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SIMPLY STUNNING 4Bdrm,3Bath + Formal Dining,Study,Gamerm & Sunrm Sits on one of the LARGEST LOTS in the Neighborhood & backs to GREENBELT w’VIEWS of 2 LAKES. Lush Landscaping(Garden Pots Stay), BALCONY & Front Porch Make this one a SHOWSTOPPER at 1st Glance. The Interior is Just as Charming w’HARDWOODS, Granite Counters, Stainless Appl’s, & MUST HAVE Built-in Storage Thruout. FRIDGE, WASHER-DRYER, ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, COFFEE & END TABLES STAY! Exclusions: Drapes in all bedrms and Living rm. Sm Storage Cabinate to the right of Gamerm & OUTDOOR PLAYSET STAY!
If you need a professional to find your next home…call: Amy Underwood, Owner/Buyer Specialist, North Texas Home Finders Contact Amy at 972.921.8787 or Amy@Northtexashomefinders.com .
Get a Buyer Specialist and rest easy! The seller/builder pays our service charge from their advertising budget which is built into every home they sell. Since these fees do not come out of the home construction budget, you cannot negotiate one penny of a better deal alone. We also work with preowned homes where the seller pays our fees! Visit www.northtexashomefinders.com for more information.
After 7 years in new construction and now 2 years in traditional real estate, I have heard this same question over and over again from people who are frustrated with selling their existing home (builders included).
So what is the number 1 MUST DO, to sell your existing home? It is really simple, but most agents don’t spend enough time on it. You must understand your competition. Personally visit with your agent, every home in your community that is on the market that compares in size and price you have set. Make sure your home outshines the competition in every way. Landscaping must be better, the home must be cleaner, smell better, be decorated better, and highlight the features that make your home unique from the other ones the buyers are looking at.
Remember, when a buyer is looking for a new home, they are going to look at all the offerings in their price range that meet their requirements. As a seller, you have a good chance of selling faster, if you completely understand the competition. Your selling agent should do this for you, but it helps if you visit a few to understand why your agent is asking you to do certain updates, decluttering, etc.
Article by NewHomeGal, also known as Teresa Robinson. Contact the Robinson Team at 972.335.0571. They can help you sell your existing home and find your next one too!
Get a Buyer Specialist and rest easy! The builder pays our service charge from their advertising budget which is built into every home they sell. Since these fees do not come out of the home construction budget, you cannot negotiate one penny of a better deal alone. We also work with preowned homes where the seller pays our fees! Visit www.northtexashomefinders.com for more information.
Lewisville Lake Corridor Project
The long awaited Lewisville Lake Corridor Project is finally scheduled to open to traffice on August 1st. The new toll road will connect Interstate Highway 35E at Swisher Road to the Dallas North Tollway at Eldorado Parkway. It is approximately 13.8 miles long and is divided into eight sections (click on the link above to see a PDF). The main focus of the new road is the toll bridge that features a lighted, tied arch spanning 360 feet near the center of the 1.7-mile bridge. Approaches and thresholds of the bridge are also flanked by pairs of lighted columns.
The bridge will help motorists from the Frisco, Little Elm, and Aubrey areas commute to downtown dallas; and it should help ease some of the traffic congestion experienced during rush hour times as well.
The bridge is scheduled to open to traffic on schedule on Saturday afternoon following the community-led “Run the Lewisville Lake Toll Bridge” 5K run and family fun walk scheduled to begin at 8 and 10 a.m., respectively.
Blog by Chad Underwood, Owner/Broker, Chad@NorthTexasHomeFinders.com, www.NorthTexasHomeFinders.com.
This article was taken from Realtor.com article published in April 2009. Good stuff for staging your home to sell.
In today’s market, sellers have to work harder to persuade buyers that their property is worth the bite.
Landscape designer Michael Glassman has cooked up a recipe for guaranteed curb appeal.
1. Add splashes of color. With every changing season, a landscape should provide a new display of colors, textures, and fragrances. “It’s best to use one or two and repeat them,” Glassman says. Example: white iceberg roses that bloom in spring, summer, and fall as a backdrop; in front, a contrasting punch of purple salvia or lavender that will flower at the same time; and as an accent, a crape myrtle tree that provides changing leaf colors in fall and interesting branches come winter.
2. Size trees and shrubs to scale. These should be planted in the right scale for the house so that they don’t block windows, doors, and other architectural features on the home’s facade. A large two-story house can handle a redwood, Chinese pistache, sycamore, or scarlet oak, but a one-story cottage is better paired with a flowering cherry, crabapple, or eastern redbud. Too many trees cast too much shadow and cause potential buyers to worry about maintenance and costs.
