Real Estate Information Archive

How to fall in love with your home When you’re shopping for a new home, you’re likely to be emotional about the process. You may fall in love with a house that isn’t right for you. Here are some tips to help you make a smart decision.

• Shop for the home you can afford
Being house poor is never fun. Even the most beautiful home, with all the special features, can seem like a burden if it’s not affordable. In a worst case scenario, you may end up losing that home to foreclosure! Make sure you know the difference between what you can afford and what you can qualify for and shop for affordability.
• Work with a Realtor
Looking at homes online can be a dangerous game. Some websites might be posting outdated information and the home you fall in love with could be under contract or no longer for sale at all. Your real estate professional will ensure you’re getting the most up to date information and also help you negotiate the best deal possible when you do find the home of your dreams.
• Shop for the home you need
You might be tempted to buy the biggest home you can get in your price range. However, just like the unaffordable home, having a home that is much bigger than you need can be just as frustrating in the long run. Heating and cooling a larger home can be costly. Maintenance, upkeep and cleaning a large home can also be daunting.
• Buy a home that suits your lifestyle
Are you a frequent traveler? You’re probably not going to be interested in a home with a lot of landscape maintenance or a fixer-upper. Have kids? You’re less likely to be shopping for a condo. Make sure the home you choose fits the life you live.
• Distance matters
If you’re currently driving less than half an hour to work or school, buying a house that significantly adds to your commute can be a very bad idea. Not only will the longer time away from home become a frustration, but the extra fuel and vehicle maintenance can be costly.

Falling in love with your new home is about more than getting the biggest and fanciest. It’s about finding the perfect fit, from lifestyle and commute to size and affordability. If you’re ready to start your new home search, call the Sandi Pressley team today!

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Sandi's Hot Home Listing

10805 Towne Park Dr, Albuquerque

Price: $145,000 Beds:3 Baths: 2 Square Feet: 1,308

This lovely single story Home in gated community offers a spacious & functional floor plan complete w/cathedral ceilings, laminate wood flooring & tile.This open concept floorplan showcases a spacious & sunny kitchen w/plenty of counters & cabinets w/ lovely dining area. Large Master bedroom is complete w/full Master Bath and access onto patio.Additional amenities include oversized 2 Car Garage,from backyard private gate access to tranquil walking path.Back yard is tastefully landscaped for low maintenance-This home is a must see!!Close to shopping,KAFB and Sandia Labs. This gated community has 2 pools,2 parks,club house,work out room & tennis courts..

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AND HERE'S YOUR MONDAY MORNING COFFEE!!

Selling your Albuquerque home for top dollar requires that your home be in prime condition, especially compared to other homes in the same area and price range. We can’t all afford to spring for a professional home stager but there are some tips and tricks we can offer to help your home have that staged look and feel.

• Consider Updates - Updating, especially in kitchens and bathrooms can make or break a deal. Potential buyer look at these rooms as major projects in general. If they’re outdated, a buyer may decide that your home is more work than they are willing to put in.
• Declutter - Put it all away. From knick knacks to family photos, decluttering makes a big difference in the look of a home. Homes with a lot of clutter give the impression that a home might be lacking storage.
• Smell It - Better yet, have someone else smell it. We get used to the smells in our home and often, we overlook unpleasant odors that can be a real turnoff to potential buyers. Invite an honest friend over to take a whiff and tell you what needs work.
• Let the Sunshine In - Natural light can make a room look larger. Remove or replace heavy curtains or blinds with light and airy coverings that let the light in but still provide privacy. During showings, throw back the curtains and let the sunshine in.
• Add Curb Appeal - Clean up the yard, clear cobwebs and peeling paint and add some color. The fastest way to scare off a potential buyer is to make a bad first impression.
• Remove That Personal Touch - Buyers want to be able to picture themselves in your home. Removing family photos, religious relics and kid’s artwork allows buyers to see their own belongings in the home.
• Make The Room A Room - One of the worst mistakes sellers often make is not giving a room a purpose. Putting bedroom and office furniture in the same room can confuse a room’s purpose and potential buyers. Decide what a room will be “staged” as and stick to that one thing.

If you need advice, call the Sandi Pressley Team. We’re here to help you get top dollar for your home.

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Sandi's Hot Home Listing

10128 Masters Drive NE, Albuquerque

Price: $525,000 Beds: 5 Baths: 4.5 Square Feet: 4,164

TANOAN LOT-Original owner designed & built this Exquisite home in the highly desired gated community-This Custom Home is situated in a PRIVATE area ON one of the Largest Lots. Check out this dream house w/your wish list met! With 4164 SF, this floorplan offers 5BDRMS/4.5BTHS, 2 breathtaking living areas. Stunning updated gourmet kitchen(2012):includes custom cabinets, exquisite granite counters, oversized island w/veggie sink,5-Burner Gas cooktop, Amazing Breakfast nook-Chefs delight.

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AND HERE'S YOUR MONDAY MORNING COFFEE!!

Unless you’re able to pay cash for your new home, getting a home loan will be part of your home buying process. Obtaining that mortgage can be complicated and being uneducated about the process can be a costly mistake up front and during the life of the loan. If a loan program seems too good to be true, it likely is and you should proceed with caution. Shop around and look for a great rate but beware if a rate seems to be much lower than average. If you’re shopping for a loan, you’re likely already working with a real estate professional. Along with your broker, friends and family can be a great resource for referrals.

