Why Sage & Cedar may not be the listing team for you

01. Negotiating with other agents and their buyers – Who needs a skilled negotiator to navigate the treacherous waters of real estate deals? Certainly not you! Forget about those pesky negotiations and just let the buyers have their way. After all, it’s not like money is at stake or anything. Let’s leave your hard-earned dollars up to chance!

02. Communicating with lenders, other agents, closing attorneys, inspectors, appraisers, contractors, and so many others – Ah, the joy of juggling multiple phone calls, emails, and appointments. Who needs a real estate agent to handle all those pesky details? You’re a master multitasker, right? So what if you’re in a meeting and the deal is falling apart, you’ll get back to them tomorrow, if they haven’t terminated the contract by then…

03. Covering the cost of professional photography and marketing – Why bother spending money on professional photography and marketing when you can just snap a few iPhone pictures and post them on your favorite social media platform? Who cares about making a great first impression or attracting serious buyers? The blurry, poorly lit photos of your house will surely do the trick!

Why Sage & Cedar may not be the listing team for you

04. Attending appointments, making phone calls, answering emails, hosting open houses, etc – What fun spending hours on end attending appointments, making endless phone calls, answering countless emails, and hosting open houses. Why would you want to delegate these soul-crushing tasks to a real estate agent when you can do it all yourself? After all, who needs a social life or any semblance of sanity anyway? You were looking for a challenge, right?

05. Knowing the market in the neighborhood you are selling in. Knowing how to read and use current market data – Who needs market knowledge when you can rely on your gut feeling? Forget about understanding the trends, analyzing market data, and pricing your home competitively. It’s all just a wild guessing game, and you, my friend, are a natural-born guesser!

So there you have it, folks—a foolproof guide to sabotaging your home sale. Hiring a real estate agent is for amateurs! Why would you want someone with experience, expertise, and a proven track record to help you navigate the complicated world of real estate when you can stumble around in the dark like a blindfolded toddler?

JUST KIDDING – We are full of jokes here at Sage & Cedar. Listing your home for sale is a full time job, and an agent with experience is necessary for success. Want to learn more about working with a Sage & Cedar agent? Visit us here!

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4 Benefits of Using a VA Loan to Buy a Home

01. No Requirement for Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) – One of the most significant advantages of utilizing a VA loan is the absence of private mortgage insurance (PMI) requirements. Unlike conventional loans, which often require PMI for borrowers with a down payment below 20%, VA loans do not impose this additional monthly expense. PMI can significantly increase the overall cost of a mortgage, making VA loans an attractive option for those seeking to save money in the long term.

02. Zero Down Payment – Another notable benefit of VA loans is the ability to purchase a home without making a down payment. Traditional mortgage programs typically demand a substantial down payment, which can pose a significant financial barrier for many homebuyers. With a VA loan, eligible borrowers can finance up to 100% of the home’s value, eliminating the need to accumulate a sizable upfront payment. This aspect of VA loans not only enables easier entry into homeownership but also preserves valuable savings for other purposes, such as home improvements or emergencies.

What do you think of these 4 benefits of using a VA loan to buy a home?

03. No Prepayment Fees – Flexibility is a key advantage of VA loans, as they do not impose prepayment penalties. Prepayment penalties are charges incurred when borrowers pay off their mortgage ahead of schedule or make larger payments to reduce their principal balance. By eliminating these fees, VA loans empower borrowers to make additional payments or even pay off their mortgages early without incurring any financial penalties. This feature grants greater financial freedom, allowing homeowners to save money on interest and potentially become debt-free sooner.

04. Lower Minimum Credit Score Threshold – Obtaining a mortgage often requires a good credit score, which can be a challenge for some homebuyers. However, VA loans typically have more lenient credit score requirements compared to conventional loans. While individual lenders may have their own credit score standards, VA loans generally offer greater flexibility, accepting lower minimum credit scores. This accessibility enables more aspiring homeowners with less-than-perfect credit histories to secure favorable loan terms and realize their dreams of homeownership.

Utilizing a VA loan to purchase a home comes with an array of compelling advantages. The absence of private mortgage insurance (PMI) requirements reduces monthly expenses, while the ability to secure a loan with zero down payment enables easier access to homeownership. The elimination of prepayment fees promotes financial flexibility, and the lower minimum credit score threshold broadens eligibility for a wider range of homebuyers. These benefits make VA loans an attractive option for veterans and active-duty military personnel looking to embark on their homeownership journey. If you are eligible for a VA loan, it’s worth exploring this opportunity and taking advantage of the numerous benefits it offers. Ready to start your home buying journey? Visit us here!

