Salt Lake City Real Estate Video Blog with William Bustos

Should You Renovate That Diamond in the Rough?

2016-12-22T08:04:00.002-08:00

If you want to buy a home to renovate it, there are three things you need to know before you make that purchase. I will go over everything you need to know today.

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If you want to buy a property for the purpose of renovating it, there are three important things that you need to know before you make that purchase.

1. Not every home is a diamond in the rough. Sometimes a home may be too far gone to bring back to life, or it may cost too much to make the home comfortable to live in. Not every fixer-upper is worth shelling out money for. It might need work beyond your scope and budget.

I hate when I meet with sellers who want to sell the home they remodeled when they probably shouldn’t have invested so much in the home in the first place. For example, let’s say they bought the home for $200,000 and put in $50,000 worth of renovations. They would want to get at least $250,000 on the home sale, but neighboring properties in the area are selling for $225,000.

It’s such a terrible feeling when you meet with someone who has invested that much into the home and comparables don’t support that renovation. Before you buy that renovation property, make sure your Realtor looks at comparables to see what other renovated homes are selling for in that area. That way, you’ll know if you can get your return out of that property.

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Make sure you can get a return on your investment before buying the property.

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2. Make sure you order inspections. Usually, a fixer-upper is a foreclosure or as-is sale. A lot of the time, those sellers will not make any repairs or give you any concessions for needed repairs. In that case, it’s really important to know exactly what you are getting into when you purchase that home. Order a radon test, a mold test, and get everything inspected before you decide to buy the home.

3. How will you finance your renovations? Financing is always an important factor when purchasing a property, but it’s extra important when you buy a home to renovate. Traditional mortgages typically do not cover any repairs or updates. Most people aren’t excited about shelling out a bunch of cash for renovations on top of closing costs and down payments, so make sure that you have a good lump sum available for those renovations.

Renovating a home is a big decision, and I wish you the best of luck. I am always here to help you if you have any questions or concerns. Just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

5 Tips to Sell and Stage Your Home During the Fall

2016-11-19T12:32:00.001-08:00

Staging and selling your home during the fall means following a few simple tips.

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Today we have five tips to help stage and sell your home during the fall.

Decorate for the holidays. Make sure your front porch is inviting and the rest of the house features fall decor. We personally love chrysanthemums this time of year. They offer so much fun color and can endure our crazy Utah weather. You can also use pumpkins or a nice fall wreath with red and gold leaves.

Air out your home. As the winter months come, we tend to keep our doors and windows shut. Because of this, houses tend to hold in more odor. This is the kind of thing you don’t want potential buyers to notice as they walk through. After cooking a meal, open a window and turn on a fan. Moisture holds odor as well, so it wouldn’t hurt to leave the exhaust fan on after showers and baths.

Let the light in. Light is important any time of year, but especially during fall when it starts to get darker earlier. Turn all your lights on and open all blinds, curtains, and shutters.

Remove the clutter. When we spend more time in our house, we tend to accumulate more things. With kids in school, you can find things like backpacks, coats, hoodies, and snowboots scattered everywhere. Before a showing, remove all the clutter and store it in your closets.

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Remove all clutter before a showing.

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Stage your home for the season. If you have a fireplace, turn it on. If you have a seasonal candle, light it up. Brewing apple cider or baking cookies are also nice touches that buyers always enjoy.

If you have any real estate questions or concerns, feel free to email us or give us a call. We look forward to hearing from you!

5 Reasons to Buy a Home This Holiday Season

2016-10-29T10:23:00.001-07:00

Don’t wait for spring to buy a home; there are five unique advantages to buying a home during the holiday season.

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Although many people think that they should buy a home during the spring or summer, there are five great advantages to purchasing a home during the holiday season:

1. There is less market activity. Since there are many family events during the holidays, there are also fewer real estate transactions. However, because there are fewer people looking for homes, you will face less competition, which gives you leverage.

2. There are motivated sellers. Typically if a home is on the market during the holidays, it’s because the owner needs to sell it. Whether they need to sell due to job relocation or they are under contract on another home, sellers tend to be more motivated during the holidays.

3. There are potential tax advantages. If you itemize your taxes and deduct any points that you pay upon closing, the holidays may be a great time to buy. Depending on how many deductions you need or expect to have this year, you may need to purchase a home before January 1st.

4. There are lower interest rates around the holidays. Since there are fewer buyers on the market, lenders have to be more competitive with their rates in order to get business. After the new year, rates tend to go up. Also, interest rates remain at all-time lows, so take advantage of them before they go up.

5. You will be able to close faster. All parties involved in the real estate transaction have an incentive to close the deal before the end of the year. Lenders want to close their books, real estate agents want to receive their commission, sellers want to move out, and buyers want to move in before Christmas. Since everyone is motivated to close, the transaction will go by much quicker.

