Register Real Estate Advisors

With many homes available in today’s real estate market, sellers who hope to attract buyers quickly are looking to home security as a top selling tool. Installing a new security system or updating an older one are appealing ways to increase a home’s value and sales potential. In markets all across the U.S., properties that are protected by security systems in all economic ranges have more curb appeal and rapid sales times than those that are unprotected.

After all, statistics have shown that homes without alarm systems were more than three and a half times more likely to be burglarized than those that had security systems in place. Buyers know how important home security is today, and respond accordingly.

A current, up-to-date home security system draws potential buyers and increases property value. So what security features will yield home sellers the best rate of return?

An inclusive Home alarm system that protects a home from potential intruders and hazards is key. A system should be able to alert home owners to the presence of fire, temperature fluctuations, or carbon monoxide, as well as notifying security personnel and local law enforcement if an emergency occurs. Naturally, the better and more inclusive an alarm system, the higher the home sale value. The best: a professionally installed, up-to-date wireless monitoring system with motion sensors and a security camera in place. Be sure that signage and stickers from the security monitoring company are posted on your property. This will let buyers know that the home is protected before even entering the house.

Security cameras are increasingly popular due to the ability for home owners to monitor their properties via Smart Phone or computer system anywhere. Cameras that feature image storage capacity offer the greatest buyer appeal.

Also greatly enhancing safety and sales appeal is the use of quality deadbolt locks with a Grade 1 ANSI rating. These locks should be on exterior doors as well as on door connecting the interior of a home with the garage. In addition, sellers should make certain that window locks are sturdy, and that garages are equipped with automatic openers. Sliding glass doors should be equipped with sturdy locks as well.

Lighting is another highly sought security feature. The installation of motion sensor-activated external lighting and timed lighting systems that turn on when the home owner is away are also strong motivators for buyers. Lighting is particularly key for back door entries, porches, and drive way areas.

External motion sensors for driveways and door areas that alert the homeowner to any approaching “visitor” are also sought after security features.

A more basic security plus: landscaping. It goes without saying that sellers will want their home to be free of clutter and overgrowth. But keeping bushes and trees neatly trimmed is also a security measure home buyers look for. If you have foliage that obscures your home from a clear street view, you may want to consider having it removed in order to enhance curb appeal. After all, any area that allows a potential intruder to conceal himself from view creates a potential safety hazard.

Home sellers in today’s real estate market should utilize all of these options to increase their property’s appeal to potential buyers. Installing quality locks, a quality security camera, and an overall security monitoring system that includes environmental hazard protection and is technologically state of the art will all be paid back easily in terms of greater home sales value and the rapidity of attracting buyers to the property.

Madison Parker is a security expert whose interests range from personal to home security systems. Get more tips and advice on her Home Security blog!

Designing and building an energy-efficient home is no easy task. However, thanks to advances in engineering in the past decade, engineers know more about designing a green home than they ever did before. Here are a few common areas in home building that can be done in an energy efficient way.

1. Wood Framing – Wood uses far less energy to produce compared to steel and concrete. In addition, using 2×2 wood elements on certain sections such as beams, headers, and posts reduces the wood required for a project. With the use of special software, homes can be designed in such a way that they still meet all the requirements while using fewer materials.

2. Air Flow – When air ducts are installed, covering exterior sections with air retarding wrap can dramatically reduce air leaks. In addition, air ducts can be designed in such a way to minimize duct bends and turns to help air flow easily.

3. Electricity – Lighting plans and power distribution systems can be designed to minimize energy consumption. Occupancy censors make sure that lights are on only when someone is in a room. Effective window placement is another easy way to reduce the need for electric lighting during the daytime. And of course, energy-efficient bulbs and appliances are a necessity.

4. Water – Incorporating certain water conservation techniques into a home’s plumbing can effectively reduce the amount of water needed. Low-flow plumbing fixtures use less water, but still provide you with the amount that you need. A hot water recirculation pump can pump water from your water heater to provide hot water instantly anywhere in the house, but it also includes a timer so that it’s only on when you need it to be. Insulated hot water distribution systems keep water from losing too much heat as it pumps through your house.

5. Insulation – The most energy-efficient insulation is loose-fill insulation, which can be sprayed into spaces such as walls, attics, and hard-to-reach places. About half of an average energy bill goes toward heating and cooling, so using energy-efficient insulation can reduce utility costs.

