If you’re like many people, you’re wondering whether it’s a good idea to buy a foreclosure in Port Aransas or North Padre Island.
After all, foreclosures often sell for less than market value – and you’d make out like a bandit when it comes to equity, right?
The truth is that buying a foreclosure isn’t always a good idea.

Pros of Buying a Foreclosure in Port Aransas or North Padre Island

If you’re buying a foreclosure, it’s probably true that you’ll spend less than market value on the home.
Sellers who are in foreclosure – before the lender actually takes possession of the home – are often in a big hurry to sell, too. That can work in your favor.
Sometimes lenders are willing to negotiate the price, particularly if the home has been on the market for more than a little while.

Cons of Buying a Foreclosure in Port Aransas or North Padre Island

Remember, you’re not the only person in Port A or on North Padre Island who’s looking for a great deal on a foreclosure. In fact, you might need to dive into a bidding war – and the home’s price can jump up quickly (and exponentially), and that can negate any savings you might have seen.
You’ll also need to account for the fact that when you buy a foreclosed home, the previous owner didn’t have the money to make mortgage payments. What if he or she didn’t take care of routine maintenance (or major issues) because of money problems?
You may also inherit debt connected to the home, so it’s important that you work with a reputable title agency and that your Realtor® thoroughly vets the property.

Foreclosures in Port Aransas and North Padre Island

You can come out ahead by buying a foreclosure in Port Aransas or on North Padre Island, but it’s extremely important that you work with a qualified expert who understands how to help you through the process… and who’s looking out for your best interests every step of the way.

Are You Moving to Port Aransas?

If you’re looking for a home in the beautiful city of Port Aransas, we’d love to help you.
Call us at 361-563-7788 or get in touch with us online to tell us what you want from your next home. We’ll begin searching right away.
While you’re here, check out our:

• All-in-one mortgage calculator
• Free homebuyer handbook
• Free eBooks about buying a home (and more!)

Filed under: Blog, Buying, Buying a Foreclosure by Julie Woodward
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If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, Port Aransas and the surrounding communities offer beautiful landscapes to add to the enjoyment of your pastimes. If you lead a leisurely lifestyle, you can relax along miles of sandy beaches or partake in some birdwatching. For the more adventurous at heart, you can spend your days catching some waves or deep sea fishing.
Port Aransas has something for everyone. If you’re considering a move to the area, feel free to check out our Port Aransas homes and condos for sale.
Mustang Island State Park
Mustang Island State Park is a magnificent gem that sits along the Gulf of Mexico and is a treasure in and of itself. You can spend your days off relaxing on the beach or enjoying one of these activities:

• Birding
• Bonfires
• Camping
• Paddling
• Swimming

Padre Island National Seashore
You can get away from your everyday hustle and bustle at the Padre Island National Seashore. This park stretches along endless miles of the coast, and you can even drive on the beach in some areas. You’ll find activities for everyone to enjoy.

• Birding
• Bookstore
• Canoeing and kayaking
• Seashell collecting
• Swimming

Roberts Point Park
Roberts Point Park is another spectacular site for recreational activities. In addition to normal beach activities, you’ll discover:

• Concerts in the amphitheater
• Observation tower
• Playground
• Soccer fields and volleyball courts

Are You Moving to Port Aransas?

If you’re looking for a home in the beautiful city of Port Aransas, we’d love to help you.
Call us at 361-563-7788 or get in touch with us online to tell us what you want from your next home. We’ll begin searching right away.
While you’re here, check out our:

• All-in-one mortgage calculator
• Free homebuyer handbook
• Free eBooks about buying a home (and more!)

Filed under: Blog, Things to Do by Julie Woodward
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If you’re like most Texas homebuyers, you’ve probably heard the terms earnest money deposit and option fees and periods since you made the decision to buy a home. You may be wondering what the differences are… and if you’ll need to pay one or both.

Earnest Money Deposits

When you find your dream home, you need to act quickly. You’ll have to let the seller know you’re serious about completing the purchase.
That’s what an earnest money deposit is for. The earnest money deposit is a negotiable amount of money that comes with a set of conditions (also negotiable) that protect the buyer and seller.

Why Does Earnest Money Make a Difference?

When you sign a purchase contract, you’re asking the seller to take the home off the market and hold it for you. That makes it unavailable to other buyers.
Your earnest money deposit is still, in most cases, your money; it goes into an escrow account until the deal is closed. Usually, the money is put toward your down payment.

What is an Option Fee and Period?

