62% of Buyers Are Wrong

Are you in that 62%? Hopefully not - but today's mission is to change the world and the perception on down payments.

If you know someone who is hesitating buying their first home please share this message. Very simply - you do NOT need 20% down to buy a home!

There are all kinds of opportunities out there and the best way to begin is call a licensed real estate agent who can explain the home buying process, introduce you to some mortgage professionals and get you in your new home. You even have time to get you into your home home before the end of this year!

OK - start by having a look at today's article "62% of Buyers Are Wrong" - and then reach out to me and let's get it done!

Kiva - Helping the World

Well, I just added 2 more countries today. This brings the number of countries to 27 - and a bunch more to go.

When I first got involved with Kiva - through an offer to join the PayPal team - it was never about "countries", it was about giving loans to "people". Somehow, for me anyway, it evolved into continuing to make loans to people and also to see how many people in different countries around the world I could help. Why not have a little fun while hopefully doing some good - right?

The current list of countries is posted here and you can see there is more work for me to do. As loans are paid back, I'll look for new folks in need of some help.

Meanwhile, I am inviting you to join Kiva in making some loans today. You can start with an incredibly small amount of only $25 and make the loan to the person or group of your choice. There are hundreds to choose from. I encourage you to at least have a look at the Kiva program and decide for yourself. Some big companies support it - I joined through PayPal and today, PepsiCo matched my loan amount allowing me to make two loans instead of just one! Hope to see that you joined too! Thank you, Al

Why Get Pre-Approved First

For one, knowing how much you are pre-approved for gives you a level of confidence in making an offer on a home in that you are qualified to make that offer. And, it gives the seller a higher level of confidence in that you should be able to actually close the deal.

Why shop and look at homes and risk disappointment if you find one you like and cannot get a sufficient mortgage to make the purchase? If you are pre-approved, you shop with confidence and when you find the right home - you can go for it. The video is short - the information is important - and the reasons for getting pre-qualified are right on the money.

And now, if you are ready to shop, this is a good place: https://www.sanantonio.homes/

Home Prices Over 5 Years

Crystal ball time?

Not. These are the views of the experts looking forward for the next five years and where they think home prices may be headed. So maybe bookmark this page and check it out every year - to see how accurate their predictions are. In the meantime maybe buy a house and ride the wave upward!

September Housing in a Minute

Pressed for time?

Take a look at the September numbers in just about one minute! When ready to buy or sell, call us at 210-757-0211. Shop first if you like - see homes and properties in San Antonio and the surrounding areas - free - and on your own schedule. No spam ever.   https://www.sanantonio.homes/

Home Prices Increase

When I saw the picture to the left for some reason it made me think of an old song by The 5th Dimension - Up Up and Away - and now that song is going to be in my head all day after writing and posting this. My apology if it happens to you too - but, it is a great song!

And homes are a great way to invest and enjoy the upward climb. So many more options than putting money in a bank or investing in metals or even the stock market. You cannot live in any of those - right? You can live in a home of your choice and you can paint it, remodel it, decorate it and enjoy it. Your home has endless possibilities. Oh yeah, and as prices climb - so goes the value of your investment.

Looks like investing in a home is working nicely in all price ranges. Check out today's article to see the percentages and how folks are increasing their wealth. Time to buy? Time to move up? Time to downsize, relocate, PCS, and more? Call me - AL.

Don't Do It

You found the right house and have submitted an offer and the offer was accepted - how exciting is that! Next, you follow through with your pre-approved mortgage and submit everything to get final approval and close on your new home in about a month or so.

Now life goes on and change happens. You accept a new job offer. OH NO! Maybe you are so excited, you buy a new car or truck - or maybe the one you have breaks down and instead of fixing it, you buy and finance a new one - glad to see the old one gone. OH NO! Still in that new home euphoria, you decide to start shopping - after all some retailers seem to offer 99 years interest free.... or realistically more like 4 or 5 years interest free, does not matter. You can finance it. OH NO!

There are more OH NO's and any one of them can cause your mortgage application process to collapse. The lenders look at certain things in qualifying and approving your mortgage loan. There are numbers and ratios that are considered. You throw that off with additional debt or the like and those numbers may disqualify you. OH NO!

Sometimes we read things and think it "does not apply to me" - this list of "Don't Do It" items does. Whether you are a future buyer - or an agent representing a future buyer, experience taught me it really can happen. It does happen. So be prepared and check out today's article for more things you should not do while in the process of buying a new home and applying for a mortgage.

And, maybe you can help family or someone in your circle of friends - share this article. This information is not just for my clients, it is for everyone considering buying a home. It really is that important.

Fall Buyer and Seller Guides Available

THEY HAVE ARRIVED! The Fall editions of the guides are ready for download now. The links are in the right column of this blog >>>

Both the Seller Guide and the Buyer Guide are available in English and Spanish. Download and share if you like. Send it to 1000 of your best friends. I'd like to see everyone get their chance at a home no matter who their agent is!

Don't Fall Into The Rent Trap

There are times when renting makes sense. There are times when renting is the only option. But, there are many more times where rent becomes a trap and it becomes difficult to break out from. If you would like to be a homeowner, I encourage you to give it a try. You may not need the down payment you think you do and you may even qualify for a special program. But you won't KNOW if you do not TRY. Check out out mortgage page - and call me, let's talk. AL https://www.sanantoniorealestate.blog/p/mortgages-and-credit.html

Sellers Now Is The Time To Buy

Have you been thinking about moving on up to a new home? Now is a great time to make the move - and lock in low interest rates for years to come. Not to mention, housing prices are good - so you can sell and reinvest for your future. Want to talk about your new home opportunity? Call me AL.....

Recession Does NOT Equal Housing Crisis

Got to love the media. Ever feel undertones of "the sky is falling" and a need to present it that way? That is how they sell news. The truth is a recession does not mean a housing crisis. Check out the facts. What happens to home prices may surprise you indeed!