Wishing Everyone a Merry Christmas
If You Need Forbearance Relief
Forbearance will be a reality for some in the new year. 2020 has not been terribly kind to many.
If you know someone who needs help, please share this video with them too.
Quarantine Christmas
A different style perhaps - fashionable masks - but still, Christmas. Hope yours is a great one!
From Family and Friends - 200 Recipes
The Holidays are here! This is our occasional reminder that our recipe books are available for your enjoyment. Drop me a note if you find something you prepared and enjoyed!
Christmas Tradition from the Kitchen
Some recipe ideas for the big day! Hope you find something you like here for your Christmas table.
The Christmas Tree
In so many ways, a family tradition that we make our own. How have you decorated your Christmas tree this year?
Millennial’s Guide to Homeownership
The Millennials Guide to Homeownership is available for download. Get your free copy now and share as you wish. Millennials Guide
Home Buyer's Guide - Winter 2020
The NEW Winter 2020 Editions of our Buyers's Guide is available for download. Get your copy of the latest edition - and share as you wish. Direct link: Winter Buyer's Guide
Home Seller's Guide - Winter 2020
The NEW Winter 2020 Editions of our Seller's Guide is available for download. Get your copy of the latest edition - and share as you wish. Direct link: Winter Sellers Guide
Economic Impact of Buying a Home
The numbers speak for themselves. The numbers speak loudly. The numbers are crazy. Homeownership simply makes economic sense - over time a lot of cents comes your way! Check out this video. Jump on the road toward improving your economic wealth. The best of times or the worst of times, there are ways to make it happen. Lets have the conversation. Call me, Al www.SanAntonio.Homes
Home Price Appreciation
Experts Project Home Price Appreciation Into Next Year! Check out our one minute video for what appears to be a good beginning to 2021. Now is a great time to buy a home. Call us and lets begin the process today. www.SanAntonio.Homes
Find Us on LinkedIn
The San Antonio Real Estate Blog also has a page on LinkedIn. If we are not conntected yet, we invite you to join us there. See you soon.
Avoid After Applying for a Mortgage
Once the process for getting a mortgage is started, the last thing you want to do is buy ANYTHING on credit. There are a few more don't do's in this short video so check it out.
Make the process simple and get the approval you need to close on your new home. Your real estate and mortgage professionals can guide you along the way. Let us know if we can help.
Why You Need Expert Guidance in a Bidding War
You may have heard of bidding wars happening to someone you know - or perhaps on a newscast or in an article about the housing situation. When the demand for homes exceeds the supply, it is called a Seller's Market. It also means that sometimes there are multiple offers on a single home - call them competing offers. What to do?
It is a situation that needs managing. You do not want to find yourself in two contracts. The offers could be confusing as well as competitive. This is a time when professional guidance cen help you navigate and make the best choice. We can professionally represent you. Whether you are Selling or Buying, a real estate Professional is your best resource to bring it home!
How Homeownership Multiplies Your Net Worth
Have you ever heard that a homeowners worth is about 40 times that of a renter? For that and more, have a quick look at this video. If you are a first timer, downsizing or upsizing, we can help you. We also have a Spanish speaking agent available.
Why This Fall Is the Season to Sell Your House
Right now, there is a shortage of homes for sale. Buyers are competing and typically well prepared for a quick closing. This IS a seller's market. Find out more reasons in this very short vide.
If you would like to list your home now, please call me. Spanish speaking agent available.
4 Tips to Make Your Airbnb More Energy Efficient
We welcome our guest poster today, Alex Capozzola from the Philadephia area.
The main point of an Airbnb is to make extra revenue. Unfortunately, it can become counterproductive when you have guests that negatively affect your bottom line by wasting energy.
If you are worried about
energy costs, there are some things you can do to manage the expenses and make
your Airbnb more energy efficient.
1. Adjust the Temperature
Over half of all energy expenses in a home are related to the cooling and heating system. If you want to make your Airbnb more energy efficient, the first thing you should do is to ensure that your heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems are adequately maintained.
HVAC systems
that are dysfunctional can cause your utility bill to increase. Additionally,
if air is escaping from the house through seams along the windows frames or
door frames, your utility bill could skyrocket.
For those planning to sell your house in the future, a newer HVAC system also adds monetary value to your property. Before making that big investment, a change you can make today to help make your place more energy efficient is adjusting your thermostat. You can also switch to fans during the summer for efficiency and comfort or install a smart thermostat so that you can monitor the temperature better.
