Are you a military veteran who needs to buy a house in Shreveport Bossier City?

Closing costs are those costs and fees associate with buying a home.  However, if you are active military or a veteran you may be exempt from some costs or may be able to negotiate others if you use your VA loan benefit.

Most military members are not independently wealthy and have not saved for years and years to buy a home.  Many are cash-strapped and are forced to rent, stay on base (which is also renting) or buy a home.  Not because they want to so much as because the service has forced them to make that decision.

Given a forced decision being able to use one’s VA benefit to get a mortgage to buy your own home can be the best answer to prayer.  Eligible military borrowers who use this option can buy a new home with no down payment and no Private Mortgage Insurance payment.  However, the VA does charge a funding fee of up to 3.3% which gets rolled into the loan itself.

But borrowers of any type will still face the dreaded obstacle which is closing costs.  Like death and taxes there’s really no way out of them.  Someone will need to pay (either the buyer, seller or mixture of both).  More on that in a minute …

Closing costs are those costs outside of the mortgage that just for the business of buying or selling a house and in the Shreveport Bossier City area, can equate to about 2.5% of a $225,000 loan.  These costs include lender’s fees, taxes, insurance, and other items needed to transfer the property to the new owner.  Payment of such is required at the time when you sign the papers at the Title company.   The good news is that as a military member using their VA loan benefit you are exempt from some closing costs and have ways to manage some of the others.

How are VA closing costs different?

**Ryan Wheeler is an expert RE/MAX real estate agent and military veteran serving buyers and sellers of homes in the Shreveport Bossier City area.  Connect With Me

Many home sellers believe bad advice or listen to those whose home selling experience is merely once every 10+ years.  Here are some good tips for those wanting to sell their Shreveport Bossier home for top dollar with an expert agent!

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Article adapted from here

True or false: All real estate advice is good advice? (Hint: it just depends.)

Everyone you know likely has advice about the real estate market, but not all of that unsolicited information is true or even factual.  Remember, everyone has had both bad and good experiences yet the bad ones tend be the most remembered (and spread around).  So when it comes time to list your home, you’ll need to separate fact from fiction.

Below we’ve identified some of the top real estate myths out there — and debunked them so you can hop on the fast track to selling your property.

Myth #1: I need to redo my kitchen and bathroom before selling

Truth: While kitchens and bathrooms can increase the value of a home, you won’t get a large return on investment if you do a major renovation just before selling.

Minor renovations, however, may help you sell your home for a higher price.  Replacing the Formica countertops with quartz or granite is a good idea.  Or perhaps you have older black or white appliances.  It would be a good idea to give a more freshened and clean look with stainless appliances.  This may be just the kind of bait you need to reel in that new buyer. Check out comparable listings in your neighborhood, and see what work you need to do to compete in your local market.  Remember, there are many other choices out there for a buyer.  Your job is to make them choose you!

Myth #2: My home’s exterior isn’t as important as the interior

Truth: Home buyers often make snap judgments based simply on a home’s exterior. Therefore, curb appeal is very important.

“A lot of buyers search online or drive by properties before they even enlist my services,” says Bic DeCaro, a real estate agent at Westgate Realty Group in Falls Church, VA. “If the yard is cluttered or the driveway is all broken up, there’s a chance they won’t ever enter the house — they’ll just keep driving.”

The good news is that it doesn’t cost a bundle to improve your home’s exterior. Start by cutting the grass, trimming the hedges and clearing away any clutter. Then, for less than $50, you could put up new house numbers, paint the front door, plant some flowers or install a new, more stylish porch light.

Myth #3: If my house is clean, I don’t need to stage it

Truth: Having a clean and tidy home is a good first step, but professional home stagers have raised the bar. Tossing dirty laundry in the closet and sweeping the front steps just aren’t enough anymore.

Stagers make homes appeal to a broad range of tastes. They can skillfully identify ways to highlight your home’s best features and compensate for its shortcomings. They might, for example, recommend removing blinds from a window with a great view or replacing a double bed with a twin to make a bedroom look bigger.

Of course, you don’t have to hire a professional stager. But if you don’t, be ready to use some of their tactics to get your home ready for sale — especially if staging is a trend where you live. An unstaged house will pale when compared to others on the market.

