Not Many Foreclosures Are As Beautiful As This One In Bulverde Village San Antonio!

I have seen many foreclosures in my career as a San Antonio Realtor and have witnessed some real gag reflex beauties!  I toured this foreclosed home in Bulverde Village and was so impressed with it’s clean and crisp condition…no visible usual damage.  I would buy this house for myself if I needed a home!

Plenty of tile!

Everything you could want in an affordable home in North San Antonio!  I did mention affordable right?

For more information on this home call 210-883-4399 or go to www.HollyGHomes.com for a  free San Antonio home search.

Are You about to Make These First Time Home Buyer Mistakes?

There are plenty considerations to make when jumping off the fence to buy your first home.  Here are some biggies if you will:

1.  Have you considered the costs for repairs/maintenance and upkeep in addition to principal/interest/property tax/insurance expense?  There could also be HOA dues in addition to the monthly expenses of utilities….   2.  Have you spoken with a lender to qualify you, your employment and your cash reserves?  Have you found the right Realtor® to help you with neighborhoods and home values (never want to pay too much for the right home)  3.  Trying to save money and not get a home inspection….huge mistake.  It is always better to know more than not enough and that $300ish is a small drop in a big bucket.  4.  ”I only want to look at foreclosures or shortsales”  Just because your father or uncle somebody says those are the “best deals” doesn’t make it so.  Not that you shouldn’t consider them but you must have plenty of patience for these and many are “as is”….let the industry experts shed some light on these.  5.  Have you thought about resale for the property of your choice….you need to.  Choosing the right neighborhood and location is important since statistics show that you will probably only live here 5-7 years.

It is a great idea to assemble a great team to help you through making the best decisions for the home buying process.  For a FREE San Antonio home search or more information go to www.HollyGHomes.com

Buy a HUD Foreclosure Home With $100 Down Payment!

Scraping up a down payment holding you back from buying a home? HUD (US Dept of Housing and Urban Development) is now offering it’s $100 down till October 2012. There are a few rules to apply here (aren’t there always).
1. You must qualify for an FHA loan.
2. The home must be a HUD home.
3. You must use a HUD registered Realtor.
4. You must be willing to accept an “As Is” home.
5. You must plan to owner occupy this home.
There could be some closing cost assistance from HUD up to 3% and the home could qualify for a 203K FHA loan which would help with repairs/renovations. These HUD homes can be a great deal or a real money pit so be sure and get an inspection to asses the real “as is” condition.
HUD homes are sprinkled all over San Antonio…for a FREE San Antonio home search or more info go to www.HollyGHomes.com.

>8 Top Reasons for You to Buy a Home Now

>The media is all over the board when it comes to homeownership and buying a home in this market. Best time to buy….don’t buy now….blah blah blah…

Here is my ten eight reason’s to buy a home right now…and some of these reasons are timeless.

1. Current home prices are still great…good time to save money. It’s still a buyer’s market which makes it easier/acceptable to play hardball. Don’t try and catch the bottom of the market. No one knows where the bottom is till the market goes up and anywhere in this market will be great for the long haul.

2. Interest rates are at historic lows! I don’t have a crystal ball but they just can’t stay this low forever. The lower the rate, the more house you can buy for the same payment.

3. Uncle Sam Tax Break. If you itemize your taxes, you can deduct your mortgage interest and your property taxes every year. You don’t get that opportunity when you rent!

4. It’s your home….you will be able to do whatever you want in your new home…paint or move your walls as you wish!

5. Investment for your future. Buying a home is not a get rich quick solution. At least you will be putting your money in a vessel you can sell when you wish.

6. Can be cheaper than renting. In some markets, the payment on a home you will own can be less expensive than renting a home/apartment of a lesser quality and space.

7. Large Home inventory for better choices….relocations, foreclosures, and lots of unsold human preowned.

8. Markets are cyclical and this one will change too eventually….the glut will disappear and the interest rates will go up….we just don’t know when.

For more information or a free San Antonio home search go to http://www.HollyGHomes.com

>Mortgage Interest Rates Hitting Some Lows!

