What America's Got Talent and Realtors Have In Common

People that know me; realize I love America's Got Talent...I find the show entertaining, funny and see some unique great acts over time. Well as season six came to a close on Wednesday night; I could not help but think how being a Realtor in this economy is a lot like the judges on the show of America's Got Talent. They are looking for that someone special...that next superstar. The person that without this show the world may never be be blessed with their god given talents. Wednesday night was one of the best feel good stories on the show for me..... A young man making a family with his wife and children. Supporting them by washing cars for a living....Now, after months of auditions and voting and elimination rounds he was crowned the winner of America's Got Talent. This man is going to be a great singer and have a nice career regardless if he won wednesday night or not...but none of it would have been possible without the show America's Got Talent. Well, like the show there are many people out there trying to realize the dream of home ownership. Lately I noticed commercials talking about whether future generations will be able to afford a house. I know growing up that was the American Dream (Get married, have your 2.2 children and buy a house with a white picket fence). As Realtors part of our job is to educate potential home buyers on the purchase of a home and guide them down the path to home ownership. I know a lot of Realtors do not like to deal with first time home buyers...personally I love them. There is a great joy in seeing a family or young professional realize the dream of home ownership; and helping them reach it..... First time home buyers have a lot of questions. And there are soem they do not think about that we as Realtors must explain to them along the way on the process and finding the right home for them. Most people do not realize that we are here to help them with the purchase of a home and guide them through the process. I am amazed daily at the amount of people I talk to that can purchase a home but never believed they could....Like you; I remember clear as if it were yesterday the first house I bought. I also remeber thinking I cannot buy a home; until a Realtor explained to em I could and helped me along the path to home ownership. So, as Realtors we are a lot like America's Got Talent....we help people realize their dreams of home ownership and achieve it...... Dave diCecco Realtor/Broker www.davedicecco.com

Why You Should Contact A Realtor To Buy New Construction

Many families today have choices out there when it comes to buying a house....One of them is purchasing of new construction. It can be a home that already is built (builder spec house) or one that you contract to build with the builder. There is one thing most (and I do mean most) families do not realize is that when you go into these model homes. Those friendly Realtors that you are greeted by and offer you there help work for the builder---NOT YOU. They are well trained to show a perception they are working for you....but the reality is that the builder pays them...not you. There job is to sell the homes that the builder builds for the most amount of money...Our job as a buyer's Realtor is to help you find the right house (new or old) that fits your needs for the fairest price. To protect YOUR interests when buying new construction you should have a Realtor accompany you to the negotiation and purchase of the home. Chances are you have not purchased a home in a few years (for some it is the first purchase). A Realtor can help you with decisions about what to ask comes in the house. Options that you may not think of or know about that we do because we do it everyday. We can help you with the negotiations on the price and options. help you make an informed decision on the financing terms offered by the builder...... Surveys have shown that home buyers that walk into and purchase a new construction home with the aide of a Realtor (not working for the builder) come out on average almost 10% better between price and financing terms over the 30 years..... Think about that for a minute. if you are buying a $200,000 home that is potentially $20,000 saved with the help of a Realtor...and the best part is the builder will pay us to help you...So, it costs you NOTHING...... Dave diCecco Realtor/Broker www.davedicecco.com

When Do You Contact A Realtor For Buying A House?

All of the studies that we read say that over 90% of homebuyers begin their search for a home online....When do you contact a Realtor? When is the right time to contact a Realtor? These are questions asked each day..... I talk to various home buyers online that say I am a month away and others who say I am six months or more away...but I always get the same question..."should we be talking now or closer to buying?" Now ther is no magic time frame on when to contact a Realtor. Some prefer to do it in the beginning of the process. A time when they have decided to consider looking for homes, not sure what is out there and have no particular time frame in mind for buying. For some this is the optimal time to contact Realtors and see which ones work best for them....Not all Realtors are the same. Sometimes finding one that works best with you takes a few different meetings with different ones. A Realtor can help you narrow areas and homes for you so you are not spending hours looking through various websites for homes and give you a better understanding of the processes and time frames needed to find and close on a home. Others prefer to do the intial research online then contact a Realtor when they have narrowed down what they want in a home. I know when my wife and I was looking for a home last time we had a list of what we wanted and a budget we wanted to look in...Then we went out and visited open houses and drove by neighborhoods. Doing this we eliminated areas and homes. Once we decided on what we knew we wanted in a home we contacted a Realtor to help us out (yes I was not in the business back then). Still others prefer to do all the research online and then contact a Realtor when they have narrowed down their selection and know what exactly they want...This way they feel they have done all the necessary work and made a descision that is best for them. Is there a wrong time to contact a Realtor? NO. Is there a right time to contact a realtor? NO. It depends on you. As a Realtor I have dealt with professionals and families in all spectrums of the home buying process and each person is different and thus their needs and wants from a Realtor vary... But, contacting a Realtor will help give you insight into homes and areas. In addition a Realtor can direct you to various websites for a variety of information that may be helpful in your home search when certain factors are important.....i.e. schools, crime rates, public transportation, convience to shopping, commute to work. Whether you are at the beginning, the middle or the end of the looking process there is never a bad time to contact a Realtor...We are here to help you. I strive to make the home buying experience one of great joy and ease for home buyers. I beleive in treating each individual as I would want to be treated in the process; regardless of where they are in it....... Dave diCecco Realtor/Broker www.davedicecco.com .