Thomas Brewer

The Shops and More in Mansfield

The Shops at Broad Street, a Mansfield Texas development, has helped increase business and commerce in this already thriving community. The project includes over a million square feet planned to accommodate residential, commercial and retail residents.

The Shops at Broad Street bring a welcome addition to Mansfield homeowners and their families. It provides an additional resource to area residents for everything from shopping to business to entertainment. The development is located at the intersection of Broad Street and Highway 287, making it easily accessible from just about anywhere.

The rapidly increasing Mansfield population and commercial growth helped start interest in the project. Developers plan to have the property become a focal point in the community. The future of the development remains to be seen but it should provide a great deal of revenue for the local government and businesses.

Mansfield real estate in the area will also rise in value with this additional asset in the community. Mansfield is already one of the most desirable places to live in the country, having a nice place to live, shop and work just add to the appeal.

Real Estate Market Fluctuations in Arlington, Texas

Everyone involved in the real estate market, whether it be the first time home buyer, investors or seasoned home buyers, all want to get the best possible deal on a nice house. This is certainly true in Arlington, Texas.

Before placing an offer on a house, you have to first consider your budget range which is normally set according to the amount you have been approved for by your mortgage lender. Your second consideration should be the real estate market conditions in and around Arlington, Texas.

Those who make their living within the real estate market commonly refer to three different terms when describing current market trends. The first of these terms is “seller's market”. In a seller's market, there are typically too few homes for sale to meet the demand. This results in sellers getting their asking price or even more without a lot of negotiation.

Another common term is “buyer's market”. This term is more common than the seller's market. When there are more homes for sale in an area than there are buyers, it becomes a buyer’s market. In this situation buyers can pick and choose the home they want and make lower offers than sellers may be asking. In this situation, a buyer can get a great deal.

Finally, another term often used to describe the state of the real estate market is “even”. In this case, the demand and supply are very close to being about the same.
All three of these situations can contribute to a strong and stable real estate climate. There are many factors that affect which of these conditions the market experiences. Arlington is proof that a real estate market can have small fluctuations and remain steady. Please go to www.tombrewerjr.com for more information.

Top Tips for Staging a Tarrant County Home

In order to assure that the home you are selling is attractive to the buying market, you have to find a good, solid staging strategy to get the home sold. We will take a look at the ten top staging tips that can turn an ineffective listing into a home that attracts multiple offers.

Clean up the Yard. Add some plants to the yard for some genuine curb appeal and consider re-painting the front door for some added color.

Refresh the Foyer. This is the first thing a prospective buyer sees when he enters the home so keep it neat and attractive from the floor to the ceiling.

Use Color. If the walls in the home are neutral, add some colorful pillows, fresh flowers and artwork for providing some contrast and personality to rooms.

Kitchen Consistency. Be sure that all of the cabinets and counter tops match. Add some new handles to boring doors or put in a new backsplash behind a boring sink area. Scrub the kitchen from top to bottom to make it look fresh and clean.

Declutter. It is very difficult for a home buyer to picture himself living in a messy, cluttered home. Remove as many personal items as possible.

Highlight Great Features. If the home consists of great windows, high ceilings, a fireplace or other great architectural details, highlight these by strategically placing furniture in key locations so that they are noticed by the buyer.

Perk up the Patio. Clean the patio and add some style to it with modern patio furniture, lighting and other accessories.

Highlight the Master Bedroom. Use what is available to emphasis the best features of the master bedroom by repositioning furniture and other items. New window treatments could also be used to freshen up the room.

Avoid Bathroom Blues. Update the wallpaper, add a fresh coat of paint or some new hardware to make an otherwise dull bathroom take on new life.

Re-Define the Extra Rooms. Many homes consist of at least one “junk room” which often consists of a mish-mash of items. Home buyers want to see a purpose for every room in the home, so define each room as the 'office', the 'bar', etc. Please go to www.tombrewerjr.com for more information.

Mortgage Shopping for First Time Buyers

Shopping for a mortgage is a huge step by step process that takes time and planning with a good deal of attention being paid to details. This is especially true for first time Tarrant County homebuyers.

If you are buying a home for the first time and have already inspected your credit report, then you have taken the first step in getting a good mortgage. It is an absolute must these days that you get your credit in as good as shape as possible and that you are well prepared to answer any credit-related questions posed to you by the mortgage lender.

Now that your credit is in order, you can begin by shopping around for the mortgage lender that is right for you. Look at brokers, mortgage lenders, credit unions and banks to see what is offered.

Be sure to ask for all of the loan cost information such as the APR, the cost of points, fees charged by brokers, underwriting fees, insurance, commissions, escrows and closing costs. By having all of these figures, you will easily be able to compare the different mortgages.

Inquire as to what the down payment will be, the terms of the loan, whether it is a FRM or an ARM and the terms of each.

Don't be afraid to be heard. You may need to partake in some negotiations so the more you know, the more leverage you will have. Be prepared to negotiate the points, yield spread premiums and fees charged by the brokers as well as the commissions. Do not hesitate to ask lenders for better terms than what they originally quoted.

Once you are happy with the terms, finish the paperwork. This should include the agreed upon rate, the duration of the lock-in and the total number of points to be paid.

You should most definitely ask for a written commitment that guarantees you the specific terms and costs you've locked in. Having this commitment will put you at the top of the seller's list who wishes to close the deal quickly. Please go to www.tombrewerjr.com for more information.

Which Loan Best Suits Your Needs

Arlington and Mansfield Texas homebuyers have many options available to them that simply do not exist in many other comparably sized housing markets across the country. Ignoring the significant number of entertainment, recreation and shopping options available in Arlington and Mansfield, homeowners can also decide between a wide variety of communities ranging from rural settings to fast-paced city living to serene suburban neighborhoods.

A few things that are common regardless of the location of the home are the type of home mortgage loans homebuyers can use. Due to the recent economic climate, the type and number of loans available has been distinctively reduced. Among the most common type of mortgage loan are the fixed rate loan, adjustable rate mortgage and the interest only loan.

It’s safe to say that obtaining an interest only loan will be very difficult for buyers right now so we’ll focus on the other 2 mortgage types for now. Of the 2 types, the fixed rate loan is probably the most common loan type homebuyers decide to use.

A fixed rate mortgage is often the preferred type since the interest rate stays the same throughout the life of the loan. Arlington and Mansfield homebuyers that prefer this method like having a set mortgage amount that never changes over time. These usually come in 10, 15, 20 or 30 year terms. The biggest drawback for this type of loan is that the interest is paid before the principle.

An adjustable rate mortgage can also be beneficial to some consumers since the initial rate is usually lower than that of a fixed rate loan. This rate will change each year. An adjustable rate mortgage is often used by real estate investors or families that may only live in their homes short term.

Whichever type of loan Arlington and Mansfield homebuyers choose, they should first investigate their options and weigh the pros and cons to decide which loan will best work for them. It is often a good idea to consult a qualified real estate professional for advice.