Timothy Johnson (Your Faithful MD DC Realtor)

The age of the internet has brought access to information like no other era. Now, with a few words and a click of a button, Google or Bing can give you the answers you want. With its expanded programming, television has opened up new channels of information for the avid or even casual TV watcher. Furthermore, android phones and tablets allow people to have information on the go, whenever and wherever they like. As a result, people are now armed with knowledge that they weren't always familiar with in the past and are very happy to share what they know or believe they know. However, bieng armed with knowledge is one thing, but being armed with knowledge and dangerous with its use is another. Therefore, buyers and sellers, when you start making you're real estate plans, who will you consult with to get the information you need?

In one corner, we have your friends, co-workers, family members, and general public you come in contact with on a daily or weekly basis. I'm sure, buyers and sellers think very highly of these mentioned people. In many cases, buyers and sellers are having conversations with these people regularly. This means that information possibly gets transmitted from these people to buyers and sellers regularly. So, what are buyers and sellers being told about the real estate market? According to Gary Keller in his book the Shift, "When it comes to buying real estate in a shift, I do believe that most buyers are letting others do too much of their thinking for them." He adds, "A lot of good information can come from these sources, but if these are the only real estate information sources people are using, then they're not getting the entire story."

In a recent conversation, I spoke with a future buyer who seemed frustrated by the information he was getting from co-workers. According to the future buyer, his co-workers were were telling him he didn't need to save as much money as he was planning to save, and they also suggested that he purchase a townhouse instead of a condo. The future buyer said his co-workers told him he wouldn't need all of the money he wanted to save to actually buy a home. They felt that he was saving too much money. Furthermore, the future buyer indicated that his co-workers said that he shouldn't buy a condo because it would be more difficult for him to resale it. In another example, I had someone to tell me they were waiting until 2013 to purchase a property. I shared my professional opinion, but the person said they were watching the stock market and it would provide indicators to determine when he should purchase.

These are only a few examples, but what these individuals are missing is the expertise of a real estate professional. Not only are they missing the general expertise, but the local expertise for their real estate markets. I strongly urged the future buyer to make sure he has conversations with trained and certified real estate professionals like myself to get his information. In the Shift, Gary Keller says that buyers need expert advice. He goes on to explain that they've gotten information from people and the media and then believe they have the entire story when in essence they don't. He adds, "Buyers are either half-informed or misinformed, and both are dangersous because they lead to decisions that are poorly formed."

Real estate agents are trained and licensed to practice their craft. As a real estate agent in Upper Marlboro, MD, I know the importance of annual training. Not only is it required to maintain your license, but it's needed to keep up with the activity and progression of the real estate profession. It's not only best, but it is wise for buyers and sellers to speak with thsoe individuals that properly carry the expertise necessary to guide them in their decision making. If I wanted to learn about farming, I would not go to my dentist to learn how to plant and harvest crop. While he might have some general knowledge about farming, that is not his area of practice. Or, if I wanted to know about Upper Marlboro, MD real estate or homes for sale, I wouldn't ask my barber for that information. This doesn't discount his opinion, it just means that he's not the best person to provide you the information. Therefore, it is important for buyers and sellers to get the most relevant and precise information regarding the real estate market. There are a lot of people who are trigger happy and ready to shoot information at the sound of your voice. Consequently, this can be very dangerous and cloud buyer and seller responses to the market.

If you are interested in buying, selling, or renting a home in MD or DC, please contact me directly. You can get great real estate information by going to my website at www.UpperMarlboroMDRealtor.com. You can also register to receive a free Home Evaluation, Neighborhood Sales and Analysis Report, and Consultation. I am devoted to providing you with the professional information you need.

In an economy that wavers, who can really tell what the real estate market will be like in the future? You have your financial and real estate gurus who are always giving their opinions, but do they really have all of the answers? As an experienced realtor in Upper Marlboro, MD, I always make it a point to tell buyers that you cannot guess the market. There are so many factors that impact the spectrum of the real estate market and can change at any time.

It's important for buyers to not act as psychics, but to act as focused buyers and really concentrate on the obvious and most current indicators of the real estate market. As we presently see, the real estate market has split personalities. Right now, we see the buyer's market personality. It is definitely different from the seller's market personality. Right now, this real estate market is characterized by fewer buyers, larger inventory, and lower home prices. For any buyer, this becomes a buyer's haven to take advantage of the bargains that adorn the real estate landscape.

According to Gary Keller's book the Shift, "A buyer cannot perfectly time a market-no one can. They can look at indicators that will point out the direction in which a market is going and can absolutely mark how far it has fallen or risen, but after that the only way to know a market has bottomed or topped out is after it." So, why then do some buyers continue to look through their crystal balls and make market predictions?

