Michele Sims - Alamogordo, NM Real Estate & More

Step 3 of 9 : Finding a Lender in Alamogordo, NM

michele — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:36:41 +0000

You are moving right along to being a home owner, finding a lender is just as important as the search for an Associate Broker / REALTOR®. You want a lender that you are comfortable with, as they are going to learn all about your financial business. It is always a good idea to ask family and friends for recommendations; as well as checking with who you currently bank with. I recommend working with a local lender. Some of the reasons why I recommend our local lenders are:

they are familiar with our local and state rules and regulations
they are easily accessible
often times they have fewer fees and are more competitive
you can meet with them face-to-face
you create a relationship with them
they can usually expedite the lending process
they are familiar with our local fees
they have knowledge our our current market conditions

Once you choose a lender, you need to get pre-qualifed. By being pre-qualified you are able to search for homes that are known to be within your price range; and a pre-qual letter can make a written offer stronger.

Here is a list of a few of local lenders:

First National Bank

Theresa Murray

575.443.5273

theresa.murray@fnb4u.com

www.fnbmortgageloans.com

Bank’ 34

Lee Ann Bain

575.443.2522

leeann.b@bank34online.com

Pioneer Bank

Debra VanWinkle

575.437.9075

dvwinkle@pioneerbnk.com

Otero Credit Federal Credit Union
Norma Esquero

Gabriel Bigas

575.434.8500

nesquero@oterofcu.org

BBVA Compass Bank
Lisa Howard
575.434.8711

lisa.howard@BBVAcompass.com

First Savings

Linda Rardin
575.437.0095

lindarardin@firstsavingsbanks.com

First American

Reney Marrujo

575.439.9800

marrujo@firstamb.com

While we have a great working relationship with these lenders, they are not affiliated with Affinity Real Estate, LLC or it’s agents. Selection of any lender from this list or elsewhere is at the discretion of the customer. Additional companies may be found in the local telephone directory and/or from the references of other customers/resources.

Coming Soon . . .

Step 4 of 9 : Knowing Your Needs and Wants

Step 2 of 9 : Finding a REALTOR® in Alamogordo, NM

michele — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:56:44 +0000

Now that you’ve made the commitment to buy a home in Alamogordo, NM, now you need to find a REALTOR®. Please note NOT all brokers are REALTORS®, but all REALTORS® are brokers. A REALTOR® designation is very important; it means the broker belongs to an organization that adheres to a strict code of ethics.

I recommend that you first ask your family and friends if they have an Associate Broker / REALTOR® that they would recommend to you and why. I then suggest you do some research online and see what you can find out about the recommended Associate Broker / REALTOR®. If your family and friends have no recommendations for you then it is in your best interest to do a few google searches online. Some of the things I recommend looking for in an Associate Broker / REALTOR® is:

someone who is consistent with their online presence and updates
presents a professional image
who is easily accessible
who talks less about themselves and more about how they can help you
has a website that is easily navigated and provides an abundance of information with out tie ins
is active in the community

you may need to search a little further than the first part of google to find a broker who meets your criteria – some of the top spots are paid for

In this day and age of technology look for an Associate Broker / REALTOR® who is up to speed in their profession. A real estate professional who uses technology as part of their everyday business can be a real time saver. They can send you information electronically and allow you to sign documents electronically both of which saves time and energy.Besides finding an Associate Broker / REALTOR® who is tech savvy, you need someone who puts your needs first; and most importantly someone who you feel comfortable working with. You will be creating a long term relationship with your Associate Broker / REALTOR® so choose wisely.

Step 3 of 9 : Finding a Lender in Alamogordo, NM

Step 1 of 9: BUYING a Home in Alamogordo, NM

michele — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:50:27 +0000

Have you dreamed of owning your own home, but just not sure where to start? My recommendation is that you commit to buying a home. You need to be prepared as well as committed to buying a home. You need to understand why you want to buy a home, because buying a home is a long term commitment and not something that can be returned once the sale is final.There are many benefits to owning a home:

pride of ownership
creating your wealth by investing in your future
a fixed house payment
a tax deduction (see your accountant or tax professional for details)
improve your credit
You can make home improvements to increase your home’s value
You can decorate to your personal taste
If something needs repairs, you can have it repaired to your standards
Repairs can be done your timeline, not a landlord’s

Buying a home is always a good investment, but it is important to buy a home that meets your needs and stays within in your means. Once you have committed to buying a home, you then need a REALTOR® who can guide you through the home buying process.

Step 2 of 9 : Finding a REALTOR® in Alamogordo, NM

Live Here

michele — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:58:21 +0000

890 Sierra Verde Alamogordo NM, 88310
MLS# 144800

Exterior Features:

Stucco Exterior
2 Car Attached Garage
Desert Front Landscaping
Grass & Desert Rear Landscaping
Rear Sprinkler System
Storm Door on Front Door

Interior Features:

Ceiling Fans
Stainless Steel Appliances
Water Softener
RO System
Alarm System

Appliances:

Refrigerator
Gas Range/Oven
Dishwasher
Microwave

Heating & Cooling:

Gas Forced Air Heating
Refrigerated Central Cooling

Alamogordo Public School District:

Yucca Elementary
Mountian View Middle School
Alamogordo High School

This information is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed

Day 113 . . . Carson & Barnes Circus

michele — Mon, 07 May 2012 02:09:36 +0000

The “World’s Biggest Big-Top Show” was here today at the Alamogordo Balloon Park on Lavelle Road. There were two shows 1:30 and 4:30 for the Carson & Barnes Circus. Thanks to 94Key I was able to to take my family to the 4:30pm show.

