Tour homes for sale with a click
HomeTraq Tips, Info & FAQs
HomeTraq quickly finds an agent to meet you at any home on the market to tour with no commitment.
When you’re house hunting, you want convenience and efficiency. In today’s market, you need to decide quickly whether or not a house is right for you. HomeTraq makes this process easy!
Home Showings Simplified
- You’ll enjoy the convenience of local agents, with NO pushy sales tactics.
- You’ll meet the agent at the desired home to view it on your schedule, with no obligation.
- Only verified, licensed agents to show the home ensure a safe experience for you and your family.
You pick the home and the time, and HomeTraq gets you in – it’s that simple!
Should I Buy a House Now?
Q: I’ve been saving for a down payment to buy a house, and I think I am ready. But the hot real estate market has me wondering if I should go forward or wait until the market settles. Should I buy a house now?
A: The real estate market has been hit particularly hard by the coronavirus pandemic. There are some other compounding factors also driving up prices across the country. Many people are delaying their home purchases, hoping the market will cool off. However, under certain circumstances, it can still be an excellent time to buy a house. Here’s why.
Interest rates are increasing
Rates have risen sharply since their all-time lows at the height of the pandemic. In May 2022, the average APR for a 30-year fixed mortgage was 5.27%, which is the highest level in more than a decade. Aggressive inflation will force the Federal Reserve to raise rates multiple times in 2022, which will place additional pressure on mortgage rates. Many experts predict 30-year fixed mortgage rates to increase up to 5.5% APR by the end of the year, so it may make sense for you to purchase sooner, rather than later.
There are more homes on the market than you may think
While it is a seller’s market now, more homeowners are putting their houses up for sale. According to Realtor.com, home sales are up by 44% compared to a year ago. Also, now that the federal moratorium on foreclosures has ended, more homes are likely to enter the market in the next few weeks and months. Finally, new-construction homes, which were put on hold for months during the pandemic, are beginning to fill the market again, offering more choices for homebuyers.
It is generally the better financial choice
While you’ll need to make sure you can actually afford to buy a house right now, owning a home is usually the better financial choice. Homeownership provides long-lasting equity, significant tax benefits, and more stability than renting. Instead of throwing money at your landlord each month, every mortgage payment you make toward your home builds your own equity.
If you’re ready to apply for a home loan, consider a loan from United Texas Credit Union. We offer home loans with a personal touch. Enjoy competitive rates, a streamlined process, and your own home loan liaison to help you throughout the process. Call, click, or stop by today to get started!
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FAQs
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Why would I use HomeTraq to view a home?
HomeTraq empowers the consumer to select the time and date for the showing. It eliminates consumer time wasted attempting to contact the listing agent to secure access to the property. HomeTraq coordinates the scheduling of a licensed real estate agent to meet you at the property and eliminates the high-pressure sales tactics sometimes used to trap consumers in exclusive agency agreements before the consumer is ready to select a real estate agent. It also eliminates ongoing solicitations for property and other services. While you may purchase additional showings, you may, but are not required, to use the same real estate agent and may use the HomeTraq service to schedule a showing from a real estate agent who is available to show the property at the time and on the date that you desire to view the property. In addition, by using the HomeTraq service, you also receive (when available) listing information, property disclosures, and real estate tax information specific to each property prior to the appointment time.
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Who is HomeTraq?
HomeTraq is a licensed real estate brokerage providing technology services to real estate brokerages and consumers. HomeTraq acts as an advocate for consumers desiring a better way to purchase a new home. Because real estate services are purchased through the HomeTraq service, you will never be pressured to use a particular agent or other service provider or to purchase a home before you are ready. You control the homebuying process. HomeTraq coordinates the purchase of real estate services and the scheduling of the provision of real estate services. HomeTraq does not directly provide real estate services and is not responsible for real estate services purchased through the HomeTraq service.
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Is HomeTraq safe?
Yes. HomeTraq has built a network of qualified licensed real estate agents to show homes on demand. All real estate agents participating in the HomeTraq Referral Network are licensed and maintain errors and omissions insurance. In addition, as a part of the scheduling of the showing, you will receive a photo of the real estate agent assigned to show you the house so that you know who is providing the showing service. After each assignment, HomeTraq surveys the consumer regarding the quality of the services provided by the assigned real estate agent. Real estate agents who receive unsatisfactory reviews are promptly removed from the HomeTraq Referral Network.
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Is HomeTraq a discount or limited-service real estate brokerage?
No. HomeTraq is a technology service company that empowers the consumer to control the homebuying process. HomeTraq is a licensed real estate brokerage and does provide full-service brokerage services independent of the use of the HomeTraq Mobile App. However, all services purchased through the HomeTraq service are provided by independent real estate agents and are under the supervision of the brokerage to which the real estate agent is affiliated and not HomeTraq directly.
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Does HomeTraq cost me more money than typical real estate services?
