About John Alaniva

If you're looking for experience and knowledge, John Alaniva is the real estate agent for you. Why list all the accolades when we can state it that simply? John enjoys taking a tongue-in-cheek approach to blogging on our site, comparing seemingly non-related items to prove a point in a humorous way. Call him and find out what he can do for you - (210) 912-6709 or email him at alaniva@satx.rr.com.

Halloween vs. the REALTOR® Costume

October 28, 2013 by John Alaniva Leave a Comment

Is that a REALTOR® mask?

Halloween is upon us, time to grab your costume and head out in search of tricks and treats. In today’s post, John Alaniva, takes a humorous look at REALTORS® and what he likes to call the REALTOR® costume. While there are mant great agents that will work hard for you, there are still those out there that merely wear the mask. Can you spot the difference? It’s not always easy, but if you know what to look for, you too can spot the REALTOR® costume, even when it’s not Halloween.

Halloween: Second biggest holiday of the year where kids get candy and grown-ups can dress up and be weird.

REALTOR® Costume: Be very careful…most REALTORS® are very good, but beware of a knock on the door. The person standing there has a laptop, an amazing website, a shiny nametag, and lots of (unproven) awards. This is the scariest costume yet!

Halloween: Trick or Treat! Give kids candy for walking down the street and ringing your doorbell!

REALTOR® Costume: Beware, the REALTOR® in costume could turn your home into an overpriced haunted house! No experience, no production, and no actual marketing plan: means you get no candy, and more importantly, no closing!

Halloween: Simple goal: get lots of treats without many tricks.

REALTOR® Costume: Tries to get your business with lots of tricks and not much of a sweet, proven marketing plan.

Halloween: Little, young, and innocent trick-or-treaters are so cute, we even throw in more candy because of it!

REALTOR® Costume: They may be cute, but not with your family’s largest investment at stake!

When searching for a great partner in real estate, look past the costume and into your agent’s bag of experience, proven track record, referrals, and work ethic. Call a Kimberly Howell Properties REALTOR® and we will “scare” up a qualified buyer for your home faster than you can say “BOO!”

image courtesy of dan taylor

Credit Cards vs. New Home Builders

October 15, 2013 by John Alaniva Leave a Comment

Customer Service and New Home Builders

Times have changed since the old caveat emptor (“buyer beware”) days of real estate, but there are still situations out there that buyers must be aware of. One of the most difficult to navigate can be working with new home builders. We discuss it often, but it’s always worth reiterating – the sales reps work for the builder, not you. While they are always friendly and can be super helpful, the simple fact is that they are paid by the builder and have sales goals, benchmarks, and quotas to answer to – this is why you should always hire a REALTOR® when building or buying a new home. Hiring an agent will help alleviate the frustrations and headaches that may come with building a new home. Customer service can be amazing, but it can also be the thing that most makes you want to scream…

Credit Card Company
Press #1 if calling about your credit card.
Press #2 if you want to waste the next 25 minutes hearing about our new promotions.
Press #3 if you want English, Spanish, or Romanian.
Press #4 if you actually want to talk to someone in the U.S.
Press #5 if calling from a rotary phone…
or to start over.

New Home Builder
Welcome, we pride ourselves in no high pressure…
Did you bring your checkbook?
You don’t have a REALTOR®…do you? (Don’t worry, you don’t need one.)
Homes can be built in 3 to 18 months. (Your guess is as good as mine.)
We are a semi-custom builder, which means you can make many changes, but we will probably only do 5% of them.

Credit Card Company
Press #4 if you are still on the line.
Press #7 if you are using half of your
monthly prepaid minutes while you wait.
Press #9 if you are hearing impaired.
Press #3 if you need a bathroom break.
Press #5 if you need a Xanax.

New Home Builder
If you sign a contract today, we will give you $50,000 in upgrades. (We only paid $5,000 for them.)
I know the model home has a lot of nice items, but at your contract price you get vinyl, formica, a 4′ basket weave fence, and we’ll throw in some more vinyl.

Credit Card Company
Are you still there? Wow, what great endurance! What is your Social Security #, you’ve been on line so long we forgot who you are, but thank you for being so patient.
Press #13 for a special offer if your a Platinum Club member.

New Home Builder
We have a great lot for you. with a large oak tree for only $25,000. Imagine your kids’ treehouse out there. (If the HOA allows one, if construction doesn’t kill it, and if it isn’t in the foundation’s path.)
But not too worry, our mortgage company will get you a loan at a half point higher than others and our title company is a bit average, but you get a gift basket at closing and keys to your new home. (If the construction guys can find them.)

Credit Card Company
We’re sorry, call back tomorrow, our business hours are 8AM to 6PM local Philippine time. We’ll be happy to frustrate you seven days a week. Have a wonderful day!

