Home Features Buyers Are Looking For

March 1, 2022 by chorton Leave a Comment

2021 was a great year to sell your house, and it looks like 2022 will be even better. As more homes are put up for sale this year, the inventory will be less tight. This means that there is more competition and sellers may have to work harder to get the best offers from a buyer pool that is no longer depleted of options.

Before you put your house up for sale, make sure to inspect its condition. Are there any items that are outdated or in poor shape? Are there areas that could be improved and are you able to allocate funds? There are many chances that your home lacks key features that house hunters want, or is just lacking the right style and presentation to convert on-the-fence buyers into eager bidders.

It’s 2022 and the American dream has been fully integrated with having a washer/dryer in your home since then. If your home doesn’t have washer or dryer units, it is a good idea to get them installed before you put your house on the market.

Today’s homebuyers need a washer and dryer, as they are confronted with daunting prices that would make their parents move to Panama. Don’t stop with the equipment. You need to provide a suitable environment for laundry machines. Consider converting a part of your home into a laundry room.

If you don’t have a lot of space but still need to have your laundry done in a separate space, vertically stacked washer/dryer combos are ideal.

Going green has become a political divider. It is now mainstream. This means that home buyers will be looking for green and energy-efficient features. There are many options to satisfy their curiosity.

The popularity of solar panels is obvious. Homes with rooftop-mounted panels will sell quickly. There are many green upgrades you can make your home to improve its efficiency and value, such as rainwater collection systems and garden and compost facilities.

The garage became more than just a place for cars in the 20th century. Modern garages can be used for many things, including hobbies, construction, beer brewing and lifting weights.

The finished garage is a place that can hold a car but looks so good you might just want to leave your car in the driveway. The garage may have polished or tiled terrazzo floors and drywall. You might find a workbench or tool rack in this garage. Most likely, it has many power outlets. You may find some reptile enclosures. A fridge is almost always available. A garage that is finished will make your house sell faster.

Doors are crucial. Complete stop. You will first encounter a home’s front door when you enter it. Every aspect of the front door, from its design to its movement and weight, has psychological effects on both its owner and any guests who visit it. Consider a new front door before you sell your house. It will pay off in the long run.

Modern designs are very popular for high-quality wooden doors. Wood doors with a sleek, modern look are in fashion.

There is nothing extravagant or traditional about this piece of wood. It is a beautiful piece made from simple pieces of wood with slick lines. Solid core wood is great for security. It’s extremely durable, can be modified if necessary, and most importantly, it’s beautiful. Any style of door can benefit from natural wood grain.

Everything is new again. As the most sought-after building material, wood has overtaken concrete and metal. Quinoa, an ancient grain, is becoming more popular than ever. Natural light is more beneficial for our mental health that artificial light. Skylights have never looked more appealing.

Skylights can make indoor spaces feel like night and day. Indoor spaces can’t receive as much sunlight from windows when the sun is high in the sky. A skylight allows sunlight direct penetration. This will make your home look brighter, more welcoming, calming, and more beautiful. Skylights with covers get double points, which is great for those times when you don’t need as much light.

Work has moved to the home, whether you like it or not. Many working-age Americans work digitally and no longer need to commute to the office. This saves everyone time, money, frustration, and hassle. Remote work has actually increased home sales because it allows people to work wherever they like. However, houses with dedicated workspaces are more attractive.

The truth is that any room can become an office. It all comes down to presentation. Pick a room that is well-lit, has power outlets and ventilation, and make it a home office when you are ready to sell your house. This will make it easier for house hunters to plan where and how they’d build their workspace. Cha-ching.

Many home buyers are part of a generation that lived in shared apartments or studios. It’s not surprising that open floor plans are more popular than partitioned floor plans. The traditional home’s common area is a dining, living, and kitchen room. But wait! There’s a smaller dining space too. All of this is unnecessary.

