No one wants to regret a home purchase!  However, during the process of buying a home, there are many opportunities for you to run into obstacles that could lead you to buyer's remorse.  Here are 7 common stumbling blocks buyers encounter:

1. INADEQUATE PLANNING

Before writing your first offer, clarify your priorities, strengths, and weaknesses—AND the seller’s. A true negotiating strategy is about much more than price.  Think beyond step one, anticipating possible responses and counter offers.  With careful forethought and a little creativity, you’ll feel much more confident about your negotiating plan and improve your odds of success.

2. GETTING EMOTIONAL

Stick to the facts and remain as objective as possible.  Feelings of personal insult or anger don’t contribute anything of value to a negotiation. (In fact, it’s more likely to cloud your ability to think clearly.) If a seller rejects some aspects of your offer, try to calmly and rationally understand their perspectives.  Remember, the seller is not the enemy!

3. IMPATIENCE

Sometimes the negotiating process takes time to unfold.  Stay relaxed and focused on your purchasing objectives.  You may need to be flexible and open to alternative ways to reach them.

4. FEAR

While patience is a virtue, don’t let fear paralyze your ability to make decisions. If you find a house that’s a good fit, don’t be afraid to submit an offer. Too often, buyers delay action and the house goes under contract with someone else. (Buyers rarely make this mistake twice.)

5. BLIND SPOTS

Your objective is to own a home. Don’t lose sight of that goal by putting too much emphasis on smaller obstacles and distractions that may present themselves during the negotiation process. Stay focused on the big picture.

6. LACK OF KNOWLEDGE

Learn as much as you can from your Realtor about current market conditions and the home buying process. Knowledge is power, which can be used to your advantage in shaping your negotiating strategy.

7. STUBBORNNESS

Negotiations are ultimately about two parties reaching a win-win agreement. Don’t be completely unwilling to compromise. Instead, focus on joint problem solving.  Again, the seller is not the enemy and we must work together to complete the sale.

Want to learn more about buying a home?  Fill out the form below to schedule a free phone consultation.  I look forward to hearing from you!

Every day homeowners save up money for their down payment as well as their closing costs so they can buy a new home.  But what happens if they fall in love with a home that needs repairs that will require more cash?  Some buyers are not able to come up with more cash to spend on these repairs.  To help solve this problem, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) offers a unique program that allows you to finance these additional expenses when you purchase the house, called Section 203 (k) Rehab Mortgage Insurance.

Traditionally, buyers have needed to fund these repairs themselves after closing, either by using cash, or secure a home improvement loan (usually at a higher borrowing rate) in addition to a mortgage for the house purchase. This limited the amount of people that could purchase a home and then complete repairs and upgrades.

With the 203(k) program, however, borrowers can wrap the purchase and rehabilitation costs into a single mortgage offered at a competitive rate.  Borrowers can select between a fixed- or variable-rate loan, up to 30 years. Like other FHA loans, the down payment can be as low as 3.5 percent.  

STREAMLINED PROGRAM:  The FHA also offers a streamlined program that provides financing up to $35,000 in rehabilitation costs on top of an existing mortgage. It’s a simpler process that helps buyers make their home move-in ready. 


Or, current homeowners can use the funds to make repairs or improvements to prepare their home for sale.  What a great way to make a property shine above the other properties on the market and to get a property ready for a new homeowner to move in. 


There are of course limitations and restrictions and you do have to qualify for the programs.  To learn more about either 203(k) program, visit hud.gov/program_offices/housing/sfh/203k. Or you can contact me and I will put you in touch with a local lender familiar with the FHA 203 (K) program as well as other loan programs. 

Do you have questions about buying a home?  Schedule a free phone consultation today!  I look forward to connecting!

Whether you are moving across the country, or just across town, relocating to a new area can be an adventure!  With the right game plan in place you can ensure the process will be less stressful.  Here's 10 ways for you to prepare for your big move.

1.  SELECT THE RIGHT REALTOR

Working with a good agent is one of the most important aspects of a successful home purchase.  Key qualities to look for:  experience with relocating clients, strong local market knowledge and solid communication skills.  (An agent with an ABR designation also has special training in representing buyers.)

