Real Estate Norwalk CT - Market stats for Single Family Properties in NORWALK, CT

Real Estate Norwalk CT

VIEW NOW - Market stats for Single Family Properties in NORWALK, CT: Market stats for Single Family properties in NORWALK, CT as of 13 Jan 2012

Inventory has been decreasing lately
but the Market Action Index is falling
also. With days-on-market climbing,
these are relatively negative
implications for the market.

Visit the CT realtors at Realty By Design specializing in low commission fees and CT flat fee MLS listings.

Market stats for Condo Properties in NORWALK, CT

VIEW NOW - Market stats for Condo Properties in NORWALK, CT:  Market stats for Condo properties in NORWALK, CT as of 13 Jan 2012

The market has settled in at arelative stasis in inventory and salesconditions. It's a Buyer's market thathas seen prices trend lower. Expectthat consistent up trends in demandwill be required before price trendschange significantly.

Visit the CT realtors at Realty By Design specializing in low commission fees and CT flat fee MLS listings.

Fairfield CT Homes for Sale - Market stats for Single Family Properties in FAIRFIELD, CT

Fairfield CT Homes for Sale
The median list price in FAIRFIELD, CT
this week is $616,450.
Inventory has been decreasing lately
but the Market Action Index is falling
also. With days-on-market climbing,
these are relatively negative
implications for the market.

View Realty By Design's Real Time Market Reports Webpage

Market stats for Single Family Properties in FAIRFIELD, CT:

Visit the CT realtors at Realty By Design specializing in low commission fees and CT flat fee MLS listings.

Homes for Sale Easton CT - Market stats for Single Family Properties in EASTON, CT 06612

Homes for Sale Easton CT
Market stats for Single Family Properties in EASTON, CT 06612:
Monday January 16, 2012

The median list price in EASTON, CT 06612 this week is $739,700.
Inventory has been lightening lately and the Market Action Index
has been trending up. Though days-on-market is increasing, these
are mildly positive indications for the market.

View Realty By Design's Real Time Market Reports Webpage

Visit the CT realtors at Realty By Design specializing in low commission fees and CT flat fee MLS listings.

Agents Keep Talking About It -- but What is the MLS Anyway?

MLS is an acronym for Multiple Listing Service. The MLS is a private database created by real estate brokers in order to share property information and to offer compensation to other real estate brokers if they bring a buyer for a Seller’s property.

The main purpose of the MLS is to offer compensation to selling brokers.  Because of the nature of the real estate business, it’s important for real estate brokers to cooperate with each other for a successful transaction.  MLS systems facilitate this cooperation.

Sellers benefit from the MLS by increased exposure to their property. The Seller’s listing agent is able to expose the property to buyer’s agents.  Buyers benefit because they can obtain information about all MLS-listed properties while working with only one broker.

The MLS is also a powerful force for competition. It levels the playing field so that the smallest brokerage in town can compete with the biggest multi-state firm.  It means that Buyers and Sellers can work with the professional of their choice, confident that they have access to the largest pool of properties for sale and the largest pool of buyers in the marketplace.

 
Visit the CT realtors at Realty By Design specializing in low commission fees and CT flat fee MLS listings.

Seller Incentives or Price? Which One Fetches a Faster Sale?

 I have sometimes been asked by sellers if they should throw in a bonus to the buyer or even to the buyer’s agent to make their home more desirable.  Bonuses such as boats, theater tickets, increased commission, etc. have all been up for grabs.  My answer, however, is a resounding “NO”.  Instead, use the money you would spend on these incentives and focus on a competitive price.  A competitive price is, after all, what buyers want.

There is no incentive that will sell a home priced well above market.  While an incentive may attract attention and create some buzz among agents, buyers today are more attracted to the right price rather than a promotional stunt.

Location, location, location used to be the favorite real estate mantra.  It is now price, price, price.

For more information about how to price your home for today’s market, contact the CT realtors at www.RealtyByDesignLLC.com.

Visit the CT realtors at Realty By Design specializing in low commission fees and CT flat fee MLS listings.

Buying and Selling a Home During the Holidays

November and December tend to be slow months in the real estate market, but the season can provide great opportunities for both buyer and seller.

For the Seller

* Home owners should make a special effort to have their homes look their best during the holidays. While extensive decorating is not advised, decorations that don't overpower a house can enhance it.

* Typically, those who actually look at a house are serious buyers. People who are just shopping around won't bother you.