3. Maintain a perfect lawn. A velvety green lawn demonstrates tender loving care, so be sure sellers’ homes don’t have brown spots. Some rocks, pebbles, boulders, drought-tolerant plants, and ornamental grasses will generate more kudos, especially in drought areas.
4. Light up the outside. Good illumination allows buyers to see a home at night and adds drama. Sellers should use low-voltage lamps to highlight branches of specimen trees, a front door, walk, and corners of the house. But less is better. The yard shouldn’t resemble an airport runway.
5. Let them hear the water. The sound of water appeals to buyers, and you shouldn’t just reserve this for your backyard. A small fountain accented with rocks provides a pleasant gurgling sound, blocks street noise, and is affordable.
6. Use decorative architectural elements. A new mailbox, planted window boxes, and a low fence wrapped in potato vines add cachet, particularly during winter months when fewer plants blossom. Colors should complement the landscape and home. Just don’t overdo it: Too much can seem like kitschy lawn ornaments.
Get a Buyer Specialist and rest easy! The builder pays our service charge from their advertising budget which is built into every home they sell. Since these fees do not come out of the home construction budget, you cannot negotiate one penny of a better deal alone. We also work with preowned homes where the seller pays our fees! Visit www.northtexashomefinders.com for more information.
The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs announced new down payment assistance programs for first time homebuyers. These programs will help fulfill the down payment need for many first-time Texas homebuyers.
Below are some bullet points:
- Borrowers must have a 620 or higher FICO score
- TDHCA has three different programs to use: 90-Day DPA Program (FHA Only), Mortgage Advantage MCC, Mortgage Advantage Bond
- Borrowers can receive up to $7k from the 90-day program and up to $6k with the others
- Borrowers must be first-time homebuyers (or not owned a home in the last three years) – TDHCA will verify this with previous 3 years’ tax returns
- Borrowers must qualify with the payment in their ratios – $323/mo with the 90-day program and $120/mo with the others
- Income limits do apply – $75,000 single buyer, $150,000 married buyers
- Borrowers must occupy the property for 3 years or the IRS will recapture the assistance in the tax year the property is sold
- $250 cashiers check from borrowers to TDHCA is required
- TDHCA is telling us to expect 20 business days from submission to closing…..This is important. DO NOT expect a 2 week closing. I would advise at least 45 days to be safe.
- Funds are first come first serve and rather limited
Again, this will be a great program which will help many Texans buy homes.
For more complete details, call Chad Underwood at (972) 672-1744. Chad@NorthTexasHomeFinders.com, www.NorthTexasHomeFinders.com
Check out this hot home deal located in Fort Worth!
Beautiful New Construction Villa featuring 1,375 square feet. Ready for immediate move-in, this 3 bedroom and 2 bath home overlooks a beautiful tree farm! Very spacious and open design with several upgrades including stainless steel appliances, upgraded carpet and pad, gibraltar countertops, 2 inch faux wood blinds, and more!
Offered at $118,831
Use North Texas Home Finders and save $9,000!
Special Price for our clients $109,831!!!
Article by Teresa Robinson, Owner/Buyer Specialist, North Texas Home Finders Contact Teresa at 972.335.0571 or Teresa@Northtexashomefinders.com and she can help you sell your home or find a new one!
Get a Buyer Specialist and rest easy! The builder pays our service charge from their advertising budget which is built into every home they sell. Since these fees do not come out of the home construction budget, you cannot negotiate one penny of a better deal alone. We also work with preowned homes where the seller pays our fees! Visit www.northtexashomefinders.com for more information.
Teresa Robinson is one of more than 400,000 members of the Real Estate BUYERS AGENT Council (REBAC) of the National Association of Realtors, who have attended the ABR, Accredited Buyer Representative, designation. As the world’s largest association of real estate professionals focusing specifically on representing the real estate buyer, REBAC is ”The Voice for Buyer Representation, ” with more than 44,000 active real estate professional members of the organization throughout the world.
1. Do You Have A Budget?- It is important to know what all of your monthly living expenses are before you take on a mortgage . You will need to speak with a Realtor and Loan Officer to help you determine the price range of a home that fits comfortably within your means. Also, if your coming from a smaller rental, you’ll need to factor in higher utility bills, homeowners insurance, property taxes, homeowners association fees, and maintenance/upkeep costs.
2. Do You Have A Down Payment?- In TX, homes up to $271,000.00 require you to put down at least 3.5% for an FHA loan. If you go conventional, it will be 5%. The more money you put down, the lower your monthly payment will be. Also, you might need extra money for closing costs. Oftentimes, your Realtor can ask the seller to pay for some or most of these costs during the negotiating process with the seller or new home builder.
3. Do You Have A Steady Source of Income?- Purchasing a home is a long- term committment. If you are in school, or thinking about making a job change, it might be best to wait to purchase a home. The loan officer will most likely have you provide currrent pay stubs, and tax returns before you are even approved for a loan.
