Now is the time to sell and Choice Group Keller Williams can get you top dollar for your home
By Patricia Nugent
Christy Morek—who heads up the Choice Group Keller Williams—has one word to describe the current real estate market in Cleveland: insane.
“Never in the history of real estate has there been such a shortage of homes on the market,” says Christy, who has lived on the west side for more than 20 years and spent the last 17 of those in real estate. “The fact is that people simply are not putting their homes on the market. We have a large pool of qualified buyers who are sitting and waiting. Sometimes they’ve already sold their home or are people who have relocated to Cleveland and are living in apartments. We are seeing multiple offers on homes as soon as they hit the market.”
She points out that as of Monday, March 8, in Bay Village and Rocky River together, there were only 41 available properties, including homes, condominiums and retail.
“Even if you think your home might not be ready to sell, trust me, there is someone out there who will want to buy it,” she says. “If you haven’t bought another home, don’t worry, we can put a 60-day close date and two-month rent payback clause in the closing agreement to give you plenty of time to find another home.”
Should You Take Advantage of the Hot Market?
A consideration that will impact home values going forward is the potential for foreclosures to come onto the market.
“The pandemic triggered forbearance from lenders who helped out homeowners by putting a freeze on mortgage payments through the end of the Covid emergency relief period,” she explains. “As soon as that happens, which will probably be sometime this year, all that money will be due and we will see foreclosures hit the market, which will ultimately lower home values.”
The bottom line? Don’t wait. The time to sell is now.
Choice Group offers a free market consultation. They run the numbers to let you know how much you can get for your home. It’s a no-hassle walkthrough by Christy or one of her agents. And you’ll have the information needed to make an informed decision about whether or not now is the best time for you to sell.
Buyers’ Market, Too
Christy says she wouldn’t want people to hear it’s a sellers’ market and think that housing prices will be inflated, because with the low interest rates, they are actually getting more house for the same price.
“Plus, you’ll be locking yourself into one of the lowest interest rates in modern history,” she adds.
Meet the Choice Group Team
Over the last year and a half, Christy Morek has built a team that’s nicely balanced between seasoned veterans like herself and newer agents. Also like her, they all have roots in Cleveland, and are knowledgeable about all the nuances of its neighborhoods.
The team has already doubled in size, twice, expanded its coverage area throughout Cuyahoga and Lorain counties, and racked up some
staggering numbers in home sales.
“I’m not necessarily focused on having the biggest team on the west side,” says Christy. “I want to nurture the best one, with agents who
share a culture of excellence, providing buyers and sellers with sound advice and winning strategies. And I’m looking to add members if they are the right fit.”
Brandy Phillips - The newest member, she says she knew immediately that she belonged on this team. “I appreciate how buying a home is one
of life’s big moments, like marriage and giving birth, so helping first-time home buyers is a big part of the job for me.”
Michael Mooneyham – A veteran with 17 years under his belt, Mike came to the group last year. He says his areas of expertise include first-
time buyers, hard-to-sell properties and negotiating. “The way Christy and the team put clients first really resonated with me,” he says.
Wendy Connelly - She’s lived in Cleveland for more than 50 years and is passionate about assisting clients in finding their dream homes. If she’s not out closing deals, you’ll find her hiking, biking or golfing.
Katie Hollo - Katie is Wendy’s daughter so real estate is in her DNA. “In this market, we often need to think outside of the box in order to help our clients achieve their real estate goals,” she says. “Having strong leadership and a team of seasoned agents to consult with gives us a
competitive edge.”
Leanne Saffer – After meeting Christy at a job fair, she wanted to join the team. Leanne loves everything about homes. “When I bought my first home, the process made me realize how much I wanted to follow this path.”
Katy Murphy – As administrative assistant, Katy started on the team last year. With a background in real estate, she’s well positioned to act as glue holding together the agents’ deals and managing transactions from contract to close.
Choice Group Keller Williams is located in the Gemini Tower, 2001 Crocker Road, Suite 200, in Westlake. Call 440-892-2211 or visit KW.com to contact the group.