Kurt Buehler and Jared Rosckes have a short Q&A on some aspects of homeowner’s insurance.

Enjoy the sights & sounds of the Christmas Season at the Buehler’s office by tuning in to 91.9 FM in our parking lot! Merry Christmas!!

Investing your money in anything in the current market can be quite a risky business, and if you’re investing in real estate, your risk has just increased quite a bit. Before you decide to put your money in as a buyer, make sure you’re fully informed on how to approach the Flower Mound real estate market.

If you happen to find the perfect Flower Mound home, buy it. Don’t wait around for the prices to fall or interest rates to drop. Generally, changes in either don’t occur quickly, and if you wait for a lower interest rate or for the housing market to decline, you could miss out on the home of your dreams. Good houses don’t stay on the market for long, no matter what the market conditions.

In today’s real estate market, where interest rates on mortgages are very low, remember that the interest you pay on the money you borrow is only one consideration of whether you should buy a piece of real estate. A mortgage is a debt. Regardless of the amount of interest that is being charged on that debt, it is important to consider your financial situation in order to decide if borrowing money in the form of a mortgage is reasonable.

If you have bad credit you may not be able to get a mortgage loan. If you do find someone to give you a loan, and the interest rates and fees will be high because of your poor credit, you may want to consider postponing the purchase of a house. You will be better off if you take time to improve your credit score, so that you can get a much better deal for yourself later.

When you are considering buying Flower Mound real estate, meet with a mortgage broker before you begin to look at homes. This way, you don’t become enamored with an expensive home that you can’t afford. Conversely, you might be limiting yourself to lower-priced homes. In this market, with lower interest rates, you may be able to borrow more money, and can look at slightly more expensive homes.

When looking for financing, don’t be afraid to shop around. Different lenders may offer you different interest rates, or have other perks for specific buyers. Local credit unions may be able to offer you better rates than a national bank, if you already live or work in the area.

Being prepared and doing some research will help you make the best decision when buying your Flower Mound home. Being a buyer can be challenging. Act on what you’ve learned here and you may be able to simplify the process significantly.

For more information on Flower Mound real estate, contact The Buehlers & Associates at (972) 355-1600.

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Selling a piece of real estate is usually just part of the equation. Whether you are moving on to a new Flower Mound home or if this is another part of an investment, the sales process can be filled with confusion and questions. This article will endeavor to give you a better grasp on the situation.

Close to five days before the closing of the home that you are selling, you should do a final walk-through. This is to ensure the property is in the condition that you have stated in your offer. In addition, you must ensure that any repair requests brought up during the inspection(s) have been performed. Make sure to add a final walk-through condition to your initial offer.

Making the most of a first impression can result in a sold sign! Most buyers have an image in mind of their dream home and you want that dream realized the minute they lay eyes on your property. Invest in a landscaper or enhance the outside of the home yourself; but make sure everything is mowed, trimmed and aesthetically pleasing at first sight.

Many buyers are impressed with a home’s entryway before they even look at any other part of the house. If you do not have a dedicated entryway that is dramatic, add a chair or a side table in order to create the ambiance.

If you are doing a bathroom renovation, you should consider installing a bathtub that is jetted or has a whirlpool effect. Many buyers like these types of tubs and they are willing to pay a bit more for homes that have them. If you cannot afford this kind of tub, be sure to glaze over any worn looking tubs.

Ask to see a buyer’s profile before accepting an offer. Some potential buyers could cause you a lot of hassle. It can be helpful to know why a buyer wants to buy your property and how they intend to pay for it. You may want to consider accepting a lower offer from a buyer who does not have a property to sell. This will avoid a deal collapsing at the last minute.

Whether you have already started the process of selling your Flower Mound home or are about to, the information within this article can be a good tool to get through it unscathed. It doesn’t have to be hard and it doesn’t have to be confusing. Use what you have learned here to get through it, with a smile on your face.

For more information on Flower Mound real estate, contact The Buehlers & Associates at (972) 355-1600.

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Buying Flower Mound real estate, or property anywhere, is a big decision – one of the biggest in one’s life. Getting into the real estate market is not a step to take unprepared. Learning about the buying process well in advance can help buyers steer clear of pitfalls and secure themselves the very best deals.

