2021 is officially here, and that means the Spring real estate market is already underway! 2020 was an incredibly busy year. The city of Lawrence saw real estate transactions rise almost 12%! The average price of a home in Lawrence rose to an astonishing $260,000. Thinking of buying in 2021? 2022? What's a buyer to do?
Well, the best answer I can give right off the bat is, get yourself a REALTOR! And that goes for buyers looking ahead to 2022. Now is the time, if you haven't already, to find your agent. You need someone in your corner, someone who's sending you listing information, and someone there to tell you what's happening in the market today.
For example, housing inventory in Lawrence is now near 1/2 months-of-supply? Know what that means? Sure, you can google it and you'll get the answer. But that answer won't give you the finer details, and the on-the-ground experience you'll get from a local REALTOR who can interpret it and tell you exactly how it applies to your approach to buying your home!
Now is also time to get the right tools. No, that does NOT include Zillow! You will not land your dream home by relying solely on Zillow. Heck, by the time you see the home pop up on a 3rd party site like Zillow or Trulia, it may already be gone! Nobody wants to go through that. What you need are tools, provided to you by your agent, that are tied directly to the Lawrence MLS. These tools are the fastest, and most accurate tools available.
Next, you need your lender. Unless you're buying with cash, in which case, congratulations Harry Potter, and your recent withdrawal from Gringotts! Most buyers are going to need a lender. Luckily, when you find your real estate agent, they will have recommendations galore! At R+K Real Estate we have local lenders that we recommend and trust. We use them because we're on a first-name basis with them, because they've taken great care of our past clients, and because they too know the local market. They are a crucial resource in any home search!
Of course there's much, much more. But we'll keep the topic of this post aimed at those just getting started. Your real estate agent is YOUR choice! Remember that. They work for you. If they don't, then find another that does. And while you're at it, why not choose a company that's going to Reward you! Commissions are a negotiation. The public doesn't understand this as much as they should. What are you getting for your money?
These days, that's more important than ever! Find our about our Buyer Gift Rewards Program here! We promise you won't find anything like it anywhere else. Good luck and here's to a great year!
