VIP Realty Platinum

I'm a Plano Real Estate Broker. I have more than 25 years experience in the industry and has the knowledge and experience to lead his Real Estate Team in any market environment. Serving the Plano Real Estate & DFW Real Estate market.

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Investing for Your Future – DFW Real Estate

Over the past few decades, investing in DFW real estate and Dallas foreclosures has gained popularity and became a common investment vehicle for most people. Although the market has lots of opportunities to generate huge gains, acquiring and purchasing real estate is more complicated compared to investing in the stock market. Investing in real estate involves ownership, management, rental, or sale of property to gain profit.

When making your investment decision, you should take into consideration these characteristics:

  Transaction cost – this is significant in real estate market compared to other investments. Realtors would agree that it is ideal to buy larger assets because you can divide the transaction costs to a larger base. It is costly to operate DFW real estate because it requires regular maintenance.

Weather you buy property through the MLS or a We Buy Houses company, most real estate requires ongoing management. You should acquire someone who will be responsible in dealing with the day-to-day operation. You may also need a strategic management that will focus on your property’s long term market position. Management services are also costly and require resources and time.

Investing in rental houses property demands amount of time and work so you could maintain this investment. It comes along with many responsibilities you have as the landlord of the house.

Like any other investment, may it be real estate like homes, there is so much potential an individual can see. However, this doesn’t mean you will have a sure gain, so it’s better to make intelligent choices and weigh the pros and cons before actually having your first investment. If you are searching for a property, you will need the help of a professional DFW real estate agent to browse listings on the neighborhood. They may also have information not included in the listings that will benefit you.

  Why Invest in DFW Real Estate

  This kind of investment can overwhelm most people. There are various areas to consider as well; finding a good property and acquiring trustworthy renters seem challenging. However, one’s small efforts can gain big rewards as there are countless benefits of having an investment property.

  You can fully decide whether to have commercial or residential, offices, or small establishments to invest with. There are many options possible for you. It is better to decide on the property you are familiar with.

The value of your property grows together with the increasing community. Prices of real estate are steadily increasing over the years.

Real estate is a good option for long term investments. Most of us like the idea of acquiring an investment that will fund us in our retirement. Thus, this kind if investment increases in value compared to savings in banks.

This investment also offers positive monthly cash flow. It will increase in time and will give you source of secure retirement income.

Deductions can be claimed upon filing your tax return. This may include loan interests, maintenance and repair costs, agent’s fees, insurance, and building depreciation. This will help a person save more money.

There are plenty of benefits a person can have upon investing in real estate. You might be hesitant to invest at first but with proper knowledge and research, you may want to pull the trigger and start investing.

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Important Tips about DFW Real Estate

Real estate investing involves buying, owning, managing and selling or renting real property for profit. These investments have in the past out performed equity markets. However, they have very low liquidity and are also very capital intensive, although financing can be obtained through mortgages.

What to consider when investing in DFW real estate

  When you are going into Southlake real estate,   it is important to determine the cost of mortgage, loan repayments, the price of insurance and how much it will cost to maintain and operate the building. Also consider the possibility of ending up with vacancies and how much you need to spend on marketing to have the houses full.

  If you want to ensure that the income from your investment will be worth the effort, Look at the prices of similar homes in the area and rental costs of comparable houses. You don’t want to invest all your resources in a building only to learn later that the market rate is not enough to help you recoup your investment.

         Another thing to consider is the effect of taxes on your investment. Wherever you are, there are state, city and county laws that govern local taxes on Trophy Club real estate. There are also federal taxes levied on income from rental properties. Taxes can have a very significant effect on your cash flows. Though it’s not possible to evade them, you can certainly do something to ensure that you reduce your exposure.

  How to go about buying homes

  There may be many homes in the market but finding the right North Richland Hill real estate to buy can often be a challenge. When you want to buy a home, the first step is usually to find that home. Take advantage of all the options you can lay your hands on to find the best homes in the market. These may include searching for listings online and using a realtor.

  The second thing to consider is your financing options. These may include loans, mortgages and personal savings. First time home buyers may benefit from federal backed loans. Consider your mortgage interest rates and other terms in the mortgage agreement and the impact they will have on your purchase decision.

  The next thing is to make an offer. A realtor will advise you on the amount of an offer to make for a given property and any conditions you may have to fulfill. The seller may accept the offer or issue a counter offer. If the seller accepts the offer, you will then proceed to make a deposit, which will effectively lead to the escrow process; a period of 30 days during which the house is removed from the market for the buyer’s inspection, with the expectation that  if he finds nothing seriously wrong with the house, he buys it.

  During the inspection, you need a realtor to do the job on your behalf. The house may appear perfect, but an expert inspection may reveal flaws that your own eyes can’t see. The expert will ideally evaluate the safety of the home, the functionality of the systems and the overall condition of the building. If the inspection report is negative, you will have to rescind the contract and recover your money. If there are no significant problems with the building, you can close the deal by way of signing an agreement.

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Selling Your DFW Property Effectively

Selling your house requires more than just putting a signage saying “house for sale”. For you to have an edge among the other houses for sale, you have to market it to prospective buyers. You can achieve it by ensuring that your home listing is appealing and can deal with all the necessary paperwork needed for selling your home.

