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Today’s homebuyers are faced with a strong sellers’ market, which means there are a lot of active buyers competing for a relatively low number of available homes. As a result, it’s essential to understand how to make a confident and competitive offer on your dream home. Here are five tips for success in this critical stage of the homebuying process.
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1. Listen to Your Real Estate Advisor 
An article from Freddie Mac gives direction on making an offer on a home. From the start, it emphasizes how trusted professionals can help you stay focused on the most important things, especially at times when this process can get emotional for buyers:
“Remember to let your homebuying team guide you on your journey, not your emotions. Their support and expertise will keep you from compromising on your must-haves and future financial stability.” A real estate professional should be the expert guide you lean on for advice when you’re ready to make an offer.

2. Understand Your Finances
​Having a complete understanding of your budget and how much house you can afford is essential. The best way to know this is to get pre-approved for a loan early in the homebuying process. Only 44% of today’s prospective homebuyers are planning to apply for pre-approval, so be sure to take this step so you stand out from the crowd. Doing so make it clear to sellers you’re a serious and qualified buyer, and it can give you a competitive edge in a bidding war.

3. Be Prepared to Move Quickly
According to the latest Realtors Confidence Index from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the average property sold today receives 3.7 offers and is on the market for just 21 days. These are both results of today’s competitive market, showing how important it is to stay agile and alert in your search. As soon as you find the right home for your needs, be prepared to submit an offer as quickly as possible.

4. Make a Fair Offer
It’s only natural to want the best deal you can get on a home. However, Freddie Mac also warns that submitting an offer that’s too low can lead sellers to doubt how serious you are as a buyer. Don’t make an offer that will be tossed out as soon as it’s received. The expertise your agent brings to this part of the process will help you stay competitive:
“Your agent will work with you to make an informed offer based on the market value of the home, the condition of the home and recent home sale prices in the area.”

5. Stay Flexible in Negotiations
After submitting an offer, the seller may accept it, reject it, or counter it with their own changes. In a competitive market, it’s important to stay nimble throughout the negotiation process. You can strengthen your position with an offer that includes flexible move-in dates, a higher price, or minimal contingencies (conditions you set that the seller must meet for the purchase to be finalized). Freddie Mac explains that there are, however, certain contingencies you don’t want to forego:

“Resist the temptation to waive the inspection contingency, especially in a hot market or if the home is being sold ‘as-is’, which means the seller won’t pay for repairs. Without an inspection contingency, you could be stuck with a contract on a house you can’t afford to fix.”
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Bottom Line
Today’s competitive market makes it more important than ever to make a strong offer on a home. Let’s connect to make sure you rise to the top along the way.

So, you've decided to buy a house and you've even been preapproved for a loan!!! Woop, woop!! Congratulations. This is a HUGE first step and I'm thrilled for you. Don't have a preapproval? Message me 513-562-7033 or at [email protected] and I'll hook you up with resources and my preferred lenders. 

Okay, so you've got the preapproval...
Here are 5 questions I need answered by you: 
1. Location - What part of town? Is the school district important to you?
2. The size of the lot - do you need a yard? 
3. Number of bedrooms?
4. Number of bathrooms?
5. Layout, age, style and condition of your new house preferences? Do you want it to be move in ready or ready for renovations?

Once I know these things, I'll set up a search for you on the MLS where you'll get notifications every time a new house is added to the market that fits your criteria. These emails can come every time a house hits the market, or once daily. You decide.

A bonus of working with me as your Real Estate Agent? I often hear of houses BEFORE they hit the market! That's right! I am continually asking my sphere (agents, friends, family, you name it) if they know of anyone getting ready to list a house that matches what my buyers (YOU!) are looking for! 

It is helpful if you send me houses you like via text or email so that I can begin to see your style and what is catching your eye. You are welcome to search any real estate website you choose. Be aware all sites have the same data and realtor. com updates the most frequently.
 
Rules of Happy House Hunting 

• Feel free to go to Open Houses, but let them know you have a Realtor and give them my name.
• If you decide to build in a new subdivision call me. I will accompany you to the model home for the first time. If you do find yourself at a model home, let the sales agent know I am your Realtor. You may find the sales office will pressure you to sign something. Don’t. Call me at that time.  :)
• If you want more information on a house, e-mail me. Do not call the sign. I can help you with any listings, including For Sale By Owners.
• Please note that many showing appointments require a 24 hour notice.
• Also, note many sellers have audio and video surveillance on the property. We need to be mindful of what we say during showings.
• Text or phone call are always the best way to reach me. Emails might take a day for me to see.

