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Displaying blog entries 21-27 of 27

Beware of the Rental Trap

by Sandi Pressley

Owning a home has many advantages and benefits.  One of the best things about owning a home is avoiding rising rent costs. 

The cost of renting is going up across the nation.  According to ConsumerAffairs “The cost of putting a roof over your head continues to go up. Not only are home prices still rising, but the cost of rent rose 0.5% in June.” The Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University’s 2017 State of the Nation’s Housing Report also noted that “Renters continue to be more likely to face cost burdens…the number of cost-burdened renters (21 million) considerably outstrips the number of cost-burdened owners (18 million) even though nearly two-thirds of US households own their homes.”

With a 30 year fixed rate mortgage, owning a home can be cheaper than renting. Many people feel they can’t afford to buy a home because they haven’t saved enough money for down payment, or they don’t have good enough credit.  But you don’t know until you investigate the options.  If you’re considering buying a home in Albuquerque, give us a call and let a professional help you determine if you’re in a position to own your own home and not get stuck in a rental trap.

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

10 Cinco Circle, Placitas, NM   $550,000

5 Bedrooms/ 5 Bathrooms (1 full, 4 partial) / 4015 Square Feet

Enjoy the extraordinary views from this spacious home, featuring 5 bedrooms, 2 living areas, and more.  Treat your guests to the upstairs bed with en suite bath.  Entertain in style with the spacious kitchen that opens into the great room.  

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team

More Americans Are Choosing to Buy Than Rent

by Sandi Pressley

According to the latest US Census Bureau report, it turns out that for the first time since 2006, more people chose to purchase a home over renting in the first quarter of this year.  There were 1.22 million new households formed in the first quarter, and of those, 854,000 were first-time buyers.  That makes the home ownership rate among new households a whopping 70%!

This is great news as the rate of homeownership nationwide is currently 63.6%.  The last time the rate came close to this figure was in the 2nd quarter of 2004, when it was at the all-time high of 69.2%.

Recently, a Wall Street Journal article had this to say about the reason for the jump in first-time buyers:

“The return of first-time buyers is accelerating. In all, they have accounted for 42% of buyers this year, up from 38% in 2015 and 31% at the lowest point during the recent housing cycle in 2011, according to Fannie Mae, which defines first-time buyers as anyone who hasn’t owned a home in the past three years.”

According to Trulia’s Chief Economist, Ralph McLaughlin:

“Strong renter household formation is one of the reasons why the homeownership rate has continued to drop since the onset of the housing crisis, so any sign this trend is reversing is something to take note of. We look forward to future releases of these data to determine whether this is a statistical blip or a trend.”

What does this all mean? Basically, this indicates that as more people who can buy for the first time realize their ability to buy a home without renting first, then the overall economy will benefit.

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

4401 Pershing Avenue SE, Albuquerque   $499,000

3 Bedrooms/ 1 Bathrooms / 3 Partial Baths / 4100 Square Feet

INCREDIBLE Custom single story Home-In the heart of ABQ. 2CAR garage, open floorplan showcases 3 exceptional LG living areas, all in whopping 4100 sq ft!

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team

According to a report recently released by Down Payment Resource, 65% of first-time homebuyers bought their homes with a down payment of 6% or less in January. This trend continued through all buyers who had a mortgage, as 62% made a down payment of less than 20%.

What does this all mean? An article by DS News points to the new wave of millennial homebuyers:

“It seems that the long-awaited influx of millennial home buyers is beginning. Ellie Mae reported that mortgages to millennial borrowers for new home purchases continued their ascent in January, accounting for 84 percent of closed loans.”

For millennials who purchased homes in January, FHA loans remained popular, making up 35% of all loans closed. Ellie Mae’s Executive Vice President of Corporate Strategy Joe Tyrrell gave some insight into why:

“It is not surprising to see Millennial borrowers leverage FHA loans because they typically offer lower down payments and lower average FICO score requirements than conventional loans. Across the board, we're continuing to see strong interest in homeownership from this younger generation.”

