Kendra Ruminer's Two Cents of Real Estate

Take A Peek At Los Alamos, New Mexico

Category: Uncategorized (Page 20 of 21)

PID – Truth or Dare?

August 13, 2020 /

Los Alamos is a small town with a rich history of ingenuity and can do attitude. This is never more evident than when we’re talking about the housing market. You don’t have to be a part of this community for very long to realize that you need to be creative when it comes to living arrangements. Whether we’re talking about renovating a post World War II relic like a Lustron Home (Don’t worry. If you have no idea what this is, keep watching the blog and I’ll happily explain in a future post) or subdividing a particularly large lot to make room for a new neighbor perched on the edge of a canyon. We know how to think outside the box!

Sometimes, the need for housing pushes us into completely new territory. At least for Los Alamos. A good example of this is the Mirador subdivision currently being built in White Rock. It sits on NM State Road 4 between the White Rock Visitor’s center and the stoplight at Grand Canyon. If you’ve been to White Rock lately, you’ve no doubt noticed the rows of houses being built at what almost seems a frantic pace. You’ve probably also noticed that the land itself seemed to go through endless rounds of grading and preparation before the first houses went up and became habitable toward the end of last year.

Why did it take so long for the builder to start building actual houses?

A good portion of White Rock sits on a bed of basalt. This had to be blasted and removed before building crews could lay a foundation for the houses to be built.

“Gosh, that sounds expensive!”

It is. Or was. Or rather, it WILL be. But that’s why we’re talking about PIDs. Public Improvement Districts. You might have heard the term either in the Los Alamos Daily Post or the Los Alamos Monitor or maybe in a council meeting. Or, you might have heard about public improvement districts in relation to several of them in the Albuquerque/Rio Rancho area. This concept is widely used in other larger metropolitan areas. But Mirador is the first public improvement district in Los Alamos County.

How does this work? Here is a quote directly from the November 4, 2018 Los Alamos Daily Post Article by Carol Clark.

“So how will the PID generate money in order to cover costs for administration and infrastructure? According to agenda documents, a special levy will be assessed on property in the development. Homeowners in the Mirador development will pay this levy in addition all other taxes and charges. The levy is only collected by the County and no homeowner, property owner or commercial property owner outside the development will pay it. In an earlier article published in the Los Alamos Daily Post, Community Development Department Director Paul Andrus said the cost to the homeowner will average about $200/month under the PID.”

Hmm. Let’s relate that back to the idea of buying power. I talked about buying power back on July 29, 2020. You can see that blog post here. The face value of $200/month when you’re talking about a big ticket item like a house might not sound like a lot. But when you add that $200 as a line item to your monthly house payment, it can feel enormous.

In my previous post about buying power and low interest rates, I discussed the impact of lowering interest rates because a percentage point or two, even half a point, can be the difference between making a house affordable or not. Most home buyers come into the transaction with a comfortable number in mind. They know what they can afford each month to pay for principal, interest, insurance, and taxes. They’ve done their research. They know that they need to leave room in the budget for things like utilities and maintenance costs. There are the cost of living necessities too. And that’s when $200 can be the difference between a house with a PID levy associated with it being a good idea or not.

Here’s another thing. That levy associated with the PID sticks with the house for 30 years. Sure. Homeowner A who initially moves into this lovely, brand new house might be willing to pay that extra chunk of change each month. But when they go to sell the house, they’re going to have to find the next homeowner willing to take over payments. Depending on the future of PIDs in Los Alamos County, this could affect how future buyers view that house and what they might or might not be willing to pay for it.

Whatever the future may hold for our county and our real estate market, there is no denying that PIDs offer a lot of good incentives for development. In theory, they can keep prices down and incentivize the development of difficult property by spreading out the cost of infrastructure over time and making sure only those benefitting from the development pay for it. But there are other questions that will only be answered as time goes on.

Until we have all the answers, I suggest getting as much information as possible if you’re considering the purchase of a property with a PID attached. Find out how this affects your monthly payment and ask plenty of questions about exactly what you’re paying for. Don’t be afraid to satisfy every bit of your curiosity and get as much information as you possibly can about this new and unusual obligation you’re considering. Information is always power. And don’t forget. You can always call your Realtor with any questions or concerns about your real estate transaction.

Call Kendra Now!

Let’s Get Real: Wire Fraud is a Thing

August 5, 2020 /

You’ve found the house of your dreams. You’ve made your offer. The offer has been accepted and you’ve been working with the lender who did the pre-approval on your loan. Now it’s down to the homestretch and you’re so excited you’re on edge just waiting for that closing date. Then you get an email from the title company telling you that you need to wire them your down payment and closing costs RIGHT NOW! If you wait even a millisecond, you’re going to lose this house!

