Laura Miranda, Houston Real Estate Agent

10/05/2021

Couldn't let the social media outage stop our celebration—Diana & Henry are officially homeowners! 🥳🏡⁠⁠
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We met July 2020 and came up with a home buying game plan. (It's never too early to start 😉) A few months ago, they reached out to to begin their search and soon found the perfect property. Their home checked off all the boxes: ⁠⁠
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✔️ Oversized Kitchen Island ⁠⁠
✔️ Backyard for the kiddos ⁠⁠
✔️ Perfect Distance between Spring Branch & Katy ⁠⁠
✔️ New Construction
⁠⁠✔️ Great CFISD Schools

Thank you Diana & Henry for choosing me as your Realtor 💕 PS. New Construction Tip: Always ask your lender how they're escrowing your property taxes. Whether it's based land value or sales price—you want to be prepared for any future payment increases upfront!

02/01/2021

I'm sure you've heard the real estate market is bananas right now... Here a few tips to thrive as a buyer in a seller’s market:👇🏻⁠⁠
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◾ Get Pre-Approved: The market is moving extremely quick so it’s important to have your pre-approval completed before looking at any homes. Talk to your lender about closing costs and the different available loan options for you. ⁠⁠
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◾ Look at Homes Under your Max Budget: Know the stats in the neighborhoods you are looking. I am personally seeing homes sell on average 5-10k over list price. If your max budget is 300k, look at homes no more than 290k. This is to ensure you have wiggle room to increase your offer and still stay within your desired payment. ⁠⁠
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◾ Act Quickly: Set up your listing alerts and schedule a showing ASAP with your realtor AKA me. 😏 Every seller is handling multiple offers differently. Some will wait a few days or through the weekend before accepting a contract. Others will pick an offer immediately. When in doubt, it’s best to schedule your appointment as soon as possible! ⁠⁠
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◾ Tighten Up your Offer Terms: We all know money talks; however, there are a variety of other terms you can use in addition to a strong offer price that will make your offer stand out: Shorten your inspection period, higher earnest money deposit, purchase your own home warranty or offer to pay title. If the seller needs a lease back, can you do a free rent option to sweeten the deal? Can you pay your own closing costs? There’s no one size fits all approach; the key is using terms in conjunction to create an entice offering.⁠⁠
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◾ Be Patient: The real estate market can feel very intimidating right now, but it’s important to try to stay patient in your home search. Find an agent you can connect with to be a trusted advisor and sounding board. I am advising my clients to start their search 1-3 months EARLY since it’s taking a little longer to find the perfect home. Lastly, just because the market is crazy, do not settle for a home simply because your offer got accepted. Trust me, when you find the perfect home, this will all be worth it! 🥰🏡

12/24/2020

All of my favorite restaurants + places summed up in one article!

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/restaurants-bars/article/Welcome-to-the-new-East-End-15821798.php?fbclid=IwAR2mhYCd8bLijaeqlpa7oe3-jNcKz8LoZMT4T070PMha_Y1qUecJtwSwyLo

Houston Chronicle's Alison Cook moved to the East End in the 1980s. A lot has changed - especially when it comes to the area's food scene.

12/11/2020

During the month of December, I have a limited number of spots left for coffee + home consultations. ☕🏡⁠⠀
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Wondering what that is exactly? We meet at a local coffee shop (or Phone/Zoom thanks to 2020), sip our favorite beverages and talk about the home buying process. ⠀
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I’ll answer all of your home buying questions, walk you through what to expect, set you up for success and get you started on a custom home search.⁠⠀
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Some of my clients get started right away and others are 6-12 months out. Regardless of your timeline, it’s never too early to initiate the conversation. ⁠⠀
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As an IG follower, you may know me from living in Houston, growing up together, high school, or just stumbled across me online. Regardless of how you found me, don’t ever hesitate to message me—I love real estate and helping people is my passion. I’d love to connect with you! 💫⁠⠀
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PS. Trust me, I get it—buying a home is a big commitment and the unknown can feel scary. I remember when I bought my 1st home and was terrified about getting rejected for the loan. It took me a few days to build up the courage and apply. 🙊 3 years later, I am so glad I made the leap to buy my little East End bungalow but that’s a story for another day! ⁠⠀
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Interested in a home consultation for 2021? DM me or book directly on my bio! 💌

11/20/2020

TGIF! 🥳 It's a great weekend to open doors—literally...I am meeting 3 new pre-approved buyers & we have a goal to get them home by New Years!
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I was running numbers & I'm SO close to meeting my 2020 goals. Tapping into my inner hitting the ground running. ⁠⠀
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2020 has been interesting for all of us. I remember calling my lender in March freaking out about interest rates, real estate and Covid. I’ve had my fair shares of meltdowns. Despite everything going on, I am so proud to see how far I’ve come this this year! ⁠⠀
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We have 43 days left in 2020. Let's go open these doors!

