Category: Tips on Buying a Home

How to Prepare to Buy an Orange County Home in 2018

Posted on | by Cuselleration

The home-buying process is extensive and could be overwhelming. This is especially true for new homeowners who don’t do their homework.

If you are in the market to buy a home next year, now is the time to start preparing. We are here to help!

Getting Pre-Approved

The moment you choose to buy a house, work with a mortgage lender to get pre-approved for a mortgage loan. Knowing how much you qualify for will narrow down your options and direct your research.

But do not overextend yourself. Just because you qualify for a two hundred fifty thousand dollar loan, this does not mean your house should cost two hundred fifty thousand dollars. You need to consider other expenses such as taxes, interest payments and homeowners insurance.

Prioritize Your Top Priorities

After you have an idea of how much you would like to spend, make a decision on the lifestyle that suits you and your family. You should consider factors like proximity to shopping and entertainment, great schools and how much land you would like. Deciding what is most important to you will help further focus your search.

Start Saving Money

Most mortgage lenders require a down payment towards your mortgage loan, which could be up to twenty percent. If you do not have enough money at your disposal, you can save for a bit longer or perhaps borrow against your IRA or retirement account.

Despite how you come up with the initial deposit, make sure you can prove the source of the funds. Lenders will not accept cash payments and if your down payment was a gift from a generous giver, be prepared to bring a gift letter.

Count the Cost

You need to also be prepared for other out-of-pocket expenses during the home buying process. You will need money for things like closing costs and home inspections before your close, appliances, furniture and utilities afterwards. Do your homework to understand how much money you will be paying upfront and save accordingly.

Credit Matters

You need to be extra careful with your credit during this process. Review your credit report and make sure there are no inaccuracies. Don’t open new credit accounts and make major purchases. Several inquiries could negatively impact your credit score. This can impact your loan decision and your interest rate.

Hire a Pro

When it comes to finding your dream house, you shouldn’t have to go at it alone. A qualified real estate agent is familiar with the ever-changing real estate market and can guide you through the process. This includes contract negotiations.

A mortgage lender can help you make a wise choices based your monthly budget and lifestyle needs. They also share tricks and tips with you along the way to save you time and money.

Clean House

When you find the perfect home, you will be moving in a matter of weeks. Take the time early in the process to get rid of items you do not want to bring with you. Starting this early on will make it easier to pack when the time comes.

Are you in the market to buy a home in Coto de Caza, Rancho Santa Margarita, or Mission Viejo? Click here to talk to the Ryan Grant Team today!

After the Wildfires: Real Estate Prices in SoCal

Posted on | by Cuselleration

The wildfires that have scorched so many acres in northern California have come south, fueled by the Santa Ana winds. As of mid-December, close to 235,000 acres have burned, more than 1000 structures have been destroyed, $48 million (and growing) has been spent on fighting just the Thomas fire alone, and more than 200,000 people have reportedly been evacuated from their homes in Southern California.

More than 86 thousand homes in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties could suffer damage from the latest SoCal fires, and that could mean almost $30 billion to rebuild.

So what does all this mean for SoCal buyers and sellers, in an already-tight housing market? Some buyers are looking to find apartment rentals while the smoke clears, but there were few affordably priced rentals before the fires began, so the rental market was already tight. As for single family homes, more than 2 million homes in California are considered at high or extremely high risk from wildfires. That information is from the 2017 Verisk Wildfire Risk Analysis report. That is 15% of all the state’s households.

Is There a Difference in NorCal and SoCal Real-Estate Values After the Fires?

Probably. October’s NorCal fires killed 44 people and damaged more than 20,000 homes, costing more than $9.4 billion in insurance claims. Generally after a major disaster, real estate prices drop, but not so in NorCal. In fact, prices actually shot up in Sonoma and Napa Counties. Consider also that home prices typically fall a bit this time of year as we enter a slower market during the holidays. Experts in the area claim many residents still want to remain in the area, even if their neighborhoods have been blackened by fire. The homes left undamaged following the fire are going $100-200K above asking price, with many paying cash for their homes. They are planning to rebuild their neighborhoods and communities and intend to stay through the rebuild.

