Should You Sell or Lease Your House?

News You Can Use

SA Realty Watch Group
Keller Williams Legacy
210-232-2310 Cell
www.sarealtywatch.com
randy@sarealtywatch.com
License # 525639

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How Long Does the Home-Buying Process Take?

You should plan on an average of six months to find and close on a home. Depending on housing availability and being able to get a loan pre-approval, it could be more or less time. Even before the house hunt begins, it will take about two weeks to get a loan pre-approval.

A low inventory of homes may mean a longer search time, while having to compete with other buyers for those homes. Study the market before beginning your search and it will save you time. Once you go under contract, it will take 45-60 days to close the deal. This allows time to satisfy loan approval and inspection contingencies. Title and escrow officers need this period to do their title work, process loan documents and prepare closing statements.

Knowing how the process works and being prepared will give more assurance that a home can be found and closed on in a reasonable amount of time.

Should You Lease or Sell Your House? The Pros and Cons
You may find yourself in the situation of having to decide between leasing or selling your home. Being aware of the pros and cons of leasing versus selling will help you determine which choice best fits you.

Renting your home gives you a new source of income while benefiting from the deduction of homeowner expenses as your home now becomes an asset. Having a renter gives you more time and cash to ready your home for eventual sale.

Even though leasing your home will generate revenue and some tax advantages, your new role as a landlord may not be what you want. Becoming an investor means you will still have the cost and responsibility of maintaining the property. You will also have to devote time and expense to finding good tenants, while making sure the rent gets paid so you can cover your mortgage and operating expenses. Hiring a property manager is an option but will come at the cost of 8-12% of your gross monthly rents.

As a landlord, you assume the liability of incidents that occur on your property and you must keep the home habitable. Keep in mind that a vacant property means no cash flow to cover your overhead.

If you need the equity in your home to move on, then selling it without a tenant in place is your best option. Selling allows you to take advantage of favorable market conditions.

Please contact me so I can help you make the “lease or sell” decision that best fits your situation.

Are You a First-Time Buyer? Get My Free Guide

Buying your first home is a big step, and one that is likely to impact your financial future for years to come. Make it easier by requesting my free guide, “How First-Timers Can Make a Wise Buy.”

Just reply to this email and I’ll send it right out to you.

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The Dance Party You Didn’t Know You Started
Imagine you’re walking in the park. Part way along the path, you spot a mysterious message painted on the ground: “stand here for dance party.” It seems like a normal day and you spot nothing else out of the ordinary; children are playing, dog walkers are walking and no one appears to have noticed the note. You stand in the marked spot, out of curiosity.

Suddenly a beat starts playing and out from the bush appears a breakdancer. Behind you another, and over to the left, the businessman on the bench has dropped his sandwich and is pulling disco moves. The old couple who were admiring the flowers are now moving their hips and the joggers down the path are doing cartwheels. You cannot help but become sucked in and join in the dance party.

This is the joy that renowned undercover comedy troupe Improv Everywhere brought to Manhattan for their first project since the end of the pandemic. The collective are famous for their public flash mobs, in which hundreds of disguised performers join up to create immersive art, comedy, and all-round happiness in public places, around unsuspecting members of the public.

For “Stand Here For Dance Party”, they enlisted over 100 dancers to bring this spontaneous happiness to surprised onlookers at Grand Army Plaza. The public’s reaction to their latest effort was a reminder that spontaneity and sudden collective joy is something we all need, as people joined in the party, howled with laughter, and whooped and cheered on the dancers.

Let’s Connect

Wondering What’s Happening in Your Neighborhood?
How has the price of your home changed in today’s market? How much are other homes in your neighborhood selling for?

These are all critical questions that shouldn’t be overlooked when thinking about buying or selling your home. Whether you’re curious about prices in your area, whether it’s an excellent time to sell, or just need an expert to answer your questions, I can give you the tools and offer guidance through the entire buying or selling process.

Let me know how I can help by simply giving my office a call at 210-232-2310 to set up a time to connect.

