Angie's Tips February 16, 2025

Looking for an easy dinner tomorrow night…

Shredded Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Mexican meets Italian in this lasagna-like casserole. Zero Carb tortillas replace noodles and traditional marinara sauce is swapped out for an enchilada sauce, made super quick by using the crock-pot. Feed a crowd this cheesy delight filled with TASTY ingredients. A dollop of sour cream will add the cool zing to each of the 12 hearty servings. Serve this alone or get a bag of angel hair coleslaw and dress it with some lime juice and cilantro for a crunchy side salad, or some Cilantro Lime Rice.😋

Ingredients
Cooking spray -2 spray(s)
Table salt – 1 1⁄2 tsp, divided
Cooked boneless skinless chicken breast(s)
12 oz, shredded with two forks
Reduced-fat Mexican shredded cheese – 7 oz
Mission Zero Net Carbs Original Tortillas -10 tortilla(s)
Canned black beans – 1 can
Yellow Corn – 1 can
Ortega Beans, refried, fat free – 1 can
Old El Paso Enchilada Sauce, Medium – 2 cup
Herdez Salsa Verde, Mexicana Picante – 16 oz
Sour cream – to top
Cilantro – to top
Instructions
Top 3 chicken breast with the jar of Verde sauce in the crock-pot and cook on low for 6 hrs.
Preheat oven to 425°F. Coat 13-by-9-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
Shred the chicken with 2 forks and set aside. Pour 1/2 c of the enchilada sauce into the bottom of the baking dish (or enough to cover), place a layer of the tortillas in the bottom of the dish, and top with a layer of refried beans, black beans, corn, chicken, cheese and drizzle a few Tbs of the enchilada sauce. Do a second layer of the above ingredients.
Finish with a layer of tortillas, and 1/2 c of enchilada sauce to the top with a little more cheese… Bake until golden and bubbling, 15 to 20 minutes.
Serving size: 1/12 of casserole and 1 tbsp sour cream
Notes
Garnish with cilantro, and sour cream if desired.
Real Estate News February 2, 2025

Quick Tips To Prepare To Buy A Home

If you’ve asked yourself any of these questions, then you’ll want to keep reading.

“How do we know if we’re ready to buy a home?”
“Should we buy a home? It’s a pandemic.”
“Is now really the best time to buy a home?

The thing is: there is no right or wrong answer here. Of course, I am so passionate about homeownership and would love to get you into that dream home. But, the truth is everyone’s situation is unique.

The answer depends on a few things:
➡️ Do you know your credit score?
➡️ Do you have a sense of how much home you can afford (including closing costs)?
➡️ Do you have money saved for a down payment?
➡️ Do you have savings to cover emergency maintenance?
➡️ Do you feel ready to put down roots in a community?

These are the practical considerations. You’ll, of course, want to factor in your employment status, family circumstances, and lifestyle factors too.

If you’re holding off on buying, what is holding you back? Message me anytime if you’d like to talk through different options.

Real Estate News January 26, 2025

Why It Makes Sense To Move Before Spring

Spring is usually the busiest season in the housing market. Many buyers wait until then to make their move, believing it’s the best time to find a home. However, that isn’t always the case when you factor in the competition you could face with other buyers at that time of year. If you’re ready to buy a home, here’s why it makes sense to move before the spring market picks up.

Spring Should Bring a Wave of Buyers to the Market

In most years, the housing market goes through predictable seasonal trends in activity. Winter is typically a quiet point in the year, while spring sees a surge of buyers begin their search. And experts project that this year will be no exception.

Right now, buyer demand is low due to a combination of normal seasonal trends and a reaction to last year’s rise in mortgage rates. But rates have started to come down since last November, which has more and more potential buyers planning to jump into the market. That means right now is a sweet spot if you’re in a good position to buy, before more buyers reappear. Affordability is beginning to improve, but demand is still low — for now. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), shares:

“. . . expect sales to pick up again soon since mortgage rates have markedly declined after peaking late last year.”

If you’re ready to buy a home, right now is the best time to do so before your competition grows and more buyers enter the market.

Today’s Sellers Are Motivated

Low demand from buyers often means sellers are more motivated to work with you, and that can set you up to buy a home on your terms. In fact, sellers have been more willing to negotiate this winter because there are fewer buyers in the market. According to a recent article from Forbes:

“. . . sellers gave concessions to buyers in 41.9% of home sales in the fourth quarter of last year.”

But keep in mind, the advantages buyers have this winter won’t last forever. The competition you face could be greater if you wait until spring to make a move, and increased buyer demand means sellers will have less motivation to negotiate with you. Be sure to work with a trusted real estate professional to learn what you can expect in your local market right now.

Bottom Line

If you’re in a good position to make a move, it may make sense to move before spring. Working with Debbie & Angie is the best way to learn about the current market and what it means for you. Let’s connect today to determine the best plan to achieve your homebuying goals.

Angie's Tips January 24, 2025

Creamy Chicken Soup

Real Estate News January 24, 2025

Want To Sell Your House? Price It Right.

Last year, the housing market slowed down in response to higher mortgage rates, and that had an impact on home prices. If you’re thinking of selling your house soon, that means you’ll want to adjust your expectations accordingly. As realtor.com explains:

“. . . some of the more prominent pandemic trends have changed, so sellers might wish to adjust accordingly to get the best deal possible.”

