Clint Chancellor

Why Your REALTOR Should Ask How Long You Plan To Stay In The Home.

March 25, 2015 by Clint Chancellor Leave a Comment

Why your REALTOR should ask you “How long do you plan to stay in this house?”

The Question…

There is one question your REALTOR should ask you that most do not. Truth is most REALTORs don’t care enough to ask. They just want you to hurry up and buy the house so they can get their commission. If your REALTOR is really looking out for your best interest at the onset of the search your REALTOR should ask you “How long do you plan to live in this home?”. The main reason for this is to protect you down the line when it’s time to sell the home. If the answer to this question is 3-5 years or less, the number one objective of your REALTOR should be to get you a smoking deal on a house. That way when it does come time to sell you stand a better chance of actually having equity in the home. If you pay top dollar for a home you plan to sell in 3 years, even if real estate prices rise, it’s unlikely that you will owe less than what you will net after REALTOR fees and closing costs. An unscrupulous REALTOR may not care. They hope you will call them when it’s time to sell and they get their commission if you make money or take a bath on the property. This problem is compounded when you put the minimum down payment required which is 3.5% for most FHA loans. Even if you put more money down, if you still pay top dollar you are just taking a bath at the beginning of the equation instead of at the end.

More so on New Homes…

I always do what my clients want in the end, but if the answer to this question is less than 5 years I council my clients against looking at brand new homes in new home communities. The reason for this is, new home communities take a lot longer to start building equity. As long as the builder is still building new homes in that community the price is going to stay lower. If you buy at the beginning of the life of the new home community it may be 5 years or more before the builder builds the last home in that community. As long as new homes are available, your pre-owned home is not going to appreciate, or gain value. Think about it, if you pay 200,000 for that new home 3 years down the line you want to sell, the same builder is selling new homes for 215,000 (building material inflation). If you list your pre-owned home for more than 215,000 no one is going to be very interested in buying your 3 year old home for more, when they can get a brand new home, often customized to their tastes for less. If you list for less, let’s say 205,000 you probably owe more than what you would net after selling fees. Also, now buyers have a choice save 10 grand and get a 3 year old house or spend just a little bit more and get a brand new one customized to their likes, most are going to spend the extra few bucks as it really only makes about 30/mo difference in their monthly payments.

What should you do if you really want a new home, but plan to sell soon?

First, try to buy in a community that is almost full. Sure you may not have as much choice when it comes to lot choice, and in some cases your plan choices may be limited by the builders master plan. You may have fewer choices on which communities match this criteria, but the community will start to rise in value significantly almost as soon as the builder has finished the last house in the community. A good REALTOR can help you find these neighborhoods and builder choices.

Second, be sure you have a REALTOR who will really do their homework and get you the best deal possible on that new home. Your REALTOR should be able to research and see exactly what other have paid for in that community and make sure you pay less, or at least the same. Many buyers believe they can score a better deal from a new home builder if they just buy from the staff at the builders model home, this is simply not the case. Remember, that is the builder’s staff and it’s their job to make the most money possible for the builder, it’s your REALTOR’s job to get the best deal possible for you. Also, with most home builders the commission to the REALTOR comes from the builders marketing budget, not necessarily the sales price of the home.

Third, pick a REALTOR that offers a rebate from their commissions to you. Genius Realty offers all buyers who purchase a new home up to a $5,000 rebate from our commissions. Genius Realty works hard to get you the best possible deal and then we add to that our rebate. This puts you in the best possible position to actually have equity in your new home when you go to sell it.

How to get the best deal on pre-owned homes…

Check out foreclosures. Foreclosures are a great way to get a good home at a steep discount. If someone is going to take a bath on a property, wouldn’t you rather it be the seller than you as the buyer. Unfortunately often people who buy a home and then go through a life change or a challenging experience lose the home to foreclosure. The bank takes the home back, but they are not going to live in it, They want to get it off their books as quickly as possible and to do this they list it under market value.

