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Abilene, TX Real Estate News

By The Legacy Group, The LegacyGroup of CrossCountry Mortgage
(CrossCountry Mortgage)
Abilene Texas VA Loans with 100% financing on VA Loans - the best loan program and loan payment in the country!  VA Mortgage Loans are one of the best mortgage loan programs available today for both honorably discharged Vets and active duty military personnel.  Here are some of the main features of this great program:  - 100% financing, no down payment required.  - No monthly mortgage insurance added to your payment.  - More lenient credit qualifying standards than other types of mortgage loans- Low rates compared to other loan programs.  Here's how to qualify for Abilene Texas VA Loans:  You must first verify your eligibility. This is done by ordering your Certificate of Eligibility or COE. An approved Texas VA loan lender can order your COE for you, or you can contact the VA to obtain...
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By The Legacy Group, The LegacyGroup of CrossCountry Mortgage
(CrossCountry Mortgage)
Veteran’s Home Loans for Abilene Texas!!If you are reading this, you or a family member have likely served in our military.  First off, we would like to say a sincere “Thank You” for your service!  We recognize that not only do our Veterans sacrifice by serving, but their families do as well-, and we owe you all a debt of gratitude!One of the best benefits Veterans and their families receive due to their service to our great country is the VA home loan benefits.  We are going to outline just a few of these significant benefits in this article for you.Here are some of the major benefits you may receive by using your VA home loan benefits:*100% financing available- one of the very few loans available with no down payment!*Lower rates available than most loan programs- which saves you mone...
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By The Legacy Group, The LegacyGroup of CrossCountry Mortgage
(CrossCountry Mortgage)
Special Government Home Renovation Loan Program using FHA 203k Renovation Loans in Abilene Texas.Many people are not aware of a special government loan program that is part of the Federal Housing Administration or FHA (a department within HUD). A buyer or existing home owner can do meaningful amounts of remodeling or updates to their existing home without having a higher cost second lien thanks to this special FHA loan program.However, this loan program doesn't allow for "luxury items" in your home such as a swimming pool, hot tub, or other accessories. Although, you can repaint, replace flooring and appliances, add a room to an existing structure (which can add to value tremendously as you increase the square feet of your home) as well as remodel cabinetry in kitchens and bathrooms.Thi...
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By Beverly Carlson, Abilene's Staging Realtor
(Carlson Properties 325-721-2429)
VACANT MEETS STAGED   Vacant Rooms need to be staged  to show the purpose of each room, and to show how to arrange the  furniture  and to get the buyer's attention.    Buyers buy houses with their own lifestyle in mind and need help seeing the rooms set up.  Rarely do buyers have the luxury of saying I will just add on the exta rooms that I need to have.  Buyers  need help seeing how the rooms in the home will work for them.    Staged rooms appear bigger than empty rooms due to the eye appeal.   Most  people can't acutally visualize how the furniture fits in the space without seeing it first.Vacant rooms are blah in photos.  I have before photos that I would not want to have to testify in court where they are located.  I simply can not remember!  An empty room is an empty room.   Unless...
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By Beverly Carlson, Abilene's Staging Realtor
(Carlson Properties 325-721-2429)
Staged Living Room FIVE MISTAKES TO AVOID IN HOME STAGING MISTAKE #1   STAGING A HOME BEFORE IT IS CLEAN. Staging before clean up  is as the saying goes, like  “putting lipstick on a pig.”  The steps prior to staging a home to sell are to 1) tidy up, 2) clean up 3) finish any repairs  and then start staging your home.   Home staging is dressing your home to sell and includes furnishings, decor, art, lighting, and plants. MISTAKE #2  STAGING AROUND OUTDATED FURNITURE Use your best pieces for staging and not your castoff furnishings.  If there is a disconnect between the age of the furniture and the age or style  of the house, then rent, buy, or borrow more contemporary furniture. The goal of staging is to appeal to the most prospective buyers.  Most buyers are looking for current trends,...
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By Beverly Carlson, Abilene's Staging Realtor
(Carlson Properties 325-721-2429)
SELLERS WANT TO SELL THEIR HOUSE WITH THE LEAST HASSLE AND FOR THE MOST MONE Y! I totally get it!  Every house that I have ever  had  of my own up for sale, if there had been a way to go straight to the closing table and skip the repair it, paint it, declutter it,  clean it, and then stage it phases, I would say, yup, let's do it.  It's possible if you are prepared to give up 10, 20, 30, even 40 percent of your equity if you even think you can sell "as is."  Buyer's don't want to even look at houses that need work or cleaning.  What makes you think your house is the exception?  Just because you bought it and did not fix the needed repairs, does not mean the next buyer wants to pay you more money for something  you never fixed!    Who can afford to leave cash on the table?   I sure could...