It has been years since I have been to the circus and this was my Derian’s (my grandson’s) first time to the circus. He loved it and I believe all the other children I saw there had a great time too. There was lots of laughter, cheers and applause; and lots of sticky faces! Everyone was enjoying the cotton candy, funnel cakes, lemonades, snowcones, nachos, popcorn, etc.

The circus was complete with elephants, horses, dogs, camels, llamas, and great performances! Derian’s favorite was Alex the clown on the trampoline and it was mine too! The trapeze artists always amaze me with their swinging stunts! The elephants are such incredible animals with their sheer size. They even introduced us to the newest addition to the circus – a five week old horse.

If you did not get a chance to make to to the circus today, I do recommend that you try to the next time they are in town.

Vinegar . . .

michele — Sat, 05 May 2012 02:28:20 +0000

Vinegar is a liquid that is a combination of acetic acid and water. Vinegar is commonly used in the kitchen and has become quite a popular product that has many uses around the home. I use white vinegar for many things, because it is considered to be environmental friendly.

Here are a few of my favorite uses of vinegar:

mop my floors with
use to clean windows
in the rinse cycle of the laundry
to sour milk (for recipes that require sour milk)
cooking hardboiled eggs
cooking poached eggs
cleans the coffee pot
weed killer

Here are a few websites that have many ways you can use vinegar: The Vinegar Institute & 1001 Uses for White distilled Vinegar . Please share some of your favorite uses vinegar?

Naked . . .

michele — Wed, 02 May 2012 16:51:03 +0000

Lot 2 – Lerner Subdivision Alamogordo, NM 88310
MLS# 144289

Lots of possibilities for this land located near the Balloon Ascension Park and Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility. Seller is willing to subdivide and sell either 20 or 30 of the total 40 acres. Seller will look at all reasonable offers. More information & aerial photos to follow soon.

Directions:

From Lavelle Road just South of the Balloon Ascension park is a dirt path adjacent to the concrete drainage path. The property is all the way at the end of the dirt path to the North West (corners will be marked)

This information is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed

Clean it up . . .

michele — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:54:52 +0000

Do you want to buy a home, but you have been told that because of your current credit score you do not qualify? Yet, no one explained to you what you need to do to improve your credit score. Or maybe you know your credit is not the best and you want to improve it so you can purchase a home in the future.

Lenders can help you by giving you some advice on what you need to do to clean up your credit or you can hire someone who works with you on improving your credit score. Bob Harrington at Credit Repair New Mexico may be able to help you. Bob recently visited with us here at Affinity Real Estate; he explained to us how he works with clients to help them improve their credit scores and/or possibly clear up any issues that may need to be resolved.

If you are ready to take control of your credit, I recommend that you give Bob a call and see what he can do for you.

Credit Repair of New Mexico
Bob Harrington
575.621.2286
bharringtonlc@gmail.com

Not Your Traditional Real Estate Professional . . .

michele — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:36:34 +0000

I am not your traditional real estate professional and that is just one of many reasons why I chose to hang my license at Affinity Real Estate in October 2007. Affinity provides me with a positive work environment that contributes to my success.

To me a traditional real estate professional is one who is does things they way they have always done them. You know, they take a listing, put it in the MLS, a sign in the yard with flyers, a print ad or two, maybe an open house, and then they what for the buyer to come along . . . In today’s market and with tech savvy buyers and sellers, real estate professionals need to do more than the traditional marketing.

Some of things that I do that make me a non-traditional real estate professional are:

working at Affinity Real Estate, which is a non-traditional real estate office
Tech Savvy – technology is my friend, I use it for marketing, staying in touch with clients and other real estate professionals; allows me to work from any location
Social Media – is used to keep current real estate information in front of clients, potential clients, friends, family, and the community
Marketing Plan – that I follow in order to make sure your home gets the most exposure
Professional Photographer – is used to take photos of all my listings

I am always thinking outside the box, looking for new ideas. I am open to suggestions (within reason and the law)! It is my goal to be the one you think of for all your real estate needs in Alamogordo.

How does your garden grow?

michele — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 23:41:20 +0000

We moved to Alamogordo, NM just over six years ago; and when we told people we wanted to have a garden in our yard, every said good luck. But what they really thought was that we were crazy, because most of them did not believe we could have much of a garden. Well, I am here to tell you that YES you can grow a garden here in Alamogordo!

This will be our seventh season of gardening and we ( I should say my husband) has an amazing garden! Our back yard is a has a veggie garden, a herb garden, a flower garden, and as of today a baby turtle garden. Now to get a fire pit and fruit tree.

Currently we have garlic, onion, spinach. mixed lettuces, radishes, carrots, ten different types of tomatoes, big jim peppers, jalapeño peppers, poblano peppers, cayenne peppers, zucchini, eggplant, melons, squash, lemon cucumbers, and pinto beans in our veggie garden. Our herb garden has strawberries, rosemary, mint, sage, thyme, oregano, parsley, cilantro, chives, sorrel, and basil. The flower garden has an olive tree and a variety xeric flower plants.

The newest addition to the garden is the turtle garden that we did today. We have three baby box turtles that needed a safe haven outside. They needed to be protected from our dogs or us from stepping on them. We also wanted them in a contained place so we can keep track of them, unit they are big enough to roam free with the older box turtles.

Why do we garden? There are several reasons why: fresh produce organically grown, it helps the environment, great exercise, a great feeling of accomplishment, and it makes our back yard a beautiful place to be. So, how does your garden grow?