Christmas in July! Kennedy One-Year Follow Up

This is one story I’ve been waiting to share.  If I ever have to give it to a client who really stayed patient and kept fighting throughout a transaction, it would be Zakeia. Seriously, in previous transactions, some clients would give up after they lost house #2 in a multiple offer situation. Some clients would nick and pick a perfectly good home away. Not Zakeia. She knew her top 5 and that is what we consistently looked for. We had to be more open to areas and there was one that I knew would be a winner but it would take time before we made our way there.

Last summer is very similar to this summer with multiple offers galore especially with homes under $200K. Zakeia put in offer after offer. Still, she was determined to find her home. There was this one home that I kept passing through on the MLS. I’m like it is perfect for her. As soon as she met me to see it, she said the same as well. We sat in the home for almost an hour crafting the perfect offer to seal the deal. Did I mention that we sealed the deal? Enough of me. Check out Zakeia’s story.

1. What type of home were you considering? 

I wanted a single family home with at least 3 bedrooms 2 bathrooms. 

2. What city did you purchase your home in? 

Aubrey

3. Was it your first choice location? If not, what areas did you consider?

No it was not my first choice. I wanted a home in the Carrollton/Lewisville area but I ended up broadening my search and looking in other towns.

4. Now that you have lived in your city for a year, what is it that you like about your city?

I love how quiet and peaceful my neighborhood is. They are building new restaurants, stores, neighborhoods, and apartments all around here.

5. What attracted you to your neighborhood?

The cute white fences and the clean quiet neighborhoods. 

6. What is something that you like about your neighborhood now that you have lived there for a year? 

I like the quietness. Even with there being children who live next door, everyone is very respectful and friendly .

7. What advice would you give a first time homebuyer? 

My advice to any first time home buyer is this is a process. It might not be an easy process but you must have patience and know what is for you will be for you. The long term benefits are well worth the wait. Do not settle but keep an open mind. Last but not least make sure you have a great realtor who will keep you encouraged and informed during the process.

Zakeia Kennedy
A great moment for me was decorating and having friends and family over for the holidays.

If you want to talk about how you can become the King or Queen of your castle, we can speak by phone, video-call, or in-person by clicking here to contact me: http://NewAvenueRealty.com.

Take Your Emotion Out (The Home Buying Process)

Stress

Ready to purchase your first home? Here’s one of my most important rules: Take your emotion out of it.  You have to take your emotion out of the home buying process. If you make it all emotional, you’ll make decisions that may not always be best.

The thing to being successful in the home buying process is to realize that it is a financial investment. Home buying in a tough market such as DFW doesn’t equal getting exactly what you want. It can but do understand that it will come with a hefty price tag.

There are plenty of decisions to make during the process and in DFW, you have to be decisive. In most situations, there won’t be time to think about it overnight. I always ask my clients for their top 5 must-haves. Must haves are basic requirements to a home such as:

  • Do you need to move by a certain date?
  • Desire a certain school district?
  • Have space requirements? What would the space be used for?
  • Do you want a backyard? What would you want to do in your backyard?
  • How big of a kitchen (or closet for my ladies) are you looking for? Why is that so?

See how in that equation that a kitchen island or granite countertops weren’t mentioned? That’s because those are things that are nice to have but shouldn’t be must-haves. Why? You can easily add those things to your home as time progresses.

Know your must-haves. Know how much you can afford. Know how long you plan to live in the home. The goal is to maximize your investment return for the home as you live there. It’s a financial/business decision first and emotional tie dead last.

For my clients, I keep the list to those 5 and often remind you of it when you want to see an 1100 square foot home when you said the home has to be 1400 square foot or more.  When you know what is absolutely needed in your home, stay on track of that list. That will help narrow your choices down and help keep the emotion out of it. The focus should be functionality and practicality.

If you are decisive, you’ll save a lot of time and emotions. You’ll have a nice home that is affordable, provides a great return on the investment, and provides the sense of home that your family needs.

 

To begin your home journey in North Texas visit NewAvenueRealty.com.

Malakia & Kellar – One Year Review

We are back at it with the one year reviews from my clients of 2015. Today we get to hear from Chauntel and Bendita. Buying a home in Dallas was a first for the both of them but buying a home was nothing new to Bendita. It was something new for Chauntel. I asked them to share their experience for people relocating to Dallas and the atmosphere of the area that they have now call home.

My Tidbit: I’m a personal fan of their view. I mean I personally would never leave if I had their view but enough about me. Here is their story.

IMG_20160507_223242
This view though.
What type of home were you considering?
Bendita: I WANTED AN “INTERESTING SPACE”, AND THOUGHT I WOULD END UP WITH A TOWNHOUSE OR SINGLE FAMILY HOME, SINCE I HAVE TRADITIONALLY HATED CONDOS. BUT GETTING A CONDO WAS REALLY THE BEST DECISION WE COULD’VE MADE AT THIS STAGE IN OUR LIVES.
Chauntel: I thought we would end up in a townhouse, I wanted an industrial modern space but didn’t know if that was realistic or available in the area. We were glad to find this and feel like it fits great for us now.
What city did you purchase your home in?
Bendita: DALLAS, TX (THE CEDARS)
Chauntel: Got a condo [south of] downtown because it’s all about location
Was it your first choice location? If not, what areas did you consider?
Bendita: WE WERE LOOKING AT DOWNTOWN AND UPTOWN LOCATIONS, ALL IN DALLAS, TX.
Now that you have lived in your city for a year, what is it that you like about your city?
Bendita: I LOVE THAT WE ARE A $5 UBER RIDE FROM 75% OF MOST OF WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO. IT ALSO DOESN’T HURT THAT THE FLIGHTS IN AND OUT OF DALLAS ARE SO CHEAP.
Chauntel: I love DFW, its easy to get anywhere and is a good home base. I also like the small group of friends we have made.
What attracted you to your neighborhood?
Bendita: I LOVE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE JUST STARTING TO TRANSITION UP. I LOVE THE GRITTY MIX OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE AND WATCHING THE INPUTS THAT PROVIDE THE IMPETUS FOR CHANGE. I HATE STERILE NEIGHBORHOODS. IT ALSO DOESNT HELP THAT I AM 1 MINUTE DRIVE AWAY FROM 35E, 30, AND 75.
Chauntel: The proximity to everything else and the view.
What is something that you like about your neighborhood now that you have lived there for a year?
Bendita: I AM ENJOYING WATCHING OTHER PEOPLE’S INTEREST IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD INCREASE!
Chauntel: Alamo drafthouse … Lol
What advice would you give a first time homebuyer?
Bendita: BE PATIENT WITH THE PROCESS. THIS WAS MY SECOND HOUSE PURCHASE AND IT NEVER GETS EASIER.
Chauntel: Be patient, it’s like the hunger games. Don’t get too emotionally invested too soon. You will have to find a good fit for yourself and also for the seller/developer.
Chauntel & Bendita’s wall art in their home.