Buying a home is a major financial investment. Thus, it is essential to consider your requirements and understand the actual value of property before making the deal. There are certain things that potential home buyers should know when buying a home in Fort Hood, TX.

Following is a list of things that prospective home buyers should know before starting their search:

• Knowledge About The Area: It is good to have knowledge about the area before beginning the search for your home. This makes it easier to shortlist potential homes based on factors such as the weather, amenities required, distance from entertainment centers and so on.
• Set A Budget: Setting up your budget helps to focus on properties within your buying capacity. However, the budget should be set after calculating your monthly income and expenditures.
• Keep A Reserve And Down Payment: Set aside a specific amount as a reserve for an eventuality you may come across. Such a reserve ensures you have a back-up to support your plan of buying a house in the face of health issues, unexpected expenses and more. In addition to this, keep an amount aside as down payment preferably around 20 percent of the total purchase price.
• Get Pre-Approved: Pre-approval increases your worth in terms of reliability. Also, it helps you to gain a better perspective on the loan options available to you and your borrowing capacity.
• Compare: When shopping for a mortgage, it is a good idea to compare what different lenders have to offer in terms of rate of interest and loan terms & conditions in order to make an informed decision.
  

Hiring an experienced real estate agent helps in making the process of buying a home easier. The real estate agents help you in finding profitable deals. They have extensive knowledge about neighborhoods and real estate market.

Lone Star Realty & Property Management, Inc. offers a variety of properties to home buyers in Fort Hood. For more details on things to know when buying a home in Fort Hood, visit 1020 W Jasper Drive, Killeen, TX - 76542. You can also call at (254) 699 – 7003.  

After renting a home, you may feel the need to decorate or furnish it as per your requirements. Undoubtedly, adding your personal touch to a rental property is essential for making you feel comfortable at home. The right approach for decorating a rental home is to set a budget, stick to it, get property owner’s approval and follow any rules mentioned in your lease agreement.

Following are some tips to keep in mind when decorating your rental home:

Do’s:

• Add Some Accessories: Spruce up your rental home with accessories such as rugs, cushions, curtains, plants, etc.
• Upgrade The Kitchen: Invest in pretty and practical cabinetry for your kitchen. However, pay attention that the installation or removal of cabinets should not damage the walls. You can also use light fixtures such as pendant lights to make your kitchen look bright and stylish.
• Add The Lighting: If your rental home looks dated due to dull lighting in the hallway, bedrooms or bathrooms, transform its look by investing in good, affordable and stylish lighting. You may choose from table lamps, floor lamps, wall lighting, etc.
• Transform The Bathroom: Improve the look of a bathroom with low-cost upgrades such as a beautiful vase of flowers, some greenery, crisp and clean linens, beautiful soap dishes, replacing shower-heads, etc.
• Add Art: If there is a “no-nails-in-the-wall” policy, improvise other ways of displaying your favorite pieces of art such as placing them against a wall, on a cabinet or mantel, on bookshelves and even on floors.
• Replace Window Treatments: Opt for window treatments such as blinds, curtains or shades to transform and brighten rooms.
  

Don’ts:

• Install Permanent Fixtures: Do not install permanent fixtures in a rental house. It is possible that the property owner may ask you to remove it when you leave the rented house. Instead, install fixtures that are easy to take off and carry along to new places.
• Use Wallpaper: Do not use wallpaper in a rental as it can be messy to remove it and may leave marks on the surface underneath. Instead of traditional wallpaper, you may opt for safer options such as paint stencils, decals, new peel-away wallpapers, etc.
• Replace The Flooring: Do not tamper with the current flooring or replace it. If you do not like the floor, throw a beautiful rug on it instead or request your property owner for a replacement.
• Drill Holes In The Walls: Do not drill holes in the rental as you may be asked to pay for fixing them at the time of moving out.
  

Lone Star Realty & Property Management, Inc. helps its customers in finding well-maintained rental homes in Fort Hood, TX. To know more about rental properties, visit 1020 W Jasper Drive, Killeen, TX - 76542. You can also contact us at (254) 699 – 7003. 

Buying a home for the first time is easier when you know the meaning of commonly used real-estate terms. Having a basic understanding of the words used when buying a house helps buyers in understanding the details of the process better and enjoy a smoother & faster transaction.

