Beautiful Model Home w/ a Great Pond View just became available! Don't wait on this one!
Freddie Mac has released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® showing mortgage rates, fixed and adjustable, moved lower and the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage slid just below 4.00 percent for the week. 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.99 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending March 29, 2012, down from last week when it averaged 4.08 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.86 percent.
Many homeowners ready to sell are instead waiting a couple of months until the popular Spring home selling season begins. But the fact is, in many locations, NOW may be the right time to put that property on the market. Here are 5 things to think about:1. Pay no attention to media reports on nationwide statistics for the housing market. They mean nothing to you as a seller because real estate markets are purely local. 2. Remember, the ratio of supply to demand is key to the health of your local real estate market. So no matter what you read about the housing market nationally, the local facts determine your chances of making a sale at any point in time. 3. So, the first question to ask your Realtor is how much competition you'd have if you put your home on the market now, before the Spring activity begins. 4. Because not many sellers put their homes on the market the first few months of the year, the inventory of homes for sale usually dwindles during the winter months. So, if your area is shy on inventory of good homes, now could be a good time to sell. 5. Interest rates are low but won't stay that way forever. There could be a fair number of savvy buyers in your market who know this and want to take advantage of the situation now.6. Many experts believe that the big price declines are behind us. More than a few buyers are beginning to realize this and are taking a good look at today's market.STEP UP TO THAT TAX RETURN!Preparing your tax return needn't be an annual ordeal. Getting organized can take a whole lot of stress out of the process. Now is the time to gather the information you'll need to do your return or hand over to your tax professional. There are just three categories:1. Paperwork: Last year's returnAll income info: W-2 forms, 1099 forms, alimony, self-employment incomeAny 1098 forms: mortgage, educational institution statements, etc.IRA infoSavings and investments info2. Deductions:Charitable contributionsJob hunting costsMoving costsState and local income taxes and sales taxesReal estate and personal property taxesHome mortgage interest and investment interestPoints on a home mortgage or refinanceCasualty and theft losses not covered by insuranceNon-reimbursed business entertainment and travel expenses, including car useBusiness use of homeMedical expensesEducational expenses3. Miscellaneous expenses:Tax preparation and tax advice feesSafe deposit box rentalInvestment fees and expenses, including service charges on dividend reinvestment plans and trustee's fees for your IRA, if separately billed and paidConvenience fees charged for paying income tax, including estimated tax payments, by credit or debit cardAppraisal fees for a casualty loss or charitable contributionAsk a tax professional about other expenses you can deduct if you have extensive investments, or estate, trust, IRA or Social Security issuesThe above are only guidelines to help you organize some of the information you'll need to prepare your tax return. If you have any questions about these or other tax matters, always consult with a qualified tax professional.... Have a great day!PS With today's mortgage rates at historic new lows and the most affordable home prices ever, many people are upsizing, downsizing or refinancing. Please call or email us now to discuss your situation.
For many, homeownership is still a dream. Moving from renting can seem like it’s an impossible mission. But if you plan ahead and carefully budget, the goal of homeownership can be yours.When budgeting how much you can afford, it’s important to understand the costs of owning and maintaining a home. Here are a few things that some first-time buyers forget:1. Private Mortgage Insurance or PMIThis is added on to your mortgage when the down payment is less than 20 percent. You can buy a home with less money but you’ll pay the PMI which covers the lender should a homebuyer default on the loan. As you build up equity, your PMI drops off.2. Property TaxesProperty taxes generate revenue for municipalities, counties, and schools. It’s an expense that can vary across the U.S. Make sure to ask what they are for the home you are considering.3. HOA Homeowners’ Association fees (HOA) can add several hundred dollars to the monthly household expense. HOA's help to maintain common areas. They also govern what can be done to the home and the surrounding area. 4. Homeowner’s insuranceLenders require homeowner’s insurance on your property. The amount you’ll pay depends on many variables including: where you live, the age, type, size of your home. 5. Utilities You can contact the local utility company to get an average for monthly costs based on other homes with the approximate square footage as the home you are considering. While individual usage will vary this will give you a good idea of the cost.6. Inspections, appraisals, and closing costsMany buyer realize they will have to pay closing costs and for a appraisal. However, some fail to budget for a home inspection on a resale home. Sometimes inspections are paid for by the seller but it’s usually the buyer who pays for the inspection. While the extra expenses do add up, if you carefully budget and plan ahead, the goal of homeownership is achievable and very satisfying.
