5 Tips When You Own A Home In 2019

Over the years I have seen many people make homeownership mistakes. These 5 tips when you own a home in 2019 will help you in the future when you are looking to sell your home. When it comes time to sell your home there are papers and other documents I ask my clients for and SO many times people have lost track of these items. I will cover what these papers are, that future home buyers are looking for and I will also give a great home money saving tip for EVERY year you live in it. These tips will help you maintain your home so you are a responsible homeowner and keep some cash in your pocket.

For referrals of TOP agents near you please email me directly at info@yourrealestatewhisperer.com

?If you’d like to watch more videos ?about buying a home?, here is a very useful playlist : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL2NpJzFd3bsErmLFniI8wy2jC1309S9J
? Visit my blog to read more buying and selling a home tips: yourrealestatewhisperer.com
?To search for homes in the Baton Rouge and Ascension Parish Area:
https://bit.ly/2OdQw1s
??If you don’t want to miss important tips real estate tips, please consider subscribing https://bit.ly/2MEztWK
?If you have any questions about buying and selling your home feel free to reach out to me at by email or any respectable time by phone?. All my contact information is listed below.
?To Get #YREW Merch https://shop.spreadshirt.com/yrew-merch

Other resources for this video,
,
My name is Kristina Smallhorn, Your Real Estate Whisperer and I tell you all this “Because YOU Matter”

Cell 225-246-1812
EXP REALTY, LLC
2900 Westfork Dr.
Baton Rouge, LA 70827
225-412-9982 ext 149
info@YourRealEstateWhisperer.com, kristina.smallhorn@exprealty.com
yourrealestatewhisperer.com
Kristina Is a Licensed Realtor® with The Greater Baton Rouge Board of Realtors@ in the State of Louisiana. License #0912122918

Staging Your Home For The Holidays, (When Your Home Is For Sale)

When you are selling your home the last thing your thinking about is staging your home for the holidays. If you have found yourself in the position that you are selling your home during Christmas these staging tips for the holidays will help keep your home inviting and warm without screaming CHRISTMAS! I know some realtors will tell you not to decorate at all but I say if you do tasteful Christmas decorating using these 5 tips for the holiday decorating you should be okay with future buyers.

If you’d like some more tips on buying your next home check out my buying a home playlist here. https://bit.ly/2sw5Pu1

If you don’t want to miss any tips on buying and selling your home so you don’t leave money on the table at a closing time click here https://bit.ly/2sHfDRr

To look for properties in the Baton Rouge and Ascension Parish area click here: https://goo.gl/Pfi9W9

Copy of my FREE Ebook For Buying In Ascension Parish: https://goo.gl/ux3mYz

To read my blog visit yourrealestatewhisperer.com

Resource for the video: https://sellinglakeland.com/should-i-decorate-my-home-when-selling-during-the-holidays/?fbclid=IwAR1Eux05boJl_cmyu0NsyUEp3fqpnyrXqQTkk7_Ciqt4p94CYpKcZJBNi0Y

To Send Mail:
Kristina Smallhorn
PO BOX 1271
Prairieville LA 70769
#yrew
Kristina Smallhorn, Your Real Estate Whisperer kristina.smallhorn@exprealty.com,info@yourrealestatewhisperer.com
eXp Realty LLC,2900 Westfork Dr. Suite 401, Baton Rouge LA 70817
225-246-1812,Office (225) 412-9982 ext# 149

Kristina Smallhorn is a licensed REALTOR® with the state of Louisiana, License #0912122918

Buying A Home (Advantages Of Buying An Ugly House In Baton Rouge)

Buying a home can really get some buyers let down with their limited budget. A home buyers only option may be to buy a home that’s, well, unattractive. But there are many advantages to buying an ugly house. In this video, I will cover those advantages buying an ugly house for the first time and even though it may not be a gem now you may be laughing all the way to the bank in a few years when the ugly home becomes the best gem on the block.

