Short-Term Rentals As Investments

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Filed under: Blog, Boca Raton real estate, cash out refinance, contracts, Down Sizing, Exclusive Buyer Agency, First Time Homebuyers, Florida Real Estate, Foreign Home Buyers, HELOC, home equity, Home Financing, Homebuyer Advice, House Closings, International Home Buyers, International investors, Mortgage Information, peer to peer lending, private money lender, Real Estate, Real Estate Closings, Real Estate Investment, real estate news, Real estate trends, Refinancing, Retirement, Reverse Mortgage, second home, Self Directed IRA, Seller Financing, South Florida Real Estate, vacation home by Kim Bregman
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Filed under: Blog, Boca Raton real estate, contracts, Exclusive Buyer Agency, Exclusive Buyer Agent, First Time Homebuyers, Florida Real Estate, Foreign Home Buyers, Home Buyer Advice, Home Buyers, home Inspections, Homebuyer Advice, House Closings, International Home Buyers, International investors, Real Estate, Real Estate Closings, Real Estate Investment, real estate news, Real estate trends, Relocation, Retirement, South Florida Real Estate, Title Insurance by Kim Bregman
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A bidding war is when at least two prospective buyers have made legitimate offers for a home that are similar and the Seller wants to select the best offer and terms for themselves. Bidding wars are common—in most of 2020, over half of home offers presented have faced competitive bids, according to Redfin’s study. Although historically low interest rates have sparked buying activity recently, some neighborhoods are always sought-after and attract multiple offers whenever a home comes up for sale. Exclusive Buyer Agents are experts in winning bidding wars and getting credits during the due diligence period.
Expect to be in a bidding war In a hot housing market, it’s often not enough to quickly make an offer on a house but to have the highest price and best terms.
Here are a dozen ways you can get an edge on the competition.
If you have the ability to offer an all-cash bid, you gain a distinct advantage because you eliminate the possibility of a mortgage falling through before closing. Buying with cash will make the process go quicker because you won’t need to go through the approval process with a lender, who would also request an appraisal. If you can’t cover the entire purchase price in cash, you could agree to a larger down payment on the house, which increases your approval odds and might make your bid more attractive.
Pre-approval is a step most buyers will take anyway, but it’s absolutely essential for anyone in a competitive bidding situation. Pre-qualification is not enough, as it doesn’t show that the lender conducted the same amount of due diligence—such as checking your earnings and doing a hard credit check—that a pre-approval would require.
When you’re preparing for a bidding war, think of it like an auction—you need to know how much house you can afford before you actually bid. Once you know the maximum amount you’re willing to bid, you can include an escalation clause in your purchase offer to ensure you can instantly counteract any other bid. An escalation clause lets you increase your bid to avoid being outbid by another buyer up to a specified amount.
Buyers typically provide 1% to 5% of the purchase price as earnest money—a form of a security deposit—in a purchase contract, which gives sellers the assurance that you will follow through with the purchase. If you bail out on the contract without citing a contingency, you will likely lose the earnest money. If you put down more than the typical earnest money amount, it will tell the seller that you’re determined to follow through to the closing.
Speed is key in a seller’s market as competitive as this one. If you’re interested in a home but live far away or just haven’t been able to tour it, you can still throw your hat in the ring. Video tours and 3D walk-throughs have made sight-unseen offers much more feasible. Almost two-thirds (63%) of people who bought a home last year made an offer on a property that they hadn’t seen in person.
When you make an offer to purchase a house, you know the deal could fall through for numerous reasons, and you don’t want to lose your earnest money because of it. That’s why you include contingencies in the purchase contract; if the home inspection uncovers major problems or you can’t sell your current home in time to close on the new one, you can get out of the contract without penalty. Almost no offers contingent on the sale of a home will win a bidding war. Sell your home, rent and then start trying to get a home under contract. Simultaneous closings are so 1990’s.
If you can’t waive contingencies, sweeten them for the seller. Opt to expedite the contingency timeline.
First-time home buyers and those who have already sold their previous home might be in a position to be flexible with the sellers on their move-in date. A seller might ask for more time if they have concerns about potential delays for a new home build. In this case, they could go through the closing and then rent the home back from you for a few weeks or a month. This flexibility could be as valuable—if not more valuable—than a higher bid on the house.
A lot of successful buyers today win by making an offer that exceeds the asking price…in fact it is expected. This also means that a lot of buyers end up exceeding their budgets. To prevent this, only search for homes that are listed 10-15% below what you can afford, so that you can make an over list price offer.
Home buyers can make their offers more competitive by offering to pay for expenses that are typically covered at least partially by the seller.