What next? I’ll tell you what next. STOP! Seriously. Put the brakes on and just wait a second. Take a deep breath and call your Realtor! That’s right. Get on the phone and talk to the person who has been walking you through this entire process from the beginning. I can promise your real estate agent absolutely knows whether or not the title company has an urgent need to have your down payment and/or closing costs in hand right this second. Whatever you do, DO NOT wire a single penny without having an in person chat, Zoom call, or phone conversation with your agent, your lender, or your title company representative. Because let me tell you right now, if it feels fishy? It’s totally fishy!

Cases of Wire Fraud in Real Estate Are On the Rise!

I know, you’re probably thinking to yourself that this is Los Alamos. But I can assure you that I have had clients here in town who have been victims of wire fraud. In the case of my clients, they had enough savvy to question some of the information in the email. Once we realized what was happening, the phishers were denied their loot. But there have been other buyers who were not so fortunate. Imagine losing over a hundred thousand dollars with no way to get it back because your money just took a trip to Sri Lanka. Not cool!

How It Works

The entire scam is based upon a method you’re probably already familiar with. Phishing. A process that hackers use to snag personal information from the inboxes of professionals like real estate agents, lenders, and title company representatives. This information usually includes a buyer’s name, address, pertinent financial info, and even some pretty accurate numbers from their anticipated closing costs. It could even include the down payment amount they’re supposed to bring to the closing table.

Once the hacker has this important and personal information, they use “spoofing” techniques to build an email or even a phone number that looks absolutely legit. They pose as your lender or your agent, even going so far as to get a semi accurate signature to convince the buyer that this is a legitimate request.

In the case of wire fraud, an ounce of prevention is worth thousands of your hard earned dollars. Here are a few ways to protect yourself:

If you have already initiated a wire transfer, then time is running out. Contact your financial institution immediately. Generally speaking, there is a very small window of time when the transfer can be recalled. Don’t forget to tell your bank that you’ve been a victim of wire fraud. It may encourage them to do everything they can to recall that transaction.

Contact the FBI’s cyber crimes department and give them the details of your situation. Be aware though, these transactions are not insured. There is really no way to get your money back. It is simply gone. That is why it is SO important to prevent this from happening to you!

Prevent Wire Fraud by putting as little financial information into an email as possible. Talk in person (masked of course!). Use the phone. Use Zoom if you’re purchasing a home and you’re not already in the local area. Be free with your questions. Never be afraid to call your lender, your title company representative, and especially your Realtor! If something feels wrong, it probably is!

If you do get a request from someone claiming to be one of your trusted professionals, don’t click on anything in that email. If it’s a strange phone call, hang up. Then initiate contact from your end on purpose! Call your Realtor. Call your lender. Speak to a legitimate source and explain what’s happening. These are the same things that you should already be doing if you get a message from Paypal telling you that your account has been locked and please enter your personal information to unlock it. If the problem or the request really exists, then it will STILL exist when YOU contact them to discuss or resolve it!

Take your future by the horns and don’t let anyone try to snatch it from you. And as always, if you have questions or concerns, CALL ME! I’d love to give you more information.

Interest Rates & Buying Power

July 29, 2020 /

We all hear the talk. It’s impossible to miss. It might only be a snippet of conversation between some financial analyst and an economist discussing strategies employed by the feds to help boost the economy. But we hear an awful lot about interest rates. What do low interest rates really mean for home buyers and sellers? Let’s take a look.

Now. I’m not going to take you through all of the pieces of the financial puzzle that actually affect mortgage rates. Let’s keep it simple by saying that both banks and the federal government have an interest in how many people are purchasing a home. The bottom line is that in the beginning of 2020, we have seen record lows for interest rates on home mortgages. Yes. Coronavirus has had a negative impact on the economy, but even though interest rates have come up just a bit since the spring, they are STILL lower than they ever have been before.

What does this mean? It means your hard earned dollar can now get you a LOT more house for the money. And here in Los Alamos, this is great news! The basic laws of supply and demand mean our home prices tend to carry a higher than average median value than other areas of New Mexico. But when you have the increased buying power of a record low interest rate, this can go a long way toward bridging the gap.

If you were ever considering the purchase of a home, now is the time!