Comments 5
By Beverly Carlson, Abilene's Staging Realtor
(Carlson Properties 325-721-2429)
This living room goes from drab to fab with a paint color change, and brightening with a fan light kit, and removing window valances blocking the natural light.   My first impression of this living room was most likely the same as other potential buyers, dark and a little dreary.   Without furnishings to provide an anchor to the room, and light to brighten, and a neutral color to highlight the walls, the living room was destined to be forgettable, not what you want when selling.   A homeowner decorator color can be perfect for living, but a hindrance for selling.  Although the green was a current decorator color choice, a lighter color was mandatory to lighten and brighten the walls.  Light and bright makes you money in a sale! I am borrowing a saying I heard,  "decorating is optional; ...
Comments 3
By The Legacy Group, The LegacyGroup of CrossCountry Mortgage
(CrossCountry Mortgage)
We offer a Special Government Home Renovation Loan PROGRAM with Abilene TX FHA 203k Renovation Loans.     Many people are not aware of a special GOVERNMENT LOAN PROGRAM that is part of the Federal Housing Administration or FHA(a department within HUD). This FHA LOAN program allows the buyer or existing owner of a home to do significant amounts of remodeling or updating to their home without a higher cost second lien.         "Luxury items" like a hot tub and a swimming pool are not allowed by this FHA loan program. But you can repaint, replace flooring, remodel cabinetry in kitchens and bathrooms, add wallpaper, replace appliances – even add a room to an existing structure (which can significantly add to value as you increase the square footage of your home).         One of the biggest ...
Comments 2
By Beverly Carlson, Abilene's Staging Realtor
(Carlson Properties 325-721-2429)
Staging simply works!  Staging took this modest older home from ordinary to extraordinary buyer appeal.  Home was staged, has received three offers and is now under contract in less than a month.   Here are some before and afters:   Living Room Before Staging:   and after living room was staged!  (photo taken standing from other side of window)        Kitchen/Dining Before Staging:     After Staging!  Now, if I could have waved a wand and painted this paneling I would have. However, the staging highlights the spaciousness of the home and great features such as stone fireplace and the French door leading out to a deck with outdoor dining.   I stage all vacant listings and stage the entire house.  My staging is never a "cookie cutter" approach but a carefully designed staging plan is deve...
Comments 3
By Beverly Carlson, Abilene's Staging Realtor
(Carlson Properties 325-721-2429)
    The floors were unbelievably ugly before refininshing., not to mention  the nasty stained carpet that had been on top of these ugly floors.  Who would have thought there could be redemption for these floors, but Abbott Flooring of Abilene made it happen.  Both The living room and bedroom floors are gorgeous now!I would definitely use Abbott Flooring again.      
Comments 4
By Beverly Carlson, Abilene's Staging Realtor
(Carlson Properties 325-721-2429)
In the big scheme of what is important in life, such as freedom of speech and freedom of movement,  good health, food, water and shelter, a working cell phone just doesn't make the cut. Yet, we are so plugged in, tuned in, and addicted to constantly checking a cell phone for texts, missed calls, email, facebook, activerain, etc, that to not have cell phone service makes one  feel like the world has been turned upside down.     That is exactly what happened to me and not by any plan of mine.  Rather, I switched providers and then found out my I phone could not be switched from Sprint.  It didn't make sense, but after speaking to tech people in Oklahoma City and Asia back to Abilene Texas in a face-to face encounter, each was adamant that my I-phone could not be unlocked.  Sounds bizarre,...
Comments 4
By Beverly Carlson, Abilene's Staging Realtor
(Carlson Properties 325-721-2429)
    STAGED MASTER BEDROOM -  Yes, the lamp is casting a heart shaped shadow above the headboard of the bed.  Of course my staging plan says to create a heart shaped shadow over the Master bed.  (just kidding!)       You may be thinking - it is a seller's market so I don't need to stage. I am going to cash in on a higher sales price anyway. Maybe or maybe not. It may be a seller's market, but all that means is that more buyers are chasing fewer houses. The buyers typically still want the same things they do in any market, updated versus outdated, move in ready versus a fixer upper, and to be able to envision themselves living comfortably in the home with their own furnishings, The first reason to stage your home is to stand out from the crowd. Your home for sale needs to be the updated o...
Comments 6
By Beverly Carlson, Abilene's Staging Realtor
(Carlson Properties 325-721-2429)
 VACANT LIVING ROOM OF HOME STAGED AND SOLD IN 2014   In 2006, when I staged my first house, few people in Abilene knew what home staging was. At Coldwell Banker they had a booklet talking about home enhancement which was the basic clean and declutter mantra on how to prepare a home for sale.   In 2007,  I went to Dallas for three days and took the Barb Schwarz Accredited Staging Professional training. In this amazing training, I  experienced  hands on  staging training transforming an occupied home into a "staged" home, to be placed on the market to sell.    Since the training, I now have an online portfolio of homes that I have staged in Abilene and Midland, Texas.    Now, when I mention home staging to someone, many say, "Oh, I know about home staging, I  watch HGTV (the home and ga...
