"Only use a lender that you can find and choke." - Words to live by

"Only use a lender that you can find and choke", said Avis Wukasch, Chairman of TREC.

I had the pleasure of hearing her present at the CRS luncheon last week, and she is so correct! Her presentation was on 7 Habits of Highly Dysfunctional Realtors. The audience, 50 realtors, were rolling in their seats, because we have all encountered some of those. All joking aside, Avis encouraged us to HELP our fellow realtors, guide them to the path of functionality, so that we can together keep Houston one of the top real estate markets in the nation!

Here are the 7 Habits of Highly Dysfunctional Realtors:

1.      Read nothing
2.      Read only up to the blanks in any given contract (not the fine print after)
3.      Advertise anything, don't know anything, don't understand anything, and don't care
1. She said advertising errors are RAMPANT
2.  A licensed realtor must have the brokers name on ALL advertisement, including social media
4. Work outside their area of expertise
5. Has no clue about Law of Agency
6. Doesn't bother to fill in the effective date of the contract (...fyi, this is the MOST left out         field on the contracts according to TREC)
7. Uses a bucket of gasoline instead of water to put out 'fires'

She encouraged us to pay it forward and help those in our reach (fellow colleagues, friends etc..) that may need help in one of these 7 areas. Mentor someone!

In the markets:

We are starting to see rates RISE. Its been slow and steady so far, but my experience tells me there is a storm brewing, as this next week is big anticipated news at the Fed Meeting . For more info, READ HERE!

Enjoy your week, and as always, we LOVE BEING YOUR LENDER!

 ~ Jen 

Five Household Fix-it's To Do Before Listing Your Property!

English  Spanish

Jennifer Hernandez Senior Loan Officer The Hernandez Team NMLS# 5144972500 CityWest Blvd., Suite 750 Houston, TX 77042 Office: 713-579-3600 Mobile: 713-446-7791 my website 5 THINGS TO FIX BEFORE LISTING YOUR PROPERTY A recent survey found that sellers boost their home's value more cost effectively with minor improvements than with big remodeling jobs. Here are five things that deliver the most value: 1. Improve the curb appeal. First impressions make a big difference in what a home is worth. Put a fresh coat of paint on the front door and potted flowers or small evergreens beside it. The roof is a big part of a home's appearance from the street. If it's dirty, have it cleaned by professionals. Touch up paint trim. Clear the front yard of toys, garden tools, and hoses. 2. De-clutter. Throw out old newspapers, magazines and files. Put away toys. Remove small pieces of furniture just taking up space. If your home looks clean and simple, buyers find it more attractive and overlook shortcomings. 3. Install the two things buyers want most in a kitchen. Can you guess? Granite countertops and stainless steel appliances! Blame it on the TV home shows. But if you don't have these items, the cost of installing them could be recovered in the sale. Check with your Realtor. 4. Update the small stuff. Put in new cabinet handles and door knobs, fresh lighting fixtures, make minor updates to kitchen and bathrooms. Look for outdated things that can be easily replaced. 5. Stage the place. Hire a professional or do it yourself. Use minimal furniture and neutral colors. Organize and de-clutter closets and cabinets. Rent a storage space for what you remove. When you're ready to take advantage of the opportunities in this year's housing market, please contact us for help with the financing. We're also happy to answer questions about refinancing your current home or funding home improvements. Just call or email us any time.... Have a great day! P.S.: Mortgage rates are still at historically attractive levels, but it's smart to start the process early. Please call or email us to explore the great options now available.

5 Reasons to Become a Homeowner in 2015

English  Spanish

Jennifer Hernandez Senior Loan Officer The Hernandez Team NMLS# 5144972500 CityWest Blvd., Suite 750 Houston, TX 77042 Office: 713-579-3600 Mobile: 713-446-7791 my website 5 reasons 2015 is a good year to buy or sell a home – PLUS 5 easy fix-ups for a higher sale price Housing market analysts are saying now is a good time to buy or sell a home. Here's why: 1. Mortgage rates still near historical lows. Remember, interest rates can be extremely volatile, so check with us for up-to-the-minute information. 2. Mortgage rates expected to rise by the end of year. Economists expect the Federal Reserve, the nation's central bank, to raise its Funds Rate this year. This may push mortgage rates up. Every 1% gain in mortgage rates reduces affordability by about 10%, so instead of a $200,000 house, you can only afford an $180,000 one. This hurts sellers too, as buyers drop out. No one knows for sure that these things will occur, but if you're on the fence about buying or selling, you may want to act this year. 3. Prices recovering, but at a slower rate. Home prices are rising, which is good because you don't want your home to be worth less in the future. Prices are going up more slowly than they did earlier in the recovery, so it doesn't pay for sellers to hold out for higher prices, especially if higher mortgage rates send buyers to the sidelines. 4. More choice. As home prices recover, more sellers put homes on the market. With the threat of higher mortgage rates, additional sellers are listing, so buyers have more homes to consider. 5. Improving economy. Economists point out that jobs are being created, wages are growing, consumer confidence is rising, and more households are forming, all good signs for home sales.

Put on Your Boots! It's Rodeo Time!

Happy Rodeo Kickoff Week, everyone!

So I'm not normally a cowgirl, but I did manage some fancy boots today, and some new jewelry, and am playing the part! As rodeo season is upon us we wish you safe travels, safe events and many good times at the many events to come!

Be sure to watch our Facebook and Twitter pages for helpful videos this week! There are nuggets there, and they are less than 1 minute each, so  come on! ALSO, see our upcoming learning events below!!! My mission is to educate you!