Remember that your actual mortgage payment includes more than one line item. You are likely paying $ toward your principal balance and another sum for taxes and insurance to an escrow account. You might pay mortgage insurance, and of course, you pay interest. By far the largest piece of your monthly payment is very likely the interest payment. That means, if you’ve set your heart on a house just above your initial budget, you might actually find that your budget is bigger than you thought because a very low interest rate will mean that interest portion each month is much less!

When we talk about interest rates for big ticket items like homes, a single percentage point can make a huge difference to your monthly payment. This is why pre-qualifying and getting a pre-approval from a reputable lender for your new home purchase is such a vital part of the process. Once you have started working with a lender, you will have a better picture of just how much buying power you have. Once you have this information in hand, it’s time to go shopping for that fantastic new home.

Nope. It’s almost never too late to take advantage of record low interest rates!

Don’t worry. If you bought a house in the last ten years or even the last five. Heck, even if you purchased one only a few years back, there are ways that you might be able to benefit from the current low interest rates.

“I love my house! But my interest rate wasn’t nearly as good as I could get now!”

If this is you, then maybe it’s time to refinance. There are several factors that should affect your decision to refinance, but if you love your home and plan to remain in it until you retire from the National Laboratory and head to Florida (or wherever you prefer) it might benefit you to refinance.

Remember that your home has likely appreciated this last year. Homeowners in Los Alamos County are enjoying more equity than ever. And while banks aren’t too keen to do cash out refinancing like they did a decade ago, you might still qualify for a better interest rate. You’ve been a homeowner for awhile now, right? That likely means your credit score has been improving. And now your initial down payment has been supplemented by the market value increase of your home! Equity means a bank might look even more favorably on a loan for your home. Imagine that! More buying power while buying something you already own. You might even look into a fifteen year mortgage and discover a way to pay off your big ticket investment even sooner than anticipated!

“We’ve only been in our house for a short while, but we need something else!”

Low interest rates are great news for you if you fall into this category. And don’t worry. That’s why so many homes fall into what real estate professionals sometimes call “starter homes”. They’re meant to be a start. A place to get your feet wet as a homeowner. Maybe that two bedroom quad was a snug hideaway for you and your spouse a few years ago. But now you have a toddler and another baby on the way and you’re busting at the seams.

Well, this is the perfect time to sell and move into something bigger. Remember, low interest rates mean other people looking for “starter homes” will have the buying power to do just that. Buy your home! Then you’ll be able to turn around and use your equity and that lower interest rate mortgage to purchase a home that better fits your changing needs.

So, don’t wait another minute if you’ve been thinking you can’t possibly afford the home you want. You will never know until you try. Give me a call today and let’s chat about ways to exercise YOUR buying power!

Surprise! You Bought A Home.

July 22, 2020 /

You’ve just purchased the home of your dreams in Los Alamos County. You’ve never been so excited about the prospect of moving. Break out the champagne and celebrate, right?

Welcome Home To Your New Space!

Now. Let me be the first to congratulate you. You’re absolutely right. Finding a home to purchase in our community is a whirlwind ride all on its own and that doesn’t begin to cover the step by step process of actually purchasing this new living space. So, yes. CONGRATULATIONS! But while we enjoy that champagne, let’s talk details shall we?

Let me be frank. There are a few hidden costs associated with purchasing a home. I know. I can hear you right now. “Kendra,” you say. “Believe me! I’ve already gone through multiple inspections. I’ve paid insurance premiums and set up an escrow account with my lender. I have this in the bag!”

Right. The details about closing costs were probably a surprise if you’re a first time homebuyer. I always try to walk my buyers through the entire process and keep them aware that these things are coming. But there are just a few more things to talk about. And honestly, they CAN be pretty fun. After all, who doesn’t like the part where you move in and make this new house your home?

Remember That First Walkthrough?

No. Not the walk through that happens just before closing. Although, if your new home was professionally staged when you first decided to purchase it, that last walkthrough might have been a bit of an eye opener if the place was bare boards and stark walls. That was the moment you got to actually picture your things inside the house. How did it look? Don’t worry. There are plenty of ways to make this new space feel like your home.

Now, go back to the very FIRST time you saw this home. For those of you who have already purchased or those considering selling and moving into another home, keep in mind that in this Covid-19 market, many of these walkthroughs are taking place virtually. There are so many home buyers who have NEVER physically been inside the new home they’re purchasing before they’ve got the keys in their hand and the mortgage payment coupon in their mailbox.

