Consumer Guide: Buyer’s vs. Seller’s Market

The real estate market constantly shifts, and knowing whether conditions favor buyers or sellers can help you make smarter, more confident decisions. Here’s how to recognize which type of market you’re in and what each means for you:

What is a buyer’s market?

A buyer’s market is when there are more homes for sale than there are people looking to purchase a home. With a greater selection of homes on the market and less competition, buyers typically have more time to shop, negotiate better terms, and may even see price reductions or other purchase incentives.

What is a seller’s market?

In a seller’s market, there are fewer homes available than there are buyers looking to purchase a home, creating a competitive environment where bidding wars and quick sales can be common. While sellers can often secure higher prices and more favorable contract terms, preparing the home properly and setting a strategic asking price at the outset are still key to attracting strong offers and ensuring a smooth closing.

For more info, read the National Association of Realtors article here

When Is a Real Estate Agent a REALTOR®?

Who is part of NAR, and what separates real estate agents from REALTORS®? Read about real estate agents, REALTORS®, and understand the differences between the two. Learn how to join National Association of REALTORS® and find a REALTOR®. 

REALTOR® vs. Real Estate Agent: Quick Look

Let’s look at simple definitions for real estate agents and REALTORS®: 

Real estate agents are licensed professionals who facilitate property transactions between buyers and sellers. 

REALTORS® are licensed professionals who facilitate property transactions between buyers and sellers and are members of NAR (National Association of REALTORS®), adhering to a strict Code of Ethics and high standards of conduct. All REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®. 

Read the rest of the article here from the National Association of Realtors

 

Realtor® vs. Real Estate Agent: Why the Difference Matters

You’ll frequently hear the terms “real estate agent” and “Realtor” used interchangeably, but they are not the same. While the distinction may seem minor, it makes a significant difference in training, ethics, accountability and service, especially in today’s evolving marketplace.

Whether you’re a consumer navigating a home sale or a professional building a career, it’s important to understand the distinction between agents and Realtors and why it matters.

The basics: license vs. membership

Let’s start with the basics. A real estate agent is an individual who holds a state-issued license to assist clients in buying, selling or renting property.

A Realtor, on the other hand, is a licensed real estate professional who is also a member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR). This membership is offered through a local Realtor association and includes automatic membership in both the state and national associations.

All Realtors are real estate agents, but not all real estate agents are Realtors.

Read the full article on Inman here

2025 Golf Tournament

Congratulations to all who donated, worked and participated in this year’s tournament.

Because of you SAR will donate $1000 to each of 10 area charities totaling $10,000.

We appreciate all sponsorship donations and golf team donations.

Major Sponsors:

Title Sponsor – Davison Insurance Agency, Derrick Davison

Breakfast – Reli Title

Lunch – Aardwolf

              Blair & Parsons, P.C.

              Hunt Mortgage, Julie Stearns

              Tracy Sargent, ERA King Pell City & Clear Wind Technologies

Golf – Alpine Bay Golf Course

 

A last but huge shoutout to Shirley Kujan, tournament chair.

See more photos of the golf tournament below

What to Expect During a Home Inspection

From finding an inspector to dealing with surprises — this is your guide to getting a house checked out.

The first thing you need to know about a home inspection: You’ll feel all the feels. There’s the excitement — the inspection could be the longest time you’re in the house, after the showing. Right behind that comes anxiety. What if the inspector finds something wrong — so wrong you can’t buy the house? Then there’s impatience. Seriously, is this whole home buying process over yet?

Not yet. But you’re close. So, take a deep breath. Because here’s the most important thing to know about a home inspection: It’s just too good for you, as a buyer, to skip. 

To read more, Click Here

Hey, Buyers: These Home Appraisal Tips Are for You

What to expect, when to negotiate, and how to deal when things don’t go your way.

Most people have deeply personal reasons for wanting to buy a home. Maybe it’s the bathroom that feels like a dreamy, modern spa. Or that two-tiered deck just made for parties.

Your lender doesn’t care about the freestanding tub. Or the built-in outdoor fire pit. Their only concern is that the house you buy is worth as much as the value of your mortgage.

To them, a house isn’t a home. It’s collateral. (Harsh, but true.) If someday, for some reason, you can’t make your mortgage payments, the lender can foreclose on the home and sell it to recoup all or some of its costs. (Even harsher, but also true.)

For that reason, a home must be valued at, or above, the agreed-upon purchase price, and this has to happen before you can close on a house. That’s where a home appraiser comes in. 

To read more, Click Here

Buy a Home: Step-by-Step

We all know that buying a home isn’t the same as shopping for a jacket and paying for it by whipping out your debit card. But does it have to be so hard? Actually, no, it doesn’t. Not that it’s super easy to find and buy a home, but you’ll skip a lot of headaches (or a huge financial mistake!) if you know how to get the right advice along the way. Because, really, buying a home is about having the right relationships. This guide helps ensure that — so your dream of buying a home suddenly becomes very real.

To read more, Click Here

Gas vs. Electric Stoves: Which Is Better?

Choosing the right stove is more complicated. Get the pros and cons of gas, electric, and induction.

Oh, for the good old days when choosing a stove meant comparing brands, features, and prices. Today, the decision-making process includes a thorny issue: whether to go with a gas or electric stove or an induction cooktop, which is a type of electric range. The question stems from growing concerns about the health, safety, and environmental aspects of gas stoves.

Professional and home chefs in the U.S. have long preferred gas ranges, says Melissa Haber, senior vice president at EuroChef USA, based in Edgewood, N.Y. Seventy-six percent of restaurants across the country use gas in their kitchens, according to a survey conducted by the National Restaurant Association in 2022. Cooks in various settings say gas stoves heat up more quickly and offer better temperature control than most electric stoves. But evidence is growing that gas stoves can be harmful to humans and the environment.

To read more, Click Here

States Where Home Insurance Costs Are Surging Highest

Find out where homeowners are likely to face the steepest premium hikes before the end of the year.

Homeowners are facing rising insurance and increasingly limited options for carriers in some locales, and the problem is likely to worsen, warns a new report from Insurify, a virtual insurance company. The report blames severe weather, inflation and rising homebuilding costs.

The average insurance rate is $2,377 annually, but homeowners nationwide are expected to see a 6% uptick in average premiums by the end of the year. That’s on top of a 20% increase over the two years prior. Also, some coastal areas and inland locales could see double-digit percentage rises this year, according to Insurify’s 2024 Insuring the American Homeowner(link is external) report. Places like Florida, Louisiana and Oklahoma are expected to see the highest annual spikes in the country. The report further warns that weather forecasters are predicting a lively hurricane season, which likely will lead to additional rate increases into 2025 in many coastal areas.

For rest of the story, Click Here.