May 26, 2018 by Bob

5 Reasons To Hire A Milwaukee Realtor When Buying A Home

Finding the home of your dreams is such a thrilling feeling. But few people think about the hours and hours of searching that comes before it.

In reality, the home buying process is quite difficult, especially for those new to the market. To make finding the right home easier, you’ll want an advocate.

That’s why your own personal Milwaukee realtor comes in! Here are five reasons to hire a realtor to help you find the perfect home in Milwaukee.

1. Guidance for First-Time Homebuyers

It can be tempting to cut out the middleman and buy directly from a seller. Perhaps you’re confident enough in your own abilities to barter a deal on your own behalf.

Unfortunately, there are people out there banking on your fortitude. Plenty of sellers are looking to get every penny they can for their home, even if that means ripping you off in the process.

When you hire a Milwaukee realtor, you’re not just hiring an agent. You’re hiring an advocate who will protect you from predatory sellers.

2. Your Realtor in Milwaukee Knows Where to Find the Best Homes

Milwaukee is a gorgeous city, so you may not know where to begin your search. Again, this is where having your own personal realtor can come in handy. From Brookfield to Bay View to Wauwatosa, your realtor will clue you into the best up and coming locations the city has to offer.

Learn about the finest neighborhoods and the best school districts, like Whitefish Bay, currently ranked the top school district in the area.

Whether you’re looking for a shorter commute to work or considering your future family, your realtor will be happy to assist you in finding the perfect location.

3. Your Realtor Comes with Experience

When you hire a realtor, you’re buying more than their time and services. You’re buying their expertise and knowledge.

Even if you’ve researched the home buying process before, your realtor knows the ins and outs of the industry like no other.

Certain factors, like the quality of a home’s foundation or workmanship, aren’t things that can be taught. To understand what makes a house a home, you need to hire someone with years of experience.

4. Realtors Help Negotiate

Earlier, we briefly mentioned that some sellers may not take you seriously if you’re buying on your own behalf. As a result, they’re likely to charge you more than they would if you had representation.

Thus, a realtor is, in a sense, a bargaining chip. When a seller sees that you have a realtor, they know that you value your time and money.

This is particularly true when it comes to signing documents. Your realtor should be able to walk you through any difficult legal documents you may not understand.

5. You May Not Have the Time

Finally, there’s no telling how long it’ll take to find your dream home. You could spend weeks, months, or even years if you don’t have a bit of help.

And mind you, your search will need to continue as you fulfill your everyday obligations like your career or family. A Milwaukee realtor is capable of saving you more than just money, they’ll save you tons of time, as well.

Ready to Find Your Perfect Home?

Hiring a realtor in Milwaukee is a brilliant choice even if you’ve bought a home before. Are you ready to start the search for the perfect home?

If so, get in touch today and let Bob Arnold and the team help put you in a house you’re sure to love. Contact us online 24/7, or call by phone at (414)-379-1101.

February 13, 2018 by move2

Milwaukee Housing Market

February 2018 Update

Milwaukee Housing Market 2018

January Rang in with Bells & Went Out Like a Tornado in Home Sales!

Milwaukee Housing Market 2018 Evaluation: The Full Report

The Milwaukee real estate market is off to a strong start in January of this year! Homes sales this past month up are 7.4%. This is also the first time January sales exceeded 1,000 Units Sold in the metro Milwaukee area. Breaking down these numbers, Milwaukee county and Waukesha county have been leading the way in sales with Ozaukee county containing the least amount of inventory!

Homes for Sale in Milwaukee

Milwaukee Home Sales Report

Affordable Homes for Sale in Milwaukee: Thank the Economy!

With a healthy economy, real estate near Milwaukee WI is being bought off the market faster than ever before. Home sales in Milwaukee are continuing to set record levels! 2017 home sales alone were up 1.4% in units from 2016 while prices were up 5.5% STATEWIDE in 2017 from 2016! It’s fantastic news: Wisconsin housing remains competitively affordable.

Why the Increase?

JUST LOOK AROUND! New buildings are being constructed in downtown Milwaukee, new restaurants in Milwaukee are bringing everyone to the city, a new Milwaukee Bucks Arena has everyone excited and a new trolley system has tourists scheduling their next stop in Brew Town! When it comes to Milwaukee in 2018, there’s been nothing, but growth.

Real Estate Near Milwaukee WI

The Milwaukee Housing Market 2018 is Great for Renters

Both Rental & Housing Markets Are Up – Now is the Time to Choose!

I don’t want to beat a dead horse, but now is the time to take action if you are interested in change. If you are currently renting and your lease ends in JUNE, it’s the perfect time to start looking. If you gave up last year, don’t give up this time around. The next 3 years will be seeing the same growth we’ve had since the beginning of 2018.

Now is the best time to buy a house in Wisconsin!

If you are interested in a change of address or would meeting to discuss your goals, forming a strong business plan with an experienced Milwaukee real estate agent is your best bet. As a Realtor, I work for you and your best interests, whether they’re to own your dream home or to make the best possible investments TODAY!