Stop for just a moment. The Los Alamos market is unlike anywhere else. The good news is that you’ve got your house! Love that! Give yourself permission to be thrilled with that! And remember that the rest is just cosmetic. Even if its quite possible that your new house hasn’t been updated since the seventies, who cares? This is your chance to make this house YOURS. Keep in mind that in other cities you might be peeling off the nineties, the eighties, and the seventies before putting your stamp on it. A few less layers can be a good thing!

Remember all of those improvements you knew needed to be made on this home before you became convinced that this was the ONE? There’s nothing wrong with some can do DIY attitude. But now that you’ve come through the home buying process, I don’t want some of the basic foundation stones for actually LIVING in your home to get lost in the shuffle.

Start Small

Yes. Small. As in, blinds or shades, or some kind of window coverings. You need to be able to cover your windows for privacy and also, in a bigger way, to maximize heating and cooling. So many homes in our area are lacking in modern double paned windows. I can think of a few homes that are missing screens on the windows, much less blinds. And we’re talking trading pretty for functional right now. Start with examining all of the blinds or shades in your new home. Count them, measure them, and then start looking for good deals on decent window coverings. You’ll be surprised how quickly the cost grows. But, you’ll also be thankful you handled this small task when that brutal summer sun starts creeping into your home and sending the temperature toward the roof. Good blinds can save plenty of pennies in cooling costs. And those are the pennies you’ll use to improve your new home in other exciting ways!

It may take a while for your new house to look like a real homey haven.

Now, The Kitchen

No. Don’t look at the cabinets. That’s a project you’ll be tackling soon enough. What I would suggest instead, is to look at the appliances. Check them for functionality. Does the refrigerator actually keep things cold? Does it freeze your produce solid? Does the dishwasher clean the dishes, or does it recycle your food leavings before flinging them back onto the plates and glasses? Does that snazzy built in microwave work? How about the oven? Did the house come with a washer and dryer? Do they get the job done or are you looking for a clothesline to finish your dry cycle outdoors?

Appliances are a vital part of our lives. Modern families are hard to manage without these work reducing beauties. But, as with everything else in a home, there is a decision that has to be made here. Is now the time to replace them or not? Do not let the avocado green or brilliant red or goldenrod yellow color of these make your decision for you. If an ancient refrigerator does its job and does not require you to call a repairman every day, then bump it down the priority list. If you’re dreading the purchase of the new fridge with its $3300 price tag, don’t let that keep you from replacing an older model that is costing you an extra $100 or $200 per month in electric and repairs. Think energy efficient and prioritize your list of renovations. Then assess each appliance with the decisiveness of a general making strategic battle plans. And by the way, take your time and enjoy making this space all yours!

Plumbing

Next, let’s take a look at the bathrooms and every faucet in your new home. Are the toilets making weird noises? Do the faucets drip? Does the shower head hit everything BUT your hair? Replace or repair these little things. The cost of doing them all at once may take more of your budget than you’d like. But making sure that you’re not increasing your water bill or driving yourself insane every time you take a shower is a must. And speaking of shower, you might want to replace the shower curtains or doors depending on how that door track looks. And what about the toilet seat? A new seat can refresh the toilets in your home in ways you probably never imagined possible.

Make sure the bathrooms in your new home are liveable.

This community is unlike anywhere else. We love living here. We love the fact that our homes are unique and sometimes dated. Okay. Maybe we don’t LOVE the dated part. But you’re going to do something amazing with that space. I know you will. Until then, remember that its about functionality, energy efficiency, and not draining your bank account penny by penny each month. Making sure your home is your refuge even while you’re rehabbing your heart out to make it the haven of your dreams will make the DIY rehab project that much more fulfilling.

Ready to Make a Move? Call or Email Kendra Today!

Using Zillow Responsibly…

July 15, 2020 /

Is there anyone left on this planet who has NOT heard of Zillow? Okay. Maybe planet is a pushing it. Is there anyone in the United States who has not clicked their way around Zillow taking a peek at the housing market in their area? Whether you’re an enthusiastic Zillow user or not, let me give you three tips for using Zillow responsibly in the Los Alamos County real estate market.

Tip # 1 – Pre-Foreclosure Homes Are Not Actually For Sale

That’s something I get a lot of in the real estate business. Especially here in Los Alamos where homes come on and go off the market with a record low number of days on market. I get calls from excited clients who just saw something perfect pop up on Zillow as “pre-foreclosure”. They want to hop in their car and go look at this fantastic property. They’re ready to make an offer! This is the home of their dreams.

