FOR BUYERS: GETTING YOUR HOME INSPECTED AND THE QUESTIONS TO ASK It’s inspection time! The home inspection is a very important step in making sure you understand the condition of the house you’re about to purchase. Because the information is going to be very important to you as you make your decision on your purchase, I wanted to send this article to you on what questions to ask the inspector. As an Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®), my goal is to make you a happy homeowner long after you close. Please let me know if you have any questions. I look forward to working with you!  5 Questions to Ask Home Inspectors. Copyright © 2014. The Housing Block. All Rights Reserved.

For Buyers: Learning From Their Mistakes

FOR BUYERS: LEARNING FROM THEIR MISTAKES

We all learn from our mistakes, and it’s extremely beneficial for first-time home buyers to look at how they can do things differently than previous buyers. Check out this article that I found, it is a great way to make sure you are knowledgeable about the process and prepared to take the next step.  As an Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®), I’ve pretty much seen it all when it comes to home purchases, so please let me know if you have any questions. You come first!

Top 10 Mistakes Home Buyers Make by Sheila Bonnette. Copyright © 2014. Choice Title Inc. All Rights Reserved. 

For Buyers: The Down Payment

FOR BUYERS: THE DOWN PAYMENT

Port Aransas, TX - Saving for a down payment on a home can seem like a difficult goal to accomplish. But, if you have a solid plan in place and stick to it, home ownership will be achievable. I came across this article that offers some great tips on how to begin saving for a down payment. As an Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®), I’ve helped all types of buyers achieve their dream of owning a home. I also have a great network of professionals that can help every step of the way. I look forward to working with you.

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Struggling to Save for Your Down Payment? You Aren’t the Only One. 
Copyright © 2014. Mortgage Architects™. All Rights Reserved.

For Buyers : Must Know Financing Options for an REO Property

For Buyers : 

MUST KNOW FINANCING OPTIONS FOR AN REO PROPERTY

Port Aransas, TX - Have you considered a REO property, or a house that has been foreclosed on and was unable to sell at auction? If you have, make sure you know all the options and details when it comes to buying a REO home. I found this article that gives insight into REO properties, and how to go about financing one. As an Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®), my goal is to make sure you are well educated in the home buying process. Please contact me with any questions or concerns about buying.

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Must-Know Financing Options for an REO Property by Craig Donofrio. Copyright © 1995-2014. National Association of REALTORS® and Move, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Search Sites for REO Properties:

See homes in Corpus Christi area

      See homes in Corpus Christi area

Remodeling for Departing Kids and Returning Parents

 Port Aransas, TX. - The American family is ever-changing, and its primary space, the home, has always changed with it. The present day is no exception: The largest segment of the American public, the baby boom generation, is entering retirement age in high numbers, and confronting “empty nests” when the kids go off to college or marry and move out permanently, presenting the challenge of what to do with the sudden extra space (since most “boomers” prefer to “age in place” rather than leave their long-time homes).

There is also the perennial family responsibility of caring for older relatives as their health needs require them to move back in with their grown children and in-laws. Extended families (including grandparents raising their grandchildren) have also become more commonplace. Situations like these can pose the challenge not of how to deal with extra space, but how best to add more.

Changes which only affect the inside of a house can be the simpler type, but are not necessarily any easier a decision. However, there are a number of inviting options to consider. Mature baby boomers who are ready to enjoy the fruits of a lifetime of work and have the funds to invest in doing so, are converting the extra space vacated by the kids into everything from “wine cellars” to libraries.

Home offices are popular, and tap into a growing trend. They come in handy for organization and privacy, whether you’ve got a business or merely need a space to keep your bills and personal files straight.

Hobbies are big with boomers, so a hobby room for sewing and other crafts makes sense. A small home gym, with treadmill, weights and a TV to pass the time, is also a good investment for both fun and health.

On the other hand, many of today’s homeowners are opting to add that extra room – or rooms – if they don’t already have one, for entertaining guests, housing returning relatives, or setting up a separate but accessible space for an elderly parent or in-law. Before you do this, there are a number of questions to address, including what local zoning ordinances will allow for additions, and how the aesthetics and size of the addition will affect resale value. 

There are also family matters to make sure everyone understands. While some younger families move grandma in with them, some older ones sell the house to a son or daughter and move into the addition themselves.; In all such situations, it’s important to agree beforehand who owns what part of the house, whether rent will be charged, who will pay for any extra utility or property-tax costs, and other sensitive issues that don’t have to become divisive ones.

Jannine is one of more than 40,000 members of the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council (REBAC) of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, who have attained the Accredited Buyer’s Representative designation. The Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) designation is designed for real estate buyer agents who focus on working directly with buyer-clients.  Having an ABR® can guide you through structuring your offer and negotiation strategy.

To receive a free copy of the REBAC-published “Homebuyer’s Toolkit,” call (361)688-0067.

