Ruby Miranda Real Estate Video Blog

Your home needs to look its best for photographs when it comes time to sell. Here’s where you need to focus your attention when preparing.Selling in the greater Houston area? Get a market analysis reportPurchasing in the greater Houston area? Get full MLS accessAccording to the National Association of Realtors, 87% of homebuyers start their search online. This is why it’s so important that when you get your house ready to take pictures, you make sure that it is top-notch, primed, and ready to take the best pictures possible for when we display it online. Here are the three most important areas you need to focus on to make sure your photos turn out great:1. Curb appeal. You only get one chance to make a first impression. It’s really important that you make a good one as soon as the buyers pull up to the home. Make sure the garage door is closed and clean, dust off the cobwebs, pressure wash the sidewalk, and make sure your landscaping is clean. When buyers walk up, you want to have a clean and orderly look to make the best possible impression.Look at each room through a photographer’s eyes.2. Kitchens. Make sure the counter is clear of everything because we want as much counter space as possible for pictures. How you live and function in a home is different than how you market and present a home. You’re going to look at the room through a photographer’s eyes. People, including your neighbors and family, will be looking at these pictures online through that same lens.3. Restrooms. Clear the countertops off here as well and make sure all personal items are put away. The toilet seat should be put down, linen closets should be shut, and hair products on the counter and in the shower need to be put away. These are three of my best tips, but if you want a copy of my full house photo shoot guidelines, give me a call or send me an email today. I’d be happy to get one sent out to you. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Selling your home is a complex process and nearly impossible to do on your own. Here are five advantages of hiring a Realtor to assist you.Selling in the greater Houston area? Get a market analysis reportPurchasing in the greater Houston area? Get full MLS accessThere are many benefits of using a Realtor when it comes to listing your home. Here are five of the most important ones:1. Pricing. It’s important to work with a Realtor because they are the expert on what your home can sell for. Working with a Realtor will help you form realistic expectations about what your home may sell for. They will take all of the available online data, interpret it, and make sure that they price your listing right. You don’t want to price too high, as doing so will cause your listing to sit on the market for longer than necessary. When this happens, buyers may begin to suspect that something is wrong with your home. Pricing too low, on the other hand, could prevent you from earning the best possible price. This is why working with a Realtor is so important. Agents are trained to analyze market data and strategize accordingly so that you can price your home just right.2. Marketing. I think this is the most important aspect of selling your home. Did you know that 87% of homebuyers start their search online? Because of that fact, you need to make sure that you have a great online presence. Most Realtors stick to the “three p’s”: Placing a sign in the yard, putting the home on the MLS, and praying they get an offer. We do all of that, but also add a fourth “p” — promotion. We do everything we can to get the home out to as many potential buyers as possible so that it gets sold.It’s not a done deal until it’s a closed deal.3. Security. When you’re scheduling showings, you don't want just any person to come into your house. By working with a Realtor, most of the time we know exactly who is coming into the home. We know other Realtors in the area and most of the time they will only be showing it to pre-approved buyers.4. Negotiations. This is a big one. Buying and selling a home is a very emotional process, especially if you’ve lived in the home for a long time. You see all the memories in the house and while it’s an emotional process for you, at the end of the day it’s a business transaction. It’s important that it’s treated as such to make sure it gets the home sold.5. Getting you to the closing table. It’s not a done deal until it’s a closed deal. Within the contract, you’re going to have timelines, deadlines, and terms to meet. As Realtors, it’s our job to make sure you do your part and the buyer does their part. Our ultimate goal is to get you to the closing table and get your home sold.If you have any other questions for me about today's market or want to learn about some more benefits of hiring a Realtor when selling your home, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