Except… Pre-foreclosure is just a term that comes from a homeowner getting slightly behind on their mortgage payments. When this happens, the lender has a legal obligation to file a public notice. It’s an attempt – an early attempt – to collect on a debt. There are a whole lot of steps between public notice and actual foreclosure. In the meantime, the house is NOT on the market. You CANNOT go and take a peek at it. It’s still someone else’s home. No wonder it’s perfect for your family, right?

Tip # 2 – Just Because Zillow Suggests a Home Value, Doesn’t Make It So

This goes back to tip number one. Zillow is a database that gets information from public records. Even on their website they tell you this. Hence the public notice that results in a pre-foreclosure listing on Zillow. But this is where home valuation gets really tricky. New Mexico is a non-disclosure state. That means our home values are not made public record. 

Not that this actually slows Zillow down. The database is filled with what they refer to as “zestimates”. Basically, Zillow has algorithms that come up with what a computer estimates to be the best possible guess for a home’s value. But that isn’t necessarily based on recent sales prices.  A homeowner can go in and input the value of their home, but that’s up to the homeowner. As a realtor I would never make that information public.

Tip # 3 – Don’t Believe Everything Zillow Has to Say About Mortgages

This is not to say that the mortgage calculator on Zillow is wrong. It’s not. It’s actually a very useful tool. Zillow has multiple tools to help you figure out what it might cost to own the home of your dreams. Insurance, HOA fees, mortgage, mortgage insurance, they’ve got a little line item for everything. What I ask people to keep in mind is that this is all perfect world thinking. And no. I don’t believe that the word “perfect” applies to anyone trying to scrounge up a down payment for the home of their dreams. But what this doesn’t take into account is the actual funding process for purchasing a home. This is a complex process that has a lot of variables Zillow can’t anticipate for you.

This is why you call a Real Estate Agent!

Please. Give me a call. If you’ve got questions about your current home’s value or are looking to sell and get something bigger or downsize to something smaller, talk to an actual human being who will walk you through the realities of this process. Sure. Zillow is useful. I would never say that it isn’t. But please use a common sense approach when surfing the Internet for the home of your dreams. It makes the transition from dream into reality a whole lot smoother!

Call or Email Kendra

Title Insurance 101

July 9, 2020 /

If you’ve ever purchased a home, you’ve heard of title insurance. You’ve probably paid for it. You’ve probably also grumbled a bit about the added cost. But this is only a one time fee. Usually LESS THAN 1% of the purchase price of your home. Of course, that can still feel like a ton of cash to lay out at closing when it’s easy to feel pinched about the cost of purchasing a home.

What is a title anyway? Why do I need someone to guarantee it? The house isn’t going anywhere, right?

Let’s start by talking about what title insurance actually is.

According to The Street, a popular financial blog, “more of a risk prevention than a risk assumption (the model for most insurance policies) form of insurance, title insurance covers the history of the policy-holder’s home, examines the history for any trouble spots that could damage the value of the home, and highlights those potential issues before the buyer purchases the home”.

So what does that really mean? It means that you’re paying a company to research the title of the home you’re purchasing just in case there is something wonky in the history of that property.

Let’s bring that back around to our community of Los Alamos. Think about how many homes were either built, brought here, or somehow fabricated back when the Atomic Energy Commission was still in charge. Think about the chain of owners and banks and lenders and foreclosures and lien releases and… (I really think you get the idea). There are other homes that were damaged and then reconstructed after the Cerro Grande fire.

Now think about the way a mortgage works. Even if a lender only owns a pile of ash, they still want a piece of that pile. And this is before taking into account the homes that pass from one party to the next via a will or some kind of inheritance situation.

  • A home’s title includes:
  • The property abstract (sometimes called a chain of title)
  • A description of any easements or rights of way. (or maybe a note about national forest access)
  • Liens against the property

The title is a public record held in a clerk’s office and is technically available to anyone who is interested. Considering what the title is and how many different things affect it, you might imagine why having a knowledgable and licensed title expert to review the title before you purchase a property is not only a requirement, but a really good idea.

“Okay, so can I just pay for a title INSPECTION?”

Nope, the insurance part comes in when or if you’ve owned your home for five years and some undisclosed heir shows up and claims you’re squatting on his inheritance. Or (a far more common occurrence) when the county does a tax audit and you discover there was an escrow account error ten years ago and the previous homeowner’s lender neglected to pay the property taxes. Yep. Guess who becomes responsible for those back taxes?

That’s right. The current homeowner.