Comments 6
By Beverly Carlson, Abilene's Staging Realtor
(Carlson Properties 325-721-2429)
STAGING DECOR MAKES A DIFFERENCE!   FIREPLACE BEFORE       FIREPLACE AFTER!         BATHROOM BEFORE       BATHROOM AFTER STAGING DECOR!     KITCHEN VIGNETTE     STAGING DECOR  CHANGES THINGS FOR THE BETTER. Staging decor helps to define a space, promotes buyer emotional appeal     
Comments 7
By Beverly Carlson, Abilene's Staging Realtor
(Carlson Properties 325-721-2429)
      Today, I sat through another class on social media.  I am beginning to think we are obsessed with media.   Yes, of course I am missing out on three zillion potential contacts but let's face it,  does quantity trump quality? Would you rather have ten tedious texts or a short & sweet message:  "love u."  We have probably  all run in to someone in our path who talks nonstop but doesn't ever really say anything. Then there is information overload.  The class I sat in today at the Realtor Board was like that.  It could have been called "Forty topics to bore you to death!"    Being the polite person that I am,  I promise I didn't put that on the class evaluation, but here I am complaining in a form of social media.  It ocurred to me, maybe I am a hypocrite. Is Active rain social media?...
Comments 8
By Beverly Carlson, Abilene's Staging Realtor
(Carlson Properties 325-721-2429)
      Nothing slows you down faster than not having an available car!   My morning routine involved driving the car a mile and a half to Rose Park to walk around the park 6 times.  However, Thursday when baseball hail bashed the front windshield of my only car in,  I haven't had a car to drive to the park.  Now, that I am on foot, the blessing is that I have discovered the adventure of walking the local  neighborhoods.     I have discovered that I am less than a mile from Abilene High, less than 2 miles from HEB,  3/4 mile from the downtown library and only a short ten minute walk from the Family Dollar on the corner of Grape  and State Street. The biggest adventure so far is crossing N 1st, the railroad tracks, and crossing over S 1st at Sayles.  Before you laugh at me, try walking acr...
Comments 2
By Beverly Carlson, Abilene's Staging Realtor
(Carlson Properties 325-721-2429)
BLOW HOME SALES THROUGH THE ROOF!    STAGE IT FIRST!    Incredible, this Abilene home sold in one day last summer.        The home sales market is even hotter this summer.  Are  you ready to make money on your home sale?  Call for a complimentary staging consultation today!   Calling for a staging consultation is the first step, the first stop, the first call to make.  Why is that?  A staging consultation is an assessment of the condition of your property to determine where value can be enhanced.   A professional stager knows that certain features attract buyers.  It is more than clean, more than decluttered, more than fresh flowers even though fresh flowers are never WRONG!  Can the buyer see themselves living inside your home?  Is is clear how to be comfortable in your home?  Is the p...
Comments 2
By Beverly Carlson, Abilene's Staging Realtor
(Carlson Properties 325-721-2429)
HOME SALES are blooming in ABILENE TEXAS!   This lovely Parkside home complete with blooming roses was  STAGED AND SOLD at FULL PRICE in 4 days!   ROSE BUSHES line the front walk leading to the front door of this home.     This is the before staging  and then after staging of the Master Bedroom.   EMPTY BEFORE          AFTER HOME STAGING MASTER BEDROOM
Comments 4
By Beverly Carlson, Abilene's Staging Realtor
(Carlson Properties 325-721-2429)
STAGED AND SOLD IN 2014!   1918 WESTWOOD, ABILENE, TEXAS HAD COURTYARD CURB APPEAL AND SOLD IN ONLY 3 DAYS ON THE MARKET and AT FULL PRICE!     BEFORE:   AND AFTER STAGING!     The walls are the same color.  The only changes are the addition of curtains and staging furnishings.      1733 S 8th is a vintage charmer that was shown in 20 apts and is now home to a lucky buyer.     STAGED LIVING ROOM! INCREDIBLE!       357 LOLLIPOP IS A THIRD STAGED HOME THAT HAS AN OPTION CONTRACT in 3 Days!    THIS IS THE STAGED MASTER BEDROOM!   The Abilene Organization of Realtors states the average days on the market in Abilene was 84 days.     Three days beats out 84 days!      For staging questions, call Beverly at 325-721-2429.
Comments 3
By Beverly Carlson, Abilene's Staging Realtor
(Carlson Properties 325-721-2429)
  These first two photos are before any staging consultation.   Afer a staging consultation with the owner it was decided to paint the paneling in the kitchen and add a portable island to add counter space.     Here is after staging.  What a difference a little paint can do and the right staging consultation.  Not shown in the photos,  but even the ceiling fan blades got painted!              Here is the living Room before staging:       LIVING ROOM AFTER STAGING!   CALL BEVERLY TODAY FOR A STAGING CONSULTATION!    
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