Real Estate Information

Albuquerque home sellers often overlook pre-listing home inspections, which are crucial to the real estate transaction.

An inspection of a property before it is listed provides sellers with a clear understanding of its condition. Before putting the home on the market, the seller can fix any issues or set the right asking price.

Pre-listing home inspections can help expedite the transaction process and reduce the chance of surprises that may arise from the inspection. Some of the benefits are as follows:

Uncover Any Issues

Sellers will be able to clearly understand any problems in their home by having their home inspected prior to listing the property. Before putting your home on the market or presenting to potential buyers, the inspector will inform you of issues that you can address and fix. As a result, you will save both time and money.

Save Money

It usually costs the same as a standard home inspection to conduct a pre-listing inspection. Inspections can be extremely valuable. The pre-listing inspection warns you of potential problems well in advance of the listing, whereas a buyer's inspection only gives you a few days to resolve them. In this way, you can compare the cost of repairs and negotiate prices without feeling rushed.

A full disclosure upfront will be appreciated by buyers, as will any repairs made. As a result, the risk of buyers returning and asking for more off the sale price is reduced.

Boost Marketability

Transparency is a key factor in home selling. In addition to disclosing information to the potential buyers, a pre-listing inspection will enhance the level of trust between you and buyer. By making the information readily available, you are able to get your home sold more quickly and make your home more attractive to buyers.

Clearly reflecting the state of the home and providing suggestions for resolving any issues that are found is the goal of a professional home inspection. By leveraging the knowledge and experience of professionals, it is ensured that important issues are not neglected, reports are received efficiently and sellers are able to move through the real estate process quickly.

Contact us today to help you buy or sell your next home in Albuquerque. Looking for the perfect home for sale in Albuquerque? Our easy-to-use home search tool can help you start the process. Join us twice a week on our blog for more real estate advice and great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates.

In the process of buying or selling a home in Albuquerque, a real estate attorney may or may not be necessary, but how do you know?

If you are able to understand their role and what they do, you can determine if they are the right person for your team.

What Do Real Estate Lawyers Do?

What are the general duties of a real estate lawyer? Obviously, they handle transactions related to real estate, but what does that entail?

The attorney may review any contracts or other agreements you had with the seller related to the purchase, including your contract. Your lender documents, your title and transfer documents can also be reviewed by a real estate attorney.

An attorney might be present at the closing in some circumstances.

Both the buyer and the seller can benefit from legal advice from a real estate attorney.

A mortgage lender can also be represented by an attorney.

How Do You Know When to Hire an Attorney?

A home closing is considered a practice of law in some states, so an attorney must be present. This is not the case in New Mexico.

Here are some reasons why you might want to hire an attorney:

• In situations where a contract is unusual in any way, having an attorney at least look things over might prove beneficial. A lawyer is almost always beneficial in complicated situations.
• Having an attorney on your side can bring you peace of mind. It can help you feel more confident, and you can make sure all of your bases are covered.
• Buying a home in a special sale might require the assistance of a lawyer. An example is a short sale, a bank purchase, an auction, or an estate sale.
• If you're purchasing a home in a different state, an attorney might prove useful.
• Your family member owned a home you are selling, and you are the executor.
• If there are several severe issues with your house or if there is damage to the structure, you might need an attorney.
• You are trying to sell your property despite having liens against it.
• There is a divorce settlement attached to the sale of your home.

What Is The Cost Of Hiring a Real Estate Attorney?

A real estate attorney's fee will vary greatly depending on what services they're providing and who's paying for that portion of the closing costs.

In some cases, attorneys will charge a flat fee that will include certain services, and in others, they will charge by the hour.

You don’t necessarily need an attorney to buy a home in Albuquerque. It can be beneficial, however, to have someone review your contracts during this time if you can afford it.

Contact us today to help you buy or sell your next home in Albuquerque. Looking for the perfect home for sale in Albuquerque? Our easy-to-use home search tool can help you start the process. Join us twice a week on our blog for more real estate advice and great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates.

Are you thinking about upgrading your lifestyle in Albuquerque, but also want a great value? If so, take a look at our latest homes for sale! These gems are certain to sell fast, so make sure you schedule a showing today.

Feel free to contact Sandi Pressley and her team at 505-263-2173 to get more information and schedule a viewing of these fine homes. You can also check out all of our listings on our Featured Listings page.