 

For referrals of TOP agents near you please email me directly at info@yourrealestatewhisperer.com

?If you’d like to watch more videos ?about buying a home?, here is a very useful playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL2NpJzFd3bsErmLFniI8wy2jC1309S9J

? Visit my blog to read more buying and selling a home tips: yourrealestatewhisperer.com

?To search for homes in the Baton Rouge and Ascension Parish Area:

https://bit.ly/2OdQw1s

??If you don’t want to miss important tips real estate tips, please consider subscribing https://bit.ly/2MEztWK

?If you have any questions about buying and selling your home feel free to reach out to me at by email or any respectable time by phone?. All my contact information is listed below.

?To Get #YREW Merch https://shop.spreadshirt.com/yrew-merch

Other resources for this video,

?https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/purchase-renovate-fixer-upper/?fbclid=IwAR218i5tYqbE7jUpvCC2ZgISCvQvhpE2M7uRUq9ximuYYGGLKlp44ZWKWhs

?https://frederickrealestateonline.com/considering-fixer-upper-figure-real-cost/?fbclid=IwAR3m_o41f3oZIDSezHg5azZKUSApb8VFWGI2jMd7wmIODxHckDbvFJICST8#.XALjMxNKjOQ

My name is Kristina Smallhorn, Your Real Estate Whisperer and I tell you all this “Because YOU Matter”

Cell 225-246-1812

EXP REALTY, LLC

2900 Westfork Dr.

Baton Rouge, LA 70827

225-412-9982 ext 149

info@YourRealEstateWhisperer.com, kristina.smallhorn@exprealty.com

yourrealestatewhisperer.com

Kristina Is a Licensed Realtor® with The Greater Baton Rouge Board of Realtors@ in the State of Louisiana. License #0912122918

Home Buying Walk-Thru Checklist (With Free PDF)

The walk-thru stage of home buying, The final walkthrough isn’t just to check if the sellers have removed all items from the home or check the condition. When a buyer does a walk-thru of the home they are buying, prior to closing, they may see some things they were not expecting, So its good to be prepared. In this video: I will be showing the perfect walkthrough checklist so you don’t forget anything by the time the sellers have handed over the keys and cover those things most people don’t even think about when they walk around one last time. Below the video, I will have a checklist PDF that you can download for free to take with you the day you do your walk-thru.

Get Your Free Home Buyers Walk-Thru Checklist Here      

 

Looking For Another Useful Article: “What Are The Most Common Final Walk-Through Issues In Real Estate? 

Kristina Smallhorn (Your Real Estate Whisperer)

Cell 225-246-1812

EXP REALTY, LLC

2900 Westfork Dr.

Baton Rouge, LA 70827

225-412-9982 ext 149

Info@YourRealEstateWhisperer.com

yourrealestatewhisperer.com

kristina.smallhorn@exprealty.com

Kristina Is a Licensed Realtor® with The Greater Baton Rouge Board of Realtors@ in the State of Louisiana. License #0912122918

 

For Sale By Owner Fails

I know there are many factors that go through a sellers mind when they chose to sell their home “for sale by owner” or FSBO like some people call it but the statics don’t lie, according to the National Association of Realtors, less than 10% of FSBO’s actually sell. So why are there so many For Sale By Owner Fails?  In this video/blog, I will cover the reasons why this happens and some tips to try to help those that elect to sell for sale by owner.

?Preparing The Home Correct To Sell It.

I know most sellers feel like they have seen enough on HGTV that they can stage a home without a stager, and sell a home without a realtor. I mean, they make it look so easy on tv, why can’t they do it themselves?

But the problem is that most people when selling For Sale By Owner list their home before its ready to list. I have had clients take up to a month to get everything in order before I would send out the professional photographer to take photographs.

There are some simple generic tips that should be followed by all FSBOs. I have made a useful playlist of videos to help also https://bit.ly/2xaztYk , Some of the most important pre-listing tasks that FSBOs should do before listing their home for sale include: 

?Decluttering.

?Paint rooms.

??‍?Professionally clean carpets and/or floors.

??‍♂️Complete any neglected repairs.

?Replace outdated light fixtures.

?Add Flowers and de-weed to make the home have curb appeal.