When placing your house for sale, it is essential to work with a real estate professional. Keep in mind that not all real estate agents are Realtors. The agent should be a member of the National Association of Realtors to be one. Most of us have a common misconception that realtors and Irving real estate agents are the same. 

  Making the Right Home Listing

  Homes and other Las Colinas real estate for sale can get a second look if they have the right description with them. Buyers can be turned-off in a matter of seconds if the descriptions don’t fit right. One should capture the buyers’ attention by saying things right and eliminating things that are better left unsaid.

  ·         You should highlight unnoticeable amenities. The description of the houses should include things that are not obviously seen. You may add up great views or oversized garage in your listing. Your Richardson real estate agent must know the things to be described.

  ·         Be more specific in your property description. State features or brands that most buyers would want to have rather than just saying “beautiful kitchen” or “attractive garden”. Drop branded names of appliances and countertops. State appealing features such as walk-in pantry and pull out shelves.

  ·         Find the right adjectives and avoid too much fluff. You don’t have to lie and make stories but if the adjective fits the bill, by all means, feel free to use it to describe your property. However, don’t exaggerate. Build your buyers’ expectations without falling short in real life.

  ·         Misspelled words and poor grammar can be a huge deterrent in conveying your message to your buyers. Have your real estate agent check it with you to avoid sending the wrong message.

  Learn from the Experts

  You can acquire more tips and advices from professional realtors online on how to improve the value of your property and increase the chance of having it sold. Various sites are offering advices on short selling homes, home improvements, and pricing your property accordingly.

  Also, they can help you learn how to deliver your property’s biggest selling points including amenities the neighborhood has or the houses’ proximity to schools and grocery stores and shops in the community. If you are looking for inspiration in making real estate description, there are available descriptions online as well. The secret of best selling real estate agents is by keeping the buyers intrigued about the property, but not to the extent that they would get sick. The goal is to entice the buyer by telling them important things they should know such as the number of bedrooms, price, and location of the house and not giving them too much information to digest.

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A Guide to Invest in Real Estate the Right Way

Investing is a great decision that a person can make. What to invest in is the most important aspect that one needs to think of. When it comes to investing, you need to choose the best option in order to increase your finances. Today, many people are deciding to invest inreal estate. Investing in real estate is a great choice because you will definitely get your money back even more than you initially spent. People who choose to invest in  properties can rest be assured of taking care of their future because real estate market value never depreciates long term. You can buy a property and rent it out to earn you income as long as you want. Real estate investment is one of the best ways to create wealth. However, there are important considerations you need to keep in mind before deciding to invest in property investment.

One of the first things you need to consider is your budget. Before investing, it is very important to understand you cash flow. It is a wise idea to contact your bank for pre-approval of your loan so as to know how much you will be able to borrow before finding the best property to invest in. Once you obtain the right investment property, you should make sure you avoid getting into expensive maintenance costs.    Buying a property that is located in a growing area is also a great idea. If you buy a property or rent it, you need to consider purchasing one that is located in an area where there is a strong demand of rental properties. Aside from this, you should consider the proximity to major amenity points such as institutions, colleges and hospitals so as to attract people looking for rental houses.  Knowing the periods when there is house rental boom is also a good idea since it makes it easier for you to renovate properties and turn them into a quick profit.   When it comes to real estate investment, including

foreclosures

and

houses

, you have to use your head more than your heart. Some people usually go for house hunting and get caught up in their emotions. Although a house might be on a steep block or hill with a stunning view, it can also turn into a nightmare when renovating it because of huge retaining costs. This is why you need to purchase a house that will not be make you spend a lot of money maintaining it.   Many real estate experts usually recommend investors to use a building inspector prior signing any contract. You also need to understand building reports so as to avoid spending a lot on costly repairs. You can also ask a lawyer to help you out so as to make a successful investment.

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Real Estate Tips and Tricks for Sellers: Surviving Home Inspection

Real estatecan be really tricky. If you are planning to sell your home, then one process that you must undergo is the home inspection. A lot of real estate sellers would dread going through this process. That is understandable. After all, no one would want anyone poking around their home, looking for damages or other problems that might jeopardize their sale.

  If you will be undergoing a home inspection in the near future, then there are some real estatetips and tricks that you must take note of in order to make the inspection run as smooth sailing as possible.

  Planning for a Hurst Real Estate Home Inspection

  Here are some of the most amazing tips that will make your home inspection as hassle-free as possible and make your sale successful

  Shine it up

  With Keller real estate it is best that you test and examine all light fixtures in your home. Determine if there are some bulbs that need to change; replace these right away. More often than not, damaged light bulb would be a red flag for the inspector because he might think it is due to faulty electrical wiring.

  Assess, Assess, Assess!

  Go through the different parts of your home and assess each and every part of it. One thing that you should monitor regularly is your smoke detectors. These play a good role in ensuring the safety of your home, so it is best that it is working before the home inspector comes. Replace its batteries if it is no longer working.

  Time for Pruning!

  How your yard looks will affect the impression of the home inspector about your home. If you plan to make the best impression there is, then allot some time to pruning the bushes or trees. Get rid of anything that touches the yard of your home. Pull out any vegetation that is planted too closely to your home. You don’t want you home to look like it belongs on one of those We Buy Houses Dallas websites.

  Get Some Fresh Air!

  Windows play an important role in the ventilation of the home. This is why you must ensure that all your windows are operable. Home inspectors hate inoperable windows as these can be hazardous during times of emergency like fire or earthquake.

