About Us
Kristen has been selling Carolinas Real Estate since 1992 and is a Platinum, Multi Million Dollar Producer. She consistently rates tops in her profession by both her clients and her peers, most recently as a Multi-Year Award Winner as one of Charlotte's "Best Real Estate Agents" - only 5% of all agents earn this title and designation in the Charlotte, NC market. She is totally committed to making each and every client into another one of her "Raving Fans" at the end of the home buying, building or selling process.
She owns and operates the firm (opened in 1998) and is licensed as the Broker In Charge for offices in Charlotte, NC and Charleston, SC. In addition to being a Broker / Realtor, she also holds the designation of "Unlimited Building" General Contractor and Senior Residential Specialist. She is a national HUD Broker and a Foreclosure Specialist. Kristen is highly committed to serving our country's military- she earned the title of Certified Military Residential Specialist for her work with both Veterans and our Active Duty Military troops.
Kristen also specializes in New Construction (both residential and commercial properties), "Active Adult" / '55 and Over' housing for senior adults, Luxury and Custom homes, Investment Properties, First Time and Move Up Buyers. Her most useful talents are with high level contract negotiation and marketing. Prior to opening her firm in 1988, she worked for two National Home Builders as an On-Site Sales Agent (at various communities and last at the number one selling community in North Carolina, Highland Creek), and eventually as a V.P. of Sales and Marketing for a local, custom home builder.
She currently sits on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Association of Realtors (Charlotte, Region 8) and the Professional Standards Committee (the "Ethics board") of the Charlotte Regional Realtor Association (2011- 2014, 2009-2011, 2012-2015, 2015-2021) and has served on various boards and committees within her associations in previous years, including the Independent Broker Owner Council (2007-2008).
She splits her time between Charlotte, NC and Charleston, SC.
The products and services we offer
Recommendations Received (12)
"You won't find a harder working more honest realtor than kristen. Call her today"
"Kristen has an outstanding knowledge of residential Real Estate."
Products & Services
Full service real estate services, including new construction and commercial properties in the greater Charlotte, NC and Charleston, SC area. Licen...
I have been buying and selling residential and commercial real estate services in the Carolinas since 1992. I am the President / Owner and Broker I...
Help us help you find maximum value before putting your house on the market. New Home Buyers Brokers / Realty Pros offers completely free home val...
Recommendations Given (16)
"Tim has over 30 years in the real estate / land development arena, and is a consummate..."
Read more
"Tim has over 30 years in the real estate / land development arena, and is a consummate professional- plus, he's a really great guy! "
"Ray has been developing land since the time that I met him at a National Home Builder, some 20 +..."
Read more
"Ray has been developing land since the time that I met him at a National Home Builder, some 20 + years ago. He is ethical, knowledgeable, and easy to work with. Ray is a wonderful human being, too! He gets my highest personal and professional recommendation!"
Recent Activity
Kristen from New Home Buyers Brokers / Realty Pros / Senior Consulatant, Northstar Business Consultants Answered this on October 11, 2019
I would expand my service offerings and align myself with a company that specializes in tax incentives for business owners, like mine (Stryde), we are nationwide- we do Engineering based Cost Segregation, Manufacturing & R & D credits, have a streamlined WOTC program for employee hires, property...
(more)
I would expand my service offerings and align myself with a company that specializes in tax incentives for business owners, like mine (Stryde), we are nationwide- we do Engineering based Cost Segregation, Manufacturing & R & D credits, have a streamlined WOTC program for employee hires, property tax reductions- among many other things. We have a corporate office of 325 people that consists of past IRS agents and Attorneys and other tax specialists that do all of the heavy lifting.
Kristen from New Home Buyers Brokers / Realty Pros / Senior Consulatant, Northstar Business Consultants Answered this on March 04, 2019
It depends on if it is a legitimate business or something that might 'water down' your reputation in the industry or look unprofessional. Here's what I do as a side business- it is highly lucrative and offers lifetime, residual income. If you can get in front of business owners for 10 to 15...