After making an offer and negotiating the terms and conditions of the earnest money deposit, you may want to take advantage of the option fee and period. This fee is separate from the earnest money deposit, and it can be a smart investment for homebuyers.
The option period lets you change your mind, with no questions asked, by paying a small fee. It also gives you a little extra time (usually 10 days or less) to complete all the necessary inspections.
Buyer’s remorse? Sometimes the option fee and period can get you out of a mistake. You don’t have to specify a reason for backing out of a real estate transaction, but remember, there are very strictly enforced timelines you’ll need to follow if you take this route.

Are You Buying a Home or Condo in Port Aransas?

Call us at 361-563-7788 or get in touch with us online to tell us what you want from your next home. We’ll begin searching right away.
In the meantime, you might find these links helpful:

• Free mortgage calculator
• Info on buying a home in Port Aransas
• The ultimate moving checklist

Filed under: Blog, Buying, Financing by Julie Woodward
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If you’re selling your home, your Port Aransas Realtor® will walk you through all the steps you need to make to put its best foot forward.
But what else can you do to make buyers fall in love at first sight?

3 Tips for Staging Your Port Aransas Home

You want buyers to walk in and love your house, so you have to be proactive. Each house has its own charms, so you’ll want to highlight them; likewise, each house has its own quirks, and you’ll want to minimize (or eradicate) those.

Home Staging Tip #1: Make Buyers Feel Welcome

Your goal: to make buyers feel right at home. Ideally, your potential buyers can envision themselves living in your space. In order to help them do that, you can:

• Leave the house. Buyers don’t want you hanging over their shoulders during a showing. (You wouldn’t, either.)
• Put out wrapped candy or other takeaways that your potential buyers are welcome to take.
• Make the interior temperature as comfortable as possible. Forget about your utility bills, just this once, to ensure that potential buyers aren’t sweating or freezing.

Home Staging Tip #2: Set the Mood

Turn on water fountains if you have them, and light a fire in the fireplace if it’s cool enough outside to make sense. (Remember that you’re leaving, though, so you’ll have to time it right.) If you can, pipe soft, relaxing music throughout the house.
Open all the shades to let in as much natural light as possible. Turn on all the lights, too. The brighter the home, the more likely buyers will view it more favorably. However, if there’s something unsightly outside, keep the blinds partially closed.

Home Staging Tip #3: Skip Heavily Scented Deodorizers or Air Fresheners

Lots of people are sensitive to synthetic smells, and lots of other people are just plain turned off by certain scents. Don’t burn candles or spray perfume, and skip the air fresheners and deodorizers.
Instead, open the windows if you can. (If there’s a lot of noise outside, though, leave them closed.)
If you’re going to bake cookies, make sure you leave them out for visitors with a nice note that says, “Please help yourself.”

Are You Selling Your Home in Port Aransas or North Padre Island?

If you’re selling your home, we’d love to help you do so quickly and at the right price. We’ll be happy to give you a free comparative market analysis so you know exactly how much your home is worth. While you’re here, you can also download our free home-selling eBook and read our useful tips for selling your home faster.
When you’re ready, call us at 361-563-7788 or contact us online to find out how we can help you sell your home in Port Aransas or North Padre Island.
 

Filed under: Blog, Selling, Staging by Julie Woodward
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When you’re selling your house, you want it to be as appealing to buyers as possible while increasing its value… and one way to do that is to make all kinds of upgrades everywhere, right?
Not necessarily.
You could be wasting your money on upgrades and improvements that your home doesn’t really need to appeal to sellers.

3 Improvements and Upgrades That Don’t Necessarily Increase Your Home’s Value

Every home is different, which is why it’s so important to talk to your Realtor® about what you should (and shouldn’t) do before you put your house on the market.
With that said, these three improvements and upgrades aren’t likely to bring you much (or any) return on investment.

All-Out Professional Landscaping

Your yard needs to look its best. Pick up sticks, rake the leaves, clear out grass clippings.
But it doesn’t need to look like the South Texas Botanical Gardens. If you overdo the landscaping, you could send buyers the message that they’re looking at a high-maintenance home; that’s the last thing you want to do.
Landscaping choices are personal to many people, so you could even drive off potential buyers with your handmade bridge over the flowing creek to the koi pond.

Swimming Pools and Hot Tubs

Install a swimming pool if you’re doing it for yourself, your family, and your friends.
Don’t install a swimming pool because you think buyers will like it.
The cost of installing swimming pools and hot tubs doesn’t usually work its way back into your bank account once you sell a home. Instead, focus on the fact that some families just won’t buy a house with a pool.