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7 must have items for realtors to have in their car

01. Vankor Car Trash Can: As a Realtor, we are constantly on the go. A car trash can is a MUST, especially if you plan to drive any of your clients to showings! This trash can is the perfect size to keep your car tidy of snack wrappers, straws paper, paperwork, and any other things you accumulate on the road. You can attach it to a head rest, your gear shift, your console, or in your back seat. 

02. Starument Handheld Portable Vacuum: Since we are already on the topic of keeping your car clean, let’s talk about this portable vacuum. The size and shape are the best things about this device. It is small enough to fit into a cup holder. It’s perfect for a quick clean up of your seat or floorboards before scooping up your next client! 

03. Drive Auto Car Organizer: This… I can not live without. This auto car organizer clips to the trunk to keep from moving around. It is waterproofed and has removable sections. Great for extra lockboxes, directionals, waters, cleaning supplies, etc. It also has handles! Fill it with your open house needs and it’s all in one place. 

04. Enrich Up Steering Wheel Tray: As a Realtor, our car is our office sometimes. This tray is a great way to turn your drivers seat and steering wheel into a desk and chair. This tray clicks onto your steering wheel and has 2 sizes of silicone rings to protect from scuffs and scratches. Have a tight offer deadline? Click this tray onto your wheel and write the offer in the driveway! 

Must have items for realtors to have in their car

05. Viaviat Car Seat Organizer: Realtors need to be able to go from showing, to meeting, to closing in a matter of minutes. This car organizer helps me do that. With all of the sections and pockets, whatever I need is in arms reach. The top section is great for extra keys, garage door openers, and fobs, while the zipper pocket at the bottom holds lint rollers, tide pens, hair brushes, and dry shampoo. 

06. Source One Business Card Holder: Business cards are one way we make sure a potential client leaves a meeting with our information. This business card holder keeps the cards organized, easy to get to, and clean. You can put it in your console, stick it to your dash, and even bring it in with you to an open house. 

07. MightyDuty Car Oil Diffuser: Ok, ok, this may not be necessary, but it’s a great way to make sure your car smells fresh and clean after a quick stop at the QT hot bar. Smelling like a taquito is no way to make an impression (or maybe it is.. depending on the client ?). 

Being a successful real estate agent requires excellent organization, preparedness, and adaptability. By keeping these essential items in your car, you’ll be equipped to handle various scenarios that may arise during your daily activities. So, pack your car with these essentials and hit the road with confidence as you navigate the dynamic world of real estate. Want to learn more about Sage & Cedar? Visit us here.

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Taxes for Real Estate Agents

Keep accurate records: As a real estate agent, you likely have a lot of expenses that you can deduct on your taxes, such as marketing materials, office supplies, and travel expenses. Make sure to keep detailed records of all your expenses throughout the year so you can accurately claim them on your tax return.

Understand your deductions: Real estate agents are eligible for a number of deductions, including home office expenses, mileage, and marketing costs. Make sure you understand which deductions you’re eligible for and how to claim them on your tax return.

As a real estate agent, it’s important to stay on top of your finances, especially when it comes to tax season

Hire a professional: If you’re not comfortable doing your taxes on your own, consider hiring a professional to help you. A tax professional who specializes in working with real estate agents will be able to help you maximize your deductions and ensure you’re filing your taxes correctly.

Plan ahead: Don’t wait until the last minute to start thinking about your taxes. Throughout the year, set aside money for your tax payments and keep track of your expenses so you’re not scrambling to pull everything together at the last minute.

By following these tips, you can make the process of doing your taxes as a real estate agent a little bit easier and hopefully even save some money on your tax bill. Happy filing! Interested in joining the Sage & Cedar team? Visit us here! 

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Why we host our team with eXp Realty

01. Remote Working – First and foremost, eXp Realty is a fully virtual real estate brokerage. This means that agents can work from anywhere in the world, and their transactions are conducted entirely online. eXp Realty provides a robust suite of tools and resources to help their agents succeed, including lead generation tools, transaction management software, and marketing support. These tools allow agents to focus on what they do best, which is helping their clients buy and sell real estate.

02. Revenue Share – eXp Realty also has a unique approach to compensation that benefits both agents and their teams. Rather than offering traditional commission splits, eXp Realty offers a revenue-sharing model that allows agents to earn a percentage of the company’s revenue. This means that agents can earn more money as the company grows, which creates a powerful incentive for agents to work together to achieve success.

Many companies are turning to virtual workplaces to keep their teams connected and productive.