If you want to generate multiple offers for your home sale and pick the best one possible, listen to your Realtor when pricing your home and look at each offer carefully.Selling in the greater Houston area? Get a market analysis reportPurchasing in the greater Houston area? Get full MLS accessAs a seller, there is a way to be smart about handling a multiple offer situation. When you start the process of selling your home, you have to make a shift in your perception. This is business. You’re selling a product in a large market that will dictate many of your decisions. You can choose to ignore the market, but to do so is risky, and it’s a decision most people end up regretting. There are many risks in pricing your home too high—the most important being you will sell it for less than if you would’ve just priced it appropriately to begin with. Why don’t buyers make offers on overpriced listings? They don’t want to offend the seller. It goes against human nature to offer substantially less than asking price to the seller. It’s insulting to them and embarrassing for the buyer. Buyers erroneously believe that the seller knows the home is overpriced, and if they would be willing to sell the home for less, they would simply lower their price.Buyers also assume the seller must have turned down lowball offers from other buyers because, surely, someone somewhere down the line offered a reasonable price to the seller. Oftentimes, though, there are no offers at all. As a seller, don’t put yourself in this position. How can you generate multiple offers for your home and choose the right one? Now we’re talking business. “Don’t put yourself in a position where no offers are coming in. ”If you’re dreaming of a quick sale, listen to your Realtor regarding your home’s market value and how to price it. You’re more likely to attract multiple offers for your home if you price it correctly than if you overprice it. Buyers may be willing to pay more than the asking price, but they want it to be their move and based on other buyers also placing bids. Most buyers will run away from a bidding war if they think you already overpriced the house. Next, look at each offer carefully—not all of them are created equal. Just because someone offers a few thousand dollars more doesn’t mean their offer is the one to pick. Factors like whether the buyer is pre-qualified or what type of loan they’re using can also affect how solid their offer is. Another factor to consider is whether the buyer has to sell their original home first before they can buy yours. There are many aspects of a contract that can be either pros or cons, and you have to dive through all of them to make sure you’re selecting the right offer. Let your real estate agent advise you on which offer is the best. If you have any other questions about multiple offers or you’re thinking of buying or selling a home in our market, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.

How can you compete in multiple offer situations? Here are a few of our top tips.Selling in the greater Houston area? Get a market analysis reportPurchasing in the greater Houston area? Get full MLS accessToday we’re going to talk about being a buyer in a multiple offer situation. Unless you really play your cards right, this place could easily slip through your fingers. That’s why it’s critical to put the best offer forward from the start. Here are a few tips for how to win:1. More money. It’s that simple. Money talks. The sale price isn’t the only place where you can make a strong financial stance. Consider increasing your escrow deposit or option fee. Committing more money up front will show sellers that you’re serious. If you’re hesitant at offering full price, how would you feel if you lost out on this home by $1?2. Write a letter. Beyond the basic agreement of sales paperwork, include a letter explaining why you’re so passionate about buying the home. It can definitely help you stand out from the crowd. Telling the seller about you, your family, and why you love the home might help build empathy with the seller. Letters are especially effective when a seller has an emotional connection to the property.“Consider increasing your escrow deposit or option fee. ”3. Keeping financing clean. Where financing is concerned, buying with cash is always attractive to sellers when you can afford it. You don’t have to deal with a lender, appraiser, or anything else. However, cash isn’t an option for everyone. If a mortgage is a must, make sure you can provide a pre-approval so that sellers know you’re vetted by a lender.4. Buying a home as-is. Agreeing to buy a home “as-is” releases the sellers from the responsibility of making any repairs. That’s why it's a very attractive option for them. Keep in mind that buying a home as-is doesn’t mean you have to forgo inspections entirely, but you’ll only be able to use them for informational purposes.5. Have your agent make a call. Their job is to make sure your interests are communicated to the seller throughout the negotiation process. When you’re competing against multiple offers, knowing what the seller wants to see can be a big advantage. That’s all I have for today. If you have any questions for me about multiple offers or anything else, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

