Understanding HOA Rules
The Homeowner’s Association (HOA) is one of the most vital things in every community during your real estate transaction. This is the part that maintains the peace and order of the entire sub-division. Most communities are responsible for establishing the HOA policies that will govern their association of residents. These rules can change the lifestyle of every resident in the community. Thus, it is advisable to know what the HOA rules are, and agree with them before your option period expires.
As you start the home buying process, your real estate agent will show you all essential requirements and details about your prospective house. Your real estate agent should also provide you all the particulars needed on your home since this will help establish the value of your house. In some cases the previous homeowner may have a copy of the HOA rules that they can provide, but it is advisable to request the new HOA rules to ensure no changes have been made. After closing, it will be your sole responsibility to know what the rules are.
Understanding the peace and order that exist in the community is due to the rules and regulations enforced by the management. Policies rely on the members of the HOA. Thus, it may differ in every sub-division. A good example would be pets or animals. It is your responsibility to take care of them in the most hygienic manner. However, if you fail to do this and cause disturbance to other residents, then this will be a problem later on.
This is one of the common issues that most residents have to deal with especially when someone new moves into the neighborhood. Each community follows a unique set of standards, and could have stern building policies in place particularly in regards to home renovation projects just to mention one. A homeowner might not be fully aware of their negligence, however negligence of the HOA rules will not be allowed as an excuse.
Remember that these are already existing rules, established long before you decided to move in. Thus, it is up to you on how you adjust to the policies. If you think you can not live with them, then drop it and look for another community with HOA rules that can suit your way of life.
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In the news for the week ending February 6th 2010
- Just a reminder pre-approval letters make everyone feel better, but you know all they mean is the prospective buyer has spoken to a loan officer. It holds no guarantees. The last sentence in most of these letters says subject to final review.
- UTSA growth benefits ripple across San Antonio…students now number 29,000 and the campus is opening the Biotechnology Science & Engineering Buildings. This has helped some business’s decide to relocate to San Antonio for this growing labor pool.
- Texas Realtor Focus Legal Update…Question: A client decided to enter into a lease-purchase agreement…several years ago I had a similar transaction…I understand attorneys, not brokers, should prepare lease-purchase agreements, but can I use the agreement from the previous transaction as a guide? No.
- San Antonio Board of REALTORS stats for December…Average Sales Price $182,537…Average Listings Price $269,965…Average Pending Price $187,178…FHA accounted for the highest number of sales financing, Conv. very close second. Majority of homes selling in less than 90 days.
- From RECON…the builders national convention came up with what is in for 2010, biggest item is “smaller & lower priced homes” and builders focusing on “energy-saving features”.
- The changes coming for FHA in regards to MIP increase, seller contributions reductions & increase in down payment for lower credit scores do not have a date yet that they will go into effect. Looking at spring and summer timeframe.
- From the Express News…Millions proposed for San Antonio military construction. New budget includes money for medical facilities at Lackland and Fort Sam. This means continued construction jobs.
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Preparing Raw Land for Building Your Home
Building your own home is exciting. However, it can be a very challenging project. This is especially difficult if you are going to build it on raw land. There are several things you need to check to avoid problems. You also have to prepare for a lot of things. This is because building your dream home is not an easy task. You have to plan it carefully so that the finished product will be the one you always wanted.
You need to keep the following things in mind. This will prepare you as well as the land for your project. This will also help you organize the activities to ensure that nothing goes wrong:
1. Have a schedule. This is very important to make sure that all the essential activities are completed. Make a list of the things that you need to do. After that, prioritize the activities you need to do first. It is important that you complete the needed requirements. You also have to indicate when you will conduct a thorough inspection of the land and when are you going to prepare it. Having a schedule will keep you organized.
2. Find a competent contractor. There are numerous contractors in the market today. Make sure that you find one that will be able to attend to your needs. It is important that you check their license. They should be bonded and have insurance as well. Check their background as well as ask for referrals. How long have they been in the industry and learn more about their performance.
3. Prepare the permits and other related documents. Most of the time, your contractor will take care of your permits. They will check with the local authorities on the necessary permits they will need to have. Even if this is the case, it is still important that you check on this to make sure that everything is in place.