HomeTraq collects a service fee for showings scheduled using the HomeTraq service. The service fee compensates real estate agents for the performance of on-demand showings without the need for an exclusive agency agreement and without any ongoing solicitation of the consumer by the real estate agent. If the consumer purchases a property through the HomeTraq service, the consumer receives a credit for the services fees collected by HomeTraq for showing purchased through the HomeTraq service. Consumers using HomeTraq are pre-paying commission as services are performed – no additional costs are incurred if you purchase a home by using an agent who is a member of the HomeTraq Referral Network.
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When I use HomeTraq, do I pay the real estate agent to show me the home on the day of showing?
No, United Texas Credit Union is sponsoring the showing fees. You will be charged the showing service fee if you fail to show up for a scheduled showing or if you cancel the showing less than 2 hours before the scheduled showing.
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If I use HomeTraq, am I under contract or committed to HomeTraq to buy or sell a home?
No. By using the HomeTraq service, you have no further obligation to purchase additional real estate services using the HomeTraq service. You have the right to select the real estate agent to represent you in the purchase transaction. However, if you purchase a property that was shown to you using the HomeTraq service, the assigned real estate agent may be entitled to the real estate commission offered by the seller to cooperating real estate broker and/or HomeTraq may be entitled to a technology service fee. When you purchase a property through the HomeTraq service, you receive a credit for the services fees collected by HomeTraq for showings purchased through the HomeTraq service from the assigned real estate agent/broker through the commission earned. By using the HomeTraq service to purchase showing services, you acknowledge and agree that HomeTraq and the participating real estate agent shall be conclusively determined to be the exclusive “procuring cause” for the sales transaction.
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Do I have to sign an Exclusive Buyer’s Agency Agreement for showings scheduled through the HomeTraq Mobile Application?
No. You are not required to sign an exclusive agency agreement as a condition for the purchase of showing services using the HomeTraq service. By using the HomeTraq service, you select the real estate agent that you want to work with and you determine if and when you want to work exclusively with a particular real estate agent.
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If I am interested in making an offer on the home I view using HomeTraq, am I required to use the same real estate agent who showed me the home?
No. You have the right to select the real estate agent to represent you in the purchase transaction. However, if you purchase a property that was shown to you using the HomeTraq service and you select a real estate agent other than one of the real estate agents introduced to you by the HomeTraq service, the assigned real estate agent who showed the property to you may be entitled to the real estate commission offered by the seller to cooperating real estate broker and/or HomeTraq may be entitled to a technology service fee. By using the HomeTraq service to purchase showing services, you acknowledge and agree that HomeTraq and the participating real estate agent shall be conclusively determined to be the exclusive “procuring cause” for the sales transaction.
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Are all agents able to use HomeTraq to show homes?
No. Only agents who work for brokerages who are enrolled in the HomeTraq Referral Network and who meet the standards and requirements set by HomeTraq are able to show home through the HomeTraq service.
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I am currently under a signed buyer’s agency agreement with a real estate agent. Can I use HomeTraq services?
No. We are unable to schedule showings or provide other assistance if you are already working with an agent. If you have already signed an exclusive buyer’s agent agreement with a real estate agent, you are already represented by a real estate agent and cannot use the HomeTraq service to schedule showings unless the real estate agent is already a member of the HomeTraq Referral Network.
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Am I able to view any home for sale using HomeTraq Mobile Service Application?
Yes. You can use the HomeTraq service to schedule the showing of any property that is listed for sale through the multiple listing service or is for sale by the owner.
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Since all real estate agents and brokers are not in the HomeTraq Referral Network am I limited on what homes I am able to view using HomeTraq?
No. Participating agents in the HomeTraq Referral Network can show any property listed for sale through the multiple listing service. In addition, in many cases, participating agents in the HomeTraq Referral Network are also able to show properties for sale by the owner.
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Am I able to schedule showings using HomeTraq to view homes that are not currently for sale?
Maybe. HomeTraq is designed to coordinate showings for homes that are currently listed for sale with a real estate brokerage. If a request is made for a showing which is not currently listed for sale, an agent in the HomeTraq Referral Network will attempt to secure permission from the owner to show the property if available.
Next Step
Go To Next StepHomeTraq Why United Texas
HomeTraq
- United Texas sponsors the showing fee for your home tour
- You enjoy the convenience of local agents
- No pushy sales tactics and no obligation
- Only verified, licensed agents show the home to ensure a safe experience
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Next Step
Go To Next StepHomeTraq How it Works
How HomeTraq Works
Find a home.
Find a home you love. Just tell us the address and your availability, and sit back while HomeTraq handles the rest.
Get the details.
Details are delivered straight to your phone so you get all the relevant info before the showing.
Meet the agent.
HomeTraq connects you with a local agent available on your schedule to show the house, without the pushy sales tactics.
Buy your dream house.
After you fall in love with the home, you can request an inspection, get pre-approved for a loan and make an offer.
Need a Hand?
More Info
HomeTraq is a registered D/B/A of
Essential Real Estate LLC
Missouri Real Estate Commission License # 2006038106
222 South Central Avenue, Suite 1000
St. Louis, Missouri 63105