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Your Guide to

Home Ownership

Jay Shepherd Presents to Benjamin and Lauren

Knowledge, Experience, Professionalism

Dear

Benjamin and Lauren


Buying a home is a rewarding adventure and we're so happy to have the opportunity to bring your real estate dreams to life! In doing so, we aim to instill knowledge and confidence in all our buyers while helping them successfully navigate through every step of the process.

In the following presentation, you’ll be provided an outline of everything you need to know from consultation to handing over the keys. Our mission is to deliver world-class customer service and a winning experience.
Sincerely,

Jay Shepherd

- you're in great hands -

Meet

Jay Shepherd

REALTOR®
(318) 599-2699
jay@tsgnela.com
For the majority of people, a residential real estate transaction involves the largest investment of their lives. My goal is to guide you successfully and easily through the contractual, investment and emotional decisions involved in the Real Estate process. I am committed to providing you with superior customer service and the expertise necessary to make your transaction a success. I want to truly become Your Realtor For Life.
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Proven Track Record

Service

Provide great customer service by building bonds with clients that lead tolong-term relationships where we truly care about their needs.

Knowledge

By pursuing excellence in our expertise as agents we can better service our clients and lead them to home ownership in a smooth and easy process.

Integrity

Be ethical in all you do and communicate with honesty while paying attention to the details of each and every client, agent, and transaction.
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Market Trends in Calhoun, LA

Market data as of:
The Market Action Index (MAI) is a literal temperature gauge that shows whether the market favors buyers or sellers.
An MAI of 30 is typically balanced; over 30 is a seller's market, under 30 is a buyer's market.

Buyer markets

Buyers get better deals and more choices when MAI is low.

Seller markets

Sellers can list for higher prices and quicker sales when MAI is high
Market data as of:

View current market trends

Scan the QR code to see the current Market Trends report

Unique Value I Provide My Clients

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★
Customized listing search to find the perfect home.

I Found

Properties For Sale in Calhoun

Scan the QR code to see all listings
See all Listings
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Professional Network to help your purchase go smoothly

Professional Network

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Market insights as a result of my recent sales in your area

My sales activity in your desired search area will directly benefit you due to my market knowledge, negotiating prowess, and insights into local activity!
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Exceptional reviews that reflect a pattern of excellence with my past clients.