4. Check the land. When all the paper work is ready, it is time to survey the land. You need to do this to know what you need to do to prepare the land. This is important so that you can start building your home. Does the land need clearing? Does it need leveling? Are there any potential drainage problems? These questions will help eliminate problems in the building of your dream home.
5. Come up with a plan. You should also have plan on how the property will look. Make sure that you consult a professional regarding this. This will ensure that the home you are building is safe and sturdy.
Building your own home is wonderful. You get to do what you want and you can be certain that no one else will have that exact kind of home. However, you have to think about other things. You need to be prepared. Bear in mind that it will take time before your home is done. This is why you have to be patient. You have to plan everything as well including the preparation of the land as well as the installation of different utilities such as water, sewer, utilities, etc..
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Lead and Asbestos: Issues in Older Homes
When you live in a house, you want to be able to feel safe and secured at all times. Your San Antonio home is one of the places where you can control what happens. Here, you can protect your family from burglars and perpetrators; given you have applied safety practices and installed devices. You can also design the house to which it can be considered accident proof.
However, some homes (especially if it was just a re-sell or property flip) may not be totally safe at all. Older homes that existed way back into the early 1900’s and thru the 1970’s may have been built with components that could be extremely threatening to our health. And this is because of materials like lead and asbestos that were used.
Lead and asbestos has alarmed people and the government since it was found that these materials were related to various health problems and could possibly even lead to death.
So what are the issues with lead and asbestos in older homes?
To start with, let’s discuss lead.
Lead in Older Homes
Back when lead was popular in paint, which are probably any homes built before 1978 have a good chance of having lead based paint used on, and in them. Lead paint was generally used as pigment and a drying agent. But lead was then banned by the government because it was known to cause poisoning. It was learned that it could accumulate in blood when the paint is ingested or inhaled. So how is this possible? For one, lead paint could deteriorate. When it does, its surface would chip off, getting onto your hands. So the transmission of the paint would be hand to mouth. Kids can be a common victim of this transmission. Sometimes, lead paint upon deterioration would also create dust particles. This could then be inhaled, causing concentrations of lead in the blood.
A high lead content in the body could result in poisoning. If this happens, kids could have poor mental function. Fetuses exposed may grow abnormally. Adults may have poor nerve and motor functioning.
Asbestos in Older Homes
Asbestos is also one of the issues in buying an old homes. Although it is known for its insulating abilities and durability, this material has been known to cause various respiratory problems. It is also associated with lung cancer and Mesothelioma. Asbestos had many uses in your home. It was used as part of your roofing since it was probably made of asbestos cement. It was popular for insulation and it also used for textured painting. Vinyl tiles can also contain asbestos. Therefore, one must assume that most of the older homes contain asbestos as this was a commonly used product before 1978.
The danger of asbestos occurs if the person disturbs the fibers. If it so happened that a component with asbestos was damaged or accidentally opened, the fibers could be introduced into the air circulation of your house. As a result, the indoor air quality of your home would be compromised.
Suggestions:
If you plan to buy an older home, you must make sure that it is properly inspected. If you have any lead paint, you should replace it with the new non-toxic versions. If you suspect an area has asbestos, limit activities in that area and try to avoid further contact until a trained certified professional can assess the situation for you.
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MLS Listing of your property can get the price you want for your property
Have you ever wondered about how home buyers or brokers come through with homes that match the needs of their clients? Have you ever wondered how buyers encounter a home with all of the features – number of bedrooms, bathrooms, finished level – that they are looking for when they search online? The answer is similar: both buyers agents and buyers searching for a home online use a property listing service to find what they’re looking for i.e. Multiple Listing Service – also known as MLS. Now with the emergence of MLS the face and mode of selling your property when using a real estate agent has changed. Voss Real Estate L.L.C. (The Voss Group) is always there to assist you in getting your property listed in MLS.