How is buying a new construction home different than buying a resale home? I’ll go over six important points today.Selling in the greater Houston area? Get a market analysis reportPurchasing in the greater Houston area? Get full MLS accessThere are a few things that every homebuyer needs to know about new construction. I’ll go over six of them today. 1. New homes may not be listed in your local MLS. Unlike regular sellers who list their homes with local real estate agents, home builders often have their own sales employees working for them on the side. They do this to have more control and cut costs. 2. New homes are often sold before they’re built. The builder will generally get financing lined up, map out the construction and sales process, and try to sell you as many homes as possible before they even start building the one you decide on.3. The first buyers may get the best discounts. Early in the sales process, there may be room to negotiate the sales price down. With that reward comes a potential risk; by being an early buyer, you are committed to the project. 4. Builders don’t have a personal connection with the home. It’s just a numbers game for them. They are not focused on what’s good for you. They are focused on the spreadsheet rather than sentiment. They want to make sure that you can qualify for the loan, and they set prices based on inventory. You may be able to get some free upgrades instead of reducing the price. 5. Discounts may be available in the form of upgrades. If you're nearing the end of the sale cycle and the main homes have already been sold, the builder may be willing to negotiate on upgrades. If they reduce the price of your home and the sale closes, then the sale price becomes public record. If they offer you an upgrade package, such as swapping carpet for hardwood floors, there’s no way to track that in the public record. 6. Builders do like working with Realtors. Believe it or not, it’s in their best interest for a professional Realtor to be working with you. Remember, the salesperson represents the builder. They are looking out for the builder, whereas I will look out for you. If you don’t already have a Realtor to help you when looking at new construction homes, or if you have any other questions, make sure to give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

There are four unexpected things that can increase your home value that I want to share with you today.Selling in the greater Houston area? Get a market analysis reportPurchasing in the greater Houston area? Get full MLS accessThere are four surprising things that may increase how much your home is worth.1. How close your home is to Starbucks. Who doesn’t love coffee? A 2015 Zillow report found that between 1997 and 2014, homes within a quarter mile of Starbucks increased in value by 96%. That really shows you that America has a coffee addiction! 2. Blue kitchens and blue bathrooms. According to Zillow’s 2017 Paint Color Analysis, which examined more than 32,000 photos from sold homes around the country, homes with blue kitchens sold for $1,809 more compared to similar homes with white kitchens. Pale blue or soft periwinkle blue bathrooms sold for $5,440 more than similar homes without blue bathrooms.Homes with “barn door” mentioned in the description sold 57 days faster than other homes. 3. Trendy features. Zillow measured listings that mentioned certain favorite features, such as “barn doors” or “farmhouse sink.” According to Zillow’s 2016 analysis of more than 2 million homes, homes with “barn door” mentioned in the listing description sold for 13.4% more than expected and 57 days faster than comparable homes without that keyword. 4. How close are you to the city? Urban homes are now worth 35% more than homes in suburban areas. Since 2012, the median home value in urban areas increased 54%, while the median home value in suburban areas went up 38%. If you have any other questions about home value or would like to know what your home is worth in today’s market, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