  Screw it up!

  Now is the perfect time to get out your screwdriver. It is best that you evaluate all your doors and windows. Tighten any loose material such as door knobs, hinges and many more. Ensure that all the pins of the hinges are installed properly.

  Real Estate Home Inspection made Easy

  When a home inspector has encountered and observed various problems at your home, rest assured that these will be reflected in your home inspection report. By following these tips, you can easily avoid a bad inspection report!

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The Effective Habits of Highly Successful DFW Real Estate Agents

Being a real estate agent is not exactly a walk in the park. If you wish to be the best in the field, there are lots of things to know about, skills to learn and tips to apply. In fact, we would have to create an entire book if you wish to know a lot of tips about being successful in the industry. However, we all do not have time for that, do we? Instead, we will be giving you some of the most essential tips to help you become the best agent there is. 

Successful Murphy Real Estate Agents Always Come With a Plan

  Most people opt for this type of career because of the time freedom that comes with it. However, this can also be the root of your downfall. Instead of just going where your feet will take you, it is best that you have a plan for each and every day. Have a set of goals and come up with action steps that will help you achieve that plan. Establish a foolproof plan on how you can generate listings. When you have a daily plan, you will be able to have a roadmap to success. Plus, you can get to avoid encountering any costly problems along the way.

  Successful Parker Real Estate Agents Build Their Brand

  Even if working for a well-known brokerage is beneficial, your efforts should not just stop there. Your success or failure still relies on how you will do things. Most successful agents realize how important it is to establish their very own brand. Your brand is all about the marketing materials that you have, the advertising strategies that you employ, the kind of niche you are in, and the way you do business. There is nothing wrong in being a part of the team; however, you must strive to be the star team player.

  Successful Princeton Real Estate Agents have A Full Grasp of Online Marketing

  These days, almost all people go online to jumpstart their home buying process. Being visible to this crowd can certainly increase your chance of being successful in the industry. Most successful real estate agents have their branded and professional website. When you have a website, it can be very easy for you to establish credibility and at the same time, generate leads.

  Finding Your Way to Real Estate Success

  At times, having the knowledge and skills about your job is not enough. With the number of  agents out there today, being the best can be quite difficult. By offering added services to your clients, you can easily be recognized, and you can easily establish your brand. During times like this, drizzling your own syrup recipe over the cherry on top is the best way to achieve success!

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Guide in Choosing Good DFW Properties

Purchasing a property is a very important decision that needs to be properly planned and thought of. Although there’s no better investment such as real estate properties, it’s still best if you select the kind of properties that you are going to acquire. Making an effort to do some research and analysis on your prospective properties can help you find the perfect investment that will suit your needs. Choosing a good property will give you more than what your money paid for.

  Prosper real estate property buyers are advised to make their own search on the internet for properties that are for sale before speaking with a real estate agent. There are several websites where you can find great deals on properties across the country. It’s imperative that you determine what kind of property you need. You should have a list of amenities that you are looking for in a property. Do you need a 3 bedroom house? Perhaps do want a property with a large backyard for gardening or swimming pool? In this way, you can easily narrow down your search to the properties that have these features.

  One of the most basic things that Sachse real estate buyers should consider is the location of the property. The location of the property determines its price and market value. Properties located in prime areas, in the city, will definitely be more expensive compared to the same kind of property located in more rural areas. However, the market value of prime properties can quickly increase in just a few years. Property buyers can find the perfect deal for their money on properties located on established, middle class neighborhoods. These properties are not too expensive but have a great potential for growth.

  Investors who want to invest in properties that they can sell or rent out in the future can look at Wylie real estate properties located in neighborhoods with a good local school system. The quality of education is a very good indicator of the kind of community where the property is located. Properties in areas with stable job market tend to be more profitable because of the huge growth potential. These kinds of communities are always perfect for people who want to invest in real estate because there’s less risks, and the market value of properties can be expected to increase within a few years.

  First time home buyers should also avoid buying a property that is extremely cheap. Chances are; they are not good investments and their owners are just trying to get rid of these properties. The price of land in good neighborhoods can be expected to be high, this is why it’s important that you carefully examine all the details of the property that you’re planning to acquire. You can talk to the people on the neighborhood and to a trusted real estate agent familiar with the area.

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How to Become a Successful DFW Real Estate Investor

Real estate is one of the best investments that people love to engage in. However, one needs to learn various ways of how to become a successful in this competitive industry. If you want to become a successful investor in real estate there are some important habits you need to practice to make profits.

Having a plan as an investor is very important as they need to turn their real estate activities to a business so as to come up with short-term or long-term goals. A business plan is a great way to help one visualize on goals rather than minor setbacks. Since the real estate

foreclosures

 industries are so demanding, having a plan is a good way to become organized. and

  In order to become successful real estate investors, you have to know the market well. Knowing the current trends such as mortgage rates will enable you to know the current market and plan well for the future. Coming up with primary goal and gaining deep knowledge in real estate that will help you to become successful.   Just as any other business, it is important for an investor keen in real estate to stay informed with the terminology, laws, trends and regulation in the real estate business. If you choose not to learn important fields in this business, you may be at risk of losing the goal of your business thus suffering legal actions. This is why you should learn about any new laws and taxes before investing in real estate.   Since learning everything concerning real estate property investment is a wide field, it is a great idea to ask an expert for help. The internet is a great place to find a real estate expert who can shed some light about the property investment.   Carrying out enough research on is also important. Before purchasing any property, you need to have all the necessary information. It is unfortunate that many people have lost a lot of money by investing in property that doesn’t exist. Visiting the particular building or house you are interested in is very important. This gives you the opportunity to inspect it and even check if the documentation is for real. Asking a lawyer to accompany you when purchasing a property is encouraged. A lawyer can be able to let you know if you are making the right decision and correct you before making any costly mistake.  