Following are some terms that first time home buyers should know:

• Adjustable Rate Mortgage: This is a type of mortgage in which the initial rate is usually lower for a certain number of years after which it may fluctuate depending on the index rate used.
• Buyer’s Agent: A buyer’s agent is a real estate professional who is licensed to help buyers in finding a home of their choice. They charge a percentage of the contract price as commission and represent the buyer in the process.
• Closing Costs: The closing process begins after the finalization of the home sale. It consists of execution of the final paperwork, underwriting and appraisal by the lender, etc.  At the time of closing; costs referred to as closing costs such as taxes, loan fees, processing fees, title search, etc. are paid by the buyer.
• Appraisal: This refers to the process of gathering an estimated value of property. An appraiser is appointed by a mortgage lender to get a fair idea of the property’s value.
• Contract: A purchase contract is a binding document that states the terms and conditions of the sale of property.
• Earnest Money: On acceptance of a buyer’s offer by a seller, the buyer pays an amount of money to the seller known as earnest money. The purpose of this payment (a small percentage of the contract price) is to secure the seller’s position. This amount is applied towards down payment at the time of purchase.
• Equity: Equity refers to the amount of investment a home owner has in his home. The amount of equity is the left over amount after subtracting mortgages and liens against the home from its market value.
• Inspection: This refers to the process in which an inspector (a licensed professional inspector appointed by a buyer) visits the home to be bought, inspects it thoroughly and drafts a report of its condition along with the need for repairs.
• Principal: This refers to the amount of money a home buyer owes to a lender; minus interest.
• Escrow: An escrow is an unbiased third party agent who is appointed to observe and manage transactions.

Lone Star Realty & Property Management, Inc. assists its clients in buying a home that suits their requirements by providing an online listing of available properties, searching for property based on buyer’s requirements and providing assistance with paperwork. To know more about buying a home, call at (254) 699 - 7003 or visit the team at 1020 W Jasper Dr. Killeen, TX - 76542.

Retaining existing tenants is a prime consideration for home owners who are interested in maintaining consistent cash flow. Tenants are likely to stay in a rental if they get desired services, facilities and amenities. It is important for the property owner to make some thoughtful effort towards achieving this goal.

Listed below are ways in which a property owner can retain existing tenants for a longer period of time:

• Effective Communication: Tenants love property owners who are easily available for communication as and when needed. To retain existing tenants, you may have to go an extra mile and contact a tenant yourself in case you missed a call or are late to respond. Such gestures show that you care and are aware of your responsibilities towards your tenants.
• Quick Response To Requests: If a tenant has a request of any nature e.g. a request for repairs or maintenance, be sure to respond to it as fast as you can. The rule of thumb is to be credible and trust-worthy; mean every word you say and make promises only when you can keep them.
• Property Maintenance: If the lease agreement states that you have certain duties towards the maintenance of property, be sure to follow up with it. Consider hiring professionals to do the maintenance jobs to perfection and keep your tenants happy. You can also seek help from a property management company like Lone Star Realty & Property Management, Inc. to ensure quality services.
• Property Updates: To retain tenants, show them you care by updating your property from time to time. Note that by investing in an upgrade, you are securing a constant flow of rental income from satisfied tenants. Examples of upgrades that make a difference are kitchen appliances, bathroom fixtures, modern light fixtures, changing the flooring, etc.
• Tenant Surveys: If you want to know and understand your tenants better in order to provide them with better accommodation, you can initiate a survey amongst them. This strategy is particularly effective in multi-unit and apartment complexes. Surveys help in knowing whether you are up to mark with your tenant’s expectations and what you should do for improvement.
• Rewards And Incentives: Reward tenants who are worth keeping with gestures such as gift cards, thank you notes, restaurant coupons, property upgrades, movie tickets and even renewal incentives when the date for renewal of the lease is approaching.
  

Lone Star Realty & Property Management, Inc. helps its clients in renting out their property and maintain a high ROI from their rentals in Killeen. To know more about retaining your tenants, call at (254)699-7003 or visit the team at 1020 W Jasper Dr. Killeen, TX-76542.