Finding and purchasing a home that will meet your needs now and in the years to come is a significant and often stressful time. At Coldwell Banker® Ana Ochoa & Company our goal is to make this transition as smooth as possible. Here are some tips that you may follow to make the search of finding your dream home seamless. Getting Started  Before you start looking for a home you should ask yourself a few questions:
 Where do you want to live? Do you want to be close to schools, shopping or work?
What kind of house would you like (need)? Are you looking for a particular style? How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you want? Do you want a yard?
How much house can you afford? Have you consulted a Realtor or mortgage lender to determine the size of the mortgage you would qualify for?
Here are a few tips to help you get organized:
Pull a credit report on yourself and make sure the information is accurate. If you find any errors take steps to correct them immediately.
Browse through real estate advertisements in the newspaper and here on ColdwellBankerLaredo.com. This will give you a good feel for the types of homes that are on the market and what they cost.
Visit open houses on the weekend. It doesn't cost anything to look, and looking at a few different homes might give you ideas for things you'd like in a house but haven't considered.
Start saving money - you'll need to have cash on hand for a down payment and closing costs.
Don't incur any additional debt. Pay down your credit cards - and don't apply for any new ones. Don't make any major purchases on credit - buy the furniture or car later.
Contact a Coldwell Banker Sales Associate. Your Realtor can help you determine how much you can afford, and they can provide you with information on homes that may interest you. The Sales Associate will also help you complete all of the necessary forms when it comes time to make an offer.
How much house can you afford? Simply put, you can afford a house that costs as much as the largest monthly mortgage payment you qualify for. A quick way to estimate the size of mortgage you qualify for is to take your gross monthly income (that's before taxes and other deductions) and multiply it by .28. This works out to just over 1/4 of your gross income. Mortgage companies use something called qualifying ratios to determine how much they will lend you. Most mortgage companies use either a 28/36 ratio or a 25/33 ratio. The first number in each pair is the percentage of your gross income that the lender would consider acceptable as a monthly mortgage payment (i.e. if you make $3,000 per month, 28% of that is $840 per month). The second number in each pair is used when all debt payments are considered, not just the mortgage. (i.e. if you make $3,000 per month, but also have a $250 a month car payment, 36% of $3,000 is $1,080, minus the $250 car payment equals $830). As you can see, in this example the numbers work out to be almost the same. Obviously if you have more debt you would qualify for less.
Note: If an income or expense field does not apply to you, please leave it blank. All dollar figures should be entered in a monthly time period (i.e. if you earn $48,000 a year, place 4000 in the Salary field). This utility will give you an estimated mortgage payment you will qualify for. Note: The purpose of this information is to serve as a useful guide. For more exact, personalized information, please contact a certified mortgage representative. Why you should work with a Realtor®  Working with a professional Realtor to buy your home is a good idea for several reasons:
They will analyze your financial situation to help you determine how much you can afford.
They are familiar with the process of buying a home and can explain things to you.
They can easily access information on all properties listed for sale by Realtors in your area.
They can set up appointments for you to see homes that interest you.
They will help you complete all the necessary paperwork when it comes time to make an offer.
They will help you arrange financing.
They will be there at closing to answer your questions and make sure everything runs smooth. Choosing a Realtor® Searching for your dream home can be a time-consuming experience. Working with a professional Realtor will make the process much more efficient.
Since most people spend a fair amount of time with their Realtor, it's important to choose a Realtor you feel comfortable with, and one who is responsive to your needs. The following questions will help you decide if a particular Realtor is right for you:
Do they return your phone calls?
Do they ask you questions to determine what you want/need in a house?
Do they perform a financial analysis to help you determine how much you can afford?
Do they explain things clearly?
Do they suggest financing methods?
Do they seem knowledgeable about the community?
Do you feel comfortable spending time with them?
