• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer

Phone: 979-693-0201 Email: [email protected]

Myke Leatham | Brazos County Realty

Myke Leatham | Brazos County Realty

Welcome to Aggieland!

  • About Us
    • About Myke
    • Myke Leatham Team
    • Service After The Sale
    • Testimonials
    • Realtors Be Your Own Boss
  • Search Properties
    • Our Properties
    • MLS Search
    • Map Search
    • Rentals
    • Patio Townhomes & Condos
    • Luxury
    • Golf Course
    • Farm/Ranch/Land
    • Foreclosures
    • Rental Applications
    • Reserve My Airbnb
  • Subdivisions
    • Attractions
    • Bus Routes
    • Resources
    • Utilities & Hook Ups
    • Becoming More Energy Efficient
    • Bryan & College Station School Information
    • School Reports
  • Buyers / Sellers
    • Frequent “Q & A” For Buyers
    • First-Time Home Buyers
    • Loan Approval
    • Local Lenders
    • Mortgage Calculators
    • Tips for Sellers
    • Sellers Info
    • Frequent “Q & A” For Sellers
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Contact

How to Buy Your Home in College Station, TX Without Overpaying

December 20, 2020 by Myke Leatham

Buying a home is hands down the biggest financial investment that you will ever make – it may even be the biggest financial risk that you take. It’s important for first time homebuyers as well as seasoned investors to be diligent throughout the entire process of buying a new property to make sure that they are paying a fair price, or that they are knowingly overpaying and ok with it. When a buyer is emotionally invested in a property, they are more likely to pay more than the home is worth because they are willing to do whatever it takes to secure the home as their own. Any buyer is capable of making a mistake during the home buying process, but this mistake can end up costing a lot of money. In this blog post we’re going to go over some of the more common ways that end up causing buyers to pay too much for a home as well as how to buy your home in College Station, TX without overpaying. 

Common Buyer Mistakes

When you choose to buy a home, whether it’s for personal use or an investment, it’s important to negotiate a good and fair price. This will help you escape buyer’s remorse and also set you up for success if you choose to sell the property in a few years’ time. Here are some of the more common mistakes that buyers make:

  • Attending Too Many Open Houses

There is something about the frenzy of going to an open house that brings out a competitive nature in all of us, which makes it easy to end up overpaying and getting emotionally invested in a house. Instead of going to multiple open houses we encourage you to explore available properties online and schedule private showings for the ones that you are really interested in. 

  • Emotional Shopping

One of the more expensive mistakes a buyer can make is letting a seller know how much you love their home. Once you have expressed how you feel it can make it difficult to negotiate the price down because the seller knows how motivated you are. No matter how wonderful a home is and how you excited you are about it, keep it to yourself. 

  • Skipping Inspections

Even brand-new homes will sometimes have issues that need to be fixed, which is why it’s so important to schedule proper inspections. Unless you are buying a home “as-is” there is no reason to skip an inspection. You may think you’re getting a great deal on a perfect home only to find out later that it needs expensive and extensive work. 

  • Taking Their Time to Make a Decision

Good properties sell fast, so once you’ve made up your mind about a specific property let your realtor know ASAP and be prepared to move quickly. If you find the perfect home today but don’t submit an offer until tomorrow, you may already be too late. 

  • Feeling Pressured to Make a Decision

On the other hand, even though it’s important to move quickly, if you have decided that this home is the one, if something does not feel right don’t feel pressured to make a quick deal. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and to negotiate – the goal is to get the best property for a fair price. The best way to get a good deal is to be prepared for some serious negotiations and to trust your agent to do it for you. 

  • Bidding Wars

Bidding wars are common in seller’s markets when there is more demand than there is inventory. Sometimes, a seller’s real estate agent will try to scare hesitant buyers into a deal by threatening to pass off the home to another potential buyer. In bidding wars no one wins, because whoever ends up buying the home also ends up overpaying. 

  • Forgetting About Hidden Costs

Remember that there is more to your new home than the initial price tag – there are closing costs, mortgage insurance, appraisal fees, inspection fees, taxes, title insurance and so much more. All of these additional fees add up to the total amount that will be coming out of your pocket, so be diligent to escape expensive surprises. 

How to Buy a Home Without Overpaying in College Station, TX

If you have found your dream home and you can afford it, you may not care if it’s overpriced. On the other hand – no one likes the feeling of buyer’s remorse, especially in big transactions like buying a home. The best way to avoid buyer’s remorse is to avoid overpaying – below we have listed a few tips to help you avoid overpaying on a home in College Station, TX.

