Real Estate Information

This Thanksgiving is a particularly special holiday for all of us. We've all had a tough year, but that only makes us more greatful for what we do have. So let's take all the negative things that have happened this past year and look for the positive things that we can show our gratitude for.

Here are some things we can all show thanks for this Thanksgiving:

• Family
• Children
• Parents
• Friends
• Love
• Music
• Your Job
• A Good Laugh
• Sunshine
• The beautiful New Mexico landscape
• Living in Albuquerque!

However you spend this special week of thanks, we wish everyone in Albuquerque the very best this Thanksgiving Day!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Do you hate dealing with pests every year? They tend to pop up in spring when the weather gets warmer in Albuquerque. So why are we talking about that now? Because now is the time to prepare your home to resist pests when spring comes again. Not only can pests cause damage to your home, but they are just a pain in general.

Here are some steps you can take now to make sure your home is ready to keep out these tiny threats.

Seal Gaps

Pests don't need a wide open door to get into your home. They can squeeze into any crack and crevice. Look for any unsealed gaps in your home, especially where pipes and electrical lines come into your home. Seal any gaps with caulking or foam insulation.

Store Firewood Away from the House

It may seem convenient now during the winter to store your firewood next to the house. But it's also an open invitation for pests. Store your firewood at least 20 feet away from the house.

Fix Torn Screens

Damaged window screens are also another entry point for pests. If you have any holes or rips in your screens, you can find a repair kit easily in most hardware stores. 

White Vinegar Deters Ants

Ants leave a trail for other ants to find food. You can eliminate that trail with a solution of 1/4 cup white vinegar, 2 cups water and 10 s of peppermint or eucalyptus oil.

Maintain Weatherstripping

If your weatherstripping around the exterior doors is worn or broken, you should replace it to close up any gaps where pests can enter.

Chase Away the Spiders

If spiders have made a home out of your basement, you can deter them with a humidifier to keep the humidity at about 40%. Also sweep down cobwebs when they appear. This should reduce the amount of spiders in your basement and keep them from the rest of the house as well.

Pests Don't Like Coffee

You can turn that morning cup of coffee into an effective pest deterrent. Pour your leftover coffee grounds in places where you think pests are entering. Many animals can't stand the smell of coffee. This trick can also work in your garden.

Inspect Crawl Spaces

Check around crawl spaces and basement for obvious nests of shredded material, which indicate rodents. Also look for smaller pests like ants or cockroaches.

Don’t Let Pests in Through the Dryer Vent

Examine dryer vents to ensure the damper isn’t stuck open or broken off completely. Also check that the seal between the vent and the wall is tight to keep house pests out.

Trim Plants Back From the House

Plants against the house make it easy for ants to enter. If you trim them back at least 3 feet from your house, this will close off their bridge. Keep a 3-in. to 6-in. clearance space between the soil around the foundation and the bottom row of siding to prevent ants from nesting in the siding.

With just a little bit of preparation, you can make your Albuquerque home a more enjoyable and pest-free place to live.

Contact us today to help you buy or sell your next home in Albuquerque. Looking for the perfect home for sale in Albuquerque? Our easy-to-use home search tool can help you start the process. Join us twice a week on our blog for more real estate advice and great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates.

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

13504 DESERT ZINNIA Court NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111  $1,125,000

4 Bedrooms / 4 Bathrooms (4 full, 0 half) / 4556 Square Feet

Highly Sought after High Desert Contemporary Southwestern Beauty. Custom built for Original owner. Well Situated on .86 acre lot to maximize the spectacular Mountain and City views! Incredible floor plan features 4 spacious en-suite bedrooms all with private bathrooms, Dual Masters, with the largest one on main level. Gorgeous, sunny kitchen with quartz counter tops, opens onto bright, light breakfast nook and family room. Complete with kitchen island, double ovens. Soaring ceilings throughout - with walls of windows to enjoy the views from every room. Approx 1500 sqft of wrap around decks/patios on front and back of home can be accessed from all bedrooms. Gorgeous serene courtyard with water feature. Spectacular low maintenance landscaping front and back! Newer TPO top of the line roof.

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team

Are you thinking about buying a home in Albuquerque, but not sure if certain forms of income will help you qualify for a loan? Lenders want you make sure you can repay your loan comfortably. They can determine this by comparing your monthly income with monthly debt. If you work for an employer or for yourself, this can be done by reviewing recent paycheck stubs, W2 forms and/or tax returns. But if you're looking for additional income support to buy a home in Albuquerque, you may not be aware that there are other income sources that lenders can use.

