What is the best way to prepare to buy a house? This is What the Experts Say

If you’re hoping to buy a home this year and have been reading news articles on the market, you might be a bit confused on what you should do. Today’s real estate market is unpredictable. If you look at ten different real estate forecasts, it used to be that they all said pretty much the same thing. Now, every expert has differing opinions on where the market is heading.  But one thing the experts do agree on is that the best way to prepare to buy a house is to get preapproved for a mortgage. Let’s talk about why.

What is the best way to prepare to buy a house?

Even though the real estate market is slowing down and houses are taking longer to sell, that doesn’t mean…

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Is Now a Good Time to Buy a Home in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho, NM?

 The Albuquerque and Rio Rancho real estate markets have been active over the past few years, with fluctuating interest rates, increasing home prices, and a changing economic landscape. If you're considering buying a home in these areas, you might be wondering: Is now a good time to buy? Let’s take a closer look at market trends, mortgage rates, and local factors that could influence your decision.

 Current Market Trends in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho

The Albuquerque and Rio Rancho markets have remained strong due to steady demand and limited housing inventory. However, several key factors are shaping the buying landscape:

 1. Home Prices

 Home prices in both cities have…

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Want To Sell Your Home In 2025? Do These 5 Things Now

Selling a house is not an easy task, and if you want to sell your home in 2025 or if you have an investment property you'd like to unload, it doesn't hurt to get the ball rolling now. Once your home is on the market, you'll be busy trying to keep it super clean and adjusting routines to accommodate showings, which is stressful.  That's why taking care of some smaller yet very important things you need to do when selling your home ahead of time will lessen the load for you when it's really time to get moving.

So, let's take a look at 5 things you should now if you want to sell your home in 2025.

  1. Declutter

One of the biggest turnoffs for buyers is clutter, so if you want to sell…

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Top 5 Holiday Events in Albuquerque You Don't Want to Miss

'Tis the season for our southwestern city to transform into a winter wonderland full of fun and festive events. In true Albuquerque form, our holiday events blend the city's unique culture and history to create one-of-a-kind experiences. Whether you are a local or just visiting for the holidays, these top five events will put you in the holiday spirit.

 

River of Lights at ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden

The River of Lights is one of Albuquerque's most popular holiday traditions and the largest walk-through light display in New Mexico. Held at the ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden, this event features millions – yes, millions - of twinkling lights, incredible hand-welded sculptures, and over 700…

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Marketing Your Home for Sale – How Much Is Too Much?


As the real estate market continues to shift to one where buyers have more of the upper hand, the way you market your home for sale has become more important than ever. Years ago, your Realtor could snap a few pictures with their phone or digital camera, but now that house hunters expect tons of clear, detailed images, we Realtors have had to step it up.

Professional listing photographs have become pretty standard in the last decade in most real estate markets. But now, with technology advancing, new tools are being introduced to home buyers and sellers.  While some of them seem like great ideas, others could get you and your Realtor into some trouble. Let’s take a look at some of the…

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Home Renovations That Pay Off

There are dozens of reasons homeowners decide to renovate a space in their home, but for those of you who are renovating a house with resale in mind, this is for you. Since the average cost of a home renovation is just about $42,000, you want to make sure you're getting your money's worth. Let's take a look at the home renovations with the biggest ROI.

No Surprise Here – the Kitchen

It's not like this is news to anybody, but USA Today statistics show that kitchen remodels are the most popular.  As a Realtor, I can tell you with 100% certainty that kitchens sell homes. When a client is debating between two homes, the one with the better kitchen usually wins. Focusing on high-quality materials for your counters,…

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Can't Miss Halloween Events in Albuquerque

From family-friendly festivals to scary horror movies and pub crawls, Halloween in Albuquerque is a blast! The events in Albuquerque offer a mix of cultural traditions, family-friendly fun, and spooky season gatherings – there's something for everyone!  So, let's take a look at some of the upcoming Halloween events in Albuquerque.

Ghouls on Parade: Halloween Festival and Parade

Date: 10/26/2024

Time: 4:00-7:00 pm

Location: Morningside Park - 300 Aliso Dr SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108

You don't want to miss Ghouls on Parade if you have little kids. It has all the fun kiddie carnival staples like bounce houses and face painting, plus local entertainment and food trucks to keep you entertained as…

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Are You Waiting To Buy a Home Until After The Election? Here’s Why That’s Probably Not The Best Idea

Historically, the end of September through the beginning of October is the best time to buy a home.  That’s when the heat of the summer market cools down and right before the busy holiday season when inventory slows down. This year should be even better - if you haven’t heard, mortgage rates are the lowest in years.  As I write this, they are currently sitting at 5.5% for a 30-year FHA mortgage. Listing prices are also lower than they’ve been in a while. The trouble is that loan applications and pending home sales are also lower than usual.  Why? Housing Wire reports that as many as 40% of home buyers want to wait until after the election before…

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9 Days of Hot Air Balloons: A Guide to the New Mexico Balloon Fiesta

It's that time of year again! If you're looking for a bucket-list-worthy event, this is it. The 52nd New Mexico Balloon Fiesta begins on October 5 and runs through October 13. There's nothing quite like watching hundreds of hot air balloons lift off into the sky. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a Fiesta veteran, this year promises to be better than ever.

Why You Should Attend

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is known worldwide. Watching balloons of all shapes and sizes rise into the morning air is absolutely breathtaking. Plus, October is the perfect time to visit New Mexico, not just for the Fiesta but for the incredible weather too.  Believe it or not,…

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Biggest Homebuyer Regrets

 There's no such thing as a perfect house. Even if you have an unlimited budget or build your home from the ground up, there will eventually be something about it that is not perfect.  However, for the average homebuyer in New Mexico, buying a home can be an overwhelming process, and it's easy to get distracted.  Let's look at some of the most common regrets home buyers have after moving into their new homes.

They don't like the location

Sometimes, home buyers have to choose between amenities and location in order to find a home that fits their budget.  Buying a house further away from work or a child's school may not seem like the end of the world until they are stuck with a long commute 5 days a week.  Maybe the…

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