All Forum Posts by: Kasey Villareal

I heard someone saying whenever they purchased a SF investment, they "bulletproof" it by removing the dishwasher, garbage disposal and automatic garage door to reduce maintenance issues. Wondering if anyone had experience doing that and what their experience was. Thanks!

@Alberto Cordova I can look up rental rates on the MLS for you if you'd like - I'd just need the neighborhood/subdivision name or address.

@Sam Garner 

If Tim and Sam are not agents within the same company, then Sam's info would go on the left side of pg 9 on the contract and you would check "Represents Buyer only as Buyer's Agent" if Sam has a Buyer's Agency Agreement with the Buyer - otherwise he would represent the Seller as Listing Broker's subagent.

If Sam and Tim are agents within the same firm, then their information goes on the right hand side of pg 9 under Listing Broker Firm. Tim is Listing Agent and Sam Seller's Agent.

If so, I've always found it a little confusing too but it's just done that way when I complete a contract. Here's an explanation I found: 

In the real estate agent community, the buyer's agent is often referred to as the "selling agent." This is pretty confusing to most of us, since you'd think that selling agent refers to the agent that helps sellers sell their the home. The term was coined back in the 1970's when it became common to have different agents representing the buyers and the sellers. Before, only one agent represented both parties, also known as dual agency. The term selling agent is still used to track a real estate transaction's progress in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS,) so you may find that real estate agents still refer to the agent helping buyers purchase a home as the selling agent.

 https://www.redfin.com/definition/buyers-agent

Hi @Sam Garner  Are you referring to Page 9 of the Contract?

("On the form, I'm a little confused because Tim listed property, so is he not the listing agent?")

@Suraj Nagrani I live in McAllen (8 yrs now), Laredo before that (8 yrs), San Diego for college and born and raised in El Paso. So I've pretty much lived & worked on the border my entire life. Things have changed in the last 10 yrs or so with not so many regular people crossing the bridge into Mexico - used to be we'd all go across for dinner and shopping but not so much anymore. My family's bread and butter has been industrial warehousing and real estate (my husband has a commercial firm that specializes in those properties) and the flow of international trade and related industry has not slowed. Business is as good as it's ever been. 

It is true due to the increased crime activity in Mexico, there has been a huge Mexican National influx just as @Jeff Greenberg commented. It's dramatically boosted the economy on the US side. But that's not really where you will get your renters. I think the prospects for a large renter pool down here is  positive for a variety of reasons - lower credit scores, lack of built up cash reserves for a down payment, difficulties securing a mortgage - just to name a few. The new medical school (part of the UT system) should bring another wave of renters. Plus we have a lot of Border Patrol and other government agency employees who come in and out of the area. 

Lastly, I don't live in fear of drug cartels or the any run off violence. My kids play in my neighborhood and people are out exercising after dark. Restaurants are PACKED as is the mall. In fact, La Plaza Mall is reported to be one of the higher grossing malls in sales per sq ft. - always a zoo.

I'd be more than happy to meet you for a coffee (we even have Starbucks - lots of them in fact) to give you more of a feel for neighborhoods and the trends as I see them. I'm looking to add more SFH or MFH to our portfolio also so I can share with you what I've found. Just send me a message!

PS As @Pavel Reyes Valdes mentioned, it is hot here - still - ugh

@Amanda Sutherlin As an agent, I get it! And being vigilant includes thinking through possibilities when you're meeting a stranger at an unoccupied property.  Another good reason to really try and qualify Buyers - make sure they are legit. 

I have asked -  in the past, and should start again-  for them to snap a photo of their ID and email/text it to me. I say it's company policy to leave the info with the office admin when we go out. Not true at all, but maybe it puts people on notice.