Home Tips March 11, 2022

5 Tips To Help Buyers Navigate Our Seller’s Market

 

Here are five methods to help you increase the strength of your offer.

 

If you’re a homebuyer in today’s market, you know how tough things are currently. Inventory is low, and demand is sky-high, which means that you’ll likely have to compete with others to get it. But it doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom. Here are a few tips to help you navigate the difficulties of this hot seller’s market and find success:


1. Get your pre-qualification letter.
Not only does having this letter handy when you find a home make your offer stronger in the seller’s eyes, but it also gives you an idea of what your house payment is going to be and how much money you’ll need upfront. Whether you’re ready to buy right away or in the near future, now is a great time to speak with a local lender.

 

“Communication is key in this difficult market.”

 

2. Add more earnest and option money to your offer. When you’re making an offer, instead of just putting forward the normal amount of earnest money, be a stronger player in the game and exceed the seller’s expectations. When you’re competing against other buyers, a larger earnest money deposit will help you stand out.


3. Consider the seller’s position.
Work with an agent who has strong communication skills so that they can contact the listing agent to find out what the seller is looking for. For example, do they need a leaseback or a certain closing date? Knowing the answer can help you craft an offer specific to the seller’s needs. Communication is key in this difficult market.


4. Be compassionate to the seller.
Beyond just anticipating your seller’s needs, be compassionate to them. They’re in a difficult position of their own.


5. Put your best foot forward.
Sellers have to sort through a lot of different offers on their properties, and they might not come back and ask the competitors to submit their highest and best offers. That means you need to lead with your highest and best; the seller wants to see who is serious.

 

In the end, don’t get discouraged. Yes, this is a challenging market, but if you partner with a strong agent who knows the market, you’ll be able to find the house you’re looking for.

 

If you have any questions about buying a home or how to strengthen your offer, don’t hesitate to call or email us. We’d love to hear from you.

Market Update March 7, 2022

What’s Happening in Our Market?

 

Here’s what you need to know to navigate our current market.

 

What’s happening in our real estate market? Everyone knows things have been pretty crazy lately, but what does that mean for you? Today we want to take a look at our local market and let you know how you can best navigate it. 

 

The defining feature of our market is our low inventory. Because of it, we’re in a very strong seller’s market, and we have been for some time. You pretty much have to go back to the last crash to find a time with plenty of inventory. After 2008, builders stopped building as many homes to hedge against another downturn, and we’re still feeling the effects today. The pandemic has only exacerbated the issue since people from the cities have been flooding into the Texas Hill Country.

 

“Buying a home in the Texas Hill Country is a very stable investment.”

 

To put things into perspective, we currently have just one month of inventory available. This means that if no new homes entered the market, our total supply would run out in 30 days. The Texas Hill Country generally has between eight and 12 months of inventory, but things have changed since 2020.

 

Because our seller’s market is so strong, many buyers want to know if they’re overpaying. Let us put it this way: Our area never has big dips in home values. Houses appreciate slowly but surely, and when a downturn hits the rest of the market, values level out instead of crashing. This makes buying a home in the Texas Hill Country a very stable investment. On top of that, we’ve been outpacing our normal rate of appreciation for the last two years, and there’s nothing on the horizon that makes us think that will change anytime soon. 

 

The bottom line is that now is a great time to buy. As homes continue to appreciate, the sooner you buy, the better. For example, houses increased between 10% and 12% in 2021, and we anticipate this year to be the same. We know it’s frustrating to buy right now, so make sure you hire an experienced real estate team to go to bat for you. 

 

If you are looking to buy or sell or have any real estate-related questions, please call or email us. We’d love to help! 

Home Tips February 28, 2022

Green Space Landscaping & Maintenance – Part 1 Copy

Home Tips February 8, 2022

Green Space Landscaping & Maintenance – Part 2

Home Tips February 8, 2022

Green Space Landscaping & Maintenance – Part 3

Land & Ranch April 24, 2020

Land & Ranch Information

Introduction

If you are considering buying or selling a farm or ranch, there are important issues of which you need to be aware.

Listing Your Property for Sale

Your farm/ranch may represent the majority of your net worth. Who you choose to list your property with is a critically important decision.  Choosing the right ranch broker will not only help you obtain a top price for your property but will facilitate a smooth transaction.  A good real estate agent will aggressively market your property to the right group of buyers and head off potential issues in advance. Issues, that if not identified and dealt with In the beginning, could later end up costing you money and stress.

Selling a farm/ranch requires specific knowledge and expertise.  It is wise to work with someone who specializes in farm and ranch sales.  Someone who understands water rights, mineral rights, environmental issues, land surveys, easements, building liability etc.  They should also know how to properly assess the agricultural and recreational value as well as the value of your property’s intrinsic aesthetic beauty.

A good real estate agent will help you use the most current and appropriate marketing methods to create desirability for your property.  They will aggressively market the listing of your property with other real estate companies versus keeping the property to themselves in hopes of collecting both the listing and buyer side commission of the sale.

Some of the things to look for when selecting an agent are the agent experience and company track record.  You want a company that is doing a large percentage of sales in the farm and ranch market and who has a reputation for honesty, integrity and professionalism.  You want a company and agent who are well connected with the target audience for your property.

