Real Estate with Angela Carpio

5 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Buying A Home 1. What is my credit score? The impact of credit score on interest rates can be significant. The higher your credit score, the better your interest rate. The lower your interest rate, the more you can afford. 2. Can I afford the monthly mortgage payment and still be able to afford my current lifestyle? Stay at a monthly payment that you would be comfortable making every month and would still allow you to live the lifestyle you are accustomed to. Life happens and when it does, you want to still be able to afford your mortgage so as not to lose your home. Say NO to being house poor!!! 3.What other debts do I have? Be realistic about what you can afford. You have to take into account ALL of your credit obligations including your estimated monthly mortgage to figure out whether you're ready to buy a house. You don't want to own a home and eat ramen everyday trying to make ends meet.  4. What are the other cost of home ownership and c...

 Which one is right for you? Here are some things to consider.  Renting Benefits You pay less up front fees. Security deposit and first and last month rent requirement typically is less than one would pay in comparison to down payment for a mortgage Landlord handles repairs and certain upkeep of the house Relocating is easier. Considerations Limited ability to customize your living space Rent may increase in the future.  No tax incentives associated with renting Renting don't build equity Landlord may be unresponsive Landlord may decide to sell or decide to stop renting You're paying off your landlord's mortgage Owning Benefits Building equity which may increase your wealth. Ability to customize and renovate the home to fit your taste.  Tax benefits. Sense of stability. Create retirement security.  Mortgage payment stay the same each month (fixed rate mortgage) Home value typically go up over time.  Considerations Higher upfront financial expense (down paym...

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...