Tuned-In Realtor

During a strong sellers' market, you may not have time to inquire about flood insurance prior to making an offer. But it's a different market with different timelines. Here's how should go about getting that info!

Conventional wisdom is you have to sell your existing home to be able to afford the home you'd like to buy. Here are some experts you should talk to first before choosing your order.

Yikes! I found a really bad tweet thread from a financial advisor who is trying to talk folks out of buying real estate. I'm the first person to say that renting might be a better option for some, but there were several takes (from the planet Mars) that weren't even based in reality. Take a listen to this. It's wild!

Looking to change legal language in a real estate contract? Here's what you need to know!

It's a sad situation when a parent passes. But it can become tumultuous if everyone isn't on the same page about selling their house. When you ARE on the same page, do you need to go through probate to sell a home? It may depend. Here's why...

One of the main tenants of the Ramsey philosophy is NOT having a credit score. As a RamseyTrusted Pro, here's what I have found about securing a home loan without one. And it's actually easier than you'd think!

If you own a rental property, you may think using a property mangement company is the way to go. And while there are some really good ones, one of my recent clients just saw the other side of that equation. Listen to the timeline on this episode. This property manager just cost the landlord at least $2400!

Where was I last week? Where are the new episodes? The power was out at my house for A LONG TIME. But here's what we can all learn from Houston's latest power outage...

Yes, you CAN overimprove your home. But just because something isn't visual, doesn't mean it's not useful. Here are the big things that are always in the minds of saavy buyers.

HISD is going through massive controversial changes. Will magnet programs be totally eliminated? If so, this could hugely affect real estate as neighborhood schools will only available to people in the neighborhood. And will there be enough kids in the neighborhood to fill those slots? Geoff talks about how this summer could be the last of the "usual routine" with school choice.

It's great to friends. It's great to have friends with opinions. But if it's going to affect your wallet (especially a big purchase like real estate), your friend's opinion isn't fact. Use a professional!

You want to be a landlord? Are you a tenant that's going to rent for the next year before you buy? Appliances are the single most expensive part of a rental. Geoff talks about the different angles to deciding whether buying new appliances is the way to go.

I have earned nine designations and certifications from the National Association of Realtors, Texas Realtors and Houston Association of Realtors. But I've never been prouder to earn being a RamseyTrusted Pro! But what does RamseyTrusted mean? Let's talk about it!

Geoff is back with a reminder for everyone thinking about making a real estate transaction. If timing the market was easy, everyone would do it. Avoid these pitfalls when making a decision.

Back and better than ever before! It's a new year, so what does that mean for real estate? If you're watching the news, you've probably been told it's all bad! But there is some unusual stuff happening right now. Can there be a recession when unemployment is low? When will rates decrease? Frank Monacelli of Nino Properties joins Geoff to discuss.

Frank Monacelli of Nino Properties joins Geoff to discuss the current market. It's not a punchline: it IS actually a good time to buy. It's just not a good time to buy ANY particular thing. These are the best things to buy right now.

Geoff blows through a bunch of your questions this week. Which improvement is better from a real estate sales perspective: A/C or roof? Can you sell your home off market with a Realtor? Which utilities are you actually going to have to call instead of set up online?

Nino Properties broker Frank Monacelli joins Geoff to ask one quesiton: why are you using the national sites to do real estate deals? Geoff's client found a rental listing on a famous site, but it had one problem. It had been rented TWO YEARS AGO! And this site still hadn't updated the listing. Wow! Must listen information for this episode. Brought to you by @TexasBayCU.

With all the advances in technology, you would think some scams would be easy to catch. But this guy created false documents and actually showed his face. All to sell a home that wasn't his!

Let the record show that Tuned In Realtor will take on all your questions. Even the crappy ones! Seriously though, sanitation is an important topic, so don't miss this one.

Geoff can't figure out if it's a con or people are just dying to see others suffer. Whatever the reason, do not buy predictions about market collapse. Here's why.

Frank Monacelli joins Geoff to discuss pet peeves in the real estate game. Some of these pet peeves might be big problems if you're a home seller!

Are you taking the proper precautions to make sure you aren't a victim of fraud? Geoff talks about the various scams that can pop up when you're in the real estate market.