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Buyers and sellers alike are motivated to make a deal.

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As you can see, buying during the holidays comes with many advantages. If you have any questions about the home buying process or about real estate in general, give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

Why You Shouldn’t Trust Zillow’s Home Values

2016-10-05T14:46:00.001-07:00

Are Zestimates accurate? Sellers like to think that they should price their homes according to this number, but these valuations are usually not exact.

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Sellers love to share their homes' Zestimates with us before we come out for an appointment and look at their home. Though the number that Zillow gives them may shape the price they’re hoping to get on their house, the question is, how accurate are Zestimates?

In our experience, Zillow estimates are often at least 5% to 15% off from the home’s real appraised value. Zillow uses a basic algorithm that is supposed to use comparable property sales in your neighborhood to come up with a value; however, finding the true value of a property isn’t that simple.

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Zestimates tend to be 5% to 15% off.

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The best way to determine your home’s value is to talk to an experienced professional agent who will do the research, find comparable sales, physically assess the property, and then analyze the data. There is no way for Zillow to account for all of the factors that give a property its value.

As listing agents, we do this every day free of charge! So if you’re interested in learning your home’s value or have any other real estate-related questions, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We’d be happy to help you!

Best and Worst Home Improvements for Return on Investment

2016-09-08T10:03:00.001-07:00

Which home improvements yield the highest return on investment? Which yield the lowest? Each category has an answer that might surprise you. First, we’ll start with the highest.

The home improvement that takes the grand prize is a simple front door replacement. A front door replacement brings you a whopping 97% return on investment. The two home improvements taking silver and bronze are the addition of a deck to the back of the home (87%), and a garage door replacement (84%).

Another high-scoring home improvement is a minor kitchen remodel, which yields 83%. I would have assumed a kitchen remodel would score higher than that, but its yield goes to show you that it’s not a good idea to get too elaborate with your own kitchen remodel because you won’t be getting all of your money back.

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Don’t get too elaborate with your kitchen remodel.

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Now, which home improvements yield the lowest return on investment?

Though it’s not the lowest, the home improvement that you might not expect to be in this category is the master suite addition, which brings back only 68%. When you think about it, though, it’s not that hard to see why—they’re very expensive to begin with, and it involves changing the structure of the home.

Other low-scoring home improvements include a bathroom addition (60% to 85%), a sunroom addition (51%), and a home office remodel (48%).

We love to answer questions, so if you have any for us regarding this or any other real estate topic, please don’t hesitate to call or send us an email. We look forward to helping you.

5 Tips for Finding a Home Within Your Budget

2016-08-26T11:33:00.001-07:00

There are five easy tips to follow if you want to find a home that’s within your budget:

1. Stick to a firm price: Most people begin shopping for a home by going to a bank or lender to determine how much they can afford. They tend to forget, though, that they’re only telling you the maximum amount that you qualify for. They don’t take into consideration variables like your spending habits or other personal habits that subtly affect your finances. Don’t buy a home just because you qualify for it.

2. Communicate with your Realtor: A real estate agent should be your best friend throughout the whole home buying process. They’re going to do all the work for you that you’re likely unqualified to do yourself. Not only that, but as a buyer, you don’t pay for them—the seller does.

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A real estate agent should be your best friend.

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3. Shop only for you: Shopping for homes just because they’re similar to your friends’ or family members’ homes is a mistake. Your needs are yours alone, including your budget.

4. Search for fixer-uppers: Homes that need a little repair will also allow you to stay within your budget. With these types of homes, you also have more room to negotiate with the seller and add your own personal touches to it. Keep in mind, however, that fixer-uppers are not for everybody. They can sometimes require a lot of time and effort.

5. Save for a down payment: Most banks will require you to save for a down payment. The larger your down payment, the more affordable your house will be. Ideally, you want to strive for 20% down. That way, you won’t have to pay for mortgage insurance.

We’d love to answer any questions you might have, whether it’s about finding homes within your budget or anything related to real estate. Just give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to helping you.

6 Landscaping Tips to Add Value to Your Home

2016-06-30T07:01:00.001-07:00

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Whether you are looking to sell your home or simply want to upgrade its appearance, consider upgrading the landscaping. Landscaping is a real game-changer. Your home’s curb appeal will look so much better if you follow these six tips:

Freshen your mulch. Adding new, dark brown mulch is very inexpensive. At $3.00 a bag, you can fix your whole yard for about $25.

Add potted plants. Little pops of color make such a huge difference and can make your home seem warm and welcoming.

Plant shrubs. Adding shrubs in sparse areas can give your home a lush look and create privacy for your property.

