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Are you frustrated with the scarcity of homes on the market? Were you ready to buy, paid off your bills, lowered your FICO score, and saved up some down payment, only to be booted out by the rise in interest rates? Well, I always tell home buyers, the right time to buy is NOW. You have to make the decision and determination to start owning and stop renting. Once your mind is set, doors of...

Most homebuyers start the process anxious, excited, nervous, and some are downright terrified. It’s natural. A home is the largest and most expensive purchase that most people will make in a lifetime. It can either turn out to be a complete financial disaster or a smart long-term investment. The person standing between it being a huge financial mistake or a valuable asset is you, the agent. Still, the...

There are many reasons why it may be time to sell your home. You may need more space to make room for a growing family or you need to downsize after your kids leave the nest. Whatever your motivations, you want to make sure that you’re timing it right. If you sell when home prices are plummeting, you may end up losing on the deal. If you sell when home prices are highest, there may not be a lot of...

There are two ways to think about remodeling projects that will boost your home’s value; you can get one or two major remodels done or opt for a bunch of small fixes. Depending on your budget and your timetable, one approach may be better for you than the other. For instance, if you have an unfinished basement, maybe your dream when you first moved into your home was to refinish it. It never happened....

STEP 1 Invest Leveraging on Present Asset, Time and Position, Now. Make an inventory of how much equity you have in real estate, savings, liquid assets, etc. Compare refinance or cash out options, consolidate present bills and lower monthly bills. Leverage on Reverse Mortgage, 1031 Exchange, Prop 60/90 and, home improvement loans like FHA203b. Contact me to learn more. Review how much in 401K, stocks...

Decide your timeline and destination Make an inventory of household items to give to families, sell or donate. Avail of yearly free clean up offered by your local garbage collector. Create a master list of items to sell, give away or donate. Assess the home (hire an independent appraiser or professional Realtor to check the market value). It is advisable to order a termite and home inspection who...

Celia is a Registered Nurse with a 9 year old son who was renting and working in Fremont. Her Mom and Dad lives with her too.  Her husband is also an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) but in Singapore. She was referred to me as a First Time Home Buyer by her nurse associate and past client. Her lease contract was expiring and renewal for another year will increase $500 more. She wanted to have a 2-3...

Real Estate Investor and the FREE Capital Gains Tax to $500K as couple After listing his single story home in El Dorado Hills for $950,000 and used the exclusion of Free Capital gains to $500K, Tony decided to move in to his rental property that he bought 3 years ago for $255,000. Meanwhile, with the proceeds on the sale of his home, we found him a huge 5 bedroom newer home in a gated community of...

Make a plan where you want to retire and your kind of lifestyle. Philippines is one destination where a couple can live comfortable with this budget. For a $3000 monthly allowance, $1000 rent a nice 2-3 bedroom home. Have a house keeper, a private driver and cover all utilities. For a couple, $1000 per month can be allotted for food, transportation and medical bills. Most people who retire in...

Retiring in the Philippines: Pros & Cons By Jean Folger | Updated August 23, 2016 — 12:00 PM Each year, InternationalLiving.com’s Global Retirement Index ranks the top 25 retirement destinations in the world, based on factors like climate, healthcare, fitting in, benefits and discounts, and cost of living. The Philippines – an archipelagic country of 7,000+ islands – made the 2016 list, scoring...