11/19/2020

HOME s w e e t HOME ✨⁣⁠⠀
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These sweet newlyweds just closed on their first home! Lucy & Bryan, I can’t even put into words how happy I am for you both. Thank you for choosing me to be your realtor! 💕⁠⠀
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We only had one outing together before putting this home under contract. Lucy knew exactly what she wanted—that’s my kinda girl! 💁🏻‍♀️⁠ ⠀
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Cheers to settling into your new home just in time for the holiday season!🥂

11/07/2020

I just realized I didn’t post my photo shoot from Monday’s closing, so here it is!! 🤗⁣⁠⠀
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Congratulations, Yvette + Alex, on the purchase of your Oak Forest home. City living never looked SO good on you guys. I can’t wait for the pool parties! 🤩⠀
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Fun Fact: This is really Nala’s 🐶 house! 💁🏻‍♀️ When Yvette reached out to me about buying a home—the main reason for moving was more yard space. They wanted Nala to have room to play and run around freely. In 8 short weeks, we found the perfect home for all 3 of them! ⁠😏⠀
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Wishing you both the best of luck on this new chapter! ❤️

10/20/2020

THIS DOESN'T HAVE TO BE SCARY 👻⁠⠀
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The Home Inspection is one part of the process that can cause the most stress for buyers and sellers but it doesn't have to be. ⁠⠀
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The best way to feel calm during the home inspection process is to be educated on what to expect (that's where your home inspector and I come in). ⁠⠀
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First you'll want to learn about things like how much the home inspection costs, what the home inspector looks for and how the process works. ⁠⠀
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I cover that with buyers and sellers at our initial consultation so that when inspection time comes you feel like a home buying superhero (cape included)! ⁠⠀
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I extracted 2 of the main things I cover when talking about the home inspection and am sharing them with you here. Swipe to reveal 👉🏻 One of them is something you've probably never thought of!⁠⠀
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Do you have questions about the home inspection process? Would it be helpful to bring on a Home Inspector for a little Q&A? Tell me everything you want to know in the comments!

10/13/2020

REAL TALK: I'm not a Margarita- I can't make everyone happy! 🤪 That means I might not be the right agent for you but I'm totally okay with it!⁠⠀
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Here are 3 reasons why I might not be the right agent for you:⁠⠀
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1. You don't like Ninfa-ritas. I'm always sharing my favorite spots in the Inner Loop to grab a quick bite with my clients. Sometimes we'll even write an offer over an order of Tacos & Margaritas! 🌮🍹⁠⠀
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2. You don't want to be friends with your Real Estate Agent - maybe that sounds weird, but I treat my clients the same way I would treat my mom, dad or best friend. That means I want to get to know you beyond the square footage of your house. I want to provide the best experience while also making sure I know those extra things that will help you find the perfect for you, house!⁠⠀
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3. You're afraid to hear the truth - I am not here to sugarcoat things. I am not going to tell you not to worry about the water in your basement before putting your house on the market or to skip painting that dark living room to a more appealing neutral color. I will tell you if you should remove the rugs that make the room look smaller or take down the curtains that are too style specific. I want to be your friend and that means telling you the truth to make sure you can sell your house for the most money possible. And the same is true on the flip side if you're buying. I'll help you determine if it's a smart buying decision or if you're likely overpaying. Ask me and I'll tell you what is going to benefit you the most!⁠⠀
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I am here to guide you, be your friend and trusted expert through this process but also to have fun and speak the truth! ❤️

10/08/2020

Give me all the natural light ✨ 4007 University Grove Street I New Construction by in the heart of the East End starting at $419k! ⁠⠀
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Upon entering this stunning residence, you will immediately be taken by its brick facade and desirable location. The open concept kitchen boasts a full SS appliances with gas stove, built in wall oven, microwave and counter depth refrigerator. The central island is perfect for extra seating and is finished with quartz countertops. ⁠The 10' tall retractable glass sliding doors lead out to the oversized balcony--perfect for entertaining! ⁠⠀
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Interested in learning about East Downtown living? Let's chat! ⁠⠀
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Text, Call or Email me to view!⁠⠀⁠⠀⁠⠀
📱: (281) 509 3604 ⁠⠀⁠⠀⁠⠀⁠⠀⁠⠀⠀⁠⠀⁠⠀⠀⁠⠀⁠⠀⁠⠀⁠⠀⠀⁠⠀⁠⠀
📧: [email protected]

10/06/2020

Some buyers find the perfect home their first weekend of house hunting. For others, it can take a little longer and that’s totally fine too!

My sweet clients, Leo and Celina, were SO patient and full of perseverance while navigating a competitive market. I actually counted today. In total, we sent out 8 full-price offers during their 2 month home search! I don’t say this to scare you—I just want to be transparent of the not-so-fun moments too. 😩

One thing is for certain—despite how tough the market is, I will guide you till the very end. I also won’t let you settle for a home unless you LOVE it! The showings, offers, late night texts and phone calls are all SO worth it for this...❤️