One of the first things we ask homebuyers is where they’re looking to buy a home. Next, we ask what their price point is. The best way to figure out your price point is to talk to a lender first; they’ll figure out if you’ll be paying cash or financing. Most people choose the financing route.

Even if you’ve already spoken with your lender, you should always get a second opinion. I’ve brought in Ricardo Torres of Willow Bend Mortgage to explain more about why it’s important to talk to lenders.

You won’t know if you can buy your dream home until you get pre-qualified. A lender makes sure you’re pre-qualified so when you’re ready to buy your home, it’ll happen without a hitch. Willow Bend Mortgage has an app where buyers can check price points, get ideas on pricing, and apply for a mortgage loan. This application takes around five to 10 minutes and allows you to upload paycheck stubs, W-2s, and bank statements: the meat and potatoes of applying for a loan. It also integrates your real estate agent’s information throughout the process.

Even if you’ve already spoken with your lender, you should always get a second opinion.

If you’d like to contact Ricardo, you can reach him at 956-739-5440. If you’re looking to buy or sell a home, have any questions, or are looking for more information, feel free to reach out to me. I look forward to hearing from you.

We’re reaching out to you today since you’ve kept in touch with us because you were looking to buy property and we want to know where you’re at. In order to make your move, there are three things that need to align:

1. Desire. You have to want to move. Maybe you’re sick of paying rent or you're crammed in with family or roommates. If your desire is high enough to take the next steps, it’s time to look at the second thing.

2. Income and credit. For this step, you’ll need to talk to a financial professional like Ricardo Torres with Willow Bend Mortgage. He can help you find out whether your credit is good enough and what kind of home you can afford right now. You can start the process right here, and he can help you get a pre-qualification. He will take a look at your credit, employment history, and income to let you know exactly what you can afford.

A pre-qualification will let you know what you can afford.

3. The house. This is the fun part. When you have the desire and you’re pre-qualified, that’s where our team steps in to help guide you through the process and find the perfect house.

If you have any questions for us, please feel free to reach out and give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

When you're looking for a home to buy, it's important to determine both what you need and what you want. Oftentimes, we see homebuyers confuse the two.

One of the first things you need to do is get pre-qualified for a mortgage because most sellers won't even entertain an offer if you don't have a letter of pre-qualification. It also helps narrow your search by keeping you from wasting time looking at homes you can't afford. 

Once you've been pre-qualified, you want to sit down and write out your wants and needs. Your needs list might include a two-car garage, a large yard, a nice school district, and three bedrooms. These items should be non-negotiable, meaning you won't even look at homes that don't fulfill your needs.

Most of your wants will be cosmetic things that can be added later.

Most of your wants are cosmetic. You might want granite or quartz countertops, but a home not having them shouldn't be a deal-breaker. They can always be added later. That's why you need to determine which items you can and can't live without. Examine homes that fill all your needs before you start considering your wants.

If you have any questions about this step or you're thinking about selling or investing in real estate, give us a call or send us an email. We'd love to hear from you!

If you vowed to buy a home this year, it’s time to get moving. Even if you’re months away from hiring an agent and looking at houses, there are things you need to do right now to make your dream of homeownership come true. In fact, there are five habits you need to start now to ensure a smooth transition from renting to owning a home.

Always be ready when you have the opportunity to lock down that perfect home.

As always, if you’re looking to buy, sell, or invest in real estate, please feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you! 

How can you sell your home as fast as possible in 2017?

While many factors that affect how long it takes to sell a home are beyond your control, there are some things you can do to speed up the sale.

One of the best things you can do in order to sell faster is price your home competitively. Your home is going to sell much faster if you price on the lower end of the average prices in your area. Additionally, pricing your home competitively could spark a bidding war, ultimately driving up your sales price.

Complete any repairs that need to be done prior to listing.

Completing any repairs that need to be done is also going to help keep your home from sitting on the market too long. Sprucing up your home prior to putting it on the market is just as important as actually listing it. Buyers are going to be able to tell if you let a few projects go unfinished.

Lastly, make sure the home is staged and decluttered. This last tip is incredibly important because staged homes sell 88% faster and for more money than non-staged homes.

If you're looking to buy, sell, or invest in real estate, feel free to give us a call. We'd be glad to help!