03. Support – Another benefit of hosting your team at eXp Realty is the company’s strong culture of collaboration and support. eXp Realty has built a robust online community where agents can share best practices, ask for advice, and collaborate on deals. The company also offers ongoing training and support to help agents stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies in real estate.

04. Flexible & Scalable – Finally, eXp Realty offers a flexible and scalable platform that can accommodate teams of any size. Whether you are a solo agent looking to build a team or a large brokerage looking to transition to a virtual model, eXp Realty can provide the tools and support you need to succeed.

Hosting your team at eXp Realty offers a wide range of benefits, from access to powerful tools and resources to a strong culture of collaboration and support. If you are looking to build a successful real estate team in a virtual environment, eXp Realty may be the right choice for you. Interested in learning more? Connect with us here! 

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Let’s take a look at the 4 items you’ll need to collect before applying for a home loan.

01. Proof of Income – Lenders want to see that you have the ability to pay for the home after closing. Because of this they will ask you to provide proof of income. This will consist of 2 years of tax returns and your latest w-2’s. Lenders do not require you to be at the same job for 2 years, but they will want to see consistent income, ideally in the same field. 

02. Proof of Assets – Supplying the lender with proof of assets help the lender decide the type of mortgages you qualify for and sometimes even the interest rate you receive. Most common assets include cash, physical assets (like cars, boats, homes), and liquid assets (like 401ks, stocks, bonds). Supplying proof of all assets will help the lender qualify you for a higher loan amount than they’d be able to without proof. Still have questions on what to include? Consult your CPA!

While the bank *may* ask you for more documentation, these are the core 4 items you need to get started!⁠

03. Good Credit – Most loans have a minimum credit score requirement to qualify. Having a good credit score suggests that you have no problem making payments on time. Usually, the better your credit – the better your interest rate. The most common loan requirements are as follows: Conventional – 620, FHA – 500, VA – 640, and USDA – 640. 

04. Employment Verification – Your lender will require verification of employment to issue a pre approval letter and again right before closing. These documents can include an employment verification letter, a recent pay stub, or anything else to prove an employment history and confirm income. 

Interested in starting your home buying journey? Click here to connect with a Sage & Cedar agent and set up a one on one buyer education meeting! 

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6 steps to buy your first investment property

01. Decide on a price point⁠ – A good rule of thumb is to use the 1% rule. For example if you purchase a home for $100,000, you’ll need a minimum monthly rent of $1,000.⁠
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02. Pick a location(s)⁠ – Airbnb guests aren’t worried about the school district and long-term renters may not need walkability 24/7. Decide which way you’d like to go and pick a location that way.⁠
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03. Determine rentability⁠ – What are your target renters looking for? Long-term renters may say creature comforts like 2-3 bedrooms, washer/dryer, dishwasher, and storage. Short-term renters usually want to be close to (or far from) the action.⁠

What are your target renters looking for?

04. Purchase the Property⁠ – This process will be similar to purchasing a primary residence. Your lender may require a higher down payment and loan requirements may be a bit different than on a primary residence, but the steps are pretty much the same: offer, escrow, closing, rent!⁠
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05. After Closing⁠ – You may want to consider hiring a property manager to take care of renting and maintaining your income property. These will typically run you 15-25%.⁠
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06. Offset Additional Mortgage⁠ – For an investment property, you will need 20% down but the great thing is that you can include rent as part of your income, so this will offset the additional mortgage!⁠
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Ready to get the ball rolling on your investment property journey? Click here to schedule a one on one buyer meeting with a Sage & Cedar agent! 

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What does it mean to “sponsor” an agent at eXp Realty?

eXp’s revenue share plan is one way that eXp rewards its agents for attracting new agents to join eXp.⁠
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Simply, an eXp agent can “sponsor” a new agent to join eXp. ⁠
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Once the new agent begins closing on transactions, the sponsor receives a percentage of the company revenue from the sales activity of their sponsored agent until their annual commission cap of $16,000 is reached.⁠
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(The best part? eXp pays that share — not the agent. It is taken from the 20% adjusted gross commission income (AGCI) received by eXp, and is paid to the sponsor agent monthly.)⁠

FACT: You don’t have to work yourself into the ground to be a successful real estate agent.

As an example: If you personally sponsor 5 agents to eXp who meet the production requirements, and they in turn sponsor their own productive agents, you can earn up to up to an additional $3,200 annually for the production of each of those Tier 2 agents. That is ON TOP of the $2,800 you earn from the agents that you have brought in. 
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Want to chat more about it? Click here to learn more about our team and the way we work together to build collective and individual success!⁠ Looking for more info on eXp? Click here!

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How to find the best brokerage to join as a new agent.

