Buying a Metairie or New Orleans home—especially if it’s your first—takes attention to detail, even for home buyers with spotless credit. The challenge is a good deal greater if your credit score has dropped below the level most banks require to approve a home loan. The good news is that potential Metairie and New Orleans home buyers with less than outstanding credit can still buy their first home—if. That “if” is in italics because ignoring it can turn into a real stopper. The thing that can make buying a home possible even with spotty credit is if you do some careful financial planning. Careful = details are attended to—every one. Financial = it’s about the money: columns of figures, dollars and cents—not emotion. Planning = charting out the specific effects o... 10/17/2014

                    Having a Metairie or New Orleans home for sale as autumn swings into full bloom has more than one advantage. First off, this is definitely not looky-loo season—the majority of home shoppers this time of year tend to be serious-minded (perhaps because many are hoping to be comfortably moved in by the holidays). Whatever the reason, because many other owners will wait until spring to put up their own Metairie or New Orleans home for sale, if you are listing now, you can usually count on a narrower amount of competition. A subtler reason why fall is an exciting season to put up a home for sale has to do with what can be a presentation advantage—the same reason home décor professionals like this time of year. It’s the Autumn Advantage: a time of year loaded with eye-cat... 10/13/2014

                        Let's face it: When your house goes on the market, you're not only opening the door to prospective buyers, but also sometimes to unknown vendors and na?ve or unqualified buyers. As with any business transaction, there is an expected protocol to how sellers, buyers and their respective agents interact. Should you find yourself in a sticky situation, alert your agent so he or she can address and remedy the problem. The aggressive agentWhen your agent puts your house on the market, typically all promotional materials state clearly that your agent is the primary contact for buyers and buyers' agents. However, sometimes a buyer's agent will contact a seller directly to try to either win over their business or cut the seller's agent out of the deal. This is not reputa... 10/09/2014

1. Define your needs. Write down all the reasons for selling your home. Ask yourself, "Why do I want to sell and what do I expect to accomplish with the sale?" For example, a growing family may prompt your need for a larger home, or a job opportunity in another city may necessitate a move. For your goals, write down if you'd like to sell your house within a certain time frame or make a particular profit margin. Work with your real estate agent to map out the best path to achieve your objectives and set a realistic time frame for the sale.              2. Name your price. Your next objective should be to determine the best possible selling price for your house. Setting a fair asking price from the outset will generate the most activity from other real estate agents and buyers. You will ... 10/08/2014

                        As the seller, you can control three factors that will affect the sale of your home: * The home's condition* Asking price* Marketing strategyHowever, it's important to note that there are numerous other factors that influence a buyer, and you need to understand these consumer trends when you enter the sellers' market. The more your home matches these qualifications, the more competitive it will be in the marketplace. Your real estate agent can advise you on how to best position and market your home to overcome any perceived downsides. LocationUnfortunately, the most influential factor in determining your home's appeal to buyers is something you can't control: its location. According to the National Association of REALTORS(r), neighborhood quality is the No. 1 re... 10/06/2014

                                      Are you a full-time professional real estate agent? How long have you worked full time in real estate? How long have you been representing buyers? What professional designations do you have?Knowing whether or not your agent practices full time can help you determine potential scheduling conflicts and his or her commitment to your transaction. As with any profession, the number of years a person has been in the business does not necessarily reflect the level of service you can expect, but it is a good starting point for your discussion. The same issue can apply to professional designations. Do you have a personal assistant, team or staff to handle different parts of the purchase? What are their names and how will each of them help me in my transacti... 10/02/2014

                        In earlier eras, a would-be Metairie or New Orleans home buyer had few tools to aid in the task of finding a home that was ‘just right.’ Today, the situation has gotten a good deal easier thanks to a wealth of real estate apps that home buyers simply download onto their mobile devices. There are apps that can help you with everything from finding your dream home (and determining how much you can afford) to learning more about the neighborhood. Home Buyer Terminology Every home buyer is inevitably exposed to a welter of technical terms—and some of them have meanings that differ from what you would guess. Trying to decipher the jargon is a challenge you can shortcut with a good app dedicated to the task. Android users can download Relmark’s Glossary Real Estate Te... 09/30/2014

