Blog - Sandra Meranda

March 9, 2011 by changescapeweb Leave a Comment

5 Tax Tips, Tricks and Traps for Homeowners

Since we are in the middle of tax season, I thought it would be good to review some important tax considerations for homeowners. One of the great reasons for owning a home are the tax deductions! Homeowners who itemize their taxes are able to deduct 100% of their mortgage interest and property taxes from their income tax returns.

Some of the best tax tips for homeowners are:

1. Itemize your tax return so you can claim your deductions.

2. Plan ahead for that home office deduction

3. Tax relief for loan modifications, short sales and foreclosures through 2012

4. Consider Income tax consequences of a refinance or Property tax appeal

5. Remember the closing costs!

You can see the complete article on the these tax tips for homeowners here.

Buying a home is an exciting time and a wonderful opportunity. Working with a real estate expert can make it a much easier and less scary endeavor, and can likely help to save you money and headaches down the road.

If you're thinking about buying or selling a home, call me and "I'll get you moving!".

February 27, 2011 by changescapeweb Leave a Comment

Insider Tips for Buying Your First Home

I came across a great article that provides some great insider tips that can help you make decisions at any phase of the home buying process! So when you are thinking about buying a home in St. Charles or St. Louis County, please keep these in mind.

Buying a home is a process that can take months to happen. It's important to recognize this process and key considerations along the way.

Stage One: Deciding if is time to buy – Affordability is high, but don't make the decision just based on the market. Personal considerations such as you life plans, family plans, career plans and financial plans should really be the driver in decision making.

Stage Two: Getting Pre-Approved for your Mortgage – Work with a mortgage broker referred by your real estate agent

Stage Three: House Hunting – it's not always the case that foreclosed homes or short sales – homes which are being sold for less than what the seller owes on their mortgage(s) – offer the buyer a fabulous discount. You can sometimes negotiate a better deal with an individual seller on a "regular" sale than with a bank on a distressed home sale.

Stage Four: Negotiations – Everyone seems to be an armchair economist/real estate savant. Don't let your family and friends can cause you to lose your dream home. Work with your real estate broker or agent to develop a smart strategy – with their experience in your local market – about what price and terms to offer.

Stage Five: Escrow, Inspections and Underwriting: Please attend your home inspections. Home inspectors can help you understand the details and nuances of the home's features and condition, where you're going to require maintenance, can help you understand the costs of the repairs, and refer you to contractors that they trust.

If you're thinking about buying or selling a home, call me and "I'll get you moving!".

Read the full article Surprising Insider Secrets for the 5 Stages of Buying Your First Home

February 12, 2011 by changescapeweb Leave a Comment

Cheaper to Buy a Home than to Rent

For most people, living in most locations it is still cheaper to buy a home rather than rent. No doubt that there are some interesting dynamics at play, but here are a couple of main points:

Many former homeowners have flooded the rental market, making renting a more expensive option.
Availability and Affordability of homes on the market

According to Trulia, in most of the 50 largest cities in the U.S., it is cheaper to buy a home rather than rent. "Since the start of the 'Great Recession,' many former homeowners have flooded the rental market. Following the principles of supply and demand, renting has become relatively more expensive than buying in most markets," said Pete Flint, CEO and co-founder of Trulia, in a statement.

Also, stricter bank lending practices have made it more difficult for many potential homeowners to get a mortgage loan. Meanwhile, owning a home is more affordable in most cities. It's a great time for lifelong renters to become homeowners by taking advantage of the affordability and availability of homes on the market.

To see if home ownership is right for you, it is important to work with the right agent and the right mortgage company. If you are interested in buying a home in St. Charles or St. Louis County, please contact me and I'll get you moving!

Trulia's rent vs. buy index compares the median list price with the median rent on two-bedroom apartments, condominiums and townhomes listed on Trulia.com as of Jan. 10, 2011. It considers the total cost of homeownership compared to the total cost of renting.

Click here to read the full article from Inman News™

February 2, 2011 by smeranda Leave a Comment

SEARCHING FOR A HOME? FAMILY MATTERS Homebuyers Find Comfort and Incentives Living Near Relatives

For help finding your new home in St. Charles or St. Louis so you can be closer to relatives? Call me at (314) 691-1320 and I'll Get You Moving!

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Today’s homebuyers are appreciating the benefits of living closer to their relatives, such as having more quality time with each other, flexible schedules, and help juggling childcare and eldercare. In fact, according to a Coldwell Banker survey conducted in July 2010, 72 percent of homeowners that are parents choose to live within 30 minutes of extended family members – and close to half (42 percent) live less than 10 minutes away.

“People search for homes around life’s most important milestones, which includes welcoming a family’s first child,” said Jim Dohr, president of Coldwell Banker Gundaker. “Not only are parents planning ahead when it comes to buying a home, they are very excited to live near relatives who will help along the way.”

Here are some tips for parents or expecting parents who are searching for a home:

Perfect home. When searching for a home, sometimes two heads are better than one. Invite parents, brothers and sisters along on the home search to help identify the perfect home for you and your loved ones.
Home criteria. Determining your priorities and must-have criteria upfront will make your search more efficient. Ask your Realtor and your family members about the importance of bedroom layouts, land surrounding the property, proximity to major streets and more.
Family budgeting. Aside from property taxes, the cost of living varies from location to location. Ask relatives about the area’s cost of living and what local shops are priced better than others.
Fun neighborhoods. Stay with your family and tour the area to get to know the neighborhoods. If your children are anxious about moving, make a special trip to the playground in your potential new neighborhood.

Coldwell Banker Gundaker, the leading residential real estate brokerage company in St. Louis, operates 23 offices with nearly 2,000 sales associates serving metropolitan St. Louis and east-central Missouri. Coldwell Banker Gundaker is part of NRT LLC, the nation’s largest residential real estate brokerage company. NRT, a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, operates Realogy’s company-owned real estate brokerage offices. For more information, please visit www.cbgundaker.com.

February 1, 2011 by smeranda Leave a Comment

10 REASONS TO BUY A HOME IN 2011

Here's a great article on why 2011 is a great year to become a homeowner. For help finding your new home in St. Charles or St. Louis, call me at (314) 691-1320 and I'll Get You Moving!

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Is 2011 your year to become a homeowner? Most people who choose a New Year’s resolution typically pick a goal to achieve or habit to break, but 2011 may be the year that they resolve to buy their first home.

“The reasons for first-time home buyers to invest now just keep adding up,” said Jim Dohr, president of Coldwell Banker Gundaker. “Setting goals and adopting good habits, such as saving more, reducing debt and improving credit scores, will put first timers in a good position to get what they want in the New Year.”

Here are 10 reasons to invest in real estate in 2011:

Purchasing a home is far more economical than renting. In fact, according to a Coldwell Banker Real Estate survey conducted in April 2010, 53 percent of single homeowners reported they purchased a home because it was more cost effective than renting in their area.
Greater variety from which to choose: single-family homes, condominiums, town houses, new construction, and existing homes.
Mortgage interest rates remain at historic lows.
Opportunity to buy a home today for yesterday’s price.
Updated programs from the Federal Housing Administration that help make buying a home more secure and accessible.
High volumes of Real Estate Owner (REO) properties on the market make it possible to buy a bigger and better home at a lower price.
New and improved research tools and technologies make finding the right home in the best location an easier and enjoyable task.
A willingness on the part of sellers to negotiate with buyers on more than just price, such as home repairs and moving dates.
Historically positive home appreciation rates decade to decade.
More than simply a place to live, owning a home is a smart investment. The Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances has consistently found that those who own a home amass greater wealth than those who rent.

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