Still Have a Starter Home? You Can Move-Up Now.

Posted on by Andrea T. Fowler

 

I will have to admit that I don’t like calling homes a starter home because what is the first home for most is the second home or third home for others. However, if you or your family have outgrown the home you currently reside in, this is the perfect time to move-up. Why so? Well entry-level or starter homes are still flying off the shelf in DFW. Homes that can sell under $250,000 are high in competition. The homes in the $300,000s and up are taking their time to sell and prices are being slashed left and right. The time to move-up is happening now.

Tell me more Drea. 

Well, you can sell your home at top dollar and use the proceeds from the sale to move-up putting 10-20% down on that home. Interest rates are still incredibly low and your payments will still be in range of affordability. There’s an affordable payment and more home for you or your family.

If that condo is getting too small and you want a house, this is a good time to move up to a house. If the house is 1500-1600 square feet and you now need about 2500-3000 square foot, look into selling and moving up to your next home.

If your house no longer fits your needs and you are planning on buying a luxury home, now is a great time to do so! Data from Trulia’s Market Mismatch Study which showed that in today’s premium home market, buyers are in control.

The inventory of homes for sale in the luxury market far exceeds those searching to purchase these properties in many areas of the country. This means that homes are often staying on the market longer which can eventually lead to a price change.

Those who have a starter or trade-up home to sell will find buyers competing, and often entering bidding wars, to be able to call your house their new home.

The sale of your starter or trade-up house will aid in coming up with a larger down payment for your new luxury home. Even a 5% down payment on a million-dollar home is $50,000.

But not all who are buying luxury properties have a home to sell first.

In a Washington Post article, Daryl Judy, an associate broker with Washington Fine Properties, gave some insight into what many millennials are choosing to do:

“Some high-earning millennials save money until they are in their early 30s to buy a place and just skip over that starter-home phase. They’ll stay in an apartment until they can afford to pay for the place they want.”

Bottom Line

The best time to sell anything is when demand is high and supply is low. If you are currently in a starter or trade-up house that no longer fits your needs and you are looking to step into a luxury home, now’s the time to list your house for sale and make your dreams come true.

Sutton Fields in the Celina 380 Corridor

Posted on by Andrea T. Fowler

The 380 corridor development in North Texas has seen consistent growth over the years and it doesn’t look to be slowing down. If you still think 380 is strictly farmland, you need to drive back down the highway that stretches as far east of Texas to Greenville and hits the deep west of Texas near Lubbock. However the twenty mile concoction that consist of North Texas is growing tremendously.

As the 380 corridor development of North Texas expands, it brings the light of small towns that will become thriving areas. One city in particular near the corridor is the current small town of Celina, TX. As of today, the population of Celina is standing at 12,000 people (based on 2016 population).  Celina’s economic development manager, Corbett Howard, is a former mayor of the town who envisioned Celina to be next boomtown city of DFW. The building projections of homes has it becoming the fastest growing city in the metroplex. The city is bound to become the largest city in Collin County due to its vast amount  of land that has yet to be developed.

 

One development in particular is the Sutton Fields community which is a mile from the 380 corridor settled in with Prosper ISD school district. The developer Centurion American describes the community as the following:

Perfectly situated in Celina, the quaint city known for its small town charm and community pride, Sutton Fields will be the home of 240 homesites featuring beautiful floorplans and options to truly make your home yours. Personalize your home to fit your family’s needs and live your dreams affordably just minutes from Highways 75 and 380. With quick access to all that Dallas and Fort Worth has to offer, this idyllic community offers limitless opportunities to explore the outdoors. Whether it’s in the community amenity center, on the bike trails, or at Lake Ray Roberts and Lake Lewisville, there is plenty offered in and nearby the newest multi-family development. Children will attend some of the most top-rated schools North Texas has to offer in the Prosper Independent School District and future homeowners will love experiencing life in a small city with big dreams in Sutton Fields!

