Are you looking for a home valuation and wondering where you can get accurate information? A lot of home owners in today's market look to third party sites like Zillow to find what they're looking for. In fact, Zillow's Zestimate is ranked as the number one consumer tool used to determine a property's value. Zestimates are easy to use but in truth, they can be grossly inaccurate. The sad truth is, many home owners take the Zestimate as the full picture of their home's value. These values can often be off by as much as 20% or more. When you're looking to make an important decision, like a selling price or whether or not to refinance, this disparity can be a game changer.

Here is our advice. Zillow is great as a tool to get a ballpark idea of your home’s value but, there are many factors that go into determining your home's value Many of these factors are hyper-local and require in-depth knowledge of the area in which your home is located. Zillow estimates also don't take into account the condition of your home or amenities in your community. Only a real estate professional who is familiar with your area can really give you specifics like this.

Value My Albuquerque Home has everything you need to find out the value of your home. This website will provide you with an instant home valuation. If you need an extremely accurate look at your home's value, say for a refinance or to prepare to list your home, The Sandi Pressley Team can give you a no-obligation home valuation based on the local information that applies directly to your home. Call us today for your free home valuation.

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Sandi's Hot Home Listing

7000 Fairfield Greens Ct. NE, Albuquerque

Price: $598,000 Beds: 4 Baths: 4 Square Feet: 4,905

Exquisitely Appointed Custom Home in Tanoan community-Dream home offers Elegance,Luxury & Lush Landscaped Bkyrd! With over 4900SF, the open floorplan offers 4BDRMS+Private Suite 1st floor, offers access to private single garage, ¾ BATH & access to kitchen. 2 breathtaking living areas w/wet bar & cozy FP, formal dining & LOFT used an upstairs living area which opens up to a deck to relax or entertain.View This Listing

AND HERE'S YOUR MONDAY MORNING COFFEE!!

We are asked often if the state of the market in real estate today is setting us up for another housing bubble like that of recent years. The answer is not an easy one. A NAR economist recently addressed that question and you might be surprised at what he had to say.

So far in 2015, the spring buying season is performing well. Prices are rising faster than at the beginning of the year or this time last year. Does that mean we're in a bubble? Not necessarily. This is a common occurrence when demand increases at a faster rate than supply.

Existing home sales were up 9% this March compared to the same time last year. We're also seeing more homes hit the market but not quite enough to answer the increase in demand for those homes.

According to the article, "An equilibrium level of supply on the market is considered to be six to seven months; supply has been under five months since December. Looking at every quarter since 1988, when supply was under five months, prices rose 8% year over year on average. When supply was in the equilibrium range, prices went up only 4% on average."

So why isn't this a bubble? The biggest reason is that loosened lending practices made it much easier for buyers to get a loan during the bubble. While rates are still at historic lows, those lending standards have tightened back up. We saw a record number of new loans during the bubble and that's definitely not repeating this time.

This in turn means we are seeing fewer abandoned homes and less flipping of homes. We are also seeing the return of those important first-time buyers. As the economy continues to slowly improve, it is completely normal, even expected, for home prices to improve. Owners will start seeing the benefit of selling and list their homes and will also encourage new home builders to get into the market again.

If you want to know more about the home sales activity in your area, contact a member of the Sandi Pressley team today.

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Sandi's Hot Home Listing

13804 Spirit Trail Place NE, Albuquerque

Price: $629,000 Beds: 5 Baths: 4 Square Feet: 4,935

Exquisitely Feng Shui Home built by ULTIMA HOMES. This Custom home showcases dramatic DOUBLE spiral staircase. With over 4900 SQFT, this dream home offers sophistication & Luxury! Meticulously built-this home features stunning raised ceilings, arched accents, gleaming oak hardwood flooring are but a few. Huge gourmet kitchen w/just installed Hi end granite counter/kitchen island thru-out & stainless steel appl-chefs delight! View This Listing

AND HERE'S YOUR MONDAY MORNING COFFEE!!

