by Tracy Hammons | Nov 8, 2024 | Buying & Selling, Buying a Home, Home buying & selling, Homeowner Financial Prep, Real Estate, Real Estate Agent, Selling your home
Today I sent a picture to one of my clients of my sign in their yard as we prepare to sell their home after already helping buy the next one. The response I got: and it reminded me why I love doing what I do.
REALTORS® have received a lot of attention in the news this year. Most of the stories paint a picture of money-hungry salespeople getting rich while doing very little for the consumer. I will share a few stats here and then get on with the point of what I am writing today. The national average income for a real estate agent is roughly $30,000 per year, closing on average 3 deals a year, while working 50 or more hours per week. For many that is less than minimum wage and we still have to maintain our license with education that isn’t free, pay our professional organization dues, spend thousands of dollars on technology and tools, and we haven’t even calculated overhead from advertising and signage, to fuel and the toll it takes on our vehicles. Despite these challenges, I can’t imagine doing anything else.
So why do we do it? This is the real discussion I would like to share with you today. Most of us really love helping people. We guide people through all kinds of life changes. Some of them are the beginning of a chapter, some of them are the end, and unfortunately, we are even involved with ushering people through the closing of a book. Marriages, births, coming of age, upsizing, downsizing, career changes, divorces, and death are all reasons people contact REALTORS®. No matter what, we are dealing with folks in the peaks, or pits, of their emotion, and we want to be the kind souls who bring stability, enlightenment, professionalism, and balance to the situation. To be the rock that they can rely on to see beyond their emotions and shine a light on the future that is still ahead of them.
I cannot speak for the industry as a whole or even other agents you may know. But I can speak for me and those I choose to keep near me here in Hunt County and across the great State of Texas. We love real estate. We love our communities. We love helping people find their way through the happiest and the toughest times of their lives.
by Ashley Hammons | Apr 7, 2023 | Buying & Selling, Buying a Home, Home buying & selling, Real Estate, Real Estate Agent
While at the Hunt County foreclosure auction on Tuesday, I saw a couple frantically looking for “The Trustee.” They asked everyone who passed by on the 2nd-floor lobby, “Are you the trustee?” It seemed they had not been to a Trustee’s Sale before and didn’t understand how it worked. I was there waiting on my trustee, along with another bidder. We all started to chat and found out the story of this couple and why they were looking for The Trustee. I realized I could help them. I explained to them how the auction worked and that there wasn’t one single trustee; it depended on the property. I asked them if they had a copy of the Notice of Trustee Sale, and they proceeded to pull out a screenshot of the notice on the woman’s cell phone. These notices usually have a phone number or a trustee company name listed, but this one did not, so the digging began.
This couple’s story was that their son’s home was getting foreclosed on even though his grandmother left the home to him. The family was refinancing it when they found out it was getting foreclosed on sooner than they thought. After speaking with the mortgage company, the couple came to the sale to see if the house received any bids. In response to the situation, I started digging and got several phone numbers for possible trustees based on all of the names on the notice they provided me. After about an hour of phone calls, we were able to locate the right person. The woman was speaking to the trustee company and walked away down a hall. I stayed sitting on the cold marble floor waiting for my trustee. Minutes later, she came back covered in goosebumps and was almost in tears. My heart leaped. I wondered, “Are these sad or happy tears?” She then told us she talked to the right person and got the sale postponed! Her son wouldn’t be homeless. The other bidder started clapping and congratulating them. It was an exciting time at the foreclosure auction! After the couple left, the other bidder said he planned on bidding on that property but said to me, “What you just did was amazing! You are a hero!” Foreclosure auctions are not usually very exciting. It’s very uncommon for there to be praise or joy at these events. The other buyer said, “I am happier that they got to keep the home than I would have been if I had won the bid to own it!” I don’t think of the trustee sale as a happy place for the homeowners, but this experience has changed my perspective.
by Tracy Hammons | Mar 16, 2023 | Buying a Home, Income Property, Real Estate Agent
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, we want to share a treasured story with you.Not so long ago, Ashley received a call from a family inquiring about a house next door to them that had been foreclosed on. In rural Hunt and Hopkins Counties, next door can be a half mile away as many acres tend to separate homes in this part of Texas. The family was interested in purchasing the property for a son and daughter-in-law, whom Tracy went to school with in Cumby. Ashley did some research and confirmed that the property had been foreclosed on and was being managed by an asset management company. Since the house was not currently for sale, all she could do was call the foreclosing bank and inquire.
