There’s no denying that Austin is in a red-hot housing market right now. The question on everyone’s mind as rent and home prices continue to rise is: should I rent or buy? Here are some key things to consider as you proceed with this decision. Down Payments One of the biggest arguments we hear from people wanting to buy is that they just can’t find the money for a down payment. Down payments...
For many homeowners, their kitchen is their pride and joy. But it can be daunting to keep track of your kitchen maintenance. With this checklist, you don’t need to worry about missing tasks or neglecting the heart of your home. It’s all right here. Refrigerator Cleanliness Take time to wipe the inside and outside, sweep under and around the exterior, clean the coils, and check the door...
Buying a home virtually is the new standard, thanks to the pandemic. Virtual and video tours replaced open houses, and buyers bought homes without viewing them in person. Here are two crucial tips to find your dream home virtually this year. Tip #1 to Finding Your Dream Home Virtually: Be Open-Minded Be realistic about your expectations for your future dream home and how it appears on a...
It's no secret that the Austin real estate market is more competitive than ever! If you’re in the market right now, you’ll need a few strategies to rise to the top of the pack when there are multiple offers. In a regular market, multiple offers sometimes happen, but in this market - it’s safe to call them all-out bidding wars! A bidding war occurs when potential buyers compete...
Last blog post, we covered an introduction to home improvement loans, an FHA 203(K) loan, an FHA Title 1 Property Improvement Loan, and the advantages and disadvantages of each one. In this post, we’ll continue the conversation by discussing the four other options: Home Equity Loans (HEL), Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC), Personal Loans, and Credit Cards. Types of Home Improvement Loans Home...
In today’s real estate market, where buyers compete with several other buyers, some are trying to get an edge by forfeiting the home inspection. This can be a problem if the home has structural damage, as the buyer wouldn’t know about it until later. Whether you’re a buyer or investor looking to improve your already existing property, here is an introduction to home improvement loans. We’ll cover...
You beat the intense competition in this seller’s market and have bought a house. Congratulations! Now comes the fun, and sometimes expensive part, moving in and making your home move-in ready. Here are four projects you should do ASAP to get your home move-in ready and how to keep it affordable. Move-in Ready Project #1: Change or Replace Locks This move-in ready project is about safety first since...
Buying a home is a massive milestone for many people, and it’s one you should be able to achieve. We understand that between closing costs and a 20% down payment, it’s a significant investment, and sometimes, no matter how much you save, it won’t be enough. Especially now that the median sales price has almost increased by 50%! But we’re here to reassure you that you can still buy a home without a...
We’re sure you’ve heard this saying over and over again but, we’re going to repeat it! The housing market is insane right now! There’s a high demand for houses but little inventory, which creates a seller’s market. It works in favor of sellers and might hurt buyers, but there’s a tactic changing the real estate market. It’s called an appraisal waiver. What is an appraisal waiver? An...
Prepare for buying a home by not just saving for a down payment, closing costs, and bills. There are a couple of other big expense items you want to be able to buy after moving in and paying for the essentials. Here are the three: Maintenance and repairs Being a homeowner means you are now responsible for the maintenance of your house. Maintenance is crucial because it helps avoid those...