2.  GET PRE-APPPROVED (NOT JUST PRE-QUALIFIED) FOR YOUR MORTGAGE

Pre-approval means your application has already been processed and final approval is only contingent upon an appraisal and other issues. Mortgage pre-approval puts you in a more favorable negotiating position with sellers and allows you to make faster decisions.

3.  SEPARATE YOUR NEEDS FROM YOUR WANTS

The difference may seem subtle, but this makes it easier to quickly narrow your options and find the best home for your needs.

4.  KEEP DETAILED NOTES

You’ll probably see many homes in a short period of time.  Detailed notes, photos, and listing sheets can help you recall each property after a busy “home shopping” trip.

5.  THINK ABOUT SELLING WHILE BUYING

Transferees often face future relocations, so it’s important to consider a home’s resale value. If your agent is pointing out a home’s flaws, they’re probably looking out for your future best interests.

6. LEARN THE MARKET

Buyers can gather an amazing amount of information online about the markets they are considering for their new home (although an experienced agent will always have a stronger pulse on local market prices than any website). Do your homework and rely on your agent to add key perspectives.  Check out my blog to learn more about Phoenix's West Valley.

7. BE PREPARED TO MAKE FAST DECISIONS

Many markets now favor sellers or simply lack adequate home inventories, causing buyers to quickly regret momentary hesitation on a desirable home. Consider making an offer right away, even if you plan to view additional properties.

8. BEFORE PLACING AN OFFER, REQUEST A QUICK CMA

Agents can produce a comparable market analysis on any home in a matter of minutes. This is also where an agent with local market expertise can be a real plus.

9. BE PREPARED FOR EMOTIONAL UPS AND DOWNS 

Negotiating an offer can be a draining experience. Try to remain calm and maintain perspective as offers and counter offers are exchanged.

10. LEARN FROM HOME INSPECTORS

The level of detail in home inspections has improved dramatically. If at all possible, attend the inspection in person. You’ll also gain many valuable tips about maintaining your home in the written report. As far as renegotiating on repair items, remember that in strong markets, sellers will be unwilling to make any concessions based on the inspector’s report.

**BONUS for all of my clients, check out my free personal moving concierge service:  

All Your Moving Needs in One Place!  Free Personal Moving Concierge

With the right game plan in place you will be settled in your new home before you know it!  My goal is to help make the process as smooth as possible for you.  If you would like to schedule a phone consultation and get the process started (even if you are months out from relocating it's not too early to contact me) please fill out the form below.  I look forward to connecting! 

Buyers today are using national home search websites to start their home search.  While they are a good place to start, it's important to understand how these sites receive and update their information about the houses for sale.   You may be looking at outdated information and here's why.

THE SYNDICATION PROCESS

A seller's agent starts the home marketing process by creating a "listing" that includes key details and selling points, as well as photos.  This information is usually entered into the local multiple listing service (MLS).  All agents within that MLS share access to the most current details on every listing and may, depending on rule requirements, republish listings on their own websites.

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Seller's agents want their client's property to be seen by as many consumers as possible, so they typically use syndication services to republish the listing on various consumer sites, such as Trulia, Zillow and Realtor.com.  Even though the listing agent created the original content, their ability to control future updates may be hit or miss.  In addition, some consumer sites sell listing information to other sites, in a process called resyndication, creating further distance from the original source.  On top of that, the national home search portals. like Zillow and Trulia, pull their information from other various public sites. This can create out-of-date and incorrect information. 

IMPROVING YOUR RESULTS

Consumer property websites, or portals, such as Zillow and Trulia are hungry for as many listings and as much content as possible, that's how they attract visitors.  But they may be less than interested, or even capable of, keeping the information up to date.  As a result, buyers often find properties that are no longer available for sale or otherwise inaccurate details, such as estimated values.  If inaccurate data is being used, Zillow's Zestimate can cause for homeowners and potential buyers since this value is not always a good gauge of the properties value.  

THE SOLUTION?