(more)
It depends on if it is a legitimate business or something that might 'water down' your reputation in the industry or look unprofessional. Here's what I do as a side business- it is highly lucrative and offers lifetime, residual income. If you can get in front of business owners for 10 to 15 minutes, you can make an incredible amount of money.This is not for everyone- you have to be polished, sharp, and professional:
Commercial Realtors:
Commercial Realtors: http://www.StrydeAdvisors.com/... (this is not just for "commercial" Realtors, but for residential Realtors, CPA's, Business Consultants, Insurance Agents, Financial Planner, etc. Contact me if you would like further information. Kristen Haynes, BIC, GC, CMRS of Realty Pros, Senior Advisor with Stryde Savings
Kristen from New Home Buyers Brokers / Realty Pros / Senior Consulatant, Northstar Business Consultants Answered this on March 04, 2019
I have a side business with residual income, saving business owners money, which is much more lucrative than real estate and offers a continual, residual income stream, which will support me in my retirement:
Commercial Realtors: http://www.StrydeAdvisors.com/information/stryd... (no, this...
(more)
I have a side business with residual income, saving business owners money, which is much more lucrative than real estate and offers a continual, residual income stream, which will support me in my retirement:
Commercial Realtors: http://www.StrydeAdvisors.com/information/stryd... (no, this is not just for "commercial" Realtors, but this will give you the general idea of what Stryde is all about. Contact me to learn more. :) Kristen Haynes, BIC, GC, CMRS, Senior Advisor with Stryde Savings
Kristen from New Home Buyers Brokers / Realty Pros / Senior Consulatant, Northstar Business Consultants Answered this on October 05, 2018
I'm doing it now- I cleared my schedule in Charlotte to come down to Charleston, SC to clean out the entire contents of a house to get it ready to sell and close, aas the owner has dementia and cannot do it! I have repairs being done, estate sale signs ready to go over the next three weekends,...
(more)
I'm doing it now- I cleared my schedule in Charlotte to come down to Charleston, SC to clean out the entire contents of a house to get it ready to sell and close, aas the owner has dementia and cannot do it! I have repairs being done, estate sale signs ready to go over the next three weekends, posted items for sale on Next Door and Facebook Marketplace, and will be having sales the next three weekends, taking what they want left to a storage facility- then Habitat for Humanity and the Salvation Army are scheduled to pick up the remainder. However- this will be the only one that plan on ever doing!
Kristen from New Home Buyers Brokers / Realty Pros / Senior Consulatant, Northstar Business Consultants Answered this on July 09, 2018
It depends on your chosen career path. Some don't need college, rather a vocational training path. However, if you can afford to go, education is something that no one will ever be able to take away from you. And many people have lifelong friends (or met their spouse) through college.
(more)
It depends on your chosen career path. Some don't need college, rather a vocational training path. However, if you can afford to go, education is something that no one will ever be able to take away from you. And many people have lifelong friends (or met their spouse) through college.
Kristen from New Home Buyers Brokers / Realty Pros / Senior Consulatant, Northstar Business Consultants Answered this on May 07, 2018
Speaking as a Realtor, there are many cons against selling your own home- there are legal disclosures that you need to make that open yourself up to litigation if you do them improperly, you need an escrow account to hold buyer's funds (Due Diligence money, Earnest Money) and you have to follow...
(more)
Speaking as a Realtor, there are many cons against selling your own home- there are legal disclosures that you need to make that open yourself up to litigation if you do them improperly, you need an escrow account to hold buyer's funds (Due Diligence money, Earnest Money) and you have to follow very strict rules by law (even as a non-Realtor) on how to hold that money, when and how to release it, how to not co-mingle with other personal or business funds. Our forms are very convoluted now- even when explaining them in detail, most people are confused as to their meaning in the contract- for example, survival, assignment, as-is versus doing inspections, and a million other things that we professionals now how to handle when problems arise, that could not only kill the contract if done improperly, but open sellers up to legal ramifications that they are not even aware of (specific performance, duties and responsibilities of each party), etc. It should tell you something that the owner of FSBO used a Real Estate Professional to sell his own home, as did the owner of Zillow. Also- how are you going to vet the people coming through your home to make sure they aren't casing he place for a later break in or invasion? How are you going to market your home effectively to get the most people in front of it, so your chances of selling quickly are better? How are you going to know how to properly price your home, based on its' features, upgrades and improvements, or lack thereof, versus your competition's features? I spend a MINIMUM of $1000 a month marketing my listings, and $200 to $2500 on syndicating a You Tube video, plus money on SEO syndication, time and money inputting on all of the major search engines that home sellers do not have access to (Realtor.com, the MLS, and other professional real estate related sites, of which I choose over 280 to syndicate to), plus spending time and energy syndicating to the rest of the web (Zillow, Trulia, Redfin, Homes.com. etc.). We Realtors also have special groups that we are a part of that increase our exposure to other Agents on the web, Facebook, and the like, that sellers do not have access to. Also, buyers today are savvy- they know that you are not paying a typical 6% agent commission- so guess what? They expect you to give them money back, because they KNOW that you aren't paying a Realtor. It is a proven fact that FSBO's sell for LESS that homes listed by a Real Estate Professional. So, you really aren't saving money- you're losing it, and opening yourself up to getting sued. Here's an article on Inman news that I think covers selling via Fsbo exceptionally well:
11 reasons for sale by owner is a terrible idea
BYCHRIS REDIGERJUN 10EMAIL SHARING:SHARE ON SOCIAL:Key Takeaways
FSBOs are more costly than homeowners realize -- including lower sales prices and hidden fees.
