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Archives: June 2018

A Mountain View Manor

Looking for a home that gives you privacy, incredible views, and is just moments away from all the attractions in Albuquerque? Look no further than 39 Sandia Heights Drive NE. This gorgeous stucco home is nestled in the Sandia Mountains, just miles outside of Downtown Albuquerque. It has the amenities and features to perfectly complement any and all lifestyles.

Fall in love with this once-in-a-lifetime listing.

The Location

Perfectly located, 39 Sandia Heights Drive offers privacy and seclusion away from the hustle and bustle of city life, while still providing easy access to all the top attractions in Albuquerque.

Just on the edge of the Cibola National Forest, enjoy all the hiking, biking, hunting and camping opportunities, while only being a short drive from local restaurants and world-class shopping.

 

The Views

Imagine waking up every morning to the sun rising above the incredible Sandia Mountains. At 39 Sandia Heights Drive, it can be a reality. Custom windows and doors throughout the home provide unparalleled views of the mountain rage and surrounding natural beauty.

This home also offers a fenced backyard and private patio, allowing you to enjoy the picturesque surroundings from the comfort of your own sanctuary. With Albuquerque having an average of 280 sunny days out of the year, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors area.

 

Live Luxuriously

Stepping through the front doors of 39 Sandia Heights Drive, you’ll first notice the vaulted high ceilings that make open concept rooms seem even larger. Made for entertaining, each room of this home flows into the next for easy mingling.

Carefully crafted with your comfort in mind, 39 Sandia Heights Drive not only features a full wet bar and oversized wine fridge, but a completely updated kitchen. A 5-burner gas stove, prep sink, and two dishwashers make this a chef’s dream. The granite counter tops literally gleam from the natural light streaming in through the beautiful custom windows.

Living luxuriously is a theme throughout 39 Sandia Heights Drive, which includes a private media room, two en-suites, and a private master suite. With elements in the master bath like a double walk-in closet, steam shower, and jetted tub, it’ll be hard to find reasons to leave this mountain retreat home.

 

Ready to Tour?

Need to experience 39 Sandia Heights Drive for yourself? Contact me today to set up a tour. Love this listing, but wish it was in a different location? As your local real estate expert, I have intimate knowledge of Albuquerque and Santa Fe, making finding the perfect home a breeze. No matter if you’re selling your property, or trying to find your dream home, let me be your ultimate real estate resource.

What Do Those Home Selling Terms Even Mean?

Real estate lingo can be hard to decipher because, well, there’s so much of it! It might even seem like your Realtor is speaking another language.

From fancy acronyms to words like “escrow” and “riders,” there are a lot of terms out there that might seem totally foreign. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have to know what they mean!

If you’re in the process of selling your home, here are a few real estate acronyms you really should know.

CMA: Comparative Market Analysis

Man's hand resting on the mouse pad of a silver laptop.A comparative market analysis is a great way to research the market and find out what homes in your neighborhood are selling for. It’s an in-depth report that lists the prices of sold homes that are similar to your home (otherwise known as “comps” or “comparables”).

CMAs provide information about homes that were recently sold, home that are currently on the market, and homes that were on the market but were not sold within the listing period.

FSBO: For Sale By Owner

Home sellers who opt not to use a Realtor will list their home as For Sale By Owner. This simply means the homeowner is selling their home without the help of a Realtor and is taking on all the responsibilities of selling their home.

When you choose to sell without a Realtor, you may be saving money on their commission fee, but you’re taking on a lot of additional work and responsibility. Plus, you may end up losing money in the long run if you don’t know how to stage and photograph your home, market it effectively, or price it correctly and competitively.

Escrow

Escrow refers to a number of documents, payments, and other material that are held by a third party. Once you’ve negotiated the sale of your home with a potential buyer, you’ll want to make sure there’s a proper escrow set up.

Basically, when a buyer makes an offer on your home, they’ll write you a check for “earnest money” (kind of like a security deposit or holding fee). This money is held by a neutral third party until you and the buyer negotiate a contract and close the sale.

Since you can’t use the money and neither can the buyer, the money is considered to be in “escrow”.