3316 19TH Avenue SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124

AMAZING REMODEL! Sandia mountain VIEWS! BACKYARD ACCESS! Incredibly updated 3BDR/2BA/1CG in the heart of Rio Rancho! New luxury vinyl plank flooring! New lighting! New windows! Newly painted interior & exterior! NEW SEPTIC TANK IN 2019! Huge great room with stacked stone fireplace, patio access and free flowing & open to the beautifully remodeled kitchen with new soft close cabinets & drawers, new granite countertops & sunny breakfast nook! Awesome flex room/game room PLUS separate office/study! Gorgeous remodeled baths with new vanities featuring dryer station, new flooring, commodes & lighting. Master suite bath features a new dual sink vanity, flooring & barn door! Close to Intel, Presbyterian Rust Hospital, Cottonwood Mall, parks, schools, shopping, restaurants!

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624 3RD Street NE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124

Come see this semi-custom Wallen Home with the most INCREDIBLE views!! Set on a 1/2 acre, these may be some of the best views in Rio Rancho. Relax outdoors and listen to your beautiful, oversized water feature, or just listen to the wind blow through the trees. Enjoy the open floorplan with eat-in kitchen and gas appliances. All bedrooms have NEW carpet, and master bedroom is an oversized comfort zone. Master bath features dual sinks, a gorgeous walk-in shower and separate garden tub, plus great walk-in closet. In addition, there's a great office with plenty of space. Plus, bring your toys! Garage has room for 3 cars with a tandem space, and there is side-yard access that can lead to the backyard for your camping toys. Schedule your showing today!

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2104 BEULAH Drive SE, Albuquerque, NM 87123

This luxurious home has a fantastic layout perfect for entertaining. Beautiful crystal chandelier as you walk in the door speaks elegance. The kitchen has plenty of cabinet space, SS appliances with w/a double oven (2020) and NEW granite countertops (2021) along with a walk-in pantry. This fabulous floorplan has 3 Master bedrooms, 1 downstairs, 2 upstairs w/2 nice sized bedrooms upstairs and if that wasn't enough, a 1 bd | 1 ba | 229sf CASITA that leads to the patio & backyard. Please see attachment (features & upgrades). This home is sure to please multi-family living! Note: Casita is included in bds/ba & overall sf.

Learn More!

Contact us today to help you buy or sell your next home in Albuquerque. Looking for the perfect home for sale in Albuquerque? Our easy-to-use home search tool can help you start the process. Join us twice a week on our blog for more real estate advice and great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates.

A pool might sound like a great idea if you're searching for a new home in Albuquerque. Keeping cool is important in this climate since it gets hot. Pools are extremely popular right now, so popular that there are waiting lists for pool contractors and a shortage of maintenance items like chlorine.

Does pool ownership live up to its hype? The answer is yes, but you need to prepare.

The Pros of a Pool

Can Improve Your Quality of Life

Owning a pool can make your life more enjoyable, and it can also enhance your lifestyle. It can also be used for exercising or getting out for fresh air and vitamin D.

Having a pool can enhance your social life in the sense that many families with them enjoy spending time together.

A Pool Can be Beautiful

The aesthetics of a pool might be a factor in your decision to buy a home with one. It's great to look out at your pool or see the water from your deck. Many people find relaxation in the sight of water in any form, including in a pool.

Pools Can Increase Your Home’s Value

Pools can add value to a home in many instances. In warm climates like ours, this is especially important. In places like New Mexico, swimming pools are pretty much considered to be necessities.

In the case that you ever want to sell your home and your neighbors don't, your property might be in higher demand or fetch a higher price than a home without a pool.

The Cons of a Pool

Cleaning and Maintenance

It's true that some people prefer to clean and maintain their pools, but if you aren't one of them, think twice about buying a house with one. You may need to spend several hours a week maintaining your pool if you do it yourself.

If you hire an individual or company to maintain your pool, expect to spend $50 to $150 per week.

You also have to pay for the supplies required to clean and maintain a pool.

Safety

Buying a home with a pool means checking for safety codes and complying with existing regulations. An alarm system or fence may need to be installed.

If you have small children or pets, consider how an in-ground pool will affect your family's safety.

Insurance Costs

A pool is usually covered as part of "other structures" in a homeowner's policy. In any case, you may be responsible for injuries caused by your pool. This is why some insurance policies refer to pools as an "attractive nuisance.". It will cost you more to insure, since you'll need liability coverage.

Not Always Be a Good Thing for Resale

Pools are not always viewed as pluses by buyers, so you need to consider that as well. You could end up limiting your options if you wanted to sell your house.

