Would You Pay Over Appraised Value?

With increasing demand and lower inventory I continue to see multiple offer situations which inevitably leads to the concern of paying over appraised value.  Would you do it?  Should you do it?

Prices are on the way up on a record pace and driving those prices are buyers willing to pay top dollar for real estate.  Some buyers will go as far as giving the seller asking price, above asking price and even above appraised value.  This is becoming all to common, but would you do this?

I come across this issue all the time and this is the way I like to present it to my clients.  Every client is different so there is not a single solution answer.  The biggest factor to determine if you would do this is your the buyer.  Can you do this?  Do you have the funds to pay the difference between the appraised value and proposed sales price if the lender won’t pay it?

These answers are different for each buyer, especially if they are an investor or going to be using the home as their primary residence.  For investors they are more about the figures, getting a good deal and maybe getting a property below market.  Also what is their ROI?  (Return on investment)  Usually paying over appraised value may not always make sense to them, keep in mind they tend to be less emotionally tied to the property.

On the other hand a person who will actually live at the property may have a different mindset.  They are willing to pay more since they will enjoy it for many years to come.  Maybe they are in a time crunch and have to move.  Or there are other factors like schools, location, etc… that make it worth it to that individual to pay the additional funds.

Every scenario is different but you have to evaluate where you stand, can you do it and also be sure to draw a line in the sand as well.  Set a limit because the last thing you want to do is have regrets after the sale.

With the heart of a teacher I strive to educate my clients so they can be better informed.  I strongly believe an informed consumer makes better decisions and are less likely to be taken advantage of.

Have questions about this or other topics, don not hesitate to contact me.

Don’t forget to “LIKE” this video and be sure to Subscribe to my YouTube Channel as well.

Luis Cuevas, Realtor®

RE/MAX Cross Country

1990 Justin Road

Highland Village, Texas 75077

(214) 783-0535

Luis@MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Check out my website for more helpful tips:

http://MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel:

http://Youtube.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Follow me on Facebook:

http://Facebook.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

What Is Mortgage Insurance? | Luis Cuevas Realtor® | RE/MAX Cross Country

Often confused is the term mortgage insurance.  Many people think it is an insurance that pays off your mortgage if you die?  Others think it is an insurance that makes your mortgage payment if you are out of work?  The reality is neither of these are the case.  So what is mortgage insurance?

Mortgage insurance is that monthly payment that is sneaked in to your mortgage every month.  It isn’t home insurance, taxes or going to pay the loan… so then what is it?  

Mortgage insurance is an insurance that you pay for that protects the lender in case you get foreclosed on, which helps them recuperate their money.  Let’s break that down.  The insurance pays the lender if after they have to sell the home they are still short what they were owed.  So this product protects the lender and not you.

Mortgage insurance is required when you are financing more than 80% of the value of the property your are purchasing.  20% is the cushion the lender feels comfortable issuing a loan with out this insurance.  However if you finance more than 80% that is how you end up with the mortgage insurance.

How do you avoid paying it, well put 20% down or get two loans one for 80% & the other for 20%.  Sure there are pros and cons to this but this would help you avoid it all together.

Again just know this is a normal insurance I see all the time, it is just a byproduct of not putting a big down payment.  If you go to purchase a home putting a large down payment is an incentive to the lender and you so this isn’t having to be paid because otherwise it is a waste of money to you.

With the heart of a teacher I strive to educate my clients so they can be better informed.  I strongly believe an informed consumer makes better decisions and are less likely to be taken advantage of.

Have questions about this or other topics, don not hesitate to contact me.

Don’t forget to “LIKE” this video and be sure to Subscribe to my YouTube Channel as well.

