Life in North Texas... by a Realtor®

Frisco, Texas Makes the "Nice" List!

Frisco, Texas makes the "nice" list! Another great reason to buy a home in the Frisco area... if you would like to find your dream home, call me today at (214) 909-8008. Read on to find out more about Frisco making the "nice" list:

Frisco, TX Makes the "Nice" List!

 

5 Helpful Tips for House Hunters - What You Need to Know!

FIVE TIPS FOR HOUSE HUNTERS

The following tips can help homebuyers define their priorities and streamline the process of shopping for a home.

1 - Location matters. Location is a key consideration when choosing a home. Many factors can affect the desirability of a location including commute times to work, proximity to schools, and access to shopping, restaurants and other neighborhood attractions.

2 - List what you want in a home. You'll save hours of time if you decide early what features are most important. Your goal should be to find the right home without falling in love with one that may not suit your needs.

3 - Obtain a pre-qualification letter from a mortgage lender rather than guessing how much you are qualified to borrow. A buyer pre-qualified for a loan is often in a stronger negotiating position.

4 - Take good notes about the homes you visit. Turn your priorities into a personal checklist and use it to track the features of each property.

5 - A real estate professional can save a great deal of time and effort. Today's homebuyers have access to a wealth of information, but may not have a way to tailor it to their needs. That's where a real estate professional can be of great assistance.

If you need a Realtor to assist you, don't hesitate to contact me today! I will help you find your dream home, and have your best interests at heart.

Top Ten - Best of the Best!

The Top 10 Neighborhoods - The Best of the Best

It is wonderful to see the Frisco neighborhoods included in this list, and I have to agree with the writer, as I live in one of these neighborhoods myself and absolutely love it!

Take a look and let me know if you agree:

Top Ten - Best of the Best

Know Exactly What You're Buying!

When you buy a North Texas home, you need to know exactly what you’re buying. Imagine how frustrated you’d be to find out that the hot water heater wasn’t working—in the middle of a shower! This is why you should have a home inspection before you buy your home. A home inspection is an important part of buying your home. Before you hire a home inspector, ask candidates a few questions to make sure you hire a trustworthy inspector.

• 1. What does your inspection cover? Not all inspections are the same. Ask for copies of previous home inspections so you can see exactly what they will check inside the home. If you are concerned about something specific, like a leaky faucet in the bathroom, mention that to the inspector so they can check it out.
  
  
• 2. Are you licensed or certified? If you live in a state that licenses home inspectors, ask to see their license. At the very least, choose a home inspector who belongs to American Society of Home Inspectors. This shows a level of professionalism and education that you can trust.
  
  
• 3. What kind of report will you give me? You should expect a written report detailing what the inspector found. Most inspectors will give you a typed report within a week of the inspection. Make sure the inspector will be available to explain anything on the report that doesn’t make sense to you.
  
  
• 4. Will I be able to attend the inspection? If the inspector refuses to let you be present during the home inspection, find someone else. This is your chance to know exactly what you are buying and what potential repairs you or the seller will have to make.

As your real estate agent, I will guide you through the home buying process. Let me help you find your new North Texas home. Call me today at 214-909-8008 or email me at [email protected] .

North Texas home LINKS:

1. Home inspection - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_inspection

2. American Society of Home Inspectors. - http://www.ashi.org/

3. Easy household repairs. - http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/repair/5-home-repairs-you-should-do-yourself.htm

 

I am a Charter Member of REBSEA

I am a charter member of REBSEA (Real Estate and Business Social Enterprises Association) and will donate 10% of my real estate profit to one of the charities listed on my REBSEA profile. You can make a difference in your community and do something good for others just by hiring me to be your Realtor when buying or selling your next home! To learn more, visit:

My Profile on REBSEA

#charity #donate #REBSEA #community

New Home Sales Hit Five-and-a-Half Year High in January

No slowdown of new home sales - great news for Frisco, as there is lots of new construction in the process. 

Read more about the high level of new home sales here:

New home sales hit five-and-a-half year high in January

Are you ready to buy a new home? There are so many options available right now in Frisco for a brand new dream home; let me help you find the perfect one before the interest rates go up and the home lots are sold - contact me ASAP at 214-909-8008 to get started!

