How Much Is My Home Worth? by Steve Wadkins
As a real estate professional, one of the things I get asked the most is how much a person’s home is worth. This infographic illustrates some aspects that could alter the value of your home and will assess the differences between the homeowner’s perception and the appraiser reality.
If you want to know what your house is worth, here is a link http://werealestategroup.com/valuation-form/ or call me at 702-281-8288 for a Free Valuation Report.
Steve Wadkins – Broker/Owner
We Real Estate Group
702-281-8288
Read More
4 Things to Consider Before You List by Steve Wadkins
Simple things like fresh paint, new carpet, and a professional landscaping job can be low in upfront cost, but high in resale value. These are only some of the things you can do before you list.
Are you ready for Steve Wadkins to come to your house to give you advise before you List your property for sale? Call 702-281-8288
Steve Wadkins – Broker/Owner
We Real Estate Group
702-281-8288
Read More
The Many Faces of Home-Buying by Gerri Wadkins
Buying a home can be a very emotional process, but don’t get lost in the roller coaster. I’m here to help you navigate through these emotions, so contact me today! 702-591-2576
Gerri Wadkins – Realtor/Owner
We Real Estate Group
702-591-2576
Read More
In many markets across the country, the number of buyers searching for their dream homes outnumbers the number of homes for sale. This has led to a competitive marketplace where buyers often need to stand out. One way to show you are serious about buying your dream home is to get pre-qualified or pre-approved for a mortgage before starting your search.
Even if you are in a market that is not as competitive, understanding your budget will give you the confidence of knowing if your dream home is within your reach.
Freddie Mac lays out the advantages of pre-approval in the ‘My Home’ section of their website:
“It’s highly recommended that you work with your lender to get pre-approved before you begin house hunting. Pre-approval will tell you how much home you can afford and can help you move faster, and with greater confidence, in competitive markets.”
One of the many advantages of working with a local real estate professional is that many have relationships with lenders who will be able to help you through this process. Once you have selected a lender, you will need to fill out their loan application and provide them with important information regarding “your credit, debt, work history, down payment and residential history.”
Freddie Mac describes the ‘4 Cs’ that help determine the amount you will be qualified to borrow:
- Capacity: Your current and future ability to make your payments
- Capital or cash reserves: The money, savings, and investments you have that can be sold quickly for cash
- Collateral: The home, or type of home, that you would like to purchase
- Credit: Your history of paying bills and other debts on time
Getting pre-approved is one of many steps that will show home sellers that you are serious about buying, and it often helps speed up the process once your offer has been accepted.
Bottom Line
Many potential homebuyers overestimate the down payment and credit scores necessary to qualify for a mortgage today. If you are ready and willing to buy, you may be pleasantly surprised at your ability to do so.
Gerri Wadkins – Realtor/Owner
We Real Estate Group
702-591-2576
Read More
Some Highlights:
- The cost of waiting to buy is defined as the additional funds it would take to buy a home if prices & interest rates were to increase over a period of time.
- Freddie Mac predicts interest rates to rise to 5.2% by the third quarter of 2019.
- CoreLogic predicts home prices to appreciate by 5.1% over the next 12 months.
- If you are ready and willing to buy your dream home, find out if you are able to!
Steve Wadkins – Broker/Owner
We Real Estate Group
702-281-8288
Read More
For a while now baby boomers have been blamed for a portion of the housing market’s current lack of housing inventory, but should they really be getting the blame?
Here’s what some of the experts have to say on the subject:
Aaron Terrazas, Senior Economist at Zillow, says that “Boomers are healthier and working longer than previous generations, which means they aren’t yet ready to sell their homes.”
According to a study by Realtor.com, 85% of baby boomers indicated they were not planning to sell their homes.
It is true that baby boomers are healthier and are thus working and living longer, but are they also refusing to sell their homes?
Last month, Trulia looked at the housing situation of seniors (aged 65+) today compared to that of a decade ago. Trulia’sstudy revealed that:
“Although seniors appear to be delaying downsizing until later in life, as a group, households 65 and over are still downsizing at roughly the same rate as in years past.”
Trulia also explains that,
“5.5% of households 65 and over moved, pretty evenly split between moves to single family (2.7%) and multifamily (2.4%) homes. In 2005, these percentages were virtually the same, with 5.5% of senior households moving, including 2.5% into single family and 2.5% into multifamily homes.”
So, if these percentages are the same, what is the challenge?
Recent reports tell us that the older population grew from 3 million in 1900 to 47.8 million in 2017.