Contingency

When you’re negotiating the contract of your home sale with the buyer, there are likely to be a few contingencies in your contract. Contingencies protect the buyer if they fail to qualify for a loan, if they are dissatisfied with the results of the home inspection, or if something else falls through.

Carefully consider all terms of the contract, including specific contingencies, when reviewing offers. The more contingencies an offer contains, the riskier it is to accept the offer, as there are more ways it could potentially fall through. Work with your Realtor to negotiate a contract that benefits you and the buyer.

Need a Translator? We’ve Got You Covered

Allow us to handle all the details of selling your property, giving you more time to focus on finding and relocating to your new home. We’ll be there to guide you through every aspect of selling your home, from pricing it to signing the closing paperwork.

Give us a call today to get started.

The “ABC’s” of Home Selling

So you’ve decided to sell your home, but you don’t know where to start.  Good news! You’ve already done the hard part. Deciding to sell is the first step on your real estate journey.

Selling your property can be a time-consuming process, but with knowledge and a little preparation, it can be as simple as ABC.

“A”: Agent

Once you decide to list your home, choosing an agent is the next step. Statistically, homes for sale by owner sell less quickly and for less money, so choosing an agent that knows your area and specific market is crucial.

Make a list and interview potential agents with questions like “what is your marketing strategy”,  and “what is your average list-price-to-sales-price ratio?”. You may also want to ask for references of past clients. These agents will be your most powerful resource in selling your home, so feel confident in your choice!

 

“B”: Beautify

After choosing an agent, the next step is to prepare your house for sale. Work from the outside in, creating curb appeal for your home that will invite potential buyers inside. Consider planting flowers, painting shutters, or power washing the face of your home.

Upon successfully bringing potential buyers inside it’s time to focus on sealing the deal. Depersonalizing your space by removing distracting decor and family photos creates a neutral palette that allows buyers to envision themselves living in the space.

Take the opportunity in the process of decluttering to deep clean the space, and repair or replace any imperfections throughout the house. No detail is too small to be noticed!

“C”: Closing

Now that your home is staged and your agent is working to market your house to many potential buyers, it’s time to focus on driving the sale. There are many pricing strategies you can implement during this time, and it’s best to get your real estate agent’s opinion.

While home value estimators are great for getting an idea of the value of your home, take advantage of your agent’s knowledge and experience with your local market. Your agent will have your best interests at heart, and help maximize the value of your property.

 

Ready To List Your Home?

Let us help you navigate your real estate journey! Whether you’re ready to list, or just embarking on your real estate adventure, we have the resources and experience to make any venture as painless as possible. Contact us today to get started!

Have A Blast This Summer At These Albuquerque Attractions!

Have A Blast This Summer At These Albuquerque Parks & Recreation Attractions!

Known for its natural beauty, it comes as no surprise that Albuquerque, New Mexico has an array of great outdoor parks and recreation attractions. From soaking in the sights through hiking and working on your golf game, to adventuring at the Albuquerque BioPark, there are plenty of ways to spend your days.

Having trouble deciding where to start? Check out these top 5 parks and recreation attractions for inspiration for your Albuquerque to-do list.

Heavenly Hiking Views

Hikers climb a beautiful desert mountain

There’s no better way to take advantage of picturesque Albuquerque than immersing yourself in its outdoor wonders! Even for the not-so avid outdoorsman, there are plenty of trails on the outskirts of Albuquerque to choose from. Take in the mountain views and gorgeous desert weather with an outdoor adventure.

There are a number of different trails in the area to choose from!

 

Blissful Afternoons at the BioPark

Dolphin performs flip for crowd

Made up of four separate attractions, the Zoo, Botanic Garden, Tingley Beach, and the Aquarium, the BioPark should be on your to-do list.

During the summer additional programs, tours, and workshops are available to create an immersive and “behind the scenes” experience for guests.

Whether you’re looking to beat the heat at Tingley Beach, or have a leisurely afternoon at the gardens, there’s an activity for every age and interest without breaking the budget.

 

Perfect Your Golf Game

Golfer works on his causal game

Open 364 days a year, you’ll have no problem finding an opportunity to visit one of Albuquerque’s famous golf courses.  With over 20 courses to choose from, and temperatures in winter rarely dipping below 50 degrees, you’re able to perfect your game at your convenience.

