After a chaotic 2020, the Georgia real estate market appears to have bounced back. Forbes real estate expert Keith Weinhold predicts that the real estate market will appreciate at an above-average rate in late 2021. We are expecting to see more housing demands at this time of the year compared to last year.
Millennials constitute a greater percentage of the Georgia population and are in their prime home-buying years. Unfortunately, there’s current scarcity in the market as there aren’t enough homes for sale in Georgia. Homebuyer demand continues to far outweigh inventory levels, according to HouseCanary’s latest market report.
Low-income households are sadly not out of the mix. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, there’s a shortage of rental homes available to low-income families.
With this competitive market, it’s only suitable for homebuyers and sellers to work with a great Georgia real estate agent. As you can tell, there are many Georgia real estate agents out there. But how do you know the right agent to hire?
Qualities of a Good Georgia Real Estate Agent
These are some vital qualities to look out for in a real estate agent:
1. Knowledgeable
The real estate market experiences ups and downs now and then; therefore, an agent must stay up-to-date with the latest topics and reports. The right Georgia real estate agent must educate you about market trends, price range, and other crucial aspects of the real estate market.
2. Negotiation Skill
The ability to close deals in favor of clients is an important skill every real estate agent should have. A good Georgia real estate agent, must be able to bargain the listing or selling price of the apartment you wish to buy or sell. This skill is non-negotiable, no pun intended.
3. Integrity
Investing in real estate is a risk on its own, so nobody wants to employ the services of a dishonest person. An honest real estate agent or agency will be willing to provide references and submit necessary documents like license certificates, bond or insurance, etcetera.
You can tell if a real estate agent has an honest scorecard by speaking with some of the previous clients they’ve had.
4. Eye for Details
A real estate agent must have “sharp eyes.” Paying attention to details is key to any successful deal. Your real estate agent will need to compare house prices, rehearse clients’ wishlist, and review contracts, to name a few. In the true sense of it, tiny bits of details matter as much as the ambiguous ones. Every little information counts.
5. Strong Communication Skills
If we’re honest, there should be no such thing as a real estate agent that lacks good communication skills. Real estate agents serve as middlemen and need to speak to many people; clients, home contractors, and other professionals. A good Georgia real estate agent, must be able to ask the right questions, listen attentively, and communicate any important information to clients.
6. Must-Have a Georgia Real Estate License
Every licensed Georgia real estate agent must be at least 18 years of age and hold a high school diploma or its equivalent.
There are five critical steps to becoming a licensed Georgia real estate agent:
- The individual must complete an approved 75 clock-hour approved Pre-Licensing education. The Georgia Real Estate Commission provides exemptions for anyone with a current license in another jurisdiction, graduates of an accredited law school, or people who have completed a major course of study and received a university degree
- The individual must pass the final examination with a minimum passing score (72 percent)
- The individual must obtain a certified criminal history report issued by the Georgia Crime Information Center of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation at most 60 days before applying. For residents outside the State of Georgia, they’ll need to provide a certified criminal record from their resident state
- The individual must receive training from an active Georgia sponsoring broker
- The individual must pass the Georgia Real Estate Sales Examination
Why You Need to Hire the Best Georgia Real Estate Agent
When it comes to home sales, buyers and sellers often tend to disagree on what they want. The seller wants to make the most profit while the buyer seeks to strike a low-cost deal, as low as can be. A real estate agent stands in the middle and helps to bring both buyer and seller to the same conclusion, one that’s favorable for either party.
There aren’t enough new homes for sale in Georgia, so you must be careful to choose a good real estate agent with a proven track record. In a competitive market like Georgia’s, you need the services of a good agent to close the best deals. Professional real estate agents will put your best interests first. It’s their fiduciary responsibility.
You can rest assured that your privacy is secure. Whatever sensitive information you provide will remain confidential. For example, if you’re a buyer, the seller agent may require certain information from you.
While some pieces of information may be valuable, some agents tend to ask for too much. In this case, if you work with the right agent, they’ll know if to oblige or decline this request. On the other hand, a non-professional will not hesitate to divulge even the most sensitive information.
Also, buyers have a firm idea of what kind of property they want; a kitchen, bathroom, number of bedrooms, etcetera. However, an agent will pay more attention to things that don’t readily come to mind; pipe leaks, roofing problems, furnace issues, to name a few.
Conclusion
To have a successful home buying or selling experience, you need to work with a real estate agent. A realtor will help you find great deals at the best price.
Are you looking to find houses in Georgia? Team Stout Associates makes the process easy for buyers and sellers in the Georgia real estate market. We handle the whole process from A to Z.
You can trust us to carry you along as we help you close the best deals for your property and look out for your needs. Visit timstoutteam.com today to get started.