2. Save Water
Another way to make your Airbnb more energy efficient is to be conscious of the water usage. For example, you can install a toilet that allows guests to select the amount of water needed when flushing. This can add up dramatically over a long period of time. Plumbing maintenance is also something to keep an eye on. It is best to check for leaks regularly, especially if you notice that the water bill randomly skyrocketed over a short period. One final tip to add to your Airbnb rental is a smart shower. This feature monitors the water usage, flow rate and temperature.
3. Change the Lights
If you are using the standard incandescent bulbs in your Airbnb, this might be contributing to your high energy bills. It is better to switch to LED bulbs, as they are not only brighter with natural light, but are also long-lasting and energy efficient. LED lamps are eco-friendly. If you want something more modern, you can go for smart lighting instead. You can control these lights with a mobile phone app and wall switches so that you can monitor the lighting and usage.
4. Energy Efficient Home Appliances
You can also be more energy efficient with your Airbnb if you upgrade your older appliances. You can look at this as an investment as well, because if your appliances are nicer inside then you can potentially attract higher paying Airbnb guests.
There are so many energy-saving smart
appliances that you can purchase. If purchasing these large appliances is not
part of your budget, you can ask your visitors to use the devices more
efficiently by leaving rules for them to follow for the washing machine or
dishwasher.
You can easily make your Airbnb more energy efficient with
these tips. Making your house as ‘smart’ as possible will go a long way with
setting rules for the guests and saving energy. With these tips, you can make
your home more energy efficient. It not only benefits you and the planet, but
it will also make your Airbnb more comfortable for your guests without having
the problem of expensive utility bills.
ALEX CAPOZZOLO, Blogger
& Writer
BROTHERLY LOVE REAL ESTATE
Philadelphia PA
Take An Expert With You
I'm not sure, but this may be the first time we ever posted two videos in one morning! This message is just too important and relevant to today's market to delay sharing. We'll get back to our normal schedule next week. And, a little hint - check back tomorrow - we have a new and special guest poster!
About this video.... it is perfectly normal to have some fear of the unknown and if you are a first time home buyer or a seasoned buyer who has never navigated through a market like we have today. So, what is the solution to help mitigate that feeling? Take an expert with you on the journey! Licensed real estate professionals are educated, trained, and experienced - that is how we earn a living. And, don't forget - if you are buying, usually the seller pays our fees - even on brand new builder homes! Let us help you!
Fall Edition - Home Buyer and Seller Guides
The new Fall 2020 editions are availble for immediate download. Your choice, English or Spanish - Buyers Guide, Sellers Guide, and Millennials Guide.
You can also download the current edition from the links in the right colum at any time (half way down or so) and you are welcome to share with anyone you wish. They do not need to be our client! If I can answer any questions, please let me know.
Connect on LinkedIn
If we are not already connected on LinkedIn, we sure would welcome you to join our page.
Everyone Welcome
Just sharing our latest video with you!
It has been our policy since opening day - all are welcome. If we can help you, we are HAPPY to help you. Reach out and let's chat. Buying or selling - give us a call. Spanish speaking agent available.
Home Sales Surging This Summer
Who would have thought with a nasty virus running on the loose that there would be a rise in home buyer traffic! We are seeing rising prices and increased sales.
Whether you are selling or looking to buy (low interest rates), now is a great time to make your move. We are here to help. Visit www.SanAntonio.Homes today to get started.
My Apology
Good grief! Someone wrote me and complained about the number of ads on this blog. My reaction was "what the heck are you talking about". (thought it - did not say it). But I knew the blog was not linked to a bunch of advertisers and checked - and did not see ads. So, I assumed it was a mistake - on her part.
But - sometimes things just haunt you. So, I checked the blog using an incognito browser - and YIKES, there were ads all over the place. Lesson learned - since I normally viewed the blog in the same browser I post and edit from, it was recognizing me as the owner and not displaying any ads. ggggRRRRR
Alright, moving on - I started digging and found out how to disable ads - I think - and now your experience on this blog should be a whole lot better! We'll go forward from this point and I do hope you like the change. Al
Renovation Projects to Boost Your Home’s Value This Fall
Our homes are our sanctuaries. It’s where we can go after a
long day and leave our worries at the door. But, after social distancing for months,
your home may feel more like a prison than a sanctuary. So, why not take back
your home and breathe new life into it?
According to HomeLight’sQ3 survey, buyers are looking for a few specific features in a home. If you
have the money and the time, consider these home improvement projects with high ROI, and we’ll share our top tips from top agents about how to tackle these projects.