In the Markets:

Fed Reserve Chair Yellen's comments on Tuesday were favorable for mortgage rates. It alluded that the increase of the Fed Funds rate will be farther into the future. READ MORE HERE!

Enjoy the weekend, and as always, we LOVE BEING YOUR LENDER!

                                                 ~ Jen 

Upcoming Events:

Realtor-Exclusive Call from The CORE Training: 

Scripts to Sold-
Words Are Powerful
hosted by Haley Garcia
WHEN: Wednesday,

March 4th 

2:00-3:00pm

Tour the
Hernandez Team Office!
Your 45-Minute
Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Loan Process
WHEN: Thursday,

March 5th 

1:00-1:45pm

Breakfast And Learn: Appraisals! 
How to Produce Great Comps
presented by Alex Massa
WHEN: Thursday,

March 12th 

9:00-10:30am

3 Panicked Sets of Realtors and Buyers, One Cool Mortgage Team!

Hello friends!

Of our 4 closings on Friday, all but 1 blew up last minute , and scrambling was in order. Be sure to watch stay tuned for the ‘Earnest Money Contract Tip’ video. That was one of the blow ups! All funded and has ended well because of my awesome back end team: Heath, Jason and Kenny that jumped over some pretty high mountains to keep things in order and on time, so our borrowers and realtors didn’t know anything was going on. We got your back!

Last week I had the pleasure of hearing Bill Sherrill, one of Houston’s icons, speak on the forecast of our city’s economy. For those that don’t know Mr. Sherrill, he is a WWII hero, a past director of the FDIC, Federal Reserve, as well as U of H professor, and founder of the Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship. Some impressive company!  His thoughts are that the oil depression has likely bottomed out, and has already started its ‘slow’ recovery. He also believes that Houston’s economy has the strength of other sectors (medical, construction, technology, etc) that have kept our economy from destabilizing. The concern in the near future will be what happens with our domestic fiscal policy. He is concerned that there is not a strong party leadership on either side, and that fiscal policy negotiations could get hung up, and a shut down of our economy could be crucially destructive.

5 reasons oil blew up http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/print-edition/2015/02/20/stay-calm-and-drill-on-your-survival-guide-to.html?ana=e_ph_prem&u=UnnItRR633tTsS7MoBNcfA0e1b5022&t=1424441313

In the markets:

Rates slightly increased last week due to volatile movements with news about Greece and its continued decline, and the consideration of a Greek exit from the EU. Additionally at home, the Fed Meeting minutes provided little guidance on what fed funds rates may do in the near future. This makes investors nervous, and is reflected in the mortgage bond trading. 

Enjoy your week, and as always, we LOVE BEING YOUR LENDER!

~Jen

Sparks Fly for Rates on Valentine's Day

Happy Tuesday!

Yes--my husband and I went to see 50 Shades of Grey on Friday. And then I saw it again with some girlfriends last night!

In the markets

Perhaps the markets really do celebrate Valentine's Day! For the first 8 business days of February, there seemed to be no love in the markets, as we saw gains almost every day. Until yesterday!  A sliver of hope has appeared, when weak economic data on Retail Sales, mixed with European headlines about Greece was taking over market news. In turn, rates eased a bit.  Will the love last? READ MORE HERE!

 Don't forget about some of our events happening this month!  

Seminar from Transamerica Financial Advisors:
Building Your Financial Foundation
WHEN: Wednesday, February 18th
5:30-7:00pm

Margarita Monday!
Celebrate Valentine's Day AND Jennifer's Birthday!
WHEN: Monday,

February 23rd 

5:30-7:00pm

MCE Course*:
Sharpen Your Negotiating Skills!

*$5 Registration Fee
WHEN: Wednesday,

February 25th 

1:00-3:00pm

 

Have a super week, and remember WE LOVE BEING YOUR LENDER!

~ Jen 

 

4 Paths to Finding Your Starter Home

English  Spanish

Jennifer Hernandez Senior Loan Officer The Hernandez Team NMLS# 5144972500 CityWest Blvd., Suite 750 Houston, TX 77042 Office: 713-579-3600 Mobile: 713-446-7791 my website 4 paths to finding your starter home! 4 ROUTES TO THAT FIRST HOME Here are four ways for first-time buyers to find a starter home they can afford: 1. Focus only on what you need to start. Think of your starter home as a financial launch pad to the ideal home you'll spend the bulk of your life in. Decide how long you want to stay in your starter. Then list your basic needs for space and location, and don't worry about amenities. 2. Look at resale homes vs. new. New homes generally cost more than "existing" homes being resold by the resident owner. New starter homes can be hard to find, with most builders targeting upgrade buyers. An older home in a well-established neighborhood might give you what you need at a price you can manage, even accounting for renovations and repairs. 3. Be smart about location. Home prices and property taxes are higher in better neighborhoods and school districts. Why pay this premium if you find a nice home in a good neighborhood and it'll be years before your kids are in school? Another consideration: if you find an affordable home farther from work, be sure to factor in the added commuting costs. 4. Get a mortgage pre-qualification. With well-priced starter homes, you can find yourself competing with other buyers. See us for a mortgage pre-qualification to strengthen your offer. Whether you're purchasing your first home, upgrading, or downsizing, please contact us for help with the financing. We're also happy to answer questions about refinancing your current home or funding home improvements. Just call or email us any time.... Have a great day! P.S.: Mortgage rates are still at historically attractive levels, but it's smart to start the process early. Please call or email us to explore the great options now available.