2402 Carriage Oaks Drive Raleigh, NC 27614
4bd/4.5 bath 4,755 square feet $535,000

GORGEOUS MULTI-GENERATIONAL TOWNHOME OVERLOOKING 1ST GREEN AT WAKEFIELD TPC GOLF COURSE!

PRIVATE 1st FLOOR OWNER’S STE W/PRIVATE ACCESS TO DECK. OPEN FLR PLAN FEATURES FAMILY RM, SEP LIVING RM

/KEEPING RM, FORMAL DR, BREAKFAST RM & LARGE/OPEN KITCHEN. (3) LGE ADDL BR, PRIVATE IN-LAW/TEEN SUITE W/FULL

BATH, WIC & SEP ENTRANCE. FULL FINISH BASEMENT FEATURES FULL 2nd KITCHEN, MEDIA RM, OFFICE, POWDER RM AND

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What does it take to build a successful real estate career?

I would start by saying that it takes a total commitment on your part to make it happen. You have to put in the work to make it in this business. There are a lot of professions where you can just fake it and still collect a check every two weeks, but real estate isn’t one of those. You can get all of the training in the world and sit through all of the most informative seminars you can attend, but until you look at yourself in the mirror and make a commitment to put all that training to work, you will be broke. The majority of the real estate trainers and coaches out there will tell you a lot of the same information and strategies. It is all good information and the programs put in place are proven to be successful, but they still require the effort from you. Getting training is great, but if you don’t follow through with the effort, you will not make it in this business. So many agents have a confused look on their face and wonder why they don’t have any business. The reason is simple! You didn’t do the work! You put in minimal effort and expected maximum results. That’s not how this business works. It took me a little time to figure out that every single email or face to face contact with someone is an opportunity to earn business. You don’t have to be the annoying person walking around passing out cards, but when you do talk to someone, make sure they know what it is you do for a living. Make sure you listen to them instead of just trying to tell as many people as possible that you’re an agent. You can’t be afraid to ask for the business or a referral, but you don’t want to come across like a pushy sales person either. This is a business and you need to treat it like that. You wouldn’t open up a storefront business and then not show up to unlock the doors 3 days a week. Why would you start real estate business and not do any work 3 days a week. My philosophy has always been that if I am not out there actively pursuing business leads, someone else is. If I am not willing to put in the work, someone else is. I take it personal when a potential client chooses another agent to list their home or represent them as a buyer. It doesn’t bother me for very long, but I do remember them and make sure that if it was something specific as to why they didn’t choose me, I never let it happen again. Write a business plan, stick to that business plan and be accountable for your business. If your goal is to be a successful agent, be willing to put in as much effort as they did to get where they are.

Jeremy J. Burns

When another offer gets accepted and your client is left to continue their search, it can be difficult. The hard thing is that in a lot of situations your client might have had the highest offer, but it might not have been the best offer for the seller. Loan to value ratio plays a huge role in this process and in our market, cash deals are always abundant. Last year 30% of real estate transactions were done with cash deals in the triangle. That is well above the national average and puts a lot of homebuyers on the outside looking in. If you are FHA, VA or conventional putting down less than 20% it can make the appraisal play the most important role in your transaction. Although you might be willing to pay the highest amount for the home, the lender might need be able to provide the offer price due to the home not appraising for that amount. Then you are left with the option of coming out of pocket for the difference or trying to negotiate the purchase price down. The purchase price is not likely to be negotiated, especially if you have multiple offers. The seller will just move on to another buyer who is willing to cover the difference. 

The moral of the story is that just because you didn’t get your offer accepted, that doesn’t mean that your offer wasn’t the highest. It just wasn’t the best. Keep the faith, stay positive and trust the process. Everything happens for a reason and you will find your perfect home. It might even be the one you lost out on the first time around!