Home sellers who have their home listed for sale in the MLS Listing database as a tool for selling their home will be able to feel confident that more prospective buyers and buyers agents are aware that the home is for sale. Your San Antonio REALTOR® who uses the MLS system will be able to take advantage of the many benefits the system has to offer, and obtain the proper exposure for your home. As the home seller you can be assured that when someone goes online they will be able to see pictures, descriptions of the home, dimensions, neighborhoods, school districts, etc..
The property owners are thus able to maximize exposure on the property that they are selling. Regardless of the situation that forces people to sell their home; reasons can be circumstances such as financial burden, debt, divorce or any other major instance in ones’ life. The goal is to get the home sold as fast as possible. The San Antonio MLS Search system continues to offer new benefits as the technology progresses, and has continued to grow even in this recession period.
Using the San Antonio MLS Search makes it a win/win position for any property owner. By working with your REALTOR® the property seller can experience the property being listed on MLS, and is exposed in the real estate market in a manner which is best suitable to them. Most home sellers realize that 80-90% of the homes listed will sell using MLS. Additionally, the database from the MLS System automatically gets entry into other major real estate portals on a consistent basis.
San Antonio MLS Search to find homes has made it easier for the buyers to get in touch with REALTORS® to request a showing, or have the agent they’re working with schedule a showing. It’s hard to believe, but the actual fact is that the real estate industry has benefited a great deal from using the San Antonio MLS Search System. MLS is the next level in property business evolution. It is relatively easy to use and is very convenient. As MLS continues to grow in popularity, more and more home buyers will use it as a resource to search for potential properties online vs. driving all over town searching. For the buyer, this only means good things along with more choices plus better decisions.
Why choose The Voss Group? Our process is quick, safe and it is best suited for our clients. We immediately input your property into MLS which will then display your property listing on our website, Homes and Land, REALTOR.com, MySA.com, and E-Real-Estate.com which enables millions of people to view your property details. Once listed, your property will be available to both local agents and buyers who are looking for a home to buy. The benefit, your property can be viewed by anyone which can result in a quick sale.
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San Antonio REALTORS® find unique ways to meet their client’s needs and be successful in spite of a soft era
With an aggressive marketing plan to get their listings sold they have found a way to guide their clients through one of the most challenging real estate markets. Because 85% of all home buyers first start their home search online, The Voss Group has fully embraced the use of marketing online and found ways to leverage the use of the internet to the advantage of their clients.
San Antonio, Tx – Liz Voss, REALTOR®, is a recipient of the coveted “Top Agents of the Year” award for Keller Williams Legacy. This award is given to agents who produce the highest amount of transaction business and volume. Keller Williams Legacy is a Real Estate firm with over 260 agents located in the North Central area of San Antonio, Tx. Liz Voss continually strives to be a perennial top producing agent with the Keller Williams Legacy Group.
The San Antonio Board of REALTORS® housing forecast indicates that sales have been down 3.2% compared to a 19% decrease in 2009 closings. Therefore, there’s no question that San Antonio Tx has seen its fair share of the real estate slowdown. However, in spite of the soft real estate market, The Voss Group has had one of it’s most successful years yet. With an aggressive marketing plan to get their listings sold they have found new and unique ways to guide their clients through one of the most challenging of real estate markets many of us have ever seen.
We feel humbled by any recognition or feedback we receive, but it is our clients who should be thanked. They have trusted us as their Real Estate professional to guide them through one of life’s most important decisions. To our clients: “We sincerely appreciate their enthusiastic support and trust, their business and their repeated referrals!”
The Voss Group’s clients say it best, 75% of their business has come from referrals and repeat clients. They attribute their successes to loyal clientele and the consistent commitment to exceptional customer service standards. The Voss Group thoroughly enjoys creating “clients for life”. It is their belief that building lasting friendships with clients are the fruits of their labor. Liz Voss says: “A Satisfied client is not enough. “It’s about constantly striving to produce results beyond and out of the ordinary.”
”After 9 years in the Real Estate business, Liz has realized that in order to achieve high levels of success in Real Estate like any business, you must stay current with market trends, constantly seek further education in your chosen field and most importantly, at all costs, be attentive to your client’s specific needs.”