In a more moderate market, how you price your house will make a big difference to not only your bottom line, but to how quickly your house could sell. And the reality is, homes priced right are still selling in today’s market.

Why Pricing Your House Appropriately Matters

Especially today, your asking price sends a message to potential buyers.

If it’s priced too low, you may leave money on the table or discourage buyers who may see a lower-than-expected price tag and wonder if that means something is wrong with the home.

If it’s priced too high, you run the risk of deterring buyers. When that happens, you may have to lower the price to try to reignite interest in your house when it sits on the market for a while. But be aware that a price drop can be seen as a red flag by some buyers who will wonder what that means about the home.

To avoid either headache, price it right from the start. A real estate professional knows how to determine that ideal asking price. They balance the value of homes in your neighborhood, current market trends, buyer demand, the condition of your house, and more to find the right price. This helps lead to stronger offers and a greater likelihood your house will sell quickly.

Bottom Line

Homes that are priced at current market value are still selling. To make sure you price your house appropriately, maximize your sales potential, and minimize your hassle, let’s connect.

Angie's Tips January 19, 2025

BBQ Bacon Chicken Kabobs

Tasty Kabobs
Real Estate News January 16, 2025

Today’s Housing Market Is Nothing Like 15 Years Ago

Today’s housing market is nothing like the real estate market 15 years ago. If you’re a buyer right now, this may be the chance you’ve been waiting for.

There’s no doubt today’s housing market is very different than the frenzied one from the past couple of years. In the second half of 2022, there was a dramatic shift in real estate, and it caused many people to make comparisons to the 2008 housing crisis. While there may be a few similarities, when looking at key variables now compared to the last housing cycle, there are significant differences.

In the latest Real Estate Forecast Summit, Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), drew the comparisons below between today’s housing market and the previous cycle:

Today’s Housing Market Is Nothing Like 15 Years Ago | MyKCM

Looking at the facts, it’s clear: today is very different than the housing market of 15 years ago.

There’s Opportunity in Real Estate Today

And in today’s market, with inventory rising and less competition from other buyers, there’s opportunity right now. According to David Stevens, former Assistant Secretary of Housing:

“So be advised…this may be the one and only window for the next few years to get into a buyer’s market. And remember…as the Federal Reserve data shows…home prices only go up and always recover from recessions no matter how mild or severe. Long term homeowners should view this market…right now…as a unique buying opportunity.”

Angie's Tips January 13, 2025

Greek Chicken Bowls

Easy Greek Chicken Bowls
Real Estate News January 12, 2025

Is It Time To Sell Your Second Home?

Is It Time To Sell Your Second Home? | MyKCM

During the pandemic, second homes became popular because of the rise in work-from-home flexibility. That’s because owning a second home, especially in the luxury market, allowed those homeowners to spend more time in their favorite places or with different home features. Keep in mind, a luxury home isn’t only defined by price. In a recent articleInvestopedia shares additional factors that push a home into this category: location, such as a home on the water or in a desirable city, and features, the things that make the home itself feel luxurious.

A recent report from the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing (ILHM) explains just how much remote work impacted the demand for second and luxury homes:

“The unprecedented ten-fold increase towards remote work since the pandemic is an historic development that will continue to fuel second home demand for many years to come.”

But what if you bought a second home that you no longer use? If you’re now shifting back into the office or are seeing your priorities and needs change, you may find you’re not utilizing your second home as much. If so, it may be time to sell it.

And if you own what’s considered a luxury home, buyer demand for it may be even greater. In another report, the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing explains:

“. . . the last few years have left their legacy for the luxury market. While it might only represent a small percentage of the overall real estate market, luxury homeownership’s influence is growing. Not only has the purchase of homes valued over $1 million (a figure considered by the National Association of Realtors to be a benchmark for luxury) tripled from 2.6% to 6.5% since 2018, but demand for multiple luxury properties has soared over the last two years.

This phenomenal increase has been driven by a growing affluent demographic who consider owning a luxury property a necessity in their asset portfolio. All indications are that this trend is here to stay, albeit that demand is set to return to a more sustainable level.”

If you own a luxury second home that isn’t being used as much anymore, now’s the time to sell. There are still buyers in the market who are looking for a home like yours today.

Bottom Line

Let’s connect to explore the benefits of selling your second home this year.

Real Estate News November 10, 2024

VA Loans Can Help Veterans Achieve Their Dream of Homeownership🏡

For over 78 years, Veterans Affairs (VA) home loans have provided millions of veterans with the opportunity to purchase homes of their own.
If you or a loved one have served, it’s important to understand this program and its benefits.
Here are some things you should know about VA loans before you start the homebuying process.
*VA home loans provide a pathway to homeownership for those who have served our nation.
*Buyers achieve their homeownership dreams
*Qualified borrowers can often purchase a home with no down payment.
*VA Loans do not require PMI, which means veterans can save on their monthly housing costs.
*VA-Backed Loans often offer competitive terms and mortgage interest rates.

Homeownership is the American Dream. Our veterans sacrifice so much in service of our nation, and one way we can honor and thank them is to ensure they have the best information about the benefits of VA home loans. We are here to assist and have worked with some amazing VA lenders; give us a call and we can get you started in achieving your “Home Ownership Dream”.
Thank you for your service.
Debbie & Angie #VA #webringuhome #thankyouforyourservice