A New Roof

The average lifespan of a roof is about 30 years. If your home’s roof is older than that, replacing it isn’t really considered a home improvement; it’s just good maintenance. If it’s not and you replace it early, buyers are likely to think that’s a nice touch… but you might not want to expect any return on your investment through the sale.

Are You Selling Your Home in Port Aransas or North Padre Island?

If you’re selling your home, we’d love to help you do so quickly and at the right price. We’ll be happy to give you a free comparative market analysis so you know exactly how much your home is worth. While you’re here, you can also download our free home-selling eBook and read our useful tips for selling your home faster.
When you’re ready, call us at 361-563-7788 or contact us online to find out how we can help you sell your home in Port Aransas or North Padre Island.
 

Filed under: Blog, Selling by Julie Woodward
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DISCLAIMER: This is not intended to replace financial advice; we’re not financial advisers. If you need financial advice, you should speak with a licensed financial adviser.
Can you buy a house with bad credit?
Let’s talk about what constitutes “bad credit” for the purposes of buying a home so you know exactly what you need to do if you’re ready to make the leap.

Buying a Home With “Bad Credit”

Typically when lenders refer to someone with bad credit, they could mean that the person has excessively high credit card debt, late payments, a bankruptcy, or a foreclosure.
The most obvious ways to improve your credit are to pay down your debt and make timely payments. As for bankruptcy and foreclosure, time is typically the cure.
What you can do is talk to a lender that specializes in helping borrowers with bad credit. Your lender can point you toward special programs that will improve your credit and show you how you can finance a home, even with a bankruptcy or foreclosure on your record.

Time Frames for Foreclosure and Bankruptcy on Your Credit Report

Before you assume that you have bad credit, order your free credit report from Annual Credit Report. Thanks to the Federal Trade Commission, everyone’s entitled to one free copy of his or her credit report every year.
A bankruptcy can stay on your credit report for up to 10 years. The farther the bankruptcy is in your past, the more favorably lenders may look at your credit profile.
If you’re using a conforming loan, you typically need to wait about 4 years after a bankruptcy or a short sale.
If you’re using an FHA loan, you must wait 2 years after foreclosure. The good news? After 2 years, you may qualify to pay as little as 3.5 percent down. If you’ve had a short sale, you’ll have to wait 3 years.

Are You Buying a Home With Bad Credit in Port Aransas?

If you’re buying a home in Port Aransas, call us at 361-563-7788 right away. Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll help you find it.
In the meantime, browse our Port A real estate listings in some of the most popular communities:

Filed under: Blog, Buying, Consumer Tips, Credit Scoring by Julie Woodward
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House-shopping is exciting.
But it can get really confusing, really quickly.
Which house was the one with the great kitchen island? Which had that atrocious screened-in back porch that looked droopy and dreary? What house was the one your kids fell in love with but you were just so-so on? Didn’t that one have a funky smell in the garage?
If you can’t straighten them all out, you’re going to have to ask your Realtor® to see them again. And while your Realtor won’t have any problem showing you the same homes again, it’s kind-of a pain to drag your whole family back out just so you can remember which houses you liked… and which you didn’t.
How can you ensure you’re keeping track so you’re making the most informed decision possible, though?

How to Rate the Houses You’ve Seen

Your Realtor will most likely print out listing descriptions for the homes you’re going to see each time you go out, so ask her to make extra copies for you, too.
You’re going to use them for notes.
Great views? Beautiful lanai? Weird smell? Jot it down while you’re in the house. Your Realtor won’t rush you while you’re touring a home you might buy, so take your time… and make your college professors proud by jotting down every impression you get in each home.
Pull out your smartphone, too. Take a picture of the listing description your Realtor printed for you (just make sure you capture the address), and then start snapping away around the house. Get pictures of the kitchen, the bathrooms, the bedrooms… anything that you like or don’t like about the house is fair game. You can even go outside and snap pictures of the home’s surroundings, which can help you decide when you’re down to just a couple homes.
Once you walk out the front door and get back in your car, rate the house from 1 to 10 and write it on the listing description. That way you can sort out your choices later — when you’ve had time to process your day.

Are You Looking for a Home for Sale in Port Aransas?

If you’re searching for the perfect home in Port Aransas, call us at 361-563-7788. We can help you find it!
In the meantime, have a peek at homes for sale in some of the most popular communities in Port Aransas by using the links below.

Filed under: Blog, Buying by Julie Woodward
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First-time buyer?
Don’t worry — your Port Aransas Realtor® will walk you through the whole process.

