010: How to Help First-Time Homebuyers in Today’s Market with Christy Bennett

If you’re an agent whose business revolves around helping homebuyers, you’ll know that first-time buyers may need a little extra guidance when buying their homes. The process can be confusing and overwhelming, and the money they need to spend to get into their first homes has risen dramatically over the past decade.

Losing a bid on a home a buyer had their heart set on can feel devastating, but a savvy real estate agent can help them determine where the deal went wrong and what they can do to salvage the next one. Or maybe the home inspection sent them spiraling into a meltdown because it feels as though the house they’re purchasing is falling apart.

In this episode of The Art of Agency, Jonathan and Mallory interview Christy Bennett, a Pennsylvania realtor with nine years of experience. She shares some lessons she’s learned as an agent who works with buyers, what first-time buyers struggle within the current real estate market, and how she developed a business model where 50% of her business comes from referrals.

Jonathan and Mallory explore with Christy the flexibility and benefits of a career in real estate, why you must be client-centric, and the importance of a good reputation with other agents.

In this episode, you will hear:

What’s changed in the last decade for first-time homebuyers and the biggest challenges they’re facing
Who first-time buyers are today, and why losing a bid on a home is part of the education process
How to evaluate your client’s buying process and adjust it to create a winning bid
The effect of interest rates on first-time buyers and why setting their expectations makes unexpected hiccups easier to manage
Christy’s secret to a 50% referral rate
Being organized and client-centric creates a good real estate agent
Why your reputation as a buyer’s agent matters in a transaction
The flexibility real estate offers to agents and the importance of setting boundaries
The importance of building relationships with other realtors and a good reputation

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