? Pricing and Zillow’s Zestimates

Many For sale by owner sellers do not understand the value of their home. They will rely on sites like Zillow with Zillow’s “Zestimates” to evaluate their home. The “Zestimates” have been known to either price the home too high which prices the home out of the market. Other “Zestimate’s” may price it too low, making some buyers curious to what could be wrong with the home when it’s priced so low. Most buyers won’t take the chance that the home is a good deal they’ll just move onto another property.

☎️ Listing FSBO on Zillow with Only Real Estate Agents Call.

Once a seller lists there home on websites like Zillow, and Trulia, they are inundated with calls from real estate agents working there call sheets but get little traction with actual buyers. The way these sites are actually set up they makes it difficult for the home sellers contact information. To be found by the average buyer searching, they tuck it lower down the page just past where all the real estate agent have paid for placement, even making the color of font and size smaller. Of course, real estate agents trying to work to get the listing they know exactly where to find these numbers, and that’s why the for sale by owner seller gets bombarded by those calls.

Not only does the phone ring from realtors, you get people calling at all hours asking questions about the home, its exciting at first but frustrating after a couple of weeks when the seller has 40 calls and no one actually coming to the home to preview it.

??‍♀️Who’s Entering your home?

Eager sellers want to show their home to anyone and everyone. It’s completely understandable, the more people that see it, the more likely you’ll get a buyer, right? An experienced REALTOR® knows how to screen for the right people to look at your home. There is no point of wasting your time shuffling your kids out of the house because someone’s grandma wants to see what wood flooring you put down a few years back with no intention of actually buying the home. REALTORS® know what documents to ask for and which ones are really not worth the paper they are written on. (Here is an example of the difference of pre-approved and pre-qualified, https://youtu.be/GGLvtVLPrFs)

? Selling with Pressure.

Many FSBO sellers will stay in there home to show it and rightfully so. The FSBO sellers will show their home pointing out features that either does not interest the buyer or make the buyers completely uncomfortable. After the showing is over they may ask the buyers for feedback which most buyers are uncomfortable in doing so in a face-to-face situation, in turn, the FSBO sellers really don’t get the feedback they really need to get the home sold faster.

??‍♂️Negotiations and Home Inspections.

When it comes to negotiations with inspections things can get really heated as I mentioned in my last video, Buying for sale by owner without a realtor https://bit.ly/2MvEKhV .  FSBOs often believe that there is nothing wrong with their home which is why it’s upsetting when the buyer requests items to be corrected or fixed before moving forward with the transaction.  This can often lead to the FSBO refusing to repair any items, which is a great way to scare away potential buyers. Sellers don’t want to give there home away and the requests for repairs seem absolutely ridiculous to them, This is when most sellers realize they should have gone with a professional REALTOR to handle the uncomfortable nature of discussing money and what will and will not be repaired.

Before you decide to sell your home FSBO, remember, the statistics say you have about a 10% chance of making that happen. If you decide you want to take on the challenge. Make sure you are aware of the above common reasons why For Sale By Owners fail.  An FSBOs Seller who understands what the most common pitfalls are will greatly increase the chance that they have a successful sale.

?To search for homes in the Baton Rouge and Ascension Parish Area:

https://bit.ly/2OdQw1s

?If you have any questions about buying and selling your home feel free to reach out to me at any time by email or any respectable time by phone?. All my contact information is listed below.

Kristina Smallhorn is a realtor in the Greater Baton Rouge Area with EXP Realty LLC
My name is Kristina Smallhorn, Your Real Estate Whisperer and I tell you all this “Because YOU Matter”
Cell 225-246-1812
EXP REALTY, LLC
2900 Westfork Dr.
Baton Rouge, LA 70827
225-412-9982 ext 149
info@YourRealEstateWhisperer.com, kristina.smallhorn@exprealty.com
Kristina Is a Licensed Realtor® with The Greater Baton Rouge Board of Realtors@ in the State of Louisiana. License #0912122918

Secrets Sellers Need To Keep

I will start off by saying that I would never tell a seller to lie on any document but there are some secrets sellers should keep. These non-disclosed secrets in no way are being deceptive to the person purchasing the home but help the seller stay on even ground with the prospective buyers. Savvy sellers know to never expose these secrets and In this video, I will cover the secrets that sellers should keep, so you don’t sabotage your home sale with these home selling tips and get top dollar for your home.