If you are not in a hurry to move into a new home, have your REALTOR send you a list of short sales in your area. Short sales are when the seller owes more to the bank than what the property is worth. This could occur because of a recent down turn in the housing prices, or it could be because they fell behind on their payments. Once and owner is late making their payments the bank starts to add on fees and penalties. If the home owner continues to be late on their payments the fees and penalties plus what they owe on the home often add up to more than what the property can be sold for. The seller then can go to the bank and ask them to take less than what they owe. All offers must go to the bank for approval which takes some time, so if you are looking at a short sale allow several weeks to hear back from the bank if your offer is accepted. Short sales are often a good way to get a deal on a home and often sell for less than market value.

Genius Realty – San Antonio is an experienced real estate agency that can help you search for your perfect home in San Antonio, TX and the nearby cities like New Braunfels, Bulverde, Shertz, Live Oak, Alamo Heights, Olmos Park, Canyon Lake, Terrel Hills, Garden Ridge, Seguin, Boerne, Castle Hills, and Stone Oak and Sonterra. Genius Realty keeps a compiled list of all new homes, foreclosures and short sales in the San Antonio housing market. If you are looking to make a move we urge you to call 210-436-4877 and get a Real Estate Genius working for you today.

20% Rebate of Genius Agent commissions on new KB Homes

December 5, 2014 by Clint Chancellor Leave a Comment

Looking for a new construction KB home and want to save money? Work with a Genius Agent and we will give a portion of our commissions, up to $5,000, back to you in the form of a cash rebate. This only applies to new construction homes and is subject to lender approval (which normally is not a problem).

WARNING: YOU MUST REGISTER FOR OUR CASH REBATE PROGRAM BELOW AND YOU MUST HAVE A GENIUS AGENT ACCOMPANY YOU TO THE BUILDER ON YOUR FIRST VISIT AND DURING CONTRACT NEGOTIATION.

For example:

Sales Price: $300,000

Buyer’s Agent commission percentage 3%

Commission received by Genius Realty $9,000

Your rebate percentage 20%

Your rebate $1,800.

Phone

Looking to Move

How to Maintain your Lawn at Homes in San Antonio?

May 26, 2013 by Clint Chancellor Leave a Comment

Lawn Maintenance

Do you own a San Antonio property? Then, you might have a small portion of lawn in your house, and, there is hardly a single person on this earth who does not want to keep his lawn beautiful . Here, we have come up with some cool tips that can help your lawn stay breathtakingly beautiful year after year. And here’s a great post on caring for your orchid.

Here’s how:

Watering

Proper watering is critical to your lawn’s proper maintenance. It helps in keeping your lawn in proper condition. Watering your lawn does not mean that you have to put a big quantity of water, but make sure that you are watering it at regular interval of time. Create smart watering schedule and an underground sprinkler can be of much help. While watering your lawn , make sure that you give enough water for a deep soak. Normally, there should be 1 or 2 inches of water per week in your lawn for a deep soak. .

Timing is also important. According to the experts, early morning is the best time to water your lawn. Watering your lawn even before the sun rises, helps keeping it fresh for long. Moreover, the weather being comparatively calm at that time, watering your lawn will be much easier.

Fertilizing

Fertilizing the lawn has become widely popular in many homes in San Antonio. In fact, the lawns should be fertilized accordingly once a year. If you feel, you can fertilize your lawn frequently, even once in a year. It can make it look lush and thick. Nowadays, a lot of different fertilizers are available for your lawn, but, you need to make sure that you are picking out the right fertilizer for your type of grass. Spring is the best time to fertilize your lawn as it helps you in growing warm seasonal grass. However, for cool seasonal grass, fertilize it during the fall.

Mowing

Perhaps the most important steps about maintaining a lawn is to mow it properly. Make sure that you do not cut off just more than 1/3 of the grass length. Many homeowners in San Antonio mow their grass once in every month. But, putting a regular interval for cutting your grass is important, because excessive mowing can stress the grass. Remember that grass is beneficial to your lawn and you cannot make your lawn look good without healthy grasses.

Genius Realty – San Antonio is an experienced real estate agency that can help you search for your perfect home in San Antonio, TX and the nearby cities like New Braunfels, Shertz, Live Oak, Alamo Heights, Olmos Park, Canyon Lake, Terrel Hills, Garden Ridge, Seguin, Boerne, Castle Hills, and Stone Oak and Sonterra. Get access to all available homes for sale on and the off MLS in San Antonio and the surrounding areas, regardless of the listing company. Please call 210-436-4877 for all your real estate related needs.

