Shabanese Nixon, Realtor

I keep seeing Realtors and lenders say, “Rates have been much higher before.”

And yes, historically, that is true.

But I think we have to be careful with how we use that statement when we’re talking to today’s buyers.

The world around that interest rate looks very different now.

Home prices are different. Property taxes are different. Insurance costs are different. Groceries, childcare, utilities, car payments and just the general cost of living are different.

So telling someone, “People bought houses when rates were 10%, 12% or even higher,” doesn’t necessarily make a 6% or 7% rate affordable for the family sitting in front of us today.

And I also think we need to stop casually saying, “Date the rate. You can always refinance later.”

Refinancing costs money.

Buying down a rate costs money.

Closing costs money.

And there is no guarantee that rates will drop enough, or at the right time, for refinancing to make financial sense for every homeowner.

That doesn’t mean buying a home right now is a bad decision. For some people, the numbers make sense and there are opportunities in this market. For others, waiting, improving their financial position or changing the price point may make more sense.

That’s where I think our responsibility as real estate professionals comes in.

We can acknowledge historical context without minimizing what buyers are experiencing today.

People don’t need us to convince them that something is affordable because rates used to be higher.

They need us to educate them on what the numbers mean for THEIR household, what options they actually have and whether the decision makes sense for them.

That’s the kind of real estate professional I want to be.

This one makes me smile because it’s bigger than just getting a property leased.

My clients closed on their first investment property, and within a month of closing, their tenant is moving in.

I helped them purchase the property, then turned around and marketed it for lease, secured a tenant, and helped them navigate becoming first-time landlords.

Now their first investment is officially doing what they bought it to do.

I love being able to stay alongside my clients beyond the closing table. The purchase was just the beginning. Now they’re officially starting their journey as real estate investors, and I’m excited to see what they build from here.

Congratulations to my clients! Thank you for trusting me to guide you through the purchase and into this next chapter of real estate investing.

Thinking about investing in real estate but don’t know where to start? Let’s have a conversation.

🍊🧡 Orange you glad you called Shabanese? I know my clients certainly are.

Your Next Chapter, Made Exceptional.

Shabanese Nixon, REALTOR®
Blair Realty Group
📲 352-586-5179
📧 [email protected]
Instagram + YouTube:
Facebook: Shabanese Nixon, Realtor

WE ARE UNDER CONTRACT TONIGHT! 😤

My client was ready to be done with this property and wanted a quick, clean path to closing.

We signed the listing agreement Friday, and tonight we are officially UNDER CONTRACT.

We never even made it to the market.

This is what strategy and real boots on the ground work looks like in this market. Sometimes the best plan isn’t putting a sign in the yard and waiting to see what happens. It’s understanding what your client actually needs, knowing who to call, working your network and creating the opportunity.

Every seller’s situation is different, so the strategy should be too. My job is to listen to what matters to you and build the plan around that.

Thinking about selling?

Before you put your home on the market, let’s talk strategy. Whether your priority is selling quickly, maximizing your return, avoiding unnecessary headaches, or all three, I’ll help you understand your options and create a plan around your goals.

📲 DM me “SELL” to start the conversation.

🍊🧡 Orange you glad you called Shabanese? I know my clients certainly are.

Your Next Chapter, Made Exceptional

Shabanese Nixon, REALTOR®
Blair Realty Group
📞 352-586-5179
📧 [email protected]
Instagram:
TikTok:
YouTube:
Facebook: Shabanese Nixon, Realtor

A little recap of what this week looked like in real estate.

Two new listing agreements signed. Two buyer consultations. A conversation with a townhome seller with our walkthrough scheduled for next week. A new lead reached out about leasing their property, and I’m actively working with two renters looking for their next home.

I share this because sometimes the conversation around real estate can make it seem like nobody is doing anything right now, and that just isn’t what I’m seeing.

People are still making moves. They just don’t all look the same.

Some are ready now. Some are planning ahead. Some need to sell before they can buy. Some are trying to decide if renting or buying makes more sense. Others just need to sit down with someone and understand their options.

That’s where I come in.

You don’t need to have everything figured out before you reach out to me. We can talk through where you are, where you’re trying to go, and build a strategy that makes sense for you.

🍊🧡 Orange you glad you called Shabanese?

Your Next Chapter, Made Exceptional.

Shabanese Nixon, Realtor
Blair Realty Group
352-586-5179
[email protected]
Instagram | TikTok | YouTube:
Facebook: Shabanese Nixon, Realtor

So Harris County just raised the property tax rate, and I know the first thing homeowners are thinking is, “Okay, what does that actually mean for me?”

Depending on the value of your home, it could mean a higher property tax bill. And if your taxes are escrowed into your mortgage payment, you may eventually see that show up in your monthly payment too.

Can you stop the county from raising the tax rate? No. But there are some things you can do to make sure you’re not paying more than you should.

Check your homestead exemption. Seriously. Make sure it’s actually there.

And when those appraisal notices come out, don’t just toss that letter on the counter and forget about it. Look at what they’re saying your home is worth. If that number doesn’t make sense compared to what homes are actually selling for around you, you have the right to protest it.

Also, make sure you’re taking advantage of any other exemptions you qualify for.

Because buying the house is only part of homeownership. You also need to understand what happens after you get those keys, especially when it comes to your taxes, insurance, and escrow.

So yes, property taxes may be going up, but that doesn’t mean you just accept whatever bill comes in the mail without looking at it.

Know your numbers. Check your exemptions. Pay attention to your appraisal.

If you need help figuring out where to start, ask me. This is part of what I mean when I say education first.

- Your neighborhood Realtor