A recent NAR study reveals something most people probably already suspected, 85% of home searches online are done on a mobile device. What does that mean exactly? Most home searchers are looking for their next home purchase from a smart phone or tablet. This fact makes it far more important than in recent years, for a real estate broker to have a website that is optimized for mobile devices. Sadly, a significant number of real estate professionals have yet to make that change, leaving visitors frustrated by size distortions, cumbersome pages and sites that simply do not work.

When you're ready to search for Albuquerque real estate, including the surrounding areas, you can rest assured that the Sandi Pressley Team website is ready for you! Our search pages are fully optimized for mobile devices and designed with our customers in mind. From our website search page AlbuquerqueHomeSolutions.com you can perform a basic search by area, price or number of bedrooms or bathroom. You can also dig deeper and perform an advanced search for things like high school district, year built, whether or not a home is bank owned or has a pool. If you have questions about a specific home or area you search on our mobile website, give our team a call and we'll help you set up a custom search to find exactly what you're looking for.

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Sandi's Hot Home Listing

41 Cienega Canyon Road, Placitas

Price: $325,000 Beds: 3 Baths: 2 Square Feet: 3,110

Fantastic Passive Solar Home offering Bright, Light & Open Floorplan. Spacious Kitchen w/ample counter & cabinet space opening to Greatroom. Passive Solar features include Trombe Wall allowing maximum passive solar benefits. View This Listing

AND HERE'S YOUR MONDAY MORNING COFFEE!!

We want to say congratulations to Sandi Pressley for once again making the Wall Street Journal as one of Coldwell Banker's top teams internationally! Way to go, and way to represent! 

Joe Gilmore and Mike Carter

Every day we hear this question, "Is now a good time to buy or should I wait for the market to slow down?" The easy answer is BUY NOW! Homes are very affordable and rates are still incredibly low. These rates are likely to increase in the near future.

Realty times explains that buyers have a great opportunity right now because home prices have risen but remain below 2006 bubble prices and interest rates have remained just above historic lows. Despite these facts, many buyers are hesitant to take the leap.

Experts recommend not waiting. The reason is, in order for a drop in home values to offset a change in interest rates, the drop would need to be pretty significant and experts are hopeful we won't see drops like that again any time soon.

Average home prices have seen significant increases since 2010. In the past year and a half, they've risen over 6% on average. If you're waiting for prices to drop to buy that dream home, you may be out of luck if you wait too long. At the current pace, the home you're looking at now might be too expensive in the future.

There aren't many people who keep their home for the full 30 year term anymore. Things like downsizing, divorce, refinancing, employment changes and moving up all affect the investment in your home. If you're thinking about buying a home, contact the Sandi Pressley team today and let us run the numbers for you.

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Sandi's Hot Home Listing

185 Ashley Lane, Corrales

Price: $475,000 Beds: 3 Baths: 2.5 Square Feet: 2,700

Check out this dream house w/your wish list met! With approx. 1.1 Acre this Private & quiet Sanctuary showcases stalls/barns, corral & workshop w/half bath-This private CORRALES lot is UNBELIEVABLE! Gorgeous Custom single story 3 Bdrm/3 Bath/2 Car Garage home features a spacious floorplan w/radiant heat, soaring ceilings w/viga & latillas, exposed adobe wall accents,2-way FP. View This Listing

AND HERE'S YOUR MONDAY MORNING COFFEE!!

The Home Ownership Path

The path to owning a home can be tumultuous.  With the right help though, it can also be one of the most exciting times of your life.  Here are some common obstacles along the way and how to avoid them.

Step 1 Preapproval – The first step in the path is to get a preapproval letter from your lender.  If you can’t qualify, work with a lender to find out what you need to do to clean up your credit to get that preapproval. Many buyer brokers won’t even show homes to a buyer who isn’t preapproved.

Step 2 Finding The Right Home – You have a few choices when shopping for real estate.  A significant portion of buyers start their search online.  Many homes listed on 3^rd party websites can show outdated or inaccurate information.  Even if you start your search online, use a reputable real estate broker to help you find a home that meets your needs and falls in your desired price range.

Step 4 Making an Offer – The paperwork involved in a real estate transaction has grown exponentially in the past decade.  Making an offer is the first step to owning the home of your dreams and offering too little or leaving details out of your offer can mean losing that opportunity.  Having a professional who understands this process and the documents that go with it is the key to getting the home you want for a price that’s fair to both parties.

