4 Things REALTORS® Want Their Clients to Know

Louisiana REALTORS® • February 4, 2022

When it comes to knowledge and experience there are countless things that need to be shared with others. The great REALTORS® help people make more informed decisions, avoiding unnecessary trouble, and propel them for a more successful outcome. One of the most fulfilling, exciting, and often stressful times of someone’s life happens when they buy or sell a home. This single transaction requires so many moving parts and variables that it can make you as anxious as it does proud. However, along the way there will be things that you learn, and things that you wish you had known about at the time that they happen REALTORS® remain valuable to the transaction for their experience and expertise. Here are four things clients should know.


A pre-approval letter is not a guarantee that you will have funds

While a pre-approval letter for your mortgage gives you a lot of leverage, it does not necessarily guarantee you can close on your dream home. Just like scoring first in a football game doesn’t ensure victory; the way you finish the process will determine your ability to buy. An accepted contract is merely the beginning. Do not attempt to acquire any new loans or use any credit cards until after you’ve closed on your home. Any changes in your credit score or debt-to-income ratios can severely alter your mortgage, to the point of being declined.


When selling, give your home a compelling price

Sellers are usually, and often rightfully so, optimistic about the value of their home. However, buyers are not. It is important to remember that the market is a big factor in pricing. The longer a home sits on the market, the less likely the seller is to get a fair value. Offering a price that compels buyers to consider your home over a comparable home at a higher price can actually end up saving you money in the long run. Knowledgeable and professional REALTORS® can provide a good assessment of what to list your home for and it will be important to discuss a thorough marketing plan.


Allow for time when selling

While we’ve addressed price, there are other time factors to consider and recognize. The process of selling a home successfully can be a stressful, time-consuming activity. Understanding what’s involved and the time expectation can make this an easier transition. Allowing 4-6 months from the time you decide to sell is a comfortable time frame. This accounts for preparing your home to list (maintenance, updates, repairs, etc.), the average time a home spends on the market (2 – 3 months), buyer negotiations, and closing. Having this timeframe in mind will help ensure you end up at the closing table with a fair offer. REALTORS® are the best resource in getting you to the finish line!


Keep your home prepared for showings

You only get one first impression, so it’s important to make it a good one. Following a professional check list that provides for a welcoming, nice environment for potential buyers will only help to ensure that they get the best impression of the property. A clean, nice smelling, well lit house set to a comfortable temperature can make all of the difference in the world. Get the most out of your showings by enticing the buyer and providing a great first impression.


While these are only a few of the many things that REALTORS® want their clients to know, they are important ones to highlight. They can also help to avoid any delays, headaches, and problems for both buyers and sellers. If you are in the market to buy a home, or sell yours, your first step should be to entrust your process to the expertise and experience of a REALTOR®. 

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2026 Legislative Session Scoop - Week 7 Recap

By Louisiana REALTORS® • April 24, 2026
Week seven of the 2026 Regular Session was one of the most active weeks yet for legislation affecting the real estate industry. Louisiana REALTORS® remained heavily engaged as lawmakers advanced bills dealing with property disclosures, appraiser liability, rent regulation, insurance, blight, redevelopment and other issues that directly affect real estate professionals, property owners and consumers across the state. One of the most important bills this week was HB 1166 by Rep. Kim Carver , which would require disclosures for vacant residential property. The bill was reported from House Commerce with amendments on a 14-0 vote and then amended on the House floor, ordered engrossed, and passed to third reading. Louisiana REALTORS® testified on the bill in committee and worked closely with the author to better posture the legislation. Amendments advanced by our team were accepted by the author, helping improve the bill while preserving a practical disclosure framework that increases transparency without creating unnecessary confusion in the transaction process. Another closely watched issue this week was consumer-fee disclosure legislation. HB 617 by Rep. Mandie Landry moved this week, advancing from House Commerce and then the House floor, while HB 580 , another hidden-fee disclosure bill touching real estate transactions, remains pending. Louisiana REALTORS® is opposed to these measures in their current form to the extent they apply to real estate professionals because they are not well-tailored to the realities of real estate transactions, where many costs are negotiated, variable or controlled by third parties. Louisiana REALTORS® testified in opposition to the bills we oppose and is actively working with the author to better posture the legislation and remove real estate professionals from its scope altogether. On HB 472 by Rep. Alonzo Knox , the rent stabilization bill, the author is expected to try to bring the measure back before the committee next week with amendments. Even so, Louisiana REALTORS® remain opposed to the bill on principle. Price gouging is already illegal under existing law, and government-imposed rent regulation is not the right answer to housing affordability challenges. Louisiana REALTORS® testified in opposition to the bill and continues to oppose the measure because policies like this risk discouraging investment, reducing housing supply, and creating further market distortions rather than solving the underlying problem. HB 468 by Rep. Troy Hebert , which regulates the wholesale of residential real property, remains pending in the Senate Commerce Committee and continues to be an important bill for the industry. Likewise, HB 1027 by Rep. Troy Hebert , dealing with appraiser liability, had a strong week, passing the House 90-0 and moving to the Senate. Both measures are significant because they promote greater clarity, consumer protection and confidence in the real estate marketplace. Blight and redevelopment issues also remained active. HB 284 by Rep. John Wyble , which would allow certain local governments to expropriate blighted property through a declaration-of-taking process, remains subject to call and continues to raise serious concerns about private property rights. By contrast, HB 214 and HB 217 by Rep. Chance Henry , which create tax incentives for the rehabilitation of blighted property, represent a more constructive redevelopment approach by encouraging reinvestment rather than expanding government taking authority. Insurance legislation also remained a major focus this week, with multiple bills heard that could affect homeownership costs, market stability and post-storm recovery. Measures dealing with Louisiana Citizens assessments, pre-suit insurance claim review, the Fortified Homes Program and insurance market transparency all carry real implications for affordability and transaction viability. In Louisiana, insurance remains one of the most important issues affecting the real estate market, and Louisiana REALTORS® continues to closely track that legislation. Taken together, week seven showed that Louisiana REALTORS® remains actively engaged where it matters most: supporting practical transaction standards, protecting private property rights, testifying for and against legislation when necessary, pushing back on unworkable regulation and rent-control-style policies, and advancing policies that strengthen housing opportunity and market stability across Louisiana. Please view the weekly bill tracking report provided by our lobbying team over at Harris, DeVille and Associates.

Consumer Guide Update: Navigating Interest Rates Shifts

By Louisiana REALTORS® • April 23, 2026
NAR is pleased to share the latest consumer guide helping buyers navigate shifting interest rates. The one-page guide covers how lenders set rates, the impact of small shifts on monthly payments and strategies to get the lowest rate possible. As a reminder, all guides in this series are available for download—in both English and Spanish—on facts.realtor . Please allow up to two weeks for the Spanish version of the latest resource to be translated and uploaded. For ease of reference, below is a list of the most recent guides: NEW: Navigating Interest Rate Shifts Financing a Renovation When You Buy Staging Your House for a Sale Spotting Deepfake Scams in Real Estate Are You Ready to Invest in Real Estate? Thank you for your continued engagement with the “Consumer Guide” series and for sharing the resources with prospective clients to ensure they have the information they need to find success in their home buying or selling journey. Remember that these guides are for informational purposes only and are not meant to enact or change any existing NAR policy. Be on the lookout for the next consumer guide, which looks at how solar installations may impact home sales transactions.
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