1. In-law suites
We’ve joked about dreading when the in-laws come by to
visit, but what if there was a way they could visit and not be a burden? An
in-law suite is a great way to make the in-laws comfortable and keep
your sanity. Typically these suites include a bedroom and a full bath, but you
can find suites that are more like a mini-apartment! They could include a small
living area and sometimes even a kitchenette.
2. Outdoor living spaces
There’s nothing like stepping out onto the patio (or deck or
balcony) and breathing in the fresh air. Buyers want to be able to entertain
outdoors and because these features are highly sought after (20% of agents say
their clients want an outdoor area), you can expect to see a decent return on
your investment!
3. No more open floor plans
Open floor plans were made popular by home improvement shows
on television, but due to the pandemic, people are more interested in having
their own, private space. This is certainly true for families who are working
or learning from home. By having clearly defined rooms with a door, folks can
shut the door and do their work in peace.
Plus it’s always nice to have your own little retreat when other household members start to get on your nerves!
4. Touchless features
Homes with touchless features like smart thermostats, lights
and entertainment systems are all the rage nowadays. These features help
minimize the spread of germs and in light of the pandemic, people are very
concerned about the health and well-being of everyone who lives (or visits) the
home. And if you have touchless features like the lights and thermostat, you
can adjust the heat and turn on the lights before you even get home!
5. Antibacterial surfaces and disinfecting zones
Along with touchless features, buyers want to have surfaces
that will not harbor harmful bacteriaand microbes that can get people sick. Materials such as stainless steel,
copper, and surfacestreated with a special coating can go a long way to make people feel
safer.
Not only are people looking for antibacterial and
antimicrobial surfaces, they want a designated space for disinfecting. This
room will be a space where families can leave packages, clothing, shoes, and
other items that may carry the COVID virus and other infectious germs.
Of course, before you decide that you want to take on any renovation project, you need to do your homework and budgeting. These renovations can add up pretty quickly and if you’re not careful, you could easily go over budget!
When it comes time to hire a contractor, as your real estate
agent (if you’re selling your house) for recommendations. If you aren’t going
to sell your home any time soon and still want to do these or other renovation
projects, look for licensed contractors with a good reputation. You’re going to
pay a lot of money, so you’re definitely going to want to make sure it’s well
spent!
Author: Evette Champion
Bio: Experienced Freelance Writer with a demonstrated history of working in the writing and editing industry. Strong media and communication professional skilled in creating engaging blog articles for the lovelorn reader.
200 Recipes Books 1 and 2
My occasional reminder that these are available to you. Actually, they are always available using the links in the rightmost column in this blog.
Free Recipes From Family and Friends. No commercial today - no requiring you to sign up or give up anything - and safely hosted at ISSUU
When mom passed, a close friend help me get the old family recipes into an online booklet form. There are recipes from the Italian side and the German side - and a mix of others from friends.
Sadly, the friend who helped prepare the recipe book for publication passed away about 2 years later. A group of us got together and created the second of two books. She was a military wife and her recipes are from friends around the world.
You are free to use the recipes and share. The only thing we ask, is never make it monetary - they are always FREE. Who knows, maybe you will find something you have been looking for - or something new. On the first book, since the recipes are mostly family going back to great grandmother - I am privileged to say I think ALL of them are good!
BOOK 1 - https://issuu.com/cannistra/docs/200_recipes
BOOK 2 - https://issuu.com/cannistra/docs/the_book_of_joy
Attack By Robocaller
The calls started in the afternoon and I let them go into voicemail. I listened to a few of the messages and the caller represented themselves as Apple and stated something was wrong with my iCloud account.
The calls kept coming over and over and I finally caved and made a HUGE mistake - I answered. All I said was "who are you" and the guy hung up on me.
Then the calls kept coming every 5 to 12 minutes or so - for over 5 HOURS.
They were calling, leaving messages and texting. This was SO bad I called T-Mobile and alerted then to what was happening. I did not want to shut off my phone - but it was tempting. TMO has a higher level robo blocker software that they enabled and in a very short time the calls stopped.
So, why am I sharing - this can happen to anyone. These callers are bad news. About a week after this happened, a friend's senior mom was called by "Social Security" - they asked for her social security number. And, she gave it to them. So, y'all be careful.
OK - smile.... it is only 3 months until Christmas!
Cousins, Cousins, Cousins
The ancestry analysis takes you to at least the level of 8th cousin. Last time I shared all of this with you in 2018, the list was about 135 pages of cousins. The updated list is 271 pages of cousins. There is about 15 cousins per page!
