Many people want to buy a home in Modesto, but have you ever thought about why?
Really…
Anybody can throw out a few reasons here and there and then fail to really explain the benefits behind them. Here’s the real question… Are there really any good reasons?
What reasons are there that convince you to buy a home in Modesto?
I could go through a long exhaustive list of different reasons of why you should buy a home. In fact, I could probably come up with hundreds of reasons if I really drill it down to specifics.
The truth is that a list like that would suck to read. So, I’ve pounded it down to 6 main reasons to buy a home. Three logical reasons for you analytical types, and three emotional reasons for those of you with your heart on your sleeve.
There are three main reasons that make it the logical decision to buy a home. These are:
Now I know that there are lots of different kinds of tax advantages to buying a home. I also know that there are tons of different types of appreciation, but everything basically falls under these big three.
When you’re renting a home, the money that you pay each month towards your rent simply disappears into thin air. Well, not really thin air but it’s pretty safe to say that you’ll never see it again.
When you choose to buy a home, it works a little different.
Every time you make a payment on a house that you’re buying, some of that money gets credited to your equity. Your equity is essentially money in the bank.
So, every time you make a payment on your house, what you’re really doing is putting money in a savings account.
Now granted, not every bit of your payment goes towards your equity. Some of your payment, especially at the beginning of your loan term, goes towards interest.
Interest is money that goes to the bank as their “profit” for lending you the money. Mortgage interest is not applied to your equity savings account, but it doesn’t just disappear like rent either.
This brings us to…
Can buying a home in Modesto give you a raise?
One of the other great things about buying a home is that your mortgage interest payments will be tax deductible, as well as your real estate taxes.
When tax time rolls around, you can bet that there will be a little more juice inside that refund check you get from the IRS. Even if you pay taxes every year, buying a home will help you lower that bill a little bit.
You can also talk to a CPA about how you can spread that extra cash out across the year.
Buying your dream home in Modesto can literally give you a raise! For some people, this “little” raise could add up to a couple hundred dollars a month!
On top of all the other tax advantages, making income on your home through appreciation is often tax deductible – the money you make on your home is tax free!!! Sweetness.
One important fact to look at is that today’s extremely low interest rates do water down some of the tax advantages. But on the other hand, lower interest rates means lower monthly payments and I just can’t see any complaints coming from that.
Appreciation is simply when the value of your home goes up.
Over time, the value of homes has historically gone up, but let’s face it. Recently we’ve seen free-falling prices in the housing market, and even now it doesn’t seem like home prices will be on the rise anytime soon.
I do believe that home prices will eventually creep up within the next several years, but the good thing is that you don’t have to rely entirely on the market.
You can force your appreciation. Here’s how.
Follow that simple plan above and you could net an increase in value of 20k, 30k, even 50k dollars!
Aside from the three logical reasons to buy a home, there are also three main emotional reasons to buy a home:
While buying a home on it’s logical merit is a good idea, the most important reasons are based upon the emotional benefits of home ownership.
Seriously, buying a home needs to stop being looked at as so much of a financial investment (unless you’re an investor and it is an investment) and start being looked at as a place to grow, a place to enjoy, and a place to create lasting and loving memories.
Let’s take a deeper look at some of the emotional benefits of home ownership.
When it comes down to it, you should be proud to be buying a home.
It’s really a huge accomplishment to get to the point you’re at right now, and to be considering buying a home in Modesto.
Look… the truth is that you’ve obviously worked extremely hard to get to the point of buying a home. Pretty soon that hard work will pay off and you’ll be the proud new owner of your perfect dream home.
It’s simply amazing to know that you’ll own your own little piece of this great country. You will have your own little chunk that you worked hard for, and you earned.
Owning a home is almost like your personal trophy for being a great, honest, and hard-working American.
The pride of owning a home simply cannot be overlooked.
Right now, you may be wondering, “How is owning a home more secure and stable than renting?”
That’s simple.
The only person that you have any control over in this world is yourself.
There’s no doubt that you’ve heard good, honest renters who paid their payments faithfully every month, only to find out that the owner hasn’t paid the mortgage in over a year.
People like that are being evicted every day!
When you’re the one paying the mortgage, you know that it’s getting paid every month.