”I am blessed to love my job and to have the opportunity to work with such great people.”
The Voss Group serves San Antonio neighborhoods and communities with specialized knowledge in all of the surrounding areas. Call (866) 549-8677 or visit our “Contact Us Page” in order to find out how we can serve you as a client.
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Avoid real estate scams in San Antonio Texas
If you are thinking of investing in the San Antonio real estate market beware, there are some scams out to get your money. It could happen to anyone, and sometimes even the most experienced investors become victims of a real estate scam.
Some tips to help you avoid a real estate scam.
* Hire a reputable San Antonio REALTOR®, and make sure to do your research of each person working on the contract. Your REALTOR®, the lender involved and also the appraiser should all hold licenses and such should be in good standing with state regulations. If any these licenses or records look suspicious contact your authorities right way.
* Always place everything in writing. If your seller or buyer does not want to sign any contracts, this is should be a red flag for you.
* Make sure you use a reputable title company which will research the property in question, investigate the public records on the neighborhood, and the subject property. They will also look for any outstanding liens, and clouds on title. Always use a reputable title company to hold in escrow the earnest money since they do not represent either party. NEVER pay earnest money directly to the seller.
* If you are the buyer then you will want to hire your own inspectors, and lender. By gathering your own team it will assure that everyone has your best interests at heart. A reputable San Antonio real estate agent will not have a problem with any of this. If they have a problem with you having your own team then beware.
* Learn about everything you are asked to sign before you move forward with the closing. Most real estate scams are loaded with fine print. This could take you a while to read and look over all the pages in order to ensure that all addendums are included. Your San Antonio REALTOR® should accompany you at the time of the closing to help answer any questions you may have.
* Remember, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Take your time; do rush into any deals that promise you large amounts of money in return. Avoid paying for any goods or services in advance that are unusual.
Real estate scams are out there, but if you follow these simple tips it can help you possibly avoid any future headaches. If you have any questions feel free to give The Voss Group a call. We will be more than happy to represent you as a client.
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Short Sale Secrets You Should Know
As a homeowner or borrower you can no longer afford paying your monthly mortgage, a short sale could be inevitable. Although this can affect the borrower’s credit standing, this is not as bad as a foreclosure. Nevertheless, short sales are still a feared reality for homeowners and lenders alike.
Even if the borrower and lender are not enthusiastic about doing a short sale on their investment, there is still some very vital information that a borrower should be aware of. Lenders will sometimes keep these facts from the borrower in order to protect their interest in the short sale process.
Below are a few of the short sale secrets you should be aware of:
1. Bankers and lenders alike can use the timeline as a delaying strategy in order to delay a short sale. Their loss mitigation department takes care of these issues. It requires numerous documents and various other requirements that a seller must comply with. This could impair the seller who, regardless of getting a potential buyer to buy the home, is still in danger of losing it because of the longer waiting time. This can be meticulously done, but is still a sure way of preventing a short sale.
2. Lenders will not inform you of the market value of the property, which they consider as confidential, such as the value of a home listed for short sale. They may involve an expected margin sale for the property, which is equally important. The lack of this information is the usual reason that buyers can typically be discouraged from buying the home which can eventually results in a cancellation of the contract.
3. There are then the fees and charges along with the closing costs involved in buying the home. This vital information may or may not be shared by the lender with their borrowers in order to evade the short sale. On most occasions buyers usually find themselves in compromising situations, and frustrated with the process which then forces them to back out of the deal because of the long application process.
4. Some lenders will not tell you about any confidential arrangements with investors that have been made behind your back. Sad to say, more agents are still generally blinded by the real estate business and most of them only want to believe that their real estate deals are the only means that enable lenders to move the property. Sales involving of both performing and non-performing notes are responsible for many of the swaps but are not enlisted in public documents because they are sold at a very cheap price.
Bear in mind that your home is only the icing of the cake. Most lenders are normally unenthusiastic about visiting or looking at your home. Actually, many of them are uninterested when you express your wish to perform a short sale. The only thing they consider important is your monthly payments to them. Nevertheless, they want to ensure that borrowers have an emotional bond to the home.