When it comes to real estate investment, this is one of the best industries to invest in. Many people who have successful invested in properties have been able to make huge profits thus taking care of their future. As long as you invest in the industry the right way, you will never regret your decision.

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The Process of Buying a DFW Home

Owning a home is the pinnacle of an American’s dream. While it marks the highest point of security in society, it again binds with a feeling of closeness and bonding with your family. When the point of stability comes, you being sure on the savings and credit; the toughest question that grazes the mind is “Do I know the process of buying a home?’’. On the long run to fulfill your dream, you would surely find our real estate and its agents a safer place to opt for.

Things you should follow before buying:

  1.      Do I need a house? – This is where a lot of people get confused and find hard to work out things and land on wrong decisions and lose huge investments on real estates. If you are sure you are going to stay at the place for a noticeable period of time, you should go for a buy, rather than renting. A business in the locality, office nearby, or it may be a period of salvation in after retirement; you should go for buying a home.

2.     Have criteria for dream home you wish for – This is the point when you decide what you need in a home and what more you want in it. Needs may include the number of bedrooms, layout that you prefer, room for the kitchen and dining and no. of washrooms attached, etc. while you may want extra space for a courtyard where your kids can play, as well as a swimming pool, a parking lot, etc. Define your criteria and sketch it out before contacting a Euless real estate agent.

3.     Where to find Credit? – If you are not sure about the budget, research and estimate the cost that you can afford for your new home. Next job is to find a credit source. For this, you may want to contact your local bank or you may find credit from your relative. Before going to a bank, sketch out and compare on the interest rates that various banks provide. Mortgaging a property you own before would help you cut down the interest rates. Our Fort Worth real estate agents can help you find the most reasonable bank offers.

4.     Get professional help – Need some agent to work out things for you, yet deciding the best profits for you? Get help from Grapevine real estate agents who work exclusively for you as a homebuyer. An agent with vast experience may help you avoid making common mistakes such as making a purchase for too much or choosing the wrong home.

5.     Check out the neighborhood – In case you are from a different land, and you are not sure of the basic facilities and environment, you can check out the neighborhoods. Ask a simple question politely and search for the things you need in your locality, may be a school, bank, post office, a mall, etc. The DFW Metroplex has everything you need.

6.     Make an offer, get a home inspection, and read the disclosure – Make an offer and negotiate like a pro. Get all the formalities required and have a home inspection. Read the disclosures and terms & conditions before spending your investment on our real estate.

  Following these steps will help you buy your dream in simple terms. Facilities that we provide will make you home and life simple as it can be.

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How to Select a DFW Real Estate Agent When Buying a Property

Buying their own home is everyone’s dream. This is a sign of financial stability and independence achieved by sound financial planning and hard work. Buying a home is an exciting experience but it can also be tiring. All the confusing details, pile of documents and filing process involved in purchasing McKinney real estate can be much bearable if you have a good real estate agent. A good real estate agent will not only help you find a good property but can also give you a valuable guide in purchasing a home.

  A real estate agent or broker can greatly affect your overall experience in purchasing Fairview real estate. Whether you’re buying or selling a property, the real estate agent plays a vital role in the entire process. This is the reason why it’s important that you carefully select the real estate agent that will represent you when buying your first property.

  A Melissa real estate agent, also called a realtor, is a person that is licensed to represent people who are buying or selling a property. The advantage of having a broker is he or she can take charge of all the paperwork and facilitate smooth turnover of the property. But it’s important to note that if you are a buyer then you would want to have a buyer’s agent. Although a buyer’s agent is also a real estate agent, there’s just a difference in the role they perform. Agents would typically represent the property seller, so this means that they get paid based on how much the property was sold. They get paid more if they can sell the property at a higher rate. A home buyer’s agent, on the other hand, is someone that would represent you, the buyer. Your agent will help you find a good property, contact the seller and begins the deal. Buyer’s agent usually takes a certain percentage from the total buying price of the property.

  Now that you know what kind of agent you need to handle your transactions. It is time to choose your real estate agent. One way of finding good real estate agents is through a recommendation from family and friends. Ask them regarding their realtor and how was their experience. There are also lists of licensed real estate agents that can be found online. You can read their reviews and track record. Match your preference to the kind of broker you’re going to choose. A high end real estate agent may not be so helpful in finding low cost properties. Interview several real estate agents before making your decision. Talking to them personally can give you a better knowledge about their personality which is important to develop trust and make your property hunting a fun experience.

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Buying a Short Sale Home – Things You Should Know

 While you are scanning the net for homes for sale and you spot a short sale home that interests you make sure you not to get too excited too fast. Before you get all juiced up about the possibility of owning this home make sure you pick up the phone and call your Realtor. They will need to research that short sale listing first. In some markets less than one in 10 short sales actually closes. Just because that home is listed as a short sale doesn't mean it is actually for sale (because it must be approved by the lender), nor does it mean it will sell at the listed price. Here are some things you need to know before attempting to buy a short sale.

