Farewell 2016..Welcome 2017

Friends,

We know this time of year can get very busy, so we just wanted to take a moment to wish you happy holidays!

We’d like to take a minute to thank you for your continued support this year. We wouldn’t be where we are today without you. It has been our pleasure to help make your real estate dreams come true.

We hope you enjoy this holiday season and make some wonderful memories with your friends and family. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year.

Remember, we are always here to help you in any way we can. Just give us a call.

Happy Holidays!

Have You Been to the South Texas Balloon Festival?

To visit the most wonderful attractions that the Rio Grande Valley has to offer, start with the South Texas Balloon Festival.  

Today I’m at the livestock show grounds here in Mercedes, Texas for the Second Annual South Texas Balloon Festival. Here at the festival, we have skydivers, helicopter rides, carnival rides, plenty of food and drinks, and a plethora of other fun family activities going on.

You can visit www.southtexasballoonfestival.com to learn more about this wonderful annual event and all the fun there is to be had. If this sounds like something you’d enjoy, mark it on your calendar for 2017 so we can introduce you to all the attractions that the Rio Grande Valley has to offer.

Don’t miss the Balloon Festival!

If you have any questions, feel free to call us or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!

Check Out South Castle Days 2016 on South Padre Island

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I’m joining you today from Sand Castle Days 2016 on South Padre Island. This is a great event with plenty of vendors, food, live music, and, of course, incredible sand sculptures.

South Padre Island is also a great place to purchase a vacation home. There are beach homes, condos, and houses all over this area.

Check out some of the amazing sand castles in the video above!

Check out the video above to see some of the amazing sand castles that were built here during Sand Castle Days this month!

If you have any questions about purchasing a property on South Padre Island or you have any questions about buying or selling real estate in the Lower Rio Grande area, give me a call or send me an email. I’d be happy to help you!

Fix These Issues Before You List Your Home

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Are there “title ghosts” living in your house? Are there judgments or liens on your property? To avoid surprises at the closing table, make sure you do your research on your home before you list it on the market.

If you know that you need to take care of certain issues within the home, make sure you disclose that to your agent so that they can help you resolve them. Remember that honesty is crucial when selling your property.

Honesty is crucial to your home sale.

Fix any legal issues in advance. A strong real estate professional is always looking out for your best interests. Both the title company and your agent will work together with you to resolve any possible issues.

Once those problems are resolved, you’ll be ready for a smooth closing!

If you have any questions about getting your home ready to sell, or are thinking about buying, selling or investing in real estate, give us a call or send us an email for a free consultation. We’d be happy to help you!

Embracing the Energy of the Olympians

The Olympics are the most-watched sporting event in the world. I’m feeling inspired by The Olympics today, so I just wanted to pass along a few thoughts to all of you.

When I think of The Olympics, I think of hard work, dedication, inspiration, motivation, patriotism, and unity among countries.

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Congratulations to Team USA!

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The Olympians’ stories are amazing. No matter what country an athlete is from, they are successful due to their hard work, dedication and daily training. Let us embrace the energy and motivation behind the Olympians this year. Let us be reminded that we can do anything we set our minds to do. Challenge yourself today to stay focused on your goals and in your dreams because it can be done.

If you have any questions on anything related to real estate, or even if you just need an extra motivational push, give me a call or send me an email today. I’d love to help you!

Selling a Lower Rio Grande Valley home? Get a free home value report 

Buying a Lower Rio Grande Valley home? Search all homes for sale

3 Reasons Why You Should Get Pre-Approved Before Your Home Search

Selling a Lower Rio Grande Valley home? Get a free home value report 

Buying a Lower Rio Grande Valley home? Search all homes for sale

Should you get pre-approved before you start viewing homes?

Our team works with a lot of buyers, and that’s one of the most common questions we get asked. We recommend that yes, you do get pre-approved. There are many reasons for this, but three stand out as the most important. 

The first reason is that we really want you to shop within your budget. A pre-approval gives you a clearer picture of your monthly budget. The second is that we don’t want you to be previewing homes, really like one, and then be disappointed you can't afford it. The third is that some sellers require that buyers have a pre-approval upon viewing a property.