Photo from Sutton Fields Facebook Page
Photo from Sutton Fields Facebook Page

One of the attractions that has my eyes buzzing is the community garden right in the community. As a country girl, I realized that I am in love with communities that give you the small town charm and love of nature that I grew with but still within minutes of “city life”.  Below Centurion American gives particular amenities in the community:

  • Beautifully-Designed Planned Amenity Center
  • Open Green Space
  • Multiple Ponds
  • Pocket Farming and Farmers’ Markets
  • Community Gardens
  • Community Events
  • Protected Bee Hive Community

The development has started and currently the streets are in. There will be eight builders in the community which include First Texas Homes, Lennar Homes, Beazer Homes, M/I Homes, Sandlin Homes, Oakdale Homes, Megatel Homes, and DR Horton. Sales will start soon as the builders gather to start building their model homes. Prices are ranging from the mid 200s to high $600s. This community will have something for everyone. Looking to view more floorplans for Sutton Fields? Visit move-updallas.com and search Sutton Fields (Celina).

Want to know more about this community, contact New Avenue Realty at 972-813-9788 or [email protected].

 

Is Now the Time for Millenials in the DFW real estate market?

Posted on by Andrea T. Fowler

As a fellow millenial here, it has taken time to get others in my age range excited about homeownership. We know it should or could be stuff that we can do yet we feel so bottled down with debt that it isn’t looked at as an option. I am here to break it to you. We can, YES WE CAN, become homeowners. If you can pay rent, you can purchase a home.  We can have the granite countertops, hardwood floors (that’s truly laminate in your apartment…trust me), plush carpet, white cabinets, and Joanna’s shiplap in our home. We tend to think that student loans stop us from purchasing a home OR that credit cards prevent us too. If you have decent credit, say a 620 or higher, you have options in these streets. Conventional loan programs such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac has loosening guidelines to help those with student loans become homeowners.

As the Queen of Resources, I’m here to tell you that there are ways to get into a home and the market is becoming more friendly to first time buyers especially those who have felt like the market didn’t favor them.

For the past two years, it seems as if the prices have doubled making homeownership out of reach. I am here to let you know today that the stars are starting to align. Buyers now have options in today’s market. This is finally your chance to get into the market and get the home you love.

Builders are starting to take notice too as they have since left the starter home phase and went straight to move-up homes which start in the mid-300s. They are now creating divisions within their brand that caters to millenials and first time homebuyers. You will see brand new homes now starting in the high 100s or low $200s.

 

WHAT CAN I AFFORD BASED ON MY RENT?

The next thing that has most people my age on the fence of homeownership is should they rent or buy? How does that payment change from my rental payment? Let’s look at it like this:

Rent: 2 Bedrooom, 2 Bathroom = $1500/month

Home Purchase: 3 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom = $192,307 ~ $1500 mortgage payment

That’s an extra bedroom, more space in the home, as well as a backyard for the price of your rent.

Winn Ridge currently has floorplans with the price of the home at $194,000. With home prices, every $1000 is only $5-7. That means that a home at $194K is approximately $1510. This calculation is based on putting the minimum down on a home (3-5% of sales price). For $1600/month for a mortgage payment, we can estimate a home at $205,000.

THAT’S GREAT AND ALL BUT WHO HAS DOWN PAYMENT MONEY?

I tell my clients that if down payment is their struggle then we can find them money for their home.  HELLO!!!! Queen of Resources here and where there is a will there is most definitely a way. Plus, I have 9 Ways to Fund a Down Payment laid out for you already. There are lenders who have 1% down programs on a conventional loan. There are USDA programs which is 100% financing meaning NO down payments. Disclaimer: USDA loans can only be used to purchase a home in a rural area. However, the pace of growth in DFW opens a LOT of cities/towns for USDA. Ever heard of Little Elm or Prosper? Did you serve our country? Thank you for your service and here’s the BEST loan product out there for doing so called the VA Loan. The VA loan is similar to USDA which is 100% financing = $0 down payment.

