My Clients Were Selling Their Dream Home
The two bedroom, two-bath Craftsman bungalow that Della and Scott had lived in for 35 years wasn’t going to be the perfect fit for everyone, but I knew it would attract the right buyer. Over the years, they had completed a luxurious 800 square foot primary suite addition and lovingly added numerous design elements and special touches – a Lee Ledbetter designed library/office, custom kitchen cabinetry, and an enclosed breezeway connecting the primary wing. Della and Scott had made 600 State Street their dream home and adored living there, but they were planning to retire in Asheville, NC. That was April 2022, and the market was hot -- but there were rumors that interest rates were about to go up. That prompted Della and Scott to move forward with selling their home. It's About Asking The Right Question They interviewed three different realtors and offered me the job. During the interview, I asked what price they were hoping to get for their home – a question the other two realtors didn’t even ask. Instead, the others wanted to price the property low, in the hopes of encouraging a bidding war – a common tactic in a hot market. But that’s not what Della and Scott wanted. They weren’t comfortable with it, and they were unsure if that approach would work. So, based on my asking that question – and their comfort level – we priced the home honestly, just under the number they were hoping to receive. As Scott satisfyingly put it, “We hit the sweet spot.” A Strategy That Worked Initially, there was interest from an under-bidder. But then a couple came along and offered full price. They’d been looking for a year, had lost out on a house across the street, and didn’t want to miss out again! We agreed to a quick 30-day sale so the buyer could lock in a favorable interest rate. The timeline was a little tight due to some work Della and Scott had agreed to do, but I made sure all the loose ends were tied up, inspections went smoothly, and the closing went off without a hitch! I love that Della and Scott had this to say about working with me: “The first realtor we interviewed was too soft, the second was too hard, but Tracey was just right. She had a straightforward plan that suited us, and we felt it would be the most successful. Through it all, she was holding our hand and making sure everything went through. We left three days before the closing, and she took over -- making sure all the work was complete, and the house passed final inspections. She did it all! It was a real relief because we needed that extra help.” - Scott “We have good friends who highly recommended Tracey -- two people we really respect who thought she’d do a great job. She understood the house and its design elements and how we had fleshed out the rooms with storage features. I think she really understood it and got the quality of it.” - Della
A Front Row Seat to Mardi Gras Festivities
Mardi Gras is the greatest free show on Earth, but living on a parade route (or within a few blocks) gives you an incredible front row seat to the festivities -- offering a unique experience you won’t find any where else in the city. Think about it -- there’s no need to plan how you’ll get to your viewing spot when Mardi Gras parades roll, or where you’ll go to the bathroom, or even what you’ll need to bring to eat and drink. Because all you have to do is casually stroll to your own doorstep. Sounds nice, huh? If you’re a diehard Mardi Gras fan looking for that perfect spot to call your own, check out these listings. 5611 Annunciation Walkable from the start of Muses, Hermes, Krewe d’Etat, Morpheus, and more, this listing and location is a gem. Those who live near Jefferson Ave & Magazine St love to catch these Uptown parades right at their starting point. The float riders are excited, the crowd is family-friendly, and you don’t have to stay up late to see the whole show! 1101 Napoleon Ave. #C It just doesn’t get any better! This beautiful condo is literally at the start of the parade route for the majority of Uptown parades. And with its amazing balcony, you’ll be eye level, havin’ a great time, and catching all the best throws! 2004-06 Foucher St 2008-10 Foucher St These two cute duplexes are just 4 blocks on the lake side of St. Charles Avenue, which means they’re close enough to walk to the Uptown parades, but far enough to be out of the fray. And sometimes that’s the best way to do Mardi Gras. Also, these properties are on the ‘outside’ of the Uptown parade route that goes from Tchoupitoulas to Napoleon to St. Charles Avenue – which means you can easily get to and from your home in the middle of Mardi Gras parades. Ready to buy, sell, or invest? Let’s talk.
Crazy Situations that Almost Killed a Deal
Unfortunately, when you’re buying or selling a house, things can go wrong. Between financial issues, competing personalities, bankers, appraisers, inspectors, and deadlines, there are a lot of moving parts. And sometimes deals fall apart. What’s key is having a realtor with the experience and know-how to deal with those inevitable pitfalls. In my almost 20 years in the business, I’ve dealt with my share of snags -- but I pride myself on getting you to the finish line with as little stress as possible. Changing Lenders At the Last Minute Recently, one of my clients was selling one house and buying another. By the time we were under contract, the October 2021 tax deadline came due, and the lender now needed to use 2021 taxes to get the loan approved. Due to the pandemic, 2021 wasn’t a great year for my client; however, 2019 and 2020 were. Knowing that the lender wasn’t going to take this into consideration, I quickly found another, smaller lender who had fewer restrictions and would approve the loan. That allowed me to save two transactions from falling apart – the home they were selling and the home they were buying. Foreclosure, Divorce and a Bond for Deed In another situation, I was the dual agent (ie, I was representing both the seller and the buyer). The seller’s house was in foreclosure, and the buyer needed a mortgage to purchase it. However, the buyer’s soon to be ex-wife wouldn’t relinquish him from their mortgage, which meant he couldn’t qualify for a second mortgage. With the foreclosure deadline looming (only two weeks away), things got complicated! I needed to find a solution fast, so I recommended that we do a Bond for Deed, where a buyer pays a seller in installments, and the title doesn’t transfer until the seller is paid off in full. The buyer was able to make a substantial down payment – large enough for the seller to stop the foreclosure, and the deal went through. Phew. Pandemic Problems Back in March of 2020 when the world came to a screeching halt, a deal was reached, a contract was signed, and inspections were scheduled for an investment property I had listed. I was the dual agent, and the sellers called to say they were sick (maybe it was Covid); the buyers said they wouldn’t attend the inspection. So I called a local doctor who under normal circumstances makes house calls and hired him to do a phone consultation with the sellers. Based on their symptoms, the doctor cleared them, and inspections moved forward. The inspectors did their job with gloves and masks, while the current tenants hung out by the pool. And for the next two weeks, I took care of everything that needed doing at the property. The sale went through, and we all began to figure out how to keep things in motion – despite pandemic restrictions. When you’ve been in this business as long as I have, it means you’ve had to tackle just about every issue under the sun. But that’s what I love about my job. I’m always thinking on my feet, looking for the next opportunity, collaborating, and being creative. Looking to buy, sell or invest? Let’s talk.
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