Some items to consider when interviewing; 

01. Are you a self starter? 

02. Are you confident in marketing yourself? 

03. Do you prefer to have someone hold your hand through the processes or do you want to jump in and forge ahead on your own? 

The answers to these questions will determine the type of brokerage you might be interested in. They will also determine what your monthly cost might be, your commission split and your cap. If you need accountability to be productive, you might want to join a team on top of joining a brokerage, which is totally normal for new agents. Knowing your needs ahead of time is crucial in making the decision on where to hang your license. 

The world has changed since Covid and most businesses are now virtual. Are you good at virtual learning? If so, there are so many choices for you compared to a traditional brokerage that charges you $200-$1000 per month literally before you have sold a home. If you are a motivated learner, look for a company that lets you learn on your own, has some type of cap, and doesn’t charge you an outlandish fee monthly before you ever sell a home!

Why Sage & Cedar hangs their license with eXp Realty

Sage & Cedar hangs our license with eXp Realty for a few reasons:

01. Cloud Campus environment – Work from anywhere, instant access to training and support. Knowing you can learn from home and on demand is a big plus. Time is a nonrenewable resource so being able to skip the travel and traffic and learn at home is a great time (and headache) saver! 

02. No Desk Fees – Let’s face it! As a real estate agent, you have to be able to work from anywhere… and most agents do! The number of people primarily working from home tripled between 2019-2022 (census.gov). Why spend the money on a desk fee if you don’t ever use it.

Fees are a big deciding factor for most agents. Especially new ones! eXp Realty does an 80/20 split. Knowing you can keep 80% of your transactions is a big deal (compared or 40 or 50% at other brokerages). Along with the reasonable split, they also offer a 16k yearly cap. Once you’ve paid the broker $16,000 for the year, you keep 100% of your commissions. 

03. Equity Opportunities –

A. Sustainable equity plan – Each year earn shares on your first transaction, earn shares when you cap, and earn shares when an agent you sponsor closes their first transaction!

B. ICON award – Earn Up to $16,000 in stock upon the achievement of certain production and cultural goals within your anniversary year!

C. Agent equity program – Enroll to be paid 5% of every transaction commission with stock at a 10% discount!

Every agent has different needs. Decide what’s important for your success, and have that inform your decision. If you’d like to learn more about eXp Realty or Sage & Cedar, Visit us here: https://heatherdean.exprealty.careers/ or here:  https://sageandcedarhome.com/join-our-team/.

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Heather Dean Frost chats with Jasmine Krnjetin of the Agent Upgrade Podcast

Heather and Jasmine chat about the shifting market and how to adjust your business with it! In this podcast we hit 9 major points. Let’s explore! 

01. Heather’s background – Jasmine and Heather talk about Heathers start in real estate, the hurdles and how she overcame them. The name of the game in this business is learning from others. Whether it be their success or failures.

02. Why is joining a real estate team an advantage? – Jasmine and Heather dive deep into the team dynamic and what that means for an agent looking to get their start. What can a team do for you? How is it different from going it alone?

03. What can you say to clients to share the reality of the market (and squash myths) – Big topic here! Buyers and Sellers are waiting. What is important for them to know in this period? If it’s the right time for them, what do you say to get them off the fence?

Click “Play” to listen on Spotify

04. How did Heather transition from a solo agent to leading a real estate team? – Jasmine and Heather discuss the birth of Sage & Cedar. How did we get off the ground, what were the hurdles, what made us want to go it on our own?

05. What are the three buckets of client leads in real estate? – As an agent, where do you look for real estate leads? What’s important to consider if you feel like you’ve hit a brick wall with one source? 

06. What are some practical tactics Heather is teaching her agents about the current slowdown? – Here we discuss why it’s important to stay a resource, even in this slowing market. Remaining the name someone says when the topic arises is extremely important. Learn why!

There’s more panic about the real estate market right now than there needs to be.

07. Why social media can humanize your agency and help people remember you. – What creating those know, like and trust feelings can do for you! Making sure people feel confidant in reaching out to you as a friend or client is extremely important. 

08. What are the things Heather wished she knew when she started as a real estate agent? – Jasmine and Heather discuss what she would share with her younger self here. What she’s learned in her 8 years of experience and what she passes on to the agents on her team. 

09. How can an agent capture the buyer’s journey to share online? Stories matter! – Lastly we talk about getting the word out. The importance of showing you’re an active agent in the business and the best source to draw upon. 

Click here to learn more about the Sage & Cedar team and see if we are a good fit for you? Looking for more great episodes? Click to follow Agent Upgrade on Spotify and YouTube! 

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