How about rent prices?
How much did your parents pay for rent and how does that compare to what you’re paying now? Rents go up over time and they’re going to keep going up over the long term.
That won’t happen with your mortgage payments, granted that you were smart and got a fixed rate mortgage.
Even through the turbulence of inflation and rising costs of everything around you, you’ll find security knowing that your mortgage payment will never change.
On top of everything else, how about if a time comes when, God forbid, you can’t make payments for a couple months? Will your landlord be sympathetic and let you catch up when you get back on your feet?
Who knows?
If you own a home, at least you know that you’ll have the option to do a reinstatement or a forbearance plan to catch back up on your home payments.
Isn’t freedom such a comforting word?
When you own your own home, you never have to worry about whether the landlord is going to like this or like that.
There won’t be any more periodic walks through, and no more condescending remarks from your rental management company.
If you like wood floors you can put in wood floors, and if you like the color avocado, then for God sakes you can paint your house avocado. (PS- My house is avocado and I can’t stand the color but to each his own 
)
No more asking for permission like a little kid when you want to do something, and no more being told to put it back the way it was.
The truth is, FREEDOM KICKS BUTT…
Come get some!!!
Before you buy a home, you need to know a little bit about the local Modesto real estate market.
And there’s no better way to know the market then getting out there and looking at some homes. So here’s what you can do right now.
Click the link below and join me for a tour of homes in Modesto.
We’ll take a look at some of the most popular homes, price ranges, and neighborhoods so you can get a good idea of the local real estate market. Just follow the link below to send me an email, or you can call me on my cell at 209-818-7038.
Click here to join me for a tour of homes for sale in Modesto.
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This article was originally posted over at Lovely Modesto Homes.
6 Simple Reasons Why You Should Buy A Home In Modesto
Visit the The Lovely Modesto Homes Website for tons of Modesto home buying and home selling information.
This week is a great week if you’re interested in finding a nice home for under $100,000 in Modesto. There are three Modesto homes for sale this week for under $100,000 and they’re all very nice. So let’s take a look at the listings of the week. Our first home is listed by Century 21 M&M on Rotterdam Ave in Modesto. Rotterdam is a good looking 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom home, with well over 1600 sq ft. This home is located in a very nice, north Modesto neighborhood, close to the esteemed Dutch Hollow neighborhood. Judging by the great location, the large living area, and the extra bathroom, you would probably expect a home like this to cost a pretty penny. Well the truth is that Rotterdam is listed for just $120,000, which is a steal for this neighborhood. Now don’t go thinking that this home is a shining diamond for pennies on the dollar though. Although the home is nice, it is also pretty plain jane. There’s no granite, no crown moulding, no two-tone paint, and everything inside is generally run-of-the-mill. The inside of the home looks very clean though and you can tell that the carpets have just had a recent cleaning. This is the type of home that you can put your blood and sweat into over the years, and it’s sure to pay you back handsomely over time. Click Here for more information on the home for sale on Rotterdam in Modesto. This home is a freshly remodeled, three bedroom, two bath home, with a little over 1350 sf ft of living area. Macgregor Ct is the type of home that might not impress you too much from the outside, but once you go inside, you’re sure to be impressed. During the recent remodel, the sellers put in brand new carpet, fresh paint, durable laminate flooring in high traffic areas, and gorgeous new granite in the kitchen and bathrooms. Some of the other features include attractive double doors on the front entry, a double fireplace, new fixtures, and a large backyard. This home has a lot to offer for being priced under $130,000. About the only thing this home needs at this point, would be replacing the current windows and doors with modern dual pane counterparts. That and a new owner looking for a lovely home. Click Here for more details on the home for sale on Macgregor Ct in Modesto. Gorham Ave is listed by Excel Realtors for $229,000. It’s a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home, and it has a roomy 2475 sq ft of living space. Just take one quick look at this home and you’re sure to fall in love. Here’s what you get. Gorham Ave screams quality from the very beginning with a modern design, conservative but attractive front landscaping, and a modern victorian flair. If the front of the home didn’t quite do it for you, then going inside will surely push you over the edge. This home has tons of top quality features like custom tile flooring, gorgeous dark stained cabinetry