Practical Early-Year Home Buying Tips

Buying your first home is a big deal, full of excitement and many decisions. In Prosper, Texas, where the neighborhoods are so charming and the community is so alive, buying a home can be especially fun.

2025 is the perfect time to dive into new opportunities, especially if buying a home is on your to-do list. Early in the year, you can enjoy benefits like less competition, motivated sellers, and better pricing. These advantages make the process smoother and more rewarding. Read on to discover how starting your home search early can give you a winning edge.

Selling a luxury home in Frisco, Texas is a whole different ball game than selling a regular home. The luxury market has its own set of challenges and opportunities and understanding those is key to a successful sale. Here’s expert advice on how to navigate the complexities of selling your luxury home in Frisco. Conduct A Market Analysis Start the house-selling process with a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to determine the value of your home. This means comparing your home to other luxury homes that have recently sold in the area. Look at square footage, location, unique features and recent renovations to get more of an idea of how much you should sell your luxury home. You will also want to determine how long luxury homes take to sell in Frisco, as this will help you set realistic expectations. Pricing for the Luxury Market Pricing your luxury home correctly is key. Overpricing will scare off buyers and underpricing will leave value on the table. Use the data from your market analysis to set a competitive price. Besides that, you should be willing to negotiate with serious buyers. A flexible approach will get you to the closing table faster, especially in a fast-paced market like Frisco, Texas. Know your bottom line and be prepared to make some concessions if needed. Remember, be objective and don’t let personal attachment influence your pricing strategy or negotiation process. Staging Luxury Homes Staging is key to selling a luxury home. It’s more than just decluttering and cleaning; it’s about creating an aspirational lifestyle that buyers can see themselves living in. As such, consider hiring a professional staging company that specializes in luxury properties. Professional stagers can highlight the architectural details of your home and use high end furniture to create a beautiful look. Besides that, they can also show off unique features, such as wine cellars, gourmet kitchens, or home theaters. All this will increase the perceived value of your home. Marketing for Maximum Exposure Marketing is key to getting your luxury home in front of the right people. Here are some ways to make your property stand out: High quality images and videos are a must to show off the grandeur of a luxury home. Consider hiring a professional photographer and videographer who specializes in luxury real estate. Aerial drone footage will give you stunning views of the property and surrounding area. Use both online and offline marketing. Online marketing refers to using luxury real estate websites, social media and targeted digital ads to reach buyers. Offline marketing is more focused on hosting exclusive open houses and networking with local luxury agents to get more exposure. When listing your luxury home online, write detailed property descriptions that showcase your home’s unique features and benefits. Use words to paint a picture of the lifestyle that comes with living in your luxury home. Selling a luxury home in Frisco, Texas takes strategy and knowledge. By understanding the market, staging and pricing your home and using all the marketing tools, you’ll get the right buyers and a successful sale. If you’re thinking of selling your luxury home, partner with an experienced real estate team like Cindy Coggins Realty Group and they’ll guide you through the process. They know the Frisco luxury market and will show your home in its best light to get you the most out of the market.

A freeze is coming. What now?

