Welcome Amber Lesnick to the Zealty Home Advisors Team
We are happy to announce that our team is growing and we would like to welcome Amber Lesnick to the Zealty Home Advisors team. Before working in the real estate industry, Amber worked as an accountant for 15 years. Then, in 2016 she decided to jump into the real estate industry and became a REALTOR©. She found out about us through a mutual friend and decided to learn more about what we do. With the skills and knowledge she has, we are launching an insurance company, accounting company, and business strategy company. We are so excited to have Amber join our amazing team of real estate experts and we can’t wait to see what the future brings for us. Welcome, Amber!
How Much Does It Cost To Sell My House?
If you’re toying with the idea of selling your house, you’re probably wondering how much it’ll cost. To be honest, the final number will depend on several factors like the offer you accept, if you help with your buyer’s closing costs, how many repairs you tackle, and more. So, to give you a ballpark of what to expect, here’s some information on a few of the expenses you’ll want to be ready for (see graph below): But here’s something that puts those costs into perspective. Most homeowners today have a substantial amount of equity built up in their homes, and that means they stand to make significant gains when they sell. Chances are, you do too. This can help quickly recoup these selling costs. You may even have enough equity leftover to put some toward your next home purchase too. Let’s dive into a few of the costs from the graph above, so you have a bit more context on what they include and where you may be able to save some money, when it makes sense. Closing Costs and Commission These are the fees you’ll pay at the closing table to cover various aspects of the sale. You’ll have your own closing costs and you may even offer to pay some of the buyer’s as a concession. As U.S. News Real Estate explains: “Closing costs are fees that are paid to finalize the transaction and transfer ownership of the home to the buyer . . . Sellers can expect to pay 2% to 4% of the sale price of the home in fees and taxes on top of the agent commission. Based on the national median home sale price, this means that closing costs in 2023 for sellers are about $7,740 to $15,480. . .” Taxes are going to vary by state and agent commissions depend on what you agree upon upfront. And keep in mind, that the numbers in the chart above are just an example, not exact figures. Not to mention, if you put money toward things like your property taxes, mortgage escrow, etc. as part of your current mortgage payments – there's a chance you’ll get a credit back at closing that can help offset some of these selling expenses. Pre-Listing Inspection and Repairs One optional step some sellers take is having a pre-listing inspection. It gives you an idea of what may pop up later on in the buyer’s inspection – because those are the items a buyer may ask you to toss in a credit (or concession) to cover later on. This allows you to get a jump on any repairs and tackle them before you list, so your house is set up to impress from the start. Again, if you want to skip this step, an agent can help. They’ll be able to give you advice on things like paint colors, small cosmetic repairs, what buyers are looking for, and whether it’s worth tackling anything else ahead of time. This will help make sure you’re spending money on things that are most likely to net you a solid return on your investment. Home Staging As inventory grows, you may want to take a few extra steps to make sure your house stands out. Staging is an optional way to make sure your house shows well. It can include bringing in rental furniture if the house is vacant or art to warm up the walls. Some staging can even be done virtually once the photos are taken. But, in general, how much does it cost? According to Bankrate: “Home sellers typically pay somewhere between $782 and $2,817 in home staging costs . . . but the price tag can vary widely.” If you want to skip this step, you could opt to lean on your agent’s advice for what looks good and what may feel cluttered. A great agent will suggest things like removing a chair to open up the flow of a room, laying down a rug to add warmth to a space, or taking down photographs to de-personalize strategic areas. Why Leaning on an Agent Is Key If you’re looking to cut down on your costs, you have options. But be careful of where you trim. You may be able to skip staging or a pre-listing inspection since those are optional, but you don’t want to skimp and sell without a pro. An agent is your go-to expert throughout the transaction. They’ll offer customized advice every step of the way, including how to stage the house and what repairs to tackle. This can help you avoid hiring an outside stager or having to pay for a pre-listing inspection. But that’s not the only way your agent adds value. They’ll also create tailored marketing and pricing strategies that’ll highlight the house’s best assets and any work you did to get the home show ready. And that can actually help your house sell for more in the long run. Bottom Line Want a better picture of what you should expect when you sell your house? Let’s have a conversation and walk through it together. Give us a call at (515) 329-4667 or email us at zelda@zealtynow.com.
August 2024 Greater Des Moines Housing Market Update
As summer 2024 comes to a close with schools starting up, the Des Moines metro housing market welcomed a drop in mortgage rates, an increase in inventory, and a rise in pending sales with open arms. In this video, we will be sharing the finalized data from August 2024. In comparison to July, August home sales were down 8.16%, active listings had a jump with a 5.01% increase, median sale price in the Des Moines metro area fell 2.67%, and the days on market jumped 8.89% with an average of 49 days. Source: Des Moines Area Association of Realtors (DMAAR) Some of the trends we are seeing show us that more buyers purchased homes that had at least 3 bedrooms and were priced within the $300,000-$399,999 range. Out of all the homes sold in August in the Des Moines metro area, the average home purchased had 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and the average price was $336,038. So what does this mean for you? If you are a seller in this market or are considering selling your home, interest rates are still predicted to decrease which means you could get more money for your home, especially if you have a home that buyers find most desirable. If you are looking to enter the market and purchase a home, we are about to enter the fall season and sellers are eager to get their homes sold before the holidays and new year arrive. At Zealty Home Advisors, we are happy to help you with your next real estate transaction and can answer any questions that you may have. We are a diverse team of real estate experts with many years of combined experience under our belts. Give us a call today to help you in your next home venture (515) 329-4667.
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