Monthly Archives: December 2018

Is it ever the “right” time to sell? This is a question commonly asked by our clients. And although we can never say for certain what the perfect time is, there are signs that may indicate that it is a good time to sell. Let’s take a look at what these signs might be!

1. Your family size is either growing or shrinking. 

Is your home life evolving? Do you have kids moving out, maybe heading to college? Or are you adding new members to the family? If your family size is changing (strictly looking at the members of the family that are living at home), it may be time to consider moving.

Living in a home that is too large can have a negative impact on the family. Not only are homeowners required to spend more on utilities for space that is not being used, but they are also required to commit time to maintain and repair that extra space as well. Moving to a smaller home that is more suitable for your family can help reduce spending and reduce stress.

On the contrary, we are seeing an increase in millennials purchasing homes, as well as a rise in the number of homeowners starting families. Ensuring that you have enough space for the whole family will provide you with the comfort you need for the future. If you are living in a small home and looking for the opportunity to transition into say a three bedroom, now could be the optimal time to sell. Most individuals think that they cannot afford to move into a larger home; however, there are a variety of factors that can impact this decision and the right real estate agent can help you find that next home that meets your financial means.

2. You spend all your income on your home.

When surveyed, many Americans are reported to be spending almost 50% of their income on their mortgage. If this is how you are living, how are you getting the money to get out and enjoy life? Are you able to take your annual vacation and enjoy date night with your significant other? Most likely not. So, if you are paying more than 25% of your income on your mortgage, consider selling. Getting a mortgage that matches your income can let you live a happier life.

Outside of your mortgage, also look at your bills. Are they more than what you would like to spend on them? If they are, moving to either a smaller or more energy efficient home could provide you with some financial freedom.

3. You are getting older and preparing for retirement.

This is never an easy one to acknowledge, however getting older can change the requirements you need in your home. It is better to move when you are ready and able instead of wait until later in retirement. Many of our clients have found that they relieved their anxiety when they moved early into a home that was more conducive to the next phase of their life – possibly one that is smaller and has fewer obstacles such as stairs.

If it’s not for a more accessible home, moving to prepare for retirement can also help with your financial stability. Most individuals who move for retirement find that they have more spending money each month – who wouldn’t want this added benefit?

4. You are looking for a fresh start.

Have you had a challenging year? Maybe lost a loved one, changed jobs, or got a divorce? Any stressful event that occurs while you are living in your home can leave you with anxiety if you continue to live in that same home. Many psychologists recommend that getting a fresh start, including moving into a new home, can provide a healthy change to improve one’s mood. Also, it may give you a chance to refurbish the next home to fit the new goals that you have in line for the upcoming years.

Get Started

Most likely, if you are reading about whether or not it is a good time for you to sell, you have some inclination that you want to sell. You may be fearful and anxious about that next step; however, we are here to tell you that the process does not have to be complicated. If you want to learn more about how you could benefit from selling your home today, and how we can help you, contact us and speak with one of our agents!

If you have never sold your home before, you may be unaware of the barriers you will run into when starting to market the property. With an increase in home amenities desired by potential buyers, just listing your home with an agent may not be enough to get the price that you want. New homebuyers are generally looking for two types of homes – either ones that are new and have all the upgrades for 2019, or homes that are identified as fixer-uppers. Each home type offers its own advantages to the homebuyer; however, they can vary greatly in price. Your home however, most likely the home that falls between these categories – the home that has some wear and tear, but not any severe damage – can be primarily identified as “hard to sell” in the local market.

What Upgrades Are Homebuyers Looking For:

If you would like to take your chances and sell your home on the open market, there are specific upgrades that homebuyers are looking for. For 2019, here are the most popular ones.

