Why Get Pre-approved? Structuring Your Offer to Get the Best Deal

by Val Velasquez


Why Get Pre-approved? Structuring Your Offer to Get the Best Deal

Why Get Pre-approved? Structuring Your Offer to Get the Best Deal Buying a home is a dream come true, but the process of getting an offer prepared and accepted can be a nightmare if you don’t know what you’re doing. There are over 88 variables that need to be managed properly when buying a home and mishandling just one of them could cost you tens of thousands of dollars in unnecessary expenses. Making a home purchase is expensive enough that you don’t need to part ways...

Read More

Why You Should Have A Home Inspection Before You List

by Val Velasquez


Why You Should Have A Home Inspection Before You List

Why You Should Have A Home Inspection Before You List One of the largest home sale killers is the home inspection. Nearly one-third of all terminated real estate contracts fall apart because of the inspection results. Inspections also ranked as the number three cause of delayed settlements, accounting for 13 percent. For some reason - and I’ll never get it - a home inspection that comes back with anything less than a perfect report strikes fear into the hearts of buyer agents and...

Read More

Your home is under contract, what’s next?

by Val Velasquez


Your home is under contract, what’s next?

Your home is under contract, what’s next? Great news, you’ve put your dream home under contract and you’re excited to move in one day soon. That said, there’s a lot that has to happen before you can take occupancy: home inspection, appraisal, financing paperwork, contingencies and other requirements necessary to close. Here’s what you can expect to happen over the coming weeks.   Due Diligence   Now that the home is yours to negotiate...

Read More

What will be your payment on your new home?

by Val Velasquez


What will be your payment on your new home?

What will be your payment on your new home? Buying a new home can be overwhelming. Between understanding the financial aspects of your loan and all the paperwork required to buy your home, things can get a little crazy. One of the biggest parts of getting a new home is figuring out the terms and conditions of your mortgage. Two of the biggest areas that impact your loan are your credit and your down payment. In this post, we’ll cover both and also explain how to determine the...

Read More

How to Find Bank Foreclosures and Distressed Sales

by Val Velasquez


How to Find Bank Foreclosures and Distressed Sales

How to Find Bank Foreclosures and Distressed Sales Everyone wants a hot deal. For those who have the ability/desire to work with a home that is, in most cases, less than perfect, foreclosures and distressed sales represent some of the hottest deals out there If you want to locate distressed properties, the first thing you have to understand is that no one will usually advertise their home as a “distressed property” unless they are absolutely desperate to unload their home. Homeowners,...

Read More

How to handle a multiple offer situation

by Val Velasquez


How to handle a multiple offer situation

How to handle a multiple offer situation Over the last few years, buyer’s hunger for properties has been insatiable. As a result, properly priced homes were fetching multiple offers on a consistent basis. Though things have settled a bit recently, we’re still in a seller’s market, and that means the chance your listing will receive multiple offers on it is still very much a reality. But, as exciting as having a bidding war on your property is, it can also provide for...

Read More

How to Sell Your Home Fast and for the Most Amount of Money

by Val Velasquez


How to Sell Your Home Fast and for the Most Amount of Money

How to Sell Your Home Fast and for the Most Amount of Money The market has been moving at a pretty good clip over the last several years and it appears that things are going to stay that way for a while. According to the Case Shiller Home Price Index across the United States have increased roughly 45% over the last 5 years. Despite all of the amazing things that have been happening in virtually every market across the country, including ours, one thing still rings true no matter...

Read More

If your home inspection report comes back bad, now what?

by Val Velasquez


If your home inspection report comes back bad, now what?

If your home inspection report comes back bad, now what? One of the biggest deal killers for any real estate transaction is the home inspection. It strikes fear into the hearts of sellers and buyers...even though virtually everything about a home can be repaired or replaced. The good news is that if you have a great real estate agent and a competent home inspector, you can usually handle a failed inspection report properly without having to panic in the process. The key thing to remember...

Read More

What is the Interest write off deduction?

by Val Velasquez


What is the Interest write off deduction?

What is the Interest write off deduction? Tax deductible interest is a borrowing expense that a taxpayer can claim on a federal or state tax return to reduce taxable income. Mortgage interest for both first and second (home equity) mortgages, mortgage interest for investment properties are among the list of deductions you can take on your taxes. This is another reason why owning a home is more favorable than renting. In addition to building equity in a home that you can call yours, you...

Read More

Why landscaping can make your home sell faster and for more money

by Val Velasquez


Why landscaping can make your home sell faster and for more money

Why landscaping can make your home sell faster and for more money Plain and simple, the quality of your landscaping determines whether or not your home feels inviting from the outside. Curb appeal is what people call it and it’s a key ingredient in the decision to buy a home to more than 71 percent of homebuyers. As you know, landscaping plays a huge role in the curb appeal that you present to prospective buyers for your home. The first impression is key: if buyers don’t like...

Read More