Buying a Corpus Christi home? Search all homes for sale

We’ve got an update for you today about both the local and national real estate market. Jonathan Smoke, Chief Economist at Realtor.com, says:

 "Overall, the fundamental trends we have been seeing all year remain solidly in place as we enter the traditionally slower sales season, and pent-up demand remains substantial as buyers seek to get a home under contract while rates remain so low.”

While we’ve been enjoying historically low interest rates for quite some time, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, MBA, and the NAR are all predicting that interest rates will rise in the next year. If you're thinking about buying, it’s important to lock in those rates while you can. When rates go up, so does your monthly payment. If you’re a seller, buyers may no longer qualify to buy your home when rates go up. 

According to First American Chief Economist Mark Fleming:

“Extremely limited supply is stopping the market from reaching its full potential, counteracting positive increases in market fundamentals, such as employment and wages.”

Due to lack of inventory and continued steady foot traffic, the measure of months of inventory is low. With consistent foot traffic, that gives us a pretty good outlook for the next year.

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Anything under $200,000 is moving quickly in Corpus Christi.

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Now let’s talk about the Corpus Christi market itself. According to the Corpus Christi Housing Report, here’s what happened in our market in the last year:

As you can see, anything under $200,000 is moving extremely well. As you increase in price, absorption rate goes up as well. The absorption rate shows what the supply is compared to the demand.

If you have any questions for us or want a more in-depth local market update, give us a call or send us an email. We would be glad to send you a copy of our Corpus Christi Market Watch Report for free- just let us know. We look forward to hearing from you.

Buying a Corpus Christi home? Search all homes for sale

Today I’m joined by Joaquin Granados, our lead home buyer specialist. We’re going to discuss this common question from our buyers: “How much should I offer on that home?”

There are many different variables for you to consider before you make an offer on a property. First of all, you have to consider supply and demand. How many buyers are looking for homes in the same price point as you are? The foot traffic for the neighborhood in that price point is going to be a determining factor for how much you should offer.

The condition of the property is also important. Does the home need upgrades? Does it need repairs to major structural components of the property? Pay special attention to the roof and the foundation, as any issues there could cost you a lot of money down the road.
 

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FIND OUT HOW LONG THE HOME HAS BEEN ON THE MARKET BEFORE MAKING AN OFFER.

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You should also consider the size of the property. Is it the biggest home on the block? Is there enough functional square footage for you and your family?

Days on market is another important variable. Has the property been on the market for days, weeks, months, a year, or more? The buyer should know this information before making an offer.

Closing cost concessions are also important. Do you want the best price on the home or the best terms? If price is especially important to you, past sales are a great indicator of how much the property is worth. Looking at past sales ensures that you are not overpaying for the property.

As you can see, making an offer is a lot more difficult than just throwing out a number. There are many variables for you and your agent to go over. If you have any questions for us, give us a call or send us an email. Joaquin and I would be happy to help you!

Buying a Corpus Christi home? Search all homes for sale

I have with me Steven Staffieri, the owner of All My Sons Moving & Storage. He will be talking about moving insurance and the subtle differences between it and valuation coverage insurance.

Steven says that most states offer valuation coverage. This is usually covered free of charge, and it covers up to 60 cents per pound, per article. However, this is not the same thing as moving insurance. 

Moving companies aren’t allowed to sell insurance. Insurance companies like AAA or RATE have to do this on their behalf, and they will usually only offer it to their finest vendors. It’s important to know the difference between insurance and valuation coverage.

Accidents do happen from time to time, and this is one way to ensure that all of your belongings are covered in case something happens. If you need this type of insurance, or if you just want a quality company, call Steven at 361-883-1372.

As always, don’t hesitate to contact me with any of your real estate needs!

Today, credit repair expert, David Clifton, joins us to discuss credit restoration. He has helped over 100 of our clients increase their credit scores, which puts them in a better position as prospective buyers. If you’d like to restore bad credit as a Corpus Christi buyer, he offers the following steps.

If you have any questions about this topic or more, give me a call or send me an email today! I can put you in contact with David if you’re interested in his insightful services, too. I look forward to hearing from you.
 