I have five more common buyer and seller questions I want to answer with detailed explanations.Selling in the greater Houston area? Get a market analysis reportPurchasing in the greater Houston area? Get full MLS accessHere are a few more common questions I get from buyers and sellers ad my answers to them.I accepted an offer, but now I’m wondering if I could have sold for more. Can I keep looking at other offers?Sellers never know how long a particular buyer has been on the market. It could be that they’ve been looking for a while, and it's because you’re just now coming on the market that you’re getting an offer pretty quickly. A lot of times when sellers get an offer quickly, they wonder if they priced their home too low. That’s not necessarily true. Sometimes it just means you priced your home exactly where it needed to be for that right buyer at that right moment. Once you accept an offer, you can continue to show your home, place it under “Pending, continue to show” status, and accept other offers. However, even if you get a cash offer, you can’t move forward with it unless the previous buyer cancels their contract or defaults in some way. While it’s a good idea to continue showings in case you have backup offers, any backup offer depends on the whether or not the current offer you have closes. The seller didn’t disclose something about the property? Are they on the hook? It depends on what they didn’t disclose. Was it a defect that you can prove they knew existed prior to filling out the disclosure, something they didn’t know existed, or something that was apparent throughout the transaction and never caught? They’re only on the hook if they knew about something and didn’t disclose it. The answers to some of these questions vary on a case-by-case basis. This is the kind of question that varies on a case-by-case basis. Any issue would be addressed between each party and their agents. The buyer’s financing fell through before the close date. Can I walk away?If they can’t obtain financing in some other way, yes you can walk away. If their financing didn’t come through, it becomes a question of whether they’re taking action to come up with cash funds or get their financing in order to proceed with the closing. If neither is the case and they can’t move forward, the contract will be terminated. The inspection raised some issues I wasn’t expecting and the house appraisal doesn’t match the contract price. Can I back out of the deal?When it comes to the inspection, unless you’re purchasing a new construction home, you’ll probably find defects with the house. Some of these defects will be normal wear and tear, and others will be more high-dollar items, and those are the things you need to watch out for. When you do an inspection, you have to decide whether you want to negotiate with the seller to get them to fix certain things before closing, give you a credit to fix them after closing, fix those things yourself, or back out of the transaction. Again, the answer will vary on a case-by-case basis and depend on what your inspection entails. If you decide you don’t want to move forward, you’ll enter an option period where you can cancel the contract. What happens if the house isn’t appraised for what I’m willing to pay for it?There are a few different paths the transaction can go. The seller can lower the price, the buyer can make up the difference between the sale price and the appraised price, they can meet in the middle, or the buyer can walk away without penalty. If the house doesn’t appraise at the sale price, the seller’s agent will typically confer with them and decide on the best course of action. At that point, the buyer also has to ask themselves how much they really like the property. If you have any additional questions about buying or selling real estate, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to speak with you.

Paying down your mortgage is a great investment. Find out how to do it fast right here.Selling in the greater Houston area? Get a market analysis reportPurchasing in the greater Houston area? Get full MLS accessToday, we’re going to talk about how your mortgage can be a surefire investment.Paying down a mortgage has long been viewed as a reliable investment. It reduces debt, helps home equity grow faster, and provides a guaranteed return equal to the mortgage rate—usually more than someone can make in bank savings, bonds, or other comparable investments.One of the things I recommend to buyers when it comes to making additional payments is to make one to two extra payments of what their principal and interest on their home is. For example, if your total payment with principal, interest, taxes, and insurance is $1,300, where $600 of that is just the taxes and insurance and $700 is the actual principal and interest portion, then you will make one additional payment of that every year for the life of the loan consistently. You’ll reduce the amount of time you pay by five or six years. By making two additional payments every year for the life of the loan, you can reduce your mortgage by 10 to 12 years.The key is to do it every year without fail. The key is to do it every year without fail. Any more than that doesn’t make as much of a difference, unless you’re dropping huge chunks of money. Remember, you can break it up throughout the year on a monthly basis. Using the earlier example of the two extra payments of $700, if you broke up that $1,400 up on a monthly basis, the dollar amount per month would be $116, which would mean a world of savings over the lifetime of the loan. As they say, a penny saved is a penny earned.Should you have any additional questions about buying or selling real estate in today’s market, feel free to contact me. I’m always happy to help.

