As the weather is beginning to warm up, so are those home sales. There’s nothing worse than attempting to purchase your first home without prior knowledge of what steps to take. Grab your wish list and use these five tips to help you prepare to buy your new home this spring.

1. Get rid of your debt and clean up your credit 

The number one thing you need to do in preparation for purchasing your first home is to clear up your debt. You’ll find it much easier to save money toward your new home as you pay down your debt. You’ll also find that you’ll have better buying options with less debt and a better credit rating.

2. Make a wish list that’s realistic

You probably have a list already made up of all the must-have features and amenities that you just can’t live without in your new house.  The gourmet kitchen and spa-like bathroom you’ve seen on television may not exactly come in your budget or be in the neighborhood you’ve got your eyes set on. Make sure to do your research on both what you can afford and what the areas you’d like to live in have to offer. Think about revising your wish list and compromising in some areas. The home you select may not come with granite countertops or hardwood floors, but you can make it a DIY project and save a few dollars along the way.

3. Hire a licensed real estate agent

Whether it’s your first time around searching for a home, or you are in need of an upgrade for your growing family, hiring a licensed real estate agent is always your best bet.  Do your research and find the best realtor for your needs. They are more equipped than you will be when it comes to tackling the hard stuff during the buying process.

It is also a plus to hire an agent that is a neighborhood specialist. When you have an idea of the specific area that you would like to move to, an agent that specializes there is truly beneficial when choosing the perfect home for you and your family. 

4. Get preapproved by a local lender

To ensure that you have a smooth loan process, make it a point to get preapproved by a local lender. Avoid applying for loans with online lenders or lenders outside of your local area. Offers that are received from a local lender will most likely get preference when purchasing a new home. This will also help in having a timely closing and smooth process. Local lenders have a better reputation for closing on time. They will also ensure that they give you the best service because they want you to refer their business to others within the local community.

5. Don’t hold off too long on making a bid

Making a bid on your first home can be a difficult decision. If you come across the perfect home during your search, try not to hesitate too long to make an offer. Your dream home may not be available for long. Home prices typically begin to rise during the warmer months, so there would be little change of the home you want decreasing in price.

As you make the steps to prepare to buy your first home, take these tips into consideration and always do your research as well as seek professional help to ensure that you’re making the best decisions for your investment.  

April's realtor of the month is Karen Peyton, associate broker of Buyer Broker AZ. Karen provides the monthly market updates for Chandler, Mesa, Tempe, and Gilbert, AZ. Karen began her journey in real estate in 1997 when assisting a friend of hers with the purchase of her first home. She has received an award from the City of Chandler for "Neighborhood Leader of the Year" in 2014 and also volunteers at St. Vincent de Paul. 

At Buyer Broker AZ, Karen offers the ability to give her clients a live search using the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service. This allows them access to the same subscription service that is used by Arizona Realtors so that more accurate listings are available. 

Karen believes in offering the highest level of skill and expertise to her clientele. She listens to her client’s needs in order to create a sure-fire strategy specific to their personal situation to tackle the home buying process. Whether it is your first time purchasing a new home in Phoenix, or if you are a seasoned veteran, be sure to give Karen with Buyer Broker AZ a call.  You’ll be in good hands.

Meridiana is a very special master-planned community just 35 minutes south of downtown Houston. Here you’ll find a truly unique lakeside community experience. You may start your day with a rousing workout at the state-of-the-art fitness facility. Then have an exceptional meal at Meridiana’s very own restaurant, Café Sol. You can spend the afternoon relaxing poolside at the Oasis while the kids play in the splash zone. Gather the family for an old-fashioned lawn game in the lighted gaming area. Then spend an evening with friends on the Ambassador’s Yacht. As if that weren’t enough enticement, Meridiana offers homebuyers an extravagant selection of homes from the area’s most impressive builders. 

Chesmar is currently offering spacious 3 to 5 bedroom homes here at Meridiana. David Weekley also has a selection of beautiful designs with up to 5 bedrooms. Drees offers up to 5 lovely bedrooms in their single-family homes along with luxury features. Highland Homes has brought their best 3- 4 bedroom home designs to Meridiana. Lennar’s 3- 5 bedroom offerings are shining examples of their fine craftsmanship with a two car garage and up to 3,056 square feet of living space. Perry Homes has many wonderful 3- 5 bedroom floor plan options to choose from that are sure to fit any family’s needs. Plantation Homes feature stunning model home designs. Shea Homes 4- 5 bedroom homes offer a variety of external treatments. Taylor Morrison’s stately 3- 5 bedroom models are timeless beauties. Trendmaker’s 3- 4 bedroom homes are classic and traditional. Each builder that has been chosen brings a little something special to the table

With ten gifted builders represented and price points starting in the $200,000’s you will surely find your dream home at Meridiana. Contact the info center by calling 281-915-5515 to schedule a walkthrough.