This is one family reunion that is NOT going to happen. We would need to rent a small town. Thanks for reading and if you have any unique ancestry stories that you would like to share reach out to me.
How Did I Get Here?
Will it change next time?
Tomorrow, more about the increase in the number of cousin links! Come on back.
I'm Not Black Anymore
Well, I have the latest update about my ancestry records. When I shared the information with you in April 2018, they said I was part African and part Middle Eastern. Somehow that changed. I am not the expert on this stuff for sure, but the revised information gives rise to questioning the authenticity of their results.
For now, it seems I am primarily Italian and German by descent, however they added a new surprise to the mix. At least, there is new information about "what makes me who I am" - for now.
Nothing has really changed for me. As I said in 2018, I am AMERICAN all the way - but a look back piques my curiosity. More to share with you tomorrow!
I Had To Tell My Son
The following is a guest post - and our first opening this blog to touching and inspiring stories. If you have one to share, we would love to hear from you. I am not moving the blog away from real estate – I am opening it up to an ethical life stance that we, as humans, are more encompassing than simply a narrow focus on our own abode. Humans are about altruism, generosity, benevolence, humanitarianism, and so much more.
Our Guest Poster:
My name is Al Manges. I would like to share my story with everyone. I am a truck
driver and I am away from my family for weeks at a time. I am lucky to
work for a company, Schneider National, that values family. With
approval, I am allowed to have passengers when I drive.
Every two weeks I trade off passengers. I
take my son AJ and daughter Sabrina with me. They really enjoy coming out
on the road. We get to see many different parts of the country that most
people do not.
On one of my bi-weekly trips that starts in
Indiana and goes down to Texas then on to California. I had my son AJ on
this trip out to California. After I delivered to all of my customers we
started our trip back. We
picked up our new load and headed out. Part of the way home we stopped at
a Walmart in Nevada. By the way it is not easy to park at a Walmart in a
semi-truck. I have to make sure they allow trucks to park there and have
space to park.
I made a list of groceries we needed and headed
in. I knew exactly how much money I had in my bank account so I was
careful picking out my items so I didn't go over my limit. AJ and I
gathered all of our groceries and headed to check out.
This is where it gets interesting. I
generally use the self-checkout with the conveyor. We loaded our items on
the belt and began scanning our groceries. When we finished and went to
pay I looked at the total and knew I had enough money to buy everything.
I inserted my debit card in the card reader, put in my pin the computer said
card declined. I did not understand why the transaction was
declined. I logged in to my bank account and saw that my balance had
changed since I entered the store.
I then had to tell my son that we would have to
put some of our items back. It was frustrating to say the least. As
I contemplated what to put back a customer at the checkout across from us
overheard my son and I talking. She then asked me how much we were
short. She then gave me twenty dollars to cover the rest of the difference
I could not pay for.
I was very touched by the generosity of a
complete stranger. I thanked her as my eyes welled up with tears of
happiness. We were able to purchase all of our groceries thanks to the
kindness of a kind woman.
I would like to thank Debbie that was at the
Walmart in Fernley, Nevada. I have always tried to help others in
need. It was refreshing to have it happen to me. I didn't realize
until that day that paying it forward really meant something bigger to
me. Thank you again Debbie.
..........
If you have a story to share https://www.sanantoniorealestate.blog/p/guest-articles.html
Beware The Movers
Going to share a personal experience with you – this happened
to me on my last move.
I hired professionals – the company shall remain nameless as I am not looking to engage their lawyers. And, in truth – this can happen with any moving company. It simply depends upon the integrity of their employees.
The movers placed and connected the washer and dryer. Apparently, “connecting them” is a service not provided by the moving company, but the guys offered - if I would just make their total tip generous. I kept my end of the commitment – each got a nice bonus and I thought everything was fine.
My new place was brand new – no one lived here before – everything was bright and shiny. So a couple months later when I started noticing “a heavy dust” in the laundry room I started examining the ceiling, the water tank, the shelving – and found nothing. It went on and got worse. All that was left to do was check the washer and dryer – and yes common sense says I probably should have done that sooner.
When I pulled the dryer forward, I was shocked that the exhaust vent and hose had separated. The hose also separated from the dryer itself so the dryer was venting into the laundry room and spewing dust that would normally have vented. On examination - the reason for that – NO CLAMPS. Not disconnected, fallen clamps – but NO CLAMPS. I know that there were clamps from the previous installation and I know the clamps were not left behind because we cleaned up there right after the move. The clamps are not worth more than a couple bucks – so who knows what or why.
