If you’re buying, selling or renting a home Lou Molnar, owner and lead broker for Coldwell Banker Advantage Team Realty in Land O’Lakes, can help you understand the market and avoid costly mistakes.
Lou started his brokerage in 1981 as Lake Padgett LOL Realty, Inc., selling homes in Lake Padgett when it was just a fledgling subdivision. His office has been in the same building ever since, on Lake Padgett Drive.
Twenty years ago he purchased a Coldwell Banker franchise. “They were a perfect fit for us,” says Lou. “They have very high standards. They’re not one of the cheapest franchises, but they provide an excellent product to support our team.”
Coldwell Banker has over 100-year legacy of commitment to exceptional customer service. “They’re a very ethical company,” says Lou. “They pay close attention to their Realtors and also provide us with exceptional ongoing education and support.”
Lou currently has six agents working with him. “At one time we had 16,” says Lou. “They come and go. Agents are coming back into the real estate business now. They can see the opportunities.”
New homebuilders are also stepping back into the market. Many buyers are purchasing new homes due to the limited inventory of used homes on the market, due to investors.
“Hedge-funds and other big investors have been buying much of the previously owned homes as soon as they go up for sale,” says Lou. “They target particular subdivisions where they can avoid entrapment by HOA’s and typically pay under market value. They turn those homes into rental properties which ultimately lowers home values.”
Lou recommends listing with a Realtor first, unless the owner is in a critical need situation. The bulk investors pay cash, making it easy for the homeowner to get out quickly.
“People need to pay close attention to their Realtor,” says Lou. “They should be asking a lot of questions before signing any contracts. The Realtor should be able to help them choose the best course of action. They also need to know who is offering to purchase their home.”
“I also manage anywhere from 30 to 35 rental properties. Anyone renting a home needs to know who is managing the property. We charge the owner for property management. That means the renter has someone local to talk to if there’s a problem.”
A distant owner may not be available when there’s an emergency, such as a plumbing or air conditioning problem. “We manage rentals for local owners and take care of problems immediately without needing to wait for owner approval,” says Lou.
“We’re local Realtors who sell and rent properties for local owners,” says Lou. “Realtors need to be close to their market area in order to be able to best serve their customers. Our clients always have someone to talk to when they have questions or concerns.”
“It costs nothing to call if you have questions about buying, selling or renting,” says Lou. “We’ve been doing this for 32 years. We know the real estate business and we take care of our clients.”
Advantage Team Realty is an independently owned and operated member of Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corp., and is located at 3948 Lake Padgett Drive in Land O’ Lakes. For more information, call (813) 996-4747, or visit Lou-Molnar.com.
– Mike Matthew
This story is a feature of the advertising department.