Professional photography is one of the most critical pieces of your home’s marketing and, ultimately, its sale. Why? 

In today’s market, 90% to 95% of buyers start their home search online. If they don’t like what they see, then you won’t get them in the door. In fact, a few bad pictures of your home might take your property totally off of a buyer’s radar. 

Today’s buyer wants to see your home in perfect condition online, which means that professional photographs will help you get the right buyer in the door and help you sell your home. 

Over 90% of today’s buyers start their home search online.

That is why we have a professional photographer and videographer on our team. We know that buyers love photos and videos and that professional photos and videos sell homes. 

If you have any questions about professional photography or about preparing your home for the market, just give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

Friends, 

We know this time of year can get very busy, so we just wanted to take a moment to wish you happy holidays! 

We’d like to take a minute to thank you for your continued support this year. We wouldn’t be where we are today without you. It has been our pleasure to help make your real estate dreams come true. 

We hope you enjoy this holiday season and make some wonderful memories with your friends and family. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. 

Remember, we are always here to help you in any way we can. Just give us a call. 

Happy Holidays!

If you are in the market for a new home, you may be wondering when the best time to buy is. Here are five reasons you should purchase your new home during the holidays.

1. There is less market activity. All of the family, school, and work activities happening at this time combined with the colder weather lead to fewer real estate transactions over the holidays. This means there will be less competition to face. 

2. Sellers are motivated. People who have their homes on the market at this time often have a great incentive to sell. If their home has been on the market for awhile or they are looking to relocate for a job, they want to get their home sold as soon as possible.

They want to get their home sold as soon as possible.

3. There are potential tax benefits. If you itemize your taxes, you can deduct any points you paid upon closing, as well as property taxes and mortgage interest. This will depend on how many other deductions you have this year, but there’s a chance you’ll have a real advantage.

4. You’ll get a better interest rate. Due to limited demand, there will be more competition among lenders during the holidays. 

5. Homes close faster. Lenders want to close their books, agents want to get their commission, and sellers want to move into their new home before the end of the year. You might even get settled into your new home before the holidays! 

If you have any questions feel free to give me a call or send me an email. Happy holidays!

When it comes to home staging, holiday decor can actually help sell your house. 

The first thing to remember is that going overboard on decorations can actually keep your home from selling; you need to strike the right balance. The ‘less is more' mantra may tempt you to skip the decorations, but a few subtle touches like a pinecone centerpiece, an evergreen wreath, or a simmering pot of cider on the stove can all create a warm and festive feeling for buyers.

You want to avoid overly-religious flourishes because they could be off-putting to some buyers. You want to keep your walkways clean and clear, too, rather than having festive decorations turn into tripping hazards.

Don’t hide your home’s best assets, highlight them!

Remember not to hide your home’s best assets, either. For example, don’t cover every inch of your fireplace mantle. Instead, showcase it with a select few holiday items. Try to highlight key areas of your home with stylish fall decor, a tray of cookies, or a well-placed Christmas tree.

If you have any questions about decorating a home you’re selling or you’re just thinking about buying or selling a home in the McAllen market, give me a call or send me an email. I’d love to help!

The number one mistake most sellers make when putting their homes on the market is not decluttering their homes. Decluttering is a simple, easy thing to do, but not cleaning up can cost you thousands of dollars on your home sale. 

These days, 90% to 95% of buyers begin their home search online, which means that your first home showing is on the Internet. If your home is cluttered and not photographed properly, buyers will eliminate it from their wish list quickly.

So, how do you start? I recommend going through your home and looking for things you want to throw away and give away. Then, start packing the things you want to keep. Fill as many medium-sized boxes as you can and put them in storage before your home goes on the market. 

Get rid of things you don’t want anymore and pack the items you want to keep.

You should also clear off the counters and the fridge. Store extra furniture to make your home look more spacious. You should also pack away knick-knacks, books, and personal items to give your home a more neutral feel. That way, potential buyers can imagine themselves living in your home more easily.

Once your home is decluttered, you will be amazed at how great your home looks, and so will buyers. Decluttering helps you get the highest possible sales price in the shortest amount of time possible. 

If you have any questions about decluttering or you’re not sure where to start, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!