Please feel free to call, text or email me with any questions you may have regarding the Milwaukee Housing Market in 2018.

Looking forward to meeting you!

All the best,

Bob

Realty Executives Integrity

(414) 379-1101

[email protected]

Contact Bob!

Contact Bob Arnold today to learn more his Milwaukee Housing Market 2018 report & what it means for you!

October 13, 2017 by move2

Best Time to Buy a House in Wisconsin?

October Marks the Beginning of the Best Time to Buy a Home in 2017

NOW is the Time to Take Advantage of the High Inventory in the Milwaukee Real Estate Market with Bob Arnold!

Inventory is up, interest rates are down. It’s the 10th month of the year and if you aren’t currently trying to find real estate near Milwaukee WI, you’re missing out! The best time to buy a house in Wisconsin is NOW.

Not September. Not January of next year.

The Spring market is the most active time of the year for realtors in Milwaukee WI. By this, I mean buyers are EVERYWHERE. Inventory is low and everyone wants to have the best deal on Second street, so the competition gets cutthroat.

This is a national chart – November & December in Wisconsin real estate has higher inventory than the rest of the country!

Property of the Week

Best Time to Buy a Home in Wisconsin: October, November & December

With the upcoming Spring of 2018 fast approaching (Only 4 months away!), another exceptionally busy Spring Milwaukee real estate market is expected, lugging with it increased prices and low inventory – again. Tagging along? High buyer competition.

Don’t get trampled by the house hunting herd!

The Spring of 2017 was very frustrating for buyers who ran blindly into one of the busiest real estate markets Milwaukee has had in over 15 years. Bidding wars were common and it shoved home buyers into corners, especially those who were renting. This caused many buyers to abandon their dream home or condo.

For example, let’s say a home in the metro Milwaukee market is priced at $250,000 with an interest rate of 4.5%. As a buyer, you have a 20% down payment prepared. The differences between buying this property in Spring and Fall include:

April of 2017 | With the busy market, a bidding war would have taken place. Offers shoot the price up $20,000 to $270,000 with very little room for any negotiations on price and terms.

October of 2017 | Facing less buyers and a better 4% interest rate in the Autumn market, a buyer would instead negotiate the price and terms to benefit themselves instead of dealing with bidding wars. This drops the home mortgage payment by $150.00 per month.

Buy real estate at the end of the year – its when the buyers are in control!

Free Property Search!

Still Renting & Looking to Purchase a Home or Condo? Call Bob Arnold!

I have more than 25+ years of experience in the Milwaukee real estate market and can show you how to get credits to cover 3 to 4 months of rent – it makes the transition from apartment living to property ownership so much easier!

(Your lease that ends in March or April would have all costs covered so you can take advantage of the current real estate market instead of fighting your way through the Spring Real Estate market!)

Source: Money | Real Estate “When is the Best Time to Buy a Home?”

The market is a perfect for buyers right now with lower interest rates than the spring by almost a half percent and double inventory level with very few competitive offers. If you found the right home today and put an offer on it, you would be saving on the increase in prices of 2018 and projected increase of interest rates that are currently lower than they were in Spring of 2017.

Spring buyers who had been renting got frustrated, decided to continue renting, not purchase or move and wait for another year. These are not active buyers anymore and are missing the boat with the current metro Milwaukee real estate market. You may have been one of those buyers yourself, but the question is: is someone else going to take advantage of the Autumn real estate market, or are you?

Happy house hunting!

Sincerely,
Realtor Bob Arnold

Realty Executives Integrity

(414) 379-1101

[email protected]

Sources: Investopedia & Business World

Contact Bob Arnold!

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Now is the best time to buy a house in Wisconsin – Contact Realtor Bob Arnold today to start your home search!

June 21, 2017 by Bob

Consumer Confidence in Housing Market Hits All-Time High!

Consumer confidence in housing is at an all-time high, with millennials posting strong increases in confidence, according to new data from Fannie Mae.

According to Fannie Mae:

More Americans NOW expect their home prices to go up.
11% more Americans believe NOW is an appropriate time to buy a home.
7% more Americans believe NOW is an appropriate time to sell.

In the Metro Milwaukee Area, we are experiencing some of the lowest inventory in almost 17 years! According to the Metro MLS, new listings in April in the Milwaukee region decreased 6.3 percent, down to only 2,437 homes while Metro Milwaukee home prices continued to gain traction. The median home sale price has increased 9.1 percent.

Millennials have now taken over the baby boomers in shares of the housing market and are now one of the largest buyers of homes/properties in the Metro Milwaukee real estate market. Millennials are finally believing the time is right to purchase. Strong increases in job confidence and income gains, both necessary precursors for increased housing demand from first-time homebuyers is the leading contributor to the change in market share.

Purchase prices seem to range in the $100,000 through mid to high $200,000 causing a high demand for homes with very little investment. Short supply and high demand = multiple offers and usually for over asking price. I have been very successful with a number of my buyers in multiple offer situations, having won the bidding war. A lot of experience and being a certified negotiation expert helps. I make a commitment to my buyers and make sure we find the right home. It’s not easy and we do have to move quickly.

