by Doug Erdy Group | Mar 20, 2017 | General, Home Buying, Home Selling, Information, Lake Houston, Real Estate Tips, Uncategorized |
The first day of Spring brings on the anticipation for blooming flowers, weekends at the ball park and for the real estate world, the start of busy season. Houston is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas and per Moonraker Marketing and Great Guys Moving, one of the more affordable areas in which to purchase a home. While the competition may increase in a Springtime realty market, buyers shouldn’t be dismayed. With Houston-area housing prices remaining below the national average, home ownership can be the ideal option. Per statistics and information gathered by Moonraker Marketing and Great Guys Moving, this housing cost difference is about six percent lower than average while apartment rental prices are more than 30% above the national average. Coupled with the affordable housing costs, Springtime often offers an increased inventory of homes from which to choose. Sellers find Spring to be ideal for many reasons, including their Springtime curb appeal. Houses don’t get a second chance to make a first impression and a well-manicured yard in full bloom warmly welcomes interested buyers. As the school year wraps up, buyers begin to realize if they are wanting to be settled before the next school year, now is the time to be buying. Heightened competition can also result in a higher selling price for many sellers compared to other, slower real estate seasons. For buyers looking to buy in this hot season, there are a few tips to consider to help edge out the competition. Get pre-approved by a lender before setting out on your search. This works two-fold to give you a more realistic budget and...
by Doug Erdy Group | Oct 13, 2016 | Home Buying, Information, Real Estate Tips, Uncategorized |
Rent or buy? Buy or Rent? It’s a question that leaves many scratching their heads trying to make the right decision. So, which is the right answer? It will depend on the individual situation, but there are factors to consider. The most obvious of considerations is finances. For the majority of people, there will be no more expensive single purchase made during their lifetime than their home. Buying a home cannot be jumped into delicately for this reason. According to a recent msn.com article, it’s important to calculate your after-tax income and compare that to your expected home costs. These costs could include a monthly mortgage, potential HOA fees, maintenance fees and more. However, there may be some tax advantages to home ownership that can also be factored into these calculations. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has a monthly payment worksheet that helps potential buyers assess whether their wallets are able to take on the costs of owning a home. While it may seem renting would be cheaper with all that goes into owning a home, that isn’t necessarily the case. According to Trulia.com’s Rent vs. Buy Report, in Houston and the surrounding areas, it is currently 46% cheaper to buy than rent. (Check their rent vs. buy calculator out for a better gauge of your financial situation https://www.trulia.com/rent_vs_buy/) Outside of the financial obligations, there are other responsibilities that need to be considered before making a decision. Owning a home affords the owners a sense of community and belonging. Buying a home gives one an asset and the ability to build equity. It also brings the freedom to truly make...
by Doug Erdy Group | Oct 5, 2016 | Home Selling, Real Estate Tips, Uncategorized |
It is often said that fall and winter are considered the slow season for listing a home to sell. However, Realtors have seen a change in recent years and this old adage isn’t holding as true anymore thanks to motivated buyers and less competition. Strategically, these two conditions could make the fall the best time to make your move. Buyers who are out looking for a home during the fall months are typically needing to find a home quickly do to a job relocation or other life change, making them eager and ready to buy the right house. In addition to a more keen buyer, listed houses often face less competition during the fall and winter months. This less saturated market can be a huge advantage to the seller. Furthermore according to research on listed homes compiled by the Redfin Corporation, homes listed during the off months “have a 9 percentage point greater likelihood of selling, sell a week faster, and sell for 1.2 percentage points more relative to list price than homes listed in any other season.” It’s time to put the thought of slow fall season to rest and get your house ready to...
by Doug Erdy Group | Sep 28, 2016 | General, Information, Real Estate Tips, Uncategorized |
According to time.com, fall is quickly becoming the hot season for buyers. “For the first time in recent history, October surpassed June as the most popular month to get married. And these autumn-loving brides may be on to something: Although the spring months are notoriously the best time to buy real estate (as well as have a wedding), fall may be the new ideal season to buy a home.” Among the reasons why fall is the time to buy are tax advantages, less competition and end-of-the-year sales. Time. com spoke with tax adviser, lawyer and personal finance expert, David Hryck. Hrych advised that both property tax and mortgage interest are tax deductible on the entire year’s income regardless of closing date as long as it falls within the tax period’s calendar year. Further more, he noted, “Any payments that are made prior to the closing of the loan are tax-deductible. This can make a serious difference in the amount you owe the government at the end of the year.” Typically, the fall brings a slower real estate season. Often this gives advantage to the buyer allowing them more confidence in making an offer without fear of a multi-offer bidding war. A slower market also allows the buyer to be more aggressive with negotiations and potentially get more for less. As silly as it sounds, end-of-the-year sales are also a major perk of moving into a house in the fall season. A new house often needs new furniture and decor which can add up quickly. Fall buyers can take advantage of these end of season sales to help soften the...
by Doug Erdy Group | Sep 19, 2016 | Home Buying, Information, News, Real Estate Tips, Uncategorized |
According to a quick Google search, knowledge is defined as” facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject.” Knowledge is exactly what you get when you use a Doug Erdy agent. Our agents aren’t merely working in the areas we serve, we are living in these areas. This means we walk these streets, send our kids to school in these districts and mingle where you will mingle. We have the intimate familiarity of the area that proves to be invaluable to our clients when finding the home that fits their needs. Our agents’ knowledge base is constantly broadened with ongoing education opportunities. Agents attend conferences, weekly team training and are able to learn from the experience of other agents in the group. All of this allows our agents to stay atop of the real estate industry. It is more than our knowledge that makes us the best, it’s our application of the knowledge and our agents’ unstoppable desire to provide the best service. Alexander Graham Bell is credited with saying, “Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.” If you’re looking to have a successful buying/selling experience, get prepared for the process by calling The Doug Erdy Group and teaming up with one of our knowledgeable...
by Doug Erdy Group | Sep 7, 2016 | Erdy Group News, Real Estate Tips, Uncategorized |
Realtors are real estate connoisseurs and their expertise can be used to your advantage when buying your next home. Some may tell you, “Don’t worry about a Realtor, you can do this on your own. After all, nobody knows what you want better than you.” While the latter may be true, our Realtors are trained with the knowledge of navigating the crazy world of real estate and have the ability to take your wish list and make it into your dream home. It is often said the number one rule of real estate is, “location, location, location.” Realtors are able to guide you into the best locations for you using their in-depth knowledge of the area. According to REALTOR Mag, Realtors can provide you with information on “utilities, zoning, schools, and more.” This valuable information can help buyers further asses an area and property to determine if it is the best fit. At the Doug Erdy Group we pride ourselves in being a luxury boutique real estate brokerage. This means we have team members that specialize in many areas of expertise and always have someone to fit your needs. Whether it’s a lakefront home, an urban townhouse or a family home in the suburbs we’ve got you covered from A to Z. Keep checking back for updates on using Realtors for selling and other reasons using a Realtor is the best option for you....
