April 2015

Best Tampa Real Estate Agent Recent home seller video reviews of homes sold fast for top dollar

There are many Tampa Bay area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here to learn about our “Your Home Sold Guaranteed in 29 Days” program or for a free property valuation so you know what your home can sell for in today’s market. You may also call me at (813) 359-8990 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Listen to a couple of our recent Home Sellers talk about their experience with The Duncan Duo team.

Happy Home Seller Rodrick from West Tampa raves about his experience working with Dania and The Duncan Duo team to sell his home quickly. He left on a cruise and by the time they came back they had 3 offers to pick from and a bidding war. He was very happy that they had a seamless transaction, everything went smooth and he highly recommends The Duncan Duo for your home selling needs in Tampa.

Alice and Chip worked with The Duncan Duo to sell their very first home in Odessa and they were thrilled at the speed, service and communication. They had an offer within 3 days working with Tarin Silkworth and The Duncan Duo staff helped them through the entire process start to finish. They thought it would be a lot harder to sell a home, especially since they were rookie home sellers, but were very happy with the results from Best Odessa Realtors, The Duncan Duo.

Visit our YouTube page to hear more from our happy clients by clicking here.

House Hunting Ninja Tips and Advice for Home Buyers from The Duncan Duo and Waterstone Mortgage

Here are some House Hunting Tips for Home Buyers from Tampa Bay's #1 Realtor and Expert, Andrew Duncan with Arnie and David Diaz from Waterstone Mortgage on The Duncan Duo Real Estate Show on 970 WFLA.

When looking for a home, it always starts with your budget - knowing what you can afford, knowing what you can spend, knowing what your comfort level is. It is important to sit down and have that conversation with a great lender, like Waterstone Mortgage, to know how much you can qualify for.

Other things you need to consider, which a lot of people most of the time neglect, are the HOA fees, taxes and insurances. Although lenders usually give you an idea of what your principal amount and interest will look like on a certain loan amount, the won't be able to tell you what the taxes are. Usually the first year taxes are completely different.

As mentioned previously, insurance is also one factor you need to consider. An example of which that may vary from neighborhood to neighborhood is the Flood Insurance. It is important to get an insurance quote during the inspection period which could be done in a couple of days. Most of the time this step gets skipped a lot which could cause more problems. This will give you an idea of what repairs or updates need to be done. They also recommend getting a home warranty for sellers. This is a great product for those sellers who don't have the reserve and need a little bit of insurance.

Another thing you need to consider is you need to know what your comfort level is when it comes to payments. Not because you can qualify for it doesn't mean you need to take out that much loan. A lot of buyers are just looking on Zillow or other websites and they don't see the bigger picture. Sometimes buyers push themselves to their maximum limit then something happens and they will have problems with the mortgage.

Some Ninja Tips, as Andrew calls it, is to drive to the neighborhood at night. It will give you an idea of how you feel about the neighborhood, how comfortable you are with it, at a different time of the day.

Andrew also suggests to use an app that you could install on your phone which could let you sketch the layout of the home. An average buyer buyer looks at about 15 homes and sometimes you forget which homes had this or that feature. This would allow you to easily remember what the homes layout looks like. Andrew's team do a lot of walk through videos as well because they know that buyers usually forget what the home looks like because they look at so many homes.

To get more Tampa Bay Real Estate news and advice from Tampa Bay's #1 Realtor, tune in to The Duncan Duo Real Estate Show on 970 WFLA - Tampa Bay every Sundays at 10 am.

How 3D technology will change the game for Tampa Real Estate

Tampa Bay's #1 Realtor and Expert talks with The Diaz Duo, Arnie and David Diaz of Waterstone Mortgage on The Duncan Duo Real Estate Show on 970 WFLA about how 3D technology is changing the game.

They start off by talking about an article where 3D printers are being used to build apartment complexes in China. With the advancement of technology and a lot of things becoming automated, it would just be a matter of time before everything could be done virtually.