Unsurprisingly, the answer is and not millennials.is who makes up a significant portion of homebuyers these days. For those who have only recently been able to move from one-room apartments where they slept just feet from the kitchen sink, there is a genuine appreciation for open spaces and a love of open floor plans. You can knock down walls to unify all your rooms if it’s within your budget.

Buyers are now focusing on different home features than they did in the past. They are now looking for more space and an office, rather than granite kitchen countertops. They prefer an open floorplan to formal spaces. Buyers are not looking for the same old home features as they were in the past. However, there are many “must-haves” that buyers want today.

Our Agents at Preferred Properties of Texas can help you find that home you are looking for. Call us today!

Original Article: https://wellingtonhometeam.com/home-features-buyers-are-looking-for/

It’s A Good Time To Sell

February 9, 2022 by chorton Leave a Comment

Many homeowners are trying to decide whether or not to sell their home in today’s market. You may be one of those homeowners. This is because you are trying to balance the current health crisis, rising mortgage rates and changing needs. It’s possible that you are trying to decide when it’s best to sell your house. Recent data suggests that the time is now.

It is clear that consumers today are extremely optimistic based on the data from the past years. Below is the graph showing the percentage of respondents to a survey who believe it’s a good moment to sell a home. This graph shows that their optimistic outlook is increasing. The large dip in the middle of this chart shows how consumers’ attitudes about selling declined during the pandemic. This is because of increased uncertainty over the impact of the health crisis on the economy. The good news is that the trend today shows a steady, dramatic improvement and people feel more confident about selling a house.

Survey respondents believe it’s a better time to sell your house now than in the days leading up to the crisis. According to the latest survey results, we are at the highest point in seller sentiment since March 2019, when 77% of respondents thought it was a good idea to sell a house. This is compared to June and October 2021, which were highs of 77%.

Homeowners have greater motivation to sell, with record-high equity returns, record-low housing supply, and significant buyer desire. Today’s market is flooded with buyers, which makes it an ideal time to sell.

According to the National Association of Realtors, the current supply of homes for purchase is at an unprecedented 1.8-month supply. Sellers will see more offers if there is a low supply of homes to sell. This is exactly what is happening right now. NAR points out:

It’s easy to see why consumers feel it’s a great time to sell, considering the low inventory of houses available for sale today.

If you’re ready to take advantage of today’s favorable sellers’ market, contact a Preferred Properties of Texas today.

Origianal Blog:https://www.keepingcurrentmatters.com/2022/02/07/consumers-agree-its-a-good-time-to-sell/

Preparing Your Texas Land or Ranch for Sale

January 27, 2022 by chorton Leave a Comment

Preparing Your Texas Land or Ranch for Sale

You have now decided to sell your land or ranch. You have to prepare it just like a house seller. You have to make it as showcase-ready as possible and within the scope of work and money you can shell out.

First, find an experienced real estate agency that handles raw land and ranches. Experienced raw land and ranch realtors are more knowledgeable about the market and what buyers are looking for. They have a sharp eye for what needs to be developed or tweaked in the property before displaying it to prospects, as well as features that will add or subtract to the value of the land.

Now Let’s Get To Work

Put yourself in a buyer’s shoes – what key features or elements are you looking for in a ranch or land?