Many buyers will ask the sellers “Why are you moving?” seems like a harmless question, right? When I represent the buyer I always ask it but If I represent the seller I’m tight-lipped with the response, Why? Because the answer can make the buyers perceive the sellers time frame as being more urgent causing them to make a lower offer. For instance, If the seller has to move because of a job transfer. The buyers know that the seller wants to get rid of the home they have for sale as quickly as possible so their offer will reflect that.

So what other responses would cause the buyer to feel like they have the upper hand in the deal that sellers should stay quiet about?

?“We just need to live in a quiet neighborhood”

If I buyer hears that from a seller their imaginations run wild to what that could possibly mean. Not only could you as a seller get lower offers because of it, but you may also lose out on offers altogether.

?“The Taxes and Insurance are killing us”

I can already see the alarm bells ringing overs buyers head when they hear this. If they do not perceive the cost of insurance and taxes as too high they already know you as a seller are eager to sell quickly to get out from under your mounting financial problems.

?“We hate our Neighbors”

Not all people are the same and If you dislike your neighbors the new possible buyers may be bosom buddies. Also, you may want to be careful in saying this for another reason. The buyers may also be related to some of your disliked neighbors. I live in a small town and this is not unheard of at all, you never know who you are talking to so be careful.

?“We just want a newer house”

When sellers say this a buyer begins to believe there is work that needs to be done to the home you are trying to selling or the home is outdated. They start to run a price tag of all the items they think haven’t been taking care of and make an offer with that in mind.

⚠️“We Just Don’t Feel Safe”

This is a perceived feeling for you as a seller. What you consider “safe” may be a step up for the new possible buyer. Let the buyers and buyers agent do there due diligence when researching the neighborhood. Crime statistics are public record and are posted on many websites, I included a report for my buyers in any home they are researching.

?And what is the biggest secret you should keep as a home seller?

“What’s your bottom line?” Never I Mean NEVER tell a buyer what your bottom line is. Not only will they know what you want to make they will also try to go just under that amount to sweeten the deal in their own minds. If you want top dollar for your home or even fair market price NEVER TELL THIS SECRET!!?

I hope you found this video about the Secrets Sellers Should Keep useful if you’d like to read more real estate buying and selling tips you can visit my blog at yourrealestatewhisperer.com

?If you’d like to watch more videos specifically about home selling here is a very useful playlist *** https://bit.ly/2KIwj1L

?To watch the video about Sabotaging your Home Sale (https://youtu.be/Mx9r975xRMo)

??If you don’t want to miss important tips, please consider subscribing https://bit.ly/2MEztWK

?To get a copy of my FREE buyer e-book you can download it here: https://bit.ly/2LdyEqt

?To search for homes in the Baton Rouge and Ascension Parish Area:
https://bit.ly/2OdQw1s

?If you have any questions about buying and selling your home feel free to reach out to me at any time by email or any respectable time by phone?.

Kristina Smallhorn is a realtor in the Greater Baton Rouge Area with EXP Realty LLC
My name is Kristina Smallhorn, Your Real Estate Whisperer and I tell you all this “Because YOU Matter”
Cell 225-246-1812
EXP REALTY, LLC
2900 Westfork Dr.
Baton Rouge, LA 70827
225-412-9982 ext 149
info@YourRealEstateWhisperer.com, kristina.smallhorn@exprealty.com
yourrealestatewhisperer.com
#realtor #homeselling #tips
Kristina Is a Licensed Realtor® with The Greater Baton Rouge Board of Realtors@ in the State of Louisiana. License #0912122918

Home Buying Detective

It’s Take A Tip Tuesday! Do you know how to be a home buying detective? I have told you in previous videos that are ways for a home buyer to do their own due diligence when buying a home. But what does that really mean to you as a buyer buying a home in an area that you have had your eye on? In this video, I will be showing you how to be a home buying detective and find out all the things you need to know before you sign a purchase contract when buying a home.