Several months passed and the family stayed in contact with Ashley, calling her each time they saw a vehicle at the property. Ashley, in return, kept an eye out for the property and any change in the records. Out of the blue, Ashley received an email from an REO residential management platform she subscribes to explaining that she had been assigned the listing of this very property! If that isn’t divine intervention, what is? After all, we do believe everything happens for a reason.
Upon inspecting the home, it was immediately apparent this property would be a hard sale on the open market. It had been on fire in the past and not fully repaired, an add-on was literally falling off the house, and rain was leaking in many places from the roof. Many businesses at the time were still working from home due to an illness we will not name, so it took almost six months for Ashley and Tracy to negotiate and close the deal for the family.During negotiations, Tracy waved his commission to get the deal done for the family. After the closing, the family was so happy they delivered a very emotional thank-you letter inside a small treasure chest filled with silver pieces! Yes, Tracy received a REAL treasure chest! If you know Tracy, you know he enjoyed telling his kids about helping pirates buy real estate and paying him with treasure!
Tags: Home, Homes, Hopkins County, Hunt County, Listing, Northeast Texas, Rains County, Real Estate, Real Estate Market, Rockwall County
by Emily | Nov 4, 2022 | Buying & Selling, Buying a Home, Real Estate, Real Estate Agent
Why AT Home Texas Real Estate is the Best Choice for YouThere are lots of real estate agents out there, so what makes AT Home Texas Real Estate the best choice for you? First and foremost, we know the Greenville and the Hunt County area like the back of our hand. Whether you’re looking to buy a home in one of Greenville’s historic neighborhoods or sell your house in the fast-growing country properties, we can help. Our deep knowledge of the Greenville Texas Real Estate market means that we can help you find or sell your home quickly and for top dollar.
In addition to our local expertise, we’re also experienced negotiators. When it comes to real estate in Greenville Texas, nothing is more important than getting the best possible price. Whether you’re buying a home and need to get the seller to come down on their asking price or selling your home and trying to get the buyer to up their offer, we know how to get the job done. Our proven negotiation skills will save you time and money, guaranteed.
Finally, we genuinely care about our clients and always put their needs first. We’ll be with you every step of the way, from your very first showing all the way through closing day. And even after you’ve moved into your new home or sold your old one, we’ll still be here for you if you have any questions or need any assistance. AT Home Texas Real Estate is more than just a business—we’re your neighbors and friends, here to help however we can.
When it comes time to buy or sell a home in Greenville Texas, make sure you call AT Home Texas Real Estate. Our experience, local knowledge, and dedication to our clients are second to none, and we’ll work tirelessly to make sure your home buying or selling experience is as smooth as possible. Give us a call today—we can’t wait to work with you!
by Ashley Hammons | Oct 10, 2022 | Buying & Selling, Buying a Home, Home buying & selling, Preparing your home, Real Estate, Real Estate Agent, Selling your home
Real Estate in Hunt County Texas, and Greenville Texas
The housing market is being directly impacted by the Fed’s strong monetary policy, which is relieving the pandemic-caused housing frenzy. Let us see what is happening in Hunt County and Greenville Texas!
The housing market is still being dragged down by aggressive monetary policy, which has stopped the previously torrid streak of home sales. As home inventories increase and home prices decline, the housing market continues to exhibit symptoms of relaxation. The increased demand for buildings shows that many potential homebuyers may be delaying their major purchases despite a decline in construction permits across the state.