So, next time you’re buying a new home or you’re speaking with someone who is and there is a discussion about closing costs and title companies, and title insurance, feel free to chime in with all you now know about why title insurance is important. After all, nobody wants to be left holding the bag when it comes to an unexpected financial lien against your home. Your home is supposed to be your safe space. Title insurance can make sure that it is fully YOURS.

Could You Quarantine In This Space?

July 1, 2020 /
The Coronavirus Has Changed What Buyers Are Looking For In a House

I think we’ve all come to the honest realization that the world we once lived in is gone. Things have changed. Everything has changed. The way that we hang out with our friends. The way that we hang out with our family… Wait. The way that we ONLY hang out with our family.

All of that togetherness is changing the way people live their lives and the things they value in a home. Let’s look at a few things that are becoming far more important to Average Joe Buyer.

Kitchens

So many times in the past, I’ve seen busy families who purchase homes because of their proximity to a school district or because the bedrooms are big or the garage and driveway has extra slots for the extra cars belonging to a family full of teenagers. Kitchens were useful because they contained conveniences like the toaster over, the microwave, and that mega juicer you just had to have but rarely use.

Now? The lack of restaurant options, especially in small communities like Los Alamos, means that homeowners are using their kitchens in ways they’ve not had to in ages. Even if you’re getting takeout and bringing it home, the kitchen is seeing far more traffic (or the dishwasher is!) than ever before. Suddenly, kitchens matter. Buyers want big eat in kitchens with tons of space, pantries that can handle kids who are no longer eating at school, and up to date appliances. The kitchen has suddenly become important to everyone and not just to a few home gourmets.

Home Office

Telecommuting is the new normal. No doubt about it. And considering the direction things are moving, there’s no doubt that this isn’t likely to change anytime soon. That means the home office has become the most important thing that anyone thinks about. The availability of any space that could be turned into a home office in a pinch has just become your home’s biggest selling point. Have an atrium or a little breakfast nook? Boom! Extra office. Have a spare bedroom? Boom! Instant school room. Yeah. Don’t forget those kiddos. Homes are now doing triple duty. Schoolroom. Workplace. And my personal favorite. Daycare.

Multiple Living Areas

All of a Sudden One Family Room Just Isn’t Enough!

In newer homes in places like Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, and Las Cruces, and even some of the newer housing developments here in Los Alamos County, a second living area or a bonus room is a given. Most of the homes in our community were built long before this was a popular concept. Not that there haven’t been tons of renovations or rehab projects with just that idea in mind, but all of a sudden buyers are VERY interested in homes that boast a second living area. After all, families that live and work together eventually need a break! What a great thing to have a basement or an upstairs loft where you can send the kids to enjoy their screen time while you binge watch Outlander and try to relax from your long day of pretending that you were super productive while working at home in a job that was never designed for a telecommute.

Outdoor Living Spaces

The backyard or side yard in some cases, has become a viable new place to hang out when all of the living space inside becomes either full of kids, or just boring. Patios and decks are suddenly far more attractive to potential buyers than ever before. Want to wow them when they come to view your house? Arrange your outdoor furniture to invite a buyer to imagine lounging after work with a book. Add a barbeque grill and I bet you’ll hook them in a second.

At the end of the day, our lives will never go back to the way that they were. And that means the real estate market – even the one in Los Alamos – is going to have to change too.

50 Shades of Greige

June 26, 2020 /

Yes. Greige. It’s a thing. A cross between gray and beige. It’s an indicator that the range of taupe and beige colors we used to see in the last decade have been fazed out in favor of the new, hot color or “lipstick” for your home. Gray.

I can see you scratching your head right now. Gray lipstick? Sure. It seems absolutely ridiculous, but interior and exterior home colors are a big deal when it comes to the real estate market.

Your Home. Your Rules. Your Color Choices.

Hey, you know what? If you want that purple wall in your bathroom, that is all up to you. Until you sell your house. That’s when it becomes an issue because buyers have a difficult time thinking about anything other than your design choices. In my last blog post, I talked about the benefits of staging a house for sale. What many people don’t realize is that your paint choices are all part of the staging. A BIG part.

White, Gray, & Neutrals with a splash of color are best.

What The Cool Kids Are Doing

I know what you’re going to say.

“Kendra, Los Alamos is a seller’s market. I could paint the interior of my house periwinkle and people would still buy it!”

You’re not wrong, of course. What you’re missing is the nuance of the seller’s market. The tweaks and extra effort that someone selling their home can make in order to turn their house around and get it sold in a week instead of six months. Not just sold, but sold for a top dollar price that will make it possible to maximize the investment made when the home was purchased.