The cost of home renovation projects can reach almost hundreds of thousands. According to Forbes , complex projects can reach $62,000, even for smaller homes. Given these numbers, it's smart to be strategic about your spending to get the best return. That said, boosting your property's value doesn't have to break the bank. Small, affordable upgrades can make a noticeable impact. If you're looking to sell or rent out your property, we can walk you through simple, budget-friendly improvements that will increase its appeal without emptying your wallet. Ditch The Mess And Clutter The first step we recommend is decluttering. It’s simple and practically free. A tidy, organized space makes your home feel larger and more inviting. Moreover, small, low-cost projects like this often offer an impressive return on investment. This is no surprise, as buyers are usually after more square footage. Start by tackling one room at a time, focusing on high-traffic areas like the living room, kitchen, bathroom, and bedrooms. Sort through your belongings, then donate or sell anything you don’t need. Make sure you don’t miss your closets and cabinets. Buyers often peek inside, so keeping them organized is a plus. Aside from that, you might want to bring in some affordable organization solutions to your home. These could include: Buying cheap storage bins or baskets to help keep more items out of sight. Placing closet organizers, such as hanging shelves or shoe racks, to make them more functional. Adding hooks, shoe racks, or a storage bench to your entryway. Installing more shelving to organize your spaces without using up more floor space. Refresh Your Curb Appeal When a potential buyer or their agent checks out your home, the first thing they notice is the exterior. The front yard, entryway, and overall appearance set the tone for what’s inside. If the outside looks neglected, it signals that the inside might need work, too. A worn-out exterior can quickly turn people away before they even step through the door, making them miss out on your home's full potential. Taking care of these issues doesn’t have to be expensive, and many tasks you can tackle yourself. In fact, an easy way to increase your curbside charm is by simply tidying up your exterior. This can include mowing the lawn, trimming bushes, pulling weeds, or even placing some potted plants. A report from the National Association of Realtors shows that simple lawn care and basic landscaping can offer big returns. Standard lawn care can recover up to 217% of the cost, while general landscape maintenance can recover 104%. This means you’re not only improving your home's appeal but also potentially getting back more than what you spend when you sell. Besides freshening up your garden, you can also consider the following: Repainting your front door, shutters, or fences Cleaning your driveway and walkway Adding solar-powered garden lights Make Purposeful Interior Upgrades You might think that interior refurbishments are costly, but there’s no need to overhaul everything. You can focus on key areas to get the best bang for your buck. Plus, these upgrades can improve your quality of life while you wait for your house to sell. Most homeowners consider the kitchen the heart of a home and small kitchen upgrades can significantly up your property’s value. Simple modifications can create a fresh, modern feel, attracting more buyers. Consider the following: Repainting or refacing your cabinets Giving your walls a fresh coat of paint Replacing outdated cabinet hardware Installing sleek faucets Installing a new backsplash If you have the budget for it, you can also add new countertops or more functional elements like a pull-out pantry or a kitchen island. Another area you can work on is the bathroom. Simply swapping out fixtures, such as the faucets and showerheads, can modernize the space. Additionally, you can upgrade your mirrors and vanity, as well as regrout or refinish your tiles. Most prospective buyers pay close attention to these two areas as they are often high-traffic zones and can reflect how well you maintain your home. Stage Your Home The above strategies all culminate in home staging. A well-staged home transforms your property into a dream home that people would actually want to buy. This goes beyond aesthetics and is a wise investment with significant gains. According to the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) , on average, sellers spend about 1% of their home’s price on staging, and 75% of them see a return of 5% to 15% over the asking price. Aside from increasing your sale price, it also speeds up the process. A survey from the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP) shows that staged homes can have up to a 20% higher selling price and can sell three to 30 times faster than non-staged ones. On the flip side, unstaged homes end up with price cuts that are five to twenty times higher than what staging would have cost. You might be wondering, “How do you stage your home on a budget?” The key is to focus on high-impact areas. These include your bedroom, kitchen, and living room. Then, follow these tips: Clear out unnecessary items, personal photos, and anything too specific to your style. Rearrange existing furniture instead of buying new ones. Open blinds, pull back curtains and clean your windows to let natural light in. Use simple, affordable décor like throw pillows or fresh flowers. Conclusion Property renovations can be a big undertaking, especially when figuring out what will actually increase its value. While not every revamp guarantees a return, the simple tips we listed above can already level up your property’s worth and grab buyers’ interest. Partnering with a professional real estate agent can help you maximize your property’s potential even further. At Cindy Coggins Realty Group, we help you spot important upgrades and repairs, give staging tips, and use our local market expertise to make your home stand out. Reach out today to schedule a consultation and make selling your home easier.