Real Estate with Angela Carpio

Do you really need to work with a Realtor when purchasing your home? The short answer is no. Should you? The obvious answer is YES! You need someone who will guide you through out this process, negotiate on your behalf and look out for your best interest. Seller has a real estate professional working for them, why should you not? Why it's important to work with a Realtor? Agents can give you access to current active and sold data.          It allows you to make an informed decision especially when making an offer when you have current active and sold data.  Agents can provide you with a buyer's packet.           The packet contains information about the home buying process, including contracts, reports about the neighborhood, market stats and information about your agent and the company he or she works for so you as a buyer can do your due diligence.  Agents have a process for finding the right house.    ...

Next to the family room, a kitchen has been a place where people gather and entertain. It is one of the reasons why most home buyers prefer an updated kitchen when looking to own their home. You want to sell your home for more? Update your kitchen.  Here are budget-friendly kitchen updates that will give your kitchen a fresh new look and get your home ready to sell. Update your lighting. Look for a stylish but inexpensive lighting that can make a strong design statement for the space. For under a $100, this small but impactful update can change the look and feel of your kitchen.  Change out the hardware.  You can find kitchen knobs and pulls online for under $50. With a little bit of elbow grease and a bit of time, changing your kitchen hardware can make a huge impact on your kitchen's look and style.  Cabinet pulls from Amazon (not sponsored) Clear the clutter. Here's one way to get your kitchen ready before selling it. Clear the clutter. Hide the small applian...

You think you're ready to own your home? Here are financial steps you can take before you start searching for home.  BUILD YOUR CREDIT.   Your credit score is one of the factors the lender will look at when you are applying for a loan. Each loan has a minimum credit score requirement. The higher your credit score, the better your interest rate will be, the more purchasing power you have.  Boost your credit score by: Pay bills on time Make frequent payments Dispute credit report errors Get a secured card Request a credit limit increase SAVE FOR DOWN PAYMENT Some buyers are able to borrow money from their 401K while others from their friends or relatives to help them with their down payment. Unless you're working with VA loan, you are going to need down payment when purchasing a home. The higher your down payment, the lower your monthly mortgage will be.  Ways to save: Automate a fixed amount into a special savings account very month Cut some unnecessary expenses ...

Whether you're a first time home buyer or has gone through the process of home buying before, here are six things you should know when purchasing a new construction home. 6 Things You Need To Know When Purchasing New Construction Home Research the neighborhood and the builder It is your responsibility as a buyer to do your own due diligence and research the area you want to move into. Go over the list of things that are important to you as far as the neighborhood/area is concerned. Does it have a dog park for your fur babies? If you have kids, are there parks around? Is the school rating acceptable? How far or how close are the dining areas and shops around. Is there heavy traffic around the time you leave or return from work? When it comes to builders, check their reviews. How many homes are they building. Drive around the community and if you see one of neighbors, ask them what they think of the builder. How satisfied are they of the product. Would they recommend the builder to t...

Check out these tips to prepare your outdoor space when selling your home. A little sweat equity that goes a long way. Clean and clear the walkway. Create a nice flow to the front door. Clear the path. Give it a good power wash. Place a potted flower or some greenery for some pop of color and cheerfulness. Keep it alive and don't let it wilt. You want it to be inviting.   Clean your outdoor furniture.  Buyers do not like seeing anything dirty. Period. It's part of staging your home to sell. Arrange your furniture in a way that invites buyers to sit down and imagine themselves living there and enjoying the backyard.  Clean the entire exterior of the house. Clear away cobwebs. Move any inoperable and junk vehicles out of the driveway. Trim your shrubbery. Pull out the weeds. Pick up the trash. Kids and pet play things should be stored away. Put away your lawn equipment back in the shed. I would even suggest you remove some of your outdoor furniture to make the backyard...

 Here are 4 factors that sells a home.  Price This is arguably the most important factor when selling your home. A well-priced home often generates competing offers and drives up the final sale. Your agent should be able to review comparative market analysis (CMA) with you and advise accordingly as what you should price your home at to get you as close as possible to market value.  Condition What a property looks like. Appearance is everything when selling a home. Mow the lawn. Clear away the clutter. Pick up the kids' toys. Rearrange furniture to create space if needed. Make your bed. Wash the dishes. Put away the items on the kitchen counter if possible. You'd be surprised what fresh paint can do to your home.  If you can fix serious issues affecting the property, do it. You want to "WOW" the buyers as soon as they walk in.  Access Agent's ability to get in to show the property. The easier the access, the more likely we get a showing and secure an offer. Showi...

You're ready to buy a house but not sure if you can afford it and for how much? What is the best way to find out? Simple. GET PRE-APPROVED. Getting pre-approved involves submitting an initial mortgage application along with other supporting documents. The lender and its team will verify all the info you provided and review your file to evaluate credit worthiness. They go over your income, your debts, your assets and credit history among other things to determine not only the amount of loan you qualify for but also what your monthly mortgage payment will be and what your interest rate is. It should be no cost to you so if someone ask you for money upfront, run. I will advise that you reach out to your agent (preferably me) who usually work with loan officers that they trust and they know can deliver. Don't worry, kickbacks are illegal so don't think that the agent is getting something in return for referring you to any lender.  Keep in mind that you may get pre-approved but ...