But What About SoCal?

If SoCal history is our guide, homeowners generally take a hit on homes post-disaster. If a home is not damaged, but in a neighborhood with a lot of wildfire-damaged homes, they can expect to take about a 10% hit on the price of their home if they put it on the market. The number could be higher if your home is on a burned-out block, and less if the neighborhood is mostly unscathed.

If your home was damaged by the wildfires in SoCal, you are likely to face higher construction costs to get it up and ready to sell. Demand is high for construction workers and materials, and there is always the conversations (which can be lengthy) with the insurance companies about what they will and won’t cover. Often insurance companies don’t place a value on the land, which can be a significant portion of the selling price in Southern California.

Is It Just My Imagination?

No, it’s not. The wildfire season is lasting longer. Used to be, the wildfire concern was from May to early November. By December, we are generally out of the wildfire zone. But our hot Santa Ana winds are pushing the flames through dried-out vegetation that act like kindling to keep the blazes burning. The drought this year has exacerbated the problem.

Getting Professional Guidance

If you are either in the market to buy in one of our featured locations in Southern California, or you are thinking of selling, it is important now, more than ever, that you reach out to a trusted source for real estate knowledge and guidance. The Kovacs Connection team can help you navigate through the ups and downs of the market to help you realize your dreams in making your next home move!

Loan Prequalification vs. Loan Pre Approval in Orange County

Posted on | by Cuselleration

You are finally ready to make the move into homeownership. From all of the online searching you have done, you know that you need to get a “pre-something” to prove you are a serious home buyer. But which is it: preapproved or prequalified? These both sound good, but they have different purposes.

Getting preapproved

The preapproval process is like a test drive before you submit your formal application for a mortgage. The loan officer and an underwriter will verify the figures, facts and your credit history. This process could help pinpoint things you may want to improve or errors that you will want to correct before entering the formal application review process. A loan officer will also start looking for mortgage programs that might apply to your financial situation. The preapproval process is more precise because it is fully underwritten and helps ensure your home buying process will go smoothly.

In addition to ordering your credit report, a loan officer may ask for copies of last year’s W-2s, brokerage, savings account statements, current pay stubs and your credit history..

Getting prequalified

When you ask a loan officer to do a prequalification, it can be done online, in-person or by phone. They will verbally ask you to share information on your income, assets, credit and the amount of debt you owe.

It’s a conversation that helps establish some financial parameters before you make offers on properties and helps you find the ideal price range when starting your search.

The process is useful for first-time buyers and is not rigorous enough to distinguish you from the other attendees at an open house or when you request a showing. The reason is that the letter is based off something similar to a best guess by a loan officer. It’s not reviewed by an underwriter and doesn’t address what to expect in regards to the type of mortgage needed to buy a home.

Your monthly bills

When you are preapproved, you will receive a letter to share with real estate agents and home sellers. After you have an offer accepted on a home, you will still need to formally apply for a mortgage. This review process will involve a deeper dive into the information you have already given. Having a pre-approval letter also means faster service and turn times to get you into your house sooner. The official mortgage application is more likely to be easier than with just a prequalification.

Why should you bother getting prequalified?

The prequalification process does not take a lot of time or effort on your part. Any cost is usually limited to that of requesting a credit report. When you already have an idea of the South Orange County area you want to look in and the type of home you can afford, skipping the prequalification step could make sense. It is a preliminary step for those who need a starting point.

In comparison, for most buyers, a pre-approval is a step that they should not skip. Obtaining a letter from a lender that states you are preapproved can be especially helpful in neighborhoods where the existing home inventory is tight and when the home you are looking at is perfect. Being pre-approved makes it easier for the seller to accept your offer over that of a buyer that has not taken this extra step.

Are you in the market to purchase a home in Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita or Coto de Caza? Click here to talk to the Ryan Grant Team today!

What Makes a Property’s Value Rise and Fall in Orange County?