??‍♂️Look at the tax records online! This is a great way to know how much the sellers purchased the home for. In Ascension Parish, you can even see how much they financed the house for. How is this helpful to you? If you know that they want $250,000 for there home and they only purchased they home 3 years earlier for $180,000 you know they have wiggle room to negotiate for less than the asking price. Knowledge is POWER!

??‍♂️Check the local sheriff’s website: A quick Google search and a few keystrokes away from knowing if there are any predators that live close by to the home you’re researching. Even if this isn’t a personal concern for you for many it is and one day you’ll want to sell the home you are thinking of buying and the next buyers may find this to be a very big issue causing your home to stay on the market for longer than you are expecting.

??‍♂️Call your local homeowner’s insurance company and ask for a CLUE report? Whats a CLUE report? This is a report that can tell a potential buyer how many insurance claims were made on the property for the past 5 years, the dates those claims were made, The type of loss, how much was paid to settle the claim or if the claim was denied this information can be extremely helpful in discovering hidden problems, before you sign on the dotted line

??‍♂️Ask The Sellers some Great Questions: I know that I have said in a past video what things a seller should keep tight-lipped about but no everyone is going to take my advice so ask them. “Why are you moving?” “What’s your bottom line?” “How quickly are you looking to move?” “How do you like your neighbors?” “Do you have any crimes or break-ins in the neighborhood” “Do you have receipts of all the repairs you have made in the past?”
Loose lips sink ships as one customer told me in the past. The home sellers answers could be a great way for you to feel out how stuck they are in their price and how quickly they are ready to fly the coupe.

??‍♂️Go to the home at peak hours: To really investigate a neighborhood and your possible future neighbors go to the house during the times when people are leaving and coming home from work. Is there a bunch of cars parked on the road blocking the streets up? Also, drive around and check the yards, Are they maintained? You’re not buying just this house you are also buying the neighborhood as well.

??‍♂️BONUS TIP!!! I have said it before but bears repeating again, Talk with the neighbors!! You will be surprised at the great tidbits of information they will give you about the home you are t

?If you’d like to watch more videos ?about buying a home?, here is a very useful playlist: https://bit.ly/2wkl3n3https://bit.ly/2wkl3n3

??If you don’t want to miss important tips real estate tips, please consider subscribing https://bit.ly/2MEztWK

?To search for homes in the Baton Rouge and Ascension Parish Area:
https://bit.ly/2OdQw1s

?If you have any questions about buying and selling your home feel free to reach out to me at any time by email or any respectable time by phone?. All my contact information is listed below.

#Realtor #homebuying #tips

My name is Kristina Smallhorn, Your Real Estate Whisperer and I tell you all this “Because YOU Matter”

 

Cell 225-246-1812
EXP Realty, LLC
2900 Westfork Dr.
Baton Rouge, LA 70827
225-412-9982 ext 149
info@YourRealEstateWhisperer.com, kristina.smallhorn@exprealty.com
yourrealestatewhisperer.com
#realtor #homebuying #tips
Kristina Is a Licensed Realtor® with The Greater Baton Rouge Board of Realtors@ in the State of Louisiana. License #0912122918

Home For Sale In Gonzales LA – With Acreage

This Gonzales home for sale is located on 14218 ADAM ARCENEAUX DR. This week we go and visit an agent open house to see all this home features and enjoy some fish fry with other fellow realtors in the area. Jeff Gautreau with Villar & Co. Real Estate was kind enough to let us through and take some video of this wonderful home that sits on 2.25 acres, all the details of it are in the link below. If you would like to schedule a private showing with me Your Real Estate Whisperer, Kristina Smallhorn, please reach out to me at 225-246-1812, I look forward to showing the porch swing ?.