Thank you for joining us once again. If you’re thinking about buying, selling, or investing in real estate, please contact us by phone or email for a free consultation. Hasta luego!

The Success of Your Home Sale Is Up to You

Selling a Lower Rio Grande Valley home? Get a free home value report 

Buying a Lower Rio Grande Valley home? Search all homes for sale

Listen up, sellers: you’re the CEO of your own home sale. Most homeowners feel it’s a Realtor’s responsibility to sell the property. However, the homeowner is the most influential person in the transaction. They decide on pricing, showing, and negotiating.

Although your Realtor plays a critical role in the transaction, the real power lies with the seller. As a homeowner, you can make or break a deal.

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As a homeowner, you can make or break a deal.

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Treat your home sale with excellence and professionalism like any other business deal! Build a strong relationship with your Realtor. Don’t be offended by any negative feedback from other agents or even buyers. Be open to criticism and making any changes if you really want to sell your home for top dollar.

Finally, we've started a new endeavor! You can now start to watch our educational videos in Spanish.

Si usted tiene alguna pregunta sobre el proceso de comprar una casa o sobre cómo preparar un hogar para la venta o financiación preguntas, estamos aquí para ayudar. Llámanos o envíanos un email. Nosotros hablamos español. Gracias.

Thank you for watching our video blog! If you have any questions related to real estate, or if you're looking to buy or sell a home, contact us today!

What to do in the Lower Rio Grande Valley

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Every time I go to a convention or meeting, someone always asks, “Where is the lower Rio Grande Valley?” The Lower Rio Grande Valley is in the southern tip of Texas, right before you get to Mexico. The Lower Rio Grande separates Mexico from the United States. If you love warm weather, sunshine, palm trees, and exotic birds, this is the place for you.

There are plenty of great attractions in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. If you enjoy fun in the sun, check out South Padre Island. It’s also a great place for fishing! Other great fishing locations include the coast and Port Mansfield.

"If you love warm weather, palm trees, and exotic birds, this is the place for you."

If you’re preparing for college, check out the University of Texas Lower Rio Grande Valley. If you’re a birdwatcher, we have many facilities and areas filled with exotic birds. If you like wildlife, take a hike through the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge. Don’t forget, SpaceX wants to launch a rocket here in 2018!

Of course, all you snowbirds and winter Texans are always welcome to come on down and enjoy the weather. If you have any questions, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Five Tips to Boost Your Home's Curb Appeal

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If you’re planning on selling your Lower Rio Grande Valley property, it’s crucial to amp up the curb appeal as much as possible. The first thing a buyer sees is the exterior of your home, and just like first impressions, their initial reaction to it is very important. Here are a few things to keep in mind when thinking about working on your home’s curb appeal:

 "Creating a great first impression is very important when selling your home."

• Curb appeal begins online. It’s critical that you have high-quality photos of your home online. You want to display all the best features of your home online so that buyers are attracted to your home.
• Act like a buyer. Walk around the entire exterior of your home with a critical eye, a notepad, and a pen. Write down anything that needs cleaning, repairing, or replacing, and make sure you take care of those items before showings.
• Pressure washing. This is the best way to make your sidewalks, driveways, siding, and roof look like new.
• Plant some color. Spruce up your porch containers, window boxes, and flowerbeds with some colorful flowers for an instant lift. Be sure not to plant any artificial flowers, as it just looks tacky.
• Add some polish. Painting the door, the trim, and the shutters is a great way to polish the look of your home!

If you have any questions about how you can get the best selling results this spring, or if you need real estate assistance of any kind, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We would love to hear from you!  

Time to Act in Lower Rio Grande Valley Real Estate

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Buying a Lower Rio Grande Valley home? Search all homes for sale

The lower Rio Grande Valley is currently experiencing a buyer’s market. With over 500 homes on the MLS, buyers have an abundance of inventory to choose from. That being said, it's still a great time to put your house on the market, you just have to price carefully and competitively.

 

Interest rates are still low! This is great for lenders and buyers alike. I don’t anticipate the rates reaching above 5% anytime soon, so now is a great time to lock in a low rate.

If you’re interested in buying or selling in the area, reach out to us for a free consultation. Give us a call or send us an email! We’d love to hear from you.