Grand Central Park, the new master-planned community in Conroe, TX gives its residents the capacity to live amid nature while remaining close to shopping and commerce. This new home community is situated along Interstate 45 just north of The Woodlands and right next door to the new Kroger Marketplace. Everything you need is within reach, yet your family will enjoy an unparalleled connection to the beauty and serenity of nature.

Grand Central Park has engineered an exceptional experience for families that can be enjoyed year-round right in their own community. The Grandeur is a self-guided immersive nature hike through a truly spectacular wilderness adventure. Lovely viewing and relaxing stations along the way invite you to pause and really appreciate the wonder around you. Another refreshing feature for residents is tranquil Trillium Park. Relax on an art-inspired bench and enjoy the peaceful babbling brook. Time stands still at Trillium Park evidenced only by the changing shadows and the dappled sunlight.

Grand Central Park has brought together the country’s most exceptional home builders so as to offer only the most luxurious, most thoughtfully designed homes. You can choose a townhome by Coventry or Village Builders. You may opt for a spacious family home by Drees, Perry, Jaeger, or David Weekley. Or perhaps you desire a patio home by Darling. These builders have been selected for their incomparable customer service, attention to detail, workmanship, and innovation. 

Grand Central Park has plans for a state-of-the-art dog park, more playgrounds, recreational facilities, and expanded walking and biking trails, and all-new 13-acre amenity complex: The Lake House. The sparkling new facility is only steps away from the 88-acre Grand Lake. Residents are invited to take long, lake-side strolls, let their children burn off some energy at the playground, jump-start the day in the fitness center, or even lounge at the pol. Families are invited to share in the sense of community through organized community-building activities and fun events, some of which will take place in The Lake House's spacious Grand Event Room. Keep an eye out for more details as The Lake House is coming soon.

 Come to Grand Central Park and experience the embrace of nature and community. Join the interest list to find out how you can own a new Houston home at Grand Central Park.

We had the pleasure of joining Dee Maher, the National Dealer Group Manager with Clever Storage by Kessebohmer, for an exclusive booth tour of their latest home storage designs during last month’s International Builder’s Show in Las Vegas. If you find it difficult to organize the clutter in your home or maybe have too much stuff and not enough space, then Clever Storage just might be the answer for all of your organizational needs.  We’re giving you the inside scoop on these exciting goodies right here! 

Here’s a little background on this amazing and innovative storage company: Kessebohmer is a family run business that was originally founded in 1954. It is a German designed and built kitchen storage solutions company and they are one of the leading kitchen furniture industry suppliers that distribute to over 60 countries worldwide. Kessebohmer provides fitting and furniture to the motorhome industry as well as engineering for the office furniture industry.  Kessebohmer strives to achieve the perfect balance between form and function!

Dispensa is one of our favorite storage options that we were introduced to during the Clever Storage tour. The greatest feature about Dispensa is that it does not waste an inch of space. It completely utilizes the entire width and height of tall cabinets. Your biggest issue will be finding more items to place in your new storage unit. Dispensa has individually suspended and adjustable shelves with simple railings that keep everything in place.  With easy installation and adjustment, it allows for full access and includes SoftStopp for smooth, silent closing.  Dispensa will hold up to 265 pounds and will work with interior pantry heights from 34 inches all the way up to 93 inches. 

Take a look at the Straight line Drawer Organizer perfect for any kitchen space.  Imagine a revolving storage solution at the perfect height for your everyday dishes and pantry items. This must have piece will accommodate a vast variety of drawer depths.  It is easy to install and includes 25 drawer accessories that allow for limitless organizational possibilities. It is also compatible to fit in the Dispensa and Lavido pantry systems.

Entertain company in a clean crisp living space that lacks unsightly distractions in your view with the Waste Bin Pullout.  This functional feature allows your trash and recyclables to remain out of sight and out of mind.  You have the option of choosing from single or double bins and it comes in an elegant design as not to clash with your home’s décor. With the capacity of up to a 100-pound load, the Waste Bin Pullout is heavy duty and glides smoothly when bins are full.

If you find that your height can challenge your ability to reach items in some of your higher cabinets, the iMove is the perfect answer. Forget about having to grab a step stool or a sturdy chair while preparing meals or just reaching high places in general. The iMove is the intelligent pull-down system for wall cabinets. You can choose from installing either one or two shelves depending on your personal needs.  There are soft open and close mechanisms that provide just the right range of motion.  Say goodbye to accidentally slamming cabinet doors or bumping into open cabinets. The iMove fits cabinet widths from 21 inches to 36 inches and it comes in four different finishes that will seamlessly blend with your interior design.

