Friday, November 27, 2009

Buying a Home for the Holidays!

While change is always difficult to approach with it's unknown outcome, it brings with it the opportunity for opportunity! The Real Estate market of 2009 has deviated from past markets with tighter requirements for financing and irregular pricing, however, there exists many wonderful choices especially for those that qualify for the recent tax incentives. The importance of minding your financial health takes on a new meaning in this discerning environment for mortgage approval but if you can make some changes and even a few sacrifices, you may be able to buy yourself a home for the holidays! If you do not have the means to be able to access your credit report, consider signing up for one of the services that allow you to monitor it and watch for irregularities that could affect your score. If you have not started to save some cash towards your purchase, you may also want to sit down and figure out how to do without some of your unnecessary expenditures such as brewing coffee at home instead of stopping by your favorite spot each morning for a latte, or taking your lunch to the office. Just a few small lifestyle changes might be able to afford you that Home for the Holidays you have always hoped for before years end!

Monday, November 23, 2009

Local Home Sales Up in 2009!

Are you still sitting around wondering when it will be the right time to sell your home or buy a new one? Well, get off of the sofa, because the news is here! Home sales are up this quarter and there are no signs that will change! Interest rates are favorable, inventories are good and the Tax Credit is icing on the cake! Afraid that your home might sell for less than you expect? Well, chances are the one you buy might also, so take the leap and get out there and make your move! While there has been a correction in the market, prices are holding substantially higher than overall predictions and economic conditions are believed to be doing the same. Pick up the newspaper or check out the latest news predictions for 2010. I think you will agree that while things are not expected to be rising at rapid rates, we have some signs that the correction in the market might be the reason for the stability that is expected for the first quarter of the coming year. So go ahead and put the kids in the car and check out the open houses this Sunday and talk to your real estate professional about listing your existing home. Remember, if you can get your closing to happen before year end, you will be eligible for the Homestead exemption and that can mean a savings of around 20% on your property taxes in Texas!