Luis Cuevas, Realtor®

RE/MAX Cross Country

1990 Justin Road

Highland Village, Texas 75077

(214) 783-0535

Luis@MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Check out my website for more helpful tips:

http://MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel:

http://Youtube.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Follow me on Facebook:

http://Facebook.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Agents Cannot Tell You This

As a real estate agent and Realtor® my job is to give you as much information as possible for you the client to make a good decision on.  However often I am asked for my opinion on some things that I just can’t really give.  Why?  Steering

Let me explain.  I often get asked “Is This A Safe Neighborhood?”  “Is this a good school?”  Those would be easy questions to most however in my shoes I can’t really answer those questions.  Steering is when you steer someone in a certain direction… which there are many ways to do that.  Giving my opinion whether positive or negative on such a question can be considered steering.

Instead what can I do?  I can point you in the right direction to get information on the question you have.  Maybe point you to a website where you can get all the crime stats for the city or neighborhood.  Get you in contact with the school district or even the set up a tour of the schools you want more information on.  This will provide you with more information so that you can make that judgement call.

Asking a real estate agent these questions is like a woman asking you if she looks good in a certain outfit… I am not sure there is a correct answer.  LOL.

With the heart of a teacher I strive to educate my clients so they can be better informed.  I strongly believe an informed consumer makes better decisions and are less likely to be taken advantage of.

Have questions about this or other topics, don not hesitate to contact me.

Don’t forget to “LIKE” this video and be sure to Subscribe to my YouTube Channel as well.

Luis Cuevas, Realtor®

RE/MAX Cross Country

1990 Justin Road

Highland Village, Texas 75077

(214) 783-0535

Luis@MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Check out my website for more helpful tips:

http://MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel:

http://Youtube.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Follow me on Facebook:

http://Facebook.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

How Rising Interest Rates Affect You | Luis Cuevas Realtor® | RE/MAX Cross Country

Rising interest rates are becoming a reality but how do the rise in interest rates affect you if you are buying a home?  The reality is the economy is strong, unemployment is low and consumer confidence in their jobs is high, which equals a strong buyer demand for housing and mortgages.  Add the fact interest rates have been at historical lows for several years now and you can only expect to see rates begin to rise.

So what does that actually mean to you when you are thinking about purchasing a home?  Lets start with the basics, what are interest rates?  Interest rates are essentially the cost to borrow money.  The higher the rate the more expensive it is to borrow money.  When things are more expensive, in this case money to buy a home, then you can afford less.

Higher interest rates equal higher cost to borrow funds which ends up affecting the amount you can borrow.  For those consumers who may be maxed out at borrowing a certain amount, in this example lets say $300,000.  If the rates go up the amount the person could borrow would go down, lets say $290,000.

The higher interest rates caused the expense of borrowing to be lower which means a higher payment, however in order to stay under a certain payment the amount borrowed had to be adjusted downward.  This lower amount borrowed equals a lower sales price a consumer can qualify for.

Expect interest rates to continue to rise as the economy continues to be strong.  I just don’t see rates going down at all.  So if you have been thinking about buying a home just realize now may be the time to buy while rates continue to be low.

With the heart of a teacher I strive to educate my clients so they can be better informed.  I strongly believe an informed consumer makes better decisions and are less likely to be taken advantage of.

Have questions about this or other topics, don not hesitate to contact me.

Don’t forget to “LIKE” this video and be sure to Subscribe to my YouTube Channel as well.

Luis Cuevas, Realtor®

RE/MAX Cross Country

1990 Justin Road

Highland Village, Texas 75077

(214) 783-0535

Luis@MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Check out my website for more helpful tips:

http://MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel:

http://Youtube.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Follow me on Facebook:

http://Facebook.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

How To Get Started Buying A Home

Many people are interested in purchasing a home but don’t know how to get started.  Who do you call?  Where do you go?  Online?  In person?  

When you are ready to move forward with buying a home your first step should be to either contact a loan officer or real estate agent.  Let’s start with a loan officer, the reason you would want to meet them is to get qualified.  When meeting with a loan officer they will either get you approved or denied for a home loan.