Ugh. Just stop looking at your social media now! The doomsdayers are making their usual "the sky is falling" predictions, but this time it's the real estate market. Geoff goes point-by-point to show there's no collapse at the end of this tunnel.

Frank Monacelli of Nino Properties joins Geoff to talk about the market slowing down. This is a GOOD thing. They'll explain why. Brought to you by @TexasBayCU!

Buy low, sell high? How much is too much? These are all questions with very different answers, depending on your personal comfort.

Geoff answers your questions from tunedinrealtor.com, including why you'll need homeowners insurance AND flood insurance.

Logan Cates of Texas Bay Credit Union joins Geoff to talk about what happens AFTER your offer is accepted on your home. Avoid these major roadblocks!

When can you be recorded? When can you record in your own home? Why is audio recording different than video recording? Frank Monacelli of Nino Properties joins Geoff to break down the differences.

With title companies and promlugated forms, you don't need a lawyer, right? NO! You can use an attorney any time. Here are some examples of when consulting an attorney will help you close a real estate deal.

How much money do you need to save for a home purchase? It is NOT a set number. Here's why.

Would-be buyers who still are paying school loans have stayed away from buying because the math doesn't add up. With $10,000 off the books, will more buyers come to the market? Geoff discusses.

Once you lose trust, it's nearly impossible to gain it back. Geoff talks about the latest example of how potential misunderstandings can be read as intentional dishonesty.

When is your money actually due when you buy a house? Plus a very interesting eviction story involving AirBNB. It's questions time with Geoff!

It's more commonly known as "rent to own." When should you use these products? Which ones are best? Geoff discusses the different variables in renting to owning.

You sold your house or you bought a new one. How long should you hold onto those records? Which are the most important ones? Frank Monacelli joins Geoff to talk about the timeline and where you should keep the most important paperwork. Brought to you by Texas Bay Credit Union.

Fraudsters tend to bring back old scams and repurpose them for the current times. Geoff talks about different frauds and how you can avoid them.

Geoff gets to your questions about the state of the market and when it is "too early" to start searching for a new home or rental.

Angela Hunt of @FrontierTitleCo joins Geoff to talk about the completing your real estate sale and what you should look out for during the process.

Keeping an open and honest line of communication is going to help any real estate deal more than hurt it. Frank Monacelli joins Geoff to talk about the examples of providing honesty during the process. Brought to you by @TexasBayCU!

You can try to do it all yourself, but there's a reason to use someone that knows what to do. And not all pros are the same! Geoff shares a story that proves this rule.

Geoff answers your questions from tunedinrealtor.com. Is there a "forever home" anymore?

Logan Cates of Texas Bay Credit Union joins Geoff for an all-timer! Talking about the popularity of points, ARMs, and other products that can lower your rate. The percentages are not always exact, so you do not want to miss this one! @TexasBayCU

Luxury apartments. Luxury homes. Luxury estates. It's a lot of luxury, but just how much do you need to spend for it to be "luxury." Turns out there's not set amount. Frank Monacelli joins Geoff to talk about the myths and reality of luxury. Brought to you by @TexasBayCU.

Opendoor got hit with a significant fine for misleading customers. How will that affect sellers in the future? Geoff talks technology do's and don'ts.

When you are shopping for a home loan, there are some fees you may be able to NOT pay. Geoff goes over some of the fees that you can ask your lender about.

On September 2, 2022, new laws will drastically affect HOAs throughout Texas. There's no other way to say it: HOAs will have diminished power in many areas. Geoff breaks it down. If you live in an HOA or might move to one, this is very important!

It might be happening. The sellers market of the past two years is becoming a little more advantageous for buyers. Frank Monacelli joins Geoff to talk about the latest stats and what they are seeing actually happening in Houston! Brought to you by @TexasBayCU.

As part of Geoff's Commitment To Excellence through the National Association of Realtors, he explains the importance of identifying red flags when you're buying a property. @nardotrealtor

Geoff answers your questions from tunedinrealtor.com and social media. Can you get a rental without having to put down a security deposit? Yes. He'll explain why. Also, how you can count your rental payments toward your credit score.