Real Estate as an Investment
Among its many impacts, COVID-19 has had a pronounced effect on the housing market. Low home inventory and high buyer demand have driven home prices to an all-time high.1 This has given an unexpected financial boost to many homeowners during a challenging time. However, for some renters, rising home prices are making dreams of homeownership […]
Finding the Right Home for Right Now
Imagine the first place you lived as a young adult. Now imagine trying to fit your life today into that space. Not pretty, right? For most of us, our housing needs are cyclical.1 A newly independent adult can find freedom and flexibility in even a tiny apartment. That same space, to a growing family, would […]
Homebuying 101: What’s a Seller’s Disclosure?
In many residential sales, sellers are required to provide information about the condition of the property, which benefits both the buyer and seller. It’s Required by Texas Law Sellers of a single-unit residential property are required to provide a seller’s disclosure notice to a buyer. The notice details what the sellers know about the property […]
Homebuying 101: The Difference Between Being Pre-Qualified and Pre-Approved
In today’s real estate market, the majority of home sellers require that a pre-qualification letter be included with a potential buyer’s offer on their home. Although a pre-qualification letter does not guarantee a mortgage loan, it let’s the seller know that the buyer has the purchasing power to make a legitimate offer. So before you […]
Everything You Need to Know about iBuyers and the “Instant Cash Offer”
Technology is changing the way we do almost everything, and real estate transactions are no exception. In fact, a new crop of tech companies wants to revolutionize the way we buy and sell homes. iBuyer startups like Opendoor, Offerpad, and Properly are rapidly expanding into new territories, and now established players, like Zillow, are starting […]
Can I buy or sell a home without a real estate agent?
Today’s real estate market is one of the fastest-moving in recent memory. With record-low inventory in many market segments, we’re seeing multiple offers—and sometimes even bidding wars—for homes in the most sought-after neighborhoods. This has led some sellers to question the need for an agent. After all, why spend money on a listing agent when […]
KEEPING YOUR HOME IN TIP-TOP SHAPE
From summer vacations to winter holidays, it seems each season offers the perfect excuse to put off our to-do list. But be careful, homeowners: neglecting your home’s maintenance could put your personal safety—and one of your largest financial investments—at serious risk. In no time at all, small problems can lead to extensive and expensive repairs. […]
As the spring market approaches, will the good times continue?
While many areas of the economy have contracted, the housing market has stayed remarkably strong. But can the good news last? When COVID-related shutdowns began in March, real estate brokers and clients scrambled to respond to the shift. Record-low interest rates caused some lenders to call a halt to new underwriting, and homeowners debated whether […]
HOMEBUYING 101: WHAT’S THE POINT OF MORTGAGE POINTS?
If you’re thinking about financing a property purchase, you’ve probably come across the term points or discount points. Although there are other meanings, most often these terms refer to prepaid interest, with one point equal to 1% of your mortgage loan. Lenders offer borrowers the opportunity to purchase points on their mortgage, which means you’re […]
PROTESTING YOUR APPRAISAL VALUE
Property tax appraisals for the current year’s taxable values are issued in the spring in all counties. Below are a few tips to help in understanding your statement and for filing a protest if you disagreewith the appraised value. After you Receive your Notice of Appraised Value First, verify that the appraisal is for the […]
