Best Polk County Realtor | Buy or Sell Your Home

The Real Estate Market is Changing Quickly, How to Buy and Sell Your Home Successfully

The last couple of years have seen the Polk County and Florida real estate market be hot! In real estate terms, a hot market is one where there is a lot of activity going on, i.e. buying and selling. In reality, Polk County real estate has actually been not just hot, but completely on fire!

Polk County saw unprecedented sales and growth over the last couple of years. In fact, even in May of 2022, median home prices were up almost 30% over last year! There were a lot of new buyers moving into the area, and they were helping to drive up the value of homes, with many listings selling for higher than their asking price.

However, things are starting to shift in the Polk County real estate market. In fact, things are shifting on a national level. One major factor is that the Fed is trying to slow down inflation by raising interest rates. This makes it a little more expensive to borrow money-a major factor for most people buying things like real estate and cars. That is going to impact what has been a very hot “Seller’s Market”, especially here in Polk County. Many people are worried that if houses are harder to buy (because it is more expensive to borrow money), then houses will also be harder to sell. While this may be true to an extent, people still need to, and want to, buy and sell homes. With that in mind, it is possible to still be extremely successful in selling your Polk County home, or finding your new dream home, when done properly.

You Can Still Sell Your Home Successfully in This Market

When a real estate market is facing what many people would call a “downturn”, it becomes even more important to utilize the right real estate agent and broker. Let’s face it, when homes are selling like hot cakes, for more than they are even being listed for, anyone with a pulse and a real estate license can be “successful”. The homes are selling themselves, the buyers are kicking down the doors. There is little to no extra work that needs to be done by a real estate agent just trying to capitalize on the market and make a buck.

With an average increase in home values of almost 30% just in the last year, YOU CAN STILL CASH OUT BIG ON YOUR LAKELAND AREA HOME

However, when you work with a reputable, established agency, like Polk County’s DRJ Real Estate, you are working with a team of seasoned professionals who have been through every market upswing and downswing. DRJ Real Estate already has the systems and strategies in place for people wanting to sell their home. This is important, because you can no longer expect to list your home and instantly have 3 or more “above asking price” offers come flying in.

To be successful in selling your home in this market takes a little bit of effort, patience, and guidance from a professional Realtor.

Selling 101 includes:

• properly staging your home
• having it professionally photographed for digital listings
• leveraging your Realtor’s network of potential Buyers
• making sure your list price is strategic and accurate
• having a Realtor with a proven marketing plan

This is still an excellent time to sell your home in Polk County, Florida! Your home value is likely higher than it has ever been, and even if it comes down a little, you are still likely well ahead of where you bought it. With an average increase in home values of almost 30% just in the last year, YOU CAN STILL CASH OUT BIG ON YOUR LAKELAND AREA HOME! DRJ Real Estate can mock up an equity sheet for you that can present you with your likely cash out if you sell now, after calculating things like closing costs and fees. With over 20 years of real estate experience, we know how to help you sell your home even in a challenging market!

This Still Might Be the Best Time to Buy a Home

Let’s face it, if you tried to buy a home in Polk County, Florida in the last year, it was probably incredibly frustrating. The problem with a Seller’s Market is that it makes it extremely competitive, and frustrating, for Buyer’s. Often times even your “above list price” offer gets rejected for one with more cash, or with more contingencies waived. The unfortunate reality is, many Buyers actually ended up overpaying for a home. Or worse, ended up with a home full of repair issues, because their Realtor pushed them down that road.

As the market cools a bit, Buyers can finally be more discerning, and more realistic with their offers. Now, that does not mean it does not still need to be a competitive and aggressive offer. What it does mean is that if you are thinking of buying a home in the Lakeland area, you should work with a well established, proven real estate agency. The team here at DRJ Real Estate understands the local market, and the local inventory. DRJ Real Estate will help you navigate a fair deal from a great deal.

Not only that, DRJ Real Estate can also show you the benefits of buying a new home. Right now, because the market is changing, new home developers are looking for even more ways to incentivize buyers. This might mean preferred interest rates, free upgrades, or even cash back offers! On top of the peace of mind and excitement of getting something totally brand new, designed just for you.

Keep in mind that even though prices have gone up a lot in the last couple of years, our homes are still below the National average. In other words, there is still tremendous value in buying out here! Additionally, there is still room for growth and appreciation.

Don’t Hesitate, Call DRJ Real Estate

If you have been considering either selling or buying in Polk County, Florida, now is the time! Call DRJ Real Estate today for a free consultation on the market. If you want to sell your home, we can breakdown how much you can walk away with. Additionally, we can show interested Buyers the many options that you have in the market. We will also help you understand how much it actually costs to buy.

If you are looking to move into the beautiful Polk County Florida area, or you are looking to sell your house, then CONTACT DRJ REAL ESTATE right now to put us to work for you! We are Polk County’s premier, full service real estate team that specializes in Polk County and Lakeland real estate. 

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Best Polk County Realtor | Buying and Selling a Home