The other part of selling a home in Los Alamos is that many of you bought your homes during a previous boom when the prices were sky high. Our property values fluctuate based upon things like Laboratory contracts in ways that are absolutely unlike anywhere else. If you are one of those homeowners and you’re finding the need to move either because you’re upsizing, downsizing or you’re moving to a new place to start the next chapter in your life, you’ll need to squeeze every penny out of your house to save your initial investment and hopefully come out ahead.

This means hiring a professional painter or rolling up your sleeves and doing a DIY job on your home’s “lipstick”. This can be the difference between meeting your goals or consistently getting offers that are below what you’re comfortable with.

Space Still Sells

A beautiful light gray is cool and peaceful. It can make a smaller room look spacious and it highlights the natural light from your windows. Considering a good number of the homes in our community have rather odd dimensions and unique floor plans that have undergone numerous renovations over the years, gray can be the answer to making your space look cool, modern, and inviting.

Taupe is another neutral color. And before you start reminding me that I just said brown was out, keep in mind that taupe doesn’t have to lean toward brown. There are many modern shades of taupe that maintain the warmth of a brown tone while bringing in grays, blues, or even lavender for a sophisticated result that complements our Southwestern style quite nicely.

White. Not institutional white mind you, but something that has a nice undertone that sticks with the cool, restful, and spacious theme you want to set in your home. Absolutely avoid yellows in your white. There was a yellowish off white color in the nineties called Navajo White that wound up in a huge number of homes here in Los Alamos. Using an off white with yellow undertones will immediately make your home look dated. So, it might be white. But you’re still going for blue or gray tint in order to keep things modern.

Simple. Spacious. Modern. Even if its not your style, it sells.

We All Like Cool Inviting Spaces

Even if you’re not selling your home and you’re looking around wondering why you feel so cramped and tense in your living space, consider lightening your color scheme with grays and blue tinted whites. You might be surprised how a bit of fresh lipstick can help you feel differently about the home you have. Stick around and keep checking my blog for new ideas to make your home not only a place you love to live in, but a solid investment for the future.

All of Life (and Real Estate)is a Stage

June 19, 2020 /

Staging is a term that we use a lot in the real estate market. If you’re a buyer or a seller and you’re wondering how that applies to YOU, stick around and let’s talk about how staging can help a house put its best foot forward, figuratively speaking of course!

Does this bedroom look lived in? Or, does it look like a dream come true?

Staging to Sell

You might be thinking to yourself that the idea of hiring a professional company to stage your home for sale is a preposterous idea. You might be right. Sort of. The market here in Los Alamos is almost certainly a seller’s market. But even in a seller’s market when there are buyers lining up to get a peek at your house before you’ve got the sign fully planted in the yard, staging could still be the difference between having a bidding war that gets you top dollar and just selling your house.

Now. If you’re not interested in hiring a pro to fully stage your home for sale because you’re still living there and your stuff is still necessary for your day to day activities, there are still some things that can be done to make your home really shine.

Buyers Buy Space Not Stuff

You’re moving, remember? Pack your out of season clothes and store them somewhere else. Let your closets look emptily huge because let’s face it, we don’t have a ton of closet space in the Los Alamos area and whatever we do have needs to look amazing! That goes for any built in drawers, cabinets, or other spaces too. Staging is all about space. Space is inviting. Buyers want to be invited. Therefore, help your home by showing off every single room to its spacious advantage.

Make Them Envision Themselves At Home in Your Home

The other part of staging is doing everything that you can to make that buyer want to live in your home. Leave a folded newspaper on the coffee table with a tray that makes it look as though someone is about to sit and enjoy a fresh cuppa. The kitchen should be clean and ready for the preparation of a gourmet meal. The entire set up of furniture should encourage flow. Flow from one room to another. Encourage your potential buyer to wander through your space in a way that invites them to imagine their idyllic life if they should purchase your home.

Your Grandkids are Cute, but Not Helpful to Buyers

It’s been proven time and time again that photos and personal items are a distraction. You want any potential buyers to keep their mind on your house. The beautiful space, the light, the spacious rooms, the amount of storage, those hardwood floors you just refinished, whatever your home’s selling point, don’t let buyers get distracted by your family photos. Remember, you’re selling the house, not your stuff. So all of the things that make it uniquely yours have no place in someone else’s fantasy.

Buying a Staged Home

Now, when you’re on the buying end of that staged home, please don’t forget that you’re buying a space and not the furniture. Remember that your stuff is going to be taking the place of that beautiful lounge chair in the cozy reading nook and likely all of your kitchen gadgets will be cluttering up the countertops.