Today, I have five tips to help your home be more energy efficient this winter.Selling in the greater Houston area? Get a market analysis reportPurchasing in the greater Houston area? Get full MLS accessHere are a few tips to help your home be more energy efficient during the winter: 1. Use earth’s natural heater—the sun. In the summer, it’s all about drawing the blinds and curtains to keep the sun out. In the cooler months, you can use the power of the sun to warm your home and keep heating costs down. Open curtains in any south windows to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home, and close them at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.  2. Insulate the windows. Light, gauzy curtains may look great but they can make your home colder and waste energy, especially if the window does not receive direct sunlight. If you’ve addressed all the leaks around the windows and the room is still cold, insulated drapes should help. Schedule a checkup for your heating system. 3. Check your heating system. Dirt and neglect are the top causes of heating system failures. Now is a good time to schedule a checkup with a licensed contractor. It’s also important to regularly check and change the air filters. 4. Turn down the thermostat. By turning the heat down 10 or 15 degrees while you are asleep or out of the house, you can save about 10% each year. Use programmable thermostats or thermostats that connect to a mobile app to adjust the temperature when everyone is out of the house.  5. Don’t heat unused spaces. If you’re not using certain rooms all the time, close the vents and shut the doors. It’s more efficient for your heating system to push air only to the space where you need it. If you have any other questions about being more energy efficient or about real estate in general, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Today, I’d like to go over four costs you may have forgotten about when making your home buying budget.Selling in the greater Houston area? Get a market analysis reportPurchasing in the greater Houston area? Get full MLS accessIt isn’t cheap to buy a home these days, and I’m not just talking about the price of the home itself. Unexpected out-of-pocket costs can pop up during the process. It isn’t cheap to buy a home. Today, I’d like to go over four costs you may have forgotten about when making your home buying budget. 1. The inspection. After you’ve made an offer on a property, you’ll usually need to pay an inspector to take a look at the home. This can run you a few hundred dollars. But, if there are any structural or safety issues, you may have to pay another professional to look specifically at the problem area.2. Extra costs at the closing table. Beyond the closing costs themselves, there are a few additional expenses that buyers sometimes forget about at the closing table. Many lenders require you to pay a year’s taxes and mortgage up front. If the seller prepaid any of the taxes or fees, you’ll pay a prorated amount for the next of the year.3. The move. Unless you’ve got some family members who can take care of most of this work for you, moving can be an expensive process. Costs will vary greatly depending on how much you’re moving, how far away you’re moving, where you live, and more. In any case, expect to pay a few thousand dollars.4. Immediate costs. You may be able to put off new furniture purchases and renovations, but there are a few different expenses to expect right away. For example, you’ll need to hire a locksmith to change the locks in your new home. There could also be deposits or fees associated with setting up or transferring your utilities. Also, remember to plan for both routine and unexpected maintenance costs. Most real estate professionals will tell you that something in your new home is going to break down within the first year. So, set up an emergency savings account with at least six months’ worth of living expenses.If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Why do some agents demand a buyer’s exclusivity? Well, most agents don’t want to put in their time and effort without being certain of a buyer’s loyalty.Selling in the greater Houston area? Get a market analysis reportPurchasing in the greater Houston area? Get full MLS accessWhen are you committed to a real estate agent, why do agents demand exclusivity? Well, unlike most professionals who receive a steady paycheck, agents usually work on a commission. Buyer agents who are showing you properties and negotiating on your behalf are basically working for free. So in order for them to devote this kind of time and energy, they’ll want to know you aren’t going to switch to another agent once you get closer to closing. In order for an agent to devote their time and energy to you, they’ll want to know you aren’t going to switch to another agent once you get closer to closing. Some agents will ask you to sign a buyer’s rep agreement. This contract binds you and the agent to each other in a mutual working relationship for a given period of time. Once you sign this agreement, you are legally obligated to work with that specific agent. For this reason, it’s always important to read the contract carefully.If you sign the agreement and are happy with the agent, you should stick with the contract. However, you can ask the agent to cancel the contract if you are unhappy and don’t want to continue. Generally speaking, agents won’t want to continue working with a disgruntled client anyway. If you haven’t signed a buyer’s agent agreement, you aren’t legally tied to an agent and can move on whenever you please.But even if you aren’t technically exclusive with a single agent, people will tend to assume you are working together if you carry out a number of consecutive tasks with that same agent. Voice your expectations from the start to avoid any awkward misunderstandings.If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

