed, it's as simple as taking a few classes and passing a few tests. But a license only tells you the rules and how to follow them, not how to do the business and what it takes to be a successful agent. For instance, there is a 95% turnover every 5 years. The average agent only lasts around 6-18 months and sells only 2-4 homes. As you can see, most agents lack the experience necessary to give you the best possible assistance when buying or selling a home.

In our 39 years in the business, we have sold well over 3,000 homes. We're honored to have loyal customers that either work with us again, or refer us to their friends and family. Our experience has allowed us to single out 3 qualities that effective agents exhibit:

1. Training: Changes in technology, as well as with style and technique, make training crucial. We've been involved in training for 23 years, and talk with a business coach weekly. We also network with the top agents from around the country to stay up-to-date with what's happening in the market, using current techniques, and making sure we're providing quality service and knowledge for you.
2. Consistency: Many people get into the business to be their own boss, to do whatever they want. These are typically the kind of people who don't last long. Because real estate is a sales business, a successful agent is one who is diligent, attentive, and innovative.
3. Past Customer Support: Effective agents have returning customers or past customers who refer them to family and friends. In short, good agents build a relationship with those they work with - they ensure the transaction is mutually beneficial.

Many people don't realized that 70-75% of each year's business is generated by past clients. For example, we are honored to have worked with as many as 15 members of the same family. We have the kind of expertise money can't buy, and are humbled by our past customers for supporting us so graciously. If you want to join our family, or have any questions about the St. Cloud real estate market, give us a call or shoot us an email. We'd love to chat with you.

Things are Heating Up in St. Cloud!

There are many great St. Cloud area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (320) 240-3363 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

 

It's summer time here in St. Cloud and the weather is heating up. Everyone is enjoying their time out on the lake and the beautiful weather has coincidentally been occurring at the same time that we are having wonderful mortgage rates in our area.

We just received the most recent Kiplinger news update and their projection for interest rates are in. They predict that they are going to be rising very soon. They expect long term mortgage rates to rise as high as 5.5% by early next spring!

The exciting news right now is that mortgage rates are currently right around 4 or 4.25% which means low payments for you, it's easy to qualify, and you'll save a tremendous amount of money over the next 10-20 years if you finance soon.

If you have any questions about the Kiplinger update or any questions about the St Cloud real estate market in general, please feel free to give me a call.

St. Cloud Real Estate Market Update Summer 2014

There are many great St. Cloud area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (320) 240-3363 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

I have been getting a lot of questions lately about new homes. Specifically, people want to know when the right time to move into a new home is. To give you the short answer: now is the time to upgrade into a larger, nicer home.

I'm not just telling you this as a matter of opinion, but after having done research and having had experience in this current market. If you are worried about not being able to sell your home, I can tell you that most mid priced homes in St Cloud are selling in the 2-8 week range,  and the probability of you selling your home is extremely high. A well-priced home in the St Cloud market can even fetch multiple offers.

Another reason to move up to a nicer home right now is continually low interest rates.  Nicer homes are appreciating more and more each year and now would be a great time to take advantage of these rates with a newer, nicer home. We have a vast selection of different kinds of aesthetically pleasing properties. We have properties from the lake shore to the country fields, and everything in between.

If you are looking to make a move up and take advantage of all the benefits of a nicer home, we would love for you to give us a call. We can set you up immediately with an e-mail update on all of the new listings in the St Cloud market. It's going to be an exciting year in St Cloud!