Work with and rely on a source who can offer the most current and accurate information. As a Realtor I have real-time access to the most complete inventory of homes for sale, along with the most timely details on prices, market status, comparable sales, etc. My information comes straight from the MLS, and you have access to the same list of homes when you use the home search tool on my website.  In addition, I can also give you access to email updates on qualified properties once they hit the market, as well as upcoming listings.  Why waste your time looking at out-of-date information when you can get the information straight from the source?

Contact me today and I will help you get a game plan together for finding a new home.  I can also make sure you are set up with a home search that fits your needs so you can save time while looking through homes.  Please fill out the form to schedule a time for us to chat:

Buying a home can be an emotional roller coaster for most people.  That's because most buyers begin looking at homes without a plan.  Without a plan you can be hit with a ton of emotions and most people become overwhelmed after viewing just a few homes. 

How can you avoid this?  First you need to make sure you have a clear idea of what type of home you are looking for and what features are a must.  While it's important to keep some options open and your wants may change during the process, for the most part it is essential to stay focused on what is important to you in a new home.

Second, you should ask yourself the following 10 questions while you view each property.

10 Questions You Must Ask Yourself At Each House You View

1. Do I like the neighborhood and street?
2. Do I like the way this house looks when first drive I drive up?
3. When I first walk in the door, how does this home make me feel?
4. Can I see myself functioning in the kitchen with its current layout?
5. Is the gathering space large enough for me as well as my friends and family?
6. Will my furniture fit or will I have to buy new furniture?
7. Do I see myself enjoying the backyard and does it provide the level of privacy I want?
8. How will the afternoon sun affect the backyard as well as other rooms in the house?
9. Does this home have the features that I am looking for?
10. What will I need to do to this home to make it move-in ready for me?

After you answer these questions it will help you compare this property to the other properties that you view.  You may find your wants changing after you view a few homes and that's ok, we can make adjustments to fine tune what type of new home you are looking for.  The most important thing is to get a game plan together so you can approach your home search focused on what is important to you.  Trust me, it helps make the process easier for you!  With this clarity you will find that it is much easier to know for sure when you find "The One."

If you would like to schedule a phone consultation to get a game plan together for your home search click on the link below, I look forward to connecting!

Schedule a Phone Consultation with Cinda Rose

You've just finished spring cleaning, and summer is approaching quickly. Summer means longer days and later nights, and usually more traffic in your home. With play dates, game nights, and bonfires, there are likely to be more guests in and out of your home than usual. While fun is the priority, safety should be as well. To keep the little ones, children and pets included, safe in your home, follow these steps so you can enjoy a safe summer (as well as all the other seasons): 

1. Protect your belongings

This has two benefits. If you have items that are important to you and could easily break, it is best to store them away so they don't get damaged and no one gets hurt from the broken item in the process. 

2. Make off-limit areas

If you want to prevent children and pets from going places you don't want them, consider installing safety gates. Placing gates in front of staircases and rooms with more breakable items can prevent both children and pets from falling or accessing those items you don't want to injure crawling little ones. 

3. Secure furniture

Sometimes when we get new furniture, we don't think those extra safety screws included to attach the furniture to the wall are necessary. Sadly, accidents involving falling furniture occur much too often because safety anchors are not installed. If you have any furniture that could be pulled down by a child, pick up anchors at your local hardware store. Dressers, televisions, and bookshelves are all items that can easily be pulled down from a child trying to climb onto them. 

4. Use child-proof locks

Kitchens are filled with items that can become dangerous for both children and pets in an instant. Knives, spices, and cleaners can all stay safely out of the hands (and paws) of children and pets by installing child-proof locks on all the cabinets that need to stay off-limits.

5. Don't buy poisonous plants

The first step in avoiding poisonous plants is finding out which ones can be toxic to children and pets. While most plants are kid-friendly, many can be dangerous to pets, even those you wouldn't think could be, such as the Aloe plant.