Step 5 Getting to Closing – Think of the closing table as the finish line in the race to owning your own home.  Inspections, repairs, contingencies and documents are all things that could potentially be stumbling blocks for your deal.  Let your broker navigate that path and help you get to the closing table with your sanity intact. 

The ups and downs of a real estate transaction can scare away some buyers but if you have a professional on your side, it can be a rewarding experience. 

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SANDI’S HOT HOME LISTING!

2700 Vista Grande Drive NW #114

Price: $595,000     Beds: 3    Baths: 2.5   Sq Ft: 3,970

INCREDIBLE & RARE BLUFF LOT RESIDING ALONG THE RIVER W/Unobstructed views of the City, Bosque, Rio Grande & Mountains. This bluff lot offers unsurpassed sensational views-will not find more breathtaking views anywhere ceiling to floor windows from living, dining, kitchen & Master-Suite showcases phenomenal Views!

View this listing

AND HERE'S YOUR MONDAY MORNING COFFEE!!

Sandi has been working Albuquerque real estate for over 30 years.  One thing that never seems to change is that an overpriced home is unlikely to sell. Not only does overpricing cost a seller sometimes thousands of dollars, they also often sit on the market longer than if they had been priced appropriately from the start.   

You may ask yourself why a seller would take a chance that might sabotage their ability to sell their home in the shortest amount of time and for the highest price the market will bear.  It doesn’t make sense but it happens all the time. 

While a listing agent will make a recommendation on the listing price, in the end, the seller makes the decision.  They often feel that a higher starting price might give them more wiggle room to negotiate but in the end, the market usually speaks loud and clear, either with no offers or several extremely low offers that reflect where the price should be. 

Just in case you needed a reason, here are four bad reasons to overprice your home. 

Reason #1 You think you know the market

If you truly know the market, then your agent, the buyer broker, the lender, the local appraiser and other sellers who recently sold or have homes listed, know less about it than you do. 

There is always a chance that a cash buyer is out there looking for exactly your home and will make you an offer but I wouldn’t hold my breath.

Reason #2 You want to be in control.

If you’re the type of seller who likes to be in control, there is a chance you might give your real estate broker a happy smile when they recommend a sales price but then insist that your list price be higher.  This tactic may make you feel like you are in control but when low-ball offers begin rolling in, or worse, no offers at all, you will quickly lose that feeling.   

Just keep in mind that you are not in control.  The market is.  Buyers are.  If you overprice, you are basically telling your broker that you are in no hurry to sell and can wait for the right buyer to come along.  You’ll likely end up lowering the price later anyway. 

Reason #3 You're hiding something

You may think overpricing will help you if you owe more than your home is worth.  The fact is this will be revealed when the preliminary title search is run and is likely to scare off any potential buyer.  Honesty is always the best policy and giving your listing broker all the information up front helps them determine if listing your home is a worthwhile venture for you. 

Reason #4 You have unrealistic expectations

Sellers can have a strong emotional attachment to their home, especially if they’ve lived there since childhood, or if they’ve put a lot of money and sweat equity into it.  Unfortunately, sweat equity, emotional attachment and expensive upgrades don’t usually translate to higher sales price.  There are some upgrades that have better return on investment but if you’re expecting to recoup the $40,000 you spent closing in your 3 car garage, you’re in for a big surprise. 

Overpricing your home is a big risk to take and your agent knows it.  If you are in the market to sell your home in the shortest time possible and for the highest dollar amount the market will bear, listen to your listing broker and price your home accordingly.

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Sandi's Hot Home Listing

4412 Woodrose Rd. NW Albuquerque

Price: $309,000   Beds: 4   Baths: 3.75  Square Feet: 3,040

Lovely 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 . Sunny Gourmet Kitchen boasts updates with stunning granite counters/island(MAY 2015), stainless steel appliances and cozy breakfast nook! View This Listing

Here's Your Morning Coffee

Mortgage rates remain at historic lows so first time home buyers are making the move to buy now. If you’re among this group of buyers, these tips will help you make the most of your real estate dollars as you make your first home purchase.