Most of the financial issues you’ll encounter regarding a home purchase is not with the price of the home rather with the cost of the loan. Saving money on the purchase price may seem like a great idea but the cost of those savings in the long run could be great. Doing your homework can help with savings over the life of the loan, even if you don’t keep the home for the full term. Before you commit to purchasing a home, do you homework and

• Learn about the credit rating system and what is needed to obtain the best terms and lowest interest rate.
• Learn mortgage terminology and understand how the term of the loan, prepayment penalties and compounding interest can affect you.
• Learn about making extra payments and how those payments can shorten the term of your loan and how much interest you will pay.

Rising interest rates get us in the mood to buy now. If you’re selling to move up or down, purchasing new home construction or buying your first home, you’re probably watching rates closely. Be careful what you find on the internet. There is a mix of good information and very bad information from refinancing to paying off your mortgage early.

One great resource for consumer information is the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The CFPB was established in 2010 and is an agency that offers tons of information about financial markets and empowers consumers to make educated decisions about lending practices.

If you’re looking for a lender in the Albuquerque Metro area, contact the Sandi Pressley today. We have a list of reputable mortgage companies that can help you make smart decisions about your home finance options.

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Sandi's Hot Home Listing

4412 Woordrose Rd. NW, Albuquerque

Price: $309,000 Beds: 4 Baths: 3 Square Feet: 3,040

GORGEOUS UPDATED Popular Sivage Home featuring 4BDRMS + Loft AND Office/4 Baths (All updated 2010). With 3040 SQFT, this home showcases spacious and functional floorplan. NEW Carpet MAY/2015. TOTALLY REMODELED Gourmet Kitchen boasts updates with stunning granite counters/island(MAY 2015), stainless steel appliances-NEW OVEN & MICROWAVE 7/2015- and cozy breakfast nook.

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Mortgage rates continue to hover at historically low levels and because of that, the number of people interested in purchasing a home continues to climb as well. If you’re one of the people ready to take advantage of low rates, here are some home buying tips.

Make a wish list – First decide the area you want to live in and the size of home you need. A single-family home will provide more privacy and room to move around and grow. A condo generally offers more amenities and less owner responsibility but also comes with association fees and less privacy. A distressed home is like a blank slate, ready for your creative ideas and can offer a reduced purchase price.

Get prequalified – There are sites on the web that can help you determine how much house you can afford but only a financial institution can give you a prequalification letter. A qualified lender will look at your credit reports and scores and your income and give you an idea of how much home you can qualify for. Be aware, the difference between what a bank will qualify you for and what you can afford might be very different. Look at the numbers, set a budget and stick to it.

Hire a Realtor – Working with a competent buyer broker will make a huge difference in your real estate experience. Look for a broker who does real estate full time, knows the areas you are searching in and has experience negotiating things like repairs and purchase price. If a broker tries to show you homes above your price range, find a new broker. This should be about your best interests, not their commission.

Find your dream home – No home on the market is going to have everything you want, unless you build it yourself. Make a list of needs, wants and things that would be nice to have in your new home. Don’t forget to look ahead. Are you planning to have kids? You might need more bedrooms. Will you reach retirement in the home? You may want to consider a single-story home. Cosmetic flaws can be easily fixed but a home that doesn’t fit your needs will quickly become a frustration.

Make an offer – Ask your Realtor to help you determine a fair price to offer. Your Realtor can tell you how long the home has been on the market and if there are any known issues that would have to be fixed or remedied before closing. Let your Realtor help you negotiate repairs and communicate to the seller how much you love the home.

Don’t skip inspections – Home inspections protect you in the event of any material defects the seller may or may not know about. An inspection company will inspect the home and provide a list of issues with the home. They will also give you an idea of issues that may come up in the near future. They aren’t necessarily looking for cosmetic issues but are more focused on major systems like the AC, roof and electrical systems. This list will help you and your Realtor negotiate repairs.

Get the home appraised – Your lender will require an appraisal to determine the market value of the home you’re about to purchase. The appraiser, a third-party company, will look at similar homes in the area that have sold in the recent past. They will compare the amenities of those homes to the one you’re considering and determine a market value. The lender will use this number to determine how much they will lend for the home.

Meet at the closing table – Once all negotiations have been completed, all parties to the deal will meet to sign documents and hand over keys. The title company will disperse funds to the appropriate people and the deal will close. If you’re ready to get started with the home buying process, call The Sandi Pressley Team today!

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Sandi's Hot Home Listing

23 Sage Hill Drive, Placitas

Price: $475,000 Beds: 3 Baths: 4 Square Feet: 3,623

Exquisite Placitas Property nestled on 1AC w/stunning views.Custom home showcases functional open floorplan w/radiant heat,Kiva FP,soaring T&G Beamed ceilings w/viga, latillas,nichos&adobe accents thru-out. Spacious Gourmet kitchen features stunning custom wood cabinetry,kitchen island,-chef's delight.

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AND HERE'S YOUR MONDAY MORNING COFFEE!!