Andrew shares that he has a realtor friend of his, Mark Z from Detroit, just bought a 3D camera which can take 3D images and 3D videos of the property. Unlike virtual tours, seeing a home in 3D is like taking a tour of the home without being in it. He also talks about how virtual tours have lessened the number of showings through the years because consumers could already filter out the homes that they like or do not like by going online. Other technology resources used by a lot of consumers today are Google Earth, Google Maps, etc. It could come to a point where buyers are going to buy homes without even stepping in them.

Another example is a live open house done by a realtor in California wherein they stream videos of the home online for 3 hours.

Technology is indeed changing the game. It is a tool that will make things more efficient and cost effective for consumers, sellers and realtors. And as great realtors are, Andrew's team make sure they are keeping up with the times. They are now looking into these technology developments and how they can use it in their business.

To get more Tampa Bay Real Estate news and advice from Tampa Bay's #1 Realtor, tune in to The Duncan Duo Real Estate Show on 970 WFLA - Tampa Bay every Sundays at 10 am.

Tampa Conventional vs Jumbo Mortgages and It's Impact on housing as discussed by Waterstone Mortgage's Diaz Duo with Andrew Duncan

Tampa Bay's #1 Realtor and Expert talks with The Diaz Duo, Arnie and David Diaz of Waterstone Mortgage on The Duncan Duo Real Estate Show on 970 WFLA about Conventional vs Jumbo Mortgages and how it is impacting the housing market.

According to David, the rates nowadays for Conventional and Jumbo Mortgages are very comparable if not the same depending on some factors like the credit score of the consumer. Jumbo loans start from $417,00 and up.

Generally, a lot of consumers think that getting a Jumbo loan is more difficult than getting a Conventional loan which is not the case. This is because the media has done such a bad job in telling consumers just that. It might have been a couple of years ago but now, getting a Jumbo loan is just as easy as getting a Conventional loan with the same process and could even start with a 5% down payment as David says.

In Andrew's opinion, the $600-800k part of the housing market is actually the most unhealty part. It is really saturated and the list to sale price isn't that great. When you get the conventional mortgage, that part of the market is healthy. But if you go just above the Conventional mortgage, there's not as many buyers, homes are not selling as fast, and some of the buyers find it a little harder to get financing but some of it is because of their thought of getting a mortgage being harder so they pull away until they have enough money to be at a point that it will be easier to get a mortgage. They want to make sure that their mortgage application is a slam dunk that they hold off so they can get enough money for the down payment to get a conventional mortgage instead of a Jumbo loan.

Arnie says that a lot of these consumers looking in that price range don't think that they would qualify for a Jumbo mortgage so they don't even begin to process.

To get more Tampa Bay Real Estate news and advice from Tampa Bay's #1 Realtor, tune in to The Duncan Duo Real Estate Show on 970 WFLA - Tampa Bay every Sundays at 10 am.

Andrew Duncan, #1 Realtor in Tampa Bay discusses the Tampa Real Estate Statistics & Analysis March 2015

Andrew Duncan, Tampa Bay's #1 Realtor and Expert talks about the the Tampa Real Estate Statistics and Analysis for March 2015 released by the Greater Tampa Association of Realtors. He has Arnie Diaz from Waterstone Mortgage join him as guest on The Duncan Duo Real Estate Show on 970 WFLA.

He starts off my comparing the current stats to prior years. The number of home sales in February 2015 is 2073, compared to 1800 sales in Feb 2014, 1800 in Feb 2013, 1700 in Feb 2012. The trend is that they are selling more than 10% more homes per month comparably than in previous years. The market is definitely coming along with a lot of great activity.

The average price in Tampa Bay is $196,000 which compares favorably to the average price of last year where it was at $181,000.

Other statistics discussed - 4.3 months of inventory, average number of days on the market for the home to go under contract is 81 days. For the first time in a while, the average list to sale price (how much the home is asking for and how much it was sold for) dropped to 96% from 97% for seven months running. The average sale price of $196,206 which went up considerably from February and quite a bit from January but it is down from their peak season or mid level month. Last year, Andrew's team got about $200k.