  • Work with an Agent

Working with an experienced real estate professional offers numerous benefits – one of which is that they will guide you through the sales process and help you avoid overpaying for a property. A real estate agent can help you find a property, negotiate with the seller’s agent on your behalf, draft up documents and run the transaction from start to finish so that you don’t have to worry about missing a signature or a deadline. When it comes to big decisions like buying a home, sometimes it’s best to leave it to the professionals who have your best interest at heart. 

  • Dig Deep into the Comps

Comps are very important in real estate – this is a report put together by your real estate agent showing other homes in the area that have sold recently. Comps are comprised of properties that are similar in size and floor plan, bedroom and bathroom combination, lot size and upgrades. A comp report is a powerful tool that will give you an idea of what a fair price looks like for a house in the neighborhood you are interested in. 

  • Demand an Appraisal

Most transactions will always include an appraisal contingency – this is an important part of the sales process that is usually required by lenders and completed by a qualified appraiser to ensure that the property is worth the price you are agreeing to pay for it. If the appraisal shows a number below the sale price, then you may reconsider your purchase because it will make it harder to get loan approval and you will have to come up with a bigger down payment. 

  • Interview Different Lenders

You interview different real estate professionals before you choose who to work with and you should do the same with mortgage lenders. This is also a place where you can cut down the amount you pay for the house over the life of a loan, so it’s important to compare rates and closing costs between at least two different lenders. 

  • Be Realistic

Overpaying does not mean that you should expect to always strike an amazing deal on a home. There are definitely incredible opportunities in real estate where you can purchase a property below market value, but that does not mean that a home sold at a fair price is a bad deal. A fair price is what you are comfortable paying for a home that you love that is also properly valued in comparison to other homes in the area. If a home is priced right it will sell quickly, and if you can get it for the sales price without entering into a bidding war then you are paying a fair price. 

  • Shop Off Season

Spring tends to be the hottest seasons in real estate. If you are looking to avoid bidding wars and overpriced homes, we suggest waiting until the spring buying season dies down or holding off until the winter months when you are more likely to run into highly motivated sellers who price their homes to sell quickly.

Today’s world and real estate market is fast paced and ruthless, which means that you can’t afford to learn your lessons through trial and error. We hope that the information we have shared in this blog post has been educational and helpful and that it will help you be a savvy buyer. Our team at Brazos County Realty has helped countless buyers find their dream homes while saving them money at the same time. We have also worked with numerous sellers and guided them through the sometimes-daunting process of selling their property for a fair price.

Buying a house is the biggest financial transaction most of us will ever make, and no matter what the price is, paying too much for a home is never a good deal. Being armed with information and working with an experienced realtor whose main goal is to look out for you is the best way to protect yourself from overpaying for a home. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about real estate in Bryan College Station or if we can be of any assistance for your real estate needs. We look forward to speaking with you and working with you soon. 

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest
  • More
  • Print
  • Pocket
  • Reddit
Category: Blog

About Myke Leatham

I’m so glad you found me – your College Station and Bryan, TX real estate source! When you choose to buy or sell a home in College Station/Bryan, TX or other surrounding areas using our expert services, you will receive a free consultation to determine your needs, free listings, and free reports sent to you by email. These weekly reports will show you how hard the members of my team are working to accomplish your property goals, and we guarantee the best service and consultation you have ever experienced. You’ll find the best community information for the College Station, Texas region right here.

It’s nice to know YOUR Realtor will still be of service after the sale.

Experience Counts: Broker/Owner of Brazos County Realty
Over 25 years of sales experience. With past ABR, GRI, CRS, & Epro designations.
Continuing education in real estate: Education is paramount in an ever changing industry like Real Estate. Myke has taken over 1000 hours of real estate specific courses which include but are not limited to: Residential Appraisal, Marketing, Law Contracts I & II, Finance, Residential Inspections, Principles and Practice, Law of Agency, Code of Ethics, Bankruptcy/Easements/Surveys/and Probate, Home Warranties, 1031 Exchanges and hundreds of hours of extensive real estate training.

Reputation: SALES LEADER since 1998; Top Producer 2000 through 2009. Listed among the top agents in the county. Consistently ranked among top realtors for total sales volume out of 900 realtors for commercial and residential real estate in the Bryan/College Station, TX area. When Myke represents buyers, she presents all viable options to her clients, including those properties that are not officially listed, but could be available for sale based on her inside information. Her expertise lies with investors and marketing homes of all price ranges in College Station/Bryan to local, national and global buyers, across all major media channels and through her extensive, personal network of contacts.