Posted on | by Cuselleration

In today’s Orange County housing market, buyers and sellers alike try to understand the concept of home value appreciation.

The value of your home may appreciate over time, unlike the purchase of a car which depreciates when you drive it off the lot. Appreciation is based on a few factors.

Location is as important as the home

It’s all about the location, location, location! You have heard this before. Where you buy your home may be the most important and controllable factor to appreciation. If value increase is important to you, make sure to give thought to where you buy.

Ask yourself these questions when buying as it relates to location. Is the house close to major highways? Are there good schools nearby? Is the home conveniently located to entertainment and shopping? Does it have a nice view?

Investing in a desirable location may contribute to equity in your home down the line and can mean more money in your pocket if you decide to sell.

Acres and land accumulate

Another factor to consider is how much you buy. We are talking land, not the physical structure of your house. Think about supply and demand. Land is a precious commodity in Orange County and we are not getting any more of it. As the Earth’s population increases, so does the need for land.

If your budget does not allow for both a big, gorgeous home with a considerable piece of land, you might wish to consider opting for a more conservative home and keep the land.

The benefit of upkeep

Take care of your house. While it may not be as huge a factor as the location and land itself, having a well-maintained house with attractive details and modern amenities might increase the equity of your home. It will also help it sell faster when you are ready. Separate your home from the rest with our home selling tips here!

The external effects

It’s smart to give thought to how your home will appreciate. The reality is that appreciation rates vary based on factors beyond the control of the homebuyer.

The local, national and global economy affects the real estate market. This affects what your home is worth at any given time. To put it simply, the more people could afford to buy homes, the greater the demand becomes for homes. This makes home values rise.

Move fast! Timing is everything

If you are shopping for a house right now, you know that it is a seller’s market. In some locations in Orange County, a house could be under contract within days or hours. This trend has had a positive impact on home values across the nation.

In May of this year, Zillow has reported a national home value index of $199,200. This is an increase of .5% from April this year and 7.4% from last year. To put it simply, sellers have a great chance of getting the most bang for their real estate buck in the current market.

Are you in the market to buy a home in Coto de Caza, Rancho Santa Margarita, or Mission Viejo? Click here to talk to the Ryan Grant Team today!

7 Mortgage Facts You Should Know

Posted on | by Cuselleration

The seven mortgage facts below will give you an advantage when shopping for a home or refinancing an existing loan.

1. Mortgage rates are always changing

Similar to the stock market, mortgage rates are changing throughout the day. Mortgage rates you see today might not be available tomorrow. If you are in need of a mortgage loan, make sure to check the current rates being offered by lenders. If you have already done your research and have found your dream house, you should consider locking in your rate as soon as possible.

2. Different mortgage lenders charge different fees

Don’t expect all lenders to charge the same fees for a mortgage loan. Each lender structures their fees differently. The next time you apply for a mortgage loan pay close attention to the rates, closing costs and points being charged.

3. Lenders could sell your loan to another bank

Most home buyers have experience getting a mortgage loan with a certain lender only to find out that the loan has been sold to another bank. This happens because lenders need to free up their liabilities in order to make room to give out more loans. However, it doesn’t affect your mortgage whatsoever and it’s important to pay close attention to your mortgage statement and any correspondence you receive in the mail to make sure you don’t make payments to the wrong bank.

4. Your middle credit score

When you’re applying for a mortgage loan, the lender will pull your credit scores from Transunion, Experian and Equifax to assist them in determining your credit. Your middle score of the three is what lenders will use to qualify for a loan. But the underwriter will review all three scores as part of the loan underwriting process. If you pull your own credit score through an online website, the credit scores displayed to you might be different than what lenders use because they use different credit reporting systems.

5. It’s possible to have a low down payment for a mortgage

You don’t necessarily have to come up with a 20% down payment to get a mortgage loan. You can get an FHA mortgage loan with a 3.5% down payment. The VA and USDA loans require no money down. VA loans are used for military veterans and their families. USDA loan are usually used for farming or rural properties.