Raving Reviews

When I was relocating from Union City, TN to Ruston, LA I was looking for a new home I worked with Jay Shepherd to find a house to purchase. He was a wealth of knowledge on available properties, contacts for utilities, and lead on contactor for painting new properties. Recommend Jay if looking for new home in Ruston, and Monroe, La area
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I recently had the pleasure of working with Jay Shepherd from Shepherd Realty to purchase my first home, and I couldn't be happier with my experience. From start to finish, Jay went above and beyond to make sure that the process went smoothly and that I was completely satisfied with my purchase. One of the things I appreciated most about Jay was his deep knowledge of the local real estate market. He was able to provide valuable insights about each property we looked at, including information about comparable homes in the area. This helped me feel confident that I was making an informed decision about my investment. Jay was also extremely responsive throughout the process. He was always available to answer my questions, whether by phone, or text, and he was quick to get back to me with any information I needed. This made the entire process much less stressful, as I felt like I always had someone in my corner who was looking out for my best interests. Finally, Jay's professionalism and attention to detail were truly impressive. He took care of everything from arranging inspections to coordinating with the seller's agent, and he made sure that all of the necessary paperwork was completed accurately and on time. This made the entire process much less daunting, especially for a first-time homebuyer like myself. Overall, I would highly recommend Jay Shepherd and Shepherd Realty to anyone looking to purchase or sell a home in the area. His knowledge, responsiveness, and attention to detail are truly top-notch, and he made what could have been a stressful and overwhelming process into a smooth and enjoyable one.
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Jay Shepeard has been an incredible realtor in helping us purchase our first home. His unwavering willingness to help and nonstop efforts to care for our family have made the entire process a positive experience. Jay’s dedication to finding the perfect home for us and his attention to our needs have been truly remarkable. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide through this significant milestone. We highly recommend Jay to anyone in search of a compassionate and diligent realtor.
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Jay did an outstanding job helping my husband and I sell our house. He was very knowledgable and had great advice to help us make decisions. He always responded quickly to any questions we had no matter the time or day! He went above and beyond our expectations, and we could not be happier we used him!
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I first called Jay from a sign in a yard that I saw when I needed to sell a house. He came immediately and we talked about the property and selling price. He took great pictures and listed it the next day. And then the next day he sold it. Wow. So, about 7 years later I am back in WM looking for a house and I call on Jay for help. He is honest, conscientious, and dependable. He never got tired of showing me homes I was interested in and said if it took 2 years we would find “my” house. Luckily for both of us it only took 3 months. He is also a kind gentleman. I would always recommend him. Job well done.
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I’ve known Jay for quite a while and he has helped me with every home sale/purchase I’ve made in Louisiana within the past several years. He goes above and beyond to make the process easy and seems to have a good beat on how the market moves. I wouldn’t go anywhere else for buying or selling a home.
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Jay is great. He’s prompt, professional, and willing to go to bat for his client to make sure they come out on top. Jay was responsive and available at all times, even with short notice. Jay helped us in a pretty tight situation where we had to get into a home quickly, which was very difficult in the current housing market.
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Jay did an great job of assisting us through the process. He was professional without being pushy. Extremely friending while being very knowledgeable. We were able to close early due to his attention to our deal. I plan on using him again for any future property needs.
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Jay was fantastic. So kind and helpful. Constant follow up and communication. I can't say enough about how painless a process it was. I am so thankful God sent him our way!!!Jay sent us updates by text and email almost every day. He sent reminders of meetings and paperwork to be signed well in advance. Jay actually help negotiate additional furniture to be left by seller. He advised what would be reasonable to ask sellers to repair. Step by step I was advised about what would need to be done. Jay followed up after the sale and visited the newly purchased home. This was best experience with a realtor I've ever had in the 6 houses I have purchased in my life.
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We worked with Jay when we bought and sold our house. Super personable and always answered back fast to any questions or concerns we had. Definitely kept us from making any quick decisions on offers and ended up with more than we could've expected on the sale. Definitely recommend to anyone in the market to buy or sale.
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Big shout out to Jay & his team. It was a pleasure working with them during the buying process of my new home & property. If you're looking to buy a home, Jay & his team are knowledgeable and extremely helpful throughout the process. Happy Buyer! Thankfully blessed...
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In the last four months, Jay has assisted me and my husband in selling two properties. Jay is patient and kind but also persistent in his professional career. Jay kept us updated on every aspect of the selling process. Thank you Jay Shepherd.
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Great realtor. Would highly recommend to friends and family. Will and can sell your house fast!!!! He is very knowledgeable of housing market in my area. He was also quick to respond to any questions I had and I had a bunch.
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Jay was a huge help in the recent purchase of my home. He stuck with me for about 3 months while we looked at numerous homes until I found the one to fit all my needs. In this hot seller’s market right now, Jay was always on the ball sending me any new applicable listings as soon as they hit the market to give me first shot at scheduling a home visit. Once I had an accepted purchase offer, Jay walked me through the rest of the process (home inspection, termite inspection, closing attorney options, etc), and I got to a closing seamlessly and without delay. Ultimately, I was able to move in just before Christmas to celebrate our new home with my 3 young kids! All in all I couldn’t have asked for a better experience and would recommend Jay and his team to anyone in the market to buy or sell a home!
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Jay was very helpful in the purchasing and selling process. He is very professional, knowledgeable, and honest. I definitely recommend contacting Jay if you are looking to buy or sell.
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Review has been shortened using AI, click the review to read the full review.

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Loyalty

This custom presentation that I’ve shared with you is an example of the care and effort I put into each of my best clients. I recognize that real estate transactions are one of the largest financial transactions of your life and it deserves careful consideration and wise planning. In light of this, you should feel strongly that mutual respect and understanding are key components of hiring me to help you accomplish real results starting right away.

Reviewing each other’s roles and responsibilities as we embark on the next steps together is how we can decide if we are ready to move forward together.

Processes

1

Consultation

We’ll sit down together and help you determine your needs wants and goals while offering my personal industry expertise and strategies for bringing your vision to life.
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2

Pre-Approval

Getting pre-approved will help you know exactly what you can afford so you can confidently focus on the right homes. Plus, it shows sellers you’re serious, giving you an edge when making an offer.
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3

Property tours

After you have reviewed and selected which homes you want to tour, we get to go shopping! This is where you can start figuring out what you really want in your new home.
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4

Write offer

Once we find the home of your dreams, we'll submit an official offer - including but not limited to sale price, inspection contingencies, and closing costs. The seller then has time to accept, reject, or counter your offer.
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5

Inspections

Now that you've found your home we need to order the inspection. The inspection will let you know what repairs are needed, some are minor and some may be safety issues. Don't worry, you are still protected.
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6

Appraisal

The appraisal is ordered by your lender to protect their investment. They have their own checklist of things they look at for the final approval to move forward. The appraiser can demand repairs completed by the seller before they will give their approval.
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7

Closing

Congratulations! You now own a home and can get moved in. It's time to celebrate and have your housewarming and show off your home. We will be standing by to answer any questions you may have about home-ownership and have a list of contractors if the need arises.
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105 More Ways

Agents Who Are Realtors ® Are Worth Every Penny Of Their Compensation.