For further information please call (956) 722-4822 
Your home is unique, and so are you. A cookie cutter approach just won't get you the best results. Instead, your Coldwell Banker® Ana Ochoa & Company professional will design a unique custom plan to market your home, one that combines a personal wealth of experience, information, ideas, connections and creativity with the powerful resources of Coldwell Banker. Five Topics to Discuss With Your Real Estate Agent When Selling Your Home Thinking of selling your home? Before you place the "For Sale" sign in front of your house, there are a few things you should consider in order to maximize your home value and make the sales process smooth and efficient. Be prepared to discuss the following subjects with your real estate agent when you're ready to sell your home and you'll be one step ahead in the market. 1) Best Time of Year to Put Your House on the Market
Conventional wisdom dictates that spring is the best time for selling a home. The weather is getting warmer, the school year is coming to an end, and people who have just received their tax refunds may now have extra cash to use for a down payment on a home. However, since not everyone can sell a home in the spring, here are some other seasonal factors to consider. According to annual home sale data from the National Association of Realtors, the slowest selling months of the year are typically January and February, since fewer home sales occur during the holidays. In spite of this, with less competition in the marketplace, you may be able to ask for a higher price for your home, or a quicker closing. Additionally, temperate locations like Florida and California don't see the seasonal fluctuations in the housing market, where house-hunters are almost always looking. And a late winter or early spring in the Northeast may extend the typical "selling season." These seasonal variations, as well as a variety of local factors, will all influence the housing market in your area. Be sure to talk to your real estate agent regarding the current state of the market and how it will affect the sale of your home. 2) Open House Strategy and How to De-Clutter
At an open house, first impressions count, so you'll want to enhance your home's perceived value. Make your home inviting by taking care of bothersome minor repairs; clean bathroom and kitchen counters and clear them of dishes and clutter. Arrange storage areas neatly and put unused items in a closet. If you have pets, consider having a neighbor watch them for the duration of the open house. It's a good idea for you to be absent during the open house, also. If you must be present, let your agent do the talking. Decorate your home to sell by arranging the furniture to look as spacious as possible. Add color and fragrance to any room with fresh flowers. Lastly, don't forget the outside of your home. Put away all gardening equipment and neatly arrange outdoor items like firewood or furniture. Even take a hard look at your mailbox and make sure it reflects the value and character of your home. 3) Features to Accentuate
While you may have long determined which aspects of your home you love, having a fresh set of eyes assess its best features is a smart idea. If you're considering selling your home, take the time to walk through it methodically with your real estate agent. Together you can determine which features of the home should be accentuated. Does your home have a wonderful view? Make the most of it by sprucing up window treatments and arranging furniture to draw the eye toward the windows. Perhaps the location of your house is truly incredible. Your real estate agent can help accentuate this feature in sales and marketing materials. 4) Desired Price and Bottom Line Price
It's great to shoot high, but when determining your home value, it's also important to identify your bottom line. By assessing recent home sale statistics in your area, your real estate agent can recommend an appropriate target price range. Working with your agent, you can set an initial asking price, as well as privately determine the absolute lowest price you would comfortably accept for selling your home. By crunching the numbers and setting parameters early on, you can avoid emotional roller coasters during the process of receiving, countering and accepting offers. 5) Disclosures
When selling your home, you may be obligated to disclose problems that could affect the property's value or desirability. In most states, it is illegal to fraudulently conceal major physical defects in your property, such as a basement that floods in heavy rains. And many states now require sellers to take a proactive role by making written disclosures on the condition of the property. Ask your real estate agent for the particular laws of your state. What Coldwell Banker Ana Ochoa & Company Sales Associates Can Do For You
Not only does an experienced Realtor® offer expert guidance and emotional support through difficult decisions during the home selling process, but he or she also possesses an uncanny grasp of market dynamics. This includes knowledge of critical issues that may arise along the way.
Through Coldwell Banker's name recognition on national, regional, and local levels, our company has unique access to buyers entering the market. We position properties according to today's market, pricing them to sell and staging homes before putting them on the market. Our listings are on local, regional, and national websites such as trulia.com and frontdoor.com. When you list your home with a Coldwell Banker agent, we back our services by a Seller Services Guarantee, in writing. | 