Mar’ce Banks is Realtor with Lone Star Realty working in Houston.
Every week, we ask a Houston real estate professional for their thoughts on the top three stories from the week before. This week, we spoke with Mar’ce Banks, a Realtor with Lone Star Realty.
Houston Agent (HA): In Penske Truck’s annual Top 10 Moving Destinations list, the company named Houston as one of the most popular destinations for movers in 2014. Have you noticed this trend, and what do you think it is drawing people to the Bayou City?
Mar’ce Banks (MB): The economy in Houston is in an upswing. There are many companies relocating to the Houston area and expanding within the area. The employment rate in Houston is at an all time high! These are just a few reasons why we are seeing Houston grow so much! We have many people relocating here every day. They have secured jobs here and with the lower cost of living it makes relocating feasible for many families.
HA: Working in The Woodlands, a relatively expensive area, how do you handle clients having trouble with financing?
MB: The Woodlands real estate is booming. The prices of homes are steadily increasing each month. It is not often that a buyer has trouble financing. However, I prefer to work closely with lenders that I trust. Whenever a client has trouble with financing I will ask them to try a private lender. Often times they are able to pre-approve them within minutes and match or beat interest rates.
HA: Maintaining relationships with various industry professionals is important to make sure the homebuying process is smooth and without mistakes. How do you effectively communicate with everyone involved?
MB: The most important part of the home buying process is to get to know your clients. You need to understand what works best for them so you can help them properly. I prefer speaking with their lender and making sure everyone is on the same page. I manage their expectations from the beginning to save everyone a lot of stress during this process. I always make it a priority to fill in my clients before they reach out to me. If I am keeping them updated and informed throughout the entire process they will likely never place a call to me, only I will call them. It’s very important for a homebuyer to trust you and feel that you have their best interest at heart. This makes them far more likely to refer you to a friend or family member!