4. Do You Have An Emergency Fund?- It would be ideal to have 6 months of living expenses in the bank, just in case something happens to your income — a major illness, layoff , or disaster that prevents you from working — you want to be certain you can still afford to make your monthly mortgage payments.
5. Are Your Debts Under Control?- Lenders will take a look at your debt-to-income ratio before loaning you money. They want to feel confident that you will have enough money to meet your obligations. Generally, they want to make sure your monthly housing costs — including principal, interest, taxes and insurance — will take up no more than 33% of your monthly gross income; and that your total debts, including your mortgage, credit cards, student loans and auto loans, will remain below 38% of your total income. So if you have large outstanding debts, it’s a good idea to try to pay them down before applying for a mortgage to make sure you can qualify for as much money as you’ll need. You should avoid taking on any new debt six months to one year prior to your home purchase, or you may throw your debt-to-income ratio off.
6.Is Your Credit Report in Good Condition?- You don’t have to have A+ credit to get a home loan, but a better credit rating can help you get a lower interest rate, thus a lower montly payment. There are free credit report sites that will allow you to pull your credit once a year. It’s a good idea to go ahead and get the report about 6 months before your purchase, so you can check for errors and get them removed before you apply for a loan.
7.Are You Prepared to Be a Landlord?- When you become a homeowner, you have many new responsibilities, worries and costs —similar to a landlord. If you rented a house or an apartment, you simply called the landlord if something broke. With your own home, you are responsible for repairs, upkeep, and yard work. If these tasks seem overwhelming or unaffordable, then renting may be the best option for you!
If you need a professional to find your next home…call: Amy Underwood, Owner/Buyer Specialist, North Texas Home Finders Contact Amy at 972.921.8787 or Amy@Northtexashomefinders.com .
Get a Buyer Specialist and rest easy! The seller/builder pays our service charge from their advertising budget which is built into every home they sell. Since these fees do not come out of the home construction budget, you cannot negotiate one penny of a better deal alone. We also work with preowned homes where the seller pays our fees! Visit www.northtexashomefinders.com for more information.
Beautiful 1.5 Story model home fully furnished in Frisco ISD! This home features 3 bedrooms, home office, 2.5 bathrooms, gameroom, and 2 car garage in 2,768 square feet on a corner homesite. You can even walk to the exemplary Frisco Elementary School and Community Pool.
Upgrades in the home include covered front and back porches, wired for surround sound, granite counters in kitchen with stainless steel appliances, 42 inch cabinets, and much more!
Was Priced at $277,623 Now Priced at $249,990! Hurry this home won’t last long at this price!
Call Teresa at her cell 214.475.1957 to schedule your exclusive viewing of this property!
Article by Teresa Robinson, Owner/Buyer Specialist, North Texas Home Finders Contact Teresa at 972.335.0571 or Teresa@Northtexashomefinders.com and she can help you sell your home or find a new one!
Get a Buyer Specialist and rest easy! The builder pays our service charge from their advertising budget which is built into every home they sell. Since these fees do not come out of the home construction budget, you cannot negotiate one penny of a better deal alone. We also work with preowned homes where the seller pays our fees! Visit www.northtexashomefinders.com for more information.
Teresa Robinson is one of more than 400,000 members of the Real Estate BUYERS AGENT Council (REBAC) of the National Association of Realtors, who have attended the ABR, Accredited Buyer Representative, designation. As the world’s largest association of real estate professionals focusing specifically on representing the real estate buyer, REBAC is ”The Voice for Buyer Representation, ” with more than 44,000 active real estate professional members of the organization throughout the world.
I surely do apologize folks, but I made an error on my blog post last week. My information source was from a local Builder’s Salesperson. When I was asked my source, I went to find the Salesperson’s source for the claim. He had heard it somewhere. That’s how it goes.
Google was next. I’ve searched high and low, but I could not find a deadline for amending 2008 returns to gain the credit.
Finally, I checked with my CPA. According to her, there is no specific deadline for amending your 2008 taxes to claim the tax credit. Tax returns can be amended for up to 3 years.
That’s good news for all you first-time homebuyers out there. If you close in August, you can still get your tax credit now. However, my CPA always recommends you look closely at your expected income for 2010. If your income has the possibility of dropping off, it might make more sense to wait to get the $8,000 tax credit next year to supplement your income.
Another error that has been reported our there is a deadline of June 30th to file the amended return. That date is getting confused with the deadline that was imposed last year, for the $7,500 tax credit. It does not apply in this case.
The one current deadline to remember is November 30th of this year. You must close on your home prior to that date. If you close on December 1st, you will not receive the tax credit as the current law is written.
Article by Chad Underwood, Owner/Broker, chad@northtexashomefinders.com, www.NorthTexasHomeFinders.com