You should take note that many lenders will require some type of mortgage insurance for loans that have less than a 20% down payment on a purchase loan or less than 20% equity available on a refinance.

6. You could refinance your home loan anytime

You’re allowed to refinance your mortgage at anytime, but this doesn’t necessarily mean you should. Think about why you would like to refinance. Is it because you want to lower your monthly payments, to take cash out from your equity, or to change the type of loan you are in? Make sure your reason makes financial sense.

7. You could get a mortgage loan after a foreclosure

Most homeowners have experienced a foreclosure after the recent mortgage crisis. There’s good news for these borrowers because they could obtain a mortgage loan after foreclosure. But there are waiting periods involved. For instance, to apply for an FHA loan you need to wait three years after foreclosure to apply. If you would like to get a conventional loan, you will need to wait seven years from foreclosure. For those who would like a VA loan, the waiting period is two years.
Do you have a mortgage question? Click here to contact our partners at the Ryan Grant Team today! And if you’re ready to start searching homes let us know!

Benefits of a Veteran Home Loan

Posted on | by Cuselleration

VA home loans are one of the most powerful loan options on the market for veterans and active military. It’s becoming difficult for many military borrowers to build the credit and assets necessary to move forward with conventional home financing.

 

The advantages of the VA loan program over other loan types are a big reason why VA loan volume has continually increased over the last five years.

VA financing comes with significant financial benefits for those who have served our country. The requirements to secure them are often looser than what would be needed for a conventional or even FHA loan.

For a lot of active military and veterans, the VA home loan program is their only real path to homeownership. The increasing popularity has stemmed from the main advantages of VA loans. Let’s take a deeper look at the great benefits of VA mortgages:

No Down Payment

The VA loan program offers service members and veterans incredible benefits, from zero dollars down to no PMI and more.

Qualified veterans can get a VA loan without making any down payment. Compared to FHA and conventional loans, this gets converted into significant monthly savings.

The minimum down payment amount on an FHA loan is three and a half percent. In conventional financing, it’s oftentimes five percent. On a quarter million dollar mortgage, a military borrower would need to come up with eighty-seven hundred dollars in cash for an FHA loan and twelve thousand five hundred dollars for the conventional loan. These are significant and insurmountable sums for the average military borrower. The average VA borrower has just under nine thousand dollars in total assets.

The great benefit of being able to buy a home with a zero dollar down payment helps veterans and active military members get a slice of the “American dream” without having to spend years scraping and saving for a sizable down payment. This means those who serve our country can get into homes in the present, not in the future years down the road.

No Mortgage Insurance

Unlike FHA and conventional loans, a VA loan does not require monthly mortgage insurance. FHA loans come with both annual and upfront mortgage insurance charges. On a quarter million dollar mortgage, the FHA annual mortgage insurance can add about one hundred seventy dollars per month to your monthly mortgage payment.

According to VA estimates, veterans who secured a VA loan last year will save more than forty billion dollars in private mortgage insurance costs over the life of their loans.

Conventional borrowers who cannot put down twenty percent usually have to pay for private mortgage insurance.

This is an additional monthly fee that is tacked on to your monthly mortgage payment until you build twenty percent equity. The cost would vary by the loan amount, but it is not uncommon to pay more than one hundred dollars per month for PMI.

Competitive Interest Rates

Since the VA guarantees a portion for every VA loan, financial institutions could offer lower interest rates to VA borrowers that are typically one half to one percent lower than conventional interest rates. Rates are based on the inherit risk considered by the lender to finance the loan. The VA’s guarantee brings lenders a sense of security that allows them to charge competitively lower rates.

On a thirty-year quarter million dollar loan, the difference between paying a four percent and four and a half percent rate can mean approximately forty thousand dollars in savings over the life of the loan.

Closing Cost Limits

Closing costs and fees are included in all mortgages. But the VA actually limits how much veterans could be charged when it comes to these expenses. Some fees and costs need to be covered by other parties involved in the transaction. These safeguards assist in making homeownership affordable for homebuyers that are qualified.