Here are the upfront costs you need to be aware of when buying a house

• $500- 1,000 deposit/earnest check is needed once we go under contract on a home. This is deposited and given back to you at closing to go towards your down payment or closing costs.
• Once we find the house, we will have a home inspection in the first week. This costs between $325-$600 depending on the size and type of house.  **If you have an inspector that you prefer to use, let me know. If not, I am happy to give you a list of suggestions. 
• $55 termite inspection (sometimes included in the overall home inspection cost) 
• After the inspection and once we have verified you want the house, your lender will order the appraisal which is around $450-$550 and is often rolled into the cost of your loan. 

Once we find the home and you are ready to make an offer, these are the questions we'll be talking about and considering as part of our offer. 

• Purchase Price? 
• Expiration date of the offer?
• What's included? What's not? 
• Type / Terms of The Loan / Down Payment? 
• Closing Costs - are you asking for any?
• Earnest Money?
• Inspection Terms & Period?
• Home Warranty? 
• Title Insurance? 
• Closing Date & Occupancy?
• Names to be on the Deed?
• Title Company? ​
• Any additional contingencies or items that are important to you?  
  
  

Don't worry, we will talk through all of these, I'll provide a CMA (Competitive Market Analysis), and I will answer your questions all along the way or point you in the direction of someone (often your lender) who can! 

Between Offer Accepted & Closing Day 

• Once your offer is accepted, I send you a congratulatory letter and the names of several local inspectors. We'll need to get the earnest money deposited and the inspection ordered. 
• At the inspection, I'll be there with you and we'll look through the report together and decide what you'd like to (or need to) ask for in repairs or concessions and what you're okay doing yourself. 
• After the inspection, your lender will order the appraisal. 
• Prior to closing, we'll do a final walk through and make sure that the home is in the condition you expected when you purchased it and as you and the Sellers agreed to in the terms of the contract. 

All along the way, my promise to you is to be Professional and Communicative! You should know exactly where we are in the process, every step of the way! 

• CLOSING DAY! I will attend closing with you and be there to answer questions. Make sure to do some hand exercies as there is a TON of signing to be done! lol 

                                   We will celebrate! You bought a home!!! 

My normal business hours are...not normal business hours. I’m here for you most of the time and if I can’t be there, someone from my team can!

I so look forward to helping you find your home!! ​Call me anytime! 513-562-7033

I often hear, ''I don't know how you do it all.'' or ''I know you're so busy..'' 

I understand where that perception comes from. As a mother, doula, and real estate agent, I do a lot of things and I work with a lot of people's schedules. 

But, to be fair, I should start this post off with the insight that my social media presence, like so many others, often makes me appear busier and my days fuller than I actually am or they are. Both of my jobs are super flexible (until they're not... #oncalllife) and I'm able to move things around to suite my days and desired schedule best. 

Secondly, I have my kids every other week, which means that I have a lot more free time than most parents. While I miss my kids like crazy when they are gone, the free time for choosing is nice. I work, work, work on the weeks that my kids are with their Dad (often working from 9am-10pm) and then I try to only work when they are in school (9am-12pm) on the weeks that I do have them. My goal is to spend as much time as possible with my kids when I have them since I only get to be with them 1/2 of the time. Shared parenting is very hard but definitely has it's perks. 

So, how do I make the most of my time on the weeks when I work, work, work, work, work? ​​

Well, I sing this song and send this GIF a lot...  and.... 

1. I make lists - weekly and daily. My lists are my saving grace. I do a giant brain dump of all the things that need to be done each Sunday and then I break down the list into daily tasks. 
I'm definitely a proponent of writing things on the list that are super easy to do so that I can cross things off right away and feel accomplished. Wake Up  ✓, Drink Coffee ✓, Take a shower ✓ These easily crossed off first tasks inspire me to keep going and do the harder tasks such as Write a blog post ✓ , Work out ✓,  Make phone calls ✓ Send emails ✓
​You get the idea... 

