What not to do before buying a home!

A lender will examine your debt-to-income ratio to qualify you for a mortgage. Debt-to-income ratio is the percentage of your gross monthly income, before taxes, that is reserved to pay down debt. If you're serious about buying a home avoid these common mistakes that will compromise the amount of your approved loan:

• No new debt! Delay large purchases, this includes jewelry, vacations, appliances and especially vehicles. Hold off on buying a new vehicle, as a sizable monthly car payment can push the debt-to-income percentage over what lenders feel is a safe limit, and you may be denied the loan or have to settle for a smaller loan.
• Do not co-sign on a loan for anyone else. Although you will not be making the payment, the lender still views this as your debt.
• Don’t move money around. A lender will require you to supply bank statements for all your accounts during recent months. Any large deposits or withdrawals will be red flags to the lender, and may slow or inhibit the escrow. Changing banks is also unadvisable. Remember, the simpler your finances are, the better.
• Avoid changing jobs. When you change jobs, it can be difficult for lenders to predict future earnings. Any major career changes, such as corporate employee to self-employed, should also be delayed. Remember, the lender will look two years back and average your income. Anything that will make that process difficult is a bad idea.

For more tips on the home buying process reach out our way.

Your may reach our agents who are local experts at 626.358.1858 or at 626.963.7621 . Or you may visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/century21adamsandbarnes

5 things to consider when choosing the best home for your needs.

When selecting a property there are several major factors to consider. Compromise is expected in the home buying process. You can always upgrade laminate countertops to granite or factory cabinets to custom, but be aware of the essentials you need in a property before you buy.

Location, location, location. This is one thing that you cannot change! Where you buy will most likely be at the top of your necessity list. Do you need easy access to highways for your commute to work? Perhaps you need to be near public transportation because you do not have a vehicle. Save yourself time and money by focusing only on areas that work for you.

Education. Public schools dictate enrollment according to school district boundaries. You may be surprised to find where lines are drawn. Are you trying to move, or stay in, a highly rated district? You may wish to visit area schools to get a feel for which place is best for your family.

Crime doesn’t pay. Research the local crime rates. Some neighborhoods experience higher levels of crime, both violent and petty. Safety to you and property are valid considerations.

Be neighbor conscious. Your property value is affected by the condition of the prospective neighborhood. Be sure to drive up and down adjacent streets. Are homes and yards in good repair? You want neighborhoods that reflect care and attention.

Size matters. Take the lot size into consideration; if you need more living space is there room to expand? Check local zoning laws to verify you can build up or out.

Locally, there are other key items to consider and that is when an area experts help make a difference in the home buying process.

You may reach our agents who are local experts at 626-358-1858 or at 626-963-7621. Or you can visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/century21adamsandbarnes

Showing & selling your home while owning pets.

When preparing your home for an open house our CENTURY 21 Adams & Barnes professionals strongly encourage homeowners who have pets to relocate the animal during viewing hours. This protects your pet from the common occurrences that come with foot traffic, such as an open front door or a gate that wasn’t shut properly, in addition to the stress of unfamiliar people in the home. Restricting a pet to an area within the home also limits the area potential buyers can view, so removing the animal from the home is ideal. See below for our tips to sell your home when you have
pets.

• Lawn Maintenance. First impressions last so remove any droppings from your lawn.
  
• Neutralize Odors. Litter boxes, training pads, pet beds should be thoroughly cleaned or
  temporarily taken out of the house to eliminate any offensive odors.
  
• Vacuum. Pet hair is unsightly, as are stains, so remember to sweep or vacuum all floors,
  rugs and furniture. Professional carpet cleaners may be necessary to fully eradicate any
  pungent odors or stains.
  
• Purify Air. Some would-be buyers may be allergic to pet dander so in addition to vacuuming,
  change all air-conditioning filters. Remember, if a potential buyer is hit with an allergy attack
  entering your home, odds are they will not stay to see the rest of your home.
  
• Declutter and Depersonalize. Food bowls, pet toys, beds, crates and medicines should be
  stowed out of sight
  
• Repair Any Damage. If your pet has chewed through your fence or scratched the front door,
  repair or replace it so it doesn’t detract from the space.
• 
  

Your may reach our agents at 626.358.1858 or at 626.963.7621 . Or you may visit us on Facebook atfacebook.com/century21adamsandbarnes

How to Remodel with Potential Buyers in Mind

When you are remodeling your home it is important to strike a balance between your needs, the
needs of future potential buyers. According to Remodel Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report,
homeowners can typically expect to recoup over 70 percent of what they pay for a minor kitchen
remodel. Focus on the basics, like cabinet resurfacing, countertops, and flooring but stay away from pricey hand-painted tiles or built-in espresso machines. Remember, bold or unique product
selections such as orange cabinets or red countertops will likely alienate future buyers, so stick to
neutral themes.

Do your research to determine what remodels yield the highest return on your investment. When selecting an area to remodel be conscious of your neighborhood. Remember, your location is a large indicator of the price you can expect from future buyers, so if you do indulge in high-ticket items, enjoy them, but don’t expect a large return on your splurge. Currently, the remodels with the highest returns are: entryway doors, garage doors, finished basements or attics, and vinyl siding.

To learn more or to speak with one of our REALTORS, contact our office today at 626.358.1858 or 626.963.7621.

The CENTURY 21® System Offers Training for Associates at All Levels

In an ever-changing real estate market, it is critical to be ahead of the most current industry trends and what it takes to be competitive. The CENTURY 21® System has one of the best training teams in the industry, as evidenced by our 2009 Training Magazine’s Top 125 award.What could be better than being part of a company that has award winning training for sales associates? The answer is simple, being part of a brand that offers affordable award-winning training for sales associates.

REO, Short Sales, Blogging, Social Networking – just a handful of buzz words being tossed around in real estate these days, important buzz words that have real estate professionals’ heads spinning. The CENTURY 21 training organization stays up-to-date on what is going on in the industry, and then creates useful training programs on current topics, designed specifically to help our agents be among the most knowledgeable professionals in the industry.

Take a look at this list of training topics available at no cost to all CENTURY 21 Agents:

Attitude: Persevere and Stay on Track, Contact Management Made Easy, Social Networking, Developing an Online Business Plan, Blogging for Online Visibility, REO and Short Sales Overview, Going Green, Anatomy of a House, Staying in Touch With Clients, How to Have an Open HouseWhether you are new to the real estate industry or a seasoned veteran, there is always something new for you to learn. Our training department has created a curriculum designed to offer something for everyone, regardless of experience level.This curriculum can be broken down into four categories:

Sales Skills – including the popular CREATE 21® Golden Edition program, Capitalizing on Market Dynamics, the Success Series, and a compilation of many live, online free training classes.

Coaching and Accountability – consists of our Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP) with a web-based reporting dashboard and participation of the sales manager.

Niche Markets & Specializations – learn how to grow your business and expand your knowledge with programs focused on CENTURY 21 Fine Homes & Estates®, New Home Sales, Mature Moves and Commercial Brokerage.

Designations –Perception is everything! If you want to be perceived as an expert, pursue a designation or certification. We have many to choose from. Courses such as CENTURY 21 Global Referral Network Sales Associate and Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) are available.

Of course we are just scratching the surface of what is available to all CENTURY 21 System Sales Associates. We have an Online Resource Library with dozens of topics, including How To’s, Agent Scripts, and Agent Tools. by Design, Marketing Yourself as a Real Estate Expert, and More!