FUN ACTIVITIES FOR YOU AND THE WHOLE FAMILY

If you have never been to Clovis, New Mexico, then you are in for a treat. There are things to do for all ages, single travelers and the whole family.

Residents may have already visited some of these gems lots of times and some may be surprised to learn about them.

For the fans of rock n’ roll history and music, Norman Petty Studios is the place to stop by. It will give you a look into the old ways of recording and producing music, as well as seeing how things compare to the present.

If you like art, then stop at the Blackwater Draw Museum. Amazing extinct creates seem to come to life in this great desert museum.

Animal lovers and those wanting a chance to see some of the exotic, should stop by Hillcrest Park Zoo. The kids will be entertained and there are enough animals to keep the whole family entertained.

And if you are looking to relax and just want a good old time, it’s hard to beat bowling. Stop by Mainline bowl and see how many turkeys you can throw.

Whether you are buying or selling a home, the process has several steps. But those steps don’t have to result in a headache, leave you in the middle of a bad deal or make you settle on a home you didn’t really want.

It all starts with listing your home. Real estate agents can be helpful, but understand, if you are selling, you will have to pay a commission. A lot of people in New Mexico want to streamline the process and/or keep all of their earned equity for themselves.

If you are having trouble selling your home through a real estate agent or by self-listing online, then consider getting cash for your home. Combs’ Properties pays cash for homes in Portales and Clovis.

Usually, money can be given directly to you within 24 hours, so if you want your home sold right away, consider Combs’.

Do you have investment properties around town and want to get out of that business? Maybe you are moving, what another property or maybe being a landlord just isn’t for you? Combs’ will buy your rental property as well. Single-family homes, duplexes and fixer-uppers—all can be purchased by Combs’.

Another thing to consider is getting the real and fair value for your home. Combs’ can give you a realistic quote that isn’t steered by taxes or commission incentives. Just call 800-898-3043 for your free estimate today.

For renters that are looking to upgrade their surroundings and situation while still maintaining the lifestyle within their budget, Fox Trail Estates is the ideal choice.

There are many reasons why renting continues to be a growing trend. With the market still not yet stabilized, many people are waiting for it to turn around before they make the huge investment. Others are in a state of flux with their employment and career paths and don’t want to get tied into a mortgage right away.

Renting, however, may have a bad connotation for some. They envision apartments that haven’t been kept up-to-date, shady landlords and a lack of a neighborhood feel. There is a better option and it starts with recently-constructed luxury homes that are available to rent.

Fox Trail Estates was created for ideal family and comfortable living. The houses for rent are secluded yet close to commerce and shopping. Construction of the community ended in 2010 and the townhouse subdivision consists of 56 marvelous units. Both the hospital and Eastern New Mexico University are close to Fox Trail.

Depending on your need, Fox Trail has spacious and luxurious two or three bedroom townhouses that are equipped with extras. Enjoy you own private backyard with fencing and you own Jacuzzi tub.

Learn more about living in Fox Trail Estates at: https://combs-properties.com/foxtrail-estates-news/

If you’re going to rent, rent in style and enjoy energy efficiency, a fireplace, oak cabinetry, coffered ceilings, an elegant great room, a nice patio and so much more at Fox Trails Estate.

It doesn’t matter the reason you are in town, either way the fact remains, you need a place to stay. Due to a lack of better options, business professionals, students and travelers have traditionally used hotels as their home away from home. Now, however, where you rest when you are away can be an actual house.

When looking at a comparison between corporate housing and staying at a hotel, the first thing people want to know about is price. At only $75 per night, the monthly rate for a hotel is $2,250 (not including tax). Corporate housing from Combs’ Properties has an average monthly price of $1,600.

Life is also a lot easier with corporate housing as it is easier to live in a real home setting. The houses offered by Combs’ have full kitchens built in, so if your working late nights or odd hours, you don’t have to worry about finding an open restaurant. You will also save on expenses with the difference between eating out and cooking from your own kitchen being nearly $800 a month.

Corporate housing from Combs’ also means easy laundry access. Save an extra $300 while having fresh and clean clothes when you need them. Local and long distance calls are also free with Combs’ corporate housing.

Another benefit of corporate housing is having the ability to live close to where you need to be. A hotel is in one spot—the homes from Combs’ are throughout Portales so you have easy access to Eastern New Mexico University, Cannon Air Force Base and all the shopping and business areas around town.

Have all the amenities of a hotel with the privacy and security of a home with Combs’ corporate housing.

Afraid you will not be able to sell your Portales home because it is haunted? Check out our tips on how to effective sell your Portales home.

Selling a haunted house is a difficult proposition when the ghosts are particularly noisy or violent; many home buyers avoid ghostly atmospheres and prefer the dull life of home or bungalow uninhabited by any kind of spirit. Therefore, fixing up your Haunted-house to sell may involve various preparations to reduce the impact of ghosts, spirits, otherworldly emanations and other supernatural phenomena. Get ready to close that portal or dimension that hides in the closet, switch out the bleeding walls and crazy bathrooms and give the kids back the gravity in their room!

