Asifa Zia -The Realtor YOU want

  Increase your chances of getting your dream house in a competitive housing market. Get prequalified for a mortgage. You’ll be able to make a firm commitment to buy and your offer will be more desirable to the seller. Stay in close contact with your real estate agent. Your agent will be on the lookout for the newest listings that meet your criteria. Be ready to see a house as soon as it goes on the market — if it’s a great home, it will go fast. Scout out new listings yourself. Browse sources such as realtor.com and local real estate listing sites. Set up alerts for the neighborhoods and characteristics you’re looking for. Drive through your target neighborhoods, and if you see a home you like for-sale, send the address and listing agent’s name to your agent, who can schedule a showing for you. Be ready to make a decision. Spend plenty of time in advance deciding what you can afford and must have in a home so you won’t hesitate when you have the chance to make an off

With a worldwide health crisis that drove a pause in the economy this year, the housing market was greatly impacted. Many have been eagerly awaiting some bright signs of a recovery. Based on the latest Existing Home Sales  Report  from the  National Association of Realtors  (NAR), June hit a much-anticipated record-setting rebound to ignite that spark. According to  NAR ,  home sales jumped 20.7%  from May to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 4.72 million in June:   “Existing-home sales rebounded at a record pace in June, showing strong signs of a market turnaround after three straight months of sales declines caused by the ongoing pandemic…Each of the four major regions achieved month-over-month growth.” This significant rebound is a major boost for the housing market and the U.S. economy. According to Lawrence Yun,  Chief Economist  for NAR, the momentum has the potential to continue on, too: “The sales recovery is strong, as buyers were eager to purchase homes an

Not All Agents Are Created Equal In today’s fast-paced world where answers are just a Google search away, there are some who may question the benefits of hiring a real estate professional when selling a house. The reality is, the addition of more information can lead to more confusion. A real estate agent can be your essential guide, but truth be told, not all agents are created equal. Finding the right agent for you and your family should be your top priority when you’re ready to sell your house. The right agent is the person who can truly walk you through the whole process, look out for your best interest, and seamlessly lead you through all the steps along the way. In today’s complex market, the way we execute real estate transactions is changing constantly, especially as more elements can be done  virtually . Making sure you have the best advice on your side is more important than ever. So, how do you choose the perfect agent? It starts with trust. You must trust the adv

Are the terms “real estate agent” and “Realtor” interchangeable?  — many consumers aren’t sure at all what the difference is between a real estate agent and a Realtor, or whether there even is one. Both real estate agents and Realtors are licensed to sell real estate, but there is a notable difference between the two. What is a Real estate agent? and how can you become one? A real estate agent is anyone who is licensed and can help people buy and sell commercial or residential property. To become a real estate agent you have to complete certain number of classes which can be from 60-90 hours of classroom instructions from accredited college, university or technical school depending on each state), pass a state exam,  and then get licensed according to each states' laws.  They also must pass an exam about state and local Real estate laws, standards and practices.   All real estate agents must pay an annual licensing fee and renew them every one or two years, depending on t

Resources to help you navigate the new real estate normal.                                       Technology and good-old-fashioned creativity are helping agents, buyers, and sellers abide by COVID-19 health and safety practices while getting deals done. Some buyers are touring houses virtually. Others visit in person while remaining at least six feet from their agent. Sellers are hosting open houses on Facebook Live. Appraisers are doing drive-by valuations. Buyers are watching inspections via video call. Masked and gloved notaries are getting signatures on doorsteps. “We have had to make some adjustments, for sure,” says Brian K. Henson, a REALTOR® with Atlanta Fine Homes / Sotheby’s International Realty in Alpharetta, Ga. “Everyone is trying to minimize face-to-face interactions. There have been some delays, but mostly, deals are getting done, just with tweaks.” Here’s what home buying and selling during the pandemic looks like. Showings  Go Virtual The rules around