Bud Jones - Prescott Realtor talks about why holidays are a great time to buy a home in Prescott

Everybody knows how much fun the holidays are and what a great time it is to spend with family. But the holidays are also a good time to shop for some great real estate deals. If you're looking for your new Prescott home, Bud Jones - Prescott Realtor wants you to be aware of the advantages of buying a home during the holidays.

Less inventory - better deals
It's a fact that real estate inventory is down during the holiday season. Traditionally, there are fewer people selling homes and, therefore, less home buying/selling activity. If you find a property you like, you can also expect to find a lot less buyers competing with you. Less inventory can equal less competition...meaning you might be able to negotiate a better deal.

Motivated sellers
People are usually busy during the holidays with shopping, family, and guests. A homeowner that is selling their home during the holiday season might have a compelling reason for it. Perhaps a job change, personal family matter, or something else is driving the decision. If your seller is listing their home during the holiday season, it might be a sign that they are motivated to close a deal.

Tax benefits
If you can itemize deductions, then a year-end home purchase might benefit you by allowing you to deduct things like property taxes, mortgage interest rates, and points paid at closing. If you're a savvy property investor and are buying a home as an investment, you are probably aware of the tax benefits available on these year-end real estate purchases.

Bud Jones - Prescott Realtor wants to help you take advantage of historic holiday home-buying trends, and wants to give you the opportunity to find the best real estate deal of the year. With Bud Jones’ 20-plus years of service as an LA County Deputy Sheriff, and over 30 years’ experience in real estate, Bud can expertly guide you through buying your Prescott home. Contact Bud Jones today at 928-710-0643 to schedule an appointment. Learn more at http://www.budsellsprescotthomes.com.

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Bud Jones - Prescott Realtor shares some key upgrades that buyers want in a Prescott home

There are a number of features that we might consider a must in a Prescott home, like a fireplace, a sun deck, and the like, but are you aware of the most popular home options that home buyers look for? Bud Jones - Prescott Realtor discusses some of the most wanted upgrades that buyers want.

Home buyers across the country are fulfilling the dream of home ownership for the first time. Like all of us, they want to make the most of their home investment. New home buyers are commonly looking for a home that has:

• An affordable price
• An affordable mortgage payment
• Enough square footage
• The right number of bedrooms
• Home features they find attractive

Even more specifically, new home owners are attracted to the following features:

Smart thermostats
What used to be considered a fringe benefit, home buyers now are considering a must have. In fact, home buyers are looking more and more for smart technology in homes, including features to help with home security, temperature control, safety, lighting, and even entertainment.

Top kitchen features
Some of the top kitchen upgrade options home buyers look for in a home include: superior storage options, a large kitchen island, a wine cooler, a breakfast room or nooks, smart appliances, and farmhouse style sinks.

Bud Jones - Prescott Realtor wants you to be aware of features that can make your Prescott home more desirable to buyers. Former LA County Deputy Sheriff Bud Jones is someone you can trust to steer you right when you’re looking to sell or purchase a home. If you're looking for a successful, experienced realtor, call Bud Jones - Prescott Realtor today at 928-710-0643. For more information visit http://www.budsellsprescotthomes.com.

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Bud Jones - Prescott Realtor shares important questions when choosing a real estate agent

If you find yourself embarking on your first Prescott real estate transaction, you might not know that using the right real estate agent is critically important to a smooth process. Bud Jones - Prescott Realtor recommends several questions to help you find the right realtor for you.

How long have you been selling real estate?
Real estate is a commission-based enterprise, therefore, an agent providing poor service probably wouldn't survive very long as a realtor. Look for someone with some real estate history. Also, experienced agents are less likely to be shaken by unexpected turns.

Are you a Buyer or a Seller's Agent?
How well can you expect your agent to anticipate what a buyer might be thinking if he’s only worked with sellers, and vice versa? If you're looking to not only sell your current home but buy another, a realtor experienced in both will be able to seamlessly meet and coordinate all your needs.

Where do you sell?
You want your agent to have a thorough and intimate knowledge of your preferred areas.  Make sure your realtor is someone who has experience working in and around your primary area of interest.

Do you have references?
No agent is going to refer you to anyone who will not provide a glowing report so it's important for you to ask specific questions about their transaction according to your priorities.

Do you have any questions for me?
You want an agent who wants to get to know you, your preferences and your priorities. An agent who knows the kind of life you want to live will be able to help you find the perfect home.

Are you thinking of buying a home in Prescott? Remember to ask the right questions to make sure your realtor is the right one for you. If you're looking for a successful, experienced realtor, call Bud Jones - Prescott Realtor today at 928-710-0643. For more information visit http://www.budsellsprescotthomes.com.

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Bud Jones - Prescott Realtor discusses how down payments affect private mortgage insurance

If you’re in the market for a new home in Prescott, you have likely been discussing your down payment and mortgage terms. There are a number of factors that will impact your monthly mortgage payment. Bud Jones - Prescott Realtor discusses how the down payment will affect private mortgage insurance.

Consider these questions:

• How does the amount of my down payment affect private mortgage insurance or PMI?