Myke is among the top 1% of all Realtors in North America!
She has earned the Designations of ABR (Accredited Buyers Representative), CRS(Certified Residential Specialist), GRI (Graduate of Realtors Institute)CHMS (Certified Home Marketing Specialist), and E-pro (Certified Internet Professional)
Fewer than 3% of all Realtors nationwide earn these certifications. They are not only a symbol of Myke’s commitment to this business, but these designations are your assurance of a skilled, trained real estate professional.

Myke is a consummate real estate professional who not only understands the art of deal-making, but also the art of relationships. She makes the process of buying and selling homes an uplifting and fun experience. She has a tremendous appreciation for Bryan and College Station, its rich history, and Texas A&M traditions having lived in the area for 25 years. Her knowledge of Bryan/College Station’s real estate market and market trends is unparalleled. Having been personally involved with clients through their remodeling, purchasing and selling processes, she knows intrinsic quality and value when she sees it. When she doesn’t see it she lets her clients know, without hesitation.
Myke’s proven track record and affiliations in the field of real estate demonstrates her high level of professionalism.

* High energy and enthusiasm
* Aggressive marketing
* Expert negotiating skills
* Ability to listen and ascertain customer’s desires and needs
* Fun to be with
* Internet savvy
* Because Myke is an experienced investor, she quickly helps her customers locate and define good business opportunities. No one likes the feeling of being ‘sold to’ so Myke provides as much information as possible to help you make the right decision.

Personal Commitment:
I am prepared to go the ‘Extra Mile’ for you, because I understand the financial and emotional significance of purchasing and selling your home. I will carefully listen to your desires and arrive at a workable plan. I believe sensitivity, listening, and service are important keys to success.
Whether you are buying or selling a home or you are just curious about your home’s market value, I’d be happy to provide my market expertise and intelectual property without obligation, or meet with you to evaluate your home for future reference. I want my customers to have a great time and enjoy the total process of purchasing or selling property. It gives me great pride when my customerspass my name on to their friends and family. I will continue to work hard to make sure critical information is available at www.AggieRealEstate.com and I invite all interested investors to search my site for cash flow opportunities. I will dedicate my time and talents to helping you achieve your goals. It is my goal to make your buying and selling experience extraordinary. Look closely and you’ll see how much I love meeting and working with people. You’ll experience the difference in working with an experienced and dedicated professional.

Personal information:
Michelle goes by ‘Myke’ and is the proud mother of 6 children – 3 girls and 3 boys. Her husband is David Leatham. They met at Brigham Young University. They have been married since 1977. David is a finance professor, and Associate Head over graduate studies in the Agricultural Economics Department at Texas A&M University, and speaks fluent Spanish. They have lived in College Station since 1983 and loved every minute of it. Myke loves to quilt, sing, swim, ‘sing’, bake bread, ‘sing,’ garden, ‘sing’, sell real estate, and ‘sing some more’ :-). Family, church, and real estate consume most of her time. Truth, honor, integrity, kindness, loyalty, gratitude, and service are very important words to her.

Slogan: ‘Let Myke Help You With Your HOMEwork!’

Referrals: The highest compliment I can get is when you pass my name on to others or post a kind remark on the internet. When you send your friends and family my way, I’ll always provide them with the highest quality of service that I know you would appreciate. Thanks in advance for all your support and friendship.

Previous Post:December 2020Happy Holidays from Brazos County Realty & Upcoming Holiday events in Bryan/College Station, Texas for 2020
Next Post:The Old VS. New Way of Doing Business in Real Estate

Brazos County Realty

Your leading resource to search for College Station homes and BCS real estate. Let us help you find your dream home in Bryan & College Station, Texas!

Contact Us
Company

13464 I and GN Rd.
College Station, Texas 77845

Phone: 979-693-0201
Email: [email protected]

Navigation

About Myke

Featured Properties

Search Properties

Rentals

Quick Search By Area

IDX Sitemap

Resources

Areas of Expertise

Homes for Sale

College Station Houses

MLS

Land & Investment Properties

Additional Info

Information About Brokerage Services

TREC Consumer Protection Notice

Still Have Questions?
Get More Information

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

AggieRealEstate.com is Not Affiliated With Texas A&M University. Copyright © 2023 · All Rights Reserved · Made With ⚡ By imFORZA

 

Loading Comments...