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Tips for selling your home safely during the COVID-19 pandemic

Tips for selling your home safely during the COVID-19 pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic has brought much of the country to a screeching halt. But, just because people are stuck at home doesn’t mean your home sale has to come to a screeching halt, too. You can sell your home in the midst of this challenging time — as long as you’re safe.

A recent article from realtor.com outlined steps homeowners should take to sell their home safely during the COVID-19 crisis, including:

  • Embrace virtual showings. You don’t need a bunch of potential buyers walking in and out of your house; it’s not safe for you or them. Instead, have your real estate agent vet buyers and give them virtual tours of your home.
  • Practice safety measures for in-person showings. If your real estate agent has a buyer who they’ve vetted and is extremely interested in the property, they may want to see your home in person. Before you allow anyone in your home, make sure to thoroughly clean and disinfect all surfaces to protect potential buyers — and then make sure to do the same after the in-person tour to protect yourself and your family.
  • If possible, close remotely. Many states have remote notaries and many lenders offer fully virtual closings. Do your research and see if you can close your home sale remotely to avoid any unnecessary contact.

The coronavirus pandemic is changing the way people buy and sell homes. But with the right safety measures, there’s no reason it has to derail your home sale!

Filed Under: Tips for Home Sellers Tagged With: ,

Sheltering in place leads to desire for more space

Sheltering in place leads to desire for more space

The shelter in place orders that have been in effect for weeks across the country have many people spending more time at home than ever before.

And after spending so much time in their homes, many of them are noticing what they don’t like about their current space — and what they’re looking for in a new home. A new survey from realtor.com asked people what they considered must-have features for their next home after sheltering in place. And, unsurprisingly, many of them had to do with space.

Some of the most common must-haves on buyers’ post-quarantine wishlist include:

  • More space (16 percent)
  • More/better outdoor space (14 percent)
  • Separation from neighbors (10 percent)
  • More bedrooms (9 percent)

So if stay-at-home orders are making you realize you’re ready for a new space (and more space), you’re not alone — and you’re not stuck. Thanks to virtual tours and closings, home sales are still happening in the midst of the coronavirus—so get in touch with your real estate agent and start looking for the space you need.

Filed Under: Market Trends

The economic impact of buying a home

Economic impact of buying a home

We’re in a changing real estate market, and life, in general, is changing too — from how we grocery shop and meal prep to the ways we can interact with our friends and neighbors. Even practices for engaging with agents, lenders, and all of the players involved in a real estate transaction are changing to a virtual format. What isn’t changing, however, is one key thing that can drive the local economy: buying a home.

If you’re in a position to buy a home today, know that you’re a major economic force in your neighborhood. And while we all wait patiently for the current pandemic to pass, there are a lot of things you can do in the meantime to keep your home search on track.

Every year the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shares a report that notes the full economic impact of home sales. This report summarizes:Continue Reading

Filed Under: Home Ownership Tagged With:

5 financial benefits to owning your home instead of renting

Owning will always be better than renting

Owning a home has great financial benefits.

In a recent research paper titled “Homeownership and the American Dream,” Laurie S. Goodman and Christopher Mayer of the Urban Land Institute explained:

“Homeownership appears to help borrowers accumulate housing and non-housing wealth in a variety of ways, with tax advantages, greater financial flexibility due to secured borrowing, built-in ‘default’ savings with mortgage amortization and nominally fixed payments, and the potential to lower home maintenance costs through sweat equity.”

Let’s break down five major financial benefits of homeownership:

1. Housing Is Typically the One Leveraged Investment Available

Homeownership allows households to amplify any appreciation on the value of their homes by a leverage factor. A 20% down payment results in a leverage factor of five, meaning every percentage point rise in the value of your home is a 5% return on your equity. If you put down 10%, your leverage factor is 10.

Example: Let’s assume you purchased a $300,000 home and put down $60,000 (20%). If the house appreciates by $30,000, that is not only a 10% increase in value but a 50% increase in equity.Continue Reading

Filed Under: Tips for Home Buyers, Home Ownership Tagged With: ,

The right photos can make or break your home sale

Preparing your home for photographs

There’s a lot that goes into successfully selling your home, from listing at the right time to hiring the right agent. But there’s one asset you might not have thought of that can make or break your home sale — and that’s the right photos.