If you are approved they will outline the details such as the loan amount you qualify for, closing cost, down payment requirements, terms and other important details.  You will also receive a pre-approval letter stating you are approved, it is this letter that you will need to start looking at homes.

What if you are denied, what should you do or expect?  The reality is many people get denied and that is perfectly okay.  The loan officer will give you an evaluation as well as a plan on what to do to be able to qualify in the future.  Figure out that plan and execute it, this will insure you are headed in the right direction to be able to qualify in the future.

Next it is a good idea to meet with a Realtor®, I suggest this for several reasons.  Regardless if you are mortgage approved or not it is a good idea to know the process of actually searching for a home, making an offer but more importantly learning the market.  I like to show buyers what the market is doing in the price point and area they are interested in.  This gives buyers a realistic idea and expectation of the market so they are clear on what to expect.

The key to starting your process is to be prepared.  Be ready to apply for a mortgage, learn what the market is like and what it will take to be a successful buyer.  Being prepared is key in my opinion and leads to a better buying experience.

With the heart of a teacher I strive to educate my clients so they can be better informed.  I strongly believe an informed consumer makes better decisions and are less likely to be taken advantage of.

Have questions about this or other topics, don not hesitate to contact me.

Don’t forget to “LIKE” this video and be sure to Subscribe to my YouTube Channel as well.

Luis Cuevas, Realtor®

RE/MAX Cross Country

1990 Justin Road

Highland Village, Texas 75077

(214) 783-0535

Luis@MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Check out my website for more helpful tips:

http://MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel:

http://Youtube.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Follow me on Facebook:

http://Facebook.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Just Say No!!! | Luis Cuevas Realtor® RE/MAX Cross Country

Just say no!  What do I mean by this?  When you are in the home buying process whether you are just starting or already under contract I often have to tell buyers their new favorite word should be “NO.”  

When you first get approved for a mortgage the lender takes a snap shot of your credit.  That snapshot is what they use to determine if you will be approved for a mortgage.  You have to keep in mind that it is a snap shot in time and we all know things can change over time, which is why I recommend buyers not change their credit from when they got approved.

What that means is no more new debt, credit cards, payment obligations, lines of credit or store cards, and especially no new cards.  You have to remember the lender will be checking your credit through out your transaction and can do it up until the day of closing, not only credit but employment.  If any of those things change then it can jeopardize your ability to qualify for a home loan.

Which brings me back to just saying “NO” to new lines of credit, car loans or anything that would change your credit.  

So remember just say no!

As you can tell I love to educate my clients about the process and any topics around real estate.  With the heart of a teacher I strongly believe it is important to educate my clients because it will empower them to make educated decisions and be less likely to be taken advantage of.

Don’t forget to give this video a “LIKE” and be sure to “SUBSCRIBE” to my channel!

Luis Cuevas, Realtor®

RE/MAX Cross Country

1990 Justin Road

Highland Village, Texas 75077

(214) 783-0535

Luis@MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Check out my website for more helpful tips:

http://MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel:

http://Youtube.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Follow me on Facebook:

http://Facebook.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Thing I Came Across This Week - Plumbing Issues Edition

This week I came across this very common plumbing issue which is the washer connection.  Most people don’t think twice about this item but indeed it is very important.  Usually it will be connected when a buyer first moves in but then never looked at again.

The problem lies in that in many of the connections are not properly installed to begin with.  Often I see improper setups all together which is a great setup for failure.

The correct item to use is a plastic box specifically made for this situation.  It is plastic because it will be contacted with water and not cause issues.  Also the drain is the lowest point, which is super important.  The connections need to be clean, leak free and tightly sealed to the box so there are no gaps where leaks can run down and behind the wall.

Is see this way too often, which it is an inexpensive fix many people fail to address it before it becomes an issue.  Instead the way they usually find out is when it has leaked for weeks, the water has made its way behind the wall, in the drywall, on to the flooring of the room behind the laundry and so on.  At that point it will be a big issue that could have been prevented.