In the previous year, mortgage interest rates increased by 2.84 up 5.22 percent. Texas’ home market immediately reduced sales amid these significant rate increases, and supply has been steadily building up. Despite the decline, prices still are high and stock levels are well below historical levels. Even while costs have decreased recently, they are still extremely high when compared to before the outbreak. Texas’ median price is still 11.4% more than it was a year ago as of August.
Regarding Hunt County & Greenville, Texas, the market for real estate has had various difficulties. Let us find out what the latest market reports and updates are:
Situation till October 2022:
Hunt County sellers are still witnessing a good increase in price even though other indicators indicate toward a cooling market, even though the local property market is characterized as “a shifting market.”
According to a Redfin analysis, house sales in Hunt County in August had a median value of $305,000, a 22.9% increase over the same month last year. Homes in HuntCounty typically sell within 30 days (about 4 and a half weeks) on the market as opposed to 22 days (about 3 weeks) the year before. In August of this year, 155 properties were sold, compared to 172 in August of last year. Hunt County’s short average time on the market for homes suggests that the sellers’ market will continue to be robust.
A group of economists from the Dallas Federal Reserve published a paper in March that claimed the local housing market was in the initial stages of a bubble. Due to sellers’ concern that they would miss the hot market, there are 41% more houses listed for sale now than there were two weeks earlier in the DFW area, where home sales have increased. M&D realtors only recently reported observing more indications of a cooling market, including open houses that had little to no attendees, a slowdown in the flow of offers, and an increase in the number of vacant homes. In Rockwall County, there were 100% more houses listed for sale in the last month than there were at the same time last year.
It should be noted that, according to M&D research, mortgage demand has decreased to its lowest level since 2018, with 14% fewer persons applying than at the same period last year. Additionally, rates of interest have been climbing, with the 30-year bond presently hovering at 5.5% since December 2021, up from 3.29%. Naturally, buyers may still encounter soaring prices, but you might be up against fewer bidders and proposals than they were for just a home even a few months ago. Inventory sales will increase over the following few months, providing more possibilities for purchases.
The market remains favorable for sellers despite recent indications of a slowdown, in part because of ongoing population increase and other considerations.
by Ashley Hammons | Sep 5, 2022 | Buying & Selling, Buying a Home, Home buying & selling, Homeowner Financial Prep, Real Estate, Real Estate Agent
Don’t sleep on listing your Hunt County home for sale while the market is still in your favor.
If you’re looking to list your home for sale in Hunt County, it has never been a better time. However, it won’t be a seller’s market forever. Here are a few reasons why now is the perfect time to sell your Hunt County and Greenville, Texas real estate.
Supply is low and buyer demand is high
At the height of the pandemic, there was a surge in demand for homes, and that demand has yet to wane. Following a 2020 and 2021 buying frenzy, the supply of available homes is dwindling, but the demand for those homes is still as high as it was in early 2020. If you are looking to sell Greenville, Texas real estate, strike while the iron is still hot!
Real estate prices are high
Home prices in the United States hit a record high in May of this year when the median home price tipped just above $400,000. Prices are projected to remain high throughout the fall season and into the holiday season of 2022. Even though interest rates have risen and home sales have slowed somewhat, overall home prices remain high, but they may not stay there forever.
Rents continue to rise and buying is an attractive option
With rents increasing across the United States, buying has never been a favorable option meaning you’ll have an endless pool of interested buyers. Overall, the US saw an average median rent increase of 13.4%–higher than the rate of inflation. Though home prices have also surged, rental prices have increased beyond the median mortgage payment rate making the buying versus renting debate a no-brainer. The swelling of rental prices has buyers looking for homes for sale in Hunt County and opting for smaller markets like Greenville, Texas real estate.
If you’re thinking about selling your Greenville, Texas real estate, now might be just the right time. The team at AT Home Texas Real Estate has years of experience helping sellers navigate the entire selling process from listing and vetting buyers to negotiating and closing. Let the AT Home Texas Real Estate team take care of the fine details while you relax and let the offers roll in.