in the kitchen, lovely crown moulding, modern rescessed lighting, and a built-in pantry. There’s also some custom features in this home that you usually only see on high-end luxury homes. Things like custom staggered tile flooring in the kitchen, a fully custom backsplash, intricate ceiling architecture, and a kitchen island with a built-in downdraft cooktop. Another plus is the back yard, even though it’s small, has an in-ground kidney shaped pool with a custom waterfall feature. This home is filled with great features. Gorham Ave is simply a modern home, with high end luxury features, at a middle class price. Click here for more details on the home for sale on Gorham Ave in Modesto. Now we get to the good stuff. Below are three very nice East Modesto homes that are priced below the magical $100,000 mark. In fact, two of them are priced well below the mark with the third just squeaking by. And you’re not giving up much to get these low prices. Any repairs that these three homes do need are things that can easily be fixed over time. So, without rambling on too much, here’s the three homes of the week priced below $100,000. It’s good to see some nice homes come on the market that are truly entry level prices. The three homes in Modesto for under $100,000 today are great examples of move-in ready homes that are available for rock bottom prices. And I mean that literally. These are the kind of homes you can buy, and own, for less than the cost of renting an apartment! What an opportunity… Go get one. Before you buy a home, you need to know a little bit about the local Modesto real estate market. And there’s no better way to know the market then getting out there and looking at some homes. So here’s what you can do right now. Click the link below and join me for a tour of homes in Modesto. We’ll take a look at some of the most popular homes, price ranges, and neighborhoods so you can get a good idea of the local real estate market. Just follow the link below to send me an email, or you can call me on my cell at 209-818-7038. Click here to join me for a tour of homes for sale in Modesto.Home For Sale On Rotterdam Ave In Modesto
You know how I like to save the best for last… so before I get to the three homes under $100,000, we’re going to start with these gems.Home For Sale On Macgregor Ct In Modesto
The home on Macgregor Ct in Modesto is another nice home listed by Century 21 M&M.Home For Sale On Gorham Ave In Modesto
Our third home somewhat of a big jump in price range from the last two, but an excellent value for all you get.Three Nice Modesto Homes For Under $100,000
Conclusion
Here’s What You Can Do Next
So how’s the market?
That’s the million dollar question. The question everybody, including you, want to know.
So what are we looking at? Is it a buyers market… a sellers market? Are home prices going to keep coming down, or will they start going up? How about foreclosures?
Well let’s take a look at the latest statistics and see if we can’t figure it out shall we?
Take a look at the graph below to see the sales prices for Modesto over the last year.
Click Here To See The Original Article At Lovely Modesto Homes For Graphs And Pictures
As you can see, we’ve had some pretty large swings over the last year so let me explain why.
First of all, the peaks and valleys may look big on the graph, but take a quick look at the prices. The change in dollar value is only about $7,000.
If you compare April last year to April this year, then the change is even smaller at right around $1,000.
You can see that from July to September last year, we had home prices in Modesto that averaged about $5,000 higher than normal. This was caused by the end of the $8,000 federal tax credit when people were rushing to buy a home.
You can also see that there was a big drop in December. This is perfectly normal for the lovely Christmas season. After spending hundreds–or even thousands–of dollars on Christmas presents, not very many people are thinking about buying a home.
Finally, after Christmas ends, you can see prices start to even out around $124k to $125k… right where they should be.
One more thing to realize is that much of the swing is being caused by the highest and lowest price ranges. When you look at 2, 3, and 4 bedroom homes–the most popular one being bought–then things begin to look much more stable and consistent.
This graph shows the sales prices for 2, 3, and 4 bedroom homes.
Click Here To See The Original Article At Lovely Modesto Homes For Graphs And Pictures
The volume, or number of sales will give us an idea of how popular it is to buy a home right now. Here’s the graph:
Click Here To See The Original Article At Lovely Modesto Homes For Graphs And Pictures
As you can clearly see, the sales volume is going up meaning that more and more people are buying a home. This is a good thing for you.
The big dip came right after Christmas–as expected– and has been going up from there. As people get their tax returns back, the buying should continue to increase.
You might also notice that the sales volume was really high near the end of the $8,000 federal tax credit last year. You probably also noticed that we’re even with where we started before the tax credit buying frenzy.