Spruce up your porch. Add a porch swing or get a cute, colorful wicker chair so your porch looks inviting.

Landscape lighting. Lighting makes such a difference at night. Not only will your home seem warmer, lights are a great security feature to have at night.

Paint your front door. A fresh coat of paint on the front door definitely boosts curb appeal.

Landscaping is a simple way to upgrade your home and add value. If you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

Cut 8 Years Off Your Mortgage

2016-06-28T13:44:00.002-07:00

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Right now, mortgage interest rates are at an all-time low. It’s a great time to buy a house. In fact, your buying power may never be higher. It is projected that the Fed will raise interest rates soon, so it’s important to buy while rates are still historically low.

Once you buy a home and get that 30-year mortgage, there is one simple thing you can do to shave eight years off your mortgage. Simply take the amount of one of your monthly mortgage payments, divide it by 12, and add that amount to your mortgage payment each month.

When you do that, however, make sure that you specify that the money should go towards the principal. Otherwise, the bank may put it towards the interest. Still, increasing your monthly mortgage payment by 1/12 is a great way to pay down your mortgage faster, as it doesn’t increase your normal payment by much.

This tactic will help you earn financial freedom eight years sooner. If you have any questions, just give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

Don’t Miss Our Complimentary Movie Night May 28th

2016-05-13T11:57:00.001-07:00

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I’m joined today by my listing specialist Kaitlyn Norton to help me talk about the importance of professional photography when selling your house. But before that, we wanted to remind you about our movie event, part of our Client Appreciation Program. You can reserve your free ticket to “X-Men Apocalypse” on Saturday, May 28th at three different showtimes.

For the the 4:00pm showing, click here

For the 4:30pm showing, click here

For the 5:00pm showing, click here

Enjoy a blockbuster release and Cold Stone ice cream on us! Thank you for being an amazing client!

Now back to our topic - the importance of professional photography when selling a home. Did you know that 90%-95% of buyers start their home search online? You only get one chance at a first impression, and this is especially true on the internet. The photos that you post are the first impression, and they determine whether or not a buyer wants to see your home.

Make sure the photos help your property shine, because this is your chance to stand out from the competition. Photos that are dark and grainy deter buyers.

Professionals shoot in internet-ready high definition, so they’re ready-made for the computer screen.

If you have any questions on this topic or are looking to buy or sell a home, please reach out to us.

And remember, our movie event is May 28th, we look forward to seeing you there!

Why Pay for a Realtor?

2016-03-31T10:49:00.004-07:00

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While commissions may vary, we prefer to refer to them as brokerage fees. It’s typically 6% of a home’s sale price and shared between buyer’s and seller’s agents. For instance, our office profits 3% while another agency profits 3%. Oftentimes, we’re asked, “What are Realtors doing to earn that huge check?”

Real estate agents, unlike doctors that are paid by appointment, aren’t paid until we sell a home. For every hour an agent spends with a client, we spend about nine hours on their behalf networking, finding potential buyers, and more. We do a lot behind the scenes.

Not all agents are created equal, either. Since contracts can last for more than six months, we recommend you interview a series of agents to pick the best for you. It’s not different than hiring an attorney or an accountant. You should trust and be comfortable with your Realtor.

If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home in the surrounding area, give me a call or send me an email. I’d be happy to help you!

6 Ways to Ruin Your Salt Lake Home Sale

2016-03-08T14:14:00.000-08:00

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Today we are going to go over 6 reasons a home sale can go straight down the drain. These are for both buyers and sellers and range from simple mistakes to huge problems. Here they are:

1. A change in credit score.

2. Getting spooked by the inspection. It’s not uncommon for inspectors to make things concerning for buyers.

3. Not getting pre-approved for a home loan. It’s always wise to talk to a home loan officer before starting the process.

4. Running out of money.

5. Small problems get blown out of proportion.

6. People get cold feet.

Thanks for visiting with us today. If you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We would love to hear from you, and are always available for a free consultation!

Why You Need to Invest in Salt Lake Real Estate

2016-02-01T14:18:00.000-08:00

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We're seeing investment properties in Salt Lake City sell at record levels. Cap rates are down to 3.5-4.5%, and in a good market this would be somewhere around 6.5%. As cap rates go down, values go up.

What does this mean for you?

It means that you need to invest in properties right now if you have been thinking of doing so. The market isn't changing, and interest rates aren't going to get any lower. The longer you wait, the more you're going to pay in interest for a loan. If you're using these properties as an investment, you want to lock in the lowest possible rate.

If you contact me directly, I would be happy to share some investment advice with you. I think real estate investment is one of the best things you can invest in. I know that when I retire, I can count on this passive income. It's a great way to set aside some money for later in life.

If you have any questions about this topic, please don't hesitate to contact me!