I love buyers who approach me with knowledge of the market. They’re confident. They’re informed. They’re also not real estate professionals and there’s a reason they’ve approached me to help them navigate what can be a challenging market.
In a market like we’re experiencing today, when strategic deal-making is key, there’s a difference between knowing the numbers—average days on market, average sales price, the number of new listings—and understanding the intricacies of what it takes to put together a strong offer and an even stronger deal.
We’re operating in an information-saturated environment. Tap on a social media icon and you’ve got the latest market stats at your fingertips. Thanks to the wonderful Steven Thomas of Reports on Housing, I share Los Angeles County data in my weekly newsletter (sign up here) because I know how critical it is for buyers and sellers alike to stay informed about the market.
However, my job when working with buyers is to go far beyond the numbers and talk about the pros and cons of a property only an experienced local-market real estate professional can offer. I answer questions like:
How does this price compare to the freshest comps in this exact neighborhood?
What is happening in the area that may positively or negatively impact the price?
How easy or difficult is it to obtain insurance on this property?
In terms of price per square foot, is this really a good deal?
My expertise extends to all facets of a house, its neighborhood and its community. I take the intangibles about a property and turn them into easily digestible benefits or potential pitfalls that you as the buyer need to know.
So, why is this important? Because the market we’re in right now is not buoyed by momentum and low interest rates. There are definite challenges that can slow the pace of the market, with the exception of homes in great condition and in a great location—those houses move fast. So, an agent really has to know based on the particular property whether the house will sell quickly or whether the buyer has time to think about the risks and the return on their investment.
Buyers today don’t just need information; they need insight. And the agents who can deliver this insight are the agents who instill the most confidence in their buyer clients and ultimately, help bring them home.
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Andrew Manning • REALTOR® • Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties • DRE: 00941825 • 818-380-2147 • andrew@andrewmanning.com