Knowledge

Timing is everything, especially when it comes to selling your house. Historically, the milder weather and longer days of spring signal the start of the peak selling season. However, the 2020 selling season brings more than open houses and eager buyers with it – it also brings the threat and uncertainty of the coronavirus (COVID-19). This health concern has sellers and REALTORS® rethinking traditional marketing techniques and looking for responsible ways to sell during the coronavirus pandemic.

Delaying your home sale is not necessary or required because there are work-arounds that will keep your family safe during the process. REALTORS® are taking the safety of their clients very seriously during the

NAR is a national partner for the 2020 census and want all 1.4 million members to take part in the census and to encourage their friends, neighbors, and clients to do so as well.

The Census survey is available online at 2020census.gov, by phone, or by mail.

You might not know but census data provides tremendous value to our members. NAR uses that data for research and examining trends in communities across this country. The usefulness of that information relies on current, accurate data from the federal government.

“Full participation in the census is in many ways the only way to ensure that data is correct.”

The census also helps determine Congressional representation. And, $1.5 trillion is distributed to states and localities based on census

It’s a confusing time, but lenders are putting remedies, like forbearance, in place to help homeowners.

Mortgage lenders, and the federal agencies that regulate lenders, are putting coronavirus mortgage relief measures in place to ensure homeowners have options if they're unable to make payments.

Your first stop in the face of financial hardship is your lender or bank.

Just keep in mind lenders are working to figure out and implement the new mortgage relief polices outlined by the regulatory agencies. So you might read one thing from the FHFA, a federal regulator, but your bank might be doing something else.

In addition, due to the number of homeowners affected by the pandemic, lenders are dealing with a crush of calls and online

Realtors! Your New Mexico Home Search.com account is FREE - claiming your profile is easy and only takes a minute!

1. First navigate to: http://www.newmexicohomesearch.com/backend/remind/
2. Once you access the link above you will see the prompt to enter your username.
3. In the Username field, enter your email address associated with you MLS provider!

Once you have entered your email, click Submit and you will receive an email with instructions on how to setup your account. Check your junk / spam box if you do not see the email.

Once you have claimed your password, you can log in to your account by clicking "Agent Login at the top right of the homepage.

Questions or Concerns.

Email: Julian@gaar.com or call: (505) 724-3483

REALTORS® are community leaders – That’s Who We Are®. You shape and help build neighborhoods that thrive. By promoting diversity and inclusion you unlock access to opportunities that transform lives and boost business. Thriving communities mean:

• A strong economy = more jobs, more income, more business
• Healthier people
• A cleaner environment
• Higher-achieving students
• Safer streets

Fair Housing Month is Here. So is Coronavirus.

April is upon us. This time of year is usually a flurry of spring market activity. It’s also a time when we reflect on the ways people are shut out of the housing market, and commit to expanding housing opportunity, with our annual observation of Fair Housing Month. This year is different. Because of

As everyone settles into their homes to ride out the COVID-19 pandemic, their energy bills will jump, perhaps even skyrocket. But there are some simple things that homeowners can do to curb their costs, particularly as electronics and lights are used .

Sense, a company that offers home energy monitoring solutions, offers up the following five ways to save money on energy costs at home during this time.

1. Turn off electronics when not in use.

Keeping gadgets on constantly will add to your electricity bill. Consumer electronics and common devices can account for 23% of the average electricity bill—or about $322 annually, according to Sense. Turn off devices that aren’t in use. Place printers, PCs, laptops, home entertainment equipment, and gaming

Find homes all around New Mexico! Download the mobile application below!

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Here’s the scoop on what’s tax deductible when buying a house.

The answer to whether closing costs are tax deductible -- or mortgage interest and property taxes for that matter -- is, maddeningly, “It depends."

Basically, you'll want to itemize if you have deductions totaling more than the standard deduction, which is $12,200 for single people and $24,400 for married couples filing jointly. Every taxpayer gets this deduction, homeowner or not. And most people take it because their actual itemized deductions are less than the standard amount.

But should you take it?

To decide, you need to know what's tax deductible when buying or owning a house. Here's the list of possible deductions:

Closing Costs

The one-time home purchase costs

Real estate negotiation tips so you can buy your dream home — and not overpay.

You've looked at enough houses to fill an entire season of House Hunters and finally picked one to buy. Now you're ready to make an offer.

Your agent can help guide you through this nail-biting phase of negotiating a house price, but ultimately, you call the shots. Here's how to negotiate like a boss.

Fail #1: Thinking House Price is All That Matters

That house with a price point $15k below your budget? It may seem like a deal — until you add on the costs of maintenance and replacing the aging appliances.

Planning on repainting, remodeling, or landscaping, too? Suddenly the price looks a whole lot higher.

When developing your offer, calculate in the costs that

Tax changes for 2019 change the landscape for homeowners.

Tax season is upon us once again, and to make it even more interesting this year, the tax code has changed — along with the rules about tax deductions for homeowners. The biggest change? Many homeowners who used to write off their property taxes and the interest they pay their mortgage will no longer be able to.

Stay calm. This doesn’t automatically mean your taxes are going up. Here’s a roundup of the rules that will affect homeowners — and how big of a change to expect.

Standard Deduction: Big Change

The standard deduction, that amount everyone gets, whether they have actual deductions or not, nearly doubled under the new law. It’s now $24,000 for married, joint-filing couples (up