Texas Veterans loan limits raised

There's good news this month for veterans looking for real estate in Texas. Their list of choices just got longer as a result of a decision to increase low-interest loan limits by the Texas Veterans Land Board.

The unanimous vote increased the low-interest loan limit from $232,500 to $417,000 for a home and from $80,000 to $100,000 for the purchase of land. This is the single biggest increase since 2003, when the loan cap was $150,000 for homes. 

 Founded in 1946, the TVLB was created to help World War II veterans buy land for agricultural purchase. It has been facilitating home purchases since 1983 through a variety of unique loan and assistance programs. 

If you'd like more information about the options available to Texas veterans interested in buying a home through the TVLB, contact the Claus Team and ask to speak with one of our buyers' agents. We are experts in assisting veterans and active members of the United States military in their home purchases.

You can reach the Claus Team by phone at 210.566.6474, or visit us online at www.theclausteam.com.

New Video Series Addresses Things Real Estate Buyers Need to Know

The Claus Team is debuting a new video series! The ABCs of Buying a Home is a weekly series of short, informational videos addressing topics real estate buyers need to familiarize themselves with as they begin the home-purchase process.

This week's video, "A - Agency," explains why it's important to be represented by a buyer's agent.

EVERY real estate buyer should engage the services of a buyers’ agent. Buyers’ agents represent YOUR interests in a real estate transaction. They can help you narrow down your search, tell you if a property’s asking price is reasonable, and guide you in crafting an offer. Anything you tell a buyer’s agent is confidential. EVERY home listed in the MLS system is going to be represented by a realtor. In making potentially the biggest purchase of your life, make sure you’re represented by an expert familiar with your market, as well. The service is free to you and means you’ll be bringing professional representation to your real estate negotiation.

If you’d like more information about what a buyers’ agent can do for you, or if you’re thinking of buying a home in San Antonio, contact the Claus Team at 210.566.6474 or visit www.theclausteam.com. 

Top Five Reasons to Use a Realtor

Sometimes in a down market, home sellers worry about recouping Realtor fees, but the truth is, in a down market, the commission you pay for professional real estate service will end up making you money in the long run. Here are five EXCELLENT reasons from the San Francisco Chronicle to use a Realtor in a down market:

1. Your home isn't going to sell itself. Contracting with a Realtor gets the word out to a much larger buyer pool than selling by owner. And in real estate, volume matters. No one can buy your home if they don't know it's for sale.
2. You need someone to give you an honest opinion of the value and condition of your home. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and having a professional opinion on things you can do to maximize your home's showing appeal can mean the difference between someone clicking past your listing or calling for a tour.
3. Being personally intelligent isn't the same as understanding real estate laws. Do you truly have a handle on all the steps that go into home sales? Are you well-versed in real estate contract law? When you're making one of the biggest financial decisions of your life, it pays to pay an expert to represent your interests.
4. You aren't going to save as much as you think. Even if you avoid paying a three percent seller's commission, there's still a very good chance that you will need to consider offering to work with buyer's agents. That means you'll still be paying half of the cost of representation, and there won't be anyone on the other side of the transaction working for you.
5. Good agents earn their money. Empirically, agents who know their markets sell homes faster and for higher sales prices than For Sale By Owner home sales.

If you'd like information on buying or selling a home in San Antonio, e-mail Jeanine Claus and The Claus Team, a full-service real estate agency specializing in Schertz, Texas real estate by phone at 210.566.6355 or visit us online at www.theclausteam.com.