Last but not least, if you're buying an existing home, what is the condition of the pool? Is there a possibility that you may need to make major repairs or upgrades when you move in?

Choosing whether or not to purchase a pool is a personal decision that should be made strategically and not emotionally.

Contact us today to help you buy or sell your next home in Albuquerque. Looking for the perfect home for sale in Albuquerque? Our easy-to-use home search tool can help you start the process. Join us twice a week on our blog for more real estate advice and great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates.

Would you like to learn how to increase the value of your house for sale in Albuquerque? You can increase the value of your home by up to 15% by improving your landscaping. For a $300,000 home, that means about $45,000.

A small improvement can have a big impact. You should aim to spend between 5% and 10% of the value of your home. You can save even more if you do the work yourself or enlist the help of family and friends.

Here are four landscaping ideas that can increase the value of your home in Albuquerque.

Clean It Up

What does your yard look like? Keeping the grass mowed and removing dead trees and bushes is a simple way to improve the appearance of your property. You can then replace them with low-maintenance plants. 

You should also trim overgrown trees and shrubs, and remove low branches. Replace rusted metal edging where your grass meets your rock or mulch if it is old and rusted.

Keep It Low Maintenance

Here are some ideas to create a low-maintenance yard if you don't have all day to work on it.

• Plant perennial flowers that will return every year.
• Install a sprinkler system or automated soaker hoses.
• Cover more areas with pavers or hardscape to cut down on mowing time.
• Avoid messy trees that leaves, needles, and berries. Consider arborvitae trees that can grow up to 50 feet tall, need little pruning, and stay green year-round.

Grow a Privacy Fence

Are you able to see your neighbor's backyard? Trees or shrubs can be planted to block their view as well as yours. Go with plants and trees that are native to the Albuquqerque area, such as Mimosa, Desert Willow, Smoketree, Big Sage, Fourwing Saltbush, Butterfly Bush and many others.

Try to plant various types of shrubs or trees so that if one gets a disease, they don't all get it and die. When you stagger these different plants, it creates an attractive look that home buyers will love.

Bring Your Indoors Outside

Your backyard is a great place to relax with your family and friends during the summer. With the right budget and space, a gazebo is an excellent addition to any landscape. You might as well add an outdoor kitchen equipped with a built-in grill, a refrigerator, and a TV if you really want to go all out. Soft cushions, outdoor carpet, and throw pillows will complete your lovely gazebo.

Contact us today to help you buy or sell your next home in Albuquerque. Looking for the perfect home for sale in Albuquerque? Our easy-to-use home search tool can help you start the process. Join us twice a week on our blog for more real estate advice and great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates.

Is your family growing and you need some extra room? If you're looking to expand your living area, you can't beat these two outstanding values. One of these homes offers 7 bedrooms and 3566 sq ft of room! Check out these great properties while can!

Feel free to contact Sandi Pressley and her team at 505-263-2173 to get more information and schedule a viewing of these fine homes. You can also check out all of our listings on our Featured Listings page.

7321 THUNDERBIRD Court NW, Albuquerque, NM 87121

$275,000

Cul-De-Sac! Private gated entrance! Beautiful shade tree at the front entry! 7 BDR/3BA! Two master bedrooms on main level! THREE living areas with living/dining and separate family room with wood burning fireplace plus a huge den. 7 bdrs with closets, 4 on the main level and 3 bdr upstairs plus an office/study/flex room on the main. Kitchen is open to the family room with breakfast bar and pantry. Approx .25 acre lot located on a cul-de-sac, extended covered patio, large backyard, two storage sheds, walled for privacy and lots of outdoor entertaining space. Close to schools, shopping, restaurants, easy access to 1-40 and Coors!

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4621 CONGRESS Avenue NW, Albuquerque, NM 87114

$325,000

Excellent location in Knolls of Paradise Hills! Close to shopping, restaurants, parks, Cottonwood Mall, Presbyterian Rust Hospital and easy access across town or downtown! 4BDR/2BA/2CG! Private front courtyard! Huge great room with cove ceiling and fireplace! Skylights! Master suite on its own wing! New water heater (2020) Kitchen features breakfast nook with beautiful bay windows overlooking the backyard. Master suite features jetted tub, large shower, dual sink vanity, two walk-in closets & tile floor. Large secondary bedrooms and full bath on a separate wing. Outdoor living features a covered patio, entertaining space for summer BBQs, raised garden space for flowers & herb pots and mature trees and shrubs!