?To get information on the home featured https://bit.ly/2PgThQe

Great Acadian style 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bath home on 2.25 acres in Gonzales. Enjoy your mornings on the inviting front porch. The living room features Mexican tile flooring, built-in bookcases, and a wood burning fireplace. The kitchen has an abundance of cabinetry, an island with pot drawers, an appliance garage and lots of workspaces. The master bedroom has access to the rear patio and has oversized his/her closets with built-in dressers. The master bath has a huge soaking tub, separate shower, and double vanities. Upstairs you will find 2 bedrooms, each with walk-in closets, fresh paint, and new carpet. The upstairs bathroom was just remodeled with a new tub, toilet, light fixtures and double vanity. The exterior of the home has a 3 car carport, a storage room, an 18×40 covered patio, a 40X40 workshop and an RV port. Schedule your appointment today.

??If you’d like some tips on buying your next home watch my buying a home playlist here. https://bit.ly/2sw5Pu1

??If you don’t want to miss any tips on buying and selling your home so you don’t leave money on the table at a closing time click here https://bit.ly/2sHfDRr

?To look for properties in the Baton Rouge and Ascension Parish area click here: https://goo.gl/Pfi9W9

?Copy of my FREE Ebook For Buying In Ascension Parish: https://goo.gl/ux3mYz

?To read my blog visit yourrealestatewhisperer.com

To Send Mail:
Kristina Smallhorn
PO BOX 1271
Prairieville LA 70769

Kristina Smallhorn, Your Real Estate Whisperer kristina.smallhorn@exprealty.com,info@yourrealestatewhisperer.com
eXp Realty LLC,2900 Westfork Dr. Suite 401, Baton Rouge LA 70817
225-246-1812,Office (225) 412-9982 ext# 149

Kristina Smallhorn is a licensed REALTOR® with the state of Louisiana, License #0912122918

The Dangers Of Overpricing A Home When Selling.

Why is overpricing your home is a terrible strategy?  I have mentioned in a previous video that there are some key ways that sellers self-sabotage their home sale, (if you haven’t seen that video https://youtu.be/Mx9r975xRMo) But one of the biggest ways home sellers enter dangerous waters is when they use the overpricing strategy when selling their home. Today’s video will explain 5 reasons why overpricing your home will not get you top dollar for it.

Once your home hits the market buyers are always eager to see the fresh new listings if you have overpriced your home, those buyers are not liking to come back to see it again, the buyers already have the perception that (You) the sellers are unreasonable.

All sellers would like to have multiple offers to look at when negotiating contracts. The likelihood of that happening is diminished greatly if your home is overpriced. By setting your price above market value, you will have fewer offers to choose from. This could mean as a seller you would end up settling on an offer, instead of choosing the offer with the strongest offer strength.

If you are fortunate enough to get an offer for that is above market value you could come into some problems once the buyer has an appraisal done. The appraiser uses the most recent home sales to come up with the fair market value of the home. If the appraised value comes under the offer price you’d be hard pressed to find a buyer that is willing to come out of pocket the remaining amount.

car-44144_1280.pngAn overpriced home is much more likely to sit on the market longer than a home that is priced fairly. The longer your home sits the more likely people start to believe the home has other problems creating a stigma.

Sellers that have sat on the market for a long period of time are less likely to get an offer that is truly happy with in the end. A sense of desperation increases as the months sitting on the market roll on by and they end up accepting an offer that was less than expected.

I hope you found this video about the dangers of overpricing your home, useful. If you’d like to watch more videos specifically about home selling here is a very useful playlist *** https://bit.ly/2KIwj1L

To watch the video about Sabotaging your Home Sale (https://youtu.be/Mx9r975xRMo)

If you don’t want to miss important tips, please consider subscribing to my YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/2MEztWK

To get a copy of my FREE buyer e-book you can download it here: https://bit.ly/2LdyEqt

 

landscape-1602016__480

To search for homes in the Baton Rouge and Ascension Parish Area: https://bit.ly/2OdQw1s

If you have any questions about buying and selling your home feel free to reach out to me at any time by email or any respectable time by phone. All my contact information is listed below.

My name is Kristina Smallhorn, Your Real Estate Whisperer and I tell you all this “Because YOU Matter”

Your Real Estate Whisperer Kristina Smallhorn "Because YOU Matter"
Your Real Estate Whisperer For Ascension Parish, Kristina Smallhorn.

