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More Wilmington, DE Real Estate Stats

by Katina Geralis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These stats should be helpful for those looking to purchase real estate in our area! Ready to begin your Wilmington, DE home search? Let us help you discover your real estate options and move closer to purchasing your next home— we even offer FREE first-time homebuyer seminars

Katina Geralis
Wilmington, DE Real Estate Expert
Keller Williams Realty

Wilmington Real Estate
Wilmington Homes for Sale
Visit My Website
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Tips for Buying a Wilmington, DE Luxury Home

by Katina Geralis

When you think of a luxury home, you might picture a swanky, urban New York City penthouse or a modern, oceanfront mansion in Malibu. However, we have some of the most beautifully maintained luxury homes right here in Wilmington, DE. If you’re in the market to buy a luxury home, I’ve compiled a few tips to help you navigate the Wilmington, DE real estate market with ease.

  1. Refine your home search

To protect their privacy, many luxury home sellers choose not list their homes with the MLS (Multiple Listing Service). You’ll have to do some deeper digging to find the real gems in the Wilmington, DE real estate market. That’s where having a well-connected Wilmington, DE real estate agent comes in handy. A lot of the luxury homes in the area are advertised by word of mouth.

  1. Don’t judge a home by it’s photos

Some luxury homes aren’t photogenic, and thus require an in-person visit to see the real beauty, square footage, details and stunning views. If you’re skeptical after seeing photos, don’t be quick to dismiss what very well could be your future home. Get a few different angles by looking up the home with Google Maps if an immediate drive-by isn’t convenient.

  1. Have a local expert assist you

Using a buyer’s agent who is a local expert in the Wilmington, DE real estate market is helpful in any real estate transaction, and a must with a luxury home purchase. With luxury homes, there are fewer open houses and more private appointments. Having a buyer’s agent facilitate these types of home purchases is very beneficial.

  1. Don’t pay for your Wilmington, DE luxury home in cash

A common misconception about those who purchase luxury homes is that they pay in cash. This isn’t necessary and may not be the best use of your money. In reality, only a small percentage of luxury home buyers pay in cash. Consider paying a substantial amount, as much as 30%, upfront and taking out a mortgage for the rest.

Of course, this isn’t an exhaustive list of tips to use when buying a luxury home in Wilmington, DE. Buying a home at a high price point is a long process with many different types of inspections, contracts, and requirements. Luckily, I know the Wilmington, DE real estate market like the back of my hand! When you’re ready to purchase your new home in the area, please let me know. I’d love to help make the search and purchase processes go smoothly.

Katina Geralis
Wilmington, DE Real Estate Expert
Keller Williams Realty

Wilmington Real Estate
Wilmington Homes for Sale
Visit My Website
Contact Me
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Using a Buyer's Agent to Buy New Construction in Wilmington, DE

by Katina Geralis

If you’re looking to buy a home and have been driving around Wilmington, DE you’ve probably noticed there are many new construction homes on the market. Your first instinct is to drive around, pick up some brochures and speak to sales representatives about the properties, right? Well, this isn’t technically incorrect but the smartest move you can make is to work with a Wilmington, DE buyer’s agent first.

Just as a buyer’s agent works with a seller and his or her agent on the sale of a pre-owned home, a buyer’s agent can help a buyer through the process of purchasing a new construction home. When it comes down to it, a buyer’s agent is someone on your team looking out for your best interests. Purchasing a home is a big step and there can be a lot of complicated paperwork and negotiations involved. Why go through that alone when you can have an expert in the Wilmington, DE real estate market guide you through the process?

While sales representatives at each new construction development site are informative about the floor plans, prices, builders and area, their loyalty lies with the developer. With a Wilmington, DE buyer’s agent, you have access to the same information from someone who isn’t trying to make a sale. The duty of the buyer’s agent is to simply help the buyer, not sell to him or her. Best of all, a buyer’s agent’s services are free to the buyer and are paid by the seller only if a sale is made.