Buyers with particular professions can also qualify for loan programs by lenders that may waive lender fees or give them down payment assistance funds to get them in the home. Basically, if you want a home and are willing and able to get one, the SUPPLY is available. The time is NOW.

 

Looking for Your Dream Home? Know What You Need vs What You Want

Posted on by Andrea T. Fowler

In this day and age of being able to shop for anything anywhere, it is really important to know what you’re looking for when you start your home search.

If you’ve been thinking about buying a home of your own for some time now, you’ve probably come up with a list of things that you’d LOVE to have in your new home. Many new homebuyers fantasize about the amenities that they see on television or Pinterest, and start looking at the countless homes listed for sale through rose-colored glasses.

Do you really need that farmhouse sink in the kitchen to be happy with your home choice? Would a two-car garage be a convenience or a necessity? Could the ‘man cave’ of your dreams be a future renovation project instead of a make-or-break right now?

The first step in your home buying process should be getting pre-approved for your mortgage. This allows you to know your budget before you fall in love with a home that is way outside of it.

The next step is to list all the features of a home that you would like, and to qualify them as follows:

  • ‘Must-Haves’ – if this property does not have these items, then it shouldn’t even be considered (ex: distance from work or family, number of bedrooms/bathrooms).
  • ‘Should-Haves’ – if the property hits all of the ‘must-haves’ and some of the ‘should-haves,’ it stays in contention but does not need to have all of these features.
  • ‘Absolute-Wish List’ – if we find a property in our budget that has all of the ‘must-haves,’ most of the ‘should-haves,’ and ANY of these, it’s the winner!

Bottom Line

Having this list fleshed out before starting your search will save you time and frustration, while also letting your agent know what features are most important to you before starting to show you houses in your desired area.

How Your Home’s Value Grows Your Family’s Wealth

Posted on by Andrea T. Fowler


Over the next five years, home prices are expected to appreciate 3.64% per year on average and to grow by 18.4% cumulatively, according to Pulsenomics’ most recent Home Price Expectation Survey.

So, what does this mean for homeowners and their equity position?

As an example, let’s assume a young couple purchased and closed on a $250,000 home in January. If we look at only the projected increase in the price of that home, how much equity will they earn over the next 5 years?

How Your Home’s Value Grows Your Family’s Wealth | Keeping Current Matters

Since the experts predict that home prices will increase by 5.0% this year alone, the young homeowners will have gained $12,500 in equity in just one year.

Over a five-year period, their equity will increase by nearly $49,000! This figure does not even take into account their monthly principal mortgage payments. In many cases, home equity is one of the largest portions of a family’s overall net worth.

Bottom Line

Not only is homeownership something to be proud of, but it also offers you and your family the ability to build equity you can borrow against in the future. If you are ready and willing to buy, find out if you are able to today!

Attention Millenial Homeowners: Have You Thought About Selling? 

Posted on by Andrea T. Fowler



Contrary to what many believe, Millennials are not the ‘renter’ generation. Millennials purchased a larger percentage (34%) of homes in the U.S. than any other age group in 2017 and the most recent Census Bureau report shows that the homeownership rate among Millennials is finally on the rise. Despite what anyone says, millenials are buying homes as 85% of my clientele arw millenials. 

Many Millennials took advantage of post housing crash prices and the First-Time Homebuyers’ Tax Credit and jumped into homeownership in 2010. If you are one of these buyers, now may be the time to sell for many reasons. Here are a few:

1. Equity Build-Up

Home prices have been on the rise since the beginning of 2012 and your house may have appreciated by more than you think. ATTOM Data Solutions, in their Q2 2017 U.S. Home Sales Report revealed that:

“…homeowners who sold in the second quarter realized an average price gain of $51,000 since purchase — the highest average price gain for home sellers since Q2 2007, when it was $57,000.

The average home seller price gain of $51,000 in Q2 2017 represented an average return of 26 percent on the previous purchase price of the home, the highest average home seller return since Q3 2007, when it was 27 percent.”