LeMans is modeled after the LeMans Racetrack with its sleek and modern design and intelligent corner unit solution for optimum storage. A door opening angle of 85 degrees allows the trays to swing out completely. Kessebohmer uses ClickFixx to provide a fast, tool-less assembly. The possibilities are endless when storing your day to day dishes, large pots, and pans, or non-perishable food items.

Although this was not featured in our tour, we thought you would enjoy this creative space saver. Save counter space with the Linero 2000.  This railing system design creates order in the kitchen without the use of extra cabinet space or a specific holder for kitchen utensils. Try out new recipes hands free with the cook book holder right on your backsplash.  Add a rack or two of your favorite go to spices for easy reach or hook a roll of paper towels on the railing system so you never lose your groove in the kitchen. 

We had a blast visiting the Kessebohmer booth at KBIS 2019 during the International Builders Show this year. Be sure to check out these amazing storage options and so much more at www.cleverstorage.com for all of your in home storage needs.

Viridian is not just the most beautiful master-planned community in DFW, it offers the most extensive selection of home builders and home designs in the area. Drawing on the expertise of the country’s most trust-worthy architects and craftsman, the home builders at Viridian offers an unparalleled selection guaranteeing you’ll find the right home at the right price.

Viridian offers the convenience of viewing many lovely model homes all in one place. You’ll find the model homes circling Tribute Park on Viridian Park Lane, Blue Lake Blvd., and Crested Eagle Way. 

CB Jeni Homes offer Viridian buyers wonderful 2-story townhomes priced from the $275,000's. These homes win hearts with their spacious and graceful interior with features such as soaring ceilings with the floor-to-ceiling window display. The kitchens features a granite-topped work island, on-trend backsplashes, and European-style cabinetry. CB Jeni Homes at Viridian offer 2- 3 large bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and a 2-car garage.

Grenadier Homes offer townhomes at Viridian from the mid $290,000’s. These homes are designed to be simple yet sophisticated for years of enjoyment. Featuring 1 and 2-story designs with 2- 3 bedrooms, flex spaces, 2-car garages, and up to 3 full bathrooms. You’ll love the open-concept layout, the inviting front porch entertaining space, and the big walk-in closets. 

Toll Brothers Homes has earned their reputation as Texas’s top builder for seven years with luxury homes sporting a flair for the dramatic.  Priced from the high $500,000’s these homes are meant to impress with stunning European-inspired exteriors and interiors.  Luxury features such as a private study with French doors, media room, and sweeping curved staircase let you and your guests know you are someplace special.

Drees Custom Homes has been family-owned and operated since 1928 and are recognized statewide for their energy-efficient and Earth-conscious designs. Drees offers floor plan options at Viridian priced in the high $499,000’s. These homes offer large bedrooms,  2-car garages and upgrade interiors with hardwood floors throughout, high ceilings, and outdoor entertaining spaces.

These are just a few of the builders and their innovative designs you’ll find at Viridian. You’ll want to explore them all for yourself as you make your new home in Arlington, TX.

Browse our Arlington houses for sale and begin your search for a new home today. 

Leander, TX has recently been named the “Best Town for Small Families” in the Austin area. Carneros Ranch master-planned community offers families amazing amenities, an enviable location with easy access to major thoroughfares, and the most sought-after builders. Whether your family is growing or you’re ready for a restful retirement, your new home can be found at Carneros Ranch.

Lennar Homes brings their decades of quality customer service and exceptional craftsmanship to Carneros Ranch. Lennar Homes boast an “everything is included” attitude allowing Carneros Ranch buyers to enjoy the feeling of upgrades without the added expense. Beautiful flooring, exquisite finishes, and upscale treatments are standard features. Square footage ranges from 1,846 to 3,016 square feet among 3 to 5 bedrooms and up to 4 bathrooms. You’ll love the open-concept, light-filled extravagance of your new living space.  Your affordable, energy-conscious dream home can be found at Carneros Ranch in a Lennar Homes design.

Wilshire Homes stand the test of time with beauty and style that emerges from a close collaboration with their buyers. Wilshire Homes consultants pride themselves on turning the client’s dreams into a brick and mortar reality with every home they build. The available floor plans by Wilshire Homes provide up to 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and up to 3,402 square feet of living space. Energy-efficiency, craftsmanship, and attention to detail come standard in every Wilshire Home at Carneros Ranch. Thoughtful touches like gently arching doorframes and pretty niches highlight the grand feel of your home without sacrificing charm. 

Carneros Ranch enjoys the sweeping breezes of the foothills, a lower cost of living, access to nature, and close proximity to Austin. You’ll find many lakes, parks and recreational opportunities close by. Shopping centers and medical facilities are within easy reach as well. The fine schools of the Leander ISD serve the educational needs of Carneros Ranch children. Carneros Ranch welcomes you to find your future new home in beautiful Leander, TX. Join the interest list to learn more and to schedule your viewing.

