Buyers & Sellers: Opportunity Is Still Out There

Despite the coronavirus pandemic, real estate is still happening.

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Selling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation

What does the coronavirus pandemic mean for our real estate market? Though there is a lot of uncertainty out there, real estate is still happening. We’re still getting calls from buyers and homeowners, and interest rates are still at an all-time low. There are still plenty of opportunities to take advantage of. 

What You Should Know About USDA Loans

USDA loans are a popular option for homebuyers because they don’t require a down payment.

Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home search

Selling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation

If you’re looking to buy a home and need a loan, there are a lot of different options out there. You can get an FHA loan, VA loan, or even a conventional loan. However, there’s one specific option that we’ll take a look at today: USDA loans.

One of the great things about USDA loans is that they don’t require a down payment. If you qualify for one, that could save you a ton of money. 

How do you qualify for this type of loan? For starters, you need a credit score of at least 640. The other thing to know is that not all homes qualify for USDA loans. There are only certain areas where homes qualify for this type of loan. If you’re in Kingman, Golden Valley, or Dolan Springs, you’d qualify automatically. If you’re in Flagstaff, you’d need to be in an area like Belmont, Williams, Winslow, Mountain Air, Frontier Hills, Cucina VIllage, or Trail’s End to qualify. 

I recently got a call from a homebuyer client who qualified for a USDA loan based on their credit score, but also just locked in a 3.25% interest rate. Not only does he get to avoid a down payment, but he also gets the best possible interest rate he can get. He’s purchasing a home that’s worth around $200,000 and it’s a fantastic opportunity that’s out there for even more buyers.

If you are interested in buying a home or learning more about USDA loans, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send an email. We would love to hear from you soon.

An Expert Answers Your Questions About Heating and Cooling Your Home

If you have questions about your home’s heating and cooling systems, today I’m joined by an expert to answer them.
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What’s the best home automation system to control your air conditioning unit? Are WiFi thermostats worth the money? Today I’m joined by Don Sommers of Arizona Sommers Cooling and Heating to answer these questions and more.

Cited below for your convenience are timestamps that will direct you to various points in the video. Feel free to watch it in its entirety or use these timestamps to browse specific questions at your leisure:

0:48—If you have an old system, is it better to get a new one or get energy-efficient windows?

1:46—Why does my heater hiss when it kicks off?

2:15—What’s the best home automation system to control my AC?

2:42—Are WiFi thermostats worth it? And are the WiFi Honeywell thermostats worth the money?

3:30—Is it better (more cost-effective) to leave your thermostat at one temperature all the time or, because I work all day, to just turn it up (or down) when I get home?

4:31—What’s my split?

5:15—What’s the difference between a heat pump and central heat?

5:56—What’s the best split system? 

6:25—What are my financing options for a new system?

6:51—Is it more efficient to close doors and vents in unused rooms or leave them open?

7:20—What kind of maintenance is necessary? What symptoms should you look for in your unit to spot a problem?

8:45—Is it better to have one powerful system or two in a large single-story house?

9:40—Wrapping things up

If you need your system checked, call Arizona Sommers at (928) 692-4447 and mention the Heritage Group or the Lander Team and you’ll get $25 off. 

If you have any other real estate questions or are thinking of buying or selling a home, feel free to give me a call or send an email. I’d be happy to help.