As you can see I am passionate about educating my clients about anything and everything real estate.  With the heart of a teacher I strongly feel that educating a consumer makes them a stronger, smarter consumer who can make better decisions & less likely to be taken advantage of.

Have questions about this or other topics, don not hesitate to contact me.

Don’t forget to “LIKE” this video and be sure to Subscribe to my YouTube Channel as well.

Luis Cuevas, Realtor®

RE/MAX Cross Country

1990 Justin Road

Highland Village, Texas 75077

(214) 783-0535

Luis@MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Check out my website for more helpful tips:

http://MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel:

http://Youtube.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Follow me on Facebook:

http://Facebook.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Escrow Analysis Explained | Luis Cuevas Realtor® | RE/MAX Cross Country

Many people get surprised every year around spring time when they receive their yearly escrow analysis letter in the mail.  The reality is however not many home owners understand it or how t works.  Let me explain how the escrow analysis works and even give you some advice on getting a head start on the following years analysis so you are not surprised.

Firs the escrow analysis is just that, a yearly analysis of your escrow account.  Remember your escrow account is what your mortgage establishes and puts funds in from your monthly payment to specifically pay items such as your taxes and insurance.  Often if you have a flood insurance policy or mortgage insurance they will collect for those items as well.  Essentially they will look at what the total amount of those items, divide it by twelve and charge you that portion in your monthly statement.  So theoretically you will have enough funds to pay those obligations when the time comes.

The yearly escrow analysis essentially is like a yearly check up to make sure everything is still on track, which usually happens in the spring sometime.  The reason this is needed is in case there are changes in the amounts they are collecting.. AKA your taxes going up.  So if your taxes go up or anything else for that matter they want to know about it so they can adjust your account.

So the analysis does this then they let you know via a letter in the mail.  This letter gives you the results of their findings.  Our example will be that the expense for the prior year went up by $120 a year.  So essentially they had to pay out $120 than they were expecting or had budgeted for so they are short those funds and will ask you to pay it back.  This is where they give you two options.

Option 1:

In this option they will ask you to send them a check for the shortage of $120.  Those funds will take care of the shortage.  However they also have to make sure they have enough for the following year so they will make an adjustment to your monthly mortgage payment because now they have $120 more they have to pay out.  So they simply divide the $120 by 12 and get a result of $10.  In this case your payment goes up by $10 to comply with the new amounts they anticipate to pay out.  So… short review… pay $120 for the past shortage and raise your monthly payment $10 so it isn’t short in the future.

Option 2:

In this option the borrower may not have the additional $120 up front to give so the lender will give them to option to pay it off over a year.  So they will spread the escrow shortage of $120 over 12 months, which comes out to $10 a month.  However they also have to increase your payment $10 a month as well to not have a shortage this upcoming year, since the expenses went up by $120.  So the net result in Option 2 is your payment going up by $20 per month.  This is a common option for those who are surprised by the jump and may not have the funds at that moment.  

Please keep in mind either way the math total is the same, at the end of the day they will be getting the $240 over the course of 12 months.

Confused?  I hope not, but if you are you are more than welcome to give me a call, email or comment and I will be more than happy to help you.  I offer this service to folks so they can get some clarity on the issue because it will be happening every year.

So how can you be proactive about this analysis and not be caught by surprise by the letter?  Simple first know your expense, usually the annual insurance bill and taxes are the two main items being collected.  When you get your insurance renewal compare the amount to the previous years amount.  Same with taxes, when you get your proposed values from the appraisal districts you should get an estimate of taxes, compare that to the previous years taxes.  Get the differences in the insurance and taxes and that is what your shortage will be… assuming both go up.  Save those funds between now and when the escrow analysis letter arrives which is early spring.  Also divide that amount by 12, that will tell you what your payment will be going up by.

Simple right?  Again I will be more than happy to go over this with you anytime, just send me an email or call me.

I hope this cleared up the confusion of an escrow analysis, just remember it is simple math, don’t get caught by surprise and be proactive! 