 

Frisco Named as 4th Best City in Texas to Own a Home

Frisco named as the 4th best city in Texas to own a home! As a current Frisco resident myself, I wholeheartedly agree. Read more here:

Frisco Named as 4th Best City to Own a Home in Texas

#frisco #texas #realestate #homes

Year End Tax Tips for Homeowners

YEAR END TAX TIPS Year-end tax tips for your house    Here are some year-end tax tips. Invest in your IRA, open that Roth account, or buy business or computer equipment to get that last-ditch deduction. But what about your house? Luckily, there’s a lot that’s deductible when it comes to buying and selling a home. If either scenario is on your wish list, these tips ensure that you and Uncle Sam are on good terms when April 15 rolls around.     When buying a home, what’s deductible?   Realtors are quick to point out that homeownership allows a lot of tax advantages not available to someone who merely pays rent. A homeowner can deduct points used to obtain a mortgage when buying a home, mortgage interest paid during the year and property taxes. Those are the nuts and bolts but, as with all taxes, there are these pesky rules and guidelines for deductions. Your Realtor is a great source of information on the lay of the land when it comes to taxes, but it’s wise to hire an accountant to help you wade through the fine print.   Points Most people get a mortgage when they buy a home. Mortgages have all kinds of costs, including a loan origination fee. This fee is usually a percentage of the loan amount, generally expressed as points. For example, one point on a $150,000 loan would be $1,500. One and a half points on the same loan amount would be $2,250, and so on. With VA and FHA loans, points are generally broken down into two categories: loan origination fee (usually one point) and discount points (also a percentage of the loan balance). Both of these fees are also deductible. One caveat: The loan origination fee must be expressed as points for it to be tax deductible. When you buy a home, points are deductible in the year they’re paid, providing they meet certain conditions. The two main ones are that the mortgage is secured by the home you live in most of the time, and that you used this mortgage to either purchase or build your home. Read the fine print and be sure your lender isn’t inflating the points to include other items you would normally be charged. These would include such costs as appraisal fees, title insurance fees, property taxes, settlement fees and so on. If you’re not charged these fees but your "points" are higher than normal, it’s time to get out the magnifying glass.   Also, the cash you put into the sale must also exceed the amount charged in points. If your points tallied $3,000, but you only had to put in $2,000 to close, that’s a red flag for the fine folks at the IRS. One more major condition is that the points must be clearly stated on your HUD-1 Settlement Statement. That’s the long document both you and the seller get after closing that clearly lays out all the costs involved in buying your home.   Deducting seller-paid points When purchasing a home, sometimes the buyer negotiates for the seller to pay some closing costs, including the points. Since the seller pays them and not the buyer, you might assume they wouldn’t be deductible, but that would be a mistake. Believe it or not, if the seller pays the buyer’s points, the IRS allows the buyer to deduct them as an expense on federal tax returns. The catch is that the seller can’t also deduct them. Paying the buyer’s closing costs, including points, merely reduces the net gain on the home for purposes in calculating capital gains taxes (which are usually deferred).   Second homes and points Points paid to finance the purchase of a second home must be deducted over the life of the loan, not in the year in which they are paid. Also, if you make too much money, there are limits to your deductions, so be sure to check with your accountant.   Other deductible closing costs With two exceptions, other closing costs are not deductible. Those exceptions are prepaid interest and pro-rated property taxes. Since interest is a deductible expense, prepaid interest is deductible. With property taxes, the seller’s last property tax payment may have covered part of the time where you’re the owner of the home. The settlement agent will calculate how much of that last bill you should pay and charge it to you as a closing cost (usually listed as pro-rated property taxes), and that’s also deductible. The amount you’ll pay in property taxes is based on an assessment of the value of your house. Generally, tax assessments are adjusted on an annual basis and any changes are mailed to you. It’s a good idea to keep a close watch on the assessment value, since the amount of money that comes out of your pocket is directly tied to it. A large jump in your assessment could be a reflection of a rise in market values in your neighborhood, but it might very well be an error. Keep tabs on what houses are selling for in your area and compare your assessment to the average sold price (using houses similar to yours in size and condition). All it takes is a little advance planning, and you’ll be relaxed by the time April 15 arrives. Hope these tips are helpful!   Jlyne Hanback, Realtor® Ebby Halliday, REALTORS® Talk or text - (214) 909-8008 http://www.WelcometoFrisco.com

Existing Home Sales Increase! Great News for North Texas!

Existing-home sales nationwide increased 11.5% in 2013 according to data recently released by the National Association of Realtors.

Closer to home, the North Texas Real Estate Information Systems reports that its MLS sales volume increased 28% in 2013, accompanied by a 10% increase in the number of homes sold.

And, at the Ebby Halliday Companies, sales volume in 2013 increased by 34% over 2012, with a 23% increase in the number of homes sold.

These sales data make it clear that the Dallas / Fort Worth and North Texas real estate market was booming in 2013.

It's also clear that the Ebby Halliday Companies and its sales Associates out-performed the local market in 2013, and the firm expects to continue that trend in 2014.

Visit my web site to find your perfect home!

Dallas Area Homebuilders Can't Keep Up with Demand for New Houses

Less than a 2-month inventory supply is available in the #Dallas area as weather has not been cooperating with construction, as well as a lack of building help in the area. Buying a new #home shouldn't be difficult - let me help you find a new home in spite of the shortage, as my office has new listings on a regular basis! I will help you find your perfect new home; simply call me TODAY! 214-909-8008

http://buff.ly/KQsbi1