  View Homes For Sale in Metairie View Homes For Sale in New Orleans         Even before you are presented with the sheaf of paperwork that accompanies the signing of your first mortgage, if you are a Metairie or New Orleans first-time home buyer, you will have already learned about closing costs—the fees and charges that pay for various parts of creating the mortgage loan. Included in closing costs are sums that can vary from inconsequential (chump change) to head-turners (“whaaaat th-?”). You’ll want to be prepared in advance for what the line items cover.   That’s where the “Good Faith Estimate” comes in. It’s a detailed document that is issued in advance; it’s a heads-up that estimates closing costs you’ll pay when you buy your new Metairie or New Orleans home. The GFE varies consi... 09/26/2014

  View Homes For Sale in Metairie View Homes For Sale in New Orleans   When it comes to home sales, looks do matter. Once a home comes onto the market, how soon it moves can depend on its location, design, quality of construction—not to mention how well it’s been maintained, the neighborhood, school district…it’s the sum of at least a dozen contributing factors. But when it comes to Metairie and New Orleans home sales, looks now matter more than ever before. Making sure a home is camera-ready could well be the most important single thing a homeowner can do before listing a house for sale in Metairie or New Orleans this fall. It’s in the Numbers The 2013 National Association of Realtors® survey found that a decisive 92% of all home buyers use the web to search for a home. That’s more th... 09/24/2014

Terez B. Harris goes to sale on Four more properties! Terez B. Harris – Terez Harris NOLA Real Estate Group – Keller Williams Realty New Orleans - Four more successful closings for the month of August!     PRLog - Aug. 28, 2014 - NEW ORLEANS -- 104 Gloria Court in Montz, LA-  Very happy sellers had a very successful closing this month. They wanted to buy a larger home in their subdivision, Country Cottage. They had to first sell in order to buy their new beautiful home, which can be tricky. With the help and coordination of Terez B. Harris – Terez Harris NOLA Real Estate Group – Keller Williams Realty New Orleans -  they were able to achieve their dreams.119 Jenny Court in Montz, LA- After getting their home under contract, Terez's clients where ready to search for their next purchase. ... 08/28/2014

Terez B. Harris spreads awareness of available Mortgage Assistance through Jefferson Parish.     There is Mortgage Assistance available in Jefferson Parish!     You DO NOT need to be a First Time Home Buyer!       3% and 4% Assistance based on Current Market Rate.       Income Limits: $69,345       Purchase Price Limits: $287,500       3% and 4% Assistance can be applied towards Down Payment, Closing Costs, and/or pre-paids.       Property must be in the Parish of Jefferson.       Loan must be FHA or VA.       Property must be Single Family Residence.       Credit Score must be 640 or above.       Assistance is Grant and DOES NOT need to be Repaid.       Must occupy property within 60 days of the closing.         CALL ME FOR MORE INFORMATION! 504-296-2619     View Homes For Sale in New... 08/21/2014

View Homes For Sale in New Orleans View Homes For Sale in Metairie When you begin scouring the Metairie or New Orleans listings for a new home, the cost of the home appears to be right there at the top: the asking price. All the other details about the property are there, too, but they usually get close attention only after that dollar amount at the top falls within (well, is at least close to) your target number. But as soon as the shopping starts to narrow the field, the financial implications of those other details begin to reveal themselves. Good thing! In fact, the true bottom line cost of your new Metairie or New Orleans home will be greatly affected by them. Many buyers work with the details exactly as presented—but as a purchase grows more likely, they should consider them simp... 08/06/2014

View Homes For Sale in New Orleans View Homes For Sale in Metairie A crucial part of selling your New Orleans or Metairie home comes right at the outset—when you set your asking price. It boils down to a decision to go high (the I-love-this-place-and-gotta-have-it-no-matter-what price); or low, with a number that is just under neighborhood comparables (the I’d-better-snap-this-up-before-someone-else-does price). Success in selling your home quickly is commonly understood to correspond with the lower price strategy, it’s true. But are there ever reasons why you would want to set a price that’s significantly higher than your neighborhood usually commands? Is there EVER a right time? Although the common wisdom for selling your home is a pretty firm ‘NEVER!’—but there might be some possibl... 07/30/2014