1. New Roofs. Given the annual storms that can drastically impact the quality of one’s roof, many homebuyers are interested in purchasing homes that have new roofs – that is, ones that have been installed since that last major storm. Unfortunately, the large number of homes that were destroyed following Storm Harvey created an uneven market. Since a majority of homes were demolished during the storm, a large number of the homes currently available have either been rebuilt or have had a new roof installed. If you were lucky enough to not experience severe roof damage, you may be out of luck when it comes to selling your home.
2. Interior Upgrades: You may have been living in your home for years and find that the quaint family feel is something missing in today’s available properties. However, most homebuyers are millennials and they are looking for homes that are newly renovated. Homebuyers are looking for upgraded appliances (preferably eco-friendly ones) and open concept rooms. If your home is an older design and has walls obstructing the flow, it may be difficult to find a buyer.
3. Storage and Organization: We are not only talking about adding cabinets, but rather creating spaces to assist in organization. The first trend that caught on related to this concept was with closet organizers, which became popular in the early 2000’s. Now, we are seeing that all aspects of homes are provided with shelves and organizational units to help people with removing clutter.

Expectation of Inspections

Outside of upgrades, homebuyers in Baytown are also requesting that all potential homes have the appropriate inspections completed before closing. Again, due to the severe weather conditions, often times there are unnoticed problems with the home. And these problems can prevent a buyer from closing escrow. The most common inspections that homebuyers will request include: the foundation and structure, HVAC, and plumping. These inspections can be costly, and the fee is generally issued to the seller.

How to Avoid these Renovations and Inspections

Selling your home “as-is” is one way to avoid these expected renovations and inspections. This means that you can sell your home in its current state, without completing any repairs.

We here at Gulf State Homebuyers do just that – we purchase homes in the Baytown market as-is. Therefore, if your home is outdated or has been affected by weather storms, we will buy the home from you and you will not be expected to fix anything. You may be asking, “why would we do this?” Well, this is simple. We see the potential in each home we buy. We have an in-depth understanding of the real estate market and we have close connections with contractors in the area. These combined provide us with an opportunity to buy homes from homeowners at competitive prices. We do not drastically reduce the value of your home because of its downsides – instead, we see its potential and we make an offer comparable to what you would sell it for on the market. We also remove the need for you to waste time marketing your home – so you don’t need to worry about whether or not you will get more if you complete the repairs.

No matter the reason you are interested in selling your home, selecting us as your all cash buyer can make the process quick and easy. We provide home evaluations and can make an offer and close within a week. We do not request any inspections and we help you transition more smoothly. If you are interested in selling your home as-is, contact us today.

If you are contemplating selling your home in today’s market, we are going to make a recommendation: Consider selling your home to an all cash buyer. This option can provide homeowners with an easy solution to what can be a long and tedious process.

Let’s outline the top 6 advantages of selling your home to an all cash buyer.

1. Avoid Hiring a Real Estate Agent 

Listing your home on the market can be a complicated process. To get started, you must identify a real estate agent who will represent you. As a seller, you will want a real estate agent who is: knowledgeable about the market, has a comprehensive marketing platform, has relationships within the industry, and can get you top dollar for your home. However, there are thousands of real estate agents within your market who will advertise that they meet these qualifications, when in reality a small percentage of them actually do. If you choose the wrong agent, you will waste months while your representation agreement with them runs out.

2 – Skip the Hassle of Marketing Your Home

If you are lucky enough to hire an effective agent, you are just at the beginning of the process. The next step, which will be the responsibility of the agent, will be to market the home. You as a homeowner will want to be sure that your agent maximizes visibility of your home on viable platforms to ensure that you get the best offers for your home. Effective marketing can be time consuming and sometimes costly to homeowners. Marketing will be an ongoing process until escrow closes.

3 – Escape Inspections

Depending on the market, selling your home can take months. Finding a qualified buyer can be promising, but the following steps can be daunting and place your home at risk of falling out of escrow. Most home buyers will want to complete a specific list of home inspections before finalizing the sale. If there are any unresolved issues identified, the buyer could potentially back out of the deal or request a lower purchase price.

When you sell to an all cash buyer you can avoid hiring a real estate agent., skip marketing, and avoid inspections.  Gulf State Homebuyers has the resources and abilities to complete home evaluations and provide you with a competitive offer, saving you both time and money on the home selling process.

Additionally, selling to all cash buyers provides homeowners with these benefits…

4 – Avoid Foreclose

If you are on the verge of foreclosure, selling to an all cash buyer can be your silver lining. If you do lose your home to the bank, you will lose all equity and often have no financial support to take your next step. Selling to an all cash buyer may provide you with leverage to avoid foreclosure and set you up with some financial stability to make a transition into your next home.