TRI Pointe Group has teamed with Amazon to offer its new homebuyers smart homes featuring Amazon Alexa as an extension of HomeSmart®, TRI Pointe Group’s suite of state-of-the-art home technology and automation features. HomeSmart®, activated and supported by Amazon, is being implemented across all six of TRI Pointe Group’s homebuilder brands.
 
Amazon Alexa is activated by merely using simple voice commands such as ‘Alexa, good morning’ that can be used to adjust features in the home such as the lighting, temperatures, and even a musical selection. The new smart home offering features Ring Video Doorbell Pro, Honeywell Lyric 2 Smart Thermostat or Ecobee Smart Thermostat, Schalge or Kwikset Smart Door Lock (in select markets), and a Rinnai Tankless Water Heater Recirculation Pump (in select markets) just to name a few.
 
To help new homebuyers maximize their HomeSmart® technology at no extra charge, the package includes an on-site home activation appointment with an Amazon Expert to customize the smart home experience and Amazon Expert activation support. This allows for ease of access to pose any questions and address any concerns, although there may not be very many as the rate of customer satisfaction is high. Customers have rated Amazon Experts at 4.9 out of 5 stars. “We are constantly evolving and aiming higher to meet and exceed customer expectations,” said Tom Mitchell, president, and chief operating officer of TRI Pointe Group.

It is now more common than not to have control of your home in the palm of your hand. These new home smart features will suit families with their every need as well as give them peace of mind whether in the home or away.  If you forget to turn off the heat before a family vacation, it’s no problem.  You can simply adjust your settings on your mobile device and focus on the family fun ahead.
 
TRI Pointe Group® is based in Irvine, California and is a family of premium regional homebuilders that designs, builds, and sells homes in multiple major U. S. markets. The TRI Pointe Group family consists of Maracay™ in Arizona, Pardee Homes® in California and Nevada, Quadrant Homes® in Washington, Trendmaker® Homes in Texas, TRI Pointe Homes® in California, Colorado and North Carolina, and Winchester® Homes in Maryland and Virginia. TRI Pointe Group was recognized on the 100 Fastest-Growing Companies List in Fortune Magazine in 2017. They were also named Builder magazine's Builder of the Year in 2015.

The realtor of the month for the month of March is Gabe Waldrep. Gabe is a realtor for Red Door Residential and also provides a monthly market update for Bedford, Euless, and Hurst, TX as one of our newest real estate market experts.  Gabe believes in being committed to helping his clients buy and sell their homes with the highest level of expertise in his local market.  He is trustworthy and honest and puts forth his best effort to help his clients understand each step of the way during the buying and selling process.  If you are in the search for a home for sale in Dallas, be sure to contact Gabe with Red Door Residential!

Expanding on their appreciation of the beautiful natural surroundings and the needs of today’s active families, Viridian sets the bar very high. This new home neighborhood in Arlington has chosen from top luxury home builders to provide its charming new construction homes.  These home builders incorporate functionality within astonishing home designs that are sure to wow you.  Choose from several single-family floor plans all with amenities that will suit you and your family’s needs right in the confines of the Viridian community. 

One of Viridian’s established Dallas/Fort Worth homebuilders, Toll Brothers presents exceptional floor plans spanning up to as much as 4,810 square feet of living space. Toll Brothers is one of the leading builders in luxury homes.  It is an award-winning Fortune 500 company as well as seven-time Texas Builder of the Year.  They have also been ranked as the #1 Home Builder Worldwide on the Fortune Magazine “World’s Most Admired Companies®” list. Toll Brothers allows no detail to go untouched with their attractive selection of exterior and interior features.

Visit 1501 Falcon’s Eye Dr. with its 4,769 square foot 2 story floor plan that features 5 bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms, and a 3-car garage. This oversized home backs into a green belt and provides a vast amount of natural lighting throughout. Take advantage of the 15-foot sliding door that allows you to extend your living experience to the great outdoors. Enjoy the master suite with two walk in closets, a stunning master bath, and tray ceilings. 

Take a look at 4605 Clouded Point Dr. with features that will amaze you. This home design is comprised of 5 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, and a 3 car garage providing living space that spans 4,682 square feet complete with spacious walk-in closets, a covered porch, a large laundry room, and mud room. The secluded loft area can be used as a quiet reading space or the perfect option for your home office. The second floor in this design offers three large secondary bedrooms as well as media and game rooms. 

Imagine entertaining guests in a well-appointed open kitchen space with a walk-in pantry and a spacious center island at 1521 Falcon’s Eye Dr. This floor plan comes with 4,810 square feet of space including 5 bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms, and a spacious 3 car garage. A spacious second-floor game room and a planning center are perfect for both business and pleasure. 

All of these features and so much more can be found within your next residence at Viridian. Contact the sales office by filling out an interest card to begin your journey to finding a home for sale in Arlington, TX.