How Much Can You Afford

The most difficult part of buying a home is often being able to tell the difference between what you can afford and what the bank says you qualify for. Banks will often lend a much higher amount than might be affordable. Mortgage calculators help but can be inaccurate without closing costs and other unexpected costs. To truly understand affordability, start by running the numbers.

What Can You Pay Monthly

Before you talk to a lender, you must know how much you can spend on a monthly mortgage payment. Financial experts recommend keeping that amount below 25-30% of your monthly income. This number is often too high for some when figuring in higher utility costs and putting money aside for maintenance of their new home. Contact a local real estate professional or utility service provider to find out average utility costs for the size and type of home you’re considering. Keep in mind, in some climates, summer and winter utility costs can vary widely from spring and fall. You also want to keep in mind, small changes in how you live can have a big impact on your cost of living. For example, a longer commute, even a slight change, can add up to higher fuel costs.

How Much Should You Put Down?

Next on the list is to determine how much you should put as a down payment. You’ll be much more appealing to lenders if you have enough for 20% down but you also need to consider expenses like appraisals, inspections, closing costs and movers. Borrowers with less than perfect credit can expect to pay a higher rate or higher down payment in order to secure a loan. If you’re unable to save up 20% for a down payment, don’t worry. Lenders have plenty of programs available, especially for first time home buyers, that require little to no money down.

What about PMI

PMI or Private Mortgage Insurance is a policy the lender uses to protect themselves with borrowers who are considered risky. Rates for PMI vary by lender and can add a significant amount to your monthly payment. Some loan programs require PMI until you’ve put a certain amount toward your principal balance. Some programs require it for the life of the loan. If your down payment is less than 20%, you’re most likely going to be paying PMI. Talk to your lender about rates and requirements.

Paying Interest

Interest rates can be the deal breaker in many situations. A higher rate, even slight, can have a significant impact on your monthly payment. Work with your lender to figure out what options you have to lower your interest rate. The amount of interest you end up paying over the life of a 30 year loan can be staggering so make sure that rate is as low as it can go. Now that you understand the costs involved in buying your first home, contact your lender and let them know what you can afford. They’ll get you prequalified so you can start searching for your dream home.

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Sandi’s Hot Home Listing

13804 Spirit Trail Place NE

Price: $629,000 Beds: 5 Baths: 4 Square Feet: 4,935

Exquisitely Feng Shui Home built by ULTIMA HOMES. This Custom home showcases dramatic DOUBLE spiral staircase. With over 4900 SQFT, this dream home offers sophistication & Luxury! Light, bright open floor plan offers 4BDRMS+OFC/4 BATHS/3 car garage. Meticulously built-this home features stunning raised ceilings, arched accents, gleaming oak hardwood flooring are but a few. View This Listing

Here’s Your Morning Coffee!

This may be the best time to purchase a home.  There are many reasons but below we’ll highlight the top 6.  If you’re considering a purchase, here are a few great reasons to make that move now!

Reason No. 1 to buy now: Rates are low
"Low mortgage rates continue to keep ownership less expensive than renting," said Investopedia. "Even a small change in interest rates has a significant effect on what you'll pay each month and over the life of a 30-year mortgage.
Take a $172,000 30-year mortgage, for example ($172,000 is 80% of the median sales price for existing homes of $215,000 after a 20% down payment). With an interest rate of 4%, you would pay $821.15 each month. At an interest rate of 5%, the monthly payment would be $923.33, and at 6%, the payment rises to $1031.23."

Reason No. 2: Renters Feeling the Squeeze
A recent article from the National Association of Realtors explains that renters are “feeling the squeeze” as rental costs increase nationwide at a pace greater than income increases.

Reason No. 3: It’s Easier to Qualify
When the real estate market hit its recent low around 2006, lending institutions increased their lending standards, making it harder to qualify for a loan.  During this time, lending standards were raised and only prime applicants could get a decent loan.  Today, those standards have loosened slightly, making it easier to find loans and get qualified.  New FHA minimums include a 620 credit score and 3.5% down payment.   

