If you’re thinking of buying your first home, you’ve undoubtedly got questions about how to get started and what the process entails. Here are answers to four common first-time homebuyer questions to help you make informed decisions. 1. Is it the right time for me to buy? You might hear conflicting ideas about whether or not it’s the right time to buy.

Think back to when you were a first-time homebuyer. Were you excited but overwhelmed? It’s not unusual to feel that way as a first-time seller either, and it’s just as involved of a process – if not more so. But knowing what you can expect can make the selling process go smoothly.

Even if the Texas weather has your yard looking less than its best, it’s important not to neglect your home’s exterior when you decide to put in on the market. When you’re selling your home, you’re selling the whole package. And a buyer’s bad first impression of the outside could influence her opinion of the interior. Fortunately, there are a few simple tasks you can add to your to-do list to spruce up the exterior.

When you decide to move, don’t expect to hear anyone say, “I’m so jealous. I just love moving!” It doesn’t matter if it’s your first house or fourth, moving can be stressful. But with the kids out of school and the sunny weather, many people consider May through September the best months to move.

Closing is the final step of a real estate transaction, where ownership of the property is officially transferred and money changes hands. The days leading up to closing can stressful for everyone – buyers may be a bit nervous about making such a commitment and both parties, particularly sellers, hope that some unforeseen last-minute glitch doesn’t prevent the transaction from happening. Although few closings are completely derailed by major setbacks, it can happen.

Do you know the old saying “everything on the Internet is completely true”? Yeah, me neither. If you’ve been looking for properties or buying advice, you know there are plenty of real estate websites. So when it comes to your home search, it makes sense to approach the Internet with a discerning eye.

When you’re buying anything — and that includes a house — you want to be as informed as possible. One of the most important factors in the purchase of a home is determining what makes a fair asking price and, by extension, a fair offer — one that is more likely to be accepted. How do sellers arrive at an asking price? First, it’s helpful to know that there are two primary considerations most homeowners use to determine the asking price for a property — and they’re both about mo ...

You’ve heard the old saying that real estate is all about location, location, location, and it’s pretty much true regardless of the property type or owner. Location is definitely important when it comes to commercial real estate, but once you get past the universal truth that location is key, the differences between residential and commercial properties start to emerge. Residential real estate is about your primary dwelling place.

For many homeowners, the monthly mortgage payment is a sizable chunk of monthly bills. You may have thought about the benefits to paying off your mortgage early. Who hasn't? To be sure, making extra payments on your mortgage will save you thousands of dollars. For example, making just one extra payment a year on a $200,000 mortgage could save you more than $65,000. That's not small change—after all, what better investment is there than your home?

You can’t change when or where your house was built. And unless you want to spend a lot of money that you’ll never recoup in a sale, now’s not the time to knock down walls or build an addition. But there are ways to make your rooms look bigger, and I recommend that you try some before you put your house on the market. You don’t have to be a professional home stager to accomplish this trick, and you don’t need a lot of money.

Not knowing what to expect can be stressful. That’s especially true when lots of money and strong emotions come into the equation. Yes, I’m talking about selling your house. One of the best ways to reduce that stress is to bring more certainty to the home-selling process. A Texas realtor will give you insights into our current market conditions, explain your options, market your property and guide you toward a successful transaction. In addition to getting a Texas realtor on your side, yo ...

People may select homes based on their wants and needs, but their personalities affect the transaction, too. As a seller, you can benefit from knowing about the different types of buyers you’ll encounter. Such an understanding will help you avoid frustrations and make the transaction and negotiations go much smoother. I’ll take it.

So your family’s housing needs have changed and you’ve decided to put your home on the market. Now you need to find someone who can successfully market your property and get you the most exposure to attract offers … but where do you start? Use the good kind of traffic The Internet has become the starting point for many homebuyers’ property searches, and online marketing efforts have grown to reflect that trend. A 2011 survey of Texas homebuyers and sellers found that 89 percent of bu ...

Of the many advantages granted to homeowners, one of the most popular is the list of tax breaks they receive. As a new homeowner, you may be able to deduct some of the costs related to your purchase if you itemize your deductions rather than use the standard deduction when filing your taxes.

You’ve found the perfect house – or buyer – and you’re on your way to closing, where ownership of the property is officially transferred and money changes hands. This final stage of a real estate transaction has many steps. Your Texas Realtor can help you navigate the closing process and answer questions that may arise, but here’s some advice to help you prepare. Understand the closing process Before closing, buyers should review everything that has been done in connection with insp ...