2. Projected Home Price Increases

If you just got married or just found out you are about to become a parent, you may have plans to move up a bigger home or perhaps move to a different area. Waiting to buy a more expensive home in this market probably doesn’t make sense. The experts contacted for the Home Price Expectation Survey are projecting home prices to increase by nearly 5% over the next year. Yes, your house’s price will increase but not as much as a home currently valued higher than yours.

3. Projected Interest Rate Increases

The Mortgage Bankers’ Association, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and the National Association of Realtors are each projecting mortgage rates to increase over the next year.

Higher PRICES + Higher INTEREST RATES = LARGER MORTGAGE PAYMENTS.

Bottom Line

If you are lucky enough to be one of those Millennials who purchased a house in 2010 (or even later), now might be the perfect time to move up to the home of your dreams.


Sell in Demand…..DFW is in Demand.

Posted on by Andrea T. Fowler

 

If you thought about selling your house this year, now more than ever may be the time to do it! The inventory of homes for sale is well below historic norms and buyer demand is skyrocketing. We were still in high school when we learned the concept of supply and demand: the best time to sell something is when supply of that item is low and demand for that item is high. That defines today’s real estate market. This may be one of the best moments to get the absolute most from the sale of your home due to the demand. I know homeowners are great about the sale of their home but nervous about buying of their next home. My two cents is to use the profit of the sale of your home to be able to put a huge chunk into your second home.

I’ve watched sellers walk away with approximately 6 figures in selling their home. I WILL REPEAT….they walked away with approximately 6 figures from selling their DFW home. That’s an additional six figures along with their regular job. What could you do with extra income to buy the home of your dreams by selling your current home?

Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors, recently commented:

“Buyer interest is solid, but there is just not enough supply to satisfy demand. Prospective buyers are being sidelined by both limited choices and home prices that are climbing too fast.”

Yun goes on to say:

“Current demand levels indicate sales should be stronger, but it’s clear some would-be buyers are having to delay or postpone their home search because low supply is leading to worsening affordability conditions.”

In this type of market, a seller may hold a major negotiating advantage when it comes to price and other aspects of the real estate transaction, including the inspection, appraisal and financing contingencies.

Bottom Line

As a potential seller, you are in the driver’s seat right now. It might be time to hit the gas.

Sunday Funday – July Edition

Posted on by Andrea T. Fowler

It’s been a whirlwind week for that I just needed some Andrea time to cool off. I returned back to Dallas on Saturday after spending a few days in Louisiana celebrating the homegoing of my Aunt Elaine.

I love to say I’m a Louisiana native. It is forever engrained in me but the new normal is that I’m a Texas resident. There is no way to shake it. I’ve been here for 7 years and honestly I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

I spent Saturday catching up to make this week less hectic than it needs to be. Oh Sunday. Wednesdays and Sundays are my favorite days of the week. Wednesdays mean it is almost over and Sunday is my only day of relaxation. Let me tell you how I enjoyed this one.

I started the day doing a pre-birthday outing with my sister. We started at Toulouse Cafe and Barin Highland Park. I wasn’t that hungry since I ate at home but their drinks were definitely the right potion for Sunday Funday.

After celebrating with my sister for her 34th birthday, I headed to Bishop Arts for the Grand Opening of Ice Cream Wasted. I can’t give much about the company because most of the ice cream was gone and the kind I tried wasn’t a kind that I’d purchase. I’ll have to try it again when there is a flavor I like available.

After they ran out of ice cream at Ice Cream Wasted, I decided to take my talents to a place in Bishop Arts that never disappoints and that is Pink Magnolia. I still wasn’t as hungry but opted for biscuits and bacon because listen…it’s biscuits and bacon. There cinnamon sugar concoction is to die for on those biscuits. Oh yeah and I added more champagne to my diet for yesterday.

After leaving Pink Magnolia, I met for friend Treniece for dinner at Zenna Thai in Dallas/Carrollton. Lastly, I ventured to the DFW Founders Plaza because it’s a place that I always wondered where it was and it’s Sunday, why not?