This is important because it shows that things are finally normalizing here in Modesto. Definitely a good sign.
One important thing that the number of homes for sale will tell you, is whether or not the banks are releasing their foreclosures onto the market.
Click Here To See The Original Article At Lovely Modesto Homes For Graphs And Pictures
You can definitely tell from this graph that over the past month or so, a large number of homes have been coming onto the market. This is most likely banks listing their foreclosed homes.
When it comes to selling your home, this is the start to some trouble.
Lots of homes on the market means that you’ll have more homes competing with yours, somewhat lower prices, more competition from other sellers, and probably less people looking at your home.
One thing I’m noticing is that homes are starting to sell a little better right now.
Even with the extra homes coming onto the market, the increased number of buyers are keeping the selling market pretty strong. But it’s still a buyers market, so don’t let your guard down.
Keep in mind that most of the homes on the market are bank foreclosures. Banks do not stage their homes, they don’t fix everything up real nice, and for the most part, they don’t even properly clean the homes.
They just throw them up for sale. This means that you have a huge advantage.
But, you’re going to have to put in the extra effort to make your home stand out from the rest.
Right now is actually a very good point to be selling your home. Buyers are getting their tax returns which will pay for their down payments, the days are long for late showings, and the number of homes on the market is not too high… Yet.
If you’re planning to sell your home then it would be a good idea to take advantage of this window.
So how’s the market?
That’s the million dollar question. The question everybody, including you, want to know.
So what are we looking at? Is it a buyers market… a sellers market? Are home prices going to keep coming down, or will they start going up? How about foreclosures?
Well let’s take a look at the latest statistics and see if we can’t figure it out shall we?
Take a look at the graph below to see the sales prices for Modesto over the last year.
Click Here To See The Original Article At Lovely Modesto Homes For Graphs And Pictures
As you can see, we’ve had some pretty large swings over the last year so let me explain why.
First of all, the peaks and valleys may look big on the graph, but take a quick look at the prices. The change in dollar value is only about $7,000.
If you compare April last year to April this year, then the change is even smaller at right around $1,000.
You can see that from July to September last year, we had home prices in Modesto that averaged about $5,000 higher than normal. This was caused by the end of the $8,000 federal tax credit when people were rushing to buy a home.
Oddly enough, they paid about $8,000 more for their homes than they would have without the $8,000 tax credit just like I pointed out in a previous blog post.
You can also see that there was a big drop in December. This is perfectly normal for the lovely Christmas season. After spending hundreds–or thousands–of dollars on Christmas presents, not very many people are thinking about buying a home.
Finally, after Christmas ends, you can see prices start to even out around $124k to $125k… right where they should be.
One more thing to realize is that much of the swing is being caused by the highest and lowest price ranges. When you look at 2, 3, and 4 bedroom homes–the most popular one being bought–then things begin to look much more stable and consistent.
This graph shows the sales prices for 2, 3, and 4 bedroom homes.
Click Here To See The Original Article At Lovely Modesto Homes For Graphs And Pictures
The volume, or number of sales will give us an idea of how popular it is to buy a home right now. Here’s the graph:
Click Here To See The Original Article At Lovely Modesto Homes For Graphs And Pictures
As you can clearly see, the sales volume is going up meaning that more and more people are buying a home.
The big dip came right after Christmas–as expected– and has been going up from there. As people get their tax returns back, the buying should continue to increase.
You might also notice that the sales volume was really high near the end of the $8,000 federal tax credit last year. You probably also noticed that we’re even with where we started before the tax credit buying frenzy.
This is important because it shows that things are finally normalizing here in Modesto. Definitely a good sign.
One important thing that the number of homes for sale will tell you, is whether or not the banks are releasing their foreclosures onto the market.
Click Here To See The Original Article At Lovely Modesto Homes For Graphs And Pictures
You can definitely tell from this graph that over the past month or so, a large number of homes have been coming onto the market.
When it comes to buying a home, this is a good thing.
Lots of homes on the market means that you’ll have more homes to choose from, somewhat lower prices, and less competition from other buyers.
Right now, I feel like the buying is starting to pick up as more and more buyers start to use their tax refund for a down payment.