Here’s a look at all the things – big and small – that a REALTOR ® may do to help clients when buying a home.

Counseling Session Activities

  • Prepare the buyer for executing a buyer representation agreement
  • Explain agency relationships to the buyer and get state required legal consent to represent, if needed
  • Inform the buyer of working relationship based on state law, the REALTORS® Code of Ethics, and the broker’s business policies

Building a Relationship

  • Learn the buyer’s wants and non-negotiable needs
  • Understand the buyer’s budget and what will be needed financially
  • Help the buyer understand what property their chosen budget will buy
  • Consider having the buyer fill out a homebuyer’s checklist
  • Assist the buyer in examining how much they can afford to spend
  • Provide quality lender resources
  • Partner with the buyer to locate suitable properties for consideration
  • Match the buyer’s needs with available property
  • Constantly re-evaluate buyer’s needs and refocus property showings to fit those needs
  • After ensuring the buyer understands what is done for them, how it is done,and the benefit to them, obtain signatures on the buyer representation agreement
  • Explain how compensation is paid, who pays it, and what the buyer’s options are for paying it

Educating the Buyer

  • Communicate the working relationship based on state law, the REALTORS® Code of Ethics, and the broker’s business policies
  • Explain Federal and State Fair Housing laws
  • Explain what to look for in applicable property disclosures
  • Reassure the buyer that their personal information will remain confidential
  • Inform the buyer that you will always disclose all known material defects
  • In accordance with state law, provide information on checking the sex-offender registry and crime statistics for the neighborhood
  • Discuss available resources that the buyer can check to learn more about prospective neighborhoods
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REALTORS® are members of the National Association of REALTORS®

Preparing the Buyer

  • Explain the timeline for house hunting, mortgage approval, and closing
  • Explain the local market and how it impacts the buyer
  • Show statistics on what percentage of list price sellers in the area are currentlyreceiving
  • Inform the buyer on what home features are popular
  • Identify current average days on market
  • Share the dangers of using the price per square foot to figure home values
  • Explain the concept of absorption rate and how it impacts the buying process
  • Indicate current listing months of market inventory
  • Share estimated potential out-of-pocket costs to complete the transaction
  • Assist the buyer in analyzing the loan estimates
  • Qualify the buyer for financial ability to purchase
  • Help the buyer account for the complete costs of homeownership
  • Prepare lender for listing agent calls
  • Assist in comparing different financing options
  • Help the buyer select for viewing only those homes that fit their needs
  • Proceed in showing homes that fit the buyer’s must-haves
  • Caution the buyer on posting information to social media
  • Review the sample sales contract so the buyer is prepared when it comes time to make an offer

Showing Properties

  • Schedule showings and provide access to all listed properties as soon as they become available in their local MLS broker marketplaces
  • Educate the buyer on the immediacy of new listings appearing in their local MLS broker marketplaces and the lag time for them to appear on some websites
  • Collaborate with the buyer on properties they may have learned about through their sphere contacts
  • Research and assist on all unlisted properties the buyer wishes to see
  • Preview properties prior to showing if needed
  • Network with other agents to source properties not yet in their local MLS broker marketplaces
  • Contact homeowners in focus areas to see if they are considering selling
  • Set up an automated email alert system through their local MLS broker marketplaces that immediately notifies the buyer of properties that fit discussed requirements
  • Arrange a tour of areas, schools, and key points of interest
  • Provide resources containing neighborhood information on municipal services,schools, etc.
  • Inform the buyer of negative aspects like nearby venues or operations that may result in issues that could impact value
  • Collect and share any other vital information on available homes, remembering to follow all fair housing laws at all times
  • Check applicable zoning and building restrictions
  • Help the buyer decipher public property and tax information
  • Collect and share pertinent data on values, taxes, utility costs, etc.
  • Compare each property shown to the buyer’s wants and needs list and remind them of what they were looking for
  • Help the buyer narrow the search until the buyer identifies top choices

