Steven Amaya Real Estate Group Podcast

Are You Working With an Approved Lender in the Inland Empire Area?

Steven@StevenAmaya.com (Steven Amaya) — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 10:08:00 -0800

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Today I’m with Gabby, my top listing agent, and she’ll be explaining why it’s so important to get pre-approved with a preferred lender.

We work with a lot of good professionals in the Inland Empire area, and we know a lot of good lenders. We’ve formed relationships with these companies, and this makes communication go much smoother for us and for you. This speeds up the process and can even make it less expensive.

These relationships can allow us to find the most competitive rates for loans, and our preferred lenders can close a transaction in 14-30 days. Closing speed can depend on how prepared your lender is, but we often find that our lenders are prepared and ready to go.

We have three different lenders that we recommend to buyers. This all depends on what the client needs and wants out of a loan, so please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need a loan. If you’re a first time buyer, please don’t hesitate to schedule a buyer’s consultation. This can help get you up to speed on what you need in order to start a home search off on the right foot.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Thank You from The Amaya Team

Steven@StevenAmaya.com (Steven Amaya) — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 11:47:00 -0800

Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home search

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Today we wanted to thank you for all of your support and dedication to our team. We rely on referrals and repeat business, so your reviews and patronage are extremely important to our team. We really couldn't have accomplished our goals in 2015 without you.

Overall, we helped more than 130 families buy and sell homes in Moreno Valley. We hope to increase that number in 2016, and we'll need your help again.

Thank you for all of your support. Expect even bigger and better things from us in 2016!

Tips for Holiday Decorating on a Budget

Steven@StevenAmaya.com (Steven Amaya) — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 14:38:00 -0800

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The holidays are approaching. Today, we thought we'd do something a little different and share this festive video on holiday decorating tips fromHGTV. Designer Angelo Surmelis shares several great ideas to spread holiday cheer throughout the home. Here are some of our favorites.

Pay attention to the mantle. If you don't have some already, buy some kind of garland to drape over the mantle. Next, use leftover ornaments and candles to add light and texture. When choosing ornaments and candles, ensure they are in the same color-palette. This helps make your mantle a great focal point!
Use smaller Christmas trees. Every house has their main Christmas tree. In addition, you can also purchase smaller, inexpensive, eco-friendly trees to place throughout the home. Decorate these trees with strips of fabric from a T-shirt in holiday colors to save money for the main tree.
Use what you have. Be resourceful. Adding a plate charge and place mat to your everyday dining set adds some jazz to your table. Fresh-cut flowers and candles will help finish the look. You don't need grand, expensive candles -- a little candlelight goes a long way!

As you can see, it doesn't take much to make your home feel more festive. If you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

Is Your Riverside/Moreno Valley Home Worth More Than You Think?

Steven@StevenAmaya.com (Steven Amaya) — Wed, 2 Dec 2015 09:34:00 -0800

Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home search
Selling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation

The most common question we get is, "How is the market looking?" The Moreno Valley market is always on the move, so the answer to that question changes frequently. Today, I'll share the latest numbers so you have an idea of what conditions might be like in your neighborhood.

Right now, we're in a bit of a seller's market. Because inventory is so low, we're seeing a lot of overbids and homes are selling in only 35-40 days. Additionally, we're getting record-breaking sales prices in many of the neighborhoods we list in.

As of now, there are 358 single-family homes available in Moreno Valley, which is pretty low. Inventory is even lower than it was last year at this time. If you're looking to sell, now is a great time to find a buyer and potentially sell for top dollar.

If you're on the buying side of the market, you're not completely out of luck. Interest rates are still at an all-time low, so buying a home is still incredibly affordable if you make the right moves. If you wait for mortgage rates to increase, you could cost yourself a whole lot of money. For instance, if you have a $370,000 mortgage payment with a 3% interest rate, your monthly payment would only be $1,542. If you wait for rates to increase only 1%, your payment jumps to $1,746 a month, which comes out to nearly $2,500 more per year! Now is the time to take advantage of fantastically low rates before they rise next year.

If you have questions about local market conditions, or if you need real estate assistance of any kind, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. Who you work with matters when buying or selling real estate, and we would love to do everything in our power to help you achieve your goals.

What Should You Avoid When Purchasing a New Construction Home?

Steven@StevenAmaya.com (Steven Amaya) — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 13:09:00 -0800

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Are you thinking about building a new home from scratch? If so, take note of these three things you need to avoid! We have a lot of experience in new construction properties and would love to make the process as smooth as possible for you.

1. Hire a Realtor. An experienced Realtor knows what to look for when buying any type of property. Sure, the new construction builder has a Realtor on site, but that agent is only there to advocate for the seller. For guidance and representation, you need to hire a Realtor who will advocate for you! If any issues arise, you'll have someone there to help you understand what your options are.

2. Do your research. This comes back to hiring a real estate professional, as they will know exactly what to look for. For example, an agent will look at property taxes for you, one of the most important things to keep in mind while building a new home. You need to know exactly how much you are going to be paying in property taxes in order to avoid overextending yourself financially.

3. Interview lenders to find the best one. We highly recommend going with a lender you know or a lender someone you know has referred to you. Make sure you know exactly what rates and fees you'll be dealing with ahead of time so that you can select the program and lender that will best fit your financial needs.

If you decide to hire a Realtor, make sure you are comfortable with them. You should be able to call, text, or email them at any time in order to stay on the same page and ensure you're both working toward the same goal. If you have any questions about finding the right agent or avoiding common new construction mistakes, we would love to hear from you!