Today, credit restoration expert, David Clinton, discusses the real value of high credit scores.

Raising your credit score a little bit can have a tremendous impact on the interest rate of your future loans. In fact, raising it by as little as twenty to thirty points can save you up to $200,000 on a 30-year fixed loan. In other words, a high credit score equals big savings down the road.

If you have any questions about this topic or have suggestions for a future video, give me a call or send me an email today! I can put you in contact with David if you’re interested in his financial services. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

I’m here with David Clifton, and he’s my expert in credit restoration. He’ll be sharing tips with us on how to improve your credit score. It’s not as difficult as some people may have you believe.

First, you need a copy of your report and you need to check the personal information section. Make a note of all the incorrect information you might find in there, because it all counts against you.

Another good move is to check all of your credit cards. Check your balance to limit ratio, because a ratio of more than 20% will begin to drag your credit score down. If you can keep it under 19%, your score will begin to rise back up.

These are only a few of the things that you can do to improve your credit, but you can also look at David’s blog or contact me to get in touch with him.

I would be happy to hear from you. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need assistance. This is going to be a great year to buy a home, so get your finances in order now before interest rates rise too high!

If you’ve been thinking of selling your Corpus Christi home, you’ll want to make sure you do all you can to maximize your final sale price. Today we are excited to share five different things you can do to help your home sell this spring. These tips can dramatically increase the perceived value of your home, which will also push the final sale price up. Here they are:

1.  Declutter or remove unused items around your home

This will increase your home’s value while at the same time making it more appealing to buyers.

2. Upgrades and updates

Take some time to walk around your home like a buyer would. Notice things like countertops, lighting and plumbing fixtures, and carpets. Replacing one or all of these items could dramatically increase your perceived value.

3. Painting touch-ups

It’s important to walk around your home and touch up areas like baseboards or walls. A coat of paint can really go a long way and give the home a nice, fresh feel.

4. Deteriorated wood

Note the areas that should be replaced, such as garage and door frames, and window areas.

5. Curb appeal

Here’s another nugget. This is absolutely important when your home goes on the market. Most buyers start their search online. Cut your grass, trim your trees, plant some fresh plants around the front door area. These things can definitely increase your showings as well as your perceived value.

In the end, you’re trading nickels and dimes for dollars. Investing in this process can dramatically increase your net proceeds. Think about what the buyer is going to see. For a complete list, give us a call or send us an email. If you have any other questions or suggestions for another topic, let us know about those as well. We look forward to hearing from you!

Is there a difference between cost and price? As a home seller, you should be concerned about the short-term price of your home. Where are home values heading over the next six months? Will the current interest rates or rising interest rates help or hurt your home's value?

You should also consider the absorption rate. Keeping the pulse of the market helps give you an idea of the price of your home. According to the National Association of Realtors, an absorption rate of 6 months is a balanced market. Anything over six months is considered a buyer's market and anything under six months is a seller's market.

Since the price of your home is a function of supply and demand, it's important to know what's happening with the market. Work with a real estate agent who knows the market inside and out, and you'll get the best price for your home.

 As a buyer, you should pay attention to the cost of your home. What will your monthly payments be? What about taxes, home insurance, and electric bills? These are continuous expenses, and you need to make sure your home is efficient. Working with an agent will help you save tens of thousands of dollars down the line.

Buyers should also keep an eye on interest rates as rates directly impact your monthly payments. If interest rates go up, so will your monthly payments.

If you have any questions about today's video, give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

We realize that we're very lucky to work on a successful real estate team and go home to loving families every single day. Not everyone is afforded this luxury, and so we want to say thank you for all of your support, business, and referrals this year.

On top of this, we just wanted to wish a safe and happy holiday season to you and your family. No matter how you celebrate this time of year, we want you to know that the David Garcia Home Selling Team wishes you well in 2016 and beyond!

Thank you so much, and Happy Holidays!

Most homeowners are lead to believe the colder months aren’t the best to list. They identify the spring and summer as better times to sell. Although this is partially true, I disagree a bit. The fall and winter can be a great time to list. Here’s why:

If you have any question about the market today or suggestions for future video topics, please reach out today. I would love to assist you.