Do you have a question on a VA loan for a home in Rancho Santa Margarita, Coto De Caza and other Orange County surrounding cities? We recommend you talk to the Ryan Grant Team, OC’s top mortgage lender!

Can I Buy Foreclosures in Rancho Santa Margarita?

Posted on | by Cuselleration

Foreclosures are a tricky subject for the regular consumer, so understanding how to buy them is important before you start shopping for a deal. With the right people on your side, you shouldn’t have any problems!

Why Rancho Santa Margarita?

Rancho Santa Margarita is one of Orange County’s youngest cities, and it is a masterfully planned community set up on beautiful rolling hills. The outstanding amenities and serene natural surroundings offer up countless opportunities for new experiences.

Rancho Santa Margarita foreclosures are one of the best examples of finding a great bargain on a home for your family as it is a bank owned home. Bank owned homes, also known as foreclosures, can be an excellent opportunity to purchase a home below the market value and with a clear title ownership.

More About The Banks

It’s not uncommon for bank foreclosure properties to have multiple offers and often sell well below asking price.  The demand for bank owned properties in Orange County has reached an all time high due to low affordable prices combined with lower interest rates.

If you are thinking about doing a short sale for your home, please contact a real estate agent for valuable information before you put your home on the market.

Photo By Shutterstock/Kevin George 

How To Do It

Finding a real estate agent, doing your research, and knowing what you can afford will all help make the home-buying process much smoother. Before looking through Rancho Santa Margarita foreclosures, be sure you know about how buying a foreclosed home is different from a traditional home purchase.

The listings for foreclosure properties are a great source for finding great homes at a great price.  Be prepared to compete against buyers just like yourself if you find a property that you like, Rancho Santa Margarita home foreclosure listings are some of most sought after real estate in the entire country!

Getting A Quality Realtor

One of the most important qualities of a real estate agent is the ability to discover and address the diverse needs, wants, expectations and concerns of different home sellers and buyers. This ability can only come through really caring about people, together with a whole lot of practical experience and education.

There are a lot of bank owned and foreclosure properties for sale in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. Whether you are a home-buying pro looking for a deal on Rancho Santa margarita foreclosures or you are just searching for the perfect place to call your own, we can help set you on the path to achieving your home-ownership goals.

Photo By Shutterstock/Pressmaster

 

A real estate agent should be able to provide all of the foreclosure homes currently for sale Rancho Santa Margarita. Since timing is everything, make sure you sign up for home updates as they come in the market, that way when a Rancho Santa Margarita foreclosure becomes available, you are the first one to know. Find the home that is right for you.

We Can Make it Happen!

Want to find foreclosures for sale in Rancho Santa Margarita? It’s so easy with the Kovacs Connection on your side! If you need any advice or tips, feel to call us at 949-350-0146, or you can email us as well at Debrakovacs@cox.net. We have plenty of tips to help you and several services to offer!

 

4 Reasons to Buy a Home in Mission Viejo

Posted on | by Cuselleration

We know how hard it can be to find a community that you are willing to buy a home in. But, when it comes to certain areas, there is no “bad side of town” to be heard of. Mission Viejo just happens to be one of these areas.

The reasons for this are numerous, but we think it can be chalked up to four major reasons that give this community something that not each one has.

 Exceptional Life Quality

One of the Orange cities youngest and exquisitely planned community, Mission Viejo is a perfect option to buy a home for nature enthusiasts. The city which is set around Lake Mission Viejo, which creates a sense of harmony when you stand on the banks or take a boat out into the water.

The townsfolk have a welcoming and exciting spirit, and they take pride in making sure their homes are well maintained.

Better yet, there are amenities like parks and pools which do well to meet the needs of the community and the families within them. The quality of life in Mission Viejo makes it a perfect place to buy a home.

An Attractive Real Estate Market

The real estate market in Mission Viejo is both lucrative and enterprising, offering attractive opportunities for potential buyers and investors. As the community grows day by day, so does the quality of life here. Most facilities in Mission Viejo are owned by private organizations.