What are the Listing Agent's Short Sale Procedures

Dallas real estate

agents are required to live by the Code of Ethics, to treat everybody fairly but not every agent is a Realtor. This means that the short sale listing agent may decide to submit only one offer to the seller and hold back other offers. Withholding other offers may be considered a violation of the fiduciary relationship between the listing agent and the seller. The seller is entitled to receive the highest and best price, including all offers. Be sure to realize that even if your offer is submitted to the bank while waiting for short sale approval, another buyer could outbid you. Let the seller know if you are willing to raise your price if it becomes necessary.  

That Short Sale House - Comparable Sales  

Most short sales are priced below the comparable sales but yet they are priced in line with pending sales. This is because short sales take anywhere from 3 to 4 months, on average, to close, and pending sales will become the comparable sales at closing. Some short sales are priced so low that the sellers' bank is never going to accept them. These types of listings usually receive multiple offers. To get your offer accepted, it will need to be priced near market value. If you're not prepared to pay above a artificially low price on a short sale then you should pass. Generally, houses being sold by a

we buy houses

companies should not be included in the comparable because they are sold on the investor market.  

Number of Loans, Loan Amounts and Lenders

Ask your

Desoto real estate

agent to research how much is owed against the home and find out the number of loans on it as well. A second or third mortgage lender will take pennies on the dollar compared to the amount a lender in first position will receive. Some lenders get a reputation for being difficult to work with. If your agent is an experienced at short sales they will know who these lenders are and can advise you of the difficulty you may encounter. If your offer is 30% or 40% of the mortgaged amount, it is unlikely that your offer will even end up on the bank negotiator's desk.  

Short Sale Listing Agent's Record

A listing agent who is marketing a short sale but has never closed on one will be a risky proposition for you. This is because it's up to the listing agent to submit the short sale package to the lender and to negotiate with them. Your buyer's agent won’t be able to talk to the bank. Some listing agents use outside processors to do this job and the results of those negotiations are sometime a bit sketchy. Do you want to risk rejection of your short sale purchase because the listing agent has no experience?  

Short Sale Seller Qualifications

Some sellers do not cooperate and are slow to turn in required documents. Others have never been told by their agent that these documents are mandatory. You don't want your short sale purchase delayed because the listing agent doesn't have the required documents.   Find out if the listing agent has received a completed short sale package from the seller, and ask about the contents of that package. A complete short sale package consists, at minimum, of the following:

Bank statements

Sellers' hardship letter

Tax returns

W-2s

Payroll stubs

Financial statement

Number of Short Sale Offers Received

Houses listed below their actual value will receive multiple offers. An agent is not required to disclose the terms of those offers, but you do want to know how many offers you are competing with. Here's how it usually works:

When a short sale first comes on the market, the first offer will most likely be just below the list price.

The second offer at around list price.

The third offer will be slightly higher.

The fourth offer will be significantly more.

You want to make an offer that will beat the competition yet still be below market, or don't waste your time jumping through all these hoops.

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Prepare Your House for Sale on a Budget

 It is common knowledge that houses sell faster and for more money when they are prepared properly for the market. Don’t let a small budget for doing so dissuade you. After all, in some areas such as the bathrooms, buyers spend about a few seconds looking into these rooms. You should ask a friend or neighbor to come over and give you some objective advice because after you live in a home for a while you may not see the things that will distract some home buyers.

Always Start With the Exterior

When selling Frisco real estate first impressions – curb appeal count. Your yard needs to be inviting and welcoming. Trim the bushes and trees, especially ones that block views from the windows and make your home difficult to see from the street. Here are some other low cost exterior improvements that you can do relatively inexpensively:

Clean or replace the front porch light fixture.

Keep the lawn mowed, trimmed and weeded

Plant colorful flowers along the walk or by the front door.

Clean exterior windows.

Paint or stain the front door and buy new hardware.

Power was the house to get rid of dirt

Buy a new welcome mat for the front steps.

Paint or replace the mailbox.

Remove Excess Furniture and Clutter

Many homes contain too much furniture. With Flower Mound real estate you may benefit from removing a couple of pieces of furniture from each room. Having less furniture will make the rooms appear larger. It only cost about $100 a month to place the furniture into storage.

Rearrange your kitchen pantry, kitchen cabinets in an orderly manner.

Remove all  of your personal photographs. Patch holes in the walls or hang non-personalized artwork over the existing nails.

Clean out the closets and store non-essential items.

Thoroughly Clean the House Before Putting on the Market

You can hire a professional cleaning crew for about $250 or do it yourself for free. Make sure you don’t miss the inside windows.

To give your house a open feeling remove a few doors that open into each other or block the flow of traffic.

Have the carpets professionally cleaned.

Dust the tops of your doorways and window frames.

Wipe down all wood / ceramic flooring.

Clean all light fixture coverings and ceiling fan blades.

Updating the Kitchen on a Budget – Really?

In the Highland Village real estate market kitchens are the most important room in the house. It's the heart and soul of the home. Even if a buyer is not much of a cook, the kitchen is still where family and friends tend to gather.

Consider installing kitchen pendant lights over the sink. .

If new granite is out of your budget, consider either re-grouting the kitchen counter tiles or covering them with granite tiles instead of a granite slab.

