For Real Estate Agents

What Are USDA Home Renovation Loans?

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Brandon talks about how USDA Renovation Loans can help buyers not only buy a home with potentially no down payment, but also renovate the house in the process. Especially in Columbiana County, most of Trumbull County, and just about the majority of Ohio and Central Pennsylvania.

*Not all borrowers will qualify. Contact us for more information on fees and terms.

What is a Cost Factor, and How Does it Help a Buyer’s Confidence in the Home Buying Process?

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Brandon discusses the importance of understanding a buyer’s cost factor in the home buying process. This number can be used by home buyers to gain a better understanding of what their mortgage payment will be, which in turn can help to increase confidence when deciding to buy a home.

*Not all borrowers will qualify. Contact us for more information on fees and terms.

How Much of a Down Payment Should I Put Toward a House?

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Brandon talks about how to determine an appropriate down payment for your unique situation. Hint, a larger down payment isn’t necessarily the best financial move. There are many things to factor in, such as can those funds be better utilized elsewhere – for example, to pay down consumer debt. 

*Not all borrowers will qualify. Contact us for more information on fees and terms.

Tools for Real Estate Agents to Grow Their Business

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Brandon discusses how he and the team can help real estate agents grow their careers and also announces an invite to learn more on Friday, November 6. He also discusses a site that many agents can benefit from: https://www.breakthroughbroker.com/.

Give him a call directly to learn more: (330) 565-9013

*Not all borrowers will qualify. Contact us for more information on fees and terms.

Writing for Renovation – Get Your Listings Noticed

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Renovation Loans

Key Takeaways

  • Think creatively: don’t worry about what a listing ‘should’ look like
  • Identify the key advantage of renovating this house, then turn it into an attention-grabbing headline
  • Write an opening statement that gets to the point – a sentence or two should do it
  • Sell emotion with your copy – describe the ‘home’, not just the ‘house’
  • Accentuate the positives and focus on the potential
  • Create urgency with a closing call-to-action

How are renovation listings different?

Listings for homes with perfect foundations, new roofs, gorgeous gardens and all the modern amenities practically write themselves. So, how do you spin sweet poetry about a property that needs some TLC?

The first step is to ditch any preconceived notion you may have about what a property listing should look like. Lately, it seems like most listings are just a quick paragraph listing the property’s features. Yet, if your property is ripe for a renovation mortgage, describing features like, “Roof needs replaced, windows are drafty, paint chipped throughout, and hole in the bathroom floor,” won’t whet anybody’s appetite.

With an attention-grabbing headline and the right descriptive copy, your listing will attract the right audience and will clearly communicate why this property is worth the time and investment to renovate.

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3 Reasons You Should Never Buy or Sell a Home Without a Realtor®

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There’s an app for almost everything (still waiting on that virtual can opener), and that includes home shopping. Sure, it’s super convenient to research houses for sale in your target area. But, what do you do when you have a question? How do you schedule a showing? What about when you want to make an offer? Your knowledge gained from the internet can only take you so far. And so, if you’re planning to buy or sell a home without the help of a real estate agent, you’ll want to read this first.

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And the Winner is…

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Those who were able to make it out to our most recent mixer at Up a Creek Tavern in Howland benefited from the trade professionals who were also in attendance. Hopefully, most of the attendees met new contacts who they can refer clients to in the future and also increase their sphere of influence. In addition to bettering yourself professionally, one lucky attendee won the drawing between the agents for a brand new laptop computer.

We’re sure you’re anxious to find out who won. Well…drum roll please… Continue reading →

Have We Seen the Last of Population Decline in Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley?

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Youngstown-Oh-Mahoning-County

Latest population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau show certain communities may be leveling off when it comes to a decline in residents

The United States is growing at a historically slow rate. Between 2017 and 2018, the country grew 0.6 percent in population. The timeframe prior saw a 0.7 percent increase. That doesn’t sound like a whole lot of growth…And you would be correct. The U.S. is experiencing its slowest rate of annual growth since 1937, when the nation was in the midst of the Great Depression. Continue reading →