Category Archives: Tips

 

After weighing options and considering your preferred lifestyle, you may find that living in an HOA (Homeowners Association) community is a good fit for you.

There are both pros and cons to the structure offered by Homeowners Associations, and taking a closer look at the rules and restrictions may provide you with a clearer understanding.

The PROs of Living in A Homeowners Association:

• Access to a multitude of amenities that are maintained by the association. These amenities may include pools, walking trails, sports courts, barbecue pits, party halls, and more. Not only will you enjoy access, but these features are also very well maintained.
• Built-in security – we do not mean in your home, but rather in your neighborhood. Most HOA communities will provide private security to ensure the safety of their residents. This means reduced crime rates and a higher pool of potential interested buyers.
• In addition to security services, HOA communities will offer other management services, including trash pickup, storm water management, and additional similar services. You will not need to hire outside contractors to handle these chores; the fees are covered in your monthly HOA payment.
• Homes in HOA communities are generally more aesthetically pleasing compared to those in other neighborhoods. Due to the restrictions, the HOA places on its residents concerning the quality of their homes, the neighborhoods are manicured and paved with smooth roads. This effort is maintained by both the residents and the HOA.
• HOAs foster a sense of interconnectivity and comradery in the neighborhood. Living in an HOA community brings residents closer. The HOA will often host events during which residents come together and mingle – bringing back the old sense of what a neighborhood should be.
• When there is conflict in the neighborhood, the board of directors is available to assist. Often times, the association will offer meditation to assist in resolving neighbor disputes, include but not limited to complaints about noisy pets, unkempt yards, and much more.
• Higher home value – although you pay monthly fees, the market value for your home will be higher due to all of the benefits listed above.

The CONs of Living in a Homeowners Association:

• Higher cost of living: Each month, you will be expected to pay HOA fees. These fees can vary depending on the community that you live in.
• Restrictions: Your HOA may enforce rules in the community that differ from those in neighborhoods outside of an HOA. However, these rules generally help with the sense of community and improve the neighborhood’s security. They also apply to the aesthetics of your home. Most HOA communities place restrictions on the colors that you may paint your house, requiring prior authorization before making any drastic changes. They may also require that you keep your lawn and exterior of your home manicured.
• Potential for poor management and poor representation. When you move into an HOA community, you may notice that either the board is too controlling or that they do not enforce the rules. Either of these scenarios can be disruptive to your daily living.

As you can see, there are both positives and negatives to living in an HOA community. If you are uncertain of whether to consider living in one of these unique neighborhoods, try asking yourself a couple of questions: What are the restrictions in the association? What is the association going to do for me? What is my commitment and responsibility to the association? Answering the questions in detail can help you find insight on whether a given association is a good fit for you.

Are You Interested in Selling Your HOA Home?

Due to the restrictions of living in the area, the buying pool is sometimes limited. The potential new owners of your new home will be seeking something similar to what you already had – structure, rules, and a sense of community. Therefore, marketing and selling can be slightly more challenging. However, if you would like to sell and avoid all aspects of selling your home on the open market, we can provide you with a simple solution.

We purchase homes located in associations and homes that come with HOA fees. We understand both the benefits and disadvantages of living in an HOA community and want to provide you with a simple way out if you feel it is time to move. If you would like to sell your home quickly and for all cash, just contact us today to get started with an evaluation.

 

Have you been considering selling your home but uncertain whether it is the right time? Well, here’s the thing: there will never be a right time. Selling your home is life-changing and entails a variety of factors that need to be considered. However, if you are personally ready to sell, we are here to report that now is the time from a market perspective – selling your home in autumn brings a multitude of benefits. We understand that the decision to sell is not to be taken lightly – but at the same time, we want to encourage you to take advantage of your opportunity today.

Before we get started, let’s talk about why it could be risky to wait. Selling your home in winter can be challenging – families are focused on the holidays and do not want to spend their time managing financial challenges and moving. Instead, they want to be enjoying the time with their loves ones and spending their money on holiday goodies. This fact actually has a dramatic effect on local real estate markets – it means there are fewer buyers, creating less competition for sellers. Ultimately, housing prices decline at this time.

Now that we have examined why it is a bad idea to wait, let’s look at the benefits of selling NOW!

More Serious Buyers

For one, the pool of buyers shrinks in the fall. The summer months tend to bring excitement to individuals who are inspired by the beautiful summer weather. Unfortunately, many of the “potential” buyers during this season tend to be caught in the mood and are not serious buyers. Therefore, when fall begins, the hype ends, and so does the inflated buyer pool. What’s left? Serious buyers ready to make a move.