I hope your picked up a thing or two, with the heart of a teacher I am a big fan of educating my clients so they can feel confident when they make their real estate decisions.  If I can be of service please do not hesitate to contact me.

Don’t forget to give this video a “LIKE” and be sure to “SUBSCRIBE” to my channel!

Luis Cuevas, Realtor®

RE/MAX Cross Country

1990 Justin Road

Highland Village, Texas 75077

(214) 783-0535

Luis@MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Check out my website for more helpful tips:

http://MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel:

http://Youtube.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Follow me on Facebook:

http://Facebook.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Your Mortgage Payment Going Up? | Luis Cuevas Realtor® | RE/MAX Cross Country

So by now you may have received your notice from the county appraisal district  with the proposed value for the 2018 year. If you are like most of the DFW area your proposed value has gone up from last year.  More than likely you should expect your taxes to go up as a result as well.

The reason for this video is to give your a heads up on this and help you prepare for the bump up in taxes but also your monthly payment.  Too often people get surprised at the end of the year when their taxes are higher than the previous year and the payment goes up as a result.  

I hope this video prepares you for those hikes so you don’t have any surprises when you receive that letter from the mortgage company with the bad news.

Have questions about this or other topics, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Don’t forget to “LIKE” this video and be sure to Subscribe to my YouTube Channel as well.

Luis Cuevas, Realtor®

RE/MAX Cross Country

1990 Justin Road

Highland Village, Texas 75077

(214) 783-0535

Luis@MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Check out my website for more helpful tips:

http://MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel:

http://Youtube.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Follow me on Facebook:

http://Facebook.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Real Estate Crush Of The Week “TINY HOME” | Luis Cuevas Realtor® | RE/MAX Cross Country

This week My REAL ESTATE CRUSH OF THE WEEK is a Tiny Home on the outskirts of Ft. Worth!  This little home is situated on some land where it sits quietly away from the rest of the neighbors.

I have to say that I am surprised by the actual size of this tiny home.  Most of the tiny homes I see are more cramped and not as open.  This tiny home even had a center kitchen island, you know you have space when you have an island.

The home is brand new, has a loft area and even a dedicated bedroom.  Most of the tiny homes I see have more of an open concept including the bedroom but this one has a private bedroom.  The home is just under 400 square feet, new stainless steel appliances and nice laminate floors.

Again I don’t get to see these homes too often so when I do I like to check them out and share them with you!  I hope you enjoyed it!

Have questions about this or other topics, don not hesitate to contact me.

Don’t forget to “LIKE” this video and be sure to Subscribe to my YouTube Channel as well.

Luis Cuevas, Realtor®

RE/MAX Cross Country

1990 Justin Road

Highland Village, Texas 75077

(214) 783-0535

Luis@MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Check out my website for more helpful tips:

http://MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel:

http://Youtube.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Follow me on Facebook:

http://Facebook.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

When Is The Best Time To Buy a House? | Luis Cuevas Realtor® | RE/MAX Cross Country

This is a question I get all the time and one I hear different answers to.  When is the best time to buy a house?  If you listen to the real estate commercials you would here that now is the best time to buy.  Others would say the summer, or the winter for one reason or another.

The reality is the best time to buy a house is when you are ready.  It doesn’t matter if it is summer, spring or fall you have to be ready and in a position to make that move.

Have your down payment and closing costs money saved up.  Will you be putting 20% down, then have that ready.  What about moving cost?  A safety net fund for repairs, because now you will become the landlord & maintenance person.

Being prepared to buy also includes being confident in your financial situation.  Do you have a stable job?  Good salary in the long term and what about your future long after you buy, how does that look?

Everyone’s situation is different and there is no one right answer however the common denominator in my opinion is the buyer being ready and prepared.  If you are not ready or prepared then what does it matter if the inventory is great, prices are reasonable or interest rates are low?  You have to be ready and when you are then that will be the best time for you to buy.