How to Short Sale your home in San Antonio?

May 25, 2013 by Clint Chancellor Leave a Comment

Short Sale San Antonio Property

Short sales in San Antonio mean that the creditor will receive less than the actual amount of the loan payments from the sale a particular property. Banks allow this kind of process as long as there are legal documents for this agreement. Granted that they tend to lose a modest amount from the original price, but they get the chance of having a sure buyer for the property that the previous owner will find together with a REALTOR in San Antonio. It can be a win- win situation for both parties.

Living in San Antonio

If you own homes in San Antonio, it can be quite a myriad of opportunities for a short sale. People who want to move to homes in San Antonio will automatically flock your way. San Antonio TX is known for being a hub for large enterprises, commercial companies, tourist spots, and health service centers. It also continues to be a city of Texas that has the second largest population in the state. With all the flurry of business and opportunities that surround the city, there are a lot of people in search of homes.

Preparing Your Home for the Sale

Contacting lending companies or the bank are the first things to do. Contact people who are in charge of short sales. You submit necessary documents of your income statement, a hardship letter that states reasons for inability to pay, bank statements, and contract agreements. Once you have been authorized by the bank and qualified to make a short sale, get hold of help from a trusted REALTOR in San Antonio who can help you process documents for the short sale. The bank and real estate agent will help you put a price on your property and find buyers. Once buyers expressed their interest in buying, you may want to evaluate the various offers that you have come up with.

It takes hard work and patience to be able to close a short sale and usually lasts around 120 days. Remember that it is easier to wait for buyers with good offers than have your property foreclosed.

How to Go Green in an Apartment

May 24, 2013 by Clint Chancellor Leave a Comment

Go Green

Being the second city that has the largest number of residents, it is also quite an effort for the government to maintain an eco- friendly city. Having companies and business full of activity every day, it is an effort for these institutions and even in neighborhoods to sustain the cleanliness of the surroundings. There are ordinances regarding taking care of the environment but this movement must start within the confines of your San Antonio apartment.

Starting with the Apartment

Since you are just renting out a unit, it is impossible for you to make major changes or installations especially without the landlord’s or landlady’s approval. Even without an immense renovation, you can still go green and help out with the cause. You can start by collecting plastic bottles or containers that is of no use to you and recycle them. You can make projects and crafts out of these materials and it diminishes the chances that they end up in waste bins. If you cannot make projects out of them, you can always give them to recycling services that are more than happy to get those junk. Use bulbs that only eat up minor wattage so that you can lessen electricity consumption. It can also help you in managing the bills. Keep maintenance of heating and cooling systems in your San Antonio apartment. Place curtains to your windows so that it can trap heat during cold seasons or shield you from the sun.

Developing Habits

If you own an Apartment in San Antonio, you can develop new habits that will help you go green. You may start planting simple potted plants. Having plants in your apartment will make the air inside fresher. If you have access to a balcony then it is even better because you can grow flowering plants or even vegetables. Also make sure that appliances that you are not using are all unplugged.

Going green or eco- friendly is quite easy to manage as long as you remember these things. It lies on discipline and your sincere effort to start making a difference and preserve the environment.

Know about Property Taxes at San Antonio

May 23, 2013 by Clint Chancellor Leave a Comment

Property Taxes

Taxes implemented across the San Antonio property market are basically based on those imposed at the entire state of Texas. In reality, such taxes vary significantly from one state to another. But you can be assured that such implementations are not the worst in the city and in the state.

That is why if you are buying your very first property acquisition in San Antonio you should first be acquainted about the real estate taxes in the area. Here are some of those taxation regulations that you should consider before buying any San Antonio property.

Property taxes

In San Antonio, just like in the rest of Texas, real estate taxes are considered as local taxes. Those are subject to local assessments and are collected and used locally. There are more than 3,700 institutions in the state that collect and spend those taxes. Among those agencies are city and county governments and special and school districts.

The local government in San Antonio may impose tax on your properties in the area. Municipal utility districts or MUDs and special districts like hospitals and colleges can collect property taxes for their own use. There is a specific governing body in the city that determines and implements the amounts of taxes imposed on properties.