Home sellers, especially ones who have lived in a home for a long period of time, can sometimes be swayed by a personal note that explains why you believe this is the home of your dreams. For example, you might know that the current owner raised a family in the home, and you can discuss how you hope to do the same. It might seem a bit over the top, but it’s certainly worth a try when not much separates your offer from others. And yes—sometimes it works. Avoid putting any personal information in the letter that may expose the Seller of real estate agents from violating Fair Housing laws.
With more than half of offers facing competition these days, it’s more likely than not that you’ll get into a bidding war if you’re in the market for a home. It’s also wise to know when to walk away. It’s OK to put your search on hold if you reach the point where you’re not comfortable making the aggressive offers that are often necessary to win in today’s market. You don’t want to end up with buyer’s remorse, after all.
Filed under: Blog, Boca Raton real estate, contracts, Exclusive Buyer Agency, Exclusive Buyer Agent, First Time Homebuyers, Florida Real Estate, Foreign Home Buyers, Home Buyer Advice, Home Buyers, Home Financing, home Inspections, Homebuyer Advice, House Closings, International Home Buyers, International investors, Real Estate, Real Estate Investment, real estate news, Real estate trends, Relocation, South Florida Real Estate by Kim Bregman
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Filed under: Blog, Exclusive Buyer Agency, Exclusive Buyer Agent, First Time Homebuyers, Flood Insurance, Florida Real Estate, Home Buyer Advice, Home Buyers, Home Maintenance, home safety, Homebuyer Advice, Homeowners Insurance, Hurricane Preparedness, International Home Buyers, Real Estate, Real Estate Investment, real estate news, Real estate trends, South Florida Real Estate, Uncategorized by Kim Bregman
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An escalation clause is language inserted into a purchase offer for a home that’s intended to make sure a buyer is the highest bidder. It’s typically used when a buyer and their real estate agent strongly believe a house will receive multiple offers.
An escalation clause states that the buyer will pay a certain amount of money above the highest offer the seller receives. It generally includes a ceiling cap to make sure the buyer doesn’t agree to pay more money than they can afford.
An escalation clause can be a powerful technique when used correctly, but unfortunately it is seldom used as effectively as it could be. Such a clause increases, or escalates, a contract above its originally offered Sales or Contract Price when the Home Seller has received another Contract. The intent of the Clause is to crush competing contracts by automatically and incrementally increasing the buyer’s offer price by a pre-determined amount above other offer(s).
Typically, there are three distinct parts to any escalation clause that’s included in a real estate contract.
Proof of a bona fide offer: You can rest easy knowing that sellers can’t just use an escalation clause as an excuse to make you pay a higher sale price. When the contract asks for “proof of a bona fide offer,” it means that the listing agent must be able to prove that another offer came in with a purchase price higher than your original suggestion. Typically, the listing agent will send over a copy of the page from the other buyer’s purchase agreement that shows the higher price. However, any identifying information for the other buyer will be redacted.
An escalation amount: The escalation clause should also include an amount by which you’d like to outbid any higher offers.
A price cap: The price cap represents the maximum amount you’re willing to pay for the property, or how high you’re willing to allow your offer to go. If an offer is submitted that is higher than this amount, be aware that your offer may be taken out of the running.
Pros of Using an Escalation Clause
Cons of Using an Escalation Clause
Don’t make the mistake of thinking the Highest Contract Price will always win; other TERMS of a contract can often prove more valuable to the Sellers.
Having a knowledgeable Exclusive Buyers Agent is invaluable for situations like this and for understanding the risks and possible benefits of opening negotiations in this manner. The seller has the right not to respond to any offer, whether or not it contains an escalation clause.
Filed under: Blog, Boca Raton real estate, contracts, Exclusive Buyer Agency, Exclusive Buyer Agent, First Time Homebuyers, Florida Real Estate, Home Buyer Advice, Home Buyers, Homebuyer Advice, House Closings, International Home Buyers, International investors, Real Estate, Real Estate Closings, Real Estate Investment, real estate news, Real estate trends, South Florida Real Estate by Kim Bregman
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Filed under: Blog, Boca Raton real estate, Down Sizing, Exclusive Buyer Agency, Exclusive Buyer Agent, First Time Homebuyers, Florida Real Estate, Home Buyer Advice, Home Buyers, Homebuyer Advice, International Home Buyers, Real Estate, real estate news, Relocation, South Florida Real Estate by Kim Bregman
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Filed under: Blog, Boca Raton real estate, coronavirus, Exclusive Buyer Agency, Exclusive Buyer Agent, First Time Homebuyers, Florida Real Estate, Foreign Home Buyers, Home Buyer Advice, Home Buyers, Home Financing, home Inspections, home safety, Homebuyer Advice, House Closings, International Home Buyers, International investors, Real Estate, Real Estate Closings, Real Estate Investment, real estate news, Relocation, South Florida Real Estate by Kim Bregman
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The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has put a stop to the normal routines of everyday life both in the U.S. and abroad. And while social distancing is the course of action to take until told otherwise, moves aren’t always something that can wait. Real estate is considered an essential service in all states and there are many services providers to assist you in facilitating a move to a new home.