2. I use a scheduling program called Acuity. If you've ever scheduled anything with me, you've likely used my Acuity scheduler. It's a freaking game-changer. My Acuity program is linked directly with my Google Calendars and everything is blocked off for me. It shows when I'm available, and when I'm not. From scheduling doula consultations to prenatal and postpartum visits, mentoring sessions, or even coffee or lunch dates, Accuity makes my life so much easier. If you're a business owner in any capacity, try Acuity by following my affiliate link here. 

3. I say ''No.'' more than most people and have very little guilt. I'll never forget the look of surprise on a volunteer-recruiter's face when she said, ''Hi. Can you help in the garden this week or next?'' and I said, ''No. I cannot. I'm sorry'' ... and kept going. One, how bold of her to ask me  (seriously, I commend her efforts).. but also, how bold of me to say, ''No. I can't commit to that right now. Maybe another time.'' 

Also, enrichment classes? Not going to happen for my kids every session in this stage of life. Sorry kids, but I know my bounds... and nightly classes are not part of a schedule that keeps me sane. ​There is this Karen Drucker song that goes, ''N.O is my new YES. When I say ''No,'' I set myself free.'' Listen to the song here. It's my life anthem when I'm feeling overwhelmed. 

4. I wake up early and stay up late. So, the first part of this is really healthy and awesome... and the second part, not so much. I woke up this morning at 5:30am, filled with blog ideas and things I want to do today. I'll work on my computer until I run out of steam and then go work-out and try to get the momentum going again... or start in on my scheduled tasks and appointments. I tend to work best and have the best ideas right before and after sleep... and sometimes in the middle of the night. My goal is to get to sleep earlier... but I'm a work in progress!  ​

5. Lastly and most importantly, I prioritize self-care. I take time off. I breath. Every Sunday, I go to church and center myself with my Higher Power. My favorite part of our church service is the meditation. This is where I am most able to connect with God, regroup, and center myself for the week.  I am able to tap into and listen to my inner wisdom or intuition that tells me when I'm stretched too thin or doing too much... or which way I'm supposed to grow next. I pause and try to ground myself with prayer, with art, with friendship. 

I know this last tip is the hardest for many, but I know in my heart of hearts that ​I am only able to be my best self and ''do it all'' when I'm taking care of my Mind, Body, and Spirit. 

I hope these tips have been helpful for you. Want to schedule a free 15 minute phone call with me? 1. I'd love to touch base with you. 2. I'd love to hear how you manage your time and life better. Comment below or schedule our time together. 

I look forward to hearing from you!

​​Sincerely, 

Hey there, 

Welcome to my personal and professional blog space and website. My name is Molly Murray... for now. I'm getting married in just a few days and will soon change my last name to Thoms (rhymes with homes.) 

I created this blog space and website as a unified hub while I grow my professional career in varying directions (I'm a seasoned doula and a brand new real estate agent) and to highlight more of my personal journey.

As humans, we are born, we go through life which includes a lot of hard stuff and hopefully, many joyous moment, and then we die.

I lost my parents, grandparents, and a sibling many, many years ago. I realize through their life and their death that nothing is forever. The only way their legacy lives on is through the service they provided the world, the stories that they told, and the people that they connected with. 

My parents and sibling's lives were riddled with addiction, mental health issues, and an underlying tone of instability... and then cut way too short. Despite that, while they were here, they made a huge difference in many lives. Their life and death made a great impact on my trajectory of helping people and living a life of sobriety and gratitude. Their life and death inspired me to stay grounded and always growing. 

As people, we connect and we grow through stories and personal experiences. We build our legacy while we are here on this Earth. I am so thankful to be so connected with so many people. And now, I have been asked to show up in a bigger way and to share more of my story and life experience. 

To me, there are very little downsides to sharing more of who I am. I realize that this type of sharing is not something that everyone understands and there is sometimes criticism for being ''too open.'' To that, I say, ''I hear you.'' and ''You do you.'' 

For me, I plan on sharing more of who I am, of taking up more space as a person, sharing more of what helps me to survive and even to thrive in this crazy, ever changing and sometimes tumultuous existence we call life... which will hopefully help others to grow. 

Which leads to me to my catchphrase, ''Here we grow.'' I say it anytime one would normally say, ''Here we go.'' While we are alive, we are always growing or at least I like to think so... because otherwise, what's the point? 

So... Here we grow! 

Sincerely,