Exorcism is one method of ridding yourself of a supernatural presence in your home, go to your local movie rental machine or online and you will find plenty of DIY Exorcisms with varying success stories. But all agree it is highly recommended that you acquire the help of a “professional” in the exorcism field.

With today’s diversity in religious belief systems a priest from a Christian background may be extremely offensive to a Muslim ghost or vice versa. More importantly, it may not work if the religion doesn’t translate. In the case of an atheist ghost, you may need a copy of Darwin’s “The Origin of Species.”

Don’t give up if exorcism does not work or is not an option, there are other routes for a home seller with an inconvenient spirit. Many spirits are open to communication, but steps may have to be made to accommodate them. Rapping on the walls, table or doors may be the only mode of communication a spirit has and it is imperative to take all necessary steps to aid in their quest.

Try a Séance: Attempt to impress upon the ghost the importance of not creating an uncomfortable atmosphere until the sale is concluded. No more rattling pipes, banging on walls or swarming flies, mention the fact that if the house is not sold quickly, it won’t have access to the easily possessed or precocious children who may move in. Ensure through your contact with the displaced entity that it knows that “pre-approved” does not mean sold and that it is wise to refrain from frightening new owners until it is certain that the house is transferred fully into their possession.

Compromise with the Ghost: Since the entity won’t leave, find people who want to stay in a haunted house for any period of time, all you have to do is put up a website and offer overnight or extended visits at their own risks. There are houses all over the place that lay claim to some sort of haunting, and that means you can usually find someone who may want to go for your vacation. You may even be surprised to find that your haunted house becomes a very lucrative way to take advantage of that pesky ghost once and for all. You can talk with a travel agent for visitors, but you may have the best luck posting online on your. Best end result is you make some money, while annoying the ghosts who may eventually leave.

If the spirit is resistant to all forms of communication and/or exorcism, extreme steps must be taken. If the house is exceptionally well-appointed and in a smallish community with low crime there will usually be no problem finding a couple from the big city seeking a nice house in the suburbs or a bedroom community for their children and dog who have never heard about your haunting from the neighborhood kids. The best thing to do if you do not want to deal with having to sell a haunted house is to check out our Portales homes for sale.

In New Mexico, Combs’ Properties offers house and apartment rentals, home owner financing and pays cash for Portales homes. If you are looking to sell your Portales home call us toll-free at 1-800-898-3043

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Decorate your new home in Portales for Halloween with our helpful tips.

If there is ever a time of year when the ghosts and goblins roam the streets of New Mexico, that time would be Halloween. Today’s ghost and goblins are probably a little more frightening than before, but they are often tempered by a princess seeking a vampire prince or a few friends of Harry Potter along the way. Halloween is the best day to be a kid and grown-ups an opportunity to be a kid again.

Decorating for Halloween can be almost as fun as going out and going door to door for candy any day of the week. Besides, having a well decorated home for this holiday gives you the perfect excuse to scare the crap out the kids in your neighborhood who think they have the neighborhood cornered on mischief.

You can find some scary or funny home decorations for this holiday just about anywhere, with new improved gadgets every year. Foam headstones, ½ witches in a tree or a pressure activated “lawn-zombie” are readily available at your local drug store or mega-stores. Whatever your decision always carefully monitor the scare-ability of your own younger children when deciding, explain the tricks your planting in the yard, let them play with them ad-nausea so you don’t have a wailing scared kid.

For a more frightening Halloween scene some folks use strobe lights, creepy music and effects, spooky fog, and plenty of fake spider webs in order to give those who dare approach your door bells a complete case of the frights.

Doesn’t that sound like fun?

Coffins with headless straw men and motion sensors activating skittering spiders, a giant dude in a hockey mask with a chainsaw or even a moaning mummy in the bushes. Shrunken heads or skeletons suspended by fishing wire are also quite the highlight for a true and robust fright.

If your goal is to create a kid friendly Halloween atmosphere there are cheerful pumpkin decorations or Cartoon Network, Disney and Nickelodeon characters that can be found in many shapes and sizes as countless other fun party favors that are designed to bring entertainment and delight rather than terror and far. String pumpkin lights around the porch for added lighting and another friendly face in addition to keeping plenty of candles and lanterns lit nearby. Not all trick or treaters are older kids who appreciate a good scare so keep this in mind as the little ghosts, goblins, princesses, and super heroes arrive. You may want to wait for younger trick-or-treaters at the end of your walk and avoid the scare.

For adult gatherings all bets are off when it comes to home decorating for Halloween, with all kinds of themes that can be followed from the incredibly zany and outrageous to the frightening or flamboyant. The best suggestion is to have fun times and be the life of the party-the host with the most- rather than having the decorations upstage your efforts. Far too many people spend more time concerned with how they will decorate their homes rather than wondering how they will decorate themselves for the festivities. If you find the perfect costumes all eyes will be on you and not your decorations.