New Home Builder
Just give me a $5,000 non-refundable deposit, $20,000 deposit for your upgrades, and an additional $10,000 because our name is on the home we are building for you! Everything will be fine!

Sound funny, maybe a little too familiar? Sure, we’re being a little sarcastic, but you get the picture. While we can’t help you navigate your way through the hold menu of your credit card company, we can help you navigate your way through your new home builders’ process. Use a REALTOR® that works for you and who will lead you through the new home process, not the sales rep who works for the builder. A real estate professional will be with you through the entire process; from contract to loan process to upgrade and color selections through the entire construction process, walk-throughs, and closing (and beyond!).

image courtesy of barsen

Tapioca Pudding or a 15 Year Mortgage? Which is better for you?

October 13, 2013 by John Alaniva Leave a Comment

Is a 15 Year Mortgage the Right Choice?

So, right off the bat you must be thinking – what on earth can 15 year mortgages and tapioca pudding possibly have in common? And you’re right – at first glance there isn’t much, but as you dig deeper the similarities will surprise you.

Tapioca pudding is a sweet pudding desert thickened by man-made tapioca pearls. Tapioca does not occur naturally, but must be processed from cassava root. Most recognizable are the tapioca pearls that are a staple in both tapioca pudding and in the increasingly popular Bubble Tea. Tapioca has been around for quite some time and was quite popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly because the starchy tapioca pearls were an easy thickening agent and partly because they were easy to digest. Often, they were prescribed to the very young or old and infirm with digestive problems. Tapoica pudding saw a rise in popularity in the US in the 1960s through the 1980s and then fell off the culinary bandwagon for a while. However, we are seeing a recent resurgence in its popularity in modern times again.

The 15 year mortgage also has a history of rising and falling popularity with a slight increase in interest in the current market. By far, the most common term of a residential mortgage is 30 years. Interestingly, most people stay in their homes for fewer than 10 years (3-5), so for some, 30 years seems daunting. The prospect of not being able to fully pay off a mortgage may be difficult for some to digest (see what I did there?), so the concept of a shorter term mortgage was invented. Generally the qualifications for this type of loan are stricter (higher credit scores and tighter debt to income ratios) and that’s because payments are higher (you’re paying twice as fast) and lenders earn less on interest because of the faster payoff. Lately, we’ve been seeing these type of loans taken out by investors, on second home purchases, and on later in life home purchases.

But the 15 year payments may not be palatable by just anyone. Your finances may support paying more now, but if you’re uncertain about your job or reluctant to over commit “just in case,” a 15 year mortgage may not be the right avenue for you. Consider making additional payments on your 30 year mortgage instead (just make sure they are applied to principal only). Doing one additional full payment per year could decrease your actual mortgage payoff time from 30 years to as little as 20 or more!

Much like there is a time and a place for tapioca pudding, 15 year mortgages might not be the perfect fit for everyone’s financial situation, but in both cases, variety is the spice of life and simply knowing more about the many unique and unconventional options available to you may just help satisfy you completely. Need someone to help you find the right recipe for a successful real estate transaction? Let John Alaniva show you the proof in his pudding.

image courtesy of Presagio

Online Dating vs. Home Inspections

October 9, 2013 by John Alaniva Leave a Comment

Do your research and get a home inspection.

It may seem like online dating and home buying are about as different as apples and the International Space Station, but in reality they have a lot in common. No matter which one you’re thinking of pursuing, it’s important to take a look at the object of your affection, whether human or made or brick and stone. Both have their pitfalls, but if you do your research – googling the person you’re dating and asking questions or getting a home inspection and asking questions – the outcome can keep you happy for years to come.

Home: Are there foundation issues?
Date: Does he even have a job?

Home: Do the pictures look too good to be true on Trulia or Zillow?
Date: Did she airbrush her photos?

Home: Is the roof in good shape?
Date: Is he losing his hair?

Home: Are the appliances in good repair?
Date: Is she a good cook?

Home: Are there termites?
Date: Is the ex a pest?

Home: Have the A/C and heating systems been serviced?
Date: How long before she heats up?

Home: Has preventive maintenance been done?
Date: Do they have any kids?

Home: Does the home need painting?
Date: How does she look without make-up?

Home: What is the interest rate?
Date: Can I really afford all these fancy dinners and gifts?

Home: This community seems like good investment.
Date: Do all fifty members of her family live in San Antonio?

Sure, it’s a little tongue-in-cheek, but it’s not all that different. The answer? Doing your research – in the case of buying a house, this means having a home inspection and asking questions. Know the house you’re about to fall in love with before you find out it’s too late.

“We can’t promise you a great date…but we can promise you a great home!“

image courtesy of Kinchan1