If you are shopping for Flower Mound real estate, make use of online tools to get an idea of pricing. There are many online sites that can tell you, for free, what the last assessed value of a particular property was based on tax records. With this, you can determine whether you’re getting a bargain or whether you’re being taken advantage of instead.

Try to buy your home in a rural or suburban area. Home prices in these areas have yet to go back up, and you are more likely to find a diamond in the rough for less money. In rural areas, you are likely to find a larger home for the price of a smaller one found in the suburbs.

If you are a first time home buyer, it is a good idea to limit your search to no more than six or seven homes at the same time. It might be tempting to see more at once; however, if you see too many, it will make it tough for you to take everything in. It will also make it to hard to remember everything.

If you go in with an offer on a house and you receive a counter offer, don’t be discouraged. Turn things around and come back with another counter offer. Feel comfortable knowing that it is standard procedure for bids to go back and forth before a final offer is made between the parties.

If you find the perfect home, buy it. Don’t hold out for lower mortgage interest rates or falling prices. Generally, changes in either don’t occur quickly, and if you wait for a lower interest rate or for the housing market to decline, you could miss out on the home of your dreams. Good houses don’t stay on the market forever – especially in Flower Mound!

When looking for a real estate agent, ask them for references. It is important that you hire a Flower Mound real estate agent that is skilled and experienced so that they can help you find the right home for you at the best price. Ask the real estate agent if you can speak with customers who have previously used their services.

Any one of these tips could be the key to finding a great house at an amazing price (or to avoiding overpaying for a disappointing home). Reading this article is just the beginning of the intelligent buyer’s real estate education. Research and learning should continue throughout the buying process – a vital tip might come at just the right time.

For more information on Flower Mound real estate, contact The Buehlers & Associates at (972) 355-1600.

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Spring is right around the corner and it’s historically the best time to list your home for sale. When you are preparing to sell your Flower Mound real estate, there are some quick fixes you can implement to make it more appealing to potential buyers. Many times, great homes will sit on the market for an unnecessarily long period of time. This can give off the wrong impression – that there’s something wrong with the house or you’re asking for too much money. In this scenario, the owner may feel that he/she has no choice but to drive down their asking price in order to sell. The tips in this article should help you make your house more “buyer-friendly”, which should ultimately make it sell quicker.

If you have colors on your walls that are very bold/bright, or the walls are “personalized” (i.e. kids’ rooms with murals painted on the wall), you should consider repainting the walls a soft, neutral color before attempting to sell the home. While buyers are aware they can change paint once the deal is through, it is easier to imagine that the home could be theirs when they are looking at a blank canvas.

When you have someone coming to look at your home, you should try to avoid having a house full of people. When you have a lot of people in your home, the buyer may feel like they are an inconvenience to you. They may rush through your home and not see all of the appeal. It is best to keep your house guests at a minimum during these times.

If your Flower Mound real estate has been on the market for a long time without selling, try to slightly reduce the price. The price drop could attract new potential buyers. Also, offer incentives in your asking price. For example, you could offer to pay half of the closing costs or pay for new appliances.

When planning a renovation around selling your home, it’s important not to go overboard with the property. If you renovate a home to the point where it is worth significantly more than other properties in the neighborhood, you are unlikely to see a return on your investment. If the renovation won’t increase the selling price of the home, skip it.

Make yourself as available as possible for showings. Real estate can be hard enough to sell without buyers having to juggle their own schedules to accomodate yours. Be flexible as to the time of day and days of the week that you will let people in. The more often you show the house, the sooner you can sell.

Selling a house can be difficult, especially in this market. Hopefully this article gave you some easy-to-do ideas to make your Flower Mound real estate more appealing to buyers. Start implementing these ideas now to make your house irresistible!

For more information on Flower Mound real estate, contact The Buehlers & Associates at (972) 355-1600.

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Buying a home is an exciting and fun time, but there are always pitfalls to watch out for. For both the first-time homebuyer and the veteran, buying a home can be complicated, confusing, and costly. Read the tips in this article to help you find your perfect Flower Mound home while avoiding some of these problems.

Find a motivated seller when you are looking for a new home. Look for homes that have been on the market for a long period of time or have reduced the asking price of the home. These sellers may be more willing to negotiate the price of the home in order to make a quick sale.