I really enjoy educating my clients and that is one of my goals of these videos and my YouTube channel in general.  With the heart of a teach my goal is to educate because it makes a stronger, wiser consumer who can make better real estate decisions!

Have questions about this or other topics, don not hesitate to contact me.

Don’t forget to “LIKE” this video and be sure to Subscribe to my YouTube Channel as well.

Luis Cuevas, Realtor®

RE/MAX Cross Country

1990 Justin Road

Highland Village, Texas 75077

(214) 783-0535

Luis@MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Check out my website for more helpful tips:

http://MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel:

http://Youtube.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Follow me on Facebook:

http://Facebook.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Don’t Call The Sign | Luis Cuevas Realtor® | RE/MAX Cross Country

A big mistake prospective buyers make is calling the real estate sign at a home to ask questions, get more information or to request a showing.  That is a BIG mistake!!!

Don’t Call The Sign!  Why?  Well keep in mind who the listing agent on the sign your calling represents… the seller.  The agent represents the seller, not the buyer.  The listing agent you are calling is looking to get the best price, terms, conditions, etc… for his/her client the seller, not the buyer.  

So you are not being looked at after, they are actually trying to get information out of you that they can later use against you.  So why call them at all?  The answer is simple, don’t call the sign, instead get your own representation by having your own agent by your side.  It’s that simple.

Having your own agent who represents you, looking to get you the best price, terms, conditions and will even show you the home in private at a time that best suits your schedule.

This applies to an open house situation as well, you should not go as the same issue is at hand.  Instead have your agent set up an appointment for you to view the property on your terms and schedule in private.

So at the end of the day have someone looking out after you by having your own agent by your side.  This agent will look out after you and no one else, they will owe you fiduciary duties which is a good thing for you.

Have questions about this or other topics, don not hesitate to contact me.

Don’t forget to “LIKE” this video and be sure to Subscribe to my YouTube Channel as well.

Luis Cuevas, Realtor®

RE/MAX Cross Country

1990 Justin Road

Highland Village, Texas 75077

(214) 783-0535

Luis@MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Check out my website for more helpful tips:

http://MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel:

http://Youtube.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Follow me on Facebook:

http://Facebook.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Look At This!!! - May 18th, 2018 | Luis Cuevas Realtor® RE/MAX Cross Country

Look At This!!! is a segment I like to do where I share with you what I have come across in the past week or so.  It may be a cute puppy, amazing water feature, stunning kitchen, or a strange home repair that I find interesting.  In the end I hope it entertains you, maybe you learn a thing or two or just have a laugh.

This week I came across cats hanging out on the roof, another cat crawled on my truck, a pier and beam new home under construction & some good engineering with a car tail light bulb.

Don’t forget to give this video a “LIKE” and be sure to “SUBSCRIBE” to my channel!

Luis Cuevas, Realtor®

RE/MAX Cross Country

1990 Justin Road

Highland Village, Texas 75077

(214) 783-0535

Luis@MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Check out my website for more helpful tips:

http://MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel:

http://Youtube.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Follow me on Facebook:

http://Facebook.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

How To Calculate Texas Property Taxes | Luis Cuevas Realtor® | RE/MAX Cross Country

Property taxes in Texas can be confusing with so many terms being thrown in the mix.  Today I take it step by step and break it down in a simple to understand format.

Property taxes are actually pretty simple and they consist of two main factors: 1) Assessed Property Value & 2) Tax rates.  Property values are set by the appraisal district on each property.  Tax rates are set by each entity which governs your home, for example the city, county and school district.

The math is simple we first add up the tax rates for the taxing entities and get a total.  We grab that total and multiply it by the assessed value on the given property.  The result gives you the total taxes on the property.  Pretty simple, right?

I will be creating another video where I cover some of those confusing terms I mentioned early.  Also things you can do to get a discount on your property taxes.

Have questions about this or other topics, don not hesitate to contact me.