If you’re a millennial who’s wondering if you should buy a home this year, please feel free to contact us.  We can help you understand your options and get you on the path to preapproval.

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

5909 Gorrion Street NW, Albuquerque   $199,000

4 Bedrooms/ 1 Bathrooms/ 1935 Square Feet

Back on the market! This open concept floorplan includes tasteful updates. Plenty of space with 2 living areas and 4 beds spread over 1935 sq ft!

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team

Tips For First Time Buyers

by Sandi Pressley

Are you a first time home buyer in Albuquerque? Buying a new home, no matter if it’s your first time or not, takes a lot of effort.  Here are a few tips that can help the process go more smoothly.

Research Early

Start looking at websites and even local real estate listings in paper journals. Write down the listings that interest you and how long they’re listed, along with any changes in asking prices.  This will give you a more accurate read on your local market trends. You can also sign up for email listing alerts that give you real time updates of new homes as they hit the market.

Budget

How much can you really afford?  That’s the biggest question.  It‘s recommended that you keep the cost of your home to less than 5 times your annual income, providing you’re making a 20% down payment and have moderate debt. Here’s a handy affordability calculator that can help.

Get Prequalified and Preapproved

You need to know how much you can spend before you start looking for a home.  Work with a lender to determine how much you can afford by providing simple information such as income and how much you have in savings.  This is called prequalifying. Later you can get preapproved for credit, which involves providing more documents like W-2s and bank account statement so that a lender can verify your credit.

This is just a start.  But if you follow these tips it will get you on your way to buying the home in  Albuquerque that best fits your needs.

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

2571 Clear Sky Street SW, Los Lunas   $175,000

4 Bedrooms/ 2.5 Bathrooms/ 2265 Square Feet

Popular DR Horton Floorplan w/ 4 bedrooms and bonus loft space upstairs. 2 living areas, open kitchen and comfortable family dining room!

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team

Are you looking to buy or sell Real Estate in 2017?  Choosing the Best Local Real Estate Team is critical to your success!

5 Reasons to choose the Sandi Pressley Team:

To receive a personal consultation for your home, contact the Sandi Pressley Team directly!

Looking for the perfect Albuquerque area home? Sign-up for our free Preferred Email Listing Alerts and receive only the properties that meet your personal qualifications! Follow this link: PREFERRED EMAIL LISTING ALERTS


HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

4840 Mcnary Court NW, Albuquerque New Mexico   $239,000

5 Bedrooms/ 3 Bathrooms/ 2420 Square Feet

Ready to Close-Show and Sell! Meticulously maintained open concept quiet culdesac lot showcasing 5 BDRMS/3BATHS/2 car garage. This functional floorplan features stunning oak wood flooring in living, dining room & spacious kitchen. Kitchen overlooks family room offering a cozy fireplace. Rare find private in-law Suite on Main floor and other Master Suite on Upper level with oversized master bath; dual vanities, jetted tub, separate shower & walk-in closet + access to balcony to enjoy the beautiful views. Additional Amenities incl: Refrigerated Air, arch accents, hi ceilings, plant ledges bull-nose corners thru-out and so much more-Pride of Ownership! Lovely low maintenance landscaping both front and back-Perfect for summer BBQ's!NO PID! It is a MUST SEE!

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team


How do you save money while buying a home?

by Sandi Pressley

Buying a home is more than just finding the right home and going to the title company to sign documents. Unless you have cash to make the purchase, you'll need to obtain a home loan or mortgage. This can be an intimidating process. We hear every day about new predatory lending practices and mortgage scams. So how do you protect yourself and get the best loan available for your situation? Here are some tips to help protect you when the time to buy a home comes along.

