Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We know this time of year can get very busy, so we just wanted to take a moment to wish you happy holidays!  

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Friends, 

We know this time of year can get very busy, so we just wanted to take a moment to wish you happy holidays! 

We’d like to take a minute to thank you for your continued support this year. We wouldn’t be where we are today without you. It has been our pleasure to help make your real estate dreams come true. 

We hope you enjoy this holiday season and make some wonderful memories with your friends and family. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. 

Remember, we are always here to help you in any way we can. Just give us a call. 

Happy Holidays!

Why Should You Buy a Home During the Holidays?

Here are five reasons you should buy your new home during the holidays.

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If you are in the market for a new home, you may be wondering when the best time to buy is. Here are five reasons you should purchase your new home during the holidays.

1. There is less market activity. All of the family, school, and work activities happening at this time combined with the colder weather lead to fewer real estate transactions over the holidays. This means there will be less competition to face. 

2. Sellers are motivated. People who have their homes on the market at this time often have a great incentive to sell. If their home has been on the market for awhile or they are looking to relocate for a job, they want to get their home sold as soon as possible.

They want to get their home sold as soon as possible.

3. There are potential tax benefits. If you itemize your taxes, you can deduct any points you paid upon closing, as well as property taxes and mortgage interest. This will depend on how many other deductions you have this year, but there’s a chance you’ll have a real advantage.

4. You’ll get a better interest rate. Due to limited demand, there will be more competition among lenders during the holidays. 

5. Homes close faster. Lenders want to close their books, agents want to get their commission, and sellers want to move into their new home before the end of the year. You might even get settled into your new home before the holidays! 

If you have any questions feel free to give me a call or send me an email. Happy holidays!

Using the Holidays to Your Advantage When Selling

If you’re selling your home and thinking about staging, you can use holiday decorations to your advantage. Here’s how.

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When it comes to home staging, holiday decor can actually help sell your house. 

The first thing to remember is that going overboard on decorations can actually keep your home from selling; you need to strike the right balance. The ‘less is more' mantra may tempt you to skip the decorations, but a few subtle touches like a pinecone centerpiece, an evergreen wreath, or a simmering pot of cider on the stove can all create a warm and festive feeling for buyers.

You want to avoid overly-religious flourishes because they could be off-putting to some buyers. You want to keep your walkways clean and clear, too, rather than having festive decorations turn into tripping hazards.

Don’t hide your home’s best assets, highlight them!

Remember not to hide your home’s best assets, either. For example, don’t cover every inch of your fireplace mantle. Instead, showcase it with a select few holiday items. Try to highlight key areas of your home with stylish fall decor, a tray of cookies, or a well-placed Christmas tree.

If you have any questions about decorating a home you’re selling or you’re just thinking about buying or selling a home in the McAllen market, give me a call or send me an email. I’d love to help!

The #1 Mistake Home Sellers Should Avoid

If you are preparing your home for the market, you have to declutter your property. Where do you start? I’ll give you a few tips today.

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The number one mistake most sellers make when putting their homes on the market is not decluttering their homes. Decluttering is a simple, easy thing to do, but not cleaning up can cost you thousands of dollars on your home sale. 

These days, 90% to 95% of buyers begin their home search online, which means that your first home showing is on the Internet. If your home is cluttered and not photographed properly, buyers will eliminate it from their wish list quickly.

So, how do you start? I recommend going through your home and looking for things you want to throw away and give away. Then, start packing the things you want to keep. Fill as many medium-sized boxes as you can and put them in storage before your home goes on the market. 

Get rid of things you don’t want anymore and pack the items you want to keep.

You should also clear off the counters and the fridge. Store extra furniture to make your home look more spacious. You should also pack away knick-knacks, books, and personal items to give your home a more neutral feel. That way, potential buyers can imagine themselves living in your home more easily.

Once your home is decluttered, you will be amazed at how great your home looks, and so will buyers. Decluttering helps you get the highest possible sales price in the shortest amount of time possible. 

If you have any questions about decluttering or you’re not sure where to start, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

2 Unique Opportunities for Sellers in the Fall

Sometimes it pays to go against the crowd. Don’t wait to list your home in the spring just because everyone else does; instead, consider these two great reasons to list this fall.

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As you probably know, spring is the season when most people in the McAllen area put their homes on the market. As a result, summer is the time when most homes sell.

That said, there are two great reasons why you should put your house on the market this fall. Sometimes it pays to go against the crowd.

First of all, because so many people list during the spring, you will face less competition by listing in the fall.

Sometimes it pays to go against the crowd!

Secondly, buyers in the fall tend to be more motivated. These buyers have been looking for a home for several months and want to move in before the holidays. As a result, they are more willing to make a deal.

If you have any other questions about our current market or about preparing your home to sell this fall, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

How to Shorten Your Mortgage by 8 Years

Many would like to pay their house off in 15 years but can't afford the monthly rate of a 15-year loan. Here’s how to pay off a 30-year loan in just 22 years.

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There is a way to knock eight years off the life of your mortgage, and I wanted to share it with you today.

This is a great trick for all of the people out there who would love to pay off their home in 15 years but instead usually opt for a 30-year loan with more affordable monthly payments. With this trick, you can split the difference and turn a 30-year mortgage into a 22-year mortgage.

All you have to do is make one extra payment per year.

Say you come into some extra money, you get a bonus, or it's tax refund season, and you can afford to make a 13th payment at some point during the year—that 13th yearly payment will knock eight years off the life of your mortgage.

All you have to do is make one extra payment per year.

That's not the only way to do it, either. The second strategy is especially helpful for the people who get paid on a bi-weekly basis. Instead of making a monthly payment, talk to your mortgage company about setting up bi-weekly payments on your mortgage. There are 52 weeks in a year, so if you make a half-payment every other week rather than a full payment every month, you pay the equivalent of 13 full payments over the course of the year.

This is one of my absolute favorite tips for homeowners and home buyers. Think of the savings on interest!

I hope you found this tip helpful. If you have any questions for me about shortening the life of your mortgage or about the greater McAllen market, don't hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I'd love to help you out.

Current Market Conditions in the Greater McAllen Area

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We’ve got a quick overview to share with you today of the current market conditions in the Greater McAllen Area. The latest numbers are in, and we’re excited to share them with you.

A lot of people have been asking lately if it’s a great time to sell, and we say absolutely yes, it is. Here are three reasons why:

1. Our median home price is up 8% from this time last year.

2. Our listing inventory is down by 16.2% from this time last year.

3. Homes are now selling in an average of only 87 days.

It’s a great time to sell.

If you’re thinking of buying, selling, or investing in real estate, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.