home buying tips: Home Buyer Tips - How to Buy a House - 02/01/12 04:03 PM
I recently wrote an article: How to Buy a House - 5 Must Know Tips where I describe some foundational issues that all home buyers face when getting started in their home search. Sometimes people feel the need to jump in and figure things out later when they get serious. This is almost always a disaster yet this is the default road home buyers tend to take.
A real estate agent usually gets involved once they call on a few ads. This is really the best thing that can happen to the home buyer because they then at least ahve a … (4 comments)

home buying tips: What is Smarter Home Shopping with Team Quintana? - 11/26/10 10:33 AM
Spokane Washington Real Estate Expert - Ross Quintana
 
Hello Everyone,
We have been helping people shop for homes for almost 10 years now. We have seen countless people go through the process. So I started looking at the common mistakes Home buyers in Spokane make when shopping for a home. I found most mistakes are mistakes in understanding the best process in buying a home.
#1 Don't get their own agent: A huge mistake is to look on their own and not bother an agent in fear they will be pushed by some salesperson. The problem is that having a … (0 comments)

home buying tips: Thankfullness Goes Beyond Thanksgiving - 11/26/10 09:33 AM
Spokane Washington Real Estate Expert - Ross Quintana
 
Hello Everyone,
Well, Thanksgiving is done and now we get to the hustle and bustle of the shopping season. One thing I take away from this year's Thanksgiving is how being thankful is powerful and deserves more than a once a year occurance.
With so many holidays focusing on gifts and material possesions, I find Thanksgiving a refreshing break. It is centered around introspection family, and a feast which shows us we have all that we need and more. I am very thankful for my family, friends, and the people of … (1 comments)

home buying tips: A Home Buyer's Recipe for Success! - 10/28/10 06:09 AM
Spokane Real Estate Expert - Ross Quintana
 
Hello Everyone,
Over the last decade of serving Spokane Washington residents with their real estate needs, I have seen many people go through the process of home shopping and buying. I have also seen people make the same mistakes over and over again. For them it is one of the few times in their life they will go through the process, but for me it is another example that I see over and over again. When cooking something you have never cooked or or don't cook often it is best to follow a … (4 comments)

home buying tips: Spokane Real Estate - Hot for Some..Cold for Others - 07/09/10 01:37 PM
Spokane Real Estate Expert - Ross Quintana
 
Hello Everyone,
So how is the market? I get that question all the time. When someone finds out you do real estate the first thing they ask is how is the market. My response is simple.... hot for some, cold for others. Right now we are busier than we have ever been while many other agents are getting out of the business. Why?
Rich people learned a long time ago how to make money when things are good and bad, it is called positioning. If the market is bad, they buy up stuff … (0 comments)

home buying tips: How Does the Stress of Real Estate Affect Your Health? - 06/13/10 04:36 AM
Spokane Washington Real Estate Expert - Ross Quintana
 
Hello Everyone,
They say buying or selling a home is as stressful as dealing with death, and for many who have had a bad transaction, they will agree. Real Estate is stressfull for the people and also the Realtor who deals with it over and over again all year long. But what does all of that stress do to your health?
Many people say stress gives them grey hairs, but there may be some truth to this. In a great documentary, National Geographic explores the chemical and physical effects of stress on … (2 comments)

home buying tips: First Time Home Buyers - Spokane Washington - 06/10/10 04:19 AM
Spokane Washington Real Estate Expert - Ross Quintana
 
Hello Everyone,
If you are a first time home buyer in Spokane Washington, you may find yourself like many first time home buyers that came before you, looking on the internet, driving around picking up flyers, daydreaming about your first home. Buying a home for the first time is very exciting and can be a great experience. It can also become stressful and costly if you make the mistakes that many people do.
Here is a short video below of 4 of the common mistakes home buyers make and how to avoid … (2 comments)

home buying tips: Stop Smiling at Me Things are Horrible - Spokane WA Real Estate - 06/06/10 06:08 AM
Spokane WA Real Estate Expert - Team Quintana
 
Hello Everyone,
Yes I said Stop Smiling at Me, No I'm not a Grump... I was at a social gathering the other day and a guy looked at me and said how bad the real estate market was. I smailed at him and said that things were going great for us and that we were so busy it was crazy. I don't think he was expecting that from a real estate agent in Spokane.
I told him that while other Realtors in Spokane were getting out of the business, we were busier … (5 comments)

home buying tips: Where are all the good lenders going? - 05/02/10 03:01 PM
Spokane Real Estate Expert - Ross Quintana
 
Hello Everyone,
So this is kind of a trick question. You may have or have not noticed that there are fewer and fewer lenders to choose from these days. If you are thinking of buying a home, you are probably used to having gobs of choices for lenders. Most people truck to their local bank or credit union, but those still aren't the best places to get your loan.
The trick part of the question is that though there are more and more companies going out of business when it comes to lending, … (0 comments)

home buying tips: Spokane Homes for Sale and Spokane Market Conditions - 04/08/10 03:59 AM
Spokane Homes for Sale Expert - Ross Quintana
 
Hello Everyone,
Well there are a lot of choices out there right now for Spokane Home Buyers. Inventory levels are high and the prices have come down a bit. Interest rates are great if you can qualify for them.
Bottom line is that the bottom of the real estate market is the best place to buy. We have a few things that are converging here that will not likely come back around for another 10-15 years. With the tax credit still available for many home buyers, now is one of the best … (1 comments)

home buying tips: Spokane Real Estate is Shining! Time to put the Home for Sale - 03/26/10 05:02 AM
Spokane Real Estate Expert - Ross Quintana
 
