Accelerate Realtor Network-DFW

Fall weather is coming and I can't wait! For those of us who experience all 4 seasons, fall is a bit of a reprieve from a hot and humid Summer. There's nothing more magical than watching nature go through its beautiful cycle of growth and transformation as we witness the colorful shedding before a winter slumber.

Who else has already started decorating their house for fall?

Quick tip for sellers: buy Magic Erasers in bulk!

One major part of preparing your home to sell is to make sure it is CLEAN (I'm talking sparkling). A spotless house makes a great first impression and gives buyers the notion that it has been well-maintained.

Here are a few tips on how you can use a Magic Eraser when giving your home a deep clean:

• White cabinets? Go over each one at least once.
• Don't forget the baseboards!
• Easily get rid of scuff marks on walls, without a paint job.
• Door frames tend to get quite dirty, so give those a once over.
• Use it in bathrooms, too!

Whether you normally deep clean your house (or not), you’ll need to focus on that when selling. In fact, before listing it, you should deep clean it like never before. It will help you sell faster!

The past two years have, without a doubt, been a HOT seller's market — now that the market is starting to shift, we keep hearing the terms "stabilized" and "normalized" market. So what do those terms actually mean?

Although most markets rarely exist in a state of "normalcy," economists are forecasting a more stable market in the coming years — not quite a buyer's market, but also not the seller's market we have come to experience over the past 2 years.

Here are a few things we could see moving into a more stable market in the coming months:

‣ Houses won't be sold sight-unseen with no contingencies

‣ Homes may sit on the market for a few weeks ... or even months (gasp)

‣ Negotiations are slowly starting to come back, along with price decreases

If you took a breather from the housing market because of the crazy competition, it may be time to jump back in while others sit on the sidelines and miss their opportunity. Questions about our current market or the shift we are seeing? Send me a message!

A question I am often asked, is "how do I get rid of PMI without putting down 20%?"

It depends!

Some home loan products will always have mortgage insurance (think: government-backed loans), such as FHA and VA loans, and some will fall off naturally over the life of the loan. However, there are also ways that you can get rid of it without waiting to gain 20% equity.

• LENDER-PAID MI (LPMI):
This is when you build the mortgage insurance into a higher interest rate. By increasing the interest rate, you get rid of the mortgage insurance premium in your monthly payment which can range anywhere from $15/month to $500/month. LPMI can be a money-saver for short-term homeowners... if you plan to sell before you have 20% equity, you can take the short-term savings and not worry about longer-term costs.

• UPFRONT PMI:
This option allows you to pay the entire premium in one lump sum in the form of "closing costs," instead of in your monthly payment.

If you're a buyer looking for ways to lower your payment with the recent interest rate increases, let's connect! I'd be happy to answer any questions and refer you to a lender who can discuss your finances and what option may be best for you and your family.