We can safely say that all buyers want a great deal, but the great deal may just be the one that exists in your current market. In a buyer's market, there is certainty that you are getting an excellent deal. It's easy to do a rewind several years back and just see how much homes were selling for. For example, in one zip code area of Upper Marlboro MD, the average sold price of homes was $273,781 in December 2010. However, in December 2011, just a year later, the average sold price for homes was $206,277. It seems like buyers somewhere in this zip code is getting a $90,000 discount on homes for sale in Upper Marlboro, MD. This becomes the deal for ready, willing, and able buyers in that market. In the book the Shift, Gary Keller states, "People who buy in a buyer's market are the smart ones. They're buying in a safe zone and living in the area of certainty." He adds, " They know they can't predict the end of a bust, but they can see when the market has fallen considerably."

Therefore, if a buyer is waiting until 2013 to buy a home, there's no absolute certainty that prices will decline even more. It's a risk that a buyer takes when all economic efforts being taken are to increase property values. If a buyer is waiting because of financial reasons or a need to repair credit, that's fine, but waiting based purely on a good guess, could cause a buyer to miss out on a great deal. In his book the shift, Gary Keller states, "With so many homes for sale, too many potential buyers buy into the biggest myth of a shift- they think that they can time the market. Believing in this myth results in a false sense that the buyer has all the time in the world." Thus, it is in the buyer's interest to master the role of a savvy buyer versus the savvy buyer turned psychic. Master the market where it is and make it work for you and strongly rely on the expertise of your chosen real estate agent!

To learn more about how i can help you buy, sell, or rent a property in MD and DC, contact me directly for your free consultation. Go to my website www.uppermarlboromdrealtor.com and search for information and sign up to receive a free home evaluation and a neighborhood sales and analysis report. Thanks from Timothy Johnson

Selling a home is more of a process than just signing a listing agreement and putting the house on the market for sell. It's almost like a science that you have to really figure out. Now, I don't believe it's Calculus, but it might just be Algebra 2 or Trigonometry if you still have't mastered the art. However, the more houses a realtor lists and sells, the better the realtor should become at selling them.

In the meantime, what is it that sellers need to know about listing their home and getting it sold? First, no matter what market a buyer is in, they want value. Even in a seller's market where home prices are higher, buyers are still looking for the best deal. In most cases, the buyer is going to choose the home that is going to give them what they want at the best value. Thus, buyers really want the most bang for the buck. If buyers can get near to exactly what they want for a lower price, they are going to take the opportunity.

Second, sellers should to know that pricing isn't determined by sentiment. It's understandable to place a personal value on things you cherish or have put money into, the real estate market, however, doesn't price properties based on sentiment. Pricing is based on very tangible things like location, size, amenities, and condition. This is taken into consideration and compared with the sales data of similar or alike homes within the community real estate market. Personal sentiment often gives value to a home that is incongruent with market data . For example, a seller may have put $20,000 worth of upgrades into a home, but depending on the market, the upgrades may now only give a small fraction of a return on the construction investments put into the home. It is critical to understand the market and where it has shifted.

Third, it is important to know the type of market you're selling your house in. This provides an immediate sense of what direction pricing should take. In a seller's market, inventory is less and there are more buyers. Here, prices are higher. On the other hand, inventory is greater and buyers are less in a buyer's market. Here, prices are lower. This all has to do with supply and demand. A demand in supply will drive prices up while a lack of demand in supply will cause prices to fall. If prices are falling or are low, then that's the direction or trend that should be followed. If the direction is higher prices, the trend will be followed but still with the first point mentioned in mind. Buyers still want value and even if prices are higher, pricing should still be very competitive and present a value to interested buyers.

Finally, know that pricing represents a quick moment to lure in potential buyers. When a home is not priced right off the starting blocks, it decreases the homes immediate saleability. As we've heard before, "first impressions are hard to break." It's not always easy to get buyers to revisit a home once they've determined it to be overpriced. This may easily cause a home to stay on the market much longer. Sellers are still in a competition to sell their homes against other sellers, and it is important to be the seller that is in the running for the buyer's offer. However, there are some listings that will just require more time to sell. For example, the average sell time for a community where I have is listing is 6 months. This is not to say that the home will follow the same pattern, but there is a strong chance that the house will not sell as quickly as another home in another zip code. This is information that requires both the seller and agent to be patient and allow the right buyer to come along.

If you are interested in selling your home and would like a free consultation to see how I can serve you, please contact me directly. As an Upper Marlboro MD realtor proudly serving MD & DC, you can go to my website www.uppermarlboromdrealtor.com to register with me, receive online monthly news letters, and/or search for real estate information to anwer your real estate questions.

In a business that has recently seen an exodus of realtors, there are still many real estate agents that remain. As this business has seen good days and bad days, it's important to evolve, but also stick to your script. What I mean, is that your success will come, but not as a replica of another real estate agent's success.