3 Tips for First-Time Home Buyers in Port Aransas

Your first excursion into the real estate market is exciting, but it can be a little confusing (and if we’re being honest, it can be a little scary, too).
With the right help, though, you’ll come out of it unscathed… And you’ll own your own home.

First-Time Home Buyer Tip #1: Get Your Finances in Order Before You Start House-Hunting

Order your free credit report from Annual Credit Report. Thanks to the Federal Trade Commission, everyone’s entitled to one free copy of his or her credit report every year. Annual Credit Report is the one the FTC recommends you use, but there are other services available — just be careful that you’re not signing up to pay for something when you don’t have to do so.
Start talking to lenders. Get quotes on mortgages, and compare their rates and fees.
Figure out how much money you can spend on a down payment. Typically, the more you spend on a down payment, the lower your mortgage payments will be. If you qualify for a VA loan, use it! Try to get preapproval for a loan (not prequalification, but preapproval) before you start looking; that way, you’ll know your budget and you’ll be able to find homes that really meet your needs.

First-Time Home Buyer Tip #2: Separate Your “Needs” From Your “Wants”

You need a bathroom and a bedroom, and probably a kitchen… but that’s if you’re flying solo. If you have children, you’ll have to plan for their needs. Don’t forget to think about the future, too; if you’re growing your family (or if some are leaving the nest), you’ll have to plan accordingly.
We all want a swimming pool, an outdoor kitchen, and a big, roomy garage, but unless you need these things, you may want to brace yourself; they might not be feasible when you’re buying your first home.

First-Time Home Buyer Tip #3: Let Your Realtor Do the Heavy Lifting

Tell your Realtor what you need and what you want. Make sure she knows about your budget and your preapproval status so she can find Port Aransas real estate listings that meet your needs, and set up times to go see the homes you’re interested in buying.
Remember while you’re house-hunting that great homes don’t stay on the market for long. If you find one you love, make an offer. Your Realtor will help you every step of the way!

Are You Buying a House in Port Aransas?

If you’re buying a home in Port Aransas, call us at 361-563-7788 right away. Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll help you find it.
In the meantime, browse our Port A real estate listings in some of the most popular communities:

Filed under: Blog, Buying, First-Time Buyers by Julie Woodward
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If you’re like many people, you’re always looking for a great deal on the real estate market — and one way to find them is to browse Port Aransas foreclosures.
However, if you choose to buy a foreclosed home for sale in Port Aransas, here’s what you need to know before you make an offer.

Port Aransas Foreclosures: What You Need to Know

There are plenty of foreclosed homes for sale on North Padre Island and in Port Aransas, and for many people, it’s the best way to buy a larger home than would ordinarily be possible.
One of the other benefits of buying a foreclosed home is that you’re likely to get it below market value — and if you do, you’ll have equity in it the moment you sign the closing paperwork.
On the other hand, you always need to be on the lookout for substandard property conditions when you’re buying a foreclosure. It’s not that the original owners didn’t care about the home; it’s more likely that they had to decide between maintenance or repairs and making a house payment.
Your lender may not move as quickly as you’d like them to, either. Banks require extensive paperwork to sell a foreclosed home in Port Aransas or elsewhere, but you can do your part by providing your loan officer with all the paperwork he needs in a timely manner. You’ll probably need:

• Pay stubs
• Tax returns
• Bank statements
• Other proof of income

Your lender may require other documentation, as well, particularly if you’re using a federally backed loan.

Are You Looking for Port Aransas Foreclosures?

If you’re thinking about buying a foreclosure, check out our:

• North Padre Island home foreclosures
• North Padre Island condo foreclosures
• Port Aransas home foreclosures
• Port Aransas condo foreclosures

In the meantime, call us at 361-563-7788 to tell us what you want from your next home… we’ll help you find it!

 

Filed under: Blog, Buying, Foreclosures, Lenders by Julie Woodward
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If you’re buying a condo in Port Aransas, you need to know how to decorate it perfectly.
Fortunately, we’ve done a little bit of the heavy lifting to uncover 2017’s hottest Port Aransas condo design trends… and you can gather all the inspiration you need right here.

10 Hot Decor Ideas for Your Port Aransas Condo in 2017

Are You Buying a Port Aransas Condo in 2017?

We can help you find the perfect condo for sale in Port Aransas. Call us at 361-563-7788 to tell us what you want from your next home… we’ll help you find it!

Filed under: Blog, Condos in Port Aransas, Decor by Julie Woodward
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