For wood cabinets, stripping the finish and re-staining or painting will save you more money than re-surfacing the cabinets.

Buy new knobs and / or pulls for the cabinet doors. New hardware will transform the appearance of your cabinets.

Replace an old kitchen faucet.

Painting the Interior Walls

Professional painters will probably charge you anywhere from $200 to $400 to paint each room but you can paint the rooms yourself.  

Choose a soft color in a light earth tone (never white), and paint all the rooms the same color.

Painting will go faster if you paint the ceilings the same color, but ceilings will really pop if they are a lighter color than the color of the walls (these can be white) and also make the ceilings appear higher.

Freshening up the Bathrooms

If you have wallpaper in the bathroom, it's most likely peeling and should be removed. You can rent a steamer to remove the wallpaper or strip it yourself.

Store all your personal items under the bathroom sink or in a cabinet.

Consider replacing the toilet and vanity, especially if they are stained or outdated.

Buy a two-light wall fixture or a light bar for over the sink. .

If the tub is stained or pealing, hire a professional to refinish it.  

Replace water-stained shower doors or clean them with a lime dissolving detergent.

Buy a new shower curtain and rods.

Hang fresh towels and lay down a new bath rug.

[viprealtyplatinum2-blog]

Considering Buying a Pre-foreclosure Home?

 Some potential homebuyers are very attracted to pre-foreclosure homes for two reasons. They want to seize the opportunity to be the first buyer to place an offer on a house without a bunch of competition from other buyers. Also, buyers are looking for a “good deal” and they want to save money by paying less than the market value for a home. Unfortunately, for both of these reasons, while they may be valid to a home buyer, are not realistic. A “pre-foreclosure” is a hot topic lately and that's why buyers gravitate to them. Many homebuyers don’t understand what makes a home a pre-foreclosure. They just know that they find these homes listed on many popular websites, and they want to buy them.

What is Pre-foreclosure Home?

A pre-foreclosure home is a home that a foreclosure action has been filed against. It is not necessary for a foreclosure notice to be filed in the public records for a home to be considered as a pre-foreclosure but generally, the notice of default will be made a public record. A pre-foreclosure means that the home has not yet been foreclosed upon but the seller is delinquent on their mortgage payments. The seller has the option of making up the mortgage payments and bringing their mortgage current. If the seller remains in default and does not make up those delinquent payments eventually the home will be foreclosed upon and the lender will take ownership of it. Sometime these homes get sold to a we buy houses company just prior to the foreclosure.

How to Make an Offer on a Pre-Foreclosure

The best way to buy a pre-foreclosure of Fairview real estate is to help the seller to make up their payments then arrange to buy the home directly from the seller but this has its risks to a potential buyer. One problem with this is some sellers do not want to sell their home. Sellers many times don’t know how much they could get by selling their home in an open marketplace.

Where to Find Pre-foreclosure Homes

Most of the time, by the time a pre-foreclosure home is listed by a real estate agent is will end up being a short sale and the home will most likely be sold at its market value. The seller’s lender must approve the short sale for it to take place Lenders hire appraisers and other real estate agents to perform broker price opinions (BPOs). Some buyers would prefer to negotiate with the seller before the home becomes a short sale. Not every short sale involves a seller who is behind on their mortgage payments. Sellers can be current on their payments and still do a short sale because they have little or no equity in their home. An active agent in your community cam be a valuable asset. Just make sure you don’t get one right out of the Dallas real estate jobs list.

To find pre-foreclosures, buyers can search a dozen popular websites. Some foreclosure websites also publish pre=foreclosures. If you have some extra time, you can contact the homeowners to find out if any of them are interested in selling. Another option is to try to buy a pre-foreclosure as a short sale prior to the seller listing with a real estate agent. One easy way to find these types of homes is to target communities that were built during the real estate bubble, where many original owners remain. These are homeowners who are most likely upside down on their mortgages. Many of these homeowners are probably not delinquent. Keep in mind that when the home is listed for sale as a short sale, ethical real estate agents will expose the home to the greatest pool of buyers in the marketplace, which will no longer give you the edge. Most first time home buyers should not pursue pre-foreclosures but would do better to concentrate efforts on locating regular sales, foreclosures or short sales, all of which sell for about the same market value.

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Interviewing Collin County Real Estate Agents

These days the smart consumer will interview potential real estate agents before they choose the one they think is best. Be wary of agents who don't ask you questions and probe for your motivation. You wouldn't work with just any agent off the net. You should note that good agents are just as selective about their clients as well. Make sure you find out the following before you choose which agent to hire.

  1. How Long Have You Been in the Real Estate Business?

The question itself isn't meant to automatically disqualify newer agents because there are many that can do a great job for you. Much of it depends on whether they have access to competent mentors and the level of their training. Newer Allen real estate agents tend to have more time to concentrate on you and your transaction. There are some agents with 10 years of experience repeat their first year again and again. Other 10 year agents learn something new every year.

  2. What is Your List Price to Sales Price Ratio?

Knowing the Anna real estate agent's average ratio speaks volumes about their abilities. Excluding strong sellers markets a buyer's agent should be able to negotiate a price that is lower than list price. On the flip side, a great listing agent should be able to negotiating sales prices that are close to list prices. Listing agents should have higher ratios close to 100% and buyer's agent ratios should fall below 99%. Sometimes market value has no bearing on the asking price and, if this is the case, ratios are meaningless.