So, how do you choose a Wilmington, DE buyer’s agent to help you select a new construction home? Here are some key characteristics to look for:

  1. Expertise in the local market: Make sure your buyer’s agent knows the Wilmington, DE real estate market inside and out. This way you’ll be sure you’re getting the most comprehensive information when choosing your new home and neighborhood.
  2. An excellent negotiator: Part of your buyer agent’s job is to help you get the best deal on your new home. He or she should be able to make some accommodations with even the toughest sellers and developers.
  3. Someone who will walk through the contract with you: Remember, those sales representatives are loyal to their builders. Work with a buyer’s agent who will take the time to go through the contract with you in detail and answer any questions you have.

I hope these tips help you when thinking about your search for a new construction home in Wilmington, DE. Choosing the right real estate agent to represent you in your home purchase is a key step towards success. I’m always happy to help homebuyers find the perfect home in Wilmington, DE and there are hundreds of new construction properties waiting to be discovered. Just let me know what you’re looking for and I can narrow down your options, saving you the time and money from driving around town and seeing homes that don’t meet your needs.

I hope to hear from you soon!

Katina Geralis
Wilmington, DE Real Estate Expert
Keller Williams Realty

Wilmington Real Estate
Wilmington Homes for Sale
Visit My Website
Contact Me
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Market Watch: Upcoming Wilmington, DE Real Estate Trends!

by Katina Geralis

I consider it a priority, as a Wilmington, DE real estate agent, to stay on top of emerging trends in the local real estate market. It’s important that I use the latest market news and statistics when communicating with my clients because it helps me better understand the individual needs of every Wilmington, DE real estate transaction. When I have a strong grasp of what is happening in both the local and national real estate market, I know what my clients’ needs are and can provide them the best service possible. In recent years, that meant that I had to help more people successfully complete their Wilmington, DE short sale transaction, and this is still the case in today’s market.

Each time a new year begins, I sit down and take the time to review what happened the year before and determine what that could mean for the year to come. As a Wilmington, DE real estate agent, it is how I know what areas of expertise I need to use to best service the needs of the people in my community. Over the past few weeks, I have taken the time to figure out that there are a few changes to come to the Wilmington, DE real estate market. With the intention of preparing you for what is to come, I thought that I’d share a few of the major upcoming trends:

•    Home buyers will make a comeback. Now that jobless claims are decreasing and the condition of the United States economy is slowly improving, more home buyers will be stepping up to the plate this year. Last year, Wilmington, DE real estate consumers lost confidence in the market, which caused sales to go down. Now, some of that confidence has returned, and more people will be willing to make the investment on a home. Once consumer sentiment starts to solidify, more buyers will realize that now really IS the time to buy.
•    Wilmington, DE foreclosures and short sales will likely increase. The robo-signing challenges of late 2010 caused a serious delay in the processing of several foreclosure properties, but now that the situation has been resolved, these proceedings will start back up again. This will cause the value of single-family homes to decrease and will put many homeowners underwater, which will create an increase in Wilmington, DE short sales. This sounds scary, but many lenders are already recognizing this situation and are easing the requirements needed for both refinancing and the short sale process.
•    Home values will continue to go down. With the increase in foreclosures and short sales that are about to enter the market, we will likely see the values of single family homes start to go down. This will be great news for buyers as they embark on their Wilmington, DE home search, however for sellers, this will continue to be a frustrating factor. Since the increase in foreclosures will eat up some of the buyer demand in the market and will impact appraisals, it is likely that more homes will be underwater this year.

Now that you know all about the upcoming trends in the Wilmington, DE real estate market, it’s important to be prepared. Stay smart with your finances and keep your credit scores as high as possible in order to avoid trouble with your mortgage payments. If you feel that you’re already underwater on your Wilmington, DE home, now is not the time to panic. Instead, you should contact your Wilmington, DE real estate agent and discuss your options. You may just qualify for a short sale.

Don’t hesitate to contact me with any of your questions or concerns! I’d be happy to help you out in any way that I possibly can. I will make your real estate needs my priority. I hope to hear from you soon!

Katina Geralis
Wilmington, DE Real Estate Expert
Keller Williams Realty

Wilmington Real Estate
Wilmington Homes for Sale
Visit My Website
Contact Me
Find me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter


 

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