CREIG SAYS...
Dear Friend:
This has been our best 1st half of the year in number of homes sold, ever! As of August 1, we have sold 503 homes. That is 95 more homes than this same time last year. We anticipated an increase in activity the last weekend of July and it was, in fact, one of the best weekend's in real estate for the year. Time is on our side as the last 30 days of summer are upon us. Coupled with the recent drop in interest rates, we forsee a continued high level of activity to close out the summer.
Our hearts & thoughts go out to those affected by the tragedy in Minneapolis, MN.
Sincerely,
Creig Northrop
· To view Northrop Team listings, click here.
· To view Northrop Team Open Houses, click here.
THE POWER OF NEGOTIATION
Let's face it. At some point, we've all bought something and for one reason or another decided we didn't like it, and returned it to the store for a refund. Either the product wasn't what you were expecting, didn't perform the way it should, or work the way you had hoped.
You can't exactly get a return policy on your REALTOR®. That is what makes choosing the right realtor from the start critical. And there's so much that happens in those first 30 days, you should not waste time with second best.
This month, Realtor Magazine shares the results of a 2006 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® profile of home buyers and home sellers. 84 percent of those surveyed were very satisfied and 13 percent were somewhat satisfied with their realtor's knowledge of the purchase process. Just as critically, 83 percent and 12 percent respectively felt the same way about their honesty and integrity.
Those results are great news, as the majority of those surveyed were happy. But most is not all. If you are not happy, you can not go back mid-way through the process and try again. Especially when offers are on the table. Many consumers who were surveyed reported dissatisfaction with their agents' ability to set and negotiate home prices. And as many of our satisfied clients would attest too, that is often times what puts our team a step above the rest.
With many agents to choose from with differing degrees of experience and knowledge, you need to be 100% confident you have chosen the very best. Think about when you go to choose a doctor. You want the very best care for you and your family, and you deserve the very best. You look at experience, how long they've been in practice, and possibly interview them. The same holds true for your REALTOR®. You deserve someone with experience, recognition in their field, and proven success. Creig Northrop has earned many distinguished awards, including #1 Long & Foster Real Estate Agent in the U.S. in 2004, 2005 and 2006, with record-breaking sales that allow him to sell more than two homes every day. He has also year after year been recognized as Maryland's # 1 real estate agent. You may easily brush aside those numbers, but at the heart of those numbers is the fact that he has handled more transactions than any other REALTOR®. He knows the market in and out. In fact, because he's been in business for so long with such success, he and his team of experts are ahead of the curve, with a bird's eye view of what's going every day in the market. That knowledge and experience is unparalleled, which only means bigger benefits to you as the client. He has seen it all. He has heard it all. You might still feel the need to interview other agents. To find out if they have what it takes to bridge a gap, the strength to bring people together, the fine tuned skill of making things happen is in YOUR best interest.
But the truth is, you can't be sure of an agent's negotiating power until you are a few steps away from the settlement table. As a buyer, when you are submitting your offer to the seller, or as a seller, when you are evaluating an offer that has been presented, that delicate time is the critical point in the transaction. That is also when the strength of a top notch REALTOR® is your most effective tool. It's too late at that point to find out your agent doesn't have what it takes to step up to the plate. If they fail to negotiate well on your behalf or on the opposite spectrum, are completely inflexible and unaccommodating to the point a deal would fall through, you can't go back and try again.
Finding that delicate balance requires hands-on experience, knowledge of the market, history in the industry, people skills, integrity and more. You could be happy with most everything up until that point but when the cards are on the table, you want to have the Ace of Diamonds in your pocket. You do not want to find yourself reluctantly signing an agreement you are not 100% satisfied with because your agent doesn't have the skills necessary to go to bat for you.
And truthfully, it's not just being about being capable of the task. It's about being good at it. Really, really good at it. It truly is one of the primary skills that will help save you money when buying, or get top dollar for your home when selling. It is, no doubt an emotional experience. And because it's hard to detach yourself from where you've built so many memories, you need to chose the very best agent to represent you in the process. An agent you have the utmost confidence in who can communicate your goals, financial or otherwise, your hopes, your fears, and all your expectations, and make things happen.
MORTGAGE SPECIAL FROM PROSPERITY MORTGAGE
Special offer on all Long & Foster Real Estate listings for July and August only! FHA and VA loans receive a 1% rate reduction for one year!
For more information contact Michelle Mathews at Prosperity Mortgage Company 443.535.9701 or michelle.mathews@prosperitymortgage.com. Apply online at www.mathewslendingteam.com.
All loans subject to credit approval, verification, and collateral evaluation. Rates advertised here based on effective rate/APR as of May 1, 2007. Please consult Prosperity Mortgage Company for today's rate/APR. Rates/products not available in all states and are subject to change without notice. Offer valid for sales contracts ratified commencing July 1, 2007— August 31, 2007.
www.northropteam.com
I hope you are enjoying and utilizing the newly designed interactive Northrop Team website. This site was designed with YOU in mind, and as you venture into the process of buying or selling your home, mark this site as a favorite and direct friends and family who may be looking to buy or sell so they too can have easy access to all their real estate needs.
THE NORTHROP TEAM IN THE COMMUNITY
September 29th
Come Home to Howard County
The inaugural Come Home to Howard County Housing Fair in June was such a great success, attracting over 525 participants in search of Howard County living information that this great FREE event is taking place again! It's a great FREE opportunity to learn everything you need to know about renting, buying or fixing up a home in Howard County! Meet with housing and county experts, and participate in our free education sessions!
The event will be held on:
Saturday, September 29, 2007
at Wilde Lake High School
from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
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