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Turkish One-Pan Eggs & Peppers
Menemen is a traditional Turkish dish that’s not only delicious but healthy and a brilliant brunch to share.
Serves 4

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 red or green pepper, sliced
2 onions, sliced
1-2 red chillies, deseeded and sliced
1 can chopped tomatoes
1 teaspoon caster sugar
4 eggs
Small bunch parsley, roughly chopped
6 tablespoons thick, creamy yogurt
2 garlic cloves, crushed

Heat oil in heavy-based frying pan. Stir in pepper, onions, and chillies. Cook until they begin to soften. Add tomatoes and sugar. Mix well. Cook until liquid has reduced. Season. Using wooden spoon, create four pockets in tomato mixture and crack eggs into them.

Cover pan and cook eggs over low heat until just set. Beat yogurt with garlic and season. Sprinkle menemen with parsley and serve from frying pan with a dollop of garlic-flavored yogurt. Serve. For an additional extra, add warm pita bread for scooping up delicious sauce and runny egg yolks.

Improve Your Move-In Day with “Open First” Boxes
Moving to a new home should be exciting! However, the actual moving-in process can be overwhelming; with all your possessions packed away in boxes it’s hard to know where to begin. Avoid the stress and pack smart by creating a few “open first” boxes which travel with you, rather than the movers, containing the essential items you’ll need on arrival:

Toolkit. Whether you’re building furniture, hanging photos, or fixing little imperfections, a basic toolkit will come in handy. Start with a hammer, screwdriver with interchangeable heads, tape measure, sharp scissors, and a drill.

Important documents. Pack a box to keep your key documents and important cards safe; you’ll probably need to access them quickly. This includes your license, passports, certificates, credit cards, medical records, and any house related paperwork such as leases or contracts.

Electronics. Some electronics and appliances are essential, such as your phone, laptop, and even a coffee maker (you’ll be grateful for fresh coffee when you’re unpacking boxes!). Make sure you pack any chargers and cables. Consider which small appliances will make your move-in more pleasant.

Cleaning. Tidying up your new space will help it feel like home. Bring all the cleaning supplies you’ll need to deep clean before your furniture arrives.

Personal care. After a long day, you’ll be grateful that you packed your shower products, deodorant, towels, and toothbrushes. Throw in your skin care, hairbrush, and a couple of rolls of toilet paper too.

Kids and pets. Don’t forget that moving can be tough for your kids and fluffy family members. Ensure that their food, blankets, toys, and other items which keep them happy and healthy are packed away.

Valuable. If it’s expensive, delicate, or has huge sentimental value to you, then you should keep it close and bring it to your new home yourself.

Want more moving tips? Or need help working out what to have ready for move-in day? Call or email us. We’re here for you.

Boost Your Happiness by Learning Something New
Achieving happiness is the goal we strive for in any activity. Whether it’s getting fluent in a language, practicing a musical instrument, or trying to learn the names of the different bird species in your local park; usually it is not the achievement of the goals themselves which brings happiness. It is actually the general air of growth, development, and learning that you’re cultivating which fosters that overall sense of joy. Here are just a few ways you can boost your happiness through learning.

Expand your knowledge on something you already love. Whether you’re a birdwatcher or petrolhead, trainspotter, or film buff, building further knowledge on a subject you are already passionate about brings a sense of meaning and a drive for self-improvement.

Learn in different ways. Improved happiness can be found through learning across a wide and varied range of mediums. For example, reading a phrasebook when learning a new language, then watching a video to see and hear how speakers interact, then listening to music in that language to hear the beauty and artistry of the language.

Find a community around your learning. One of the best ways to truly get the most joy out of the learning process is doing it with others. Finding a class, a study group, or even just friends who are passionate about the same things will increase your sense of belonging and help you to elevate and be elevated by others.

Share your knowledge. An incredible amount of satisfaction comes from knowing that you’ve actively helped somebody else in their growth and development. Whether it’s telling a friend or teaching a class, find ways to pass on what you’ve learned!

This newsletter and any information contained herein are intended for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial or medical advice. The publisher takes great efforts to ensure the accuracy of information contained in this newsletter. However, we will not be responsible at any time for any errors or omissions or any damages, howsoever caused, that result from its use. Seek competent professional advice and/or legal counsel with respect to any matter discussed or published in this newsletter. This newsletter is not intended to solicit properties currently for sale.

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