Myth #4: Granite and stainless steel appliances are old news

Truth: The majority of home shoppers still want granite counters and stainless steel appliances. Quartz, marble and concrete counters also have wide appeal.

“Most shoppers just want to steer away from anything that looks dated,” says Dru Bloomfield, a real estate agent with RE/MAX Platinum Living in Scottsdale, AZ. “When you a design a space, you need to decide if you’re doing it for yourself or for resale potential.”

She suggests that if you’re not planning to move anytime soon, decorate any way you like. But if you’re planning to put your home on the market within the next couple of years, stick to elements that have mass appeal.

“I recently sold a house where the kitchen had been remodeled 12 years ago, and everybody thought it had just been done because the owners had chosen timeless elements: dark maple cabinets, granite counters and stainless steel appliances.”

Myth #5: Home shoppers can ignore paint colors they don’t like

Truth: Moving is a lot of work, and while many home buyers realize they could take on the task of painting walls, they simply don’t want to.  There’s so much more to worry about with a move and spending the time and money to paint is not usually one of them.

That’s why one of the most important things you can do to update your home is to give it a fresh coat of neutral paint.  A few colors to consider that are very popular these days are light grays or light beige.  These neutral colors also help a property stand out in online photographs, which is where most potential buyers will get their first impression of your property.

Hiring a professional to paint the interior of a 2,000-square-foot house will cost about $3,000 to $6,000, depending on labor costs in your region. You could buy the paint and do the job yourself for $300 to $500. Either way, if a fresh coat of paint helps your home stand out in a crowded market, it’s probably a worthwhile investment.

**Ryan Wheeler is an expert RE/MAX real estate agent and military veteran serving buyers and sellers of homes in the Shreveport Bossier City area. #ryan_wheeler_expert_realtor Connect With Me

Here’s some great information Shreveport-Bossier home buyers should know when considering using their VA loan benefit

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VA loans have existed since 1944 following the end of World War II as a benefit for service members to gain a foothold into the American home buying marketplace.  Since then, these loans have helped more than 22 million active and retired service members buy homes.  The program provides flexible, no-down payment loans for veterans making it the best possible of all lending programs on the market today.

The veteran must first need to find a VA lender and, like any other loan, prequalify.  This is based on the individual’s income, credit, current VA entitlement usage and other financial factors.  The veteran will then get an estimate of how much of a house they can afford to buy.

The following step is to get VA loan preapproval, which is a major step forward when the potential buyer finds a home they desire to buy.  Lenders will verify the vet’s income and other financial information, and once that’s verified, the veteran will receive a preapproval letter to show to real estate agents and home sellers.  Not only do these letters show a home seller that you are a serious buyer but it also shows you what a bank will lend to you.  Do not make the mistake of looking at homes, and falling in love with one only to then find out you cannot get funded for it.

Once pre-approved, buyers may then put in an offer for the home and along with the help of a real estate agent and negotiate a contract with the seller.  When the veteran is under contract, their lender will order a VA appraisal of the home and property.

Underwriters evaluate the buyer’s income, financial information and other documents along with the appraisal, once it’s finalized.  Following approval, the veteran will be issued a ‘clear to close’ and may complete the closing.

There are several “Need to know” items, however, when it comes to VA loans.  Although the benefits are reusable as long as the loan is paid off on each property, there are some exceptions to the rules, even if the loan isn’t paid off or it is lost to foreclosure.

VA loans are primarily designed for “move-in ready” condition, whether the loan is for a single-family home, condo, modular home or some multi-unit properties, etc.  While these loans are not for investment properties, but for primary residences only, the VA offers some exceptions. Despite those exceptions, some lenders will have their own standards regarding occupancy standards.

Therefore, it is imperative that you find a lender who knows the VA standards and is an expert in these type of loans.  In the Shreveport-Bossier area, Ryan Wheeler is an expert real estate agent and a military veteran himself.  He is able to recommend excellent local VA lenders that will help you navigate these waters from buying, selling – contract to close. #expert_bossier_agent

**Ryan Wheeler is an expert RE/MAX real estate agent and military veteran serving buyers and sellers of homes in the Shreveport Bossier City area.  Connect With Me

So what are the TOP subdivisions in Bossier City?  Well, take a look at this non-scientific, non-data driven poll to get a good idea and judge for yourself!*

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#1: St. Charles Court

This is a beautiful, gated community right across the street from the newest and one of the top elementary schools, Kingston Elementary. The still-growing neighborhood homes are build with an Acadian-Colonial Flair. The first half of the neighborhood have driveways and walkways paved with a bit of a differently style that stands out and sets St. Charles Court apart. This neighborhood boasts sidewalks, a community pool and rec area, as well as a stocked pond toward the back. Because of the amenities, relatively low HOA, its situation near the new elementary school and close proximity to water recreation, shopping, restaurants and the low crime rate Bossier is known for this is my number one pick!