(You might not need a down payment though… Click here to find out How To Buy A Home In Modesto With Little To No Down Payment)
I’m noticing more offers, and much more inquiries on homes for sale. This would usually be bad for home buyers because that means more competition, but with the high number of homes coming on the market… it’s actually balancing out quite well.
All the homes coming onto the market are also keeping prices steady, so even though more buyers are taking the plunge, prices are neither falling nor rising at any significant rate.
Overall, we are definitely in a buyers market still so, as a home buyer, you still have the upper hand.
Before you buy a home, you need to know a little bit about the local Modesto real estate market.
And there’s no better way to know the market then getting out there and looking at some homes. So here’s what you can do right now.
Click the link below and join me for a tour of homes in Modesto.
We’ll take a look at some of the most popular homes, price ranges, and neighborhoods so you can get a good idea of the local real estate market. Just follow the link below to send me an email, or you can call me on my cell at 209-818-7038.
Click here to join me for a tour of homes for sale in Modesto.
This week we have some top notch new listings that popped up in some of the best neighborhoods in Modesto.
When you’re talking about great, and desirable, neighborhoods in Modesto, there are a few names that always come up. Names like the Lakewood neighborhood, Sylvan Meadows, and the Village One neighborhood all come to mind.
Well this week, we have them all along with a few other nice homes thrown in for good measure.
The home for sale on Robbie Avenue in Modesto is a prime example of just how low the prices homes are getting.
This home, which is listed by Rivers Realty in Modesto, is a simple three bedroom two bathroom home with close to 1300 sq ft of living space.
Now let’s be honest. Robbie Avenue isn’t going to win any design awards. Inside the home is pretty plain and there’s really nothing special.
On top of that, the location — although it’s not very bad at all — isn’t one of the most desirable area in Modesto with people fighting to live there.
But on the other side of the coin, this home has a price tag of only $78,000. It’s also move-in ready. When it comes down to it, you can’t do much complaining with a move-in ready, three bed two bath home, with this low of a price.
Click here for more details on the Robbie Avenue in Modesto.
Sharondell Ave another nice little home in the heart of Modesto, listed by Granite Realty.
This home has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and is a pretty comfortable size with close to 1500 sq ft of living area.
The great thing about Sharondell is that that this home is nice, but it’s not over the top. You’re going to find a few luxury features like granite countertops, new paint, new carpet and even some modern updates in the bathrooms.
But even with some of those nice features, Sharondell is still very affordable at $119,000. Even at full price, this is going to translate to around $900 per month, which is very reasonable for a home like this.
If you’re looking for home at a very affordable price, but that still gives you a taste of luxury, then the home on Sharondell may just fit your needs perfectly.
Click here for more details on Sharondell Avenue in Modesto.
Now we’re getting into the good stuff.
Our next home on Westminster Dr is an absolutely gorgeous, Lakewood area home, listed by Sutter Real Estate.
The Lakewood neighborhood is arguably one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Modesto. Lakewood school District is one of the top schools in Stanislaus County, and homes in this area are known for their custom charm.
And the charm in Westminster Dr. will not disappoint you.
This home is an amazing three bedroom, two bathroom home, with over 1500 square feet of living area. The lot size for this home is a very large .212 acres, and even though this is an older home–built in 1966–you will not believe some of the modern features that have been added.
Westminster Dr. was fully remodeled in 2005, and the owners didn’t excellent job.
Starting in the kitchen, you can see that almost everything has been upgraded. There’s recessed lighting, great looking cabinetry with upgraded hardware, and everything was done in good taste.
Moving to the dining room, the owner didn’t skimp one bit when upgrading there either. You’re going to find a gorgeous upgraded door to the backyard, custom chair railing, more recessed lighting, and two-tone paint to bring it all together.
The rest home has even more recessed lighting, new paint and carpet, upgraded dual pane windows, and they even added some amazing crown molding throughout the entire home.
The fireplace in the living room was redone with what looks like slate tile, the bathrooms have upgraded vanities with custom sinks and fixtures, there is custom tile on all the countertops, and there’s even more hard word flooring throughout the home.
It doesn’t even end when you go out the back door. The backyard has a top-notch kidney shaped pool with a built in spa. The landscaping is amazing and you even get a little red shed to store all your tools.
