Tag: Real Estate

September 16, 2021

Keep Your Personal Information Protected

Do you know how to tell if cyber criminals have gone “phishing” for your personal information? Learn to spot the red flags of a suspicious email so the identity thieves never get their big catch! Below are some tips for identifying fake emails so you can click with confidence and keep your personal information protected. Remember these best practices whenever you run through your inbox!

By the way… if there is any way we can be of service to you or your family, please call us. We’re happy to help you however we can.

Mario and Angelina Perales

June 15, 2021

The Benefits of Estate Planning

Whether you’re starting a family or celebrating your first grandchild, it’s important to plan ahead. While you may not be thinking about it just yet, wouldn’t you want to know that those loved ones would be taken care of if you weren’t around? That’s where building an estate plan can help. This month’s eReport explains a few reasons why setting up a will or estate plan now is so beneficial, even if you’re just starting your family journey. You’ll also learn what to double check in your will to make sure your wishes are carried out exactly how you want. Preparing for the future now will grant you more peace of mind down the line!

By the way… if there is any way we can be of service to you or your family, please call us. We’re happy to help you however we can.

Mario and Angelina Perales

January 20, 2021

2021 Real Estate Market Snapshot

This past year was filled with twists and turns that no one could have predicted. It wasn’t always easy, but now that we have entered into 2021, it’s time to shift our focus toward a brighter future.

If the economic uncertainty of 2020 had you concerned, We’re here to bring some peace-of-mind for 2021 when it comes to the housing market. The information below provides a well-rounded snapshot of the real estate market today, while noting a few trends to watch as the year unfolds. We’re also including a short quiz to help you figure out if now is the right time for your family to make a move, especially if your needs have changed since last year.

Hopefully this piece provides you with clarity on the market, so you can better prepare for 2021. Don’t hesitate to call us with any questions about the latest trends! Remember, real estate is still local — We’re happy to shed some light on how our area’s market is looking this year.

By the way… if there is any way we can be of service to you or your family, please call us. We’re happy to help you however we can.

Mario and Angelina Perales

August 26, 2020

Create The Home Office Of Your Dreams

Whether you work full-time at home or occasionally need to conduct business in the evenings or on the weekends, a home office a great way to utilize an extra room. A dedicated workspace in your home can be designed to increase productivity and comfort. Here are 5 ideas to get you started.

Invest in a good office chair. Investing in an ergonomic office chair is essential. You may be spending anywhere from 30 to 50 hours a week sitting in it, so your back will thank you. Purchasing one with multiple adjustments is ideal so it fits you just right.
Switch up your lighting. Fluorescent lighting has been proven to be hard on the eyes. Make the switch to LED or halogen light bulbs in your home office and try to let in as much natural light as possible. Also, consider finding a desk lamp to reduce headaches and eye strain.
Keep essentials in reach and organized. Nothing says productivity like a clean, neat workspace. Select a desk with a lot of storage or install creative shelving to keep items like pens, pencils, extra batteries, calculators, notepads, and more stored within arm’s reach.
Decorate bright. Pick a color you love and use it to spice up the room. Use cheery yellow or red or relaxing tones like green and blue, instead of beiges and browns.
Aim for the view. If possible, place your desk so you are facing a window instead of a blank wall. Natural light can do wonders for staying alert and you can give yourself a short mental break when necessary by looking to the outdoors.

Call or message us if there is anything we can ever do for you. We would be happy to help.

Mario and Angelina Perales

July 29, 2020

Getting back to normal. Kind of…

I hope you and your family are staying healthy and safe. For us it’s been a rough few months with Mario’s mom getting sick and passing away on May 30th. Our kids all came home in May to be with their grandma and ended up staying till just last week. It was great having them here with us and much needed during such a hard time. Now that they have went home, we are slowly getting back to a sense of normalcy with daily life. The new normal anyways. Still hoping things begin to open up more, especially dine-in eating. It feels like forever since we have been to a nice restaurant. One thing that is almost back to normal is the real estate market. Below is some information on how things are shaping up around the country with three of the latest reports showing how strong the housing market is.

The residential real estate market is remaining resilient as the country still struggles to beat the COVID-19 pandemic. Three separate reports recently revealed how the housing market is still showing growth. Here’s a look at each one.

1. Ivy Zelman’s Real Estate Broker Survey

The survey explains that purchaser demand remains strong:

“This month’s overall homebuyer demand rating…was easily the strongest sequential gain in our survey history…Strength continues to be led by the entry-level…While high-end demand is less robust in an absolute sense, there has also been relative improvement, with contacts attributing incremental improvement to the stock market’s rebound, record low mortgage rates and luxury customers trading out of high-priced cities.”

2. The National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index

The index reveals that builder confidence has returned to levels last seen prior to the pandemic:

“In a strong signal that the housing market is ready to lead a post-COVID economic recovery, builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes jumped 14 points to 72 in July, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). The HMI now stands at the solid pre-pandemic reading in March before the outbreak affected much of the nation.”

3. The realtor.com Housing Market Recovery Index

This index leverages a weighted average of four key components of the housing industry, tracking each of the following:

Housing Demand – Growth in online search activity
Home Price – Growth in asking prices
Housing Supply – Growth of new listings
Pace of Sales – Difference in time-on-market

It then compares the current status “to the last week of January 2020 market trend, as a baseline for pre-COVID market growth. The overall index is set to 100 in this baseline period. The higher a market’s index value, the higher its recovery and vice versa.”

The latest results came in at 101, with realtor.com explaining:

“The U.S. Housing Market has recovered from the immediate disruption caused by the COVID pandemic and returned to January 2020 growth levels.”

Bottom Line

Real estate brokers, home builders, and industry data all agree that the housing market has surged back to pre-COVID levels, showing growth, strength, and incredible resilience.

Call or message us if there is anything we can ever do for you. We would be happy to help.

Mario and Angelina Perales

May 19, 2020

Buying or Selling a Home? You Need an Expert Kind of Guide

In a normal housing market, whether you’re buying or selling a home, you need an experienced guide to help you navigate through the process. You need someone you can turn to who will tell you how to price your home correctly right from the start. You need someone who can help you determine what to offer on your dream home without paying too much or offending the seller with a low-ball offer.

We are, however, in anything but a normal market right now. We are amid one of the greatest health crises our nation has ever seen. The pandemic has had a dramatic impact on the journey consumers take to purchase or sell a home. To successfully navigate the landscape today, you need more than an experienced guide. You need a ‘Real Estate Sherpa.’

According to Lexico, a Sherpa is a “member of a Himalayan people living on the borders of Nepal and Tibet, renowned for their skill in mountaineering.” Sherpas are skilled in leading their parties through the extreme altitudes of the peaks and passes in the region – some of the most treacherous trails in the world. They take pride in their hardiness, expertise, and experience at very high altitudes.

They are much more than just guides.

This is much more than a normal real estate market.

Today, the average guide just won’t do. You need a Sherpa. You need an expert who understands how COVID-19 is impacting the thoughts and actions of the consumer (ex: virtual showings, proper safety protocols, e-signing documents). You need someone who can simply and effectively explain the changes in today’s process to you and your family. You need an expert who will guarantee you make the right decision, especially in these challenging times.

Bottom Line

Hiring an agent who understands how the pandemic is reshaping the real estate processes is crucial right now. Let’s connect today to guarantee your journey is a safe and successful one.

Call or message us if there is anything we can ever do for you. We would be happy to help.

Mario and Angelina Perales