Less Competition

Selling your home in the fall may not be suitable for all – for those who have families or children returning to school, it may be too difficult to sacrifice that family time in the name of marketing your home and providing the flexibility for open houses. Additionally, many families are already preparing for the holiday season. With these personal obligations to manage, fewer people tend to sell their homes in the fall. How does this help you? With fewer homes available on the market, there is less competition, meaning you can sell your home at maximum value.

On the other hand, selling in autumn may also provide you with extra time to improve the home for increased value. As the kids are back in school, you can spend the days staging for sellers. Some studies indicate that appropriate staging can increase your home’s value by 5%!

Lower Repair Costs

Most homes are not ready for the market immediately after the seller has decided to sell. More often than not, the home has a multitude of repairs that need to be addressed. Fall generally brings better deals on repair tools and discounts on various services (as businesses try to maintain high revenue during an approaching slow season), giving you a reduction in expenses.

Better Time for You to Make Your Transition

After you sell your home, you will need to find a new place to reside. Consider this – as mentioned previously, moving in winter can save you money with reduced-price homes. Therefore, selling in fall can maximize your return by allowing you to sell high and buy low – the lucky trick of all successful real estate professionals!

Then, if you need any repairs, you will benefit from the same discount you found when you were selling your home.

Finally, selling and buying before 2019 may provide you with tax benefits! Consult with your accountant to see how this transition may affect your personally.

Quick Process

With all the above to consider, closing your home and moving into a new one can be expedited if you decide to sell now. As a bonus, some reports have even indicated the homes in Baytown spend fewer days on the market now compared to any other month in the year.

Are You Interested in Selling?

If you answered YES, it is time to get moving. Interest rates are rising, and experts are predicting a continued trend towards a buyer’s market. This means that the optimal time to gain the greatest benefit from selling your home is now.

To get started, contact us and we can complete an in-depth assessment of your home’s value. We can then offer you a competitive price and make the process even simpler. To make it even easier – we provide our clients with all cash offers! Don’t miss out or you may lose money in the future.

When category 4 Hurricane Harvey hit Texas in 2017, no one was prepared for the catastrophic damage it created. Each year, the Texas communities, including Baytown, are provided with storm and hurricane warnings, which leave plenty of uncertainty about the level of damage they may incur. Some years, the effects are minor, creating only small damages to a property, if any at all. However, in other years, such as in 2017 when Hurricane Harvey hit, each individual living in the community was affected, and many were removed from their homes due to the unavoidable fallout.

Hurricane warnings are not to be taken lightly. Let’s look at North Carolina right now as it endures the start of Hurricane Florence. Florence began as a category 1 and was initially considered a mere tropical storm. However, within 24 hours, winds had picked up to 50+ miles per hour and started to travel west. Today, the storm has caused flash flooding on roadways and in homes, and unfortunately, in some cases, it has proven fatal.

When the unpredictability of nature strikes, especially when it comes to hurricanes, it is imperative that each member of the community be prepared – no matter how big or small the storm may seem. With changing events such as those currently affecting North Carolina, the severity of the disaster can never be predicted.

To help protect our community, we have compiled a list of 5 things you can do to prepare for the next hurricane. These are proactive steps that could save you and your home in the future:

1. Install windows and glass doors that are made of impact-resistant glass. These types of windows and doors are more sturdy and the glass is glazed better – this will allow your windows and doors to resist wind pressure and debris. Even if the debris cracks them, they will not fall apart. In the end, this can drastically reduce the damage to the interior of your home.

2. Roof reinforcement is necessary. Check to see if your home is at risk of collapsing during the storm. Ensure that the roof is in pristine condition and properly attached. One of the worst incidents during a storm is a blown down roof. This results in severe interior damage, which becomes exponentially costly.

3. Reinforce your doors. Are your doors made of solid wood or hollow steel? If the answer is yes, then your doors should be able to withstand the pressure of wind and rain during a storm. If your home is not made from one of these two materials then reinforce the door.

4. Double check your insurance policy. A horrific storm can cause severe damage to a home – once the storm passes, this can prove to be a financially burdening incident. Ensuring that your home is properly insured can save you hundreds of thousands of dollars if your home is destroyed. But what exactly should you be looking for? Double check that you are covered for a storm, for wind, and for rain. Also, double check that your policy has no exceptions – these can make or break your recovery in the end.

5. Continue regular maintenance and inspections on your home. Keeping up with your home’s maintenance can ultimately save it when a storm hits. If you already have a broken roof or cracked windows, for example, the likelihood of your home being damaged during a storm increases. Fixing these minor repairs before it’s too late can prevent serious water and wind damage.