Selling a home is a complicated transaction -- sellers and buyers alike can get burned with FSBOs.
Time costs money -- a FSBO costs the seller valuable time, and it takes longer to sell.
Big plans for business in 2018?Give yourself the tools to own the new year at Connect SF, July 17-20, 2018
LEARN MOREFrank, a smart and tech-savvy Denver homeowner, thought he’d skip the agent commission and sell his house himself.
He researched his home’s property value, found a buyer and got the house under contract. It seemed like a done deal.
Until he realized in a panic that he had seriously undervalued the property — by more than $100,000. Frank had misunderstood the report he’d pulled and incorrectly valued the house.
The error cost him $30,000 to get out of the contract.
In your dealings with potential sellers, you’re going to run into people who will question the worth of an agent. Or you’ll come across a smug homeowner who’s got it figured out and listed his or her home for sale by owner (FSBO).
How do you turn these sellers into a client? Let them know that you’re saving them time, money, liability and downright hassle.
Let sellers know that you’re saving them time, money, liability and downright hassle.CLICK TO TWEET
1. Scams happen
3 reasons building an inclusive team makes you betterBenefit from resilience, fresh ideas, an attractive work environment and more READ MOREJudy (not her real name) in Raleigh, North Carolina, fell in love with a FSBO home. She agreed not to use an agent and paid the homeowner $3,000 in earnest money.
Then the homeowner changed his mind. With no contract signed and no receipt, Judy lost all her earnest money. She trusted the homeowner when she should have trusted an agent.
FSBO scams happen to both buyers and sellers with little recourse besides hiring an attorney.
Common scams include fraudulent papers (appraisals, loan documentation), foreign buyer deposits (scammer sends too much in a bad check and then requests a refund), purchases through a third-party (a fake attorney, etc.) and asking for personal information.
2. Liability is all on the seller
Everyone makes mistakes. A seller (or buyer) who doesn’t have the representation of a licensed agent pays for those mistakes. Attorneys can close a real estate transaction, but they don’t carry errors and omissions (E&O) insurance.
So if homeowner Sandy lists “hardwood floors” as a feature and the buyer discovers it’s just a wood veneer, chances are Sandy is going to pay for that mistake.
An agent would have either caught the mistake or covered it with E&O insurance. Let’s face it: this is a litigious society, so what homeowner wants to be a target for lawsuits?
This is a litigious society, so what homeowner wants to be a target for lawsuits?CLICK TO TWEET
3. Paperwork is daunting
The 2015 National Association of Realtors’ Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers showed that understanding paperwork was one of the most difficult tasks for FSBOs.
Depending on the state, there are a variety of legal forms that are needed, including but not limited to a sales contract, property disclosures, occupancy agreements and lead paint records.
Sure, ready-made contracts can be downloaded easily enough. But does an untrained seller understand what all that means? Would the seller know how to customize that one-size-fits-all contract?
Understanding paperwork was one of the most difficult tasks for FSBOs.CLICK TO TWEET
4. Sellers can get stuck in a bad deal
Like Frank, FSBOs who sign on the dotted line and then realize an error are stuck. They have to pay the buyer (if they’re willing) to get out of or just take the deal.
Let potential clients know you can save them from that headache.
5. FSBOs sell for less
In 2015, FSBOs lost about 16 percent of the sales price with a median selling price of $210,000 (agent-assisted homes sold for $249,000).
Homeowners selling by themselves simply don’t have the time to devote to the process, don’t know the market value, don’t understand market reports and don’t properly market the property.
If the FSBO seller sold to someone he or she knew, the median dropped to $151,900 (because cousin Sue is doing them a favor and expects a deal).
