An Investment Called Home

A. Buying your next property - whether for your primary residence, a vacation house or for investment - is a major project, assuming you want to fulfill certain priorities: budget, location, return on investment. Our short counseling session will help you understand the more practical decisions you must make in order to get exactly what you want... We help you understand what you really want and help you through the steps of finding the perfect property and team of experts so you experience less stress and more smiles! 1. Tax breaks. The U.S. Tax Code lets you deduct the interest you pay on your mortgage, property taxes you pay, as well as some of the costs involved in buying your home. This means eventually more of your hard earned dollars stay in your pocket. Gains. Historically national home prices have increased at an average of 5.4 percent annually. While appreciation is presently only happening in isolated areas, most economists see a trend upwards returning within a relatively short time. 2. Equity. Money paid for rent is money that you’ll never see again, but mortgage payments let you build equity ownership interest in your home. 3. Savings. Building equity in your home is a ready-made savings plan. And when you sell, you can generally take up to $250,000 ($500,00 for a married couple) as gain without owing any federal income tax. 4. Predictability. Unlike rent, your mortgage payments don’t go up over the years*, so your housing costs may actually decline as you own the home longer. However, keep in mind that property taxes and insurance costs will rise. 5. Freedom. The home is yours. You can decorate any way you want and be able to benefit from your investment for as long as you own the home. 6. Stability. Remaining in one neighborhood for several years gives you a chance to participate in community activities, lets you and your family establish lasting friendships, and offers your children the benefit of educational continuity. * Fixed rate mortgage only

A. Since we have no seller clients, YOU (the buyer) can be assured we have no secondary motivation to move a particular property! Much of our work is counseling and advising and we highly respect our client's ability and right to make their own decisions. Let's say that again in a more positive light: We remove any conflict of interest by representing one party - YOU. 1 - WE SAVE YOU MONEY 2 - WE HELP REDUCE STRESS 3 - WE SAVE YOU TIME 4 - AVOIDS CONFLICT With so many online tools for finding property, why would you want a buyer's agent? THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ADVANTAGES. In competitive real estate markets, you may need an agent to give you a heads up on property as soon as it comes on the market. If you are relocating to a new area or live in a large metro, a buyer's agent will help you understand what a house is really worth, give you the inside scoop on schools and point out other factors that could affect property values. In any market, a buyer's agent can act as a buffer during the negotiating process and make sure you've covered all of your bases before closing.

A.We are an exclusive buyer agency company. All the agents in our company are licensed real estate agents and work for buyers all the time - full time buyer representatives, specialists. How is that different from most real estate companies? Most real estate companies focus on listing properties for sale for sellers providing seller agency services. Through open houses, multiple listing services and advertising, these listings attract buyers. If a buyer becomes interested in purchasing a listed property, that agent and/or that company may offer buyer agency services to the buyer. Since agency services are obligatory upon the entire company, it is quite easy for one company to be offering them to buyer and seller of the same property at the same time. When this occurs it is very easy for conflict of interest to become a factor. Potential for conflict of interest is the main reason we have opted to specialize in representing BUYERS ONLY. Click play to view The Balancing Act - "The Smartest way to Buy A Home" Live on 3-18-10 with NAEBA Executive Director Kim Kahl and President Benjamin Clark.

A. In selecting a real estate agent, the consumer has four choices: 1. Exclusive Buyer's Agent Works for an office that does not take listings of any kind and represents buyers only. 2. Buyer's Agent Works in an office that takes listings. The Buyer Agent will work for a buyer under contract. If a buyer wished to purchase a property listed by the same office, the agent will declare dual (or limited) agency and represent both the buyer and seller in a limited capacity. 3. Single Agency Buyer's Agent Works in an office that takes listings. He or she can represent both buyers and sellers, but will only represent one client in any real estate transaction. The Single Agency Buyer Agent does not practice dual agency. 4. Traditional or Seller's Agent Works in a real estate office that takes listings. Agents represents the seller and works with -- not for -- buyers as customers. All legal obligations are to the seller. WHICH WOULD YOU PREFER? THE CHOICE IS YOURS If you choose an Exclusive Buyer's Agent with Buyer's Brokers of the Seacoast, you can be assured that YOUR interests are represented 100% of the time with no conflict. We are Realtors® who represent buyers every step of the way. We can save you money and avoid the needless mistakes first-time home buyers often make. Our experienced agents are ready to serve - there are no stupid questions with such a large financial transaction, so we promise to be with you from the first showing to the final closing. Our buyers have saved nearly $3 million in the past three years. We work for you and only you.

A. The Short Answer: The Seller's Agent The commission paid for selling a house is fixed, usually at 5 percent to 7 percent, and paid by the seller. If a sub-agent or buyer's agent brings you to the table, the seller's agent splits the commission. If you opt to not have a buyer's agent, the seller's agent has dibs on the full commission. Some buyers reason that if they don't have an agent, the seller should be able to negotiate for a lower commission and share some of the savings with the buyer. "The seller can try to negotiate with his or her agent for a lower commission if you don't have an agent," said Eric Cunliffe, senior vice president with LendingTree.com, which has an agent referral services for buyers and sellers. "But they aren't obligated." In most markets, said Real Living's Rouda, it's unlikely that a seller's agent will agree to take a lower commission. "If a buyer is not represented, the seller's agent will make the case that they will be doing the work of two," he said.

A. Whether you are moving TO or FROM the seacoast area, we can help you locate an Exclusive Buyer Agent to make your relocation as smooth as possible. RELOCATING TO THE SEACOAST Our 100% buyer representation services are the ideal solution for the stress that can come with a big move. Since we represent NO seller interests, your exclusive buyer agent can be full time helping you find and secure the right home for you. WE CAN HELP YOU GET OUT OF TOWN, TOO! We can connect you, your friends and family to a buyers agent wherever you are moving to. E-mail us and let us know where the destination location is, and we will find and interview a buyer’s agent for you!

A. Our view of the world of real estate is unique. We are an exclusive buyer agency and have been since 1990. That means that we choose to represent only BUYERS of real estate. We DO NOT list property for SELLERS. Why is that important? Our interest is YOURS, the buyer, and is therefore not compromised by the selling office's interest to promote the sale of one property over another. If you are relocating to this area make sure that the real estate agency you choose will have only YOUR interest (the buyer's) in mind! Only an exclusive buyer agency can make that pledge.