    3. What is Your Best Marketing Strategy for My Particular Needs?

If you are a buyer, you will need to know:

Do you present offers in person?

How will you located my new home?

How many homes will I likely visit before I find the right one?

How do you handle multiple offers?

If you are a seller, you will need to know:

How will you market my home online?

Specifically, how will you sell my home?

Why or why not is a direct mail campaign appropriate?

Where and how often do you advertise?

  4. What Separates You From Your Competition?

A great Celina real estate agent won't hesitate to answer this question and will be ready to tell you why she is best suited for the job. Everyone has their own set of standards but most consumers say they are looking for an agent who are:

Friendly and outgoing

Honest and trustworthy

Assertive negotiator

Available by phone or e-mail

Good communicators

  5. Will You Help Me Find Other Professionals?

Let the agent explain to you who she works with and why she chooses to work with these professionals. Your agent should be able to supply you with a written list of their preferred vendors such as home inspectors mortgage companies and title companies. Ask for an explanation if you see the word "affiliated" because it could mean that the agent is receiving compensation from one or all of vendors.

  6. How Much Do You Charge In Commission?

All real estate commissions are negotiable. Generally, real estate agents charge a percentage, from 2 to 4% to represent one side of a transaction: a seller or a buyer. A listing agent may charge, for example, 3.5% for herself and another 3.5% for the buyer's agent, for a total of 7%.

    7. Do You Have A Guarantee?

If you sign a listing or buyer agency agreement with the agent and later find that you are unhappy with the arrangement will they let you out of the agreement? Will the agent stand behind his services to you? What is his company's policy about canceled agreements?

    8. What Haven't I Asked You That I Need to Know?

Pay close attention to how the agent answers this question because there is always something you need to know. You want your agent to take time with you to make sure you feel comfortable and secure with his knowledge and experience. They should know how to listen and how to ask the right questions to find out what she needs to know to better serve your needs.

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Where is the Best Place to Find Homes For Sale?

Online, the best place to find homes for sale is not always the most obvious place. When most home buyers start to look for a home the obvious places they go to are whichever websites come up when they enter their search words into Google. Many times the websites most frequented by these buyers are those that their friends recommend. Unless those friends are real estate agents or they are in the real estate business, they most likely misinformed.

 The Worst Places to Look For Homes For Sale

Most home buyers have very little idea where to find homes for sale. They seem to presume that a huge national website with lots of pictures and question and answer pages is a good place to look because they see a lot of activity. Dare I say it; national websites are not your best search option.

  Websites that contain listings of homes for sale from all over the country pull that information from a variety of sources, some of which are unreliable. There are some websites that do not report sold or pending transactions. A buyer might find the “perfect home” for sale but that home has already sold months ago. It takes a few hours to a few days for some of these websites to update their information as well. A buyer is rarely assured that information is current, much less accurate. It can be very frustrating and upsetting to try to rely on information that appears to be correct but is actually wrong.

  Agents Who Advertise as Area Specialists

A so-called area “specialists” may not be a specialist at all.  A Cedar Hill real estate agent's own website, as an example, will not direct you to a competing real estate brokerage, but many national websites actively encourage Coppell real estate agents to advertise. These websites charge agents a fee to advertise themselves as an area or other type of specialist. It is a revenue stream for the website companies, and it gives real estate agents who might not otherwise receive exposure online a place to be found.

  Is that Addison real estate agent who might be offered as one out of four agents to help you actually an area specialist or is that agent a budding entrepreneur with extra money to pay for that special placement? You won't ever know. It is more likely that the agent is not the area specialist because typically these types of advertising opportunities tend to appeal to newer agents who are looking for buyers to help build their business.

  An “area specialist” is usually an agent who lists and sells a lot of homes in that area. Although, there are some parts of the country where agents specialize in working only with buyers, and these are typically known as buyer's agents. It can be confusing. To clarify a bit you should ask the specialist how many homes that agent has sold in that area. Find out whether the agent specializes in representing buyers or sellers or both.

  Best Places to Find Homes

The best place to find homes for sale online is to receive that information directly from a multiple listing service (MLS). Multiple listing service listings are updated in real time. Only licensed real estate agents and some other paid participants have access to this information. A MLS service may feed listings to a local newspaper or to its own public site but it won't contain all the information a real estate agent has access to. If an agent agrees to email you listings than that agent can arrange for the listings to be sent directly from MLS.  

  Most real estate agents have the ability to specify geographic boundary searches or can do custom map searches for you, which is very useful if you are searching in more than one ZIP code. Some systems allow emails to go out several times a day or even every hour on the hour.

  If you’re not ready to buy a home or to ask an agent to send you automatic emails of listings, your best bet is to find the real estate company in your area with the most listings. This firm will probably maintain an active website as a marketing tool which will provide information on listings through its own idx feed from MLS.

Be sure that the brokerage provides listings from all brokers and does not just their own listings. Typically, at the bottom of the page somewhere you will find information as to the brokerage that owns a particular listing.

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First Time Home Buyer Mistakes

 Real estate agents have said that some first time buyers need to learn a hard lesson first hand before they will listen to what I have been trying to tell them. By giving a first time home buyer the leeway to make a terrible mistake, standing to the side and letting the buyer make a mess up on their own, the agent is taking a chance that the buyer will instead blame them.