A recent article in the Washington Post explored the importance of photos in the home selling process, and the results were astounding.

The article, which examined data from various real estate sources (including the National Association of Realtors®, Trulia, Redfin, and real estate photography company VHT), found that 87 percent of buyers relied on photos to help them make a decision on a home, and 84 percent of buyers wouldn’t even consider a property that didn’t have listing photos.

While any photos are better than no photos at all, the most benefit comes from professional home photos; professionally photographed homes sell 32 percent faster — and demand as much as 47 percent higher asking price per square foot — than listings without professional photos.

In summary, If you’ve been thinking about listing your home, photos are a non-negotiable. And if you want your home to sell quickly (and profitably!), you should definitely consider hiring a Realtor® (like Russ Fortuno) who always uses a professional photographer to capture the perfect shots.

Filed Under: Tips for Home Sellers

Want to build wealth? Buy a home — and buy it early

Want To Build Wealth? Buy A Home—And Buy It Early

It’s safe to assume that pretty much everyone wants to build wealth — and continue to build wealth throughout their life. But how, exactly, do you do that? According to the data, you build wealth by buying real estate — and buying it early.

According to a report from the Urban Institute, homeowners who purchase property early build more wealth by their sixties than homeowners who wait until later in life to buy a home. The homeowners who get the most bang for their buck? Those who purchase their home between the ages of 25 and 34.

By age 60 or 61, these homeowners have a median home equity of close to $150,000, which is $72,000 more than homeowners who purchase property between the ages of 35 and 44 and a whopping $100,000 more than homeowners who wait to buy real estate until after the age of 45.

In summary, the earlier in life you buy a home, the more wealth you’ll have accumulated by the time you’re ready to retire. And no matter how old you are today, it’s never too late to start building wealth. So if you’ve been thinking about purchasing a home, there’s no better time than right now.

Filed Under: Tips for Home Buyers, Home Ownership Tagged With:

Now or Later? When is the best time to sell for you?

Now or Later? When is the best time to sell for you?

When it comes to selling your home, you want to make sure you list and sell at the right time. But the “right time” can vary from person to person. So how, exactly, do you know the best time to sell for you? In a recent video, the team at Realtor.com explained five key factors to consider when determining the best time to sell, including:

  • Getting ahead of the competition. While many home sellers in Quail Creek think January through March is the best time to sell, listing your home from in the Summer and Fall can help you get ahead of the competition — and help your home stand out to buyers. And, since the best time to sell in other parts of the country is usually Spring and Summer, many buyers relocating from cooler climates are typically shopping for homes here during the Summer months.
  • Your local market. Obviously, there are national trends in the real estate market that you want to pay attention to — but not all areas follow those national trends. Before you decide to list your home, make sure you dig deep into what’s going on with the local Quail Creek market, and how those conditions might impact your home sale.
  • Mortgage rate trends. When mortgage rates drop, more buyers hit the market. So keeping an eye on interest rates can help you anticipate when more people might be looking to buy, and you can use that information to determine the best time to sell.
  • The condition of your home. Making minor repairs before you list your home can make a huge difference on how fast (and how profitably) you sell. So before you list your home, make sure to take stock of any potential issues and make any necessary repairs.
  • Personal preparedness. The only person who can determine the best time to sell your home is YOU—so before you put your home on the market, make sure you’re ready and it’s an ideal time in your life for you to make a move.

So when it comes to sell your home, there’s no right or wrong answers or “perfect” time to sell. But these factors can help you determine the best time to sell for you, your family, your home, and your life.

Filed Under: Tips for Home Sellers

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Russ Fortuno, Associate Broker

I'm a Southern Arizona native and Quail Creek resident. Whether you’re buying or selling a home in Quail Creek, you’ll experience unsurpassed service and professionalism at all stages of your real estate transaction. I welcome the opportunity to assist in your next home sale or purchase.
Meet Russ

Tierra Antigua Realty

18745 S. I-19 Frontage Rd., Ste. A105
Green Valley, AZ 85614
(520) 333-0446
Contact Russ