real estate

BUDGETING FOR YOUR PAYMENT, DOWN PAYMENT AND BEYOND! How much money do I need in the bank to buy a house? What payment fits my budget? What is the truth about what I should spend for a mortgage, regardless of what my lender tells me that I qualify for? Let’s start with understanding down payment and closing costs. They are not the same thing. Your down-payment is an amount the lender requires you to pay up front, based on the type of loan program you are using. For example, FHA […]

Once we reach our 50’s our perspective begins to change, as do the things that are important to us. We have more knowledge, more perspective and more wisdom. Retirement is frequently at the front of our minds. What does retirement look like to you? What do you stay awake nights worrying about? In a perfect scenario, what do you want to do? Do you want to travel? Maybe open that boutique or small business you’ve always dreamed of? Seniors make great Realtors by the way! (we’re hiring!) If you haven’t […]

BEWARE THE FLIPPED HOUSE… With the number of investors in our market, both savvy professionals and DIY lovers of reality TV, we are uncovering a new set of problems for buyers. Several stories I’ve heard recently are quite disconcerting. Some of these issues could have been avoided with seasoned, professional representation and some maybe not. One buyer bought a house where an investor had come in and replaced everything, flooring, paint, counter tops, bathroom, all the way. Some investors are thorough, some are doing it as cheaply as they can. […]

Thanks to a part time job and my parents’ generosity, I was able to double major in Finance and Real Estate at The University of Texas in Austin. I was excited to attend my first real estate investments class, and the very first thing my teacher asks the class is “How do you make money in real estate”? Answers, strategies, stories, everything you can imagine were offered. I just watched. The professor shook his head, turned his back on the class and wrote “BUY LOW, SELL HIGH” on the board. […]