Hire a Flower Mound real estate agent or a broker for help. They are sure to find you the best deals on the market and help you negotiate with a seller to lower the price of the house. They are experienced in what they do and will likely get you the home you want for less than what you could have on your own.

If you are making an offer on a home, try to stay away from making an offer that is much lower than the asking price. When you do this, the seller of the house may not be interested in your offer and may be turned away from you. If you keep the offer at a reasonably lower price, the seller might actually consider it.

When considering buying property in a foreign country, never let anyone pressure you into purchasing real estate on your first visit to that country. Unless you have spent considerable time in the country where you wish to purchase real estate, this is not a decision that should be made lightly. If you’re new to the United States, let alone Flower Mound, you’ll want to peruse the area to make sure it is a good fit for you. Many real estate agents will happily advise you as to the many assets each town has to offer, so don’t be afraid to ask for some demographic and statistical information, as well as local highlights.

Looking to purchase a short sale? Hire a realtor who specializes in them. Short sales can be tricky and the buying process can be long. A qualified realtor with specific experience in this area will know how they work. This will give you the best chance to get your home at the price you want.

The advertised price of a home is just a starting point. Remember that it is not set in stone and is meant to only give you an idea about how much the seller is looking to get out of it. Negotiate until you find a price that you are both comfortable with.

As mentioned above, buying a home can be exciting but it can also be very difficult. There are many mistakes you can make during the process that could end up costing you dearly later. Having read the advice from this article, however, you should be better prepared to find the Flower Mound home of your dreams.

For more information on buying a home in Flower Mound, contact The Buehlers & Associates at (972) 355-1600.

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Have you recently put your Flower Mound home on the market or are you are getting ready to do so? Either way, learning more details about the home selling process will prove to be helpful. The following tips will help you become more educated about home selling.

There is a lot of competition in the real estate market today so you have to be patient when selling your home. You need to be realistic with your numbers, but do not sell because you feel pressured into a sale with a low ball offer. If the offer is too low, try to be patient and you will eventually get the price you want.

When you are trying to sell a home, it is important that you have an agent. If you do not have an agent, you do not get to advertise your homes to all the other local real estate agents. This can cause a huge delay in selling your home.

To prepare yourself for selling your home, start viewing your house as a product and make it less sentimental. Remove clutter and personal objects like photographs to make it easier for potential buyers to imagine their own items in the house. Keep the home tidy and neat to demonstrate to buyers that you take good care of the house in general.

When selling your home, consider having an inspection done before putting it on the market. A clean inspection report is something you can show to potential buyers, and if any repairs are necessary you can address them immediately. This will save you from unexpected and potentially expensive surprises down the road.

If you are selling your home, learn to love neutral colored walls. Though deep purple, hunter green, and vibrant red might be your favorite paint colors, they aren’t everyone’s. Consider repainting, especially in the main living areas. This will make your home universally appealing, and give your space an updated look.

If you are selling your home and having an open house, you should leave that event to the real estate agent and make yourself scarce. Trying to sell people on your home as they are walking through it may be a big turn off to buyers. Go shopping or run errands for the day, but just make sure you stay away the entire time.

As was stated in the beginning of the article, learning important details about the real estate selling process can prove to be helpful. Apply the information you learned from reading this article to selling your Flower Mound home. By following this advice, you may find yourself more confident when you proceed with selling your home.

For more information on selling your Flower Mound home, contact The Buehlers & Associates at (972) 355-1600.

For more insider tips, and to join in on our fun community, come on over and Like our Facebook page! If you found this article useful, don’t forget to “Like”, “Share”, or “+1″ it by clicking the buttons below.

This is a great time to plan on buying a second home. There are amazing tax benefits that you can take advantage of, and of course, you get a great new place to relax. If you are buying a second home to live in, rather than to rent out, the interest you pay on the mortgage, as long as it doesn’t exceed $1.1 million on both homes, is deductible. What’s more, you can deduct property taxes on your new home too.

However, most people don’t think about buying a second home to live in year-round. It’s usually a retreat or vacation home and they don’t live there more than a few months out of the year. The remainder of the year is ideal for renting it out. It would help with the bills, wouldn’t it? Considering the many amenities that Flower Mound has to offer, and the fact that it’s so close to the DFW airport, you’ll have no problem finding renters. However, you will have to deal with different types of tax rules depending on how long you actually live there throughout the year. For example, if the renter stays there no more than two weeks out of the year, the rent is tax-free to you, regardless of what you’re charging.