Your fence should be in top shape, or the best you can do. Fix loose or broken wires and replace posts that have seen better days. If you have electric fencing, make sure these are operational without you being electrocuted. Yearly cleanup of overgrowth of land near the fences would save you time and money; however, if you’ve neglected it, a once-over is advisable so buyers can see the fences. For areas without fences, mark them with “T” posts or stakes, so buyers will see the boundaries of the property.
Give them the grand entrance – Fix the gate. A working and presentable gate gives the impression that the property is well taken care of. A gate that opens and closes well without any insect nest or grass covering it gives a good first impression. It doesn’t have to be new, just working, not hard to open or close and fresh paint will do the trick. If you can spare the money and time to install a new one, that would be even better.
Buyers are always in awe whenever there are great views or water features on a property. Make sure river or lake banks are clean, free from trash, debris, and other obstacles. Enhance viewing spots by keeping them clean, trimmed, and mowed as well as the path to get there. It’s like when showcasing a house; you are enhancing the best features to stir up the imagination of buyers what they can do to the property – for them to imagine the further potential of the ranch.
Concerning the viewing pleasure of potential buyers, make sure all viewing spots to see the whole property are accessible without being tangled in shrubberies or anything that can deter them from touring or walking through the area.
Speaking of accessibility, if your property is landlocked, make sure you have a documented easement agreement with your neighbor or neighbors that gives access to the land. Aside from the agreement, make sure that easement access or the road leading to your land is accessible and direct, so as not to create confusion on which property is on sale and not enter your neighbor’s land.
Clear out all the trash and junk that stick up like sore thumbs from the pristine views. Junk and trash such as rusting vehicles, wires, or metal pipes should be cleared out. That also includes the shell casings of guns from the last shooting party with friends and family. You want to give the best impression to buyers that they are buying a prime piece of property that’s well taken care of. This will give them the idea of the potential of the land, and possibilities for income generation or leisure activities.
For still useable stockpiles of wood, pipes, bricks, automobile parts, and other knick-knacks, organize them in one place. These things can still look presentable as long as you arrange them in an orderly manner.
Of course, you also need to stage the main house, barn, or any other structure, adding to the curb appeal of the property. A fresh coat of paint, roofing repairs, amenities such as HVAC, insulation, water supply, and heating are the usual home features the buyers will be checking.

After tending to the physical aspects of the property, it’s time to look after the paperwork, documents you need to have on hand.

Land title, real property tax receipts, easement agreements, and water rights are the basic papers that need to be on hand, to be checked by your realtor. Without these papers, it will be difficult to sell the property.
Prepare records of Income statements, as well as documents of wildlife and fisheries in the property. These help target the right buyers.
List the livestock, equipment, and structural improvements that will be included with the ranch. You want prospective buyers to have a full picture of what they are getting with the land.

All these preparations will make it easier for you, your realtor, and the buyer to conclude terms of pricing, offer, and final decision on the sale. A ranch or land sale is just like selling a house. You have to stage it, both physically and on paper for you to get the optimal price.

Access and Easement 101 for Texas Land Buyers

January 22, 2022 by chorton Leave a Comment

Access and Easement 101 for Texas Land Buyers

Mr. Mac and Mr. Cheese were neighbors and friends. Mr. Mac bought a piece of land adjacent to Mr. Cheese’s property. However, to get to his newly bought asset, Mr. Mac must pass through Mr. Cheese’s area. Being good neighbors and friends, they agreed verbally that Mac could pass through the property so that he could get to and from his lot. For years, he was able to use the property as a right of way. Unfortunately, Mr. Cheese died and his heirs sold the property that served as a right of way. The new owners did not honor the verbal agreement that existed between the friends. Mr. Mac lost access to his lot, and for whatever use the land was to him, he cannot continue until he is given easement by the new landowners.

Sounds familiar? This is the classic case of easement – the right of way, and the dilemma of verbal agreements in such circumstances.

What is Easement?

An easement is a legal ability to use someone else’s land to use for a specific purpose. Landlocked properties are usually the kind of land that needs easement, to gain access. In the story, Mr. Mac bought a landlocked property and needed permission from Mr. Cheese to access it. Mr. Cheese permitted Mac to enter and exit to his property. In most cases, the agreement/permission would be written and recorded at a county clerk’s office. However, an implied or verbal agreement was sufficient for them as can be seen in this story.

When the easement is documented and registered, it becomes an encumbrance or a claim on the land’s title.