This is not to say that you’re not to love the idea of a quiet morning cup of coffee on the deck staring out across the valley at the Sangre De Cristos. You can! But take a look around when you walk through a beautifully staged home and focus on what they’re trying to get you to focus on. The space. Take that opportunity to picture YOUR stuff in the rooms. Imagine how well you and your personal items would fit. That is what you’re trying to discover. Right? A new place to call home.

What’s Appealing About a Curb?

June 12, 2020 /

Curb Appeal is probably one of the most common things people think about when it comes to buying or selling a home. But curb appeal isn’t just for homes on the market. It’s about showing your home at its best to anyone who passes by. Most importantly, its about maintaining your home value. If that sounds important, here are a few things you should keep in mind.

Have you ever pulled up to your house and parked your car after a long day at work and thought to yourself that you should really put away the lawn mower? I’ll bet there’s something that catches your eye. Something negative. Here’s a thought. Your neighbors probably sense that negativity too. So do people passing by. They just don’t immediately zero in on the lawn mower or the pile of branches you pruned three months ago and never did anything with. Curb Appeal is a perception, remember? So, let’s talk about how to swing it toward the positive.

But that’s not the only question, is it? Your home is a huge investment. And especially here in Los Alamos, you’re probably buying a house that was built several decades ago. Our unique town isn’t just about single family homes. We have condos, apartments, duplexes, and quads and we toss around real estate terminology that doesn’t exist outside the area. All of those things add up to one important fact. You want your home to maintain its value and you want it to look not just nice, but singular in comparison to the others on the street.

Let’s start with Contrast. It’s actually an artistic tool. If you’re living in a quad or a duplex here in Los Alamos and the whole thing is painted one of those total quad colors we all love so much… Raise your hand if your house is brown, yellow, or stucco! Sometimes you might feel as though your house is already starting off on the wrong foot.

Begin With Contrast & Balance

So, what exactly is contrast? Contrast is what draws the eye. A bright turquoise pot against a warm pink stucco wall. A lovely copper carriage lamp against the yellow siding beside your front door.

And speaking of that front door. Paint it. Or your screen door if you have one. Use a snappy color that contrasts with the exterior paint and really sets off the front of the house. Or paint your porch. No. Not a fresh coat of brown. Try charcoal or white. Something that tones down the brown. And if you have garage doors, paint them too! It might take a little research to discover if they require a bit of a primer first, but a fresh coat of paint can do wonders for your home.

Once you’ve beautified the doors or the porch, try adding a splash of color with potted plants or even a perky flag announcing your alma mater or your favorite sports team.

Next, tackle the lighting. It doesn’t have to be expensive. Choose to highlight your walkway with simple lights from a hardware store. They can even be solar powered if you’d like to boast about your eco friendliness. Homes with a welcoming path to the front door look welcoming. Period.

Balance is also an artistic concept. Think window boxes on both sides of your porch or a flower bed with a zen feeling to it. Balance is that sensation you get when you look at something peaceful. Besides, when it comes to curb appeal, balance gives the viewer a sense of stability and timelessness. It’s inviting and welcoming to the eye and if you were trying to SELL your home, it would most certainly create a space that potential buyers want to see more of.

If you need some ideas for sprucing up your yard, check out last week’s blog post about Summer Gardening Ideas. But in Los Alamos, a good place to start balancing your yard is probably with the Juniper. If you have some, there’s a good chance they’re a little on the shaggy side. Or there’s even the possibility that they’ve entirely taken over your yard.

And of course, Regular Maintenance. Hmm. Funny how we all need a reminder about this. But then, we live in a town without formal HOAs and with a populace that argues constantly about what the county can and can’t tell us to do with our properties. I believe at one time, there was a house in White Rock with a Chinese Elm sprouting from its gutter.

Come on friends and neighbors in Los Alamos! Stain those windblown, sun bleached fences, weed your side yards, take last year’s tree trimmings to the transfer station, and love your home! If and when you sell your house, this one is critical. Never allow a potential buyer to approach your house when the fixture on your front porch has rusted to the point that you can’t actually replace the light bulb.

On the other hand, if you’re feeling frustrated that the house next door is sporting three leftover vehicles from the mid-sixties and a mailbox that’s leaning precariously to one side, take heart. The more you love your home. The more you spruce up a few things. The more you think about your property value and your curb appeal. The better your house will look when compared to the neighbors’. Remember. Contrast, right? So go out there and take a fresh look at your house and find a few simple ways to make it shine.

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