Hello Everyone,
The sun is shining and home affordability is at a 30 year high. What this means is that compared to average income homes are more affordable right now than they have been in the last 30 years. Interest rates are at a 30 year low also meaning it has never been this cheap to borrow money and this affordable to buy a home with tons of choices.
Many people look at the media and think the market is doing bad. In some areas that may have been true. But in Spokane, … (1 comments)

home buying tips: Spokane Real Estate - Slide for Home before time is Out! - 03/23/10 04:04 AM
Spokane Real Estate Expert - Ross Quintana
 
Hello Everyone,
Well if you have not heard yet, the Home BUyer tax credit is about to come to an end and it is time to slide into home literally. If you are in the market and thinking of buying, why not take advantage of the $8000 credit you may be eligible for.
Face it, today every penny counts, and $8000 is a lot of pennies. Besides that intereste rates are as good as they have ever been. What all of this means is make a dash for the finish line call us … (3 comments)

home buying tips: Tax Credit is Coming to an End.... Don't missout! - 03/15/10 04:57 PM
Spokane Real Estate Expert - Ross Quintana
Well, this is really the last month to take advantage of First time home buyer tax credit. In order to get a closing before the end of April you will want to be in an offer before the end of the month. Sooner is better in this case as some lenders are taking an extra week or more in some cases.
When it comes time to buy or sell a home in Spokane Washington, Call us 509-362-1966
… (5 comments)

home buying tips: Doesn't Bother Me None - How Attitude Affects Your Transaction - 03/15/10 04:53 PM
Spokane Real Estate Expert – Ross Quintana
I have a nephew who was working at a fast food resaruant living for free at my dad’s house, and one day he came home and told me he lost his job. He told me the story of how he got fired and then said, “doesn’t bother me none”. I always remembered that phrase and over the years I have joked with my wife when something came up that I wanted to show my poor attitude I would just say, “doesn’t bother me none”.
In real estate there are many things that can go … (1 comments)

home buying tips: Buying New Construction in Spokane - 03/15/10 04:48 PM
Spokane Real Estate Expert - Ross Quintana
New construction purchases can go really well sometimes, and other times small things can come up that derail the whole transaction. Most of the time things are straight forward and everything goes straight to closing, but something like hydroseed on the swales(front spot between the street and sidewalk) can hold up a funding.
If a temporary certificate of occupancy was issued and it is in early spring, you may find yourself being held up or needing to do a holdback. Hopefully you don’t find out about this the day of closing or you could … (0 comments)

home buying tips: Spokane Real Estate Market Update - February 2010 - 02/28/10 08:19 AM
Spokane Real Estate Market Expert - Ross Quintana
 
Hello Everyone,
Here is the rundown, there are about 4484 active residential listings in Spokane Washington right now.
19.5% are pending which isn't too bad, these numbers are picking up because of the lack of winter and tax advantages for home buyers
2283 expired listings in the last 6 months, ooch! Average agents aren't getting the job done, You must hire the right agent in this market.
$194,376 is the average sold price right now which has dipped a little due to the increase in inventory.
97.2% is the average list price … (3 comments)

home buying tips: Should Your Agent Use Brochures? - 02/19/10 04:08 AM
Ross Quintana - Spokane Real Estate Expert
 
Hello Everyone, Well we see this question over and over. Some agents do, some agents don't. Lets weigh out the pros and cons of each side and you can decide if you should have flyers.
Many agents opt not to use brochures, they may say because they want people to call them so they can tell them about the home. One of the problems is that when polled people said they didn't want to talk to an agent to get information. Second problem is that most agents can't be available all the time … (3 comments)

home buying tips: Once we find a home we like we will Sell - Buyer Strategy - 02/16/10 04:18 AM
Hello Everyone,
This comes up many times as I talk with people about selling their homes in Spokane. I hear many home buyers say that they are working on projects and home shopping so that when they find the perfect home they will put theirs on the market.
One of the things I like to tell them is that this may be a bad strategy. The reason why is that If a home is the best home to you, it is the best home to everyone else also. Nobody wants to buy the worst homes. So once you find the … (4 comments)

home buying tips: It tasted so good a few years ago - 01/14/10 04:05 PM
Hello Everyone,
You know I read a post from another agent asking if the good housing market was gone forever. My response was that in 2005-7 the buyers and sellers experienced a taste of what the investors in real estate have enjoyed for decades.
The rush of buying a home and making money on it struck the housing market like a flash flood. People were feeling what a real estate investor feels every year. The thrill of buying at a good price and making money when you sell. Some think this is now long gone, but it is still happening … (6 comments)

home buying tips: Hiring a Realtor to Watch Your Baby - 12/23/09 04:24 AM
Spokane Wa Real Estate Expert - Ross Quintana
 
Hello Everyone,
Children are precious and one of the most important possessions a person will ever have to care of. We protect them, and guard them from potential trouble until they go out on their own. The funny thing is the same concepts can be applied to your home. My question is if you wouldn't just hire anyone to watch your children without doing a little home work and making sure they are the right person, then why do people hire Realtors hastily without making sure they are the right one to … (5 comments)