By taking extra safety precautions and minimizing social contact, you can still move safely. If you are about to move, you can still pull it off with a little extra planning and a few precautionary steps.
Here are some tips for making your move as safe, seamless and stress-free as possible.
There have not been any notable shutdowns of service among major moving companies. That being said, decisions about closures may be left to individual franchise owners. If you have already scheduled your move and haven’t heard anything, assume that your moving company is still providing services unless told otherwise, but still call just to confirm.
If you’re worried about moving during a pandemic for a move that is still upcoming and for which you haven’t scheduled movers, it’s hard to say what will and will not be available in the months to come. For now, continue to do research on companies and ask directly what steps are being taken when you reach out. What has changed at this point is largely going to be related to the customer experience itself, including frequent hand washing among movers and no physical contact between movers and clients.
If you need to select a moving company, ask for a virtual quote and see if the company offers fully contactless service. Forgo handshakes, for obvious reasons. A smile and a generous tip (sent through Venmo, PayPal or another contactless digital platform) are a welcome substitute. These companies have virtual estimate procedures available for competitive quotes
Moving companies are taking the coronavirus pandemic very seriously. To that end, companies across the country have put into place protocols designed to protect their employees and their customers. These include:
All of these practices help ensure that moving services can remain available in a safe way.
Company | Status | Additional info |
AmeriFreight | Open | Learn more |
Montway Auto Transport | Open | Learn more |
Sherpa Auto Transport | Open | Learn more |
Ship a Car Direct | Open | Learn more |
uShip | Open | Learn more |
Company | Status | Additional info |
Allied Van Lines | Open | Learn more |
American Van Lines | Open | Learn more |
Expedia Van Lines | Open | Learn more |
First National Van Lines | Open | Learn more |
International Van Lines | Open | Learn more |
Interstate Moving & Relocation Group | Open | Learn more |
North American Van Lines | Open | Learn more |
PODS | Open | Learn more |
Silver Star Moving Group | Open | Learn more |
United Van Lines | Open | Learn more |
Same as moving companies, major storage companies continue to run operations. What you might be able to expect however is limited hours of accessibility and/or a reduction in the number of customers who are able to access their units at any one time. Storage companies should also be following proper hygiene practices, including sanitization of access pads and the requisite six feet or more of space between customer and customer and customer and employee.
Company | Status | Additional info |
CubeSmart | Open | Learn more |
Extra Space Storage | Open | Learn more |
Public Storage | Open | Learn more |
The process of a DIY move looks pretty much the same now as it did before COVID-19, minus the ability to have a couple friends come over and lend a hand in exchange for pizza. Some additional things that you will want to do however include keeping hand sanitizer, soap, and paper towels accessible at all times, we well as making a detailed plan for both your departure and arrival.
Major rental truck companies continue to be in service, as they are considered essential for transportation and personal mobility needs. Again, what may be different is the experience, since companies like Enterprise and U-Haul have put into place their own protocols for physical distancing. This means that your pick-up and drop-off location may not be at the branch office, and that you’ll have to make your reservation online or over the phone instead of in person.
If you rent, talk to your current landlord about how you can safely drop off keys and collect your security deposit, and talk to your new landlord about the process for a safe move in. Putting in a blueprint of steps ahead of time will help you maintain social distancing during your DIY move and answer any questions you might have about the process.
Company | Status | Additional info |
Budget | Open | Learn more |
Enterprise | Open | Learn more |
Penske | Open | Learn more |
The Home Depot | Open | Learn more |
U-Haul | Open | Learn more |
One silver lining is that social distancing means that you might have more time to devote to organizing your home prior to your move and getting rid of the things you no longer want or need. If you plan on donating items like clothing, linens, furniture, shelf stable non-perishables, etc., call the place that you would like to donate to ahead of time and see what their policies are. While many people are in need during this time, it’s likely not going be quite as easy as just driving to your nearest donation center and dropping stuff of (but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it).
