Attention: Texas Veterans

By Christine Wren
•
09 Jan, 2018
•

Please help me get the word out to all Texas Veterans ...

Dear Friends,

Have you ever heard “Thank a Veteran for your freedom”? One way to say thank you is to get the word out about special programs which help Veterans buy a home of their own. It’s the American Dream for most Veterans and they need your help!

Here are some major points to remember about home loans for vets:

• VA programs typically do not require any down payment or cash reserves

• The current minimum credit score required with most VA‐approved lenders is only 620 and qualifying is easier than on any other program

• There is no monthly mortgage insurance, so the VA program truly minimizes the cost of owning a home

And don’t worry – I’m here to help! I have received training to support military Veterans with their home loan benefits. To further assist your Veteran family members, friends, and co‐workers, I have a Texas VA Loan Specialist on my team.

Please help me get the word out to all Texas Veterans by forwarding this message to all of the Veterans you know. My Veteran‐support team is just a phone call away!

Cheers, Christine

Christine Wren REALTOR® / Global Reach, Local Expertise.

Branch Manager Chad Bowman is a Marine Corps Veteran with more than 12 years of experience as a VA Loan expert in Austin. His team has over 30 years of VA experience and expertise and they how how to maximize your VA home loan benefits.

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Dispelling the Myth About Home Affordability

By Christine Wren • October 11, 2018

We have all seen the headlines that report that buying a home is less affordable today than it was at any other time in the last ten years, and those headlines are accurate. But, have you ever wondered why the headlines don’t say the last 25 years, the last 20 years, or even the last 11 years?

New U.S. Home Sales Up 12.7% From Last Year

By Christine Wren • October 10, 2018

According to the latest New Residential Sales Report from the Census Bureau, new construction sales in August were up 3.5% from July and 12.7% from last year! This marks the second consecutive month with double-digit year-over-year growth (12.8% in July).

What’s Going On With Home Prices?

By Christine Wren • October 9, 2018

According to CoreLogic’s latest Home Price Insights Report, national home prices in August were up 5.5% from August 2017. This marks the first time since June 2016 that home prices did not appreciate by at least 6.0% year-over-year.

The True Cost of NOT Owning Your Home

By Christine Wren • October 8, 2018

Owning a home has great financial benefits, yet many continue to rent! Today, let’s look at the financial reasons why owning a home of your own has been a part of the American Dream for the entirety of America’s existence.

Austin housing market sets sales record for August

By Christine Wren, Realtor®, Certified International Property Specialist • September 25, 2018

The Austin Board of Realtors released new monthly housing data on Tuesday and, surprise, August was another one for the record books. The median home price for the City of Austin was $393,000.

Homeowners Reveal Their Top Nonnegotiable Amenities

By Source: “Important Amenities,” Porch.com (September 2018) • September 24, 2018

Home shoppers are unwilling to negotiate on certain amenities, and prime among them are central air conditioning and a private patio or backyard, according to a new survey of more than 1,000 homeowners conducted by remodeling site Porch.com. On the other hand, prospective buyers are less likely to consider stainless steel appliances or a swimming pool as deal-breaking must-haves.

Renters and homeowners differ quite a bit in their priorities, the survey found. While homeowners ranked central air, private backyard areas, and guest bedrooms as high priorities, renters ranked central air, an in-unit washer and dryer, and pet-friendly building policies as their top amenities.

How Much Has Your Home Increased in Value?

By Christine Wren • September 24, 2018

Home values have risen dramatically over the last twelve months. In CoreLogic’s most recent Home Price Index Report, they revealed that national home prices have increased by 6.2% year-over-year. CoreLogic broke down appreciation even further into four price ranges, giving us a more detailed view than if we had simply looked at the year-over-year increases in national median home price. The chart below shows the four price ranges from the report, as well as each one’s year-over-year growth from July 2017 to July 2018 (the latest data available).

If You Are Thinking of Selling? You Must Act NOW!

By Christine Wren • September 17, 2018

f you thought about selling your house this year, now more than ever may be the time to do it! The inventory of homes for sale is well ...

Are Homebuyers Starting to Hit the 'Pause' Button?

By Christine Wren • September 13, 2018

For the last several years, buyer demand has far exceeded the housing supply available for sale. This low supply and high demand have led to home prices appreciating by an average of 6.2% annually since 2012. With this being said, three of the four major reports used to measure buyer activity have revealed that purchasing demand may be softening. Here are the four indices, how they measure demand (methodology), what their latest reports said, and a quick synopsis of the report.

NAR Reports Show It’s A Great Time to Sell!

By Christine Wren • September 11, 2018

We all realize that the best time to sell anything is when the demand for that item is high and the supply of that item is limited. The last two major reports issued by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) revealed information that suggests that right now continues to be a great time to sell your house. Let’s look at the data covered in the latest Pending Home Sales Report and Existing Home Sales Report.