• How much do I have to put down to avoid paying PMI?

If you take out a loan to purchase a home, and your down payment is less than 20% of the home’s value, you will likely be required to pay for private mortgage insurance. These policies are usually required when the loan-to-value exceeds 80%. That’s the industry standard.

As to the second question:

• You may be able to avoid PMI by making a larger up-front investment. But, to be clear, a 20% down payment isn’t always necessary. Your real estate professional can provide you more information. 

• Another advantage of making a larger down payment is that your monthly payment will be reduced. The more you pay up front, the less you are financing. This results in a smaller mortgage payment each month.

Bud Jones - Prescott Realtor wants you to be aware of how the down payment amount for your Prescott home purchase will affect the requirement for private mortgage insurance. You can trust the knowledge and experience of Bud Jones. After two decades of service as a Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff, Bud began his 30-plus year real estate career, following in the footsteps of his mother whose vast experience and knowledge in the real estate industry played a monumental role in his training. Call Bud Jones at 928-710-0643 and experience the excellence in real estate services he provides. For more information, a free consultation, or to peruse the available properties in and around Prescott, visit http://www.budsellsprescotthomes.com.

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Bud Jones - Prescott Realtor discusses what first time home buyers need to qualify for a loan

It's not uncommon for first-time home buyers to have questions about the mortgage approval process. If you're a first-time home buyer, Prescott Realtor Bud Jones, would like you to know about some of the most important factors mortgage lenders consider during the qualification process.

• Income
• Credit score
• Debt to Income ratio
• Down payment

Income
Your income will, of course, affect your ability to qualify for a mortgage loan. Income is not restricted to a paycheck but every source of income is considered. Examples of different sources of income income include spousal maintenance, child support, Social Security and disability income to name a few. Your mortgage lender will want to ensure that you have sufficient income, whatever the source, to meet your monthly mortgage obligation.

Credit Score
How you have borrowed in the past, the type of debt, the terms of debt repayment and the history of your repayment including any delinquencies or bankruptcies are all a part of the complex algorithms that are used to compile your credit score. While minimum requirements vary from one lending program to another, the FHA program is one of the more lenient requiring a minimum score of 580. Conventional loan programs usually have higher score requirements.

Debt-to-income Ratio (DTI)
You debt to income ratio is exactly how it sounds. It compares how much reccurring debt you have to how much income you have. Many lenders establish ratio maximums in the 40%-43% range. In terms of your total DTI ratio lower, of course, is better. As the ratio of how much you have to pay out every month compared to how much you bring in approaches 50% you can expect difficulty in qualifying for a home loan.

Minimum Down-Payment Requirements
Unless your lending program is a VA or USDA loan (both government-backed programs) you should be prepared to make some kind of down payment. Conventional lenders (banks) might require as little as a 3% - 5% while FHA mortgage lending programs allow for a 3.5% down payment. Down payments can come in the form of a gift but must legally be a gift, with no expectation of repayment.

Mortgage lenders will look at these factors and more as you move through the qualification process. Prescott Realtor Bud Jones can not only help you find your dream home, but will answer all of your questions to help you qualify for your first home. For more information visit us at http://www.budsellsprescotthomes.com or call us at 928-710-0643.

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Bud Jones - Prescott Realtor talks about features Prescott home buyers want right now

Are you thinking of selling your Prescott home? With homes, as in fashion, trends not only come and go but they can set your home apart from the others and even get you more money. Prescott realtor, Bud Jones keeps up to date with the latest trends and home buyer preferences. Here are a few of home's most popular features.

Kitchen Countertops
Marble countertops are more porous and therefore prone to staining. However, quartz is more expensive. Although they are both beautiful, Quartz is a home sellers preference.

Flooring
Real estate agents report that buyers prefer hardwood floors because they last a long time and are easier to clean. Even for those who live in a colder climate and prefer the warmth and comfort of carpet, hardwood floors are the more popular choice.

Bathroom Tubs
Even though claw-foot tubs used to reflect elegance and luxury, the fact is that a beautifully designed soaking tub gives any bathroom a spa-like appeal and is the preference among buyers.

Windows
While both are certainly beautiful, especially for those with breathtaking views, there is not a large variance in opinion. Bay windows did, however, marginally edge out floor-to-ceiling windows as the preferred style.

Kitchen stoves
As most of you can probably guess, this was an easy choice. Cooks prefer gas. Even though gas stoves are more expensive to purchase, they are more affordable to operate. And they allow for more uniform, therefore predictable, cooking than that of their electric contenders.

Kitchen Cabinets
Few interior rooms have a greater impact on the sale or purchase of a home than the kitchen. And the trend now is brighter, lighter white cabinets rather than older dark cabinets. Buyers feel that lighter cabinets give the impression of more space.

If you're thinking of updating your Prescott home or preparing to sell it, Bud Jones can show you how to prepare your home to it's best advantage. Whether you're looking to sell your home or buy one, call Bud Jones today at 928-710-0643 or visit http://budsellsprescotthomes.com for more information.

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