5 – Sell “As-Is”

If you have any issues with your home, selling it “as-is” on the market can be a tough task. Most investors or homebuyers will want a discounted rate if there is something obviously wrong. Also, there are buyers whose goal is to identify problems with the home to negotiate the price down. Selling to an all cash buyer removes all these games; specifically, we here at Gulf State Homebuyers provide ease to our clients. We require no commitments to inspections and provide you an offer that represents our “as-is” price. We even buy homes that are damaged!

6 – Get Out Quick

If you are looking to sell your home quickly, not only because you want to avoid the hassle of marketing, but because you are going through a divorce or have inherited a home, we can help you get out quickly. Our platform provides offers that can close within five days. We have counsel that can help you along the way to provide for a smooth closing.

Whatever the reason you are considering selling your home, do not overlook the benefits of selling to us. We have years of experience in the local market and can provide you with an easy solution to selling your home. As interest rates are rising, you do not want to risk taking the time to list your home on the market. Get started with you next step today. Contact us and we can provide a free home evaluation and walk you through the steps to making your next move.

Sell Your Home FAST 

The year is coming to an end and it is a great time to start making changes to prepare for a new and healthy 2019. One great way to get started on the new year is to get out of the old and into the new…including your home.

What we propose? Sell your home before the end of the year. We are all cash homebuyers located in Baytown, TX. We purchase homes in all conditions at competitive prices, assisting individuals in transitioning to the next phase of their lives.

Why Sell?

You may be comfortable in your home, or you may think that it is time to make a change. Here are a few reasons many of our recent clients have sold their home:

• They were paying over 25% of their income on their mortgage, which is not recommended for a homeowner.
• They found that their utility bills were too expensive.
• Their home was too large for their family. Bringing the family to closer quarters can not only save you money, but also bring the family closer together.
• Their family was growing! And they needed more space.
• They needed to sell because of divorce, loss of a loved one, or recent financial loss.
• Their home was damaged and they did not want to spend the time, or put the effort into resolving the problems.
• Their investment home was vacant.
• They had challenging tenants.
• They wanted to avoid foreclosure.
• They were tired of paying HOA fees.
• They were ready for a change.

No matter the reason, selling your home can be a healthy change for a new start to 2019.

Why Sell NOW?

The economy is shifting and we are transitioning out of a seller’s market. The stock market is declining and interest rates are rising. The economy as a whole is becoming uncertain. And with this uncertainty comes instability in the real estate market. Analysists are predicting that by 2020 the United States will again be entering an economic downfall. What does this mean for the real estate market? This means that there will be less buyers and less financing for individuals looking to purchase new homes. Ultimately, this trend results in a decline in your home’s value. Selling now may offer you with the highest return on your home’s investment, providing you with financial stability to transition into your next home.

How to Sell Your Home Quickly?

Most homeowners purchased their home through a real estate broker, and expect that to sell their home they must use the same system. However, we are here to inform you that there is an alternative method to sell your home at a competitive price with no real estate broker necessary, and within 5 days: Sell to an all cash buyer.

The benefits of selling to an all cash buyer include:

• No open houses. You will not need to leave the house on weekends or accommodate your agent so that he or she can show the home to potential buyers.
• No dead deals. No risk of the deal falling through because of lack of financing.
• No staging your home. Don’t waste money on altering your homes interior presentation.
• Flexibility with your closing date. Close when you want, not when the bank wants too.
• Shop for your next home without fear. Have confidence in your closing date and prepare for your move.
• Reduce Stress. Stop worrying about what might happen!
• No double payments. Do not pay for two mortgages because of a discrepancy in closing dates.

Ready to Sell?

Contact us today. We here at Gulf State Homebuyers are all cash homebuyers who are dedicated to helping the community. We are not looking for a quick and easy deal, but instead are interested in best representing you in the sale of your home. We remove the need for a real estate broker and even provide clients with legal consultation with our team. We complete all contracts and forego any inspections. Due to our in-depth knowledge of the market and extensive experience in Baytown, we are able to provide clients with the opportunity to close their homes in as little as five days.

If you want to sell, and want to avoid all of the hassle, don’t wait. Once you contact us we will get your started on the process. First, we will provide you with a free home evaluation. If you are happy with the price, your next step will be to sign and collect your payment!