Both lenders and borrowers have important roles in a short sale and are always on the lookout for ways to protect their interests. If your lender will not divulge important information that you must know, you can ask for help from a real estate consultant or other professional to look for a solution into your problem.
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Building Wealth with Real Estate
Nowadays, many people believe that real estate investing is the perfect way to ruin your finances. Well, you couldn’t exactly blame them for their unfounded belief because of the recent housing bubble and the current economic condition that the country is in. But what if someone tells you that all that negative news about investing in real estate are not exactly true and that many people are still making top dollar by managing investment properties?
You’re probably not going to believe this but it is true. In fact, some of the richest and wealthiest people in the country today are real estate investors. This only proves that there is big money to be made in the real estate market and you just have to get over your fears of investing in real estate and take advantage of this grand opportunity.
If you think that you won’t be able to make a decent living with the current home prices, don’t worry because it won’t last long. As the saying goes, when something hits rock-bottom, it has nowhere else to go but up. The same can be said for real estate prices. Once the economy fully recovers from the recession, a brighter future awaits the real estate market.
Instead of fretting over low home prices, you should take advantage of the situation to acquire multiple real estate investments without exceeding your budget. Once the real estate market picks up, you can earn a higher capital gain which is the profit resulting from an investment that exceeds the purchase price.
Investing in real estate is also one of the best ways to prepare for your retirement. Why, you ask? It is because managing properties can offer you long-term investments. For instance, instead of immediately selling a house that has been repaired and renovated, you can rent it out by finding tenants for the property. This way, you can collect a monthly rental income. And if you have multiple high-earning rental properties, you can generate an even bigger income.
However, you have to make sure that your rental properties are never vacant in order to make this work. You also need to have a thorough screening process in place so you know the people occupying your houses so as to avoid bad tenants.
If done correctly, investing in real estate can help you live the life you’ve always wanted. So if you want to improve your financial status, get over your fear and add a little “real estate” to your investment portfolio.
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Why Do People Relocate
A lot of homeowners relocate each year. When they do, they have to make sure that it is worth the trouble. It’s not easy relocating because of the different things that they have to go through. First, they need to find an ideal home. After that, they have to arrange the relocation process. They need to pack their things. They also need to make other arrangements like paying the utility bills and scheduling the disconnection of different services. In addition to that, they need to find a reliable moving company so that their furniture can get to the new property safely.
Relocating can be tough, and that is why people normally move for important reasons. They do not move just because they feel like it. Here are some of the reasons why people move:
1. People move because they need a bigger space for their growing family. At first, a couple can live in a small apartment because there is just the two of them. A nice master bedroom, a kitchen, a guest room and a living room will do. However, all this can change after having their first baby. They need to think ahead and move to a more spacious house especially if they plan on having more children.
2. They want to move to a better neighborhood. If the neighborhood they are currently in is not ideal, they will move to a better community once they get the chance. Additionally, neighborhoods change. It may have been one of the best locations five years ago, but could change into a less desirable location as the years pass. The growing population in the area would mean that the neighborhood is not as quiet as it used to be.
3. People move to be closer to their work. This is among the most common reasons why a lot of people move. Some move to a new state because of a job opportunity. Others move because they live far from their work. There are a lot of advantages of living near the workplace. This cuts the travel time and expenses. This means that they can spend more time being productive. It is also less exhausting and less stressful.
4. Parents want a better school for their children. This is one of the major considerations that parents make when they pick a location for their new home. There has to be a competent school nearby to provide their children with a good education. If they cannot find it in a certain area, they look for it somewhere else.
5. They want to move to a better home. If homeowners feel that they can afford a better home than what they already have, they will make that investment. At times, home buyers do not really get to purchase their ideal home because it is beyond their budget. However, when they get the opportunity, they would relocate to a better home.
There are a lot of reasons why someone relocates. It can be for personal growth. It can also be because of a career choice. What is important is that they know why they are doing it. As a REALTOR knowing why a person is relocating will make it easier for them to take on the challenge of moving. If you are someone who is looking to make a move then give The Voss Group a call today to see how we can assist you.
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