Support Income

If you are receiving spousal or child support, this income can be used to help qualify. There needs to be a record of timely payments, which can be shown by providing copies of bank statements showing the monthly deposits being made and when. Spousal support payments need to continue barring the ex-spouse receiving the income has not married. Child support payments typically continue until the child turns 18.

Investment Income

If you have any investments, the dividends and interest can also be used. This is providing that the income is shown to be consistent over the previous two years. Also, your name must appear on the statement. Any other names on the statement will cause the lender to divide up the income among all who appear on the investment account. Income is averaged over the previous 24 months in order to arrive at a qualifying amount. 

Disability Income

If you are receiving disability payments due to an injury on the job, this can be used as well. This can be verified by reviewing a copy of the disability policy benefit statement. This income may also be used as long as the lender makes the determination the income will likely continue well into the future, for a minimum of three years. It can sometimes be the case that the disability is shorter term in nature, or the lender needs more information about the nature of the disability filing. 

Social Security Income

In order for the lender to use social security income, all that is needed is a copy of the social security awards letter. A request for this letter is made directly to the Social Security Administration either by the borrower or the lender.

Bonus Income

Like other forms of income, bonus income can be counted as long as there is a regular history of having received it. Bonus income should be both consistent and at regular intervals. Bonus income is averaged and should be paid monthly or sometimes quarterly. An annual bonus most often won’t be used. It’s thought that a holiday bonus in December may not be readily available in another time of the year. Verification of the terms of the bonus can be obtained directly from the employer.

Part Time/Seasonal Income

With a two year history of receiving part time income as well as seasonal work, such as during the holidays or during the summer, this income can also be counted when adding up qualifying income. The part time income should also be relatively consistent. Seasonal income may be counted, depending upon the lender’s internal guidelines, again with evidence of receiving it for the most recent two years and paid out in a consistent manner.

Contact us today to help you buy or sell your next home in Albuquerque. Looking for the perfect home for sale in Albuquerque? Our easy-to-use home search tool can help you start the process. Join us twice a week on our blog for more real estate advice and great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates.

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

13504 DESERT ZINNIA Court NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111  $1,125,000

4 Bedrooms / 4 Bathrooms (4 full, 0 half) / 4556 Square Feet

Highly Sought after High Desert Contemporary Southwestern Beauty. Custom built for Original owner. Well Situated on .86 acre lot to maximize the spectacular Mountain and City views! Incredible floor plan features 4 spacious en-suite bedrooms all with private bathrooms, Dual Masters, with the largest one on main level. Gorgeous, sunny kitchen with quartz counter tops, opens onto bright, light breakfast nook and family room. Complete with kitchen island, double ovens. Soaring ceilings throughout - with walls of windows to enjoy the views from every room. Approx 1500 sqft of wrap around decks/patios on front and back of home can be accessed from all bedrooms. Gorgeous serene courtyard with water feature. Spectacular low maintenance landscaping front and back! Newer TPO top of the line roof.

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team

Veterans Day is the day to remember that our freedom isn’t guaranteed. It’s protected by the brave and honorable men and women in our Armed Services. To those who secure our way of life… thank you!

How can you show your appreciation to our veterans today? Here's a few suggestions from military.com.

• Donate
• Fly a flag - correctly
• Ask a veteran about their service
• Don't Confuse Veterans Day with Memorial Day

Have a Happy Veterans Day!

With the end of the year close at hand and the busy real estate season over, now is actually a great time to start your home search in Albuquerque. There are some outstanding homes coming on the market, as you can see with our latest Hot Properties for November. Here are some of our most desirable properties for sale in Albuquerque. 

Feel free to contact Sandi Pressley and her team at 505-263-2173 to get more information and schedule a viewing of these fine homes. You can check out all of our listings on our Featured Listings page.

803 WARM SANDS Court SE, Albuquerque, NM 87123

$697,500

Stunning Custom home (By Guererro)on a cul de sac in 4 Hills Village, upon entering you will notice the hardwood grand staircase. Home features 6 Bedrooms, 4 Baths, with Gourmet Kitchen, stainless appliances, granite counter tops, remodeled bathrooms, an amazing walk out basement (1200 sq ft) with a bedroom bathroom (pool table stays), storage, wet bar and so much more and entertaining areas. Spectacular views from master bedroom Balcony,(there are two other balconies as well), backyard w/rv access. There is new carpet, paint, surround sound, updated lighting, fans, all new hardware on the doors, oversized 3 car garage w new doors/openers. Schedule an appt now.

