10 Proven Tips To Succeed in Buying Your Dream Home

Learn how to secure your dream home by keeping your finances intact.

How can you increase your chances of getting your dream home? Buying a house is a big decision, which is why it’s important to be prepared. Today, I’ll share 10 pro tips for a smooth home-buying experience:

This conference is special because Mike Ferry is going to be celebrating 50 years in the residential real estate coaching and training industry. I’ve worked with Mike for the past 30 years and have seen firsthand the value of partnering with a Mike Ferry-trained agent. Here are 10 reasons why you should consider working with one:

1. Get pre-approved. Before you start shopping for homes, get pre-approved by a reputable lender. This step will help you determine your budget by identifying your maximum and minimum price range based on your income and expenses.

2. Work with a buyer’s agent. Work with a buyer's agent like myself. An experienced agent will protect your interests and help you avoid buying a home in the wrong neighborhood.

3. Save for closing costs. Set aside funds for closing costs because these expenses can add up quickly. Including this in your budget will ease your mind.

4. Keep your job. Try to keep your job and avoid switching to self-employment during this time. Changing your job can affect your pre-approval for a mortgage and make it harder to secure financing.

5. Avoid big purchases. Hold off on large purchases, like a new car, until after you’ve settled into your new home.

"Every dollar counts as you prepare to purchase a home."

6. Don’t dip into savings. Avoid using savings or credit cards for non-essential purchases. It's important to keep your finances in check during this period.

7. Resist impulsive buys. Stay strong against impulse buys. Every dollar counts as you prepare to purchase a home.

8. Consult with your lender. To maintain a stable financial profile, always check with your lender before making any large withdrawals from your accounts.

9. Stick with your bank. Don’t change your bank accounts while buying a home. Lenders like consistency, so keep what you have.

10. Avoid co-signing loans. Don’t co-sign loans for anyone, no matter the reason. It can affect your financial stability and jeopardize your ability to secure a mortgage.

Maintaining consistency is important to successfully get your dream home. If you're ready to make one of the biggest decisions of your life, let's connect. Reach me at (978) 852-3001 or PBrouillette@LaerRealty.com. You can also visit our website at www.homesareus.com.  I can help guide you every step of the way right to the closing table.

Top 10 Qualities You Should Look for in a Real Estate Agent

Learn the top reasons to work with a seasoned real estate agent.

Are you looking for an agent who is honest, competent & professional when it comes to handling real estate deals? This week, I’m excited to attend a real estate conference in Palm Desert, California, with my son Liam and 3,000 of the top real estate professionals from around the world.

This conference is special because Mike Ferry is going to be celebrating 50 years in the residential real estate coaching and training industry. I’ve worked with Mike for the past 30 years and have seen firsthand the value of partnering with a Mike Ferry-trained agent. Here are 10 reasons why you should consider working with one:

1. Honesty in all transactions. I’ll always give you an honest assessment of your home’s value based on the current market and comparable sales.

2. Market expertise. I’m a market expert, studying the market statistics daily to stay informed.

3. Active buyer and seller engagement. I aggressively search for buyers and sellers for my listings, dedicating two to three hours each day to this effort.

4. Strong communication. I keep you updated with feedback from buyers and their agents about your property.

"I invest in my training to provide you with the best results possible."

5. Defined action plan. I have a clear plan to sell your home, maintaining a rigorous schedule and tracking my progress every day.

6. Negotiation skills. I use my negotiation skills to get you the best possible price for your home, ensuring you get the value you deserve.

7. Great network. I’m connected to a network of top, highly trained real estate professionals in North America, which helps generate leads for your property. This network of agents can refer their buyer clients to our neighborhood in Massachusetts.

8. Weekly coaching and strategic planning. I work with my coach weekly to develop strategies that can help you achieve the highest sale price for your property in the shortest time.

9. Continuous improvement. I’m always improving my skills, attending at least four training and coaching events each year from my field's best real estate coaching and training organization.

10. Committed to being an excellent agent. I am committed to becoming a great salesperson. I invest $12,000 yearly in my coaching and training to ensure I can provide the best possible service. 

Do you have any questions about real estate sales or purchases or the market? Feel free to reach out to me at (978) 852-3001 or PBrouillette@LaerRealty.com. You can also visit our website at www.homesareus.com. I'll be more than happy to help you out.

What Is the Best Time of Year To Sell My Home?

How you can prepare for the spring market by planning ahead, budgeting your time, and getting in early.

As a real estate agent, one of the most common questions I get from potential home sellers is, “When is the best time of year to sell my home?” The truth is that the best time to sell is when you need to move; however, if you’re determined to try and time the market, the best time to sell is when you have the least amount of competition. In most markets, that means selling in late winter or early spring. Once spring hits, inventory increases rapidly, and you’ll have to compete with tons of other homeowners. If you truly want to hit the optimal selling window in late winter or early spring, here are three key things you need to consider:

1. Plan early. The more time you give yourself to plan out your home sale, the better. Getting your home ready for the market might involve a lot more work than you thought of beforehand, so don’t procrastinate. I recommend giving yourself a three to four months headstart before you list for things like pre-listing consultations, staging, repairs, and more. If you want to sell at the optimal time in late winter or early spring, that means you need to start these things as soon as possible.

"Get ahead of things by listing as early as you reasonably can."

2. Budget your time. It can take 60 to 120 days to sell your home once you list it, but many homeowners still have a mentality leftover from the pandemic market, when homes would sell in as little as a week. That’s why I recommend working with your agent to plan out what you need to do to hit the optimal selling window. Once you have a schedule, it will be easier to budget your time and sell at the perfect moment. 3. Beat your competition to the market. If you have a choice between listing earlier or later, list earlier. Once the spring frenzy hits, supply increases exponentially each month. All those sellers are competition that will make it harder for you to get the best deal possible, so try your best to beat them to the market. It’s tempting to wait for prices to increase as demand picks up, but this isn’t a good strategy. By the time you enter the market, you’ll be chasing a wave of demand that has already passed. Instead, get ahead of things by listing as early as you reasonably can. If you want to sell this spring and get the best deal possible, your first step should be to have a pre-listing meeting. Just call or email me, and we’ll go over your situation, your goals, the market, and more. It’s 100% free and no obligation. I look forward to hearing from you