Texas Home Buyer Assistance Programs

Some Highlights: Real estate has outranked stocks/mutual funds, gold, savings accounts/CDs, and bonds as the best long-term investment among Americans for the last 6 years. Stock owners are more positive about real estate than stocks as an investment. Of the 4 listed, real estate is the only investment you can also live in! source https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/en/2019/06/28/americans-rank-real-estate-best-investment-for-6-years-running-infographic/?a=489394-750b3ad95b7715aa39b3f5a8d59f5d51

So you made an  offer and it was accepted. Now, your next task is to have the home inspected prior to closing. Agents oftentimes make your offer contingent on a clean home inspection. This contingency allows you to renegotiate the price you paid for the home, ask the sellers to cover repairs, or in some cases, to walk away. Your agent can advise you on the best course of action once the report is filed. How to Choose an Inspector Your agent will most likely have a short list of inspectors that they have worked with in the past that they can recommend to you.  HGTV   recommends that you consider the following five areas when choosing the right home inspector for you: 1. Qualifications  – find out what’s included in your inspection and if the age or location of your home may warrant specific certifications or specialties. 2. Sample Reports  – ask for a sample inspection report so you can review how thoroughly they will be inspecting your dream home. In most cases, the more detail

In this day and age of being able to shop for anything anywhere, it is really important to know what you’re looking for when you start your home search. If you’ve been thinking about buying a home of your own for some time now, you’ve probably come up with a list of things that you’d LOVE to have in your new home. Many new homebuyers fantasize about the amenities that they see on television or  Pinterest ,  and start looking at the countless homes listed for sale through rose-colored glasses. Do you really need that farmhouse sink in the kitchen to be happy with your home choice? Would a two-car garage be a convenience or a necessity? Could the “man cave” of your dreams be a future renovation project instead of a make-or-break right now? The first step in your home buying process should be getting  pre-approved for your mortgage. This allows you to know your budget before you fall in love with a home that is way outside of it. The next step is to list all the features of a home t

In today’s fast-paced world where answers are a  Google search away, there are some who may wonder what the benefits of hiring a real estate professional to help them in their home search are. The truth is, the addition of more information causes more confusion. Shows like  Property Brothers ,  Fixer Upper,  and dozens more on  HGTV  have given many a false sense of what it’s like to buy and sell a home. Now more than ever, you need an expert on your side who is going to guide you toward your dreams and not let anything get in the way of achieving them.  Buying and/or selling a home is definitely not something you want to DIY (Do It Yourself)! Here are just some of the reasons you need a real estate professional in your corner: There’s more to real estate than finding a house you like online! There are over  230 possible steps  that need to take place during every successful real estate transaction. Don’t you want someone who has been there before, someone who knows what these a

In many markets across the country, the number of buyers searching for their dream homes  outnumbers  the number of homes for sale. This has led to a competitive marketplace where buyers often need to stand out. One way to show that you are serious about buying your dream home is to get pre-qualified or pre-approved for a mortgage before starting your search. Even if you are not in an incredibly competitive market, understanding your budget will give you the confidence of knowing whether or not your dream home is within your reach. Freddie Mac  lays out the advantages of pre-approval in the ‘ My Home ’ section of their website: “It’s highly recommended that you work with your lender to get pre-approved before you begin house hunting. Pre-approval will tell you how much home you can afford and can help you move faster, and with greater confidence, in competitive markets.” One of the  many advantages   of working with a local real estate professional is that many have relationship

Some Highlights: Buyer demand continues to outpace the supply of homes for sale. This means that buyers are often competing with one another for the few listings that are available. Housing inventory is still under the 6-month supply needed to sustain a normal housing market. Now may be the time for you and your family to move on and start living the life you desire! source https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/en/2019/06/21/4-reasons-to-sell-this-summer-infographic-2/?a=489394-750b3ad95b7715aa39b3f5a8d59f5d51