Cora Bett Thomas Realty Agents Recognized for Internet Marketing Excellence

Nationally renowned real estate marketing and technology speaker and REALTOR.com® Vice President, Max Pigman, recently presented Marjorie Maddox and Peter Nelsen of Cora Bett Thomas Realty the “Real Estate Online Marketing Award of Excellence.” The Award of Excellence recognizes top agents who consistently provide great marketing services on behalf of their buyers and sellers.

“There are always some real estate agents who distinguish themselves from other agents by doing a little more for their sellers.” says Max Pigman, Vice President of REALTOR.com®. Cora Bett Thomas Realty provides it agents with enhanced features for every listing on REALTOR.com. The enhanced features provided to all agents are additional photos, customized headlines, video tours, and showcase status for each listing.

“Our agents and clients appreciate that we help bring more attention to the unique selling attributes of their home and ultimately help attract more qualified buyers. Buyers are also appreciative of a well presented home that has a better description and more ways to learn about the property before arranging an appointment,” said Cora Bett Thomas, president and CEO of Cora Bett Thomas Realty.

The excellence award was presented to Maddox and Nelsen and other agents at a recent real estate marketing and technology seminar that demonstrated cutting edge techniques for leveraging the Internet and technology in real estate marketing. “Videos have become an essential tool for marketing a home. I add videos to my listings because buyers today want the whole story. Pictures can hide defects or undesirable features, but with video everything is there. There are no surprises that could waste the time of a buyer,” said Nelsen. The agents at Cora Bett Thomas Realty have received positive responses from buyers and sellers alike.

Michael Jewett Joins Cora Bett Thomas Realty & Associates

SAVANNAH, Ga. – D. Michael Jewett, a real estate professional who specializes in the listing and sale of luxury residential property, recently joined Cora Bett Thomas Realty & Associates as a sales associate. In his new position, Michael represents clients in buying and selling distinctive property throughout the South Carolina Lowcountry area.

An exclusive affiliate of Christie’s Great Estates, Cora Bett Thomas Realty & Associates is considered by many to be the pre-eminent real estate marketing firm serving coastal Georgia and South Carolina. The firm was recently the recipient of a Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® Member Achievement Award as well as two first place awards in the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® Marketing Contest with a 1st Place - Company Brand Advertising category and another 1st Place - Property Advertising category.

“We warmly welcome Michael to our team of accomplished sales professionals,” said Cora Bett Thomas, founder and CEO of Cora Bett Thomas Realty & Associates. “Our firm and our clients will truly benefit from his extensive experience and knowledge.”

Click here for more on Michael Jewett

KEEP YOUR PROFITS!

Real estate has proven again and again to be an excellent investment, encouraged by the fact that capital gains on its sale can often be avoided completely. While traditional investment vehicles like stocks impose a 15% tax on long-term gains, you can exempt $250,000 (or for joint filers $500,000) of your home sale profit from taxation.

There are only two simple qualifications: you must have owned the home for at least two years, and it must have been your principal residence for at least two of the five years prior to its sale. Those two years don't even have to be consecutive!

If you own two residential properties, then you have to do some figuring to determine which would qualify for the exemption. There are even some circumstances where you don't have to meet the qualifications, such as hardships like change in employment, health problems, or military service.

What's really attractive about this tax break is that you can take it over and over again, as long as you meet the two basic eligibility requirements. In theory, you could sell your principal residence every two years and walk away tax-free each time!

The capital gains exemption could provide motivation for selling your home before you reach the maximum allowable deduction, but be sure to seek the advice of your financial advisor before making your decision.

THE TIME IS ALWAYS RIGHT!

Perhaps you've thought about selling your present home, but have put off that decision, thinking that now is not a good time to sell. Want some advice? Wait no longer!

Consider what happens during the "bad times." Most homeowners want to sell their homes for the highest possible price in the shortest possible period of time. So, during those periods that are perceived as "a bad time to sell a home" or a “buyers market,” those homeowners put off their selling decision until a more favorable selling climate exists.

Since the so-called "bad times" can last from a relatively short period to a couple years, a backlog of frustrated would-be sellers builds up. It is sort of like the force that builds up in a pressure cooker.

Then, finally, comes the good news: "Home sales are rising - buyers are buying!" Guess what happens? Like the pressure cooker, the lid blows right off the top. Sellers by the thousands begin to flood the market with homes to sell. The competition is incredibly fierce and prices must be competitive to generate a sale.

The best time to sell a home is when you are ready to sell. Make sure your home is in top condition, price it fairly, and employ the best realty professional available. Through careful planning, your house will sell successfully in any market!

BRING ‘EM ON!

In a highly competitive industry like real estate, what reasons would a seller have for going it alone? Not surprisingly, the majority of unrepresented sellers choose to sell By Owner in order to avoid paying a commission.