Homestead exemptions

There are homestead exemptions that would enable you to remove a portion of your house’s value from appropriate taxation. Thus, you could use those to possibly lower your taxes in the San Antonio property market. The homestead could be a condominium, separate structure, or manufactured home situated on a leased or owned piece of land. You must live or own the home to qualify.

Here is how it may work. Supposed your house has an appraisal of $100,000. You may qualify for an exemption worth $15,000. Thus, you would only be taxed on $85,000 worth of the same property. There is an option for taxing units in the state/city to have a separate exemption or to shoulder taxes worth up to 20% of total property value.

To qualify for a homestead exemption, your home should be your principal or main residence. Your ownership would have to be for corporate reasons, not just for socialization. The borrower should also buy the property as an individual. Other than this homestead exemption, there could be no other important scheme in terms of real estate in the Lone Star city.

Types of Home Mortgages

May 22, 2013 by Clint Chancellor Leave a Comment

Home Mortgage

Before buying any San Antonio property, you might be wondering about available financing options. Home loans are becoming more popular in the city especially because many homebuyers prefer to obtain any home mortgage in San Antonio to afford the homes they like to purchase.

A home mortgage in San Antonio could be fixed rate or adjustable rate. In a fixed rate, the interest applied is the same from the beginning of the loan payment until its last payment. If the loan maturity is set at 30 years, the interest rate applied should be just one all throughout.

Adjustable interest rate mortgages are more common across the San Antonio property market. This mortgage has changing rates, depending on the economy and on many other factors. The rates could adjust up or down. If rates are dropping, you can find your mortgage going cheaper. Otherwise, you may shoulder the burden of higher rates required.

Conventional and Veterans Administration loans

A conventional mortgage is a traditional loan that may take a term of about 15 years to 30 years. This type of home mortgage in San Antonio may include jumbo loans or conforming loans. Jumbo loans have amounts of $417,000 or more, while conforming types are loans below $417,000.

As the name implies, VA loans are guaranteed partially by the Veterans Administration. The Veterans Administration has recently introduced expansions of its qualifying criteria so that its mortgages include more veterans.

FHA loans

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans are getting more popular in the San Antonio property market. It is administered by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, along with its various home loan programs. FHA mortgages are more popular as those require lower down payments. A borrower also more easily qualifies in it than in any conventional home loan.

It is possible for these loans to be availed by borrowers with poor credit. In general, FHA mortgages also cost less. It may impose more competitive interest rates especially because such home loans are fully insured by no less than the Federal Government. You may compare it with other loan types to verify this information.

Which type of mortgage available in the city is best for your current financial and credit condition? It is important to obtain approval for financing before buying any home in the city so you could be sure you would not meet any hassle upon making the important home purchase.

Source: Summit Mortgage.

Pet Friendly Housing at Your Homes in San Antonio

May 21, 2013 by Clint Chancellor Leave a Comment

Pet Friendly Homes

One distinct attraction of most homes in the San Antonio property market is that those are pet friendly houses. Developers know that most homebuyers and homeowners are moving in with their beloved canines or felines. If you have pets, you may consider the following tips when finding and buying a home or renting one in San Antonio.

Inspect the home for overall pet safety

As you inspect the home when considering your pet, try to look at it at the perspective of your beloved animal. Take a look around and see which areas of the home could be a possible cause of concern. For one, look for any area where strangulation, choking, electrocution, and suffocation could be potential hazards to your pet.

There are some homes in San Antonio that have very tall and high windows, which could cause danger to your cat. Many veterinarians use the term ‘High-Rise Syndrome’ to refer to the usual accident encountered by cats living in high-rise and tall houses. If your home has a high location and tall windows, there should be screens installed to provide adequate protection to your feline pet.

Find a carved out space

Many homes in San Antonio have carved out small spaces particularly for pets. These little nooks have been made popular recently by online figures like https://twitter.com/bluebuffalo who have made a small but noticeable mark on this market. Puppies and kittens have the instinct of sneaking into small places in the house. Your home should have a hazard-free zone where you could put your pet’s cozy bed, eating station, and water source. The pet should have enough space to roam around and space so it could rest well especially at night and avoid whining or barking for attention.

