Real Estate Expertise and Value you can count on by Tiffany Fountain: 10 Ways to Prepare for Homeownership

Real Estate Expertise and Value you can count on by Tiffany Fountain: Real Estate Expertise and Value you can count on!:...: Real Estate Expertise and Value you can count on!: 10 Ways to Prepare for Homeownership : Decide what you can afford . Generally, you can af...

Real Estate Expertise and Value you can count on by Tiffany Fountain: First Time Home Buyers

Real Estate Expertise and Value you can count on by Tiffany Fountain: First Time Home Buyers: News You Can Use****Check It Out**** Are You A First-Time Homebuyer? Do You Need Help? Here's What I Know: First-time homebuyers ...

Real Estate Expertise and Value you can count on by Tiffany Fountain: Autumn Decor

Real Estate Expertise and Value you can count on by Tiffany Fountain: Autumn Decor:   Realtor® Talk with Tiffany ...

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As your Realtor® I am ready to assist you with all of your real estate needs! My affiliations include: Houston Association of Realtors, Texas Association of Realtors, and the National Association of Realtors. In the competitive real estate market, having a Realtor® on your team is an asset.

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First Time Home Buyers

News You Can Use****Check It Out****

Are You A First-Time Homebuyer? Do You Need Help?

Here's What I Know:

First-time homebuyers need more from you than just help finding the right property. According to recent surveys from NAR, first-time homebuyers have more financial obstacles than repeat buyers.

The January to June 2013 REALTORS® Confidence Index surveys say that 46% of first-time homebuyers had a down payment amount of only 3% to 6%, while 46% of repeat buyers put down more than 20%. First-time homebuyers also tend to have more student-loan debt and lower median FICO scores.

So how can you help first-time homebuyers who face challenges atypical of other buyers? Here are three ways:

Outline financing options. Data from the survey shows that 91% of first-time homebuyers purchased their home using a mortgage loan. First-time buyers may not know about different programs available in your market and may not understand the different types of mortgages available.

Explain the steps of the transaction early in the process. If you’re in a hot market, your homebuyers may not have much time to spare to get the property they want. Help your first-time buyers understand each step of the purchase process before they find the perfect home so they can feel confident to move quickly if necessary.

Have experts on your side. Of course you’d like to be able to answer all of your first-time homebuyers’ questions, but don’t be afraid to put them in touch with other experts if you can’t. Whether it’s a chimney expert who can explain upkeep or an accountant who can crunch some numbers, your first-time buyers will appreciate having extra expert information from your connections.
Texas Association of REALTORS®

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Autumn Decor

 

Realtor® Talk with Tiffany

Volume 1, Number 1                                                                                                                         September 2012

 

Fall Issue

Autumn Décor

 

A simple and inexpensive way to add fall décor to your home this fall and involve the whole family would be to fill the shelves that you have around the house with decorated pumpkins and add festive leaves as pitched above. If you don’t have shelves you can pick some easy to assemble ones up from your local general dollar store for around $5 to $20 bucks. 

Are you imagining kids playing in the leaves this fall and the sweet aroma of your famous thanksgiving dinner cooking in the air from your kitchen? The thought screams elegant dinner party and then your mind clouds because you realize that you may not have enough space settings let alone decorating ideas. Well relax! Here are 5 easy things that “HGTV” suggest for an elegant dinner party.

5 Easy Ideas for an Elegant Dinner Party

“Hosting a high-class dinner party doesn't have to be difficult. With a bit of creativity, you can design a stylish party setting using items you already own. Try these simple tips for your next gathering.

1.       Embellish Your Basics. You don't need brand-new dinnerware to create a chic table setting for a dinner party. Instead, start with neutral pieces you already own and dress them up with colorful napkin rings and other details. Photo by Laura Fenton

2.       Get Personal. Find a simple yet stylish way to personalize each guest's place at the table, such as tying a pretty tag to each glass with the guest's named marked on it. Photo by Laura Fenton

3.       Keep It Simple. If you don't have an expert eye for color, you can easily create a classy setting for your party with a monochromatic color palette. Try using dinnerware and decor in shades of brown for a warm, inviting atmosphere. Photo by Laura Fenton

4.       Go for a Theme. Choosing a motif for your party makes it easy to coordinate your menu and decor. Try a south-of-the-border theme, complete with a Mexican-influenced menu and colorful, festive decor. Serve condiments out of inexpensive terra-cotta pots and use your boldest, brightest table linens and dishes — with all the bold hues of a fiesta it won’t even matter if they match. Photo by Laura Fenton

5.       Dress Up the Table. Stylish centerpieces are an important finishing touch for any dinner party. To create beautiful, no-fuss centerpieces, start by filling vases you already own with simple arrangements of fresh flowers. Complete the look and add ambiance with inexpensive candles.” Photo by Laura Fenton

 

More Talk with Tiff

8 Reasons Why You Should Work With a Bayou City Lights Properties Realtor®

 

Not all real estate practitioners are REALTORS®. The term REALTOR® is a registered trademark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. Here's why it pays to work with a REALTOR®.

 

1. Navigate a complicated process. Buying or selling a home usually requires disclosure forms, inspection reports, mortgage documents, insurance policies, deeds, and multipage settlement statements. A knowledgeable expert will help you prepare the best deal, and avoid delays or costly mistakes.

2. Information and opinions. REALTORS® can provide local community information on utilities, zoning, schools, and more. They’ll also be able to provide objective information about each property. A professional will be able to help you answer these two important questions: Will the property provide the environment I want for a home or investment? Second, will the property have resale value when I am ready to sell?

 3. Help finding the best property out there. Sometimes the property you are seeking is available but not actively advertised in the market, and it will take some investigation by your REALTOR® to find all available properties.

4. Negotiating skills. There are many negotiating factors, including but not limited to price, financing, terms, date of possession, and inclusion or exclusion of repairs, furnishings, or equipment. In addition, the purchase agreement should provide a period of time for you to complete appropriate inspections and investigations of the property before you are bound to complete the purchase. Your agent can advise you as to which investigations and inspections are recommended or required.

5. Property marketing power. Real estate doesn’t sell due to advertising alone. In fact, a large share of real estate sales comes as the result of a practitioner’s contacts through previous clients, referrals, friends, and family. When a property is marketed with the help of a REALTOR®, you do not have to allow strangers into your home. Your REALTOR® will generally prescreen and accompany qualified prospects through your property.

6. Someone who speaks the language. If you don’t know a CMA from a PUD, you can understand why it’s important to work with a professional who is immersed in the industry and knows the real estate language.

7.  Experience. Most people buy and sell only a few homes in a lifetime, usually with quite a few years in between each purchase. Even if you have done it before, laws and regulations change. REALTORS®, on the other hand, handle hundreds of real estate transactions over the course of their career. Having an expert on your side is critical.

8. Objective voice. A home often symbolizes family, rest, and security — it’s not just four walls and a roof. Because of this, home buying and selling can be an emotional undertaking. And for most people, a home is the biggest purchase they’ll every make. Having a concerned, but objective, third party helps you stay focused on both the emotional and financial issues most important to you.

 Information cited from:

The National Association of Realtors®