#2: Legacy

Similarly to St. Charles Court, Legacy is another ever-growing location also anchored by another fantastic elementary school, Legacy Elementary. It is not a gated-community, per-se, yet has the feel of one. When you enter the large, manicured development you see an open, rolling landscape with several stocked ponds for fishing. This community continues to grow on the other side of the school and has several divisions within which correspond to the home sizes. Cattail Point, Redwood and Belle Rose. A community pool is also available in this beautiful subdivision.

#3: Golden Meadows

This is an older neighborhood which has picked up some steam with the building increase so it’s a blend of older and newer homes. A staple of the local military populace due to its close proximity to Barksdale AFB and relatively easy drive, the South Bossier area is also growing although not at the rate of North Bossier.  In the Sun City elementary and Parkway High School districts, this subdivision sits off of Barksdale Blvd and is close to CenturyLink Center and easy access over the Jimmy Davis Bridge to all the shopping and restaurants that Shreveport has to offer.

#4: Cypress Bend

Another in the of the ever-growing vein of North Bossier subdivisions, this one continues to expand.  This gated community is one of the most desirable locations as it’s access point is Benton road with close proximity to I-220.  Again, it is also one that is in the ever-growing Benton school district which is arguably one of the most desirable of districts in all of North Louisiana!

#5: Green Acres Place

This neighborhood has been the staple of Bossier for years with a mixture of homes from the 1980’s to the 2000’s.  The homes are larger, quaint and have bigger yards than most of the surrounding developments.  Because it is a staple the trees are also fuller making this a very nice area visually.  The homes are a bit older but there’s no shortage of owners who have been upgrading over the years.  You are sure to find a beautiful home here.  It is also just north of I-220 and spans the length of Airline Dr over to Benton Road giving perfect access to the newest shopping and restaurants that north Bossier has been experiencing.

#6: Plantation Trace/Estates

This subdivision is also an ever-growing area in South Bossier and it’s close proximity to Barksdale makes it an excellent choice for many military buyers with easy access to Shreveport.

#7: Tiburon

This gated community has also exploded over the past few years.  The homes are of the Acadian-French style and boast great prices and just the right size lawn for most family needs.  One of the main attractions of Tiburon is that it is gated, it is near I-220, and it’s just a few miles from Barksdale AFB.  Not to mention the widening of Swan Lake Rd, Tiburon will continue to be high in the list of  home buyers in North Bossier.

#8: Stonebridge

This isn’t just a gated community it is a guarded / gated community that boasts a golf course, private tennis and swimming and a country club just north off I-220 off Swan Lake Rd.  Bordering Tiburon, this is the premier and safest location to live although it does come with a higher price-point.  But if these are the amenities you are looking for with quick access to all the shopping, restaurants and great schools North Bossier has to offer then this could be the place for you!

#9: Autumn Creek

This “tucked away” neighborhood is little known and little seen as it is nestled between Airline Drive and Benton Rd with access points to both roads but you have to know about it!  These boast some of the biggest yards and homes in the area with many that rival those of Stonebridge, minus the amenities.  It is not a gated neighborhood but the gorgeous, relatively newer homes and lush landscape make it worth your while to look into.

#10: Lakewood

This is also a “hidden” subdivision which keeps it off the radar of most which is what most homeowners like for safety reasons.  Boasting large homes and VERY large yards, Lakewood is the perfect combination of space, luxury and quality.  With part of the neighborhood from the 1990’s and part being the 2010’s you are sure to find something you like here.  Although it is tucked away it has access points out to Airline Drive and Swan Lake Rd.  It is a few miles north of I-220 and allows for easy transportation to all the shopping and restaurants north Bossier has to offer!

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*These are my personal opinions based on professional and anecdotal evidence.  Your thoughts and experiences may be different than mine.