Learn More!

4332 ALTURA VISTA Lane NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110

$225,000

Fantastic location in desirable gated community of Altura Village! Conveniently located close to UNM, Nob Hill, UNM Hospital, Altura Park! 3BDR/2.5BATH plus Loft! Light, bright & open with lots of living space in the great room. Open kitchen with sunny breakfast nook, gas stove, built-microwave, refrigerator, washer & dryer stay! 3 large bedrooms upstairs! Master bdr has a wall of windows, 2 walk-in closets, garden tub/shower, dual sink vanity and tile flooring in bath. Private gated community minutes away from shopping malls, Uptown & restaurants!

Learn More!

11720 COYOTE RUN Road NE, Albuquerque, NM 87122

$1,125,000

Exquisite Lee Micheal Masterpiece w/Stunning Views! Impressive architectural details paired with fine appointments throughout, make this home a North Albq Acres 'One of a Kind.' Enjoy Sandia views from main living area w/custom two-way fireplace shared w/formal dining room & opening to Gourmet Chef's Kitchen boasting gorgeous cabinets/counters; eat at island; Built-in SS appliances; two sep sinks; wine cooler, plus. Upper level has library; exercise & office spaces, Plus: Luxurious Master retreat that includes TWO balconies to enjoy Mtn & City/mesa views! Spa like en suite w/walk-in closet & built-ins. Lush landscaped backyard includes views from the covered patio; built-in firepit; water feature; & hot tub. Garage is car enthusiast's dream. See 'Feature Sheet' for more amenity details.

Learn More!

5108 WILD PLUM Way NW, Albuquerque, NM 87120

$799,000

Stunning Custom Home in desirable, gated neighborhood! On a quiet cul-de-sac this luxurious home has a fantastic layout perfect for entertaining. Chipped edge Travertine tile downstairs, lighted niches, viga ceilings and tile accents on the walls/ceiling are just few of the features this home has to offer. Kitchen is a chefs dream with granite counters, Wolf gas cooktop, pot filler, warming drawer, 2 dishwashers, 2 sinks and a wine cooler that holds 88 bottles! Master suite has balcony with access from bedroom and private sitting room. Two-way fireplace, bidet, california closets (in all rms), jetted tub and a steamer in the shwr make this a perfect retreat. Theater room with projector, recliner chairs, movie posters and popcorn maker all convey! So much more you have too see to believe.

Learn More!

Contact us today to help you buy or sell your next home in Albuquerque. Looking for the perfect home for sale in Albuquerque? Our easy-to-use home search tool can help you start the process. Join us twice a week on our blog for more real estate advice and great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates.

Buying a home in Albuquerque involves making important decisions. One of the most important of those is how you plan to move your belongings. If you plan on hiring a moving company in Albuquerque, the thing to remember is that not all moving companies are operating on the same level. There are a number of things that can go wrong during a move. The question is how the moving company you hire will handle those issues and protect your items.

Here are some common moving disputes, and how you can handle them:

Damaged or Lost Items

Things tend to break or get damaged during a move. It's inevitable. Even when you hire pros to help, it can happen. How can you minimize the risk?

A professional mover will offer the option of buying Full Value Protection, which is a type of insurance that fully covers the cost of any broken or lost items. Without this protection, you will be asked to sign a Waiver of Full Value Protection. In that case, only 60 cents for each pound will be covered. That's not very much compensation, especially if you have expensive items that don't weigh very much.

Before you move, take the time to photograph your possessions, or at least the most expensive ones. If anything is damaged or lost, you should submit a claim as soon as possible, as the moving company can take up to 30 days to acknowledge the claim and 120 days to settle it.

Here are a few things to do during the move to make sure any damages are accounted for:

• Look over all of your items to check for damage as you unpack.
• Make a list of any damaged or missing items.
• Take photos of any damage found.
• Determine the replacement costs for damaged or lost items.
• Fill out a claim form with the moving company immediately and return it with your photos. Make copies for your records.

Hostage Shipments

There have been cases where a disreputable mover will hold a delivery hostage until the owner is forced to pay an additional fee. The federal government calls these 'hostage shipments.'

If a mover does try to hold your things hostage, there is recourse. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has a Consumer Complaint Hot line that you can call at (888) 368-7238. The federal organization claims that it tries to respond to hostage shipment as quickly as possible, so you can expect some sort of resolution.

Late Deliveries

Late deliveries are not completely unexpected. But there have been cases where a delay an last several weeks. Not all companies do this of course. Make sure that you carefully research moving company reviews for any reports of late deliveries.