In addition, the Census recently revised the numbers from their National Population Projections:
“The aging of baby boomers means that within just a couple decades, older people are projected to outnumber children for the first time in U.S. history…By 2035, there will be 78.0 million people 65 years and older compared to 76.7 million under the age of 18.”
Bottom Line
If you are a baby boomer who is not sure whether you should downsize or move to a warmer climate (other people are doing it, why not you?), let’s get together so we can help you evaluate your options today!
Steve Wadkins
We Real Estate Group
702-281-8288
Read More
If you’re selling your home, chances are good you’re familiar with the concept of staging your home. Real estate agents recommend your home look its best to prospective buyers, and home staging is a great way to ensure you receive top dollar. For our Home Staging we use Sweetland Interior Design 702-413-2774.
But did you know you should stage the exterior of your home too? Failing to update the look of your home’s exterior can cause buyers to get a bad first impression when they initially arrive to view your home. Whether your audience are luxury home buyers or you are selling your starter home, staging the exterior of your home will have a major impact in the sale of your home.
If you want to put exterior home staging to work, here are five elements you should consider tweaking.
Clean Your Exterior Windows and Screens
Nothing says poor maintenance like dirty windows and window screens. If your windows are caked with dust or muck from the last rainstorm, open house visitors are going to wonder what other maintenance jobs you haven’t attended to. Don’t give visitors the opportunity to question whether your home has been properly maintained or not; clean those windows and screens before authorizing an open house.
Refresh Your Gardens and Walkways
Just like dirty windows are a real estate faux pas, so are unkempt flower beds. Weeds and overgrown bushes tell visitors you can’t be bothered with the small stuff. Spend a day removing weeds and trimming flowers, or hire a professional landscaper to refresh your gardens. Landscape Company we use is Nevada Lawn Enforcement 702-742-3913. It is amazing what a refreshed garden can do to your home’s curb appeal.
Update/Clean Door Fixtures and House Address Signage
Something as simple as a new doorknob or address signage can give your home a refreshed look. You needn’t spring for a new door; just update the faceplate and/or doorknob. Purchase new address numbers from the local hardware store and you’ll have tweaked the look of your home’s exterior in just a few minutes.
Clean Patio Furniture
Whether you have chairs on your front veranda or a dining set on your back deck, tired patio furniture can cost you big dollars when it comes time to negotiate with a potential homebuyer. Dilapidated patio furniture instantly gives a bad impression and can cause potential homebuyers to request replacement furniture as part of their deal. Spruce up your existing furniture with a quick power wash, or replace it if it is beyond cleaning.
Simple tweaks to the exterior of your home can have a big impact on your home’s final selling price. By spending just a few days improving the look of the outside of your home, you can increase the amount buyers are willing to offer and make your home the cleanest real estate listing on the block. Will you be trying these exterior home staging tricks when you list your home for sale?
“We Have The Key To Your New Home”
Steve & Gerri Wadkins
Broker/Owner
We Real Estate Group
702-281-8288 702-591-2576
http://www.WeRealEstateGroup.com
Read More
“Requiring a homeowner to pay income tax on forgiven or canceled mortgage debt would make the National Mortgage Settlement much less effective,” the letter states. The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act and Debt Cancellation
The act, which is set to expire December 31, 2012, allows taxpayers to be excluded from paying taxes on forgiven debt from a foreclosure, short sale, or loan modification… In a release, Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto explained the act is expiring at a time when homeowners are benefiting from the national mortgage settlement, which obligates five of the largest mortgage services to provide $20 billion in credited consumer relief.
http://www.dsnews.com/articles/forty-one-ags-sign-letter-urging-congress-to-extend-debt-relief-act-2012-11-20 RT #DSNEWS #WadkinsRealEstate
Read More
A reduction in premiums for mortgages could save an average borrower $1,000 a year on a $200,000 loan. Read this article below by NAR
http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2015/01/08/fha-lowers-its-harangued-mortgage-costs
Steve Wadkins
702-281-8288
Read More
The start of a new year brings excellent news for homeowners and homebuyers. The US housing market is finally on its feet again.
Over the last few years, the housing market recovered quickly. Home sale prices skyrocketed as foreclosures and short sales slowed, and millions of homeowners nationwide regained equity in their homes.
Today, we can finally say that the housing market is officially back. The vital signs of a healthy market are all there. From home prices to inventory, homebuyers and sellers are looking at a market full of opportunities.
If you’ve been waiting to sell your home, now may be the perfect time! Contact me today!
Sincerely,
Steve Wadkins, Gerri Wadkins
Read More