Though these numbers are good, if you work with Andrew's team, they tend to beat those statistics pretty significantly. Their numbers are up 2.5 times from last year. They even joked around about how Andrew's taking the "unfair share of the market."

Andrew again stressed that these statistics refers to the general market and the numbers could vary depending on neighborhood to neighborhood, price point to price point. It takes a really strong agent to give you the right numbers and correct analysis of the market.

Andrew further shares his analysis of the market trends right now. He says that the reason why the homes are selling for less is because of over saturation. Those who have decided to wait to sell their homes in the past have now started to go back into the market. Another reason is that there are a lot of new and old agents who are now going back into the business of Real Estate. There are a lot of them who advice their clients to take the first offer they get as oppose to stronger negotiators who can get you more money for your home. David adds that if homes are on the market for less than 6 months, prices should be going up and not down.

To get more Tampa Bay Real Estate news and advice from Tampa Bay's #1 Realtor, tune in to The Duncan Duo Real Estate Show on 970 WFLA - Tampa Bay every Sundays at 10 am.

We Have an Amazing Listing

Today, instead of our video, we though we would show you one of our fabulous listings. Frankly - you have to see it to believe it, so please watch the video.

Otherwise, some of the features of this home include:

4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, 3,755 sq ft

Located in the privacy of Audobon Park, which is also the best school district in the city

Large master bedroom with an attached home office and walk-in closets

An open-concept family room and kitchen

An expansive suite is situated on the lower level, making it perfect for housing guests

A double-lot backyard with a pool and spa area

This home is what we think of when we think of luxury. It is newly remodeled and we're looking for a good buyer. If you know anyone who might be interested, please contact us!

Tampa Bay Real Estate News: The Fed is being patient about treasury rates and what it means to Tampa housing and mortgage rates

Andrew Duncan, Tampa Bay's #1 Realtor and Expert talks to David Diaz from Waterstone Mortgage about the Fed and their statement about interest rates not going to change for the time being and how it impacts the market and consumer confidence on The Duncan Duo Real Estate Show on 970 WFLA.

Andrew asked what impact it would have on mortgage rate. David from Waterstone Mortgage said that the Fed basically has impact on everything. What the Fed says have the ability to move the markets. The market the past couple of years has been volatile as ever. Based on the statement they released, they will not be as "patient" as before in keeping the rates low but are not going to be impatient either which gave more confidence in the market.

Real Estate is very local and as Andrew has highlighted even in previous discussions, what's being reported in the news might not necessarily reflect on what's going on in the Tampa Bay Market. This is the unique part of Real Estate. Sometimes local markets respond differently or have different things going on.

Working with a top agent that has a large company with lots of agents, lots of home sales is helpful for a consumer because they have data they can interpret quicker than the news can. Anything you hear on the news about Real Estate sales or statistics, it's usually 3-month old data. Unlike Andrew, who can provide you with the most up-to-date data about the Tampa Bay market. He can provide consumers with data of what's happening in the market right now!

David adds that what the Fed talks about regarding the rates doesn't necessarily translate into their rates. The Fed does not control their rates. It does, however, have an indirect effect on the mortgage rates since what the Fed says affects the mortgage backed securities. So whatever inflationary or deflationary comments they make will affect that market and in turn will affect mortgage rates.

For more Tampa Bay Real Estate news and advice, tune in to The Duncan Duo Real Estate Show on 970 WFLA - Tampa Bay every Sundays at 10 am.

Tampa Real Estate Career and watch what 5 Realtors say about what’s different in working at The Duncan Duo and RE/MAX

Thinking about starting a career in Real Estate? Why not join the BEST team in Tampa Bay!
Listen to our buyer and listing agents talk about their experience working with The Duncan Duo and how it is different it is from other teams.

Fixed rate or ARM? What is best for you? Tampa Mortgage Info from Waterstone Mortgage (Diaz Duo) on The Duncan Duo Show

Andrew Duncan, Tampa Bay's #1 Realtor and Expert has the Diaz Duo from Waterstone Mortgage talk about the Fixed Rate Mortgage vs Adjustable Rate Mortgage on The Duncan Duo Real Estate Show on 970 WFLA. Which one is right for you?