Learn More!

Contact us today to help you buy or sell your next home in Albuquerque. Looking for the perfect home for sale in Albuquerque? Our easy-to-use home search tool can help you start the process. Join us twice a week on our blog for more real estate advice and great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates.

Purchase of a home in Albuquerque can be intimidating for many young or first-time buyers. Homebuyers aged 25 to 40 may be unsure about the homebuying process and what they can afford, according to a recent survey. The study found:

• “1 in 4 underestimated their buying potential by $150k or more”
• “1 in 4 underestimated the increase in value by $100k or more”
• “47% don’t know what a good interest rate is”

Most young homebuyers have given up on their search because they feel uncertain, or worse, they have decided homebuying isn't right for them and don't even start a search.

If you want to buy a home but aren't sure where to start, here are three things you should know about homeownership.

1. Down Payments

It's not necessary to have a large down payment to qualify to buy a home, but that's how many people view it. According to Freddie Mac:

“The most damaging down payment myth—since it stops the homebuying process before it can start—is the belief that 20% is necessary.”

Those looking to buy between July 2019 and June 2020 only had to make an average down payment of 12%, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) Generational Trends Report. The median down payment for buyers ages 22 to 30 was only 6% when controlling for age.

2. You May Be Able To Afford More Home Than You Think

Spending more time in our homes as a result of working from home, exercising, and spending more time on leisure has changed what people expect from their living spaces. Some young homebuyers are unable to afford homes that will meet their growing needs, so they choose to continue renting. As a result, they'll miss out on some of the benefits of home ownership in the long run. A recent NAR article points out:

“Many young adults are underestimating how much they need for homeownership, the survey finds. Millennials underestimated how much home they can afford right now, how much interest they would pay over a 30-year mortgage, and how much home values appreciate, on average, over 10 years…”

When you are starting the home buying process, knowing how much to spend on a home is critical and could be a game-changer.

3. Don't Wait

In addition, with mortgage rates on the rise along with home prices appreciating, you may end up paying much more for putting off buying a house now. According to Sam Khater, Chief Economist at Freddie Mac:

“As the economy progresses and inflation remains elevated, we expect that rates will continually rise in the second half of the year.”

Experts predict that interest rates will rise in the months ahead, and even a small increase can affect your purchasing power. There's no better time to buy a home if you've been on the fence.

When you begin your home search, you may feel overwhelmed. You're not alone. We can help. Contact the Sandi Pressley team today to see how you can make your goal of owning a home a reality.

Contact us today to help you buy or sell your next home in Albuquerque. Looking for the perfect home for sale in Albuquerque? Our easy-to-use home search tool can help you start the process. Join us twice a week on our blog for more real estate advice and great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates.

You can increase the sale price of your Albuquerque house by staging it for sale. In addition to helping you sell faster, it's an important marketing tool to help you compete at the right price. But cleaning the house and fluffing some pillows is not enough. Organizing, decluttering, repairing, upgrading, and depersonalizing are the keys to this process.

Here's a few tips to get your home ready to sell in Albuquerque.

Living Room

• When placing anything from accent pillows and table lamps, go for symmetry, which is pleasing to the eye.
• Light it up with lamps. Chic lamps provide both added lighting and appealing decor.
• Make that fireplace glow. Scrub away soot stains and replace the old screen.
• Whatever amount of furniture you have in your living room, remove a few pieces to make the room feel spacious.
• Help buyers imagine their life in your home. Set the scene by displaying a board game or tea service on the coffee table, and arrange furniture in conversational groups.

Kitchen

• Clear everything from countertops except one or two decorative items, like a vase of flowers or bowl of fresh fruit.
• Pack up all the dishes except one attractive, matching set. Do the same with glassware, flatware, and cookware, and pare down all other cupboard and drawer items down to the minimum.
• Freshen up and modernize those cabinets with a fresh coat of paint or stain and new hardware.
• Invest some time in evaluating your appliances. Can they be made to look new again with a good scrub? Consider giving it the old college try or replacing it with a new model. Stainless steel is strongly recommended by the Real Estate Staging Association. If you use stainless films, you can get stainless's appearance for the price of a cheap meal.
• Remove those fridge magnets and give the door and handles a good cleaning.