Keep in mind that delays of some kind are possible. If you need certain things that are really important, like a computer, medication, or other critical items, make sure you take them in your car instead of the moving truck.

Moving to a new home is a never a trouble-free process. But if you keep these tips in mind, you can lessen your chance of having issues with movers, and know what to do if you do have any problems.

Contact us today to help you buy or sell your next home in Albuquerque. Looking for the perfect home for sale in Albuquerque? Our easy-to-use home search tool can help you start the process. Join us twice a week on our blog for more real estate advice and great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates.

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

6017 CROWNPOINT Drive NE, Rio Rancho, NM 87144  $299,000

4 Bedrooms / 3 Bathrooms (2 full, 1 half) / 3086 Square Feet 

4 BDRS/3BA/2CG PLUS two office/flex rooms! TWO livings spaces! Kitchen features walk-in pantry, island, breakfast nook and bkfst bar. Light, bright and open floor plan! REFRIGERATED AIR! UPDATED WATER HEATER! Large secondary bdrs have walk-in closets & laundry room located upstairs for convenience! Office/flex room on the main level with 3/4 bath! Newly painted interior and new carpet! Master suite features a balcony, walk-in closet, dual sink vanity, garden tub and separate shower. Backyard features a covered patio, balcony off master suite, walled for privacy and easy care rock landscape!

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team

You've found the perfect home for sale in Albuquerque and closed the deal. Now for the fun part - buying furniture! But hold on, don't get carried away. Doing so can lead to costly mistakes. When it comes to buying furniture for your home, there are a number of points to consider to make sure you buy the right items.

Measure Twice, Move Once

Will your new luxury leather couch fit through the front door, or any of your doors? There’s nothing more frustrating than buying a piece of furniture and not be able to get it in the house. Also, consider the size of the room you’re placing your furniture. Would it be too big or small? Make sure that you get the measurements on the furniture you’re buying and compare it to the space you plan to put it. You can also download an app for your pad or phone that will help you visualize how furniture will look in your home.

Maintenance

Hardwood furniture is certainly appealing and will last for many years, but it does take more maintenance than furniture made with synthetic materials. Make sure that you have the time and know-how to care for hardwood furniture before you invest in it.

Avoid Fads

Will that trendy chair or sofa still be in style next year? If you want to avoid having your home look dated, consider more classic styles. Classic styles will outlive trends for generations and always keep your home looking good.

Take Some Time

There’s no law that says you have to buy the first piece of furniture that strikes your fancy. It’s a lot like buying a home. Did you buy the first home you saw? Probably not. When you take your time, there’s more of a chance of finding the best products that will compliment your home.

Think Ahead

What are your living plans over the next few years? Are you staying in your home indefinitely? Or are you planning to upgrade in the a few years? Base your furniture choices on your plans as much as possible and you won’t have to spend more money than you need to if you do move.

Cost and Budget

Lay out a budget before you dive into the furniture stores or shop online. And of course, furniture stores have all sorts of sales and plans to get you to buy more than you need. Stay focused on your goals and budget. If you buy furniture using credit plans offered by these store, you will pay more than you need to for items that are not necessarily of higher quality. Remember – furniture stores exist to make money.

If you keep these thoughts in mind when buying furniture for your home in Albuquerque, you can make great choices that will make your home look amazing for years to come.

Contact us today to help you buy or sell your next home in Albuquerque. Looking for the perfect home for sale in Albuquerque? Our easy-to-use home search tool can help you start the process. Join us twice a week on our blog for more real estate advice and great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates.

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

13504 DESERT ZINNIA Court NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111  $1,125,000

4 Bedrooms / 4 Bathrooms (4 full, 0 half) / 4556 Square Feet

Highly Sought after High Desert Contemporary Southwestern Beauty. Custom built for Original owner. Well Situated on .86 acre lot to maximize the spectacular Mountain and City views! Incredible floor plan features 4 spacious en-suite bedrooms all with private bathrooms, Dual Masters, with the largest one on main level. Gorgeous, sunny kitchen with quartz counter tops, opens onto bright, light breakfast nook and family room. Complete with kitchen island, double ovens. Soaring ceilings throughout - with walls of windows to enjoy the views from every room. Approx 1500 sqft of wrap around decks/patios on front and back of home can be accessed from all bedrooms. Gorgeous serene courtyard with water feature. Spectacular low maintenance landscaping front and back! Newer TPO top of the line roof.

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team