Buying or selling a home is typically one of the biggest and most expensive projects most people undertake, and the process always involves a lot of emotions and important decisions.
How can you feel at ease when faced with such a daunting challenge? Working with the right people who are experienced and can guide you through the process is a crucial first step.
Longtime local real estate agents Leeann and Ryan Sack of Future Home Realty, Inc. are a husband and wife duo calling themselves Team Sack. They maintain an ongoing business relationship with mortgage broker Patrick Monteau of Great Western Home Loans, making the combination a one-stop shop for home buyers.
Leeann has been a real estate agent for 19 years. Prior to joining Future Home Realty, she worked for a home builder selling new homes and continues to maintain ties to the new home construction industry.
Though the company wasn’t yet called TeamSac, Ryan got his real estate license 15 years ago, and “we quickly joined forces,” says LeAnn, who offers her extensive insider knowledge of the real estate industry to any potential home buyer who’s not sure whether new construction, pre-owned property, or what type of home is right for them.
LeeAnne says new construction can be found anywhere you go in the Wesley Chapel area these days, so a key strategy for Team Sac is to stay up to date on what each new home builder is offering so they know how to market to sellers looking to resell their older homes and compete against the new construction.
Speaking about TeamSac’s philosophy when working with prospective homebuyers, LeeAnne said, “Competition is always a factor in home buying, especially when inventory is low. Speed is key to securing your dream home, and acting quickly can make a big difference.”
Ryan adds, “Whether you’re buying or selling, you need knowledge, and TeamSac is committed to educating our customers. Potential buyers and sellers want to feel comfortable with the information you provide them. All customers will have questions, and we’re always available to pick up the phone and help guide them through the process.”
The right lender too!
Leanne and Ryan met Patrick about 10 years ago and have been working together ever since. Patrick began his career in foreclosure cases in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. He worked in the operations department for Bank of America underwriting and processing mortgage loans. Then, about 15 years ago, Patrick decided to start his career as a loan originator.
Patrick is currently a branch manager for Great Western Home Loans, a 40-year-old company based in Texas. His office is located off W. Kennedy Blvd. Office hours are 8:30am to 5:30pm, but Patrick offers flexible meeting times and provides all clients with his cell phone number.
While he doesn’t mind meeting customers in person, he says most of his business is done online these days, and he’s very proud that his store is the only Great Western branch in Florida.
Certified Divorce Specialist
Ryan and LeeAnne refer to Team Sack as “certified divorce experts” because they frequently work with divorcing couples who have decided to sell their home, and Team Sack can work together to help both parties.
“We each represent people going through divorce proceedings as real estate agents,” says LeAnn, “and we also work with attorneys, which makes it a smooth process for everyone.”
Leanne and Ryan say their favorite part about working in real estate is helping their clients achieve one of their goals, whether it be buying or selling.
How is this market?
Leanne, Ryan and Patrick all agree that whether you’re buying or selling, “there’s no need to be afraid of the current market,” says Leanne.
This is based on the fact that throughout the history of the real estate industry, home prices have had short-term corrections, but over the long term, they have always trended upwards. In other words, “always is a good time to buy a home,” says Ryan. “When you’re ready, give us a call!”
“The local market continues to perform well, but inventory is still low,” he added. “Demand for homes in the area remains high.”
LeeAnn says Florida has a lot to offer and our area “fills in a lot of it.” With approximately 1,200 people moving to Florida every day, the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area combines a small city feel with big city amenities, with miles of beaches on one side and Orlando on the other.
She also points out that one big benefit of working with a real estate agent who frequently partners with a good mortgage broker (like Patrick) is that you can often get a lower interest rate, even though interest rates are definitely higher than they were a year ago.
In fact, the Team Sack/Great Western ad below states that in addition to lower interest rates, Ryan and Leeann are currently offering a $500 credit (at closing) towards the buyer’s home inspection fee, and Patrick is offering an additional $500 credit (also at closing) towards the buyer’s appraisal fee.
And more help!
To give homebuyers an extra edge, Patrick says he often uses a technique known in the mortgage industry as a “2-1 buydown.”
“With a 2-1 buydown, your interest rate is reduced for the first two years and then rises to the regular permanent rate,” he says. “The interest rate is typically two percentage points lower in the first year and one percentage point lower in the second year. As long as you can afford to pay the regular interest rate from the third year onwards, this is a great deal for homebuyers.”
Patrick adds that the 2-1 buydown can be used when the seller is willing to fund the mortgage repayments: “Let’s say you see an ad that says the price of a home has been reduced by $10,000. Instead of reducing the initial price, the seller contributes $10,000 toward the mortgage and the buyer receives a lower interest rate for the first two years. It’s a win-win for both buyer and seller,” Patrick says.
He also said, “A program like this will help sell homes that have been on the market for a while. It may also encourage buyers who have been hesitant because of interest rates to accept a purchase.”
Patrick also offers additional financial solutions and options to help his clients save money in the long run, including Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), jumbo mortgages and non-qualified (non-QM) mortgages. He says this commitment to financial wellness is what sets him apart from others.
Leanne, Ryan and Patrick are good friends who not only work together but also spend their holidays together. Patrick and his wife Stacey have two daughters, Millie, 2 1/2 years old and Molly, 7 months old (pictured above). Leanne and Ryan’s son, Carter, is 12 and attends Cypress Creek Middle School, and their daughter, Riley, is 9 and attends Quail Hollow Elementary School.
For more information about Team Sack, call Leeann (813) 351-9599 or Ryan (813) 351-9598 or email info@SellandBuyFL.com. For Patrick Monteau, call (813) 927-7806 or email pmonteau@gwloans.com.
