Happy Holidays, and May 2018 Bring Peace, Joy, and Laughter

Have a happy holiday season! Thank you so much for your support in 2017, and we look forward to helping you in the new year!

We hope you had an amazing 2017! Thanks to you and your support, The Monica Benavides Team definitely did.

Thank you for allowing us to help you make your real estate goals for 2017 come true.

A new year brings new opportunities for all of us. Whatever your resolutions may be, we hope the new year brings you peace, joy, and laughter.

We hope the new year brings you peace, joy, and laughter.

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

As always, if you have any real estate questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

In the meantime, merry Christmas and happy New Year!

What Makes Home Inspections So Important?

As a buyer, it is important to have a good idea of a property’s condition before settling down. Hiring a home inspector can help you learn about a home’s condition, history, and maintenance requirements.

Today I’m joined by a special guest, Eric Mayberry of Down Home Inspections. Eric has 16 years of experience in our area, so he’s going to go over a few reasons why home inspections are so crucial to the real estate process.

Hiring a home inspector will always put buyers in a better position. Inspectors can fill buyers in on everything they need to know about a home.

An inspector will be able to provide you with information about the history of the home and will also point out any things that need to be repaired.

Hiring a home inspector will always put buyers in a better position.

Additionally, an inspector can give you a better idea of how to maintain a home for years to come. Proper care is an important part of homeownership. Getting advice from a quality inspector is a great way to start off.

Home inspections are incredibly important, so if you’re thinking of purchasing a property don’t forget to give Down Home Inspections a call at (956) 893-0591.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

6 Tips for Successfully Staging Your Kitchen

A well-staged home can make the difference between a quick sale and a lingering listing, and your kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your home.

Staging your kitchen before putting your house on the market can make the difference between a quick sale and a lingering listing. 

The appearance of your kitchen is one factor that will rank highly among potential buyers’ priority lists. Because of this, I want to bring you six kitchen staging tips that can help you sell your home.

The appearance of your kitchen ranks highly among potential buyers’ priority lists.

1. De-clutter the countertops. Rid your counters of any miscellaneous objects, paper, or clutter. This can be distracting. Instead, leave one or two decorative items on your counters. A good example would be a vase of flowers or a bowl of seasonal fruit.
2. Get rid of excessive dishware. As is the case with our first tip, you don’t want buyers to feel overwhelmed. Leave one matching set of dishes and glassware out on your table, but don’t overdo it.
3. Check the cabinets. Your cabinets may need a fresh coat of paint or to be replaced altogether. Determine your specific needs and update accordingly.
4. Evaluate your appliances. If your appliances are new and in good working order, you should be all set. However, consider upgrading or replacing appliances that aren’t quite up to snuff.
5. Clean the refrigerator. No one likes a dirty kitchen. Make sure you wipe down the front and handles of your refrigerator.
6. Clean the walls. Like we mentioned in the previous tip, it’s important to make sure your kitchen is sparkling clean. Keeping your walls and backsplashes looking fresh and free of stains or smudging will make a big difference.

With these tips at your disposal, it should be easy to stage your home.

If you have any other questions, would like more information, or are considering a career in real estate, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Red Relief—Helping Those Impacted by Harvey and Irma

The Red Relief program by Keller Williams is dedicated to providing disaster relief to those impacted by Hurricane Harvey and Irma. Find out how you can help today.

Keller Williams is here to help those impacted by Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma.

When it comes to Keller Williams, family is everything.

Our Red Relief program is dedicated to providing disaster relief to every family impacted by these storms.

Hundreds of Keller Williams agents have gone to Texas to help those in Corpus Christi, Houston, Beaumont, and more. More agents are on their way to help families in the path of Hurricane Irma in Florida.

"Help us provide disaster relief to those impacted by Irma and Harvey."

So far, we have seen a tremendous outpouring of love from our volunteers and donors. Rebuilding these areas is going to take more than a couple of weeks, so it’s important that we keep the energy going in the coming months as we help people get back to their normal lives.

As we work to rebuild these areas, we could use your help.

Please consider donating to our Red Relief program. Your contributions will help us supply food, water, clothing, and building supplies to these communities.

If you have any questions about KW Cares, the Red Relief program, and our ongoing disaster relief efforts, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We appreciate your support as we work to help others through this difficult time.

How New Construction Homes Are Different

Purchasing a new construction home is a different process than moving into a retail home. For this reason, it’s important that you have help making the right decisions.

Purchasing a new construction home is a slightly different experience than purchasing a resale property. 

For that reason, there are a few things you need to be aware of before doing so.

First of all, don’t be afraid to bring a professional along. Most builders are willing to pay a buyer’s agent. 

Who you work with truly matters.

By doing this, you’ll be able to ensure that you’re making the right choices from the very beginning since we have the experience and connections to let you know when a builder is good, great, or not so much.

Making these kinds of choices is incredibly important. Any decisions you make regarding real estate will have an effect on your life for a long time to come. 

A home is the most expensive investment you’re likely to make in your life. You’ll want to make sure that, over time, it will increase in value.

The best way to ensure that this happens is by trusting the help of a professional to guide you throughout the process.