Cell 225-246-1812

EXP REALTY, LLC

2900 Westfork Dr.

Baton Rouge, LA 70827

225-412-9982 ext 149

Info@YourRealEstateWhisperer.com

yourrealestatewhisperer.com

kristina.smallhorn@exprealty.com

#realtor #home #tips

Kristina Is a Licensed Realtor® with The Greater Baton Rouge Board of Realtors@ in the State of Louisiana. License #0912122918

 

Prequalified and Preapproved Are Not The Same Thing

It Is Take a Tip Tuesday and being prequalified and preapproved are not the same thing when getting a home loan.  There is a big difference between being pre-qualified and pre-approved. If you are wanting to write offers on homes even the most inexperienced realtors know the difference between a pre-qualification letter and a pre-approved letter. So which one do you need to start a home search? When do you need a pre-qualification letter and when do you need a pre-approval letter when buying a home? and whats better pre-approved or pre-qualified?

In this video, I will cover those burning questions so you will know what letter you need when starting your next home search.

***If you are buying your first home you may be interested in checking out my video https://bit.ly/2OoaLut
So whats the BIG Difference in a pre-qualification letter and pre-approval letter. I recently got into an argument with a real estate agent about this, I knew it was time to explain this in a video. I figured if she was confused by the difference than many buyers and sellers may be as well. If you are starting your home search and you are unsure how much of a home you can afford you will want to reach out to a trusted lender, (if you do not have one I can get you a complete list of lenders I have used over the past 10 years) and find out how much home you pre-qualify for this is a very general amount and not set in stone. This letter is just a guideline to help you budget for your home when you first start thinking about buying.

For home sellers I would not accept an offer with a pre-qualification letter because they buyer has not given the lender enough information to get a pre-approval letter. The lender has only received a possible buyers’ basic information and hasn’t gotten the full picture of the buyer finances. They are only going by what the borrower says about their monthly paycheck, credit report and outstanding balances and knows a little about the buyers’ job history.

So why is a pre-approval letter is better? If you are a buyer the lender verifies the borrower’s information and documentation to determine exactly how much it would be willing to lend to that borrower. If you are a seller this letter lets you know that the buyer has taken the proper steps to purchase your home at the price offered and they will be able to close if nothing changes in the time your home is under contract.
In closing, if you are shopping for a home and just need to know around about price to start looking at homes online a pre-qualification will work just fine. But if you have selected a realtor and are seriously shopping homes to write on offer on you will definitely need a pre-approval letter to make your offer stronger than the person who has a pre-qualification letter especially if you are in a strong market that has bidding wars if you like to see the video about bidding wars click here https://youtu.be/DtiAbq5nlIM
I hope you found this video about the difference of pre-qualified and pre-approved when buying or selling a home if you’d like to read more real estate buying and selling tips you can visit my blog at yourrealestatewhisperer.com

If you’d like to watch more videos specifically about buying a home here is a very useful playlist. https://bit.ly/2myd6Go

If you don’t want to miss important tips so you can be a real estate home buying ninja, please consider subscribing https://bit.ly/2MEztWK

To get a copy of my FREE buyers’ e-book you can download it here: https://bit.ly/2LdyEqt

If you have any questions about buying and selling your home feel free to reach out to me at any time by email or any respectable time by phone. All my contact information is listed below.

My name is Kristina Smallhorn, Your Real Estate Whisperer for Ascension Parish and I tell you all this “Because YOU Matter

Your Real Estate Whisperer Kristina Smallhorn "Because YOU Matter"
Your Real Estate Whisperer For Ascension Parish, Kristina Smallhorn.

Cell 225-246-1812
EXP REALTY, LLC
2900 Westfork Dr.
Baton Rouge, LA 70827
225-412-9982 ext 149
Info@YourRealEstateWhisperer.com
yourrealestatewhisperer.com
kristina.smallhorn@exprealty.com
#realtor #home #tips
Kristina Is a Licensed Realtor® with The Greater Baton Rouge Board of Realtors@ in the State of Louisiana. License #0912122918