Kinds of Easement Including Right of Way

Easement is the right given by a landowner to another person to use his land for a specific purpose. It is also specific whether it is for the whole use or only a certain portion. Here are the different kinds of easements:

IN GROSS is given to specific individuals or companies for a specified use, intent, or purpose. This kind of easement agreement is not transferable with the property when sold or transferred in other means. A new agreement must be drawn.
Appurtenant is the kind of easement attached to the land. Right of way is an appurtenant easement that is passed with the property when it is transferred or sold. When buying land with an adjacent landlocked property, make sure to check for an easement agreement, especially before undergoing land development such as building facilities or improvements such as permanent fencing.
Utility Easement is most commonly used by utility companies. They are given the right to use a specific part of the land for utility purposes such as electrical poles.
Prescriptive easement is the right to use land without the permission of the landowner. Permission is given to an individual, at a specific period or length and the use of the portion of land meets requirements. Different states have different rulings on prescriptive easement.
By Necessity gives someone the legal right to use a portion of a property as long as the need is considered valid. This is usually used for landlocked residential property with no access to a road except via another property.
Private Easement is an agreement between individuals or companies that allows the person or company to access, build or maintain a structure on a property.

Effects of Easement to Property and Owner

If the easement agreement of Mr. Mac and Mr. Cheese was documented and registered, it would affect the sale of the property and its new owner.

Effect on Property Values

Easement affects the value of a property. When a property with easement is for sale, the land value would include it. When a property owner is offered an easement agreement by a landlocked owner, a real estate appraiser would be called to appraise the value of the property or portion of it. The appraiser adjusts the value based on the rights and easement used that will affect the surrounding property where the portion of easement will be enforced. Residential lots’ value is not affected by easements in most cases, because these usually on edges of the land or for utility management only.

Problems Property Owners Encounter

Be informed that if you have a property with an easement agreement, you cannot make improvements or build within the area where easement is enforced. Any structure that blocks access will be torn down. To ensure you will not encounter problems and develop the surrounding property optimally, know the placements or where the specific areas are.

If you are a buyer, find out in advance if there are existing agreements with adjacent landlocked properties, the kind of easement, locations, and with whom. Registered agreements are usually considered public documents, so research through the local registry office.

You can also ask for the assistance of a real estate agency to help you gather documents. Real estate agents experienced with handling agricultural and industrial lands know where to look and how to gather this information.

The Ins and Outs of Water Rights in Texas

January 20, 2022 by chorton Leave a Comment

The Ins and Outs of Water Rights in Texas

Water is an important resource that continues to shape the development of Texas. The Water Rights law is complex because of the Lone Star State’s historical background and succeeding amendments to adjust to the hydrologic cycle and usage. Water Rights dictates who is given by privilege, quantity, and purpose. It also specifies the time and place where the water may be utilized. Texas law has divided water into legal classes with different rules on ownership and usage for each category. The most recognized of the classes are surface water and underground water. Surface water rights are more complex because it follows the British ruling, and other amendments based on the hydrologic cycle

Surface Water

What is the Riparian Doctrine?

Briefly, the Riparian doctrine is used in resolving water rights and usage conflicts. The fundamental rule is that water rights are connected to the ownership of the property that borders natural water sources such as rivers or streams. Water rights are covered by land proprietorship.

Riparian landowners have the right to use the water within reason and in consideration of the needs of other owners of lands with the same water source. Water rights are retained as long as the property ownership is retained.

Texas water rights use this ruling to resolve conflicts between landowners’ use of natural water within their properties when applicable.

What is Prior Appropriation Doctrine?

Landowners, lawmakers, and the courts from the Western States realized the Riparian Doctrine is not enough to cover rulings on water rights. The doctrine is not appropriate to the dry weather of the Western States, where the rainfall average is below 30 inches per year. Prior Appropriation Doctrine is therefore applied where water rights are not connected to land ownership. Instead, it is based on complying with statutory requirements.

Texas, like the other Western States, was unable to control the use of natural sources of water. Water belonged to no one and was used by everyone. The Doctrine of Prior Appropriation then was adopted to legalize the appropriation of the use of water from rivers and streams.