If the 2015 FSBOs sold to someone they knew, the median dropped from $210,000 to $151,900.CLICK TO TWEET
6. FSBOs spend more time on the market
Unless the seller knows someone who wants to buy the home, FSBOs take longer to sell than homes listed with an agent. For the same reasons, they can’t get the right selling price.
No one is “behind the curtain” running the marketing show. On average, 18 percent of FSBOs were unable to sell within their chosen time frame last year.
On average, 18 percent of FSBOs were unable to sell within their chosen timeframe last year.CLICK TO TWEET
7. FSBOs lack representation
There’s no one looking out for the homeowners who sell on their own. They have no one to call if they have a problem or a question.
Dave found this out when he sold his Morrison, Colorado, home himself. Studying for his real estate license, Dave felt confident he could handle the contracts. Then the unexpected happened.
When his house was under contract, a state patrol car pursuing a speeding motorist crashed into a downstairs bedroom. Repairs threatened to push back closing, and suddenly, the buyer was asking for a storage unit, the cost of temporary housing and more.
He was lucky enough to have an agent friend who could step in, but a homeowner with no representation could have been out thousands of dollars unnecessarily.
8. Inspections are problematic
Sellers who don’t know the rules can get stuck with unnecessary and costly repairs. When Sue sold her 10-year-old Highlands Ranch, Colorado, home, after the inspection, the inspector said she needed to change the stairs from the garage to the house because the code had changed.
He listed other code changes, and the buyer began to demand these be done. Surprisingly, the inspector didn’t know that because these items were to code when the house was built, the seller wasn’t responsible for these changes.
9. Marketing is limited
FSBOs have limited resources to market their home. The 2015 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers showed 42 percent rely on a yard sign, 32 percent rely on friends and family, and about 15 percent use social media.
Relying on the neighbors and Uncle Bob’s second cousin has its limitations. Even paying for the MLS listing won’t be enough because there’s no incentive for an agent to bring a buyer to a FSBO.
10. Hidden costs add up
The mindset for most FSBOs is saving money. Chances are, these sellers are being nickeled and dimed into a pretty big chunk of change.
They’re paying for a lot of extras: signage, flyers, photography, MLS listing, attorney (required in multiple states for FSBOs), home warranty (optional but hard to sell without one), home inspection, a wood destroying pest inspection, credit report for buyers (if applicable), contracts and the list goes on.
11. Time costs the seller money
The biggest cost to a homeowner is their time. You might hear the argument that it doesn’t take an agent that much time to sell a house. And honestly, given the technology at our disposal, that’s true — to an extent.
But it will take a homeowner a whole lot longer. They don’t have the expertise or the access to the resources agents have. What is their own time worth to them? How much time will the seller spend researching the market and contracts? Is the seller going to leave work to unlock the house each time there’s a showing?
FSBOs don’t have the expertise or the access to the resources agents have.CLICK TO TWEET
If you’ve been in real estate for a while, you probably have some FSBO nightmare stories of your own. Share them with facts backed with real statistics to help FSBOs make an informed decision to use an agent instead.
Chris Rediger is the co-founder and president of Redefy Real Estate. Learn more about Chris and Redefy on Twitter or Facebook.
AND- Here are some other articles to consider:
https://lightersideofrealestat...
https://www.upnest.com/1/post/...
Happy Spring Selling Season! Kristen Haynes, BIC, GC , CMRS
New Home Buyers Brokers / Realty Pros
Kristen from New Home Buyers Brokers / Realty Pros / Senior Consulatant, Northstar Business Consultants Answered this on April 03, 2018
Talk to your local Realtors to find the best pre licensing schools and take the class. Pass that class, then you sit for your state exams. Best of luck!
(more)
Talk to your local Realtors to find the best pre licensing schools and take the class. Pass that class, then you sit for your state exams. Best of luck!
Kristen from New Home Buyers Brokers / Realty Pros / Senior Consulatant, Northstar Business Consultants Answered this on April 12, 2017
You can also attend Meet Up Investor groups, and there will be a local Investor monthly meeting in your area. Plus, contact owners of Property Management companies, they always have Investors that finance deals that they work with. Super easy if you know where to look! Best of luck!
(more)
You can also attend Meet Up Investor groups, and there will be a local Investor monthly meeting in your area. Plus, contact owners of Property Management companies, they always have Investors that finance deals that they work with. Super easy if you know where to look! Best of luck!
1 Reply