View Homes For Sale in New Orleans View Homes For Sale in Metairie   “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” It’s a saying that job applicants (at least the successful ones) take to heart. It’s why a lot of serious primping goes on before a blind date. It’s why movie directors spend as much time as it takes to light and prepare the first shot that will introduce their lead actress. And if you’re going to have a house for sale in Metairie or New Orleans this summer, it’s why it’s worth it to take pains to make its first impression as strong as possible. Making any Metairie or New Orleans house for sale’s debut a success doesn’t have to break your back or your bank account. Here are some simple, affordable projects that can be done in a single weekend: Update Exterior... 07/22/2014

1720 Old Metairie St. Metairie, LA 70001 $249,000   Beautiful town home living! Quaint neighborhood in Old Metairie with easy access to down town and Metairie. Totally renovated kitchen and bathrooms. Hardwood flooring throughout the downstairs area. Over sized master bedroom with plenty of closet space. Flood insurance not an issue hear, only$567 annually with full coverage! Off street parking with attached garage. Enjoy the beautiful oak trees in the neighborhood!   View more information about this home! or Call Terez B. Harris at (504)297-2619          What originally attracted the owners to this home was the desirable location and easy maintenance.         The owner's favorite aspects of the home are the hardwood floors and high ceilings on the first floor. They have spent a lot of... 07/18/2014

View Homes For Sale in New Orleans View Homes For Sale in Metairie There is encouraging news for some prospective homeowners with a Metairie or New Orleansforeclosure in their recent past: more common sense seems to have entered the picture. The financial crisis that began in 2007 caused global disarray: across the U.S. (Metairie and New Orleans were no exception), large numbers of responsible homeowners were clobbered by the fallout, often finding their incomes suddenly reduced or even obliterated as business cutbacks and closings reverberated through the economy. The Metairie and New Orleans foreclosure rate jumped as a direct result—and it’s taken quite a while for the effects of that to work through the system. But even after the economy has resumed something like normal activity, m... 07/10/2014

View Homes For Sale in Metairie, LA When home prices in Metairie are on the rise, one side effect is that first-time homebuyers may run into a financing obstacle. Although the stricter lending standards of the past few years have been easing somewhat, it still can be difficult for some folks (younger buyers, especially) to purchase the Metairiehome they have in their sights. In that situation, an alternative to a traditional bank mortgage is seller financing. Many prospective buyers know little about the details that make up a seller financing agreement, and how it can–or cannot—help them secure a home. What Seller Financing Is… It’s as simple as the words themselves. When part or all of the purchase price of a property is carried by the current owner rather than a bank, it is consider... 07/03/2014

  409 N Howard Ave. Metairie, LA 70003 FOR SALE  $169,000   View More Information About This Home     Some factors that originally attracted the owners to this home include; the large bonus room in the back, the large back yard, and two full bathrooms.     The owners found that most of their time has been spent in the bonus living room. There is lots of space for entertaining and spending time together as a family in one room.     The owners renovated the master bathroom to make it more of a spa-like retreat.     They added on a deck, patio, and covered pergola, which has made the back yard a great place to grill and entertain.     This was the owners' first home and where they brought home their first baby. They will miss all the memories they made in the home.     They will also miss ... 07/01/2014

View Property For Sale in Metairie, LA  When any investor first begins to mull over the idea of acquiring a rental property in Metairie, it’s usually in competition with an array of other investment types—each with its inherent plusses and minuses. Some of them are new ideas (new technology company stocks; new forms of commercial exchange)—but real estate is definitely not one of those. It may not be innovative, but being a landlord has always been one of the leading sources of passive income.   What is exciting about rental property is why it has always been recognized as a sound investment. When the income from a Metairierental property is able to pay for its own underlying mortgage, it self-propels its growing equity. The rental property’s investment value grows as the loan is paid ... 06/30/2014

View Homes For Sale in Metairie, LA Especially when it comes to major decisions like buying or selling your home, human nature seems to tilt toward delaying action until it’s the end result is absolutely certain. After all, nobody wants to make a life-changing move that turns out to be anything short of fantastic! So even when you’ve outgrown your current home…or found yourself in a daily long-distance commute because work has moved…or any number of other reasons why you know you should be looking for a new house…it can be difficult to commit to such a looming decision. Adding to that is one of the most common assumptions many Metairiehomeowners believe: that they have to spend a boatload of money to increase their home value. The truth is: it ain’t so! You can strategically update you... 06/13/2014