The city also maintains the transportation systems to ensure safe and convenient access is provided to serve local community needs. Thanks to the amenities, high caliber prospective community members and move to town and well respected current community members tell their friends and family to join them!

These factors will continue to attract great people and exciting businesses that are beneficial to the entire community.

Clean Environment

Mission Viejo is particularly environmentally friendly. It gives you a modern day rural like feeling. The land is mostly owned and maintained by private organizations which make it all the more attractive. If you survey 100 random Mission Viejo residents, the vast majority of respondents will have favorable views of the City as a place to live. This is because residents are optimistic about the future direction, with nine out of ten people believing that things will get even better or stay the same in the next five years.

If you survey 100 random Mission Viejo residents, the vast majority of respondents will have favorable views of the City as a place to live. This is because residents are optimistic about the future direction, with nine out of ten people believing that things will get even better or stay the same in the next five years.

Outstanding Health and Education Facilities

Mission Viejo is home to several great public and private schools. Many parents are also putting their children into Montessori schools at a young age, and the effects are almost immediate. Children enrolled in an encouraging learning environment with a wealth of opportunities to grow and expand do better their entire lives!

Getting a great education for your children is easier in Mission Viejo than it is in most other towns.

They also boast a cutting edge medical center at Mission Hospital (St. Joseph Health.) They treat both Mission Viejo and Laguna Beach but don’t think that means they’ll be slow to get to you.

Mission Hospital is known to have the best doctors and most up to date technology to ensure a precise and speedy experience in any emergency. We’ve heard stories that neighboring towns will drive further to get to the ER here because they know the extra commute will save hours of waiting time.

Whether that’ true or not, we don’t know, but it might be worth checking into if you have kids!

 

Give Us a Call!

If you’re thinking now is the right time to buy a home in Mission Viejo, you’re right! Give us a call at 949-350-0146 or email us at Debrakovacs@cox.net and we can give you more tips on what to look for when you a buy a home in Mission Viejo or its neighboring cities!

A Quick Guide to Finding Best Realtors in Mission Viejo

Posted on | by Cuselleration

Finding realtors in Mission Viejo is a crucial first step you must take if you want to sell or buy property in the area.

As lucrative as it sounds, a property deal can be a tricky business no matter which side of the table you are on. The stakes can be high, so you don’t want to be without the professional guidance of an experienced realtor.

It is nearly impossible to gather all the information on your own to make an informed decision.  No wonder most of the people, planning to dispose of their property or acquire one, hire a professional broker to get the best deal possible!

Hiring a good real estate agent makes the whole thing really hassle-free and a lot quicker. Here’s a list of important points to keep in mind in order to pick the best agent:

Good Word of Mouth: The formula never goes out of style. It is one of the oldest and most trusted informal ways to get reliable information. You just have to make a little effort such as picking up your phone.

Call your friends and ask them if they have recently done any property business. They are a trustworthy source of info. Once you have recommendations from those who care, get in touch with the agents. Most agents would happily provide you with contact details of their recent clients.

Talk to those clients, selectively. You will get a pretty good idea what the asking prices and selling prices were. They may also answer some questions you didn’t even know you had!

Business Experience: You can find this out by either directly asking the prospective agent or through a licensing authority. A real estate agent with five or more years of experience is good news.

Long durations in the real estate business ensures that the agent is well aware of the current events, latest prices and specific locations in the market.

Look for License: Visiting the agents in their office is an effective strategy. If they have a license, it will certainly be put on display on their office walls, office desks or places like that.  You just have to look for it at their workplace.

The license regulatory bodies keep a check on the credibility of agents. They also keep a record of any disciplinary action or complaint, lodged against them, if any. The record should be posted online and is accessible to the public.

Credentials and Awards: Awards matter, so does formal training. They are huge endorsements. If the agent has been given a prestigious award, it just means their performance in the field is excellent and has been acknowledged by the peers.

Other credentials like training certificates are a sure way to know that the agent has brushed up on his/her knowledge. You can assume that they must have taken some training and is quite aware of what the clients want and how to get that done.