Before traveling the For Sale By Owner route, consider the following question. Would you be willing to pay a commission if a real estate agent brought a ready and willing buyer to you?

Focusing too much on commission might be penny-wise but dollar foolish, especially when you learn that homes sold by realty professionals fetch 16% more than those sold by unrepresented sellers. 16% is roughly three times the fee that many brokerages charge for their valuable service, so it's easy to see how paying for representation is likely to put more money in your pocket, not less.

What's the explanation for the difference in sale prices? Most commonly, it comes down to the fact that unrepresented sellers are showing their home to a much smaller universe of buyers than the one that real estate agents can bring. By exposing your property to the widest segment of qualified buyers, you significantly increase your chances of a full price offer from a genuinely motivated party.

Honestly discuss your concerns about brokerage fees with an agent you trust, who will cooperate with you to create a fair and valuable relationship.

DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE!

How would you feel if you owned two homes, with two sets of monthly mortgage payments, two sets of taxes and insurance, and the responsibility for the maintenance on both?

When you're ready to buy your next home, it could happen. Let's take a look at why. More often than not, buyers begin looking at prospective new homes before they have sold their existing home. When they find a home that suits their needs, a potentially painful dilemma may arise. How do they make a commitment to purchase the second home when they have not yet sold the first one?

One common solution is to sign an agreement to purchase the second home that is made contingent upon the sale of their existing home. In other words, if the first home doesn't sell, the buyers have no obligation to complete the purchase of the second one.

You can make the most of this situation by remembering one very important concept: work exclusively with the same real estate professional on both homes.

Here's why. When you decide on which new home you plan to buy, your agent will help structure the purchase, taking into account your existing home. By letting the same agent market your present home, both purchase and sale can be coordinated to your benefit, resulting in deep satisfaction rather than a deep dilemma.

KEEP YOUR PROFITS!

Real estate has proven again and again to be an excellent investment, encouraged by the fact that capital gains on its sale can often be avoided completely. While traditional investment vehicles like stocks impose a 15% tax on long-term gains, you can exempt $250,000 (or for joint filers $500,000) of your home sale profit from taxation.

There are only two simple qualifications: you must have owned the home for at least two years, and it must have been your principal residence for at least two of the five years prior to its sale. Those two years don't even have to be consecutive!

If you own two residential properties, then you have to do some figuring to determine which would qualify for the exemption. There are even some circumstances where you don't have to meet the qualifications, such as hardships like change in employment, health problems, or military service.

What's really attractive about this tax break is that you can take it over and over again, as long as you meet the two basic eligibility requirements. In theory, you could sell your principal residence every two years and walk away tax-free each time!

The capital gains exemption could provide motivation for selling your home before you reach the maximum allowable deduction, but be sure to seek the advice of your financial advisor before making your decision.

Enter the Buffer Zone!

What is the primary objective for a buyer when negotiating the purchase of a home? Would it be fair to say that the buyers want the lowest price possible with the most liberal terms? And what about the sellers of a home? Would you agree that the sellers want the highest price possible with the terms most favorable to them?

It’s pretty easy to see then that the buyers and the sellers in a real estate transaction each have goals that are diametrically opposed to one another. As a result, they can each become highly anxious, emotional, and especially frustrated by the negotiating process. The solution is to create a "buffer zone," or an arena in which negotiations can be carried out in a logical, businesslike and objective manner.

This can be accomplished through the use of a reputable real estate company and its agent. Here's why: although a real estate agent may represent either the seller or the buyer (or sometimes both) in a purchase transaction, all parties must be treated fairly.

Also, not being emotionally involved in the transaction, the agent becomes an objective or "neutral" participant - the "buffer." Thus, both buyers and sellers can make comments, offers, and counteroffers without fear of raising each other’s anxiety levels. The result can be a highly rewarding home purchase and sale for buyers and sellers.

It Works Both Ways!

In slower housing markets, most sellers understand that attracting buyers becomes more of a challenge. With more homes for sale at ever more competitive prices, buyers tend to have more power to choose and negotiate under these circumstances.

What steps can you take to insure a faster sale at a higher price? First, seek representation. Over the last ten years, the number of homes that sold "by owner" fell by one third, and that statistic includes all markets, both hot and cool. What does that trend mean? Sellers have come to realize that real estate professionals are better equipped to produce top dollar offers, especially in slower conditions.

In 2006, the National Association of REALTORS® reported that the median selling price for homes listed through agents was 16% higher than those homes that were sold "by owner." Beyond putting more money in your pocket, an agent also saves you untold headaches associated with marketing your home, orchestrating showings, and coordinating paperwork.

Last year, a significant number of unrepresented sellers ended up finally turning to a professional. Why wait until your home has already become stale inventory to reach the same conclusion? Remember that what works in a slow market also holds true in very active markets - a professional representative simply brings more knowledge and experience to the table, resulting in higher offers in less time.