Don’t forget to “LIKE” this video and be sure to Subscribe to my YouTube Channel as well.

Luis Cuevas, Realtor®

RE/MAX Cross Country

1990 Justin Road

Highland Village, Texas 75077

(214) 783-0535

Luis@MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Check out my website for more helpful tips:

http://MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel:

http://Youtube.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Follow me on Facebook:

http://Facebook.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Real Estate Crush Of The Week - 409 Canberra | Luis Cuevas Realtor® | RE/MAX Cross Country

We are out in Highland Village for my “Crush Of The Week.”  My crush is a four bedroom, three bath, two car garage home on just over three thousand square feet.  What really stands out about this home is the great floor plan and the decorating just puts it over the top!  While this is technically a two story home, only the game room is upstairs, so most of the square footage is downstairs which is a big plus!

Hopefully after the tour you will agree it is a gorgeous home and why I chose it as my “Real Estate Crush Of The Week.”

Have questions about this or other topics, do not hesitate to contact me.

Don’t forget to “LIKE” this video and be sure to Subscribe to my YouTube Channel as well.

Luis Cuevas, Realtor®

RE/MAX Cross Country

1990 Justin Road

Highland Village, Texas 75077

(214) 783-0535

Luis@MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Check out my website for more helpful tips:

http://MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel:

http://Youtube.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Follow me on Facebook:

http://Facebook.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Attic Energy Efficient Features

Most people are not fans of going in the attic when home shopping but there are many important things going on up there.  Let me show you some of the energy efficient features in this newer home which are more common as compared to an older home even from 10 years ago.

Common attic with no radiant barrier

Keep in mind all these features I go over work as a system not one single feature can do it all by itself.  Most folks think about attic insulation as being the main factor for having a cool home in the summer but instead there are several.  How about a radiant barrier to reflect the radiant heat in the first place.  Or making sure your vents are not covered up with insulation.  Don’t forget the a/c needs to be performing at its best as well as not having any leaks.

Ripped duct in the attic

All these items work together to make your attic much more efficient in keeping cool and as a result helping your electric bill stay low.

Old & insufficient insulation

I hope your picked up a thing or two, I am a big fan of educating my clients so they can feel confident when they make their real estate decisions.  If I can be of service please do not hesitate to contact me.

Don’t forget to give this video a “LIKE” and be sure to “SUBSCRIBE” to my channel!

Luis Cuevas, Realtor®

RE/MAX Cross Country

1990 Justin Road

Highland Village, Texas 75077

(214) 783-0535

Luis@MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Check out my website for more helpful tips:

http://MakeNorthTexasHome.com

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Look At This!!! - May 11, 2018 | Luis Cuevas Realtor® RE/MAX Cross Country

Look At This!!! is a segment I like to do where I share with you what I have come across in the past week or so.  It may be a cute puppy, amazing water feature, stunning kitchen, or a strange home repair that I find interesting.  In the end I hope it entertains you, maybe you learn a thing or two or just have a laugh.

This week I came across a new listing with lots of buyers waiting to get in, cats on the roof, a retro stove and some ugly antennas.

Don’t forget to give this video a “LIKE” and be sure to “SUBSCRIBE” to my channel!

Luis Cuevas, Realtor®

RE/MAX Cross Country

1990 Justin Road

Highland Village, Texas 75077

(214) 783-0535

Luis@MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Check out my website for more helpful tips:

http://MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel:

http://Youtube.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Follow me on Facebook:

http://Facebook.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Worst Tree Ever? | Luis Cuevas Realtor® | RE/MAX Cross Country

So if you live in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex you might see these beautiful white blooms in March.  They are usually one of the first blooming trees we see and serve as a nice reminder that Spring is here.  Unfortunately this tree, the bradford pear, is probably one of the worst trees ever… or at least for our area.