An example is a realtor who is a member of NAR. Such realtors are known for their code of ethics.

 Current Listings: There are multiple places which could direct you to the agent’s current listing online. Visit any authentic website where the searchable online databases of various properties have been uploaded.

With a little effort, the database would clearly show you the similarity between the agents’ listing and the property you are interested in. You can then easily decide if the price range and locations meet your requirements or not.

The realtors presentation skills are another important asset that tells a lot about their strengths and grasp over the business skills. Poor presentation is a deal breaker.

Former Deals: Whether you are a buyer or a seller, you would want the best possible deal. Using your network and every other possible source, make sure if previous clients were happy with the agent or not. Leave no stones unturned and look out for the reputation of that agent among your friends and in the desired location.

Trading your house or property is not just about profits and losses. It is much more than that. It’s an emotional investment too and not getting a fair deal can be heart-wrenching. Keeping that in mind, we have got you covered as best as we can so that you don’t stumble along the way.

 Call Us Now!

If searching for good realtors in Mission Viejo still baffles you, don’t worry because we’ve got your back! Give us a call at 949-350-0146 or email us at Debrakovacs@cox.net. We are more than happy to help you with any of your housing needs!

3 Reasons Why You Should Hire the Top Realtor for Finding a Home

Posted on | by Cuselleration

Quality is key, especially when you’re thinking of finding the top realtor for finding a home in your desired search area. There are many reasons why they are the best choice, after all they are a top realtor, but why wouldn’t an average agent do the trick? We’ll discuss the major reasons why.

Better Networks

Everyone knows that your network is your livelihood in business. This is particularly the case in the real estate world. When you’re the top agent for finding a home in a given town or area, you’ll have access to certain people that other agents won’t.

This means that you will be paying a little more for an exponentially better experience. This higher quality network will be able to bring you better homes sooner, make the process move faster, and get you a better price on the house and mortgage, and that’s just the beginning!

Paying for quality in the real estate market makes all the difference.

Better Listings

While it is true that everyone uses the same resources to list and sell a house these days, what most agents don’t have access to is the private home sales. All we mean by “private” is that people who have used a top realtor for finding a home will usually return to them when it comes time to sell their home.

This can be the difference between finding your dream home and just a home that you’ll be happy with.

These listings will eventually hit the market, but not likely before that realtor’s client list has had an opportunity to see the pictures and possibly even take a tour of the home. This means that by hiring the best, you will have access to the best homes in their service area.

That alone is an incredible reason to go for the best!

Peace of Mind

When you hire the best, you know that they’re the best for several reasons. You will probably have heard of them beforehand because they will have a bigger advertising budget and you’ll see their name around town.

You may or may not also know people who have used them before, which means you can simply ask them how their experience was.

Also, they don’t often get a reputation for being one of the best without having a long list of happy clients. Becoming the top agent in an area means keeping a TON of people happy consistently over the course of several years.

A new realtor will definitely get some positive notoriety, but they won’t be called “the best” for years to come.

In other words, being a top agent also means being exceptionally qualified and experienced. That also usually means they have a great team working for them to make your experience both engaging and swift, if you’re looking to find a new or sell an old home quickly, that is.

Do I Really Need a Realtor?

The technology is getting so good that you can virtually do all of the tasks a real estate agent would on your own. This is great if you have tons of time on your hand to learn new about real estate, mortgages, financing, and so on.

The reality is, most people don’t have this kind of time on their hands, so it only makes sense to hire someone to do all of the leg work for you while you focus on other endeavors. Getting the top realtor for finding a home means paying for the expertise of someone who has learned the ins and outs of real estate for tens of thousands of hours longer than a new agent.

Get the Best!

If you’re looking for the top realtor for finding a home in Mission Viejo, Coto de Caza, or Rancho Santa Margarita, be sure to get the Kovacs Connection on your side! Feel free to call us at 949-350-0146, or you can email us as well at Debrakovacs@cox.net. We have tons of tips to help you and several services to offer!