Archives for houston real estate

Is it time for a Discount Broker?

6th April 2012 | 5 Comments

Why not hire a discount broker? One who charges less – in some cases, apparently a lot less. This has been asked time and time again. All agents are the same, right? Then why not just put my home up for sale with a discount broker and sell and save? After all, I’ve seen ads that say “We’ve saved our clients Thousands of $$ over conventional brokers..” First, let’s show you the break down of how agencies get paid. Let’s assume a $310,000 home sells for $300,000.00 and there is a 6% commission. Usually there is the listing broker and
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Short Sale Guidelines are Making a Difference

19th January 2012 | Comments Off

The theory behind short sales seems simple enough: If a homeowner owes more money on a house than the house can sell for, and the homeowner is struggling to pay the mortgage, the lender will allow the house to be sold for less than is owed. For obvious reasons, lenders are not big fans of short sales and often make it a complicated process. In April 2010, The Home Affordable Alternatives Program (HAFA) released new guidelines designed to streamline the short-sale process and allow more delinquent homeowners to sell their homes and move on with their lives. In its first
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Using "Feng Shui" for Balance & Broader Appeal

28th September 2011 | 1 Comment

The ancient philosophy of feng shui, which translates as “the wind and the water,” is the Chinese art of correct placement. In real estate, those who prescribe to feng shui believe that home sales can be better achieved by arranging furniture and décor to establish harmony and energy. “In feng shui we evaluate a house and its property for sufficient qi (pronounced chee), the living energy of all beings, but also for the land and even a house,” says Werner Brandmaier, a consultant at the Institute of Feng Shui & Geopathology in Portland, Maine. “When there’s not enough qi, it
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The 203k Mortgage

24th August 2011 | Comments Off

Real estate consumers today can find ample value in distressed homes – properties that are under a foreclosure order or up for short sale. In many cases, however, “distressed” speaks more for the condition of the homes than their recent financial histories, as they’ve sat empty for extended periods and have been subject to vandalism and theft. Those considering homes in need of repair and renovation should consider a 203k mortgage, which enables homebuyers to finance both the acquisition and rehabilitation of the property with just one loan. “FHA 203k purchase loans are the perfect financing
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Time for an Appraisal?

23rd August 2011 | Comments Off

One of the most important jobs for your real estate agent is to determine the value of your home by developing a Comparable Market Analysis, which will be used in pricing the home for the right amount. If your property isn’t attracting serious shoppers, your agent may recommend that you invest in an appraiser to get a second pricing opinion, as the appraiser will come in with an independent, unbiased opinion to help ensure your price is correct for the market. “An appraisal is important in today’s market especially, because it’s an objective and unbiased source of
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!!!! Make Your Offer Stand Out !!!!!

25th July 2011 | 1 Comment

Real estate consumers are realizing that there has rarely been a better time to buy a home. In fact, historically low mortgage rates coupled with lower home prices have even sparked bidding competition in markets around the country. A good home in a solid location may attract ample attention only hours after being listed. Home buyers can make their offers stand out from the rest through one or more of the following strategies: Price. Obviously, price tends to be the primary consideration for sellers. When you’re competing for a home, to get an edge, think about adding a
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Updating your Home to SELL!!!

3rd April 2011 | Comments Off

There are so many things that you can do to update your home – where do you start? What gives you the best bang for your buck? Do I need a designer or permits? Start inside or outside? Lots of good questions. Here are your best answers: The first rule of thumb: Use the 10% rule: Ensure that your home is not too terribly different from the rest of the homes in the neighborhood. If hardly anyone else in your neighborhood has new cabinets and granite, then adding that won’t give you as much of a return. Don’t add that
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This Week's Market Report

9th July 2010 | 1 Comment

Mortgage Market Report - Weeks Wrap Up _____ Not much news this week, aside from the Lebron James announcement...he's going to Miami if anyone cares... The biggest news this week was the Initial Jobless Claims report on Thursday which was a little better than expected. "Just" 454,000 people filing first time unemployment benefits . But that was a bit better than the expected 465,000 and somewhat better than last weeks 472,000 first time filings. And with tensions simmering down overseas, the stock market mustered a rally and has closed today above 10,000 again, settling at 10,198 ( DOW Index ).
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