 Giddy-Up: Horseback Riding

Cowboy spurs on horse

Craving a cowboy experience? Whether you’re just looking into starting a new hobby or want to see the hiking trails from a new perspective, try out horseback riding!

Multiple tours of scenic local trails are available in addition to private lessons for more in depth skill building. Get in touch with Albuquerque’s western roots with this one-of-a-kind opportunity!

 

Beautiful Balloon Fiesta Park

Hot air balloons drift toward the sky

Home to the famed Balloon Launch Fiesta every October, this beautiful park is worth visiting any time of the year. Home to Golf Courses, an Event Center, and the Anderson Abruzzo Balloon Museum, there’s plenty of different activities catering to all ages.

 

With so many events throughout the seasons, including concerts and bike races, you’ll find reason after reason to come back to this recreational haven.

 

Looking to Live in Albuquerque?

Apart from the many parks and recreational opportunities, Albuquerque is also home to excellent schools and a vibrant local culture. If you’re dreaming of living in a place full of natural wonders and scenic views, we have a house you can call home.

With years of experience in the Albuquerque real estate market, we’re more than happy to help you on your real estate quest! Take advantage of our informative and easy-to-use buyer resources, or simply contact us today!

The Most Popular Features in Multimillion-Dollar Properties

Ever wonder why some homes sell for millions of dollars? As different as each listing might be, many share a number of common features that are known to bolster home values.

If you’re on the hunt for your dream home, some of these features could be yours! Don’t worry about breaking the bank; prioritizing your wants and needs can help you determine which of these luxury features will fit your lifestyle and your budget.

Here are 5 features of multimillion-dollar homes you can get at affordable price tags.

In-Ground Pool

In-ground pool with small cabana and water slide.Who needs a neighborhood pool when you could have your own?

Imagine spending those warm summer days cooling off by your own private pool.

It’s not uncommon to see multimillion-dollar homes outfitted with gorgeous entertaining spaces, all centered around a luxurious in-ground pool—but many homes in lower price ranges also feature great backyard pool areas, too.

Expansive Outdoor Entertaining Space

It’s often said that your home’s exterior is equally as important as its interior. That’s why we’ve been seeing more and more multimillion-dollar listings with extensive outdoor entertaining spaces.

Common features of outdoor entertaining areas such as these include built-in barbecue grills, full bars, and spa-like outdoor amenities. Multimillion-dollar condos and townhomes might come with a huge private balcony complete with breathtaking views of nearby scenery.

In more affordable homes, outdoor entertaining spaces may consist of patios, porches, and, as we mentioned before, private pools.

Luxurious Master Bathroom

Oversized shower with tiling.At the end of a long day, nothing beats kicking back and relaxing in a spa-like master bathroom. It’s really no surprise that two of the top selling points for a home are the master bathroom and the kitchen.

Oversized glass-paneled showers are a must-have for multi million-dollar properties, as well as soaking tubs and stylish backsplash. Homes in lower price ranges may also feature stylish master bathrooms with upgrades like these.

Guest House or In-Law Suite

Commonly referred to as a “casita” or simply a guest house, this is a smaller dwelling separated from your main home.

Casitas are becoming more and more popular because of their versatility. Use them as a pool house, guest room, or even a source of low-maintenance rental income.

Wine Cellar

Wine cellar with glass bottles.The creme de la creme of luxury listings is… the wine cellar. You know you’ve made it when your home comes with its very own wine room.

Bonus points if your wine room comes with temperature-controlled shelving.

While more affordable homes may not come with wine cellars, you can still find homes with extra space for an excellent home theater, study, mini-library, or game room.

Your Dream Home Doesn’t Have to Break the Bank

In fact, if you budget correctly, you can find the perfect home for you that has a number of special features. Correct prioritizing is key here. So, if you really can’t picture life without that in-ground pool, it may mean you won’t get an extra-special master bathroom or guest house.

Need some additional help working out the details in your home search? We’re here to help. Simply give us a call today to get started finding the home that’s right for you.