If you plan on selling your home during the holidays, I have four tips to help you stage and decorate your home without overwhelming potential buyers.Selling in the greater Houston area? Get a market analysis reportPurchasing in the greater Houston area? Get full MLS accessThis time of year, the calendar is packed with holiday parties and budgets are strained by gift giving. A lot of people think that now is not the season for real estate. The good news is that there are still plenty of brave house hunters out there who do venture out during the holiday season in serious pursuit of buying a house. The right decor and stylish trimmings can make them want to celebrate the holidays in your home. If you are selling during the holiday season, try these tips to get buyers in the right spirit: 1. Clean and stage before you decorate your home. Your home needs to be staged. If your home is already piled high with clutter, adding ceramic holiday decorations will only increase the sense of overcrowding. Limit yourself to a few items of holiday flair and stash the rest in the basement for now. A few decorations can stir the holiday spirit, but don’t feel obligated to hang every last ornament. Make sure your decorations are in tune with the feel of your house. 2. Compliment your palette. Before you start untangling cobwebs or tinsel, make sure your holiday decor matches your current decor. If you have an earthy color scheme, focus on decorative accents with rich tones like pumpkins, cranberries, and forest greens and golds. Keep your decorations in tune with the feel of your house. 3. Accentuate the positive. Too many decorations may distract buyers but the right accessories can draw attention to your home’s best features. Hang ghoulish ghosts or dangle a mistletoe in archways or display your menorah in front of bay windows. Don’t block the view with sticky holiday decals or clutter the elegant fireplace with too many personal, seasonal items. We know you love them but not everyone will. 4. Go light on the lights. Step away from the inflatable snowman! Remember, one man’s light is another man’s tacky, so tone down any over-the-top displays while your home is on the market. (No, your neighbors didn’t pay us to say that!) Instead, use simple string lighting to play up your home’s architecture. I hope these tips help you prepare your home for the market this holiday season. If you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I would be happy to help you!

Even though we are in a seller’s market, it’s a great time to buy. Here’s why.Selling in the greater Houston area? Get a market analysis reportPurchasing in the greater Houston area? Get full MLS access If we’re in a seller’s market, why would you consider buying a home in 2017? Well, according to Forbes, home prices appreciated beyond expectations in 2016 and mortgage rates were flirting with record lows before inevitably passing 4% for the first time in two years.Home prices rose in every month of 2016, with the largest increase being in the last half of the year. According to experts, prices will continue their climb in 2017, but at a lower rate. This means you can take advantage of the slowdown in appreciation right now.Mortgage rates are going up, too. Economists predict that they will increase by at least 1% by the end of 2017. If you wait to buy a house, you might not be able to afford the same home you could now. Why would you wait to save up and have less buying power?Economists predict interest rates will go up by 1% this year. More and more millennials are transitioning from renting to buying, but the inventory of homes is limited and probably won’t grow significantly in the next few years.Home builders aren’t building enough homes to make up for the shortage, either. With mortgage rates and home prices increasing, affordability will become a problem in the near future.If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home, give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

If you have been thinking of selling this year, I have some information you may want to consider.Selling in the greater Houston area? Get a market analysis reportPurchasing in the greater Houston area? Get full MLS access Since home values have been on a climb in the recent past, many people assume this trend will continue. However, the general consensus among housing analysts and economists is that the local real estate market will slow down in 2017.According to Forbes, the appreciation in 2016 was beyond expectation, and mortgage rates had an influence on previous record lows. Inevitably this caused them to cross over 4% for the first time in two years.Additionally, prices rose each month of last year. The largest increase came in the last half of the year. The local real estate market will slow down in 2017. This climb is expected to continue; however, it will slow down this year. In other words, if you are thinking selling, the time to do so is now. What we’re seeing is a perfect storm. A slow, steady increase in home values combined with low interest rates and low inventory means the market is currently a great place for sellers.This is especially true now that millennials are ready to become homeowners.This puts starter homes at an even higher level of demand. Also, while experts say that prices will gradually increase, overall sales growth will start to slow. This cooling trend eases some of the recent affordability issues we’ve seen in our market.If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Today I want to share with you some home renovations you should consider and some you should avoid if you want a high return on your investment.Selling in the greater Houston area? Get a market analysis reportPurchasing in the greater Houston area? Get full MLS accessIf you’re thinking of making some renovations to your home, how do you know which ones will be a solid investment and which won’t? It’s key to consider mass appeal for the sake of resale value. Throughout any renovation process, it’s key to consider mass appeal for the sake of resale value. Whether you’re planning to remain in your home for a while or looking to freshen up the place to put it on the market, here are some renovations experts say will bring the greatest return on your investment:Entry door replacement, 96.6% Deck additions, 87.4% Attic bedroom, 84.3% Garage door replacement, 83.7% Minor kitchen remodeling, 82.7%On the flip side, here are the renovations that yield the smallest return:Home office remodel, 48.9%Sunroom additions, 51.7%Bathroom additions, 60.1%Backup generators and master suite additions, 67.5%These are definitely things to consider when thinking about making renovations to your home. If you have any questions about which renovations to make to your home or you’re thinking about buying or selling a home in our market, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d be happy to help.

