Karen Jimenez- Realtor

The best part of my life is them. They make everything better.🙏🏼🌎 💚🖤

Happy International Woman’s Day 💃🏻

Repeat 🔁

Benefits of Homeownership 🏡🔑

With the market shifting it’s the perfect time to get your home buying goals in order. DM me to see how you can get started and connect you to to the professionals I trust. Happy Thursday 🙏🏼

21 years ago… Never forget what love can heal. ❤️‍🩹

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Where has the summer gone! 😩May this new month bring you new blessings, opportunities and success! Let’s bring on the change. 🍃🍁🌳

My brother and bestie are having a baby boy 💙👶🏻! I am so happy for them and I can’t wait to meet their little miracle blessing. I love them so much and can’t wait to see you become parents.

How house hunting is like dating: A Real Estate Love Story ❤️

Let me be your matchmaker ❤️‍🔥

The MLS = The dating app

The homes = the eligible matches

The homes you decide to see in person = the dates you go on

The features you're looking for to make sure it's a "good investment": The bones, how solid is the foundation, do you see yourself there long term, do you want to commit, do you feel safe, do you have a good feeling about it, do you want to spend more time there?

The offer = Things are getting pretty serious

The transaction = Are you going to commit and get engaged?

The Closing Day = You're engaged! Celebrate with champagne, pizza and the next chapter of your life!

HOW TO MANIFEST YOUR DREAM HOME 💫

Step 1: Have a vision - If I told you to close your eyes and picture your future home, how would you describe it to me? Where is it located? What is the layout like? What color are you painting the walls while drinking wine out of plastic cups and eating pizza straight from the box?

Step 2: What are the essentials? Think about your current home. What's missing? What room or space would make your life better? A wine cellar might sound like an essential (and if it is for you, I am all for it) but what key features would be essential? A great floor plan for entertaining, a private yard filled with pine trees and room for a garden, enough bedrooms to give the kiddos their own space? A functional laundry room (aka not one that opens from the garage directly into the door of the washer and zero storage).

For this, you might think of a specific school district, proximity to friends and family, or outdoor space. What couldn't be changed that you need to make sure you avoid?

Step 3: What doesn't work? This is like the flip side of those essential features. Let's make sure we remove anything that would be a big, fat deal breaker!

A house that doesn't have a big enough (for you) garage, lacks a first floor master, doesn't have a walk out basement, too much renovating required. Make sure you have a clear idea of what won't work before you start looking at houses.

Step 4: Be positive - Remove any negative thoughts from your brain. (ie: it's too competitive, we're never going to find the right house, we could never afford the down payment, etc).

Positivity through your home buying journey is CRITICAL to finding that perfect - for you home!

FAQ: How much money do I need to have saved for the home buying process?

A: Some of the expenses you’ll want to prepare for when house hunting go beyond the down payment (but the good news is, you don't need 20% down to qualify for a mortgage)! Here are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind when budgeting for the home buying process.

🔍 Regular Home Inspection ($400-500). Additional inspections like termite, mold, sewer scopes, etc. can round from $50-300)

💰 Earnest Money Deposit (1-3% of the purchase price)

📊 Appraisal (Around $500)

🧾 Down Payment (Depending on the loan type you qualify for, this can vary but can be as low as 3% - check with a mortgage professional for exact numbers and percentages)!

💵 Closing Costs (Some of the items I mentioned above are part of your closing costs but the total closing costs may vary and can be determined by your lender and title company)

🏡 Taxes & Homeowner's Insurance

If you want to learn what else to expect on the road to homeownership, I cover everything in my Buyer Consults but make sure you follow me for more tips! 🏡💛

WHY BUYERS NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR THIS MARKET

1. TO AVOID FRUSTRATION AND OVERWHELM - Without talking to a real estate agent to learn how the process works, timelines to expect, and costs that are involved, chances are you're going to experience a lot of frustration and overwhelm throughout the process.

So get off of the home search websites and meet with a real estate agent to learn the ins and outs before finding your new home!

2. TO UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF THE MARKET AND WHAT TO EXPECT - House hunting in a seller's market looks a lot different than a buyer's market and that's the reality of today's market. Understanding what homes are selling for, if they're selling over the asking price, how much competition there is and how quickly you'll need to move are so important to know before you start house hunting.

3. TO HAVE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS - This goes hand in hand with 1 and 2.

Buying a house (for real) looks a lot different than what you see on HGTV and Selling Sunset. You don't look at 3 homes and magically choose the perfect one and boom you're a homeowner. There are a lot of steps before and in-between you ever get to closing day.

Understanding how it all works will give you realistic expectations about how long it could be before you find a home, how much people are paying for homes in your area, and how to position yourself for success.

I'm here to guide you through all of it and it all starts with scheduling a call. No contracts, no paperwork, just a conversation!