6. Protect outlets and cords

While our lifestyles continue to become more wireless by the day, children and pets are still at risk in homes where items are plugged in. Ensure that your outlets are guarded and wires are hidden or blocked off. Not only can you prevent risk of shock, but you can also protect the items you have plugged in - like that television that you don't want to come crashing onto the floor!

Even if you have a beautiful headboard, the space above your bed can seem empty if left untouched. This space can be tricky to decorate, but that doesn’t mean you should leave it blank. There are plenty of ways to spruce up that space without much work. Here are 5 ways to make the best of that negative space!

1. Add a Set of Shelves

Even if you don’t need the extra storage space, you can use shelves to add small decor that is unique to you. Your favorite books, small planters, or even picture frames are a great way to personalize the shelves.

2. Wallpaper the Wall

If you're worried about adding anything above your bed, consider creating an accent wall with floral wallpaper. Many places sell peel and stick paper so if you decide you don't love the style or you're renting and cannot make a permanent change, you can still try out wallpaper.

3. Make the Room Look Bigger With Mirrors

The best way to make a room look bigger is to strategically place mirrors across from open windows or sources of light. You can also place 2 small mirrors alongside a large central mirror if your bed isn't across from a light source. This will also make your room appear larger while filling empty space.

4. Consider a Tasteful Tapestry or Wall Hanging

Tapestries aren't just for college dorm rooms. If you aren't ready to add shelving fixtures but want something a little more than wallpaper, consider adding a pop of color with a tapestry or a statement yarn wall hanging. 

5. Create a Gallery Wall

Whether it is gridded and organized or statement and staggered, a gallery wall is the perfect way to add a little more 'you' to your bedroom. Frame your favorite family photos or the landscape photos from your favorite vacation. 

So you’re ready to put your home on the market and to you, everything looks great. Unfortunately, much of the wear and tear on your home becomes unnoticeable when it is something you see everyday. While you may not think about the one light switch that doesn’t work or the chipping paint in the guest bedroom, now is the time to take a step back and look at your home with fresh eyes. When you decide to sell your home, the first thing you should do is make any repairs you can to save yourself money in the long run. Here are a few repairs to cross off so you can get the best deal for your home!

1. Paint Your Walls

Re-painting the rooms that need a fresh face is the cheapest way to update the appearance of your home. Consider using light, neutral colors to appeal to a broader group of buyers. If the room is too dark or has chipped or dirty paint, make it look brand new with a coat of paint. 

2. Make Minor Kitchen Repairs

Even if your kitchen isn’t large and spacious, a full renovation might not make sense financially. If your agent doesn’t advise you towards a renovation, consider making minor repairs instead. Paint what needs painted and install new fixtures where necessary. If your appliances aren’t operating properly or are in awful shape, you will need to replace them.

3. Update Your Bathroom

The first priority is making sure your bathroom looks clean. If the toilet looks old, replace the seat to give it a fresh new appearance. Replace any tiles that may be missing, clean the grout, and remove old wallpaper that may still remain. This is a room you should consider painting if need be to make it appear bright and clean.

4. Fix The Exterior

The outside of your home is the first thing buyers will see, so it is important that it looks good. Touch up the yard with sod as needed, remove any junk that may be in the yard, and make sure your fencing doesn’t have any missing parts or boards. Mow your grass and consider renting a power washer to make your siding look brand new. 

5. Maximize Lighting

The goal is to maximize light so you can maximize the appearance of space. Light does a great job of making rooms look larger than they are. Update your fixtures, ensure that your windows appear clean and new, and add mirrors across from light sources to reflect even more light. 

6. Ensure Functionality

Potential buyers are going to want everything to work. Do a full walk through of your home, checking all light switches, doorknobs, and locks. Repair or replace anything that doesn't work as it should. The less issues that arise during the buyer's home inspection, the better chance of you maximizing your profit during the sale. 

How to Move with Kids

As if moving isn't already hard enough, adding your children into the mix can present a whole new challenge. Kids are resilient, but major changes like big moves can be difficult to work through if children aren't prepared. Depending on their age, your children may be leaving behind a school, friends, and activities that they've grown to love. Instead of throwing them in the deep end, consider helping them get their moving feet wet with these steps. 