Thinking of selling your home on your own to dodge the cost of a real estate agent? These home sale facts will make you think twice about that.Selling in the greater Houston area? Get a market analysis reportPurchasing in the greater Houston area? Get full MLS accessIf you're thinking of selling your Houston home, there are five reasons you absolutely should not sell without a real estate agent:There are too many people to negotiate with: If you sell 'For Sale by Owner' (or FSBO), you'll have to negotiate with a myriad of people on your own, including the buyer who wants the best deal possible, their agent, the home inspector (who works for the buyer), and the appraiser, especially if the home's value comes into question.Exposure to potential buyers: Studies have shown that 89% of homebuyers look for homes online compared to just 20% who look at printed newspaper ads. Most agents already have an Internet marketing strategy in place to sell your home; simply putting your own house on Zillow doesn't mean you know how to market a property online!89% of homebuyers look for homes online compared to just 20% who look at printed newspaper ads. Selling FSBO online has become increasingly more difficult: The amount and intensity of paperwork involved with selling a home has increased dramatically as industry disclosures and regulations become mandatory. The is why—according to the National Association of Realtors—the number of people selling their home FSBO has dropped from 19% to an 20-year low of just 8%.You net more money when using an agent: Many sellers believe they'll save the cost of a real estate agent's commission by selling on their own, but fail to realize that people looking at FSBO homes are also people who believe they can save the cost of a commission. The buyer and the seller can't both save the commission. Studies have shown that the median sales price for FSBO homes is $210,000 while the median home sold by an agent sells for $249,000. That doesn't mean the agent can always get $39,000 more for your home, but that the people who sell FSBO are more likely to put themselves in a lower price point. If you have any questions about selling your home or about the market here in the greater Houston area, don't hesitate to give me a call or send me an email soon. I'd love to help!