Ask for referrals

You're likely to have family, friends or coworkers who have recently been through the process of obtaining a home loan. Ask around and find out where they had the best experience. Your real estate broker is also likely to have a preferred lender they like to use. Word of mouth is a great way to find a reputable lender.

If it seems too good to be true...

If it sees too good to be true, it probably is. Be wary of rates far below what the market shows. There are plenty of programs available that help with down payment, closings costs and other parts of buying a home. Try not to be wowed by companies offering miracle deals.

Do your homework

Taking the time to research rates, companies and programs, can save you thousands of dollars out of pocket and even more over the term of a conventional mortgage. Being uneducated can cost you the same. Start by:

  • Understanding your credit score and how it relates to interest rate
  • Understanding mortgage terms like amortization, APR and compounding interest
  • Understanding payment and prepayment options

Be careful who you trust

The internet is a smorgasbord of information when it comes to mortgage lending. You have to be careful though as there is a ton of outdated information, deceptive advertising and just plain bad advice.

There are ways to protect yourself and even learn from other peoples’ mistakes. Consumer websites like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau are a great place to start. Here you can learn about known scams and read personal experiences from people who have been there already.

When you're ready to buy a home, contact us for a referral to our preferred lender, Legacy Mortgage. The Sandi Pressley team is here to help you have a great experience!

Have An Awesome Week!

Sandi's Hot Home Listing

6812 Vista Del Sol Dr, Albuquerque

Price: $375,000 Beds:4 Baths: 2+ Square Feet: 3,755

Exquisitely Appointed Home in desired Montecito Estates!With over 3700SF, this open floorplan shows like a model-featuring cozy living area w/fireplace, 4 BDRMS/3BA+loft & computer area!

View This Listing


AND HERE'S YOUR MONDAY MORNING COFFEE!!

It is a Fact

by Sandi Pressley

Good Monday Morning!

It is a fact! Over 90% of all home searches conducted nationally begin online. Searching for homes online is by far the easiest and most efficient way to look for homes. Long gone are the days where interested home buyers ride around town with their Realtor viewing home after home while thumbing through the pages of an MLS book. Online home shopping is convenient and it allows the prospective home buyer the ability to keep up with current listings and prices.

There are many resources that will allow you to search for homes online and some are much easier to navigate and have more options than others. We have found that here in the Albuquerque, Rio Rancho and Surrounding market areas the best home search site is www.albuquerquehomesolutions.com. This state of the art site will allow you to search properties, on line, based on your search criteria and then save your search so that you are not re-entering it every time you conduct a search. This site also offers you the ability to set up a property alert, which will automatically e-mail you information on new properties meeting your search criteria as they hit the market.

Now is an excellent time to be shopping for a home. With home prices remaining low and mortgage interest rates at historic low levels, there is great opportunity and www.albuquerquehomesolutions.com is a great tool to use during your home search.

Have An Awesome Week!

SANDI'S LATEST HOT HOME LISTING!

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1020 La Poblana Rd.
Price: $179,000 Beds: 3 Baths: 1 Sq Ft: 1600
Sitting on an almost 1/4 acre lot in the North Valley, this spacious home is a must see for your Buyers! Updated and well maintained, it features a 1 car garage with storage, gleaming hardwood floors, 3 large bedrooms, 1 full bath, huge living room with corner fireplace, spacious kitchen w/sunny breakfast and a formal dining room which could be used as office. Just completed landscaping front/back. Large back yard with covered patio and 15x13 storage/workshop. Room to park RV/travel trailer.



AND HERE'S YOUR MONDAY MORNING COFFEE!!

Sincerely,
Sandi

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Displaying blog entries 21-27 of 27

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The Sandi Pressley Team
Coldwell Banker Legacy
10400 Academy Rd. NE Suite 100
Albuquerque NM 87111
505-980-2999
505-263-2173 / 505 293-3700
Fax: 505-212-0729

Quick links to this site are also SandiSells.net or SandiSellsHomes.com