* There is less competition for those selling in December. Many home owners wait until spring to list their homes.

For the Buyer

*Homes repossessed by lenders may be offered at bargain prices. The banks and mortgage   companies don't want them on the books when the new year begins.

* Because many business relocations occur at this time of year, there could be an unusual opportunity to buy at a lower price from someone who must move very soon.

Visit the CT realtors at Realty By Design specializing in low commission fees and CT flat fee MLS listings.

Smart People Are Doing It!

Eventually, more and more consumers will realize the benefits of exploring alternatives to traditional real estate brokers as people with Lori’s credentials offer discount real estate services.

http://www.ratetake.com/news/2011-11-16-5.html

Reposted from our previous blog.

Visit the CT realtors at Realty By Design specializing in low commission fees and CT flat fee MLS listings.

The Truth About Discount Real Estate Brokers

If you tell a traditional real estate agent that you are considering working with discount broker they will balk and sigh and tell you that a discount broker can’t market your home on a discounted commission.  This is their attempt to protect their own high commission fees.

Understandably, their statements may make you question whether or not a full service discount broker can provide the same services without the higher commission rate.  But the truth is that they too are marketing your home on a “discounted” commission. 

When a traditional real estate agent defends their high commission, they are quick to inform you that they do not get the entire commission and that the total commission is shared between the Listing Broker, Listing Agent, Selling Broker and Selling Agent.  This much is true.

They will tell you that they are responsible for spending their own money to market your home and they also have other costs associated with being in the real estate business.  This is also true. 

So let’s take a look at how the commission is split and see why a traditional real estate agent is actually marketing your home on a “discounted” commission.

When you pay a total commission, let’s say $100, you are giving that to the Listing Broker.  Even though it is the Listing Agent that signs your agreement they work for the Listing Broker and the total commission goes to the Listing Broker.  The Listing Broker will then offer part of the total commission to a Selling Broker for finding a buyer.  The Selling Broker shares that with their Selling Agent.  Let’s say the Listing Broker offers $50 to the Selling Broker.  That leaves $50 for the Listing Broker.

The Listing Broker must keep part of that $50 to cover company overhead expenses such as secretaries, franchise fees, building maintenance, etc.  So if the Listing Broker keeps $25 of that $50 it leaves $25 for the Listing Agent – the person who is responsible for marketing your home.  The Listing Agent’s $25 represents a 75% discount from the total $100 commission.

Now let’s look at how Realty By Design handles commission by taking that same $100.  Realty by Design offers the same $50 to the Selling Broker.  That leaves $50 for Realty By Design.  Since, Lisa Henderson, Broker and Owner of the company, serves as both the Listing Broker and Listing Agent, the commission does not have to split again.  Instead, Lisa will accept $25 to market your home (the same amount as given to the traditional Listing Agent) and instead of charging you $100 for the total commission will only charge you $75.  You save the $25 which is a 25% discount.

Both Lisa Henderson and the traditional real estate agent are marketing your home on the same amount of commission dollars and therefore, there is no need to reduce services or cut corners when it comes to marketing your home as the traditional real estate agent wants you to believe.

To further explain how a company like Realty By Design can operate with a reduced commission fee, you must take into consideration the business as a whole.  Realty By Design works with both Sellers and Buyers.  We’ve explained the listing side of the business above.  

When we work with buyers as the Selling Broker --  let’s use the $100 commission example again, the Listing Broker will give us $50 out of their $100 for finding a buyer.  Since Realty By Design  (Lisa Henderson) acts as both the Selling Broker and Selling Agent, the $50 does not have to be split where as a traditional Selling Agent would get only $25 out of the $50.

So if a traditional real estate agent earned $25 for 1 listing side transaction and $25 for 1 buy side transaction they would earn $50.  If Realty By Design earned $25 for 1 listing side transaction and $50 for 1 buy side transaction, they earn $75.  Overall, Realty By Design (Lisa Henderson) has more money to spend on marketing and other related real estate expense than the traditional real estate agent.

A traditional real estate agent’s argument that a discount real estate company cannot market a home on a discounted commission is simply untrue and doesn’t makes sense especially when you look at the business as a whole.

Visit the CT realtors at Realty By Design specializing in low commission fees and CT flat fee MLS listings.

Visit the CT realtors at Realty By Design specializing in low commission fees and CT flat fee MLS listings.