Reason No. 4: PMI Costs Less
When a buyer puts a down payment of less than 20%, there is often an additional monthly fee called PMI or Private Mortgage Insurance.  Early this year the Feds lowered those fees on FHA loans which can add up to over $900 a year in savings.  

Reason No. 5: It’s Still a Good Investment
Perhaps even a great investment.  Experts say that affordability is still at an all-time high, making home ownership a great option for those investment dollars.  As an asset, homeownership stands up, especially when buyers make smart decisions. 

"The largest measurable financial benefit to homeownership is price appreciation," said Investopedia. "Price appreciation helps build home equity, which is the difference between the market price of the house and the remaining mortgage payments."

Reason No. 6: Pride of Ownership
Pride of ownership is a real thing!   Having the freedom to make it your own, painting walls, upgrading kitchen items and not having to worry about higher rent payments coming with your next lease term, make owning your own home a great idea.  Add that to watching your equity grow and the tax benefits of homeownership and this is a no-brainer!

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Sandi's Hot Home Listing

2700 Vista Grande Dr. NW 114, Albuquerque

Price: $595,000   Beds: 3   Baths: 2.5  Square Feet: 3,970

INCREDIBLE & RARE BLUFF LOT RESIDING ALONG THE RIVER W/Unobstructed views of the City,Bosque,Rio Grande & Mountains. This bluff lot offers unsurpassed sensational views-will not find more breathtaking views anywhere ceiling to floor windows from living, dining, kitchen & Master-Suite showcases phenomenal Views! View This Listing

Here's Your Morning Coffee

Do you have a home on the market in Albuquerque? Are you getting ready to list your home for sale? If so, one of the most important parts of your listing is your home’s Curb Appeal. How your home appears from the street is just as important as how it looks inside because, if the buyer isn’t sold when they drive up, they may never take the time see what’s beyond the front door. Well-maintained landscaping, a clean yard and attention to details, will attract more buyers and possibly a higher sales price.

When a potential buyer drives up to your listing, the first thing they notice is the big picture. They see your home, the trees, flowers, colors and most importantly, the level of effort taken on the outside of the home. That first impression is vital and you’ve already lost it if you’ve got dead plants, chipping paint and cracked sidewalks. Not only will the buyer be turned off by the disrepair outside, they’ll make assumptions that the same level of care has been taken inside.

Creating the perfect first impression can feel expensive and overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are 5 projects that can be low cost and have a high impact on your home’s curb appeal.

1. Remove any dead plants or flowers, trees, fallen leaves and trash from your yard. This step alone will make a big difference in the appearance of your yard from the curb.
2. Pull weeds and cut the grass, regularly. Nothing says deferred maintenance like tall weeds or an overgrown lawn. Consider asking a neighborhood teen willing to do this for a small fee every week.
3. Add some color with potted flowers. After removing any dead plants and trees, you may notice blanks spots in your yard. Leaving them blank is fine but you can also fill in with seasonal, flowering plants.
4. Clean everything! Front facing windows and screens should be cleaned and repaired if needed. Spray off the patio and driveway and do your best to remove any stains. Remove cobwebs from corners and make sure your entry walkway is free of debris including fallen leaves.
5. Make the garage door shine! Depending on the size of your home, the garage door can comprise up to half of the visual space from the curb. Make sure it’s clean and in good condition. Consider adding new hardware or a decorative address block above the garage for added appeal.

Your local landscape supply company or home improvement store can be valuable resources for ideas and supplies. Take a sketch or photo of the front of your home with you and don’t be afraid to ask for ideas. This small step can mean more traffic for your listing and a higher sales price when the right buyer comes along.

Have a great week!

Sandi’s Hot Home Listing

9759 Colonial Circle NE, Albuquerque

Price: $339,000  Beds: 3  Baths: 2  Square Feet: 1,900

This stunning, single story home is situated in the desired and lovely, guarded and gated community of Tanoan.  The property overlooks mountain and golf course views.  T this open, light and bright floor plan has vaulted ceilings and shows like a model!  This gorgeous home showcases 2 living areas, a lovely kitchen plus 3 bedrooms, a 2 way fireplace inside, an outdoor fireplace, 2 full baths and a 2 car garage!  View This Listing

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