>Even though the tax credit is gone buying a home with the interest rates this low can really reduce that mortgage payment. So you could buy more house for the same payment or buy a home at the price originally considered and walk away with a lesser payment.

At this moment, a “well qualified” buyer could possibly get a conventional 30 year fixed rate note at 4.5% or an FHA 30 year fixed note at around 4.4% or less…check with your favorite lender to verify rates.

This could be a great time to refinance your home as well. A good rule of thumb would be for the new rate to be at least 2 percentage points lower than your current rate.

For more information or a free San Antonio home search go to http://www.HollyGHomes.com.

>Fannie Mae Assistance to Home Buyers

>For all of you would be home buyer’s here in beautiful San Antonio…There is more assistance in $$$$ to help you buy a home.

From 1/28/10 till 4/30/10 Fannie Mae is offering a 3.5% incentive on it’s homes…that would be 3.5% of the purchase price to be applied as you choose to your closing costs or to new Whirlpool Appliances or mix as you wish.

For information go to http://www.Homepath.com or visit my website at http://www.HollyGHomes.com for more info or a free San Antonio home search.

Most importantly, don’t forget that the 8K tax credit will come to an end and that you must be under contract by April 30, 2010 and close by June 30, 2010 to qualify.

>Proposed Mortgage Lending Changes

>Just when you thought it was safe to go in the water….
FHA notes currently require a 3.5% down payment and the ability to allow a seller to contribute up to 6% toward a buyer’s closing costs. The proposed changes for the spring or early summer of 2010 will remain 3.5% down with a good credit score and will rise to a wopping 10% down for scores under 580…
Seller contribution will also be reduced from 6% to 3%.
Now if that’s not enough to get a contemplating buyer off the fence, the FED will be winding down some of their current programs that have been keeping the interest rates low.
So buy now and get a great interest rate and the seller to pay for your closing costs with minimal downpayment…or wait till later and see what it could cost you.
Currently our San Antonio housing market has much to choose from with great pricing…our home values here didn’t take a nose dive and they are starting to improve in many locations…so I wouldn’t anticipate a lowering there with the exception of the foreclosed homes.
For more information or a free San Antonio Home search go to http://www.HollyGHomes.com.

>2814 Crusader Bend…Home for Sale in Cibolo!

>This beautiful one story home has a wonderful open floor plan and what a deal…! Smart elegant and spacious living close to Randolph AFB, great shopping and dining. Sprinkler system and covered patio in a very peaceful neighborhood.

For more information on this listing or a free San Antonio home search, go to http://www.HollyGHomes.com and don’t forget the clock is ticking on the home buying tax credit!

>Strong & Stable Real Estate Market in San Antonio

>There are many contributors to the strength of the San Antonio Real Estate Market…our strong Military Bases, New business and new employment, tourism and our great Texas weather.

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro gives a great summation of conditions here. Texas is a great place to be from an economic (among others) standpoint!

For more information or a free San Antonio Home search go to http://www.HollyGHomes.com

>Why Hasn’t my House Sold Yet???

>…Well there are 4 Prongs to getting a home sold: Price, Condition, Location, Marketing.
1. Pricing your home correctly is more important than ever in this market. It is still a buyer’s market so attracting more qualified buyers is crucial. You will have missed opportunities if your home is overpriced for your neighborhood. Now with all of the mortgage reform, the price of the home must pass the appraiser…their processes and standards have become much more stringent.
2. Condition…There are many homes on the market today so yours must win the beauty contest to be sold. The home must have great curb appeal, be clean and uncluttered, and staging doesn’t hurt either.
3. Location…this is one of those things that we can’t change but directly effects whether or not someone will be attracted to your home…next to a busy street, power lines, landfill…whatever someone might not find appealing.
4. Marketing…In addition to your agent putting your home in the local Multiple Listing Service, your home should be advertised in at least 30 different internet listing portals, great photos, and perhaps a virtual tour.

For more information or help with listing your home in San Antonio, go to my website at http://www.HollyGHomes or email me at hollyg@kw.com.