Anything longer than two weeks out of the year is considered “real” rental property with taxable income. To calculate your tax rate, you’ll need to deduct everything you spend on the house in preparation of it being rented during the year. You’ll also need to make sure that you only deduct the portion of expenses that would apply to the time the property was rented out. You can’t deduct expenses for any part of the year that you live there.

What happens if you stay in your nice, new second home for more than two weeks? It is now considered property you obtained for your personal use. If you spent more on the house than what you’ve made in rent, you can’t deduct those losses because it’s considered property that you essentially use for yourself. You also can’t deduct the interest you pay on the home. Basically, making use of it as rental property gives you all the tax benefits.

Many people buying a second home wonder if they can one day sell the house and take advantage of the $500,000 law. This law allows them to accept $500,000 in profit for their first house, without worrying about taxes. However, there is a way to use this law for your second home as well. All you need to do is live in the house as your primary residence for the qualifying period of two years before you sell it. Right away, you’ll save $500,000 out of the profit you would receive by selling the house!

For more information on purchasing Flower Mound real estate, contact The Buehlers & Associates at (972) 355-1600.

For more insider tips, and to join in on our fun community, come on over and Like our Facebook page! If you found this article useful, don’t forget to “Like”, “Share”, or “+1″ it by clicking the buttons below.

During the past few years, foreclosures have reached record-breaking numbers. With long-lasting unemployment, and the shortage of qualified buyers for homes, the downward momentum for the real estate market could continue for the remainder of this decade. In reality, we might even see another dip when mortgage rates go up, even if mortgage rates were to rise to as little as 8%. An average mortgage payment on a $200,000 loan could go up approximately 45% if the interest rates increase from the current 4.5% to 8% in the next five years, which, by historical standards, is still fairly low. Conversely, there’s no way earnings are likely to increase 45% in order to keep the real estate market stable.

With regards to making an investment in the housing market for the advantage of capital gains, investors will more than likely be waiting for a long time. When the economic system takes the next 10-15 years to restructure, the prospect of capital gains from real estate investing won’t be terribly exciting. Price inflation won’t have much of an effect in the troubled areas.

Let’s be really clear here: buying real estate isn’t an investment for capital gains; it’s an investment for cash flow. Particularly now, with our baby boomer population getting older, there will be more sellers than there are buyers over the next decade. The point here is not to discourage people from making a smart purchase on a good property. Instead, we want to make certain that people don’t suffer under the illusion that they can make a real estate purchase now and sell it for profit in just a few, short years.

The need for rentals is on the rise. Experts project there will be an additional 10-15 million renter households by 2016, which is a tremendous increase from the 40.1 million renter households in 2011. This surge in rental households is based upon the number of upside-down mortgages and inevitable foreclosures in 2012, along with the effects of mortgage rates increasing around 2013.

Why invest in real estate in 2012? Since you have to store your investments somewhere it would make sense to store it in a hard asset that produces income. You do, however, want to make sure you invest in more robust economies that are presently prospering and offer favorable regulation and taxes. Ideally invest in cities that would be fairly resilient from recession or depression such as the town of Flower Mound in the Dallas, Texas area which is in close proximity to a major military base.

If you are planning on waiting until property values decline another 20-40%, you are probably not looking in the best areas for investing. Target areas that are safe and reliable with a strong local economy. Look for communities that are stable, prosperous and have consistent growth.

In the next 5-10 years, the demand for rental housing will become overwhelming in all of the right areas, which will provide savvy investors golden opportunities to invest in real estate with positive cash flow for the next several years.

To be able to cash in on the rental boom, you’ll need to be a landlord. But, there’s no rush, so don’t buy as much as you can as quickly as possible. The opportunity to invest in real estate with a positive cash flow will be around for several years.

If you’re curious about the state of real estate in Flower Mound, TX and want some expert advice, contact The Buehlers & Associates at 972-355-1600.

For more insider tips, and to join in on our fun community, come on over and Like our Facebook page! If you found this article useful, don’t forget to “Like”, “Share”, or “+1″ it by clicking the buttons below.