Litter boxes for cats should be placed in a separate carved out space in the house. It should be far from designated feeding areas but should not be found too isolated by your feline. You may be surprised that many homes in the San Antonio property market have designs and features that facilitate this purpose better.

Find safer flowing and fabrics

Choose flooring and fabrics that would require less work from owners like you. Ultrasuede or easy-care leather could easily be wiped clean and would not be significantly affected by wearing. Crypton Super Fabric is the best for pet owners as it is synthetic to be stain and germ resistant.

Carpets may not be advisable for homes in San Antonio where there are pets. But it is still possible to install it; just choose colors and fabrics that can match your pet’s color. You may check out more insights for pet friendly flooring.

Fellow contractors: International Movers.

Getting Your Home Ready For Fall

May 20, 2013 by Clint Chancellor Leave a Comment

Fall Season

Fall season brings about the anticipation of the coming winter season. Fall or autumn lasts for three to four months. And these three months is predominant of falling leaves, Halloween, and festivities. If you find yourself in a thorough search for potential home properties, then you would not want to be left out from the merry- making. As winter approaches, it is important to find a new house that will protect you from the coming harsh and cold season.

Finding a Property

For people who are looking for possible homes around Texas, then San Antonio is a good choice. Aside from having the second biggest population in Texas, it is also one of the most thriving cities in the country. On choosing a San Antonio property or a likely place for a home, it is important to consider the location of the neighborhood and the establishments near it. Seasons and weather changes must also be considered for this future house should be able to protect you from the blazing cold of the upcoming winter.

There are many available homes in San Antonio in various neighborhoods. You can choose from Alamo Heights with various amenities like parks and gardens, from Northwest Side which houses several universities, medical and industrial centers, from South Side that boasts their historical and art galleries, and from Downtown San Antonio which is the center for all dealings in San Antonio Texas. Available homes in San Antonio include foreclosed, rental, or newly- built properties. You may find realtors to help you out with prices.

Preparation for the Season

San Antonio has both warm and rainy days during fall so before moving in to your new San Antonio property; make sure to prepare your home for the fall season and the upcoming winter. Clean your windows, chimney, and hearth because you will be mostly spending your time indoors. If you have a glass door, have it inspected by a glass door repair company, you would likely be surprised to know how much heat a faulty glass door let’s through. Have your heating systems and water heater inspected with Savannah Water Heater Co. for clogs or accumulated dust for a meticulous clean- up.

Fall is the overture to a chilly weather. Even if San Antonio does not experience too much snow during winter, it still pays to be prepared at the onslaught the upcoming season.

Is Owning a Home Really Worth The Trouble?

May 19, 2013 by Clint Chancellor Leave a Comment

Home Buying

Your home your identity

How many people would like to live in a rental home all their life? Not many, right? Similarly, people would go to any extents to own a home of their own. Even if they cannot afford to own one, they will try hard to get a mortgage somehow and make their dream come true. So owns a home really worth the trouble? Of course, it is because your home is your identity and place where you feel you truly belong to. It is that space on earth that you can call your own and nobody can take that from you. And you don’t have to be at the mercy of a landlord in San Antponio property who wishes to raise the rent as and when he likes. As a homeowner, you belong to a community, you have neighbors and if you are careful in your purchase, a very friendly and secure neighborhood. If you are a socially active person, then owning your own home would certainly appeal to you. When you own a home you are establishing your roots somewhere in the world and you can raise your family and give your children something to remember their childhood by. They can make steady friends, which will not be possible when you live from one rental home to another.

Be cautious

Many people advise that owning a home would weaken you financially but it will certainly give you stability in life, once you finish off with the mortgages. And there are others who say that you are throwing your money away by paying rents, money that you can eventually use for buying your own home. So when you are buying a home in San Antonio, be an informed buyer. A specialized REALTOR in San Antonio who deals with San Antonio property all the time will be able to tell you a lot about properties that would suit your purpose. Sometimes the pretty pictures that you see posted online might lure you to make a buy. But in reality it may be not that good. Nor will it be as comfortable. So when you are getting ready to buy a home in San Antonio, make sure it is really an investment by hiring an experienced REALTOR.