Following these simple steps now can help you prepare for your future. Not only can these tips keep your family safe, but they can also save you thousands of dollars. Don’t let the next hurricane destroy your future – Take proactive steps today.

Biggest Challenge: Maintenance

When many individuals read and understand the importance of regular maintenance, they may feel overwhelmed due to the amount of work they see in their futures. Maybe their home is still recovering from the last hurricane, or maybe they didn’t have the financial resources to keep maintenance up.

If this is the case for you, it may be time to sell and move into a new home. Transitioning into a new home can save you the hassle of repairs, and it can also save you money on your insurance policy; a home that has weathered multiple storms will be more expensive to insure than a newly constructed home. This may be the perfect opportunity for you to take that next step and move.

If you would like to learn more, give as a call and we can set you up with one of our qualified specialist.

 

Earlier this week, we posted Part 1 of this article: Common Questions Asked When Selling to an All Cash Buyer: Part 1, but then we realized there were still unanswered questions! Therefore, we have added part two because we wanted to ensure that all aspects of our unique services are outlined. Our goal is that you have a clear understanding of who you are hiring when you choose Gulf State Homebuyers.

We are an all cash home buying company located in Baytown, Texas. After working with hundreds of clients, we have come to realize that one major source of stress for our clients is the status of their home. It is not always as simple as 1, 2, 3. Homes are not always in pristine condition with a perfect title. Challenges arise, and sometimes homeowners face unique barriers specific to their experiences. In the last article, we explained that we purchase homes that still have tenants, backed taxes, or HOA fees. But those aren’t all the homes we buy.

1 – We buy pre-foreclosed homes. If a homeowner is about to lose their home to the foreclosure process, we can offer a competitive price that helps avoid foreclosure. When someone is facing a foreclosure, it is because they are past due on their mortgage. Therefore, the bank will be “taking over” the home. The unfortunate aspect to this situation is that the homeowner loses all funds in the process. Additionally, their credit is heavily impacted, which adds to the difficulty of renting or purchasing a new home in the future. Selling to avoid foreclosure can prevent these issues from happening.  You can also check out our “Avoid Foreclosure” page to see more info on this.

2 – We buy inherited homes and we handle the paperwork. Those who inherit homes often feel understandably overwhelmed by the sudden and massive responsibility. Often, these homes are in poor condition and require extensive repairs. The whole process can be a daunting undertaking, especially for those who have no real estate experience. That is why we make the process quick and easy – we can provide the evaluation and handle all paperwork associated with the transaction. This even means dealing with the title company. Reduce your stress, give us the responsibility, and worry about getting your check.  You can check out more information about inherited properties and how to sell your inherited home by clicking the link.

3- We buy homes that were flooded. Following Hurricane Harvey, thousands of homes were affected – whether they weathered minor damages or were fully destroyed. Homeowners in the area were left with the financial burden of repairing their flooded homes. If you were a victim of this disaster, we can help. We specialize in purchasing damaged homes, including those that were flooded. We provide a fair assessment of the home’s value and purchase the home “as-is.” This removes the financial burden from you and helps you transition to your next home.

Don’t forget – we can close in as little as 7 days. Depending on your situation, you may want to get out quickly. Many of our clients have taken advantage of this ability to close quickly, especially those who were:

• Dealing with a damaged home and wanted to avoid the repairs.
• Going through a divorce and looking to cut ties quickly.
• Transferred due to employment and needed to move as soon as possible.
• Inherited a home and did not want the responsibility or hassle.
• Experiencing bad tenants and wanted to pass the responsibility onto someone else.
• Suffering financial difficulty.
• Facing foreclosure.
• Unable to pay taxes.
• Experiencing a death in the family.

These are just a few reasons you may want to close quickly. Your situation may be unique, but you may still be looking for a common solution. That is why, no matter the reason, we offer you the ability to sell your home in as little as 7 days.

For more information, you can visit our YouTube Channel. On our YouTube channel, you can find personalized videos to answer all your questions, including What Kind Of Houses We Buy, Details About How We Buy Flooded Homes, What Our Process Is, Why We Are The Best, as well as multiple client testimonials by Joe Turner, Michael Fisher, and Samantha Odom – all satisfied customers.

If you are struggling to take that next step and need a simple solution, we are here for you. We provide you with a free assessment of your home’s value, make a competitive offer, and offer an easy process in the transaction. As mentioned in Part 1 of this article, we cover all closing costs. Just contact us today and we can get started or you can simply fill the form out below.