Sometimes Denton real estate agents will share with each other behind closed doors the mistakes made by their first time home buyers, but they don't tell their buyer. To hear the agents talk, they may have tried to warn their buyer but they say their buyer doesn’t listen to them. Perhaps buyers believe some other person's advice like a relative, friend or coworker over the advice from their own agent. Carrollton real estate agents owe it to their buyers to put their interests above their own even if it means they will get upset with them and decide to work with another agent.

Three serious first time home buyer mistakes.

Not Listening to Their Agent

First time home buyers might not trust their Double Oak real estate agent they have hired. If that is the case, they should terminate that relationship. These types of fiduciary relationships are based on trust. There are great agents and there are terrible agents just as in any business. The bottom line, hire an agent that you trust. Once you like and trust that agent, listen to the advice given by your buyer's agent.

Your buyer's agent wants you to buy the home of your dreams. Every real estate market is different, and your agent might give you advice that you find difficult to swallow or even understand. Keep asking questions until you feel comfortable with them. Your agent is the best person to advise you about any type of real estate market. Don't lose your home just because you didn't listen.

Not Getting a Preapproval Lender Letter

Because first time buyers have not purchased a home before they may not know that market demands a preapproval letter. Sellers don’t want to show their home to a buyer who don’t prove they can afford to buy it. A first time buyer often feels that the opposite is true, that the buyer decides to buy the home, then the buyer will get a preapproval letter, but that is backward. The preapproval letter is not for your agent. It's for the seller. Don't even think about trying to write an offer without it.

Buying the Most Expensive Home You Think You Can Afford

It is human nature that buyers often pick the most expensive home. They are incredibly excited when home shopping and can easily get carried away. Buying a home is an emotional decision. It's normal for buyers to want the best home they can possibly afford, but sometimes these emotions can override common financial sense.

It often makes the most sense to buy a home that has all of the basic requirements as far as floor plan and location but may need some TLC. If you can buy a home a little bit under what the lender tells you, you can afford you will probably sleep better at night. Look for a starter home, a home that in 5 to 10 years you can sell to move up. An affordable home not of your far off future, because most first time home buyers have one thing on their side that experience buyers do not, which is time.

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Don’t End Up Temporally Homeless

Unfortunately, real estate transactions fall apart every day for a variety of reasons. Many times deal killer scenarios could have been avoided if the real estate agent had just educated their buyer clients as to the process before the first purchase contract was ever written. Don't be afraid of giving your buyer clients an early education on challenges that might be encountered, how they generally get resolved and your role in that process. Negative surprises in the emotionally charged, time sensitive home purchase process can be avoided in many cases by going through a checklist of instructions to buyers.

1. Don't End Up Temporarily Homeless

There are so many inter-dependent activities involved in a Collin County real estate closing, so it's not that unusual for there to be last minute delays that move a closing a few days back. Often this is due to mortgage documents, as the lender wants to see the appraisal, survey, title and other documents first. If any of these are things are delayed, then the closing may be later than expected. Though it can't always be avoided, make sure that your client doesn't arrive at closing with all their furniture with no place to live or the money to pay the movers for van storage because they can't move in for three or four days.

  2. A Really Low First Offer Can Backfire

In the Denton County real estate market and Tarrant County real estate market with a rising inventory many times encourages buyers to make low ball offers just to test the sellers motivation. In some markets it's not very unusual and sellers come back with a high counter offer to draw the buyer higher to an acceptable price. Your buyers could pay up if they are not careful about this aggressive offer approach. With first-time sellers who've cared for and loved their home for many years, a very low offer can offend them.

  3. If You Beat the Sellers up on Price, Don't Expect Concessions

Everybody wants a great deal and working a motivated seller into a low ball price is the goal of many buyers. Make sure to talk to your buyers about how this will influence the process in almost every aspect through to closing. Tell them that getting a seller to their rock bottom price will usually insure that they will not agree to any concessions for repairs to correct inspection problems. As long as you have educated your buyers to this, you will hopefully avoid the transaction falling apart because of sellers' remorse or inspection correction negotiations.

  4. Do a Comparative Market Analysis for You to Prove Your Offer

When the question of "What price should I offer for this home?" comes, tossing out with a number is not the best approach. You should advise your buyers' through a comprehensive market analysis of similar recently sold properties in that area. This should give a range and your buyer can then choose an offering price based on accurate market statistics. If there are other factors that you can give to your client about seller motivation or recent market changes, definitely do that and help them to feel comfortable with the price they choose to offer.

  5. I'm Not an Expert but I Will Help You to Locate One

Too many real estate agents get into a jam by trying to be helpful to their clients in areas that they shouldn't be. If you're not a home inspector, lawyer, appraiser or an contractor. Don't try to take on their jobs and responsibilities erroneously believing that you're providing service to your clients. Saying "I don't know" is a valid response, especially when it is followed with "but I'll help you to find out." You can actually enhance your value to your buyer by being up front and honest about your knowledge and helping them to locate the appropriate competent professional to answer their questions.

  6. Don't Buy That New Furniture Before Closing

These days, with many of today's buyers purchasing homes at the top end of what they can afford, there isn't any room left in their debt ratio score. Deals have been lost days before closing because the lender did a final credit check and found a few thousand dollars of new furniture had just been purchased on a credit card. Advise your buyers to make no significant credit changes or purchases in this critical pre-closing phase.