Each real estate agent has a lot of knowledge in common, especially those licensed in the same states. You take the same test to become a a realtor, but then it's every agent's responsiblity to learn and grow in the business. Some realtors learn and grow fast. They take advantage of trainings and learn from more experienced real estate agents and soon become very successful. For some realtors, it may take longer to build the type of thriving business they want.

However, as I've been a real estate agent for over six years, I've learned that you can't be like no one else but you. No matter how much you try to emulate the road another agent has taken, it still will have your name written all over it. As I am gaining new business insight, my success has come from within. Even if I tried, I couldn't be like another agent. It doesn't mean that I haven't learned from others, but it means that how I approach this busness will be my way.

You have to learn to do what works for you and be yourself at doing that. Your personality. Your style. Your drive. Your real estate being will uniquely communicate to buyers and sellers who you are. Your persona as a realtor allows you to standout from others and makes you an individual. I suggest you find the things that make your business grow and become successful but stay true to who you are as an individual to make it all work.

In an area such as Maryland, DC, and Virginia, the competition is often very stiff among agents. There are real estate agents who are doing well now and who have done well in the previous market. They have developed their niches and that consistency has paid off. Ultimately, you become a brand and people can identify you by those charactersistics that make you who you are.

I have specialized in real estate in Upper Marlboro, MD as well as DC, but proudly serve the entire DC and Maryland area. It's up to me to make what I do work for me. People will see my my work ethic and personality, not someone else's. I'm also a licensed social worker and sometimes I just can't help behaving like one, but that's who I am. I have to still make it work. I wish every agent much success and encourage you to make your success yours and learn to do what works best for you.

If you are interested in learning how I can help you buy, sell, or rent a property, please contact me directly for a free consultation. You can also go to www.uppermarlbormdrealtor.com to register with me and receive online monthly newsletters. Or, you can go and browse my site for all of your real esate needs. Thanks from Timothy Johnson.

During my six years as a real estate agent, I have seen the role credit plays in determining the buyer's worthiness to get a home loan. However, what interests me is how the requirements for credit worthy applicants have changed over time. Yes, you still have to have a solid payment history, but there was a time when low credit score buyers had an excellent chance of getting a home loan just like high credit score buyers.

Now, I definitely state my claim to working with low credit score buyers. My victory is that I got these buyers into a home; however, this was some years back. I remember working with clients with credit scores in the 500's. Those days have passed and the sight of such a credit score today is only a reminder of what used to be.

Now, those low credit score clients did use FHA for their home loans. The one thing about FHA is that it has been consistently flexible in it's approach to credit. FHA has seemed to look at the glass half full instead of half empty. FHA looks at the total picture and potential of the client providing more wiggle room in a buyer's situation. According to FHA Home Loans, FHA will "allow minor past credit issues, as long as there is a reasonable reason why there was an issue." FHA will look mostly at the last two years of your credit history. According to FHA Home Loans, "if there are some credit issues, they may be able to overcome them with sufficient explanations and supporting document of why the issues occurred." Loss of job, job transfer, and serious illness are examples. I recall, one buyer in particular who had a credit score in the low 500's who had a great work history and income, but had some blemishes on his credit report. Through explanations that made sense, he was able to qualify for a home loan and is now living in a wonderful condo in Washington, DC. With this said, this is why many buyers today are still going with FHA as opposed to conventional loans.

Through continued partnerships with lenders, the message I hear is that banks are requiring a minimum credit score of 640. Although in a recent sales meeting, the loan offer making the presentation said that his bank will go as low as 620. It seems that banks are still calling the shots for the most part and setting the foundation for what they want as buyers walk through their doors. However, what one bank might not do, there's probably a bank somewhere else that will.

Thus, it is extremely important for potential buyers to regularly check their credit and know what's on their credit report. You should know all three scores before making an application for a home loan. While this sounds ideal, it is in the buyer's interest to have certainty that the home loan application has a great chance of being approved and going through. Many buyers still don't check their credit up front and wait to do this when they decide to purchase a home. Buyers should already know whether their credit is worthy and if their are some things on their credit report that may need to be repaired before they can buy a home. The worst thing is to go and apply for a home loan and not get approved. However, as I continue to work with low credit score buyers, I connect them to a lender who can give them a plan of action to correct their credit and make it worthy to get a home loan. It just means buyers with low credit scores today will have to wait a little longer to buy a home.

As an Upper Marlboro, MD real estate agent, I feel that I specialize in low credit score clients. Sometimes I feel that it's my greater work to help these types of buyers get into homes. It seems that they continue to come my way and I have to work with them with the same zest and zeal I have with my buyers who are ready to buy right now. To speak with me about buying, selling, or renting, contact me directly at 240-547-8104. You can also register with me on my website at www.uppermarlbormdrealtor.com or www.agentskyshooter.com. Thanks from Timothy Johnson.