Company | Status | Additional info |
1-800-GOT-JUNK | Open | Learn more |
College Hunks Hauling Junk | Open | Learn more |
LoadUp | Open | Learn more |
Waste Management Dumpster Rentals | Open | Learn more |
This is important to confirm your reservation and discuss best practices for moving day. Moving companies are putting in lots of safeguards to help protect their clients, and it helps to be on the same page as them in terms of what is expected.
You are going to want to get it right with just one trip to the store, so make sure you know exactly what you’re going to need for your move. Don’t use free or recycled moving boxes. The coronavirus can live on cardboard for as long as 24 hours, so now is not the time to be picking up free moving supplies from places that are recycling them. Boxes that you already have in your home are fine, but if you need any extras then you’ll need to go to the store and buy them new (even better if you can then purchase them through self-checkout). Better yet, order all your moving supplies online and have them shipped to your residence. Clean as you pack. Use this opportunity to sanitize your belongings, wiping items down with disinfectant. If you don’t have any, you can make one with a solution of one tablespoon bleach to one gallon of water.
Coronavirus can last a long time on surfaces, including up to 24 hours on cardboard boxes. Your movers will be wearing gloves, but for everyone’s safety you should still have your boxes packed and sitting untouched at least a day before your movers arrive.
To aid your movers in following necessary hygiene practices, be sure to leave out products that they can use while they transport your items to and from the moving truck. That includes soap and paper towels by the sink, and hand sanitizer by the door that they’ll be entering and exiting through. If you’re concerned about having enough supplies, let your moving company know so they can be sure to bring them along for use during the move.
In advance of your move, reach out to your neighbors — especially if you live in an apartment building — and share the date and time you plan to move. This gives everyone in your direct vicinity an opportunity to avoid unnecessary contact and let you know if your timing is a problem.
Be sure to deep clean and sanitize your new home before you move into it. Here are a few resources and tips to help:
CDC’s recommendations on how to clean and sanitize your home
If you have an extra minute, here are some additional things to consider
Additional resources:
Moving is stressful under the best of circumstances; this is a scary time and certainly takes moving stress to the next level. With some planning and organization, you can relocate and stay safe even in an environment with a pandemic.
Filed under: Blog, Boca Raton real estate, coronavirus, Down Sizing, Exclusive Buyer Agency, Exclusive Buyer Agent, First Time Homebuyers, Home Buyer Advice, Home Buyers, home safety, Homebuyer Advice, House Closings, International Home Buyers, Real Estate, Real Estate Closings, real estate news, South Florida Real Estate by Kim Bregman
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PHOENIX, April 09, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (NAEBA) reached their 25th anniversary. This milestone is a major confirmation of the importance of their mission and the value their members bring to the market. In a world where it is sometimes hard to tell who is on what side, the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents is clear that they exist to provide exclusive fiduciary duties to home buyers. NAEBA members avoid the conflict of interests that arise when the same firm attempts to represent both buyers and sellers.
“It is incredibly validating to have reached this major milestone of 25 years. Our members are the vanguards for the standards and ethics of fiduciary duty to buyer-clients,” says Rich Harty, current volunteer President of NAEBA. “As a membership association, we support each other so that we can better serve our buyer-clients.” NAEBA’s members are a part of a community of like-minded people who understand the value of professional development, camaraderie, networking, and the strength that comes from association.
This anniversary comes with many recent initiatives and accomplishments, including:
• The launch of the Certified Exclusive Buyer Agent online program
• The incredible growth of the NAEBA leads referral system helping connect buyers with EBAs
• Ongoing development of benefits and resource sharing for NAEBA members only
“NAEBA has offered me great tools and educational experiences to enhance my career as an Exclusive Buyer Agent, business owner, and broker. I credit my attendance at NAEBA meetings and getting involved as a volunteer with helping me establish my position as a trusted expert in my market,” says Andi DeFelice, former volunteer President of NAEBA. “Membership in NAEBA is a powerful asset for my business.”
To learn more about National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents, visit https://naeba.org/about-naeba/ The National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents is an independent alliance of real estate professionals who provide client-level services to home buyers only and whose real estate companies do not accept seller-property listings. The members of this Association adhere to a strict code of professional ethics and professional standards which guide them in serving their buyer-clients.
Filed under: Blog, Boca Raton real estate, Exclusive Buyer Agency, Exclusive Buyer Agent, First Time Homebuyers, Florida Real Estate, Home Buyer Advice, Home Buyers, Homebuyer Advice, International Home Buyers, Real Estate, real estate news, South Florida Real Estate by Kim Bregman
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