To be honest, I’m just scratching the surface with this quick review. I could go on and on about this home and still not give you all the details.
The price on Westminster Dr. is a touch below 155,000, which has got to be one of the best deals I’ve seen in a long time for a home this nice. All I have to say is take a look.
Click here for more details on Westminster drive in Modesto.
Our next home is listed by West Coast Marketing Group, and is located on Pinenut Ct. in Modesto.
Pinenut court is located in the Village One neighborhood of Modesto, which is another one of those highly desirable areas that tons of home buyers would love to live in.
The problem comes when you see the prices of homes in this area. Homes in the Village One neighborhood are usually priced above $180,000 on the low side, and can range well into the $200,000 neighborhood pretty quickly.
Not the home on Pinenut Ct. though.
This home is listed at just $159,900, which is a good $20,000 below what even the lower priced homes in this area sell for. So what you get for a $160,000 house in the Village One neighborhood?
Well, Pinenut Ct. is a three bedroom, two bathroom home, built in 1997, and has well over 1400 sq ft of living area. The home isn’t brand new, and it isn’t as huge as some of the other homes in Village One, but for the price that’s understandable.
Here’s the good side though.
First of all, Pinenut Ct is a good-looking home. From the front you can see a nice, clean tile roof, some tastefully done brick around the garage, and thick lumber beams near the front door.
Inside the home, there’s not a whole lot special going on. You get the basics though with vaulted ceilings, a wide open floor plan, dual pane windows, and the modern layout.
The backyard is pretty basic, aside from a nice covered patio with a built-in barbecue and countertop for an outside kitchen.
If you’re looking to buy a home in an executive level neighborhood for an entry-level price, then you cannot go wrong with Pinenut Ct.
Click here for more details on Pinenut Ct. in Modesto.
Our last home is listed by the Real Estate Store, and is located in the lovely Sylvan Meadows neighborhood on Mable Avenue in Modesto.
Mable Avenue is a gorgeous four bedroom, two bathroom home with well over 2000 sq ft of fully remodeled living area.
This home has everything. The owners have just remodeled home with new interior and exterior paint, new stainless appliances, new granite countertops, and new carpet and tile throughout the entire home.
They didn’t forget the small stuff though. On top of everything else, this home got custom granite counters in the bathrooms, new sinks, new lighting fixtures, new ceiling fans, new shower doors, and a whole host of other small upgrades.
Even with such a big home, and a lot size that isn’t huge, they still found room to fit a nice custom pool in the backyard.
The front yard has brand-new landscaping, and the backyard is extremely low maintenance with lots of custom cement around the pool and other small landscaping upgrades to give it a handsome look.
At $189,900, the price on his home is not cheap. But when you consider the fact that it has four bedrooms, well over 2000 sq ft of living space, it’s fully and completely remodeled, and it’s located in the amazing Sylvan Meadows neighborhood, then you can see why it would demand such a high figure.
About the only thing wrong with this home would be the fact that it’s located on a busy street. But, if you can get past that, and the price is right for you then you need to give Maple Avenue a good look.
Click here for more details on Mable Avenue in Modesto.
What a lucky lineup we had this week.
Three beautiful homes in three of the top neighborhoods in Modesto. But, I have to say that Westminster Dr. takes the cake.
This home simply has so much potential, and so many more luxury upgrades then you should be able to find for under $155,000. And that’s just the home itself, not even considering the fact that it’s in the Lakewood neighborhood.
Overall, no matter where you are on the buying scale, you can’t go wrong with any of these homes of the week.
Before you buy a home, you need to know a little bit about the local Modesto real estate market.
And there’s no better way to know the market then getting out there and looking at some homes. So here’s what you can do right now.
Click the link below and join me for a tour of homes in Modesto.
We’ll take a look at some of the most popular homes, price ranges, and neighborhoods so you can get a good idea of the local real estate market. Just follow the link below to send me an email, or you can call me on my cell at 209-818-7038.
Click here to join me for a tour of homes for sale in Modesto.
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This article was originally posted at Lovely Modesto Homes. Be sure to visit Lovely Modesto Homes to get tons of FREE information about Modesto homes for sale and Modesto real estate.
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