Negotiating Offers

  • Assist the buyer in getting the best property at the best price
  • Suggest that the buyer learn more about the neighborhood prior to makingan offer
  • Prepare a comparative market analysis (CMA) in advance of making an offer
  • Prepare the buyer to have the most attractive offer in the current marketplace
  • Explain common contract contingencies and include approved protective clauses in the purchase offer
  • Ensure that the buyer receives and understands all state and federally-required disclosure forms
  • Prioritize contract negotiation goals with the buyer
  • Help create a negotiating strategy
  • Use strategies such as an escalation clause to maintain a competitive offer
  • Prepare the buyer for a multiple offer situation and develop negotiation strategies
  • Write an offer that has a reasonable chance of being accepted
  • Recommend optional contingencies and explain the pros and cons of using them
  • Provide information on purchasing incentives that may be available
  • Discuss financing alternatives
  • Negotiate the buyer’s offers to arrive at the best price and terms
  • Utilize hyperlocal expertise and strong communication skills to assist the buyer in being the successful offer

Advocating for the Buyer and Facilitating the Close (Part 1/2)

  • Advocate for the buyer throughout the entire process
  • Encourage the buyer to fully investigate their options in terms of a home inspector, title company, appraiser, mortgage lender, and other services
  • Present a list of the types of required and optional inspections such as environmental, roofing, and mold
  • Review and discuss home inspection concerns
  • Negotiate repair requests from home inspection
  • Guide the buyer on meeting all contract deadlines
  • Assist in coordinating communications
  • Advise the buyer to review the settlement statement
  • Inform clients that they need to transfer utilities to the new residence
  • Schedule final walkthrough
  • Accompany the buyer on the walkthrough
  • Assist the buyer in questioning the appraisal report if it affects the financing
  • Confirm clear-to-close with the lender
  • Ensure all parties have all forms and information needed to close the sale
  • Remind the buyer of the location where the closing will be held
  • Confirm the closing date and time, and notify parties if there are changes
  • Gather all required forms and documents for closing
  • Explain flood insurance to the buyer
  • Explain title insurance to the buyer and refer to qualified insurance broker
  • Order any surveys needed

Advocating for the Buyer and Facilitating the Close (Part 2/2)

  • Order the appraisal
  • Order the title search
  • Confirm the status of the loan funding
  • Check addendums and alterations for agreed terms
  • Review the buyer’s closing statement to ensure accuracy
  • Explain wire fraud risks and remind clients to verify all wiring instructions before transferring funds
  • Double-check all tax, homeowners’ association dues, utility, and applicable prorations, if relevant
  • Request final closing figures from the closing agent (often an attorney ortitle company)
  • Receive and carefully review closing figures to ensure accuracy
  • Receive and carefully review title insurance commitment with the buyer
  • Advise the buyer to re-key their locks and to consider a one-time cleaning service or landscaping before moving day
  • Review documents with the closing agent (attorney)
  • Support the buyer in any final closing activities
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Actual services provided will depend on the needs of the buyer and the transaction –not all 105 things will need to be done in every transaction.

Featured content from the Center for REALTOR® Development’s Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) Designation Course. Visit crd.realtor to learn more.
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What buyers need to know about the
National Association of Realtors (NAR) changes.

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Starting August 17th, 2024

It is required to complete and sign a written agreement before showing a home. This applies to buyers requiring the services of any licensed agent in the U.S. to visit a property.
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By Signing the Agreement to Partner with an Agent

Our agent is dedicated to you and committed to finding a home that meets your needs.
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With a proven track record

We have the knowledge and experience to be the BEST asset in your real estate endeavors.

Signing a Buyers Broker Agreement or BBA

  • This is an agreement to engage with a professional real estate agent to consult, show homes, negotiate contracts, and advocate.
  • It will establish the length of the agreement
  • It shows the agent/broker's services and responsibilities
  • It explains the agreement's exclusivity between Broker and client, what fees are owed for services rendered, and how to terminate the agreement. It mentions additional fees if the buyer signs with more than one agent.
  • It provides a clear explanation of the various ways an agent can be compensated for their services to the Buyer.
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Real Estate Expert

Jay Shepherd

REALTOR® | 995697477

jay@tsgnela.com |
Call or Text: 318.599.2699
French Realty LLC
3101 Cypress St. Suite 9
West Monroe, LA 71291
Office: 318.372.6908

Let's Chat.

I'm sure you have questions and thoughts about the real estate process. I'd love to talk with you about what you've read here and help you along this path.
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www.tsgnela.com/team/jay-shepherd
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Thank you!

In everything we do, we are driven to help others, because behind every transaction there is a vision, a goal, a dream waiting to come to life. In doing so, we bring our expertise, our instincts from years of experience, and our complete dedication to you.

This is only the beginning of an exciting journey to a bright and shining new future. And it's only the beginning of our commitment to servicing your every real estate need. Thank you for the opportunity to help you!
We'll be right there with you, every step of the way.