The Adjustable rate mortgage has been a great stable product for certain people depending on how long they are going to stay in the property, how much money they're putting down, and what the rates look like.

David adds that one of the reasons why this type of mortgage had a bad rap was because a lot of the sub prime mortgages were adjustable rate mortgages with a 2 year period. A lot of people assume that all adjustable rate mortgages are like that. In reality, a lot of them will give you several year period with a lower initial rate and then it adjusts. The downside in previous years was that the rate went up astronomically higher than the prime rates at the time. These astronomical jumps are usually when you pair an adjustable rate mortgage with an interest only mortgage so when the rate adjusts, it also pulls in the principal. That's where payments skyrocket.

David says you can get a fixed rate mortgage nowadays for 10 years so an adjustable rate mortgage is pretty safe and because you're probably be going to do something before that 10 year period is up.

This is why it's important for you to have a game plan. Know what your plans are, how long you're going to stay in the home, what you're going to do with it. Some lenders would talk about getting you into certain programs even before you talk to them about your plans. Andrew recommends to those who are looking to get financed to work with a lender like Waterstone Mortage and The Diaz Duo because David and Arnie will sit down with you, talk to you about your game plan, figure out what your costs are going to be, and take a look at which program is right for you. He also says how important it is to go with a local lender because a lot of times you'll have a better connection with the mortgage lender, the lender will have a better connection with the realtors involved and has more pressure to do a good job.

For more Tampa Bay Real Estate news and advice, tune in to The Duncan Duo Real Estate Show on 970 WFLA - Tampa Bay every Sundays at 10 am.

#1 Tampa Real Estate Agent Andrew Duncan shares secrets to success on stage with Vinnie Tracey at 2015 RE/MAX R4 Conference

The Annual RE/MAX R4 convention was held a little over a month ago in Las Vegas. Andrew Duncan was on stage as a panelist with a few other agents talking about client and lead generation in the real estate industry. Listen to the Top Re/Max agents in the country talk about their secrets to success. Joining Andrew were Leigh Brown from Re/Max Executive (NC) and Bart Medlock from Re/Max First (KY).

Here are some common points they discussed which lead to their success in the Real Estate Industry.

Lead generation vs Client generation and cultivation

"A lot of brokers can be great in generating leads but leads don't pay the bills." - Andrew

"If you're spending your time hunting only for leads who are going to buy today, you're going to miss out on the income 6 months, 12 months and 5 years down the road." - Leigh Brown

They all have a common denominator and that is they build relationships with their leads or potential clients. They don't only focus on the leads who are ready to buy today. They follow up and even make sure to touch base with their past clients.

Importance of Social Media in Real Estate

They discuss how social media can be a powerful tool to generate leads and clients if used correctly. A strong online presence and making use of free resources like Youtube, Facebook and the like help in reaching the your audience.

Tracking ROI

They also talk about tracking your lead sources to know where the closings are coming from so you will know where to spend or invest your money.

Response Time

Andrew stresses how important it is to get back to the lead immediately because if you call them 4 hours after, chances are that they've already called someone else and you've lost the business. Leigh talks about how people nowadays need immediate gratification. They can't be bothered to wait. Bart says that he takes care of the the person who's in front of him whether by email or phone because you can WOW people with that.

Affiliation with Re/Max

Being affiliated with Re/Max, there is a level of expectation, a level of experience that comes with the brand. It's the most recognizable brand of Real Estate in the country.

A few days after this appearance, The Duncan Duo learned they were the #8 ranked team in the U.S. for RE/MAX out of nearly 100,000 associates. There were also a couple of very funny parts of the panelists interviews including Leigh Brown's description of 'missionary style' real estate.

Learn more about our team and why we are the #1 Realtor in Tampa Bay, click here.
Hear from our clients rave about how we were able to help them by clicking here.

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The Duncan Duo at RE/MAX, Best Tampa Realtors Reviews

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