Elena Garrett, Realtor in Dallas Texas - My Blog

Residential and Investment Properties in Dallas - Fort Worth

Elena Garrett, Realtor in Dallas Texas - My Blog

Rent-to-Own Programs Update – 2023

Here are some important update that I wanted to send out to everyone who may be thinking about buying a house in 2023.  The real estate market has shifted significantly after August 2022: which lead to the following changes. 1. Home prices tumbled (in some areas, by over $50,000-$100,000 per Read more…


3 Ways to Save on Your Mortgage

March 2033, by Elena Garrett Many home shoppers experience sticker shock at the cost of home mortgages in 2023. Elena and Melissa Condensa from Guild Mortgage go over a few recent changes to home loans that may help home buyers to stay within their budget while everyone else scrambles. A Read more…


Changes to Conventional Loan Costs – March 2023

By Elena Garrett Starting in April 2023, it may cost many home loan borrowers even more money to use conventional loans. Elena and Melissa Condensa from Guild Mortgage discuss the changes and what they mean for people’s home-buying plans in 2023. A short overview of the discussion: For borrowers with Read more…


Do not sign another lease until you read this: The hidden costs of renting

Any rent vs. own calculator can show you the obvious short-term costs of renting that are easy to see and calculate. There are also a number of hidden and delayed costs that are much harder to estimate in a spreadsheet, but that over time can compound to become very noticeable and detrimental to the family’s financial growth.


Protect Your Mortgage & Your Income Security

A well-designed insurance policy can pay off the entire remaining balance of your mortgage, as well as cover the costs of other living expenses for your family in the event any of the following happens to you or your spouse:
death
long-term disability
critical illness (such as cancer, heart attack, stroke, organ failure, loss of mobility, etc)
terminal illness
serious illnesses preventing employment for 90 days or more


DFW Home Buyer Guide for 2022

Elena’s home buying forecast for 2022 In a word: the forecast is difficult. The buyers planning to buy in the DFW area in 2022 need to be prepared for intense competition for homes, which means that they need to either 1) find ways to find the extra cash to win Read more…


Home Trade-In Options in DFW

Can I use my current house as a down payment on a new home? YES. Call (469) 371-4961 to discuss the currently available home swap options. There are a couple of ways to buy a new home and dispose of your old house without losing your sanity in the process! Read more…


Ready to Buy a Home?

tired of renting picture

Renting has many disadvantages: increasing rents, difficulty having repairs done right, lack of privacy and control over your own living space. The most important disadvantage, however, is the fact that none of the money you spend on rent every year is generating any return on investment for your family. Many Read more…


DFW Tax Property Rates (2020)

DFW tax rates 2020

DFW 2020 tax rates by county Source of tax rate date: https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/property-tax/rates/ DFW 2020 tax rates by ISD DFW 2020 tax rates by city Contact me for information (use the chat option) – the file is too large to post here Find Out Why 2021 Might Be the Best Year For Read more…


Buyer Representation Agreement

Texas Buyer Representation Agreement

Buyer Representation Agreement is a standard form prescribed by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) to formally describe the relationship between a home buyer and a real estate agent. It describes both sides’ rights and obligations and allows the agent to be paid commission from the sale. Signing a Buyer Read more…