Combining Two Doctrines

Water Rights Adjudication Act of 1967 combined the Riparian and Prior Appropriation Doctrines. Any person who wished to claim a Riparian must file claims for the right by 1969 with the Texas Water Commission. Furthermore, anybody wishing to use surface water or drainage water must ask and receive permission from the state. The permission is granted by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Why is this drainage water so important that there is a need for a permit to collect and use? Drainage water is another name for diffused surface water or stormwater that naturally incurred after rainfall or snowmelt. Diffused surface water finds its flow from high elevation to low lands. By law, the diffused or drainage water is owned and regulated by the state. Thus, landowners must have a permit to collect this water. There are three general directives applied when drainage water is collected or diverted.

Directive 1 – Common Enemy Rule: Drainage water is considered as a common enemy of all property owners and the law enables all owners to establish measures to protect their properties, without considering the consequence of which to others or neighboring properties. For example, under this rule, Property owner A can take measures like diverting the flow of diffused water to a water duct in his property to protect certain parts from being destroyed or affected by the natural water flow.

Directive 2 – Civil Law Rule or Natural Flow: In this ruling, all property owners are entitled to the perpetuation of the natural flow. If an owner upstream manipulates and increases the flow, causing flooding to lower elevation property, the manipulator is liable to damages.

Directive 3 – Reasonable Flow: Flow of drainage water can be redirected by a property owner even if the extent of the diversion harms the property of another, provided that the action is considered within reasonable circumstances. The reasonable condition is subject to evaluation.

Groundwater

The law on groundwater in Texas is uncomplicated and easy to understand. Groundwater is considered part of the private property of the landowner. Property owners have the right to pump up or collect the water underneath their land. Simple, right? Not so, as all property owners share the reservoir of water underneath the land.

Adjoining properties pump on the same source; pumping up of one property may cause the quantity of water to dwindle or the well of the neighbor to dry out. The existing law on the collection of groundwater is called the “Law of the Biggest Pump”, which means whoever owns the most powerful pump can collect all the water, regardless of whether the neighbor’s reservoir runs dry. Owners are not liable for any inconvenience or even losses their neighbors might incur if their source of water runs dry.

There are only five circumstances where the Texas court will intervene on Groundwater rights:

If there was trespassing on neighboring land to drill water by directly drilling a well on the property or a slanted well on adjoining property that crosses the property line via subterranean level, then the injured neighbor can sue on grounds of trespassing.
If there was malicious or wanton intention to injure another by intentionally drying out the well of a neighbor via over pumping, then the court will intervene.
If it is proven that a property owner or owners are wasting artesian well water by letting the water overflow their land or seep back to the water table, then the court will intervene.
It is unlawful to contaminate or pollute groundwater.
If overpumping from adjoining lands causes the other properties to sink or would have an injurious effect on the land, then the court will intervene.

These are the basic ins and outs of Texas Water Rights.

The Ins and Outs of Water Rights in Texas

July 13, 2021 by chorton Leave a Comment

Surface Water

What is the Riparian Doctrine?

Texas water rights use this ruling to resolve conflicts between landowners’ use of natural water within their properties when applicable.

What is Prior Appropriation Doctrine?

Combining Two Doctrines

Groundwater

There are only five circumstances where the Texas court will intervene on Groundwater rights:

If there was trespassing on neighboring land to drill water by directly drilling a well on the property or a slanted well on adjoining property that crosses the property line via subterranean level, then the injured neighbor can sue on grounds of trespassing.
If there was malicious or wanton intention to injure another by intentionally drying out the well of a neighbor via over pumping, then the court will intervene.
If it is proven that a property owner or owners are wasting artesian well water by letting the water overflow their land or seep back to the water table, then the court will intervene.
It is unlawful to contaminate or pollute groundwater.
If over pumping from adjoining lands causes the other properties to sink or would have an injurious effect on the land, then the court will intervene.

These are the basic ins and outs of Texas Water Rights.

If you are contemplating buying land in Texas then call a knowledgeable agent with Preferred Properties of Texas to help you through the process of buying land and making you sure you have access to one of life’s most valuable resources on the planet water. Check out what farm and ranch properties are available.