The Science of Real Estate

I think of residential real estate as more than just a transaction. There are a thousand moving pieces that require time and attention. An organized, deliberate approach helps keep stress at bay while solid communication contributes to a successful experience. With the right team at your side you should feel confident and in charge, because you are the executive decision maker.

Yes, real estate is definitely more than a transaction. I think of it as a project. There will be a variety of people that will contribute along the way. But one of the first team members you need to hire to help you buy or sell a home is your real estate agent. Just as you are the executive decision maker, your real estate agent is the project manager.

As you'll find on my website and when you meet me, I'm a little different from your typical broker. I'm thrilled to be part of the real estate industry in a time when technology has become an ubiquitous part of the everyday business of a realtor. I openly embrace and seek to learn new ways to help improve the industry. And most of all, I want my knowledge and passion for real estate to benefit my clients, because a successful client experience is the best reward.

Some people will tell you that real estate is always a great investment, so if you can buy, you should buy.

While that can often be true, it's not always the case. Sometimes renting makes the most financial sense or it might be more important to listen to the market than it is to pull the trigger. But, sometimes the time is right or there are opportunities available that are too good to pass up!

If you are a potential home buyer (especially a first time home buyer), one of the first questions I like to ask is, "Why do you want to buy a house"? Give this question some serious consideration before potentially shelling out hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Depending on where you are in the process, I may talk about TCO (total cost of ownership). The expense of buying a home goes well beyond the closing costs and monthly mortgage payment. On average, TCO can be over 50% above your monthly mortgage payment!

I'm here to help you make the best decision possible for your future. Feel free to contact me to learn more!

If you own a home you may already be keeping a weather eye on home values in your area, just like most people like to have an idea of how much their 401k and other investments are worth. I love all the great sources of information available to homeowners! But when Zillow tells you one thing, Redfin another, and your neighbor lists somewhere north or south of those figures, it gets tricky to figure out what your home is actually worth.

So what is it worth? The easy answer is "whatever someone is willing to pay for it"! But that's not terribly helpful when you want to keep an eye on the market. There are many factors to consider when determining home value. Accessibility, condition, lot size, square footage, amenities, when it was built, the market, your micro-market (neighborhood), competition, and much more. Professional appraisers use some very specific and sometimes complicated methods to determine value. But they don't put a lot of consideration into what it might sell for.

That's where a professional CMA (comparative market analysis) can be extremely helpful. Most brokers offer this service but not all CMAs are created equal. A good, accurate CMA combines the use of sophisticated tools that help the real estate agent find comparable properties, legwork to know the home and narrow down the comps, and inside knowledge of the market and your neighborhood.

If you are interested in a CMA, please fill out the form below and I will contact you within a business day!

If you've decided to purchase a home then it's a good idea to start thinking about your requirements and deal breakers. No matter how hot the market is, if you're looking for a primary home, then it needs to be the right home for you. If you're looking for an investment property, then there are even more details to think about!

I encourage everyone to utilize public tools like Redfin to keep an eye on the market. When you're ready to get serious about purchasing a home, contact me and we'll discuss putting together a strategy that will give you the best chance at successfully buying the right home for your needs. I'll ask detailed questions so that I can beat the streets for you. I can also set up a customized search using the most accurate tools available today.