Please let me know if you would like to meet and discuss the market, your goals and/or additional questions you might have.

February 24, 2017 by Bob

Is it Spring yet?

Between the crazy weather and the raising interest rates in January, our Metro Milwaukee Real Estate market is well on its way. The lack of inventory is already at an all-time low, making it extremely difficult for buyers to take their time when looking at homes. New listings are down 7.5% (a 17 month low per MLS). Buyers are needing to make quicker decisions on purchasing a home when they find the right one. While mortgage rates are at 4.25-4.5%, they have not made a significant move further upward recently. Most analysts project stronger economic growth in the U.S. later this year which always causes fixed rates to rise. Everything is related. A stronger economy also means higher wages and more jobs (two key factors in housing demand).

GMAR reports that the 4 county Milwaukee Real state home sales are up 4.3% in January with also the fewest listings of any January in the 21st century. The median home price in Metro Milwaukee area has risen another 10.6% since last year which equates to 3 years of double digit price increases. A $200,000 home in the beginning of 2014 is now worth or would be sold for about 250,000 if on the market. With an increase of $50,000 in purchase price and .5 to 1% more in interest rates, your loan would change. The loan would need to increase $50,000 and a change of 1% in interest would increase your mortgage payment about $165/ per month.

Unfortunately, it is not going to get easier this year looking for homes or condos. My advice would be to work with an agent that is working for you! Make sure you are on auto searches and get homes emailed to you as soon as they appear online. While Zillow or Trulia provide great information on homes in the Milwaukee area, they are very inaccurate on listing status and late on new listings online.

I specialize in first time home buyers and understand what is needed for them. I feel it’s important to meet with the buyers so I can understand their needs, goals and discuss the market. I give the buyers I am working with the time they need and I’m always there to answer any questions they have. I have included a few of my reviews from 1st time home buyers for you to view. I am not here to push you or to sell you a home. I am here to guide you through the process and work with you to find not just any home, but the home that is right for you. I would enjoy meeting and discussing your goals or any questions you have about the Milwaukee Real Estate market. You can always get a hold of me by email at [email protected] or text at 414.379.1101. Please feel free to see past blogs and additional information about Milwaukee and the Real Estate market on my web site at move2milwaukee.com

Reviews

(5 of 5 Stars)

Wonderful experience with Bob, who is so patient and knowledgeable. He has helped us from beginning to end and given us his honest feedback. We will definitely work with him in the future and be proud to refer him to our friends.

(5 of 5 Stars)

This was my first home buy and Bob was more than I could of asked for. He was very helpful, readily available and helped us get to the bottom of what we were truly looking for. He did more than I could have expected and I was consistently impressed by his willingness to help. I'd recommend him to anyone Bob is a very honest, knowledgeable, great guy to work with

January 13, 2017 by Bob

Happy New Year

Is your New Year’s Resolution to purchase a home or condo this year? Well then join the club. Sorry to burst your bubble, but you are not alone. In the Metro Milwaukee 4 county area showings will increase by 100% in the next 2-6 months. Yes 100%, for every 100 people looking today there will be another 100 people looking next month! If you say you aren’t ready to purchase yet, think again. If your apartment is rented until June, I have an answer . If you have not been pre-qualified yet, I can help. These are all good concerns that can be easily addressed. It’s a process. Here are a few first steps in starting your search and addressing your concerns:

Make the commitment that purchasing a home is your goal for 2017
Do some research and choose an agent that will work for you and in your best interest. Check their reviews!
Talk to not only 1 but 2 or 3 lenders about getting pre-qualified. If you are not sure or don’t know where to start, find an agent. A good agent will start by explaining the process and helping you with the next steps.
Your apartment lease doesn’t end until June? If you make a commitment today to purchase a home, by the time you pick an agent, get pre-qualified, evaluate your search and start looking online, most of January will be over. Start looking at homes today because it could take 30-90 days to find the right home for you. Once you put an offer on a home or condo and it’s accepted, it will take another 45-60 days to close. Your first payment is the month after closing. If you close June 5th your first payment is not due until August 10th. Starting in February, take 2 months to find the home, 2 months to close and suddenly you are at the beginning of June.

Let me help you start your search today!

I have worked with over 100 first time home buyers in the last 3 years alone. I specialize in first time home buyers and understand what is needed for them. I give them the time they need and I’m always there to answer any questions they have. I have included a few of my reviews from 1st time home buyers for you to view. I am not here to push you or to sell you a home. I am here to guide you through the process and work with you to find not just any home, but the home that is right for you.

1st Time Home Buyer Reviews:

Danielle:

Bob Arnold you made this first time home buying experience wonderful. You pointed out things we wouldn’t have thought to look for and offered advice that we didn’t even to think to ask. Absolutely I would recommend you to anyone. Thank you.

Sarah:

As first time home buyers, we needed a lot of guidance and Bob was more than willing to go out of his way to meet with us and educate us through this process. He helped us not only find our first home, but our dream home!

Bob Arnold is a qualified Milwaukee real estate agent who understands the market and can help you navigate the purchase of your new home or condo. Call today.