We would love to provide you with that help. Who you work with truly matters.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Determining Your Home Affordability

Knowing how much you are able to afford is one of the most important things to be aware of when you are searching for a home. Thankfully, professionals will be able to help you determine exactly what that means for you personally.

The financial aspect of homebuying is often among some of the first things people think about when they begin their search. 

One of the questions my team and I often hear from clients is, “How much can I afford?" 

There are many factors that determine your home affordability including your income, how much money you have saved for a down payment, your employment history, and the current interest rates.

However, buyers shouldn’t feel as if they need to go about the process alone. 

Ultimately, utilizing the help of professionals will be the best way to answer any questions.

Regardless of your situation it is important to pair up with a strong real estate team who will be able to help you through the home buying process. 

You should also sit down with a mortgage lender, as they will be able assist you specifically with your home affordability.  

Ultimately, utilizing the help of professionals will be the best way to answer any questions you have about your home affordability.

If you have any other questions or would like us to help you figure out how much you can afford we’d be happy to assist you. You can contact us by giving us a call or sending an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Hit the Trails of Harlingen

We're lucky to have such a great running community and trail system in Harlingen.

Harlingen is fortunate to have a great running community with many great running trails. 

Three of the most popular trails are Pendleton Park, 25th St. Trail, and McKelvey Park. 

I hope to see you out on the trails!

Most of the community will use these trails to train for Harlingen's first full marathon, which takes place on February 25th, 2018.

I hope to see you out there supporting the trails!

In the meantime, give us a call if you're thinking of buying, selling, or investing in real estate. We'd love to hear from you!

Explaining the Minimum Requirements of Getting Pre-Approved

To get pre-approved, you need—at a minimum—the four twos. Let me explain what I mean.

Last week, our team had a free seminar for first-time homebuyers. We were there to educate buyers on the home buying process, and it was a huge success. One of the main questions of those in attendance was “What are the minimum requirements to get pre-approved?”

Getting pre-approved starts with the four twos.

The answer starts with the four twos. You need two check stubs, two monthly bank statements, two years of employment, and two years of income taxes. 

If you’re thinking about buying, selling, or investing in real estate, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d be happy to help you.

Can You Create Passive Income Through Real Estate?

Many people I know invest in real estate. It’s a great way to build wealth and generate passive income.

Buying real estate can be a great investment. In fact, a lot of my friends, family, and clients purchase real estate to use as an investment in order to get passive income.

With passive income, you are making money on a regular basis with little to no effort on your part. Rental properties generate this type of cash flow each month. If you hire a property management company to handle everything, you can get a positive cash flow each month without doing anything else.

You can build wealth through real estate.

This is an important step to take toward retirement. The more passive income you can create, the better off you will be when the time comes.

If you have any questions or you’re looking to buy an investment property yourself, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help. If you’re interested in a career in real estate, I’d be happy to talk to you about that as well. If you need help with anything else, just let us know. We look forward to hearing from you.

Hiring a Buyer’s Agent Costs Less Than You Think

A buyer’s agent is a smart hire. Where else would you be able to get a knowledgeable expert advisor for free?

What if we told you that you could hire somebody to protect your interests when buying a home, at no cost to you. When you hire a buyer’s agent, that’s what you get, as their fee is covered by the seller. 

The buyer’s agent fee is covered by the seller.

Our buyer’s agents specialize in working with buyers. They will provide undivided loyalty, confidentiality, and negotiation assistance. If you’re in a position to buy a home, they will help you every step of the way to make sure your experience is every bit as simple and enjoyable as it should be.

If you’re looking to buy, sell, invest, or start a career in real estate, we would love to hear from you. Give us a call or send us an email today.

You’re Invited to Our Share’em Toys Event!

I want to take a moment to invite you to our “Share’em Toys Event!” 

I’d like to take a moment to invite you to our “Share’em Toys Event” Saturday, March 4th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lopez Riggins Elementary in Los Fresnos, Texas.

Our team is working together with Paola Solis to make her dream come true of making sure all the children in her community have toys.

It’s a great event for a great cause!

Bring your new and used toys and they will be donated to local charities. It’s a great event for a great cause and we hope to see you there!

As always, if you’re thinking about buying, selling, investing, or starting a career in real estate, please don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you!

3 Reasons to List Your Home During the Winter

Many people think waiting until summer to list their homes is their best bet. However, there are three great benefits to listing during the winter. 

Now that 2017 is underway, you might be considering when the best time is to list your home. Many people are still convinced listing during the winter is bad idea, but there are a few reasons why they’re mistaken.

First, there is less inventory on the market during the colder months. The less competitive the market, the better it is for the seller, as the homes that are on the market are in higher demand.

Also, January brings in a lot of people transferring for jobs. These buyers are incredibly serious and need to get into a home right away.

Finally, buyers are looking all day every day. They have access to websites and apps and spend hours on Zillow and Truila. Buyers are looking all year round, including during the winter.

Buyers are looking all year round, including during the winter.

If you are thinking about buying, selling, or investing in real estate, or if you have any other questions, please reach out to me with a phone call or a quick email. I’m always happy to help!