Brett O'Daniell

Co-Founder of HomeTraq. 18+ years real estate and mortgage experience.

Recent Posts

Buyer's vs. Seller's agents explained [Real Estate Insider]

Aug 24, 2020 7:55:18 PM / by Brett O'Daniell posted in Insider, Home tour, real estate, agents, real estate agent, buyer's agent, selling agent

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You may have received an email from HomeTraq that mentions "No Obligation" or "No Solicitation." These principles are intended to protect you, as the buyer, to ensure you can get the best deal on a home as possible.

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5 major misconceptions about buying a home [Real Estate Insider]

Aug 17, 2020 2:14:55 PM / by Brett O'Daniell posted in Lending, Home Loan, home shopping, real estate, touring homes, homebuyers, housing market, financing, myths

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Buying a home doesn't have to be confusing!

Buying a home for the first time is intimidating. It's unfamiliar territory. The financial implications for one of the largest purchase of your life is massive. It sounds daunting, we know. But it doesn't have to be. In fact, securing a home loan is faster and easier than ever before! With the variety of mortgage options on the market, you could find a loan customized to fit your specific needs. 

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The Future of Real Estate After COVID-19 [Real Estate Insider]

Aug 14, 2020 2:53:33 PM / by Brett O'Daniell posted in Insider, agents, homebuyers, housing market, real estate tech, homebuying

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Good news! The housing market is still active! Agents and brokers alike are finding new and creative ways to accommodate social distancing. A lot of what you've been reading about the impact of COVID-19 is negative, so we wanted to start shining some positive light and commend our network of agents and brokers for their hard work. The good news? There could be some long-term benefits from the innovations made to the home-buying process that can carry over into the post-COVID era! 

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The Home-Buying Process: First Steps

Aug 6, 2020 9:41:21 AM / by Brett O'Daniell posted in Pre-Qualification, house hunting, home purchase, Credit, Credit Score, homebuying

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Congratulations! You've decided to begin your journey to becoming a homeowner.  We know this cab be a stressful process, and are providing some information to help you along the way. 

HomeTraq has several key services that for giving you a positive foundation for your home-buying experience. We will be assisting in your home search, and our network of lenders will be helping you through the financial process. The best part? Our network of real estate agents is ready to start showing you a home on your terms!

 

 

Here's what you should know if you're planning to buy a house. 

Finding a home to tour

Searching for the right home is one of the most exciting parts of buying a house. It can be stressful at times, too. You can go in with certain expectations or with an open mind. Either way, you are making a huge decision, and it can carry a lot of stress.

That's why we are making it easy! Simply begin by visiting HomeTraq to view a home at your convenience! Start by choosing the property you want to see and when you want to see it. Once you click "SEE IT NOW," we will coordinate the rest. Most importantly, you can tour the home at a time that fits your busy schedule!

We also want to be sure that you find the home that is fitting your requirements. That is why HomeTraq is pulling houses from your local MLS (Multiple Listing Service) 24/7. This gives you several options for when you start your search. 

Finally, it is important that you are surrounding yourself with people who have been through the home buying process. It is a long process, involving a lot of decisions. Having someone you trust in your corner with experience buying a home can help answer any questions you may have or advise you along the way. 

 

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Truth about Down Payments - Should I pay 20%? [ Real Estate Insider ]

Aug 5, 2020 4:43:58 PM / by Brett O'Daniell posted in Mortgage, home purchase, negotiation, housing demand, financing, misconceptions, loan

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Have you ever wondered how much you need to budget for a down payment on a house? Like any other large purchase, lenders usually want a down payment to secure a mortgage. The amount may vary depending on your situation, but most financial advisors recommend paying at least 20% of the value of the home as a down payment. First of all, this reduces the total amount you have to borrow. It also covers Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) fees that lenders would include if you don't reach the 20% down-payment threshold.

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The Future of Real Estate After COVID-19

Aug 4, 2020 9:50:03 AM / by Brett O'Daniell posted in Insider, agents, homebuyers, housing market, real estate tech, homebuying

0 Comments

Good news! The housing market is still active, and agents and brokers are finding new and creative ways to accommodate social distancing! A lot of what you read about the impact of COVID-19 is negative, so we wanted to shine some positive light and commend our network of agents and brokers for their hard work. The good news? There could be some long-term benefits from the innovations made to the home-buying process that can carry over into the post-COVID era!

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6 Surprisingly Cheap DIY Home Improvement Projects [Real Estate Insider]

Jul 3, 2020 11:18:44 AM / by Brett O'Daniell posted in Insider, house hunting, homebuyers, housing market, homeownership, buying a home

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Homeowners who find themselves around the home more than normal can use time to make a big difference in their home with upgrades that don’t have to cost a fortune. Simple DIY projects can enhance a home and make spaces more appealing for buyers when homeowners are ready to move forward with their home sale.

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Get these powerful Real Estate Alerts [Real Estate 2020]

Jun 26, 2020 7:34:20 AM / by Brett O'Daniell

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Real Estate Alerts That Help

Check out these quick REAL ESTATE ALERTS which can make your home search much more powerful. All you have to do is login to
HomeScout  and the red arrows highlighted in the screenshots below will help you unlock  these  powerful features. Make sure to refine & save your Search Criteria and then enable New Listing and Open House notifications. 
 
 
Refine & Save
 
Click on "Filters" to refine the price range, area and home features you are interested in. Click "Save" to create unlimited custom searches.
 
Get Notified
 
Once you have saved a custom search, choose the alerts you wish to receive, including New Listing and Open House notifications.
 
 
Open Houses
 
A feature to use while driving around on weekends is to click the Open House button which reveals dates & times of upcoming open houses.
Start Using HomeTraq

If you are using Zillow, Realtor.com or another home finding service and would like to give HomeScout a try it only takes a moment and your information is never shared or sold.  Create your free, private account by clicking here➞ 
 
See Homes Now
 
 

 

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St Louis Region Escapes Housing Crisis [Real Estate Insider]

Jun 22, 2020 12:58:41 PM / by Brett O'Daniell posted in Home tour, real estate, housing market, housing demand, buying a home, homebuying, STL

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St Louis Region Escapes the Housing Crisis of 2020


Despite what the news media may imply, the pandemic and protests HAVE NOT severely damaged the St. Louis area real estate market. Home Showings are increasing as the stay-at-home orders are lifted. Sales Prices continue to rise as the number of Homes for Sale sinks to historically low levels. Additionally, Homes Under Contract are similar to Sold Homes during the same timeframe last year. Scroll down for more local housing info & stats and check out current for-sale, recently sold and open houses in your neighborhood.
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Prepare yourself as a first time home buyer! [ Real Estate Insider ]

Jun 18, 2020 1:37:01 PM / by Brett O'Daniell

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You have access to local, state, and federal programs to help you afford your dream home. Here is a step-by-step guide to help prepare you for the home buying process.

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