That’s all for now. Stay tuned to my next Sunday Funday experience in DFW.

Rent is Increasing! Why You Should Look Into Homeownership.

Posted on by Andrea T. Fowler

Recently, WFAA released an newcast stating that the rent rates in DFW are increasing month-to-month.  All across DFW, you will see development happening. The developments are for new businesses, new apartments, and/or new homes. There isn’t too many places where you don’t see that in DFW. Currently, Dallas is the land of opportunity.

The newly published April 2017 Dallas Rent Report shows prices across the city remain above the national media. On average, one-bedroom apartments were leasing for $1,260. Two-bedroom units were renting at $1,760.

There are thousands of people relocating here monthly (so yes, people are coming here and they need a place to live). As a Realtor, I have people coming from everywhere. It isn’t a specific place that people aren’t migrating from. They come from the East and West Coasts, other Southern states, and the Midwest.

My biggest motto from a financial standpoint is that if you are paying $1000+, you should consider purchasing a home. Why? The benefits of being a homeowner outweighs being a renter. Let’s take this example.

Let’s say your monthly rent is $1200/month. For a whole year, you’ve paid $14,400 in rent. However, if you had a home that was $1200/month for your mortgage, you could have tax benefits from property taxes, mortgage insurance, mortgage interest. The $14,400 you spent with a mortgage with a tax benefit of $3,600 means that you technically have paid $10,800 for a whole year. That’s basically $900/month. What’s even better? You are build equity while buying and equity = wealth. With an apartment, you are making the developer/builder wealthy.

Homeownership is an investment. Yes, you can invest in stocks and bonds but homeownership provides you a tangible asset. Homeowners in DFW have seen an increase in their asset of 8.5%. That’s extra money that you have made and all you did was live in a home. Can you say the same about your apartment? I live with the financial sense of wanting to make money while I sleep. That is EXACTLY what a home does. Check out the graph below on the status of DFW homes from 2014 to now.

The market has went from homes having a median sales price of $162,000 to $255,000 in June 2017. That’s a $93,000 increase in 3 years. Listen to me, that’s $93,000 increase in THREE years. Imagine what you could do with $93,000 if you had a home to sell. That’s 20% down for a move-up home and some left over to decorate and pay Navient (Sallie Mae’s wicked sister) a nice chunk of change.

Bottom Line: You could look into purchasing a home instead of renewing your lease. Homeownership can be a condo, townhome, or a house. The first two really depends on a person’s lifestyle and what they prefer. All three can be considered a home that you’ve purchased. I think condos/townhomes are great for turning into easy rental properties whether short term (Heard of Airbnb or Homeaway?) or in the long-term. You have to weigh your options and what works best for you. The easiest way to get to the McMansion is to purchase your first home and build yourself and your wealth from there.

For more detailed information for your personal situation, contact me at 972-813-9788 or [email protected].

 

 

Do You Need a Realtor to Buy a New Home?

Posted on by Andrea T. Fowler


I recently got this question and I wanted to share my thoughts on this. A buyer’s agent is free to the buyer even if the the buyer uses new construction. The only time a buyer may be forced to pay a commission is if they go the FSBO or For Sale By Owner route. 

As far as new construction, builders have set aside a budget for agents to supply a commission. Some people think that if they don’t have one, they will get more incentives. That is so UNTRUE. The incentives could be more if you used a Realtor. Realtors have relationships with builder reps and can negotiate everything from lot to upgrades. The contract is also used based on the builder too. Do you have someone working for you to help you combat any issues that mat arise from the contract or building issues?

It’s worth your weight to use a specialist when it comes to buying a new home. There are things that people don’t think of when building or negotiating when buying a new home. 

Just remember that it doesn’t hurt you to have someone represent you in their chosen field where they have the experience. Would you represent yourself in a lawsuit against a major corporation? It’s practically the same thing.