Starting A Real Estate Business

While starting a real estate business can provide you with an exciting and lucrative opportunity, you’ll need to prepare for success. This means taking the time to understand what it takes to get started and following those steps in order. The following overview provides you with the first few steps, so you can follow a natural progression that will improve your chances of success.

Establish Your Goals

Just like any career path, real estate investing requires a thoroughly thought out plan that’s designed to help you reach a goal. If you don’t already know where you’d like to be in 10 or 15 years, now is the time to think about your future. By having a goal in mind, you’ll be better equipped for developing a strategy for getting there.

Research Your Plan

The next step is to conduct research, so you’ll have the knowledge you need to succeed. This should include thoroughly researching the market until you have a concrete understanding of how it works when it’s up, and how it works when it’s down. Additionally, researching your competitors will help you understand what is and isn’t working as well as helping you determine how difficult it will be to break into the market. This requires knowing what niche you’ll want to explore and researching how it performs in the market.

Explore Financing Options

Many lenders offer loans with no money down to help new real estate businesses get started, but you will have to have exemplary credit for that option. You can also use your own savings, seek out other investors, or try a real estate crowdfunding platform online. Many investors end up utilizing a variety of these resources to help them gather enough start-up capital.

From here, you’re ready to develop a business strategy and put it into action. This may involve setting up an LLC to help you protect yourself, learning more about real estate marketing, and searching for your first investment property. Networking with others in the field is also an essential part of this process because it will connect you with worthwhile professionals who can help you. When you seek out other investors, they may base their decision to invest in your business strategy. A strong business strategy will attract investors and help you follow a straighter path to success.

 

This article was originally published on JasonCohenPittsburgh.org

Three Tricks For Selling Luxury Real Estate

Luxury markets are complicated things. Buyers tend to be picky about their purchases. Sellers need to understand how to appeal to them if they want to close the deal. That is especially true in the luxury real estate market. The sheer value of even a single luxury property means that sellers need to take the time to get things right. There are a lot of factors to consider, but a few of them stand out because they are so important for making a good deal.

Pick the Right Price

There is an art to pricing a property. If the price is too high, buyers will refuse to pay it. If the price is too low, then the seller will lose money. Sellers need to consider the size of the property, the amenities that it offers, and the details of the area to find a good price. It can be helpful to compare the property to similar ones on the market, but that isn’t conclusive. After all, every property is unique.

The easiest way to price a property is to call in an expert. Some real estate agents focus on the luxury market. Those are generally the best choice because they understand both the state of the market and the things that luxury buyers value. Their expertise is the most reliable tool for finding the right price.

Rely on Great Pictures

Great pictures and clear videos are some of the best marketing tools for sellers. It is vital to remember that quality matters when it comes to photography. A bad picture can make a beautiful home look drab and unappealing, which is often enough to prevent a sale. A great photograph will make a good first impression and draw the attention of potential buyers.

Avoid Open Houses

Hosting an open house is usually a mistake in the luxury market. Most buyers are looking for exclusive properties, and public open houses detract from that. They can also waste a lot of time. There simply aren’t very many buyers in the luxury market. Public open houses aren’t necessary because relatively few people need to view the property. It is generally better to focus on inviting brokers to see the property and setting up individual appointments for potential buyers as necessary.

In the end, sellers simply need to keep their goals in mind. They need to understand their target market and focus on ensuring that their properties appeal to potential buyers. That can be tricky, but it is possible for people who make an effort to do things right.

 

This article was originally published on JasonCohenPittsburgh.net

Curb Appeal: What, Why and How?

It always pays to make a good first impression. That is as true in the world of real estate as it is with relationships. The fact of the matter is that people tend to form their opinions fairly quickly. People who want their property to make a good impression need to maximize their curb appeal.

What Is It?

Curb appeal refers to the way that a property looks at first glance when a person views it from the street. A home with a neat garden, a clean exterior, and quality construction will usually have great curb appeal. Worn exteriors, messy yards, and other signs of neglect all detract from the property’s curb appeal.

Why Curb Appeal Matters

People tend to judge books by their covers and homes by their curb appeal. It can be extremely difficult to overcome that first impression. When people look at a property with poor curb appeal, they see an ugly building. They will expect the interior to match, and they’ll generally be biased against it. On the other hand, they will view a home with good curb appeal in a positive light. They’re likely to notice the best parts of the interior after they step inside. Curb appeal isn’t the only factor at work, but it really can shape a viewer’s impression of the property.

That means that sellers need to be careful to maximize a property’s curb appeal. It can have a significant impact on the home’s value, which makes it vital for people who want to maximize their income from a sale. Homes with good curb appeal also tend to sell more quickly than others. Homeowners should also pay attention to curb appeal. After all, it helps the home to make a good impression on guests and to maintain its value.

How Property Owners Can Boost Curb Appeal

Minor projects can make a big difference when it comes to curb appeal. Basic cleaning and lawn maintenance can do a lot on their own, especially for properties that have suffered from neglect. It can also be wise to repair any damage to the home’s exterior. People who are ready for a bigger project should consider improving the home’s landscaping and exterior lighting. Almost anything that improves a property’s appearance can boost its curb appeal, so there are usually plenty of options.

 

This article was originally published on JasonCohenPittsburgh.org

Real Estate Myths That Can Be A Hindrance

The real estate industry is not very well-understood by the general public. Because of that, myths abound. Some can be quite damaging to both buyers and sellers as well as their real estate agents, which is why anyone hoping to buy or sell a house soon should be aware of the following misconceptions about real estate.

Set The Price Higher Initially And Reduce From There

One common myth about real estate is that there is nothing wrong with sellers putting a property on the market for a higher price point with the intention of negotiating downward with a buyer or dropping the price if there are no acceptable offers. While there is both an art and a science to choosing a price point, being too high can be extremely detrimental. This is because the home may sit on the market for a long time, preventing the seller from selling it quickly. Dropping the price will make buyers start to wonder if there is something wrong with the house as well. Sellers should price to sell from the very beginning.

Home Inspections Are Pass-Fail

Homes do not pass or fail inspections with one noteworthy exception, and that is in regard to specific code inspections that may be required by a local municipality. A general home inspection a buyer typically has done after placing an offer on a home, however, is simply for the purpose of providing an accurate assessment of the condition of the home. The role of a professional home inspector is to note all issues with the home and then it is up to the buyer to decide if they want to continue with the sale, negotiate with the seller on repairs or back out entirely.

Real Estate Agents Only Want To Make The Sale

While there may be some unscrupulous real estate agents out there, the vast majority are required to adhere to a strict code of ethics. There are many rules and regulations they must follow, both from governments and professional real estate organizations. This is especially true if they hold the Realtor designation from the National Association of Realtors. Real estate agents must also be licensed by their state and meet certain standards to be able to renew that license. Their goal is always to get the best possible outcome for their client, as doing so will benefit them as well.

 

This article was originally published on JasonCohenPittsburgh.org