You may choose to interview several agents when considering the sale of your property.  These agents will usually provide a free market analysis of your property and quote you a price they would list your property for.  People often list their property with the agent who quotes them the highest selling price.  This may not be the best person to work with because listing your property too high can end up costing you time and money and may ultimately have a negative impact on your bottom line.

One way to avoid this mistake is to have an appraisal of your property prior to interviewing real estate agents.  Your appraisal should be conducted by an individual that specializes in appraising farm/ranch land and has years of experience.  By knowing what your property is worth up front, you can base your decision of who to hire on factors besides price.  Do not show the agents your appraisal. This is something you reserve for yourself.

When you have chosen whom you are going to hire, be sure to carefully read the entire property listing agreement prior to signing.  If there is something you are uncertain or uncomfortable with, seek the advice of an attorney.

Buying a Ranch

When it comes to buying a ranch property, we know and understand the investment you’re taking on.  That’s why at Phyllis Browning Company, we take the right steps to ensure that you’re getting the best ranch property for you – not us. Our personal experience with ranch ownership and the purchase and sale of recreational properties helps our clients make informed decisions with their own properties.

The Right Property

One of our experienced ranch specialists will sit with you and discuss your needs and desires, and then they will search our vast database of properties to find the best Texas ranch property for you. Quite often we will find an exceptional ranch that is not actively on the market and not widely known.  There are many that are not advertised or marketed via the internet.  Whether you’re seeking a large cattle ranch for sale or an exceptional outdoor sporting property, our experienced team will help you, find the right size, location and price.

Finding the Right Ranch for Sale

When it comes to finding ranch property for sale, every property and everyone is different. Every client will need different amenities and attributes that come with their ranch.  Your ranch broker has the ability to focus and filter through the hype and marketing to find out what is really on the land:

  • Amenities
  • Recreation and Sporting opportunities
  • Privacy
  • Agricultural Operations and potential income.

With over 30 years of working with land and ranch clients in Texas, our many resources and network will help us find the right land or ranch for you and your family quickly.

  • Access:  When it comes to ranching, remote can mean miles and miles.  Your broker will need to know just how remote you really want to be.
  • Privacy:  Who do you want your neighbors to be?  We’ll research to define the use and traffic in the area.
  • Outdoor and Sporting Activities: Ranches are generally prime real estate for fishing, hunting and other activities.  We’ll make sure the opportunities are on the property and to what extent they are available.  What balance of activities will be the right fit for the client? This can be one of the most important decisions.
  • Improvements or Build New:  This varies, but do you want to improve upon the existing structures if needed or do you want to build new? It’s up to you on how much work you want to do to the structures.  Our brokers will find the right property.
  • Agricultural operations of the Ranch:  How will you use the ranch?
    • Will you graze yearling cattle or a year-round cow/calf operation?
    • What will your hay requirements be?
    • How good are the water rights on a particular ranch compared to others in the area?
    • Is a lease to an outside operator a better option?
  • Land Survey:  Has the land you’re interested in been surveyed? Yes and No.

Chances are you’ll have a lot more questions as we begin your search. Our ranch brokers will answer any questions you may have at any time.

You Found Your Ranch, Now What?

Finding the right ranch for sale is only half of the process.  Now, our ranch brokers will help you seal the deal with confidence and ease, we’ll walk you through the complete due diligence process.

Due Diligence:  When it comes to inspections most ranch sales involve unique inspection requirements than many investors and commercial Realtors understand.  We’ve handled hundreds of transactions, and as part of our attention to detail we’ll assist you and your attorney in reviewing the details from A to Z.

These include, but are by no means limited to:

Links

 

  • Verification of legal descriptions, conservation easements, access easements to the property.
  • Title Report Review for exceptions and what they truly mean.
  • Leases
    • Grazing leases to outside operators.
    • Leases from state and other government.
    • Leases to outfitters for hunting or fishing.

 

Depending on the nature of the property, we have seen a due diligence period of as little as 30 days or as long as 90+ days.

 

Closing the Deal:  Now that everything checks out and you’ve learned the details of the ranch for sale, it’s time to close. Many ranches will have existing grazing leases to other operators where the ranch is the lessee.  Those will typically stay in place until the end of the grazing season and will be prorated. Hunting and fishing leases can also be in place and will carry through the seasons or year-end and are again prorated. Most sellers will have 30-45 days after closing to finish moving the personal property off the ranch and conduct an auction.

 

You can have comfort knowing that your ranch broker will work through the closing and afterwards to ensure a smooth transaction.

 

The Rivers Team of Phyllis Browning Company Representations

 

Seller Representation:  When you ask us to list your ranch for sale, we are here for you the seller and only you.  Unlike other companies you benefit both the buyer and seller.  I f you choose our company to sell your ranch, we understand that you’ve put a lifetime of work into it and we’ll lookout for your best interest as the seller.  Contact us today to list a property or to learn more about our seller representation services.

 

Buyer Representation:  If you’re looking for a ranch for sale in Texas, a Phyllis Browning Company ranch broker has the knowledge base and network to find the best ranch for you.  We will approach your buying process with your best interest, helping you find the best opportunity in your transaction. Contact us today to start looking for your new ranch.

 

Buying a ranch is a big process our experts will help you every step of the way to ensure a smooth transaction.  We hope this brief summary of the buying process helps answer some of your questions.  Contact us today if you have any questions or if you’d like to begin searching for your next ranch.