Are we in a buyer’s market, a seller’s market or somewhere in between? Honestly, it depends on the market you’re looking to buy or sell in. Contrary to what you’re hearing on the news, we don’t have blanket market conditions; things look different in different areas. In fact, you can have one small pocket experiencing a buyer’s market and another pocket nearby seeing something way more balanced.
Having a successful real estate transaction right now means focusing less on what’s happening nationally, and paying more attention to what’s happening on a hyper-local, granular level and aligning it with what you actually want. If you’re going about it wisely, with the right data and information, this is actually a great time to buy. There are so many things present in the market right now that actually make for a lot of great opportunities.
Kristin LaVanway believes you can buy a home right now and come out ahead of the game. Interest rates may be high, and appreciation might not be what it once was, but you’ll still be a winner. In this episode, she tells us about her favorite places in Arizona, setting yourself up for success in a transaction and her side-gig as a comedian!
You’ll also learn;
- Why buyers can finally have fun again
- Why Kristin does home recons for clients
- How to make a competitive offer from a buyer’s POV
- The many awesome things about being a Downtown Mesa resident
Key Points
Different neighborhoods can have different markets (04:09 – 09:58)
The market shifts and changes we hear about on the news are extremely macro – it’s a national generalization. It’s not nitty-gritty, localized information about specific neighborhoods – all the more reason to work with an agent in the know. It’s actually very possible for different pockets of a city to be experiencing completely different conditions, so our focus should be less on what’s happening nationally, and more on what’s going on in the area you want to buy and sell in.
For buyers, the market has shifted from very few options to actually having too many options, which also comes with its own set of challenges. To curb the overwhelm, Kristin actually goes and does recon on homes and takes video before doing a viewing in-real-life so that they can sift through the options.
What makes Downtown Mesa so special (10:05 – 18:44)
Downtown Mesa is a historic neighborhood in a convenient location, with a really great vibe. It’s got mid-century homes, neighborhood coffee shops, restaurants and breweries where people know you (Kristin loves Jarrod’s Coffee), and the light rail so you’re never far away from something great. There’s a new ASU campus which is bound to create a ton of real estate opportunities. The Cubs and A’s have training facilities in the area. Downtown Mesa is generally a diverse area with a mix of artsy students, seniors and families and Mom-and-pop owned businesses which really gives it that neighborhood feel. Homes in Downtown Mesa are also really affordable – and you’ll find both older builds and renovations there. For a decent price, you get a solid home in an area that has all those amenities nearby.
It’s still a good time to buy (21:41 – 25:27)
It’s really easy to let media hype and general consumer panic about the market dissuade you from buying right now, but this is actually a good time to buy a home. You just can’t predict where things will be next year, and you might wait and discover that prices and interest rates won’t go down. The current advantages of the market might not exist in the next few months. One of the things that made the last couple of years so competitive was hedge funds and other institutions buying up homes. Right now is really great because hedge funds have slowed down, so there’s this perfect window of opportunity to get into a really great home.
Guest Bio
Kristin LaVanway is a Realtor specializing in Mesa, Chandler, Tempe, Gilbert, Ahwatukee and Queen Creek. She’s also a video blogger and part-time comedian. She started out life as a rocket scientist – 14 years in aerospace and mechanical engineering – and she never realized that experience was just preparing her for the rigors of real estate. Kristin absolutely loves what she does and she strives to improve each and every day. Her philosophy has always been to work to achieve the goals of her clients which in turn helps her to achieve her own goals – not the other way around.
For more information head to https://hereinphoenix.com/ and follow @rl8rgal on Instagram. You can also watch one of Kristin’s comedy sets at Jarrod’s Coffee Tea and Gallery@jarrodscoffeeteaandgallery.
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