A thought (actually I LOL) just popped into my brain moments ago after reading all the quotes and comments over the last few weeks both here and at Rain City Guide, particularly since mid August when the liquidity crisis hit. This is meant to have fun on the Blog a bit, but I’m also sincere. “Who is going to be Tim Ellis’ Realtor when he decides it is time to buy?” I thought.
Tim Ellis (“The Tim”) is probably among the very top informed first time homebuyers when it comes to market knowledge, housing economics and mortgage finance…..and how to build those handy Genie Lifts we see all over the place on construction sites.
There have been many instances where Seattle Bubble readers have purchased over the last year. Today, I met another at our office. Thanks for supporting small authentic independant escrow firms (not owned by real estate broker, mortgage broker, title company or any other financial services business). So, when The Tim decides it is time to buy a home, I wonder how he is going to qualify the market knowledge of the Realtor (and Loan Officer) he works with, provided he utilizes a Realtor’s expertise. Working with a knowledgeable Realtor is advantageous, but, my understanding is that consumers rarely REALLY interview the individual assisting them in a very large purchase.
From my recent observations
Some of the consumers are leveraging the market conditions in their favor:
- watching time on market of subject home they are interested in
- being represented (buyer agency)
- closing costs paid by seller
- negotiating price down
- shopping for best service & price for third party services involved:
- inspectors
- repair contractors
- title insurance
- escrow service (those who finalize and close your transaction)
- mortgage loans
- Use of rebates by individual Realtors or other’s such as Redfin.
Continuing with my premise
One the one hand, a Realtor working with The Tim will probably be easy because he may have all his ducks lined up and ready to go. He will probably have financing already approved prior to jumping into the fray.
On the other hand, Realtors talk quite a bit about how difficult it can be to work with an “engineer” type buyer: those dang-gum-number-crunchers!. In addition, will he be a “marked” man, tongue-in-cheek, as a contributor to the demise of a local market and the idea that if enough people say we are in a Bubble, then mass psychology may start the self fulfilling prophecy? After all, Economist Robert Shiller was at it again today indicating that the unraveling of the market could be the worst since The Depression. Psychology is certainly a factor: we heard no objections when the media continually talked up the market and today it is quite a different story.
So who will be Tim Ellis Realtor? How would you qualify those service providers involved in your purchase? What questions would you ask of a Realtor to find one that is experienced, knowledgeable and works well with you representing your best interests?