Branch split after high wind storm seems to be common

The beautiful blooms might entice you to get one but when you step up close to one you quickly figure out why this tree is so disliked by many… the blooms smell awful.  Don’t believe me, Google it and see how many funny memes you get regarding this awful smelling tree.  Who has time to make a meme about a tree… what did the tree do to them to get so much bad publicity?  Well the bad news doesn’t stop at the foul smell but it lingers in that they tend t lose limbs easily.  When those spring storms come through town it isn’t uncommon to see these trees have the most damage and that is another reason I don’t like these trees.

Tree with multiple splits

So what are some better alternatives?  Live oaks, burr oaks, cedar elms, and pecans… trees that a be more slow growing but strong.  They are also more adapted to the North Texas climate in the long term, however just know they are very slow growers.

Live Oaks are a good alternative & much hardier for the area

I thought maybe I was the only one with negative thoughts about these trees but a quick Google search confirmed I wasn’t alone.  Even the local papers are not fans, I read articles in the Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star Telegram, The Guide, and even Neil Sperry isn’t a fan.

In all fairness these trees were not designed for our area and I am sure they do well somewhere else.  For the North Texas area I would look for more native trees for your yard.

Don’t forget to give this video a “LIKE” and be sure to “SUBSCRIBE” to my channel!

Luis Cuevas, Realtor®

RE/MAX Cross Country

1990 Justin Road

Highland Village, Texas 75077

(214) 783-0535

Luis@MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Check out my website for more helpful tips:

http://MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel:

http://Youtube.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Follow me on Facebook:

http://Facebook.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Crush Of The Week - 323 Parkwood - Luis Cuevas, Realtor® - RE/MAX Cross Country

This week I take you out to a very small town north of Lake Lewisville called Lakewood Village for my “Crush Of The Week.”  My crush is a three bedroom two and a half bath two car garage home on just over two thousand square feet.  What really stands out about this home is the attention to detail, awesome upgrades, tremendous amounts of storage, and of course the outdoor living space.  The oversized front porch, the master balcony and the back covered patio are perfect for enjoying the outdoors!!!  All that while just being a block from the lake!

Hopefully after you take a look at it you will agree that it is a gorgeous home and that is why I chose it as my “Crush Of The Week.”

Have questions about this or other topics, don not hesitate to contact me.

Don’t forget to “LIKE” this video and be sure to Subscribe to my YouTube Channel as well.

Luis Cuevas, Realtor®

RE/MAX Cross Country

1990 Justin Road

Highland Village, Texas 75077

(214) 783-0535

Luis@MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Check out my website for more helpful tips:

http://MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel:

http://Youtube.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Follow me on Facebook:

http://Facebook.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Meet David Hernandez, LISD Board Place 2 Candidate

I had a chance to catch up with David Hernandez on his LISD School Board Place 2 race and ask him a few questions.  I had not met him before, I didn't even know his position, I more so just wanted to interview him and have a chance to know more about him.

What makes his unique and what caught my attention was his age and the fact he is still in school!  I have seen it before in the past where a young candidate attempts to run some sort of public held office race.  When I really learned more about him was through my local board of Realtors®, Greater Lewisville Association Of Realtors®, had a chance to interview him.  It went so well that G.L.A.R. went on to endorse his campaign which was a bit of a surprise.

In the end, regardless of his thoughts and opinions he earned my respect and I had to sit down with him to learn more about him and his race.

I hope you learn a thing or two about him but also to bring some awareness to some of the issues we discussed.

Thank you for checking out the blog, website and be sure to make it over to the YouTbue channel as well.  Don’t forget to give this video a “LIKE” and be sure to “SUBSCRIBE” to my channel!

Luis Cuevas, Realtor®

RE/MAX Cross Country

1990 Justin Road

Highland Village, Texas 75077

(214) 783-0535

Luis@MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Check out my website for more helpful tips:

http://MakeNorthTexasHome.com

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel:

http://Youtube.com/MakeNorthTexasHome

Follow me on Facebook:

http://Facebook.com/MakeNorthTexasHome