If you’re looking to buy a home but are unsure of how much house you can afford, here are five steps you can use to figure it out.Selling in the greater Houston area? Get a market analysis reportPurchasing in the greater Houston area? Get full MLS access One of the questions I get asked a lot as a Realtor is, “How much house can I buy?” In other words, how can you determine what your housing budget is when purchasing a house? There are five steps you must follow:1. Figure out your household’s income after taxes. What do you and other income earners who will be contributing to the household bills bring home each month after taxes? Look at your last paycheck stub, ask your HR department, or use an online paycheck calculator to calculate this amount. 2. Make a list of your household’s recurring monthly expenses. This should include bills you pay every month and bills you only pay some months—like car insurance. If you don’t already have a way you’ve been tracking your budget, look at your checkbook, your bank statements, and your credit card statements to help figure out what you’ve been spending. Note which expenses are optional and which are necessary. 3. Make a list of expenses that you will add to when you become a homeowner. Expenses you’ll have that you didn’t have as a renter include water, trash, and home maintenance. You’ll also pay property taxes and hazard insurance. If you’re moving further from your job, your transportation costs may increase as well. If you’re going to make a downpayment of less than 20%, you’ll have to factor in the monthly cost of private mortgage insurance (PMI). Remember, it’s best to estimate high when planning your budget just to be on the safe side.I can refer you to a local lender who can help you with these steps. 4. Determine how much you will have left after expenses to spend on housing. A lender can help you determine your maximum monthly payment by calculating what they call a debt-to-income ratio. Basically, this is what gets paid into the home versus what gets paid out on a monthly basis. Once you’ve determined your household budget, you should have an idea of what you’re comfortable paying on a monthly basis for a house. Don’t forget to leave room for emergencies, retirement, or whatever else you want to save for. In other words, count savings as a non-negotiable expense. 5. Figure out how much house you can buy. The No. 1 way to truly know what your budget will allow for on a house note is to sit with a mortgage lender and have them look at your credit score and finances. A great lender will be able to help you figure out what your ‘no-more-than’ amount should be, which will determine which price points you should shop in. As a Realtor, I can help guide you to a local lender who will be an expert in these areas. If you have any other questions about this topic or you have a topic in mind you would like to see me discuss in a future video, please don’t hesitate to give me a call. I’d love to hear from you!

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Getting approved for a home loan is just step one of the home buying process. Here’s what you’ll need to do next.Selling in the greater Houston area? Get a market analysis reportPurchasing in the greater Houston area? Get full MLS accessWhat happens after you get approved for a home loan?Now comes the fun part—looking for a house! Once you’re pre-approved, you know what your budget is, and you know what you’re looking for, it’s up to us Realtors to help you find a home. It’s your Realtor’s job to not only send you houses, but also research houses you might find on your own.Looking for a house could involve one trip out where you see five different houses or five trips out where you see 10 different houses. The time frame depends on you and how long it takes you to find the right house. These are the steps you must take before getting into your new home. Once you find the right house, it’s time to submit an offer. First, you and your Realtor discuss how to write up the terms of the contract, then you submit the offer to the seller. I like to call this part ‘opening up the lines of communication.’ Basically, you’re letting the seller know what you want and what you would like to do. The seller will either accept the offer, decline the offer, or make a counteroffer explaining what changes they want and what they’re willing to do. Various things can happen after this point. Once you’ve negotiated the terms and you’ve gone under contract, you’re ‘opening title,’ where you deposit your earnest money. This earnest money represents your commitment to move forward with the sale of the house. You also deposit an option fee. This gives you the unconditional right to terminate your contract for whatever reason. It also gives you the time you need to do your inspections and negotiate any repairs.Once you’re past the option period, it generally takes 21 to 30 days to close a loan. In total, once you pick a house, submit an offer, and get that offer accepted, you’re looking at 30 to 40 days to close. Once you’ve done all this, you’re well on your way to getting into your new home. If you have any questions about today’s topic, please feel free to reach out to me. I’m always happy to help!

The very first step you should take when buying a home is getting your financing in order. I’ll explain why today. Selling in the greater Houston area? Get a market analysis reportPurchasing in the greater Houston area? Get full MLS access The most common question I get asked when someone is looking to buy a home is “What is the first step?”  When you’re getting ready to buy a house, the very first thing you’ll want to do is secure your financing. You’ll want to make sure that your budget is where it needs to be as well as make sure your debt-to-income ratio matches up with what you want your monthly payment to be. Meet with a lender to figure out how much you can spend, how much you’ll need for closing costs, how much you’ll need for a down payment, and what your total monthly payment is going to look like. As humans, we always compare everything to the one that got away.The last thing you want to do is look at homes before you’ve got your financing in order. The pre-approval process can take up to 72 hours, so if you fall in love with a home and have to wait for a pre-approval letter, you might lose the home during the waiting period. As humans, we always compare everything to the one that got away, so make sure you’re ready to go with a pre-approval letter. If you have any questions about this topic, buying or selling a home, or any other real estate questions, please feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you!