Moving With Less Stress for Your Pets

Port Aransas, TX. - Anyone who has ever moved knows that there are seemingly a million and one tasks to remember, from selecting a moving company to switching off utilities. All of the adjustments and changes involved in moving to a new home can be even more challenging when you have a pet. But there are ways to prepare to minimize the stress to your furred, feathered and finned friends.

 The preparation process can be as crucial a stage as the move itself – familiar settings are disrupted as furniture gets moved and belongings packed away. A cat or dog will wonder who all these strangers are (potential buyers, inspectors, movers, etc.) and what’s happening to the pet’s familiar “territory” (changed location of litter boxes, favorite sleeping places, etc.) – which is how an animal sees your home.

For that reason, it’s actually a good idea to change the “landscape” a little more – on the animal’s behalf. Designate a room to remain just for your pet while the move proceeds around them, with their familiar toys, food and water bowls, sandbox (for cats), and so forth. This way they’ll have a reassuring (if rearranged) space to spend the moving process in. It will also minimize the chance of escape by anxious animals while people are coming and going from your house more than usual, and reduce the danger of a scared cat hiding itself in the moving boxes with potentially tragic results.

Such precautions help calm your pet for the developments ahead – the move itself is stressful for pets and people alike, though this too can be minimized. If you’re flying, check ahead to see which airlines allow pets as “carry-ons.” The cargo bay is a possibility, but will isolate and possibly frighten your pet. In either case, anxiety and exposure to the elements will be lessened if you can book a direct flight.

If you drive, make sure you know where to find hotels that allow pets rather than leaving them in the vehicle (never a good idea in terms of safety or exposure to changing temperatures), and, especially with a dog, schedule frequent “rest stops” for both animal and owner. For birds, rodents and fish, “homes away from home” can work well – transport your bird or hamster in its cage, and your fish in a plastic container of water, roomy enough for the number of fish and changed regularly for long trips.

It’s always a useful idea to consult a veterinarian for all the fine points, and a qualified real estate professional to help with all the questions a house-move poses; pet-compatible services are one of many matters a real estate sales associate can look into for you. With some advance planning and help from local experts, Fido’s longest walk can have a happy destination.

Jannine is one of more than 40,000 members of the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council (REBAC) of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, who have attained the Accredited Buyer’s Representative designation. The Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) designation is designed for real estate buyer agents who focus on working directly with buyer-clients.  Having an ABR® can guide you through structuring your offer and negotiation strategy.

To receive a free copy of the REBAC-published “Homebuyer’s Toolkit,” call (361)688-0067.

New Kid on the Block: Moving With Children

Port Aransas, TX. - Moving is a major change for all members of a family. Adult responsibilities weigh heavily when keeping track of all the tasks needed to make a move go smoothly. If you have children, this may be a difficult time to focus on their problems, too, but it’s also one of the most crucial times to keep their concerns in mind.

Sometimes what seems like a major disruption to grownups is viewed as an adventure to the kids. Still,  changing homes can also upset feelings of stability (in the case of younger children) and belonging (in the case of teens). These are special concerns for these age groups.

The most important thing a parent can do is maintain normal routines as much as possible – and when it isn’t possible, to let the kids know that apprehension about a big life change is normal, too. Try to keep calm about the move yourself, and your children will be more likely to follow your lead. It is advisable to be open about what’s happening and how everyone feels about it. 

This means keeping your kids in the loop at each stage of the move. They don’t have to get a vote, but it helps everyone for them to get increasingly used to the idea of this change. Bring them along when you look at houses, make them familiar with the new area you’re moving to, and investigate its attractions (including the athletic or extra-curricular offerings that appeal to your kids). Exploring some of this on the Internet is a good way to relate your relocation to an activity they already enjoy.

Encourage your children to express any worries, and do what you can to reassure them. If you went through similar experiences as a child, you can share how you dealt with it – if it was easy, so much the better, and if it was hard, your children will know they’re not the only ones who have ever had to deal with change.

Other neighborhood kids may grow distant when they know a friend is leaving. This is hurtful to your own children, but try and explain that some kids aren’t yet mature enough to handle it another way, and that it isn’t your kids’ or even the others’ fault.  

 

Minimizing transitions and heading off family disputes are each essential to a smooth move with children. Try and arrange visits to the new school and meetings with the new teachers before the school year or semester starts. When you have more than one child, make bedroom assignments in the new house as soon as possible to avoid sibling strife (comfort, privacy and age seniority are all issues of kid politics that it is sometimes easy for grownups to forget).

Above all, be open and patient. If you pay the right attention, you will be letting your children know that, move or no move, the most important people in their life aren’t going anywhere.

Jannine is one of more than 40,000 members of the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council (REBAC) of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, who have attained the Accredited Buyer’s Representative designation. The Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) designation is designed for real estate buyer agents who focus on working directly with buyer-clients.  Having an ABR® can guide you through structuring your offer and negotiation strategy.

To receive a free copy of the REBAC-published “Homebuyer’s Toolkit,” call (361)688-0067.