Bedrooms

• Go gender neutral in the master bedroom. Ditch those dainty, floral pillow shams or NASCAR posters.
• Pack up all but the clothes you're wearing this season to make you closets look larger.
• Swap out the motley crew of mismatched hangers in your closet for a set of wooden ones to create a classy, boutique look.
• Put jewelry and other valuables in a safe spot.
• Consider giving extra bedrooms a new identity as a home office, sewing room, or another interesting function.
• Remove televisions or video game consoles from bedrooms to depersonalize and create a serene setting.

Obviously, there are other ways to stage your home for sale. However, with these few tips, you'll be on your way to a faster sale.

Contact us today to help you buy or sell your next home in Albuquerque. Looking for the perfect home for sale in Albuquerque? Our easy-to-use home search tool can help you start the process. Join us twice a week on our blog for more real estate advice and great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates.

Selling a home in Albuquerque always involves an inspection. But when the inspector reports something amiss in the plumbing, sellers either panic or simply shrug it off.

If there are issues with the property, an inspector is sure to find those. For the most part, buyers will not commit to buying a home until it's been thoroughly vetted by an inspector.

It can be a hassle to make repairs after an inspection, and it will certainly eat into your profits. But what kind of repairs could you potentially be expected to make?

Check the Contract

In order to avoid being forced into repairs you don't want to make, you should check your contract.

Generally, you shouldn't sign a contract until you clearly understand what it stipulates. This is especially true when it comes to repairs.

Thankfully, not everything that the home inspector suggests you fix must be fixed. Reports are not to-do lists.

There are three kinds of repairs: necessary, optional, and debatable.

Required Repairs after a Home Inspection

Prior to releasing funds to complete the purchase, lenders will require some repairs. Repairs are usually needed because of structural issues, safety concerns, and code violations.

An inspection may uncover mold or mildew that poses a safety risk. Unrepaired leaks in water mains and damaged plumbing systems can cause mold growth.

Bob Oates Plumbing recommends all clients perform routine plumbing maintenance on an annual basis after a water main breaks, because an undetected leak can lead to high water bills, mold, mildew, and rot.

If such problems are discovered during the home inspection, you will likely be responsible for fixing them.

A repair credit is often offered to buyers, allowing them to perform the repairs themselves. Taking this route means you won't have to supervise the repairs.

Repairs that are Not Required

Normal wear and tear or cosmetic damage is not the seller's responsibility.

In some contracts, the buyer will be restricted to requesting only the above-mentioned required repairs and cannot request cosmetic repairs. However, the seller is also liable for any issues or defects discovered during an inspection if state laws govern that matter.

To know which repairs you will be responsible for, you should understand your local ordinances.

Negotiable Home Repairs

Repairs that are negotiable fall somewhere between required and optional repairs. Market conditions affect how they're treated.

There is more flexibility for the seller in a seller's market. If the market is hot, the contract may specify that the buyer will buy the home "as is" or may request the buyer request a limited inspection only. The seller would not be obligated to pay for repairs if the contract stipulates such language.

Such strict rules would not be allowed in a normal marketplace.

Sellers are responsible for negotiating these repairs. Home warranties are offered by some, while others offer value-added incentives to buyers.

Contact us today to help you buy or sell your next home in Albuquerque. Looking for the perfect home for sale in Albuquerque? Our easy-to-use home search tool can help you start the process. Join us twice a week on our blog for more real estate advice and great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates.

"Freedom lies in being bold." – Robert Frost

We would like to wish all of you the best this Independence Day. We've been thought so much over the past year. But we persevered and are bold. And that's what makes us free.

If you want to celebrate the 4th with a grand event, come to the Rio Rancho 4th of July celebration at Campus Park. 

For the first time ever, Campus Park, featuring the Sky Room outdoor performance space and amphitheater, will open to the public for some summer fun. Spectators will enjoy live music by the 44th Army Band and a special concert by the New Mexico Philharmonic. Following the performances, a spectacular fireworks show will begin. Admission to these events is free. For those wishing to only view the fireworks and not wanting to attend the musical performances or visit Campus Park, there is ample parking available in the multiple lots surrounding City Center. Visitors may park in the lots and tailgate as they enjoy a dazzling fireworks display. Performance times:

• 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.—44th Army Band
• 8:00 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.—Campus Park Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and reading of Independence Day Proclamation
• 8:15 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.—New Mexico Philharmonic
• 9:15 p.m.—Fireworks Extravaganza

Have a Safe and Happy Independence Day!

Contact us today to help you buy or sell your next home in Albuquerque. Looking for the perfect home for sale in Albuquerque? Our easy-to-use home search tool can help you start the process. Join us twice a week on our blog for more real estate advice and great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates.