Blog - Debbie Marett

Buying

Should You Buy or Rent a Home?

In today’s competitive real estate market, you may wonder if it’s better to rent a place or buy a home. Purchasing a residence can provide more privacy and future investment potential, while renting allows for more flexibility and less maintenance. Both options have a myriad of pros and cons, but it ultimately will depend on […]
Home Improvement

Interesting how color can influence the human brain in a number of ways.

Color can influence the human brain in a number of ways Stagers typically recommend painting homes in neutral colors like beige or gray to appeal to more buyers. But that advice isn’t always true. Science has proven that up to 90% of homebuying decisions are influenced by color, which can have a greater impact on […]
Uncategorized

Understanding Title Insurance

Title companies are nothing new in the real estate industry. But do you understand their function and how vital they are to you? Title insurance is the inverse of other insurance coverages. Instead of assuming risk, title insurance companies eliminate the risk with a one-time payment, assuring the homeowner maintains the title as owner of […]
Home Improvement

Drought Causing Foundation Problems and What to do About it

Shared from an inspectors point of view on water or lack there of in a foundation and it’s health. Desiccation Cracks – my mud is cracking! Texas is hot and dry and as we are moving into September, we are seeing more and more desiccation cracks, which means that the soil itself is starting to […]

Buying Should You Buy or Rent a Home? In today’s competitive real estate market, you may wonder if it’s better to rent a place or buy a home. Purchasing a residence can provide more privacy and future investment potential, while renting allows for more flexibility and less maintenance. Both options have a myriad of pros and cons, but it ultimately will depend on […]

Home Improvement Interesting how color can influence the human brain in a number of ways. Color can influence the human brain in a number of ways Stagers typically recommend painting homes in neutral colors like beige or gray to appeal to more buyers. But that advice isn’t always true. Science has proven that up to 90% of homebuying decisions are influenced by color, which can have a greater impact on […]

Uncategorized Understanding Title Insurance Title companies are nothing new in the real estate industry. But do you understand their function and how vital they are to you? Title insurance is the inverse of other insurance coverages. Instead of assuming risk, title insurance companies eliminate the risk with a one-time payment, assuring the homeowner maintains the title as owner of […]

Home Improvement Drought Causing Foundation Problems and What to do About it Shared from an inspectors point of view on water or lack there of in a foundation and it’s health. Desiccation Cracks – my mud is cracking! Texas is hot and dry and as we are moving into September, we are seeing more and more desiccation cracks, which means that the soil itself is starting to […]

Newsletters August Real Estate News August 2023 https://www.debbiemarett.com/media/id/19585977/

Buying Important Tip when Applying for a Mortgage Shared by a local lender who takes great care of their clients!! Go to www.optoutprescreen.com before pulling your credit. The reason is so that you might be inundated with phone calls, texts, and emails from every mortgage company on the planet when pulling your credit. If you forget to do this FIRST, it cannot be […]

Market Info Mortgage Rates Dip Back Down July 20, 2023 The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) dropped from last week’s average of 6.96% to an average of 6.78% this week, according to the latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) from Freddie Mac released Thursday. This week’s numbers: 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.78% as of July 6, 2023, up from last week when it averaged 6.96%. […]

Market Info Existing-Home Sales Fall 3.3% In June In keeping with the challenges of low inventory and high home prices, existing-home sales fell 3.3% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.16 million in June, according to the National Association of REALTORS®’ (NAR) most recent existing-home sales report. NAR’s latest data on existing homes found that year-over-year, sales fell 18.9% (down from 5.13 […]

Market Info 4 Reasons Not To Always Believe Online House-Value Estimtes Prospective homebuyers often check national brokerages online for information. It’s logical to see houses for sale with list prices. But what about the ones that are not for sale? We all look at them, as almost every house has an estimated value. But it would be good to know why the ‘what-they’re-worth’ prices listed should […]

Selling First Impressions Matter – Get Your Home Market Ready If you are considering selling your home, there are several things you can do now to make the best first impression on potential buyers. Taking the time to declutter, deep clean and make simple repairs will show buyers that your house and property are well-maintained and ready for a new owner. Increase Curb Appeal A […]

Buying Do You Need Down Payment Assistance? You may be surprised to know that many of the homes listed in the MLS are eligible for a number of assistance programs to help you get into a home! But if you are not sure on a particular property and just need to know what might be available, you can search on your own […]

Uncategorized Are you Putting your Faith in Zestimate? Excerpts from Inman Article Admit it, you have Googled your property address or gone to Zillow to see how much your home is worth. Haven’t we all? Everyone probably has checked online to see what the online AVMs (automated valuation models) say their home might be worth at one time or another. It may be […]

Buying Congratulations! You’ve Found a Home Congratulations! You have applied for a mortgage, are pre qualified and found a home to buy ! You’re undoubtedly excited about the opportunity to decorate your new home, but before you make any large purchases, move your money around, or make any big-time life changes, consult your loan officer – someone who will be able […]

Market Info The worst thing clients can do presently is wait to see if rates dip. Market Update with Mark Sprague Summer 2023 By Mark Sprague, State Director of Information Capital Independence Title The market had hoped that moderating inflation would have a positive impact on rates by the middle of this year. Not going to happen. Not happening for the rest of the year. While inflation has shrunk / slowed, […]

Buying 5 Powerful Reasons to Own Instead of Rent 5 Powerful Reasons to Own Instead of Rent Owning a home has great financial benefits. In a recent research paper, 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 nonhousing wealth in a variety of ways, with tax advantages, greater […]

Buying Things to Avoid After Applying for a Mortgage Congratulations! You’ve found a home to buy and have applied for a mortgage! You’re undoubtedly excited about the opportunity to decorate your new home, but before you make any large purchases, move your money around, or make any big-time life changes, consult your loan officer – someone who will be able to tell you how […]

Home Improvement 5 Things New Homeowners Waste Money On Becoming a homeowner is an exciting milestone, but it also comes with financial responsibilities. While it’s natural to invest in your new space, it’s important to spend wisely and avoid unnecessary expenses. Unfortunately, many new homeowners fall into common traps and end up wasting their hard-earned money on things that don’t add much value or […]

Market Info Mid-Year Market Update The real estate industry is an ever-changing landscape where the future is difficult to predict. Whether you are a potential homebuyer, seller, or investor, staying informed about the latest developments is crucial for making informed decisions. Below are a few of the latest trends in the market as well as some predictions for the rest […]

Market Info Why the Median Home Price Is Meaningless in Today’s Market The National Association of Realtors (NAR) will release its latest Existing Home Sales (EHS) report later this week. This monthly report provides information on the sales volume and price trend for previously owned homes. In the upcoming release, it’ll likely say home prices are down. This may feel a bit confusing, especially if you’ve been following along and seeing the blogs […]

Selling Should You Reduce Your Listing Price after Two Weeks in the Current Market, or Is That Too Soon? Over the past few years, homeowners have gotten used to the idea that pretty much every house sells quickly and for over the asking price. Houses were selling in such record time that most sellers never even had to consider the thought of reducing their price. But the market has changed recently, due in large part to […]