1. Talk to your children about your move as soon as it becomes a possibility.

Once you've decided to move, the first thing you should do is have an open discussion with your children. If you wait until it is time to pack, they may feel like they've had a bombshell dropped on them. If you give them a chance to voice their feelings and work through them, you'll deal with a little less chaos when it is time to move. Consider the best way to tell your children, taking into account how each child best receives information. Be open, honest, and available to answer their questions.

2. Find ways to involve your children in your new neighborhood.

Instead of leaving the kids at home while you are closing on a property or even just touring potential homes, bring them along. Find activities in the area that your children will enjoy, whether it be a park nearby or local libraries, pools, or playgrounds. Helping them feel familiar with their new home will take a weight off of their shoulders and reduce the fear of being the 'new kid' when they move. Once you are moved in, consider hosting a game night or play date for your neighbors with children so that your kids have an opportunity to make friends quickly.

3. Reach out and get local recommendations ahead of time.

This will help both you and your children have a little more peace of mind when it comes to making a big move. Before the move, find local parent groups (sites like Facebook are full of these) and seek out recommendations for daycares and schools that meet the criteria you are looking for. The first thing most people do when trying something new out is to check for reviews, and these groups will allow you to do just that. Create a short list of places you think will fit your lifestyle, and then conduct as much research as you need to make a decision when you arrive in your new home. This will reduce the time your children will spend in limbo when you move.

Moving can be a difficult time, but preparing your children will help make the process as smooth as possible and help to lessen the stress that comes with a big move.  They will be settled in at their new home sooner than you think!  

Tech to Find the Right Home

According to the National Association of Realtors's 2018 Profile of Buyers and Sellers, 52% of buyers want help to find the right home to purchase.  Physically locating the home is certainly part of what buyers want from their agent but finding the right home at the right price and terms is also crucial.

87% of buyers purchased their home through a real estate agent or broker.  Slightly more than half of buyers were referred to their real estate professional by a friend or relative or had used the agent previously to buy or sell a home.

There are tech tools that can be used together with the expertise and experience of your real estate professional to make the home buying process efficient and effective.

Listing Alert ... while this service is called by other names, such as property alerts, the buyer identifies the specifics about the home they want, and it will notify them directly when a new listing comes on the market that matches their needs.

Real estate smartphone apps ... imagine driving a neighborhood, seeing a sign and immediately being able to know the price and specifics about the home; very convenient.  There are a variety of different apps available such as Homesnap, and others, ask your agent for their recommendation before installing one.

Digital documents ... companies like DocuSign have revolutionized real estate negotiations by doing everything digitally so that you're not going back and forth between the parties signing and initialing changes.  It is safe and secure and your agent will handle this end of it for you.

ColorSnap Visualizer ... this Sherwin Williams app for iPad allows you to paint walls on a picture, match photos to find paint colors and other things before you commit to a color.

Google maps ... plug in an address on Google Maps and you see street view of the home, satellite view, surrounding businesses, traffic speed and other things.

Sex Offender Registry ... NSOPW, the National Sex Offender Public Website is a safety resource that provides the public with access to sex offender data nationwide.

Financial Calculators ... fill in the blank applications that can illustrate the benefits of renting vs. owning, Equity Accelerator, Adjustable Rate Comparison, Cost of Waiting to Buy and many other homeowner situations.

Free Public Records Directory - OnlineSearches provides access to public record sources like deeds and assessor and property tax records.  While this service is free, some state and county agencies may charge fees for accessing public records.

Virtual open house ... an alternative to physically viewing a home is to look at the multiple photos online.  If the property is interesting, you can schedule a physical showing with your agent.

Check your credit ... Order free credit reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion each once a year at www.AnnualCreditReport.com.

The final recommendation is your phone.  When you have a question, contact your agent.  Calling another agent may seem like an expedient way to get an answer, especially if you cannot get a hold of your agent but it could inadvertently, cause issues.

As your real estate professional I can assist you with these and other tools to help you find the right home.  If you have any questions, feel free to call me at 623-252-9350.