In New Mexico, Combs’ Properties offers house and apartment rentals, home owner financing and pays cash for Portales homes. If you are looking to sell your Portales home call us toll-free at 1-800-898-3043

Selling your Portales home, commercial property or business requires courage and confidence in any market; here are some steps that will help you to sell your home:

• Look at your Portales home’s condition. It is important when selling a home to make a great first impression. This is the first step that will make it easier for you to find a buyer. If you home is well kept on the inside and outside, it will help you get a better offer. So, make sure you have a property that is clean, neat, and well-cared for and this includes fixing any mechanical issues. Repair any leaks or other mechanical problems and put a fresh coat of paint on the wall.
• Price your Portales home- How much do you want for your home? If you have made updates to your home such as new kitchen your home will be worth more. Compare your home to other homes in the area that have the same amount of bedrooms and square footage to get an initial asking price. As an additional tip, always remain open-minded when it comes to negotiation! People like to bargain.
• Advertise your home- Advertise your home with us. A board or banner in front of your home makes everybody who crosses the street know your home is for sale, flyer different areas if need-be. Our licensed broker’s services will help you to market your home. We are experts in helping you negotiate with buyers and basically arranging your home sale.

In New Mexico, Combs’ Properties offers house and apartment rentals, home owner financing and pays cash for Portales homes. If you are looking to sell your Portales home call us toll-free at 1-800-898-3043

Congratulations, you’ve decided to sell your home! Whether it’s selling your own home or a property which was left to you, here are some things to consider before you start marketing the house.

It’s really important to take time before you finalize your home’s selling price, if the price is too high, the home will stay on the market for too long, waiting for someone who can afford it. Even if you chose to reduce the price later, it would show potential buyers that the seller realizes the home’s selling price was too high. Advertising too low for your area may also deter or prolong the final sale. If you’re selling your Portales home, the chances are you’re going to want to set the price as high as possible and then negotiate down if necessary.

This might seem like an obviously silly tip, but a lot of people who either cherish their house too much, or are simply not aware of the real value overprice and never sell. Remember that apart from the location, your home selling price is a major consideration in purchasing, no matter how much you love your house set a realistic price.

Some things that might decrease (or increase) your homes selling price:

1. Location – A home in a desirable area with little or no crime, reasonable traffic to and from and a good school if needed.
2. House condition – A good maintenance shows that this home is worth being looked at and possibly purchased.
3. Surroundings – These seemingly miscellaneous issues can be a deciding factor in making a sale, so store the broken down car, mow the lawn, cut the shrubs and make sure the house looks it’s best inside and out.
4. Extra features – Does your home have a pool or patio? Don’t hesitate in taking them into account when deciding on a price, be realistic, though a dusty, never-used fireplace, no matter how classy, will do nothing to your home value. To help you finish off with an ideal home selling price, some standardized pricing methods have been established. A Comparable Market Analysis (CMA) is ‘a comparison of similar properties in the same general area that compares actual sold prices’, in other words, comparing your house to similar ones in your area to get a rough value.

If you are looking to sell your Portales home please contact our professionals.

Are you still renting? If so, you’re losing money. Besides losing out on the money you could be making with real estate, the satisfaction of being able to own a home and make it his or her own is one renter’s do not get to experience. If you’re still renting, we have affordable homes for sale in Portales, contact us today.

Why pay for someone else’s mortgage payment?

If you rent you are missing out on the opportunity to generate income as the property increases in value. The economy has picked up and the past five years houses that previously decreased in value because of the recession have now increased in value. While renters cannot freeze their monthly housing expenses, home buyers can.

While it is true that homebuyers commonly get adjustable rate mortgages it which the payments go up or down payments on their mortages will not increase as much as what a renter will pay year to year for renewing their lease. Just think about how much an apartment costs today compared to ten years ago. A two bedroom apartment in Portales leases for $1,000 today. The exact same apartment rented for $325 in 1996, when it was brand new. Home buyers who had low monthly payments in 1996, who did not refinance their mortgage, enjoy low payments and don’t have to worry about rising rents.

Renters don’t get tax deductions. Home owners get income tax deductions. Tax deductions for interest costs, for instance, save tax payers thousands of dollars.

Besides losing out on making money with real estate, renters don’t get the same satisfaction of home enjoyment that benefits home buyers. Renters are typically not allowed the walls, add pools decks or make other improvements that would add value to a non-rented property. Also, you won’t feel like fixing up the property with custom window coverings and you get little say in flooring materials. Because you can’t make your personal statement, you won’t feel like you’re HOME as much as home owners who feel emotionally connected to their property.

How to Buy Your First Portales Home

The challenge to home ownership is often coming up with the funds for a down payment. People think they have to have thousands of dollars for a down payment. However, if you have good credit and a decent job, you can get a mortgage for a home with zero down. Some of the closing cost can also be financed as well. With today’s mortgage finance plans, you may be surprised to find out how much of a home you can afford with payments similar to what you currently pay in rent.

Portales is a great place to buy a home, you can purchase a home in Portales for much less then you can in other major cities in New Mexico. That’s why so many people commute, after finding affordable housing costs lowered in outlying areas. Perhaps your monthly rent is only $1,000 and houses cost less than $200,000. Talk to us today to see how much of a home you can afford. If you’re renting, make one of your priorities to buy your own Portales home.