There are many perks of working with the Burks Team. Today we would like to share a few.

We recently fixed up a property that is now virtually unrecognizable from what we started with. Let’s take a look at this fix-and-flip project, today.

When you flip a home, you need to make sure that the investment will turn a profit. Today, I’ll show you what that looks like.

Thank you to all of our friends, family, and clients for making 2017 so successful for us here on The Burks Team. On behalf of all of us, we hope you and your loved ones have a very happy holiday season and a wonderful new year. To get in the spirit of the season, we thought we would share some of our favorite holiday songs with you all today. To hear for yourself, watch this short video. We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year!

We have a few tips and tricks to share with you that will make your move simple and stress-free. Want to sell your Tyler Home? Get a FREE home value report Want to buy a Tyler Home? Search all homes for sale If you’ve just bought or sold a house, congratulations! Now, of course, comes the moving part. Here are some of our best tips to make the moving process as smooth as possible for you. The first thing you need to do is prepare early. As soon as you’re under contract, you need to start talking to movers. The Burks Team lends out our own moving truck to our clients for free on a first-come, first-serve basis, so feel free to call us as soon as you get that offer. Next, start a schedule and plan a to-do list. When are you going to clear everything out of the attic? When are you going to box-up everything in the garage? Look at your cabinets, closets, and everything else and make a plan for when your family will get together and start packing. Speaking of packing, be sure to use labels on your boxes. Label all four sides and indicate on the labels what’s inside the box. Use different-colored markers or labels for different rooms. Cut a piece of painter’s tape and attach it to the door of each room in your new house so movers know which boxes go where. If it’s a long-distance move, you might want to number your boxes because you won’t be there to supervise and check that all of them make it safely to their new destination. Make a schedule and plan a to-do list before you do anything. For any breakable items like dinner plates, use styrofoam, dish cloths, or towels to wrap them and keep them secure in their boxes. When taking down picture frames off the wall, use some more painter’s tape to tape over the hanging hooks so when you’re ready to rehang them, you already have the right-size hook and nail. It’s also a good idea to have an “open-first” box, which is the last box to leave your old house and the first box to get unpacked at the new one. Items included in this box should be tools, toiletries, and other essentials. Next, eat your food! This way, you don’t have to pack all your freezer or pantry items. Whenever my family moved, my kids and I would have a "food night' before moving day, when we'd empty out our freezer and cook everything. Additionally, write down the addresses of everything you’re getting in the mail so you can notify everyone of your new address. Lastly, move your kitchen, bathroom, and closet items before you move the furniture. That way, when you move your furniture, you can find your clothes, toiletries, and you can get something to eat or drink if you want. If you’d like more moving tips or you’re thinking of buying or selling a house soon, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to help.

We have a few tips and tricks to share with you that will make your move simple and stress-free.

A lot of people were hit hard by the real estate market crash last decade. Now, those same people can reap the rewards of the market’s recovery. Want to sell your Tyler Home? Get a FREE home value report Want to buy a Tyler Home? Search all homes for sale Just a few years ago here in Tyler, we hit a pretty severe downturn in the housing market (and the economy as a whole). As a result, there were a lot of people from 2009-2012 who owed more on their homes than they were worth. That’s changed a lot in the last few years, however, as we’ve seen a dramatic increase in pricing. This is especially true for homes in the $250,000 and below range.   When we spoke to homeowners during the market downturn, we had to start putting Kleenex out because so many of them ended up shedding tears over the loss of value in their home because of the crash. 60% of American homeowners have significant equity. We might have to start putting Kleenex out for those same people, though, because if they come in today and find out what their home is worth in this market, they’re likely to cry tears of joy. A recent study showed that 60% of Americans have dramatic equity in their home of at least 20%. Texas has been one of the leading states in the recovery, with home values increasing by 8% on average in the past year alone. If you’re considering selling your home, we currently have a shortage of inventory that you could take advantage of to sell for top dollar. If you have any questions for us or you want us to do a complimentary analysis of the equity you have in your home, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

A lot of people were hit hard by the real estate market crash last decade. Now, those same people can reap the rewards of the market’s recovery.

What's the biggest obstacle to homeownership? Want to sell your Tyler Home? Get a FREE home value report Want to buy a Tyler Home? Search all homes for sale According to a recent survey, "saving enough for a down payment" comes at the top of the list. A whopping 55% of prospective homebuyers cited this as their main stumbling block. And with the continuing growth of home prices, things aren't getting any easier. In fact, homeownership rates reached a 20-year low last November. It wasn't always like this. A decade ago, many lenders were offering easy, no-money-down mortgages. However, after the financial crisis, mortgage standards have become more restrictive. A typical mortgage now requires a 20% down payment. Here's the good news. If you have decent credit and a steady income, you might be qualified for a number of specialized programs that require no or very little down payment. Here are a few of the top options. First, there's the USDA loan, which is valid for homes in certain regions, such as rural and suburban areas. 55% cited the lack of a down payment as their main stumbling block. With zero money down and lenient credit requirements, the USDA loan can be a great choice for many homeowners. Second, there’s the VA loan, which you can apply for if you or your spouse served in a branch of the military. It's possibly the most generous zero-money-down mortgage because of low interest rates and low closing costs. Third, there's the FHA loan. It does require a 3.5% down payment—still drastically more achievable than the 20% required for a conventional mortgage. Finally, there are a number credit unions and first-time homebuyer programs that might apply to your particular situation. There’s one important thing you should know.  If you get one of these no-money-down mortgages, chances are good you will be required to pay private mortgage insurance, which can drive up your monthly payments. Fortunately, private mortgage insurance will disappear after your mortgage balance is under 80%. Also, the money you do pay will be tax deductible in most cases. In short, there are lots of options to make owning a home a reality for you, even if you haven't saved up tens of thousands of dollars. And if you need more advice on getting a no-money-down loan, give us a call. We can put you in touch with some experienced Tyler area lenders who can answer your questions and help get you started.