Chic vs. Geek: Active Listening

Do real estate agents take into account feedback from prospective buyers they meet during open houses?

CHIC (PEARL)

The short answer: Absolutely! We had more than 160 people come through our latest open house each day over the weekend, and I talked to almost every one of them. What I heard was that the right light fixtures can make the house feel totally elevated. This house definitely has that vibe and more thanks to a series of unique skylights and recessed ceiling lights. And it only took a small investment from the total renovation budget to make a huge improvement that makes a great first impression.

GEEK (KEVIN)

What I learned was how much people love cooking on gas stoves. I can’t say that I blame them. But with many cities starting to ban natural gas appliances in new homes, the only way to get that new gas stove you saw on that cooking show is to renovate a home with existing gas service. So if you want to get your chef on, you should consider buying a newly remodeled home instead of starting from scratch. Or you could go green with an induction stove top. Either way, we’ll help guide you home.

Chic vs. Geek: HomeReady Mortgage

Are you a first-time homebuyer without a lot of money for a down payment? Fannie Mae has a program that might work for you, but there are pros and cons...

CHIC (PEARL)

Fannie Mae’s HomeReady program can help you make a property pencil out with a low 3% down payment and additional flexibility to apply gifts, grants, and cash-on-hand to your down payment and closing costs. You also get the benefits of affordable and cancelable mortgage insurance — unlike FHA loans — and valuable homeownership education so you understand all of the factors at play. Check this quick start guide for more.

GEEK (KEVIN)

So what’s the downside? Well, you need a good credit score just to qualify for a HomeReady loan, and there are income restrictions that could leave you on that bubble of making too much to meet the limit but not enough to make the purchase work. And a lower down payment means additional financing and higher interest rates, which may not fit your monthly budget. Find out if you qualify using this simple map tool.

On the Road: Land of Lakes

We’re so excited to be back on the road! This week, Kevin and I are visiting northern Minnesota and Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in North America — and the world. As you may already know, Minnesota is known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes”, and folks around here take a lot of pride in their bodies of water. We enjoyed a chance to get to know some of them and learn more about this region at the northern edge of the United States.

Chic vs. Geek: Local Touch / National Reach

In today’s real estate market, it’s important to find an agent who knows the local scene and has contacts to open opportunities across the country.

CHIC (PEARL)

As Compass agents, we have access to a cross-country network of more than 22,000 colleagues who can help you find your dream home, wherever it may be. We can also provide you with the best digital platforms to make your buying or selling journey clean, simple, and low-stress.

GEEK (KEVIN)

Did you know about 95% of all real estate searches start online? In order to find potential buyers, you need to hang a sign in the big digital mall that is the Internet. We’ll leverage the Compass brand to get greater exposure for your listing when you sell your home with us.

Chic vs. Geek: Housing Affordability

With younger generations looking to buy or rent a home and older folks staying in their homes and living longer, there’s a nationwide shortage of affordable housing. So how do we solve it?

CHIC (PEARL)

Many first-time homebuyers have unrealistic expectations of what “affordable” means for them, especially in Silicon Valley. Unless you have an unlimited budget, it might make sense to start with a smaller home and build equity toward a bigger purchase later. And take advantage of all the government assistance and financing options available.

GEEK (KEVIN)

I’m a big believer in the power of technology. We have the tools to mass-produce prefabricated homes in factories faster and cheaper than building on site. But red tape gets in the way in the form of land use, zoning, and delays with inspections and paperwork. We won’t solve this problem until government works at the speed of business.