A Realtor You Can Depend On!

We've all been inundated with the "good, the bad and the ugly" of the housing market. But even with the bad loans and bad press, houses are still on the market, people change jobs and have to relocate, and buyers/sellers may want to downsize or upsize. If you're searching for a new or existing home or are ready to sell your home in the Greater Cincinnati area then you should touch base with my friend, Michelle Hudepohl. Yes, I am a tad biased but even before Michelle became a top producer and top listing agent several times for Century 21 Stellar Real Estate, knowing her for over 4 years has genuinely showcased all the qualities that make her not only a great friend but also a terrific realtor. She's even won the President's Sales Club award for selling over $1,000,000 worth of real estate. Wow! She is dependable, trustworthy, candid, detailed, friendly, honest, knowledgeable and caring. If you throw in a sense of humor and a sense of style without being overbearing, you have the perfect recipe for an amazing realtor.

Michelle gracefully navigates her professional career while also being an active work-at-home Mom to her three children (ages 7, 5, & 3 - oh my). She and her husband reside in Deerfield Township and really enjoy living in this area. Michelle thinks Mason/Deerfield Township has so much to offer for new residents. "There are so many reasons why I would recommend Mason/Deerfield Township as a place to live, but I have to start with the school district. Mason City School District has been ranked among the top in the state of Ohio's school systems - which is the main reason we moved here almost six years ago. People will also enjoy the small town feel with all of the amenities of a big city and it is conveniently located close to Cincinnati and Dayton. There is something to do for everyone from visiting one of the 7 parks located with well-stocked fishing ponds, playgrounds, golf courses, and walking and biking trails. There are two major amusement parks, Kings Island and the Beach Water Park. This is just a taste of why Mason/Deerfield Township is such a great place to live, but it also has affordable housing. In Mason the median sale price of a home is $195,000 and the price range that is selling the fastest and the most is from $200,000-$250,000."

Michelle has been working as realtor in Mason, Ohio since 2006. Prior to having her children, she worked as a realtor in Washington State for five years. Michelle's top three tips when buying or selling a home are listed below.

For the Buyer:

1. Find a realtor, preferably by word of mouth. You don't have to pay a realtor anything; they get paid from the seller. A buyer's agent is completely free to you, and for free you will be protected and guided throughout one of the biggest investments you will ever do in your life.
2. Get pre-approved, get pre-approved, get pre-approved (through a lender)! This takes about 15 minutes and you will find out your buying power and can confidently look at homes that are in your price point. Ask your realtor who they recommend because we deal with transactions all the time and know who will be good to our clients and who will make transactions as smooth as possible. I spent about two years before I found a lender that I feel completely comfortable referring homeowners to. By being pre-approved you are also in a better situation to negotiate when you do find a home.
3. Get set up on an email list that fits the criteria you are looking for in a home and do this through your realtor. This way you will be the first to know when a home comes on the market, if a home has a price reduction, if a home goes pending and what a home sells for within your criteria.

For the Seller:

1. Have a realtor do a comparative market analysis. This will let you know what homes have sold in your area and what you can possibly net from the sale of your home.
2. Get organized. Either hire an organizer to help you start getting things organized or you can do it yourself. This not only helps you with starting the process to move and boxing things up, but it also helps you get your home ready for showings.
3. Listen to your realtor when it comes to pricing your home to sell. In this market the homes that are selling the fastest are the homes that are listed close to the selling price. This is still a buyers' market and you are competing with A LOT of homes out there, so really think about what would make you buy your home if the shoes were reversed.

When I asked Michelle what she does in her spare time she jokingly replied, "What spare time?" I'm sure all you Moms can relate to that. Michelle enjoys spending time with her family and now that her children are involved in sports, dancing, and gymnastics, she really loves being a spectator at their events. She enjoys working out, entertaining friends and family and networking with other small business owners. In fact, she started her own networking group, Cincinnati Business Connections (yes, I'm a part of this too), in order to positively promote, highlight and encourage other working women who are experts in their fields.

Michelle loves working for Century 21 Stellar Real Estate since "we are the largest real estate company in the world - we are in 58 countries which means more buyer opportunities for my sellers. We are also the only full time, full service broker that offers sellers different commission options. We have everything for the do it yourselfers (the FSBO AT HEART), to full service marketing plans. Never pay for marketing you don't need or want, so call me if you are interested in saving your hard earned equity!"
As an added incentive, qualified first time homeowners may be eligible for a big federal tax credit (up to $8,000) that is given to you if you close on a house prior to Nov. 31^st.

Michelle's superb skills as a realtor, foresight to start a networking group for local business women, and being a wonderful wife and mother make her a perfect addition to MasonMetu's Women to Watch series. Please visit MasonMetu to see other great Women to Watch!