Whitney Brown Realtor

03/16/2023

Here’s to 37! 🎉🥳 I had the best dinner tonight celebrating another year around the sun! So thankful for the Lord’s continued blessings and the gift of family! But It’s these days where I wish was a little closer and we could celebrate together! Maybe next year!?😚 big thanks to and my aunt and uncle for making the night so special!

09/22/2022

Under contract in 4 days! We are so thankful to have found a buyer so quickly and look forward to this next chapter!

09/14/2022

Our home will officially be For Sale on Friday! We have put so much love into this house and will miss it so much! If you know anyone wanting to get into a great neighborhood in walking distance to Deer Valley Elementary let me know!! 205-541-7766

08/12/2022

This summer has flown by! Can you believe it’s already August?
Back-to-school season is the perfect time to catch up on your home maintenance! The kids can do their homework while you do yours!😅

A well-maintained home will save you time, money, and hassle in the long run! Home maintenance doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Just do a few tasks each month!

Here are some home maintenance tasks to check off this month✔️ Save this post for later by clicking the bookmark icon above📌 As always- if you have any real estate related questions! Let me know!

07/04/2022

Happy 4th of July friends! 🇺🇸🎉

06/01/2022

Feeling like you are growing out of your home?
Here are 4 signs that you might be ready for a little more space:

1. Your family is growing

One of the most common reasons people move into a bigger home is due to a baby on the way. As your family grows, you’ll need more space! Whether it's more bedrooms for kids, or a bigger backyard for your pets, this is a common reason why people need to purchase a larger home!

2. You entertain often

If you often host family gatherings and events, a bigger home is necessary to keep people from stepping on each other’s toes! Bigger homes can sometimes have other features like indoor/outdoor living, a pool and a hot tub, a wet bar, and bonus rooms, all of which are beneficial for someone who entertains regularly.

3. You work from home

It can be difficult (or even impossible) to work from home without a dedicated office space, especially if you have pets and/or small children. If you work from home, having the space for a home office is crucial.

4. You have hobbies that can’t fit into your current home

A bonus room or spare bedroom can easily be turned into a game room, pool room, golf simulator room, workout room, or music room. If you have hobbies that take up a lot of room, a bigger home allows for much more flexibility and space!

Ready to purchase a bigger home? Send me a message and let’s chat more about the home buying process. I’d love to help you find the perfect home for you in this stage of life!

05/31/2022

Thankful for all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice! Happy Memorial Day!🇺🇸

05/30/2022

One of the first steps to homeownership is to look at options for financing. Most homebuyers will need a mortgage to purchase a home (unless they are paying the full cost of the home in cash).

A mortgage loan is a type of loan used to purchase a home. You repay this loan, along with interest, over a set number of years (typically 15 or 30 years).

You’ll need to work with a mortgage lender to figure out the loan(s) you can qualify for and which would be best for you and your financial situation. To feel a little more prepared for that conversation, let's talk about four of the most common types of loans:

1. FHA Loans

Great for first time homebuyers

Low down payment and closing costs

Easy to qualify for

Credit requirement: 580+ or 500 with 10% down

Down payment: 3.5% or 10% with 500 credit score

2. VA Loans

For service members, veterans, and select military spouses

No mortgage insurance and low closing costs

Government guarantee

Credit requirement: 580+

Down payment: 0% down

3. USDA Loans

Great for low-to-medium income households

Has certain income and area requirements

Lower PMI than FHA Loans

Credit requirement: 640+

Down payment: 0% down

4. Conventional Loans

Great for buyers with good credit, a steady income, and low debt More flexibility and fixed rate

Diverse options for down payment

Credit requirement: 620+

Down payment: 5% down

Looking to purchase a home in 2022? I’d love to answer any questions you might have and connect you with one of my preferred lenders to get the process started. Send me a message and let’s chat!

05/27/2022

My dream home looks a little something like: A4BD2 🏠
Build your DREAM home and comment your combination below!

05/25/2022

Are you thinking about selling your home? It's a big decision and I'm here to help! Here are 7 terms you should know ahead of time:

1. CMA (COMPETITIVE MARKET ANALYSIS)

A competitive market analysis (or CMA) is a tool used to estimate the value of your home by looking at recently sold, similar properties in your area. Your real estate agent will be able to put together a CMA report to help you set your listing price correctly and competitively!

2. CAPITOL GAINS

A high capital gain is something to be excited about! This means that you’ve made a “profit” from your home sale because your house sale was above the initial purchase price (what you paid for the house when you bought it, which means your home value went up)!

3. DISCLOSURES

When selling your house, it’s your legal obligation to be honest and reveal any known issues about the property during the time you owned the home. This is helpful to set expectations and will lighten your legal liability since the buyers will be aware of any current issues or possible problems.

4. BIDDING WAR

As a seller, this is a great thing! A bidding war means that there are multiple buyers competing for your property. Each buyer will put in their best offer and will often go above the set asking price in hopes to beat out the competition and win the home.

5. RENT-BACK

If you need time to move after closing, a rent-back agreement is the perfect solution! This allows you to pay rent to the buyer (since after closing, they are the official owners of the home) until a certain date (which is specified in the contract). If your buyers agrees to it, rent-backs are great to buy some extra time before moving out!

6. MARKET VALUE

A home’s market value is an estimate of how much your home could sell for TODAY with the current market conditions (the amount active buyers would be willing to pay for your home). An appraiser will determine your home market value by looking at comparable home sales in your area (comps), your home’s location and features, interest rates, home maintenance, etc.

7. APPRAISED VALUE

The appraised value of a home is a professional opinion of an appraiser. An appraised value determines the value of your home and protects the buyer from paying more than what the house is worth.

Have questions about selling or looking for a real estate agent to guide you through the process? Text or call and I’d love to chat with more with you!

05/23/2022

Swipe → for some of my spring + summer home favorites 🏡

05/21/2022