Hi everyone!I have been presented an exciting opportunity! Just last week, I was contacted by HGTV to flim a My First Place episode here in Dallas. They are looking for fun, high-energy people in and around the Dallas-Ft. Worth area who are buying their first place! Singles, couples and families are all invited to apply. My First Place is returning for its 11th season, and will again focus on the trials and tribulations of looking for, bidding on, and buying your first place – whether it's a single-family house, townhouse or condo. They looking for fun and interesting Real Estate Brokers and people who are willing to share their personal and financial struggles during the home-buying process. In addition to the once-in-a-lifetime experience, upon airing of our episode, you’ll also receive a DVD copy of our show—giving you a lasting memory of your first time buying a home to cherish for all time! If this sounds like an exciting, fun experience to you (we think it is!) and you are or know of someone planning on buying their first place in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, please call me today. They are encouraging us to get our buyers applications in ASAP. If selected, I will contact you about the next step in the process! *Candidates who complete taping will receive a monetary gift as part of the show.
The commercial is airing on Time Warner Cable: ESPN, DISCOVERY, TNT, USA, & CNN.
We are excited around here to share with all of you some of the recognition your hard working & friendly local real estate broker, Rafael Carrasco has been awarded!Rafael has always enjoyed selling homes & even more so helping his clients wade through the recently "murky" waters of real estate. It is rewarding to hear that his honest commitment to his clients & hard work is being recognized by his Alma Mater. He desire's to continue offering his clients the same honesty, integrity & hard work that has been making their home buying experience easy for the past 12 years. Ringing true to Rafael's motto, "Home Buying The Easy Way".
Please watch the video & read the article published below by The University Of Houston to see & hear what they have to say about Rafael.
The Sales Excellence Institute at the University of Houston C. T. Bauer College of Business kicked off a week of “sellebration” on May 3 to mark its 15th anniversary, with an event to announce the Top 15 Distinguished Alumni.
The group is the first to be inducted into the SEI Alumni Hall of Honor and was selected by a committee based on sales performance, public service in the community and involvement with the program.
“We’re excited to honor so many terrific alumni and show what a fantastic group of people and a fantastic family we’ve developed here over the past 15 years.,” said Michael Ahearne, executive director of SEI.
Rafael CarrascoClass of 1999Broker/Owner, Carrasco Real Estate Co.
Travis BrunsClass of 2000Sales Manager, Crown Lift Trucks
Chad DziedzicClass of 2000Regional Vice President, BlackRock
Kevin LaudadioClass of 2000Account Executive, BMC Software, Inc.
Gersson RosasClass of 2000Houston Rockets, Vice President of Player Personnel
Marcus SmithClass of 2004Founder, President & Senior Agent, Boss Alliance Financial Group
Alim HiraniClass of 2004Director of Finance, Hilti
Markus TolsonClass of 2005Agent, State Farm
Tatiana ChavanelleClass of 2001Senior Manager- Treasury, KBR
Christin TascheryClass of 2004Senior Sales Professional – Metabolism Division, Sanofi Aventis, U.S.
Steven ChiaraClass of 2007Sales Representative – OEM Markets, 3M
Edith BotelloClass of 2008Store Manager, Mattress Firm
Marek CrabbsClass of 2009Sales Manager, Waste Management
Mary YuClass of 2006Sales Consultant, Pulte Group
Marie HuynhClass of 2009Corporate Account Manager, EMC