Interview With Al
Just thought I would share the .homes interview with you. Probably so many new followers now that the majority of you have not yet had the opportunity to read it. And, hard for me to believe it is over a year and a half since this interview took place.
Hope you enjoy it: https://get.homes/marketing/al-cannistra-sanantonio-homes/
Y'all be sure to call or contact me if I can help you. No matter where you are located, if you need a licensed real estate agent, call me. Chances are, we have someone in the network for you!
Join Us
Y’all are invited to join our Facebook groups today!
.
Join whichever is right for you – or, all of them!
.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SanAntonioHomesandPropertyForSale
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https://www.facebook.com/groups/SanAntonioHomesNewConstructionBuilderHomes
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https://www.facebook.com/groups/SanAntonioHomesForSaleHistoric
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Expert Reactions to the 2020 Housing
What are the Expert Reactions to the 2020 Housing Market Recovery? You know we have this short video to tell you more!
Housing by the Numbers
Housing by the Numbers - Over Decades. The numbers may indeed surprise you. Compare years in just about one minute to see why now is a great time for the housing market.
Mail in Voting – This Could Happen to YOU!
I rarely take this blog into anything remotely political, so
let’s do a preamble and get things started.
·
This post is about what ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO ME –
for the runoff voting.
·
This is NOT a political post. It applies to
Democrats, Republicans, and Independents (and all others)
·
This is NOT a post about the good or bad about mail
in voting.
·
This is NOT a post about taking sides or making
any suggestions.
·
This IS a post about making you aware of something
that can endanger YOUR VOTE.
·
And finally – I have only GOOD to say about
Bexar County Elections Department – they were incredibly friendly, willing to
help and quite accommodating. Seriously folks – five stars+.
a)
Had I voted in person; my signature could have
been verified
b)
I have served as an in-person election judge, not
easy, no plans to do it again
Got all that out of the way – this is what happened:
I decided to register to vote by mail. Never really had a reason to do that before, but now that I am age eligible, I thought why not go for the experience. I registered and then voted.
Much to my shock and horror, my vote was RETURNED - uncounted. I was NOT happy – quite the opposite.
I called the Bexar County Elections Department – ready for bear! (if you are not local, Bexar is pronounced as bear) During the call, I engaged with a couple different folks who explained that my voting signature did not match my registration signature. They had 3 people look at it and all 3 decided it was not the same person signing…. ME!
I asked for proof. Since both documents had my home address –
and they matched – they agreed to mail both documents to me.
On receipt, I recognized both signatures and, in my mindset,
there was enough similarity (albeit peculiarity) that they should have known it
was ME! And I set out to prove that.
I asked a few friends to look at two signatures and tell me if it was the same person – I did not give all the details shared here so as not to sway opinions. I also cropped out the document and gave my friends the “signatures” to minimize the background information. Much to my embarrassment, 100% of my friends made the same decision that the election judges at Bexar County Elections Department made.
Shame on me!
I am sharing the documents here, but obviously I cannot have
my signature all over the internet so personal information is blocked. Sorry, but
I understand my “stuff” is already in the dark web at least 7 times and I do
not want to give the bad guys more.
SO HOW DOES THIS AFFECT YOU? Make SURE you sign your registration and your
ballot with the SAME SIGNATURE.
Remember, you are not there in person for the judges to verify
that you are who you say you are.
I have a few signatures that I use and will have to be more
careful if voting by mail. That choice and to make my vote count is up to me to
get it right!
Thanks for reading.
ONE MORE THOUGHT:
You are asked to sign the outer envelope to validate that the content is indeed your vote. That means your signature in openly exposed. Is THAT a good idea? I am opposed. If there was fraud on the inside signature, why would another signature on the outside matter?
Home Sales Surging
Did you know - Home Sales Surging This Summer! A lot of folks were not anticipating that considering the "state of 2020". But it really is happening. Our short video has more to tell.
Is It a Good Time?
Is It a Good Time to Buy or Sell a Home? The answer can be found in this one minute short video. Check it out and let me know what you think. Ready to home shop? www.SanAntonio.Homes
Pricing Your House to Sell
You have heard "price matters". It does. Find out more in just about one minute - checkout the video.
More Home Equity Than You Think
Have you considered reinvesting your equity in a new home while rates are low?
Americans Are Sitting on Tremendous Equity
Have you checked you home equity recently? You may be surprised! If you have no mortgage, do you know your market value?
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