6. Roofing – Since a roof is the part of the home that gets hit with the most sun, it’s best to use the sun’s heat and light to your advantage. A light-colored roof with solar panels will reflect sunlight and turn some of it into energy that can be used in your home. Alternatively, you could have a “green roof” covered by a layer of soil and vegetation. These types of roofs will be more beneficial to the environment and keep your home from heating up too much.

Dawn Lovett has worked in engineering for over 20 years with a focus on sustainable engineering projects. She also owns the site Online Engineering Degrees for students interested in getting an online degree in engineering.

This Guest Post was written by Emma Summers and discusses the Houston Housing Market.

With a look at some of the top housing areas in a less than stellar overall market, Houston has continually ranked among the top of the list. Multiple Texas cities have been listed among the best markets, including Dallas and Austin as well. With a better outlook on jobs and an excellent eye towards new features and technology, expect the Houston housing market to continue to rank among the top of these lists.

Just recently, Forbes mapped out the top 10 housing markets in the nation with three different cities making the cut. While Dallas and Austin both made the top 10 list, they were each ranked considerably lower than Houston at spots 10 and nine. Houston came in at number three on the list, ranking behind only the Pittsburgh and Louisville markets. Some of the primary reasons for the high ranking were Forbes’ analysis of foreclosure amounts, to which Houston netted only 1.3 percentages. On the magazine’s housing opportunity index, the city notched a ranking of 73.2, which was considerably close to the top markets.

Statistics of home buys in the area have also contributed to the high rankings for the Houston area. According to the Houston Association of Realtors, sales are up in most of the brackets in comparison to last year. The figures showed a 19 percent increase in homes that ranged from $150,000 to $250,000. Also telling is the fact that sales for homes over the price of $500,000 were up by nearly 26 percent this July. In a market where some areas are experiencing overall drops of nearly 40 percent, Houston has maintained only a slight drop in overall sales. As a whole, home sales for the entire U.S. are down by 14 percent from 2010. Some experts believe that the area is seeing an increase, hopefully back towards where the market had been in 2009.

Area developers have also continued to boost their numbers in comparison to other cities because of s strong dedication to energy efficiency. Most builders have kept the new Houston area apartments, condominiums and houses along the Energy Star qualifications. Some area developers are exploring new irrigation techniques along with eco friendly building techniques.

Because the Houston area has stayed afloat with better than average employment numbers mixing with great new building features, expect it to continue to rise back to where numbers once were. Regardless of what the national market continues to do in the near future, Houston will likely remain among the top of the lists when it comes to analysis of overall housing markets.

The article below was written by LaVonda M. Fletcher, State Farm® Agent, Spring, Texas.  Her office is in the same shopping center with RREA and we share some mutual clients.  I trust LaVonda and her staff to insure RREA and I highly recommend you get a quote from her next time you are shopping for home, auto, life, or health insurance.

Water damage can occur almost anywhere in your house.  Water-using
appliances and fixtures, such as refrigerators with icemakers, dishwashers,
washing machines, toilets and water heaters, are common locations of leaks.

Unfortunately, slow leaks at these appliances and fixtures are often times impossible to see until it is too
late.  If it goes undetected, a slow leak can lead to rotting house framing and subfloors, and can be a precursor to a
catastrophic leak that can release several gallons of water per minute, causing
extensive water damage.  A water leak detection system may help prevent these problems.

There are two types of water leak detection systems:  passive and active.

Passive leak detection systems are intended to alert you of a leak.  They generally sound an audible
alarm tone and some may also feature a flashing light.  Passive systems are frequently
battery-operated, stand-alone units.  They are inexpensive and easy to install.  Some simply sit on the floor while others may be wall mounted.  A moisture sensor is located on the floor and activates the alarm when it becomes wet.  Passive leak detection systems are especially useful in locations where
it is easy for someone to hear the alarm, such as near refrigerators, dishwashers, or toilets.

Active leak detection systems usually generate some type of alarm,
but also perform a function that will stop the water flow.  They feature a shut-off valve and some means
to determine that a leak is occurring.   Most devices use moisture sensors to detect a leak.  Other systems use a flow sensor and a timer
to determine that something is leaking and the water needs to be turned off.
An individual appliance system, which costs $50 to $150, detects a leak from a specific appliance, such a
washing machine or water heater and shuts off the water supply to that
appliance only.  You can often install these systems without the use of special tools.
A whole house system, which costs $500 to $1,500, sends an alarm when a
leak is detected and automatically shuts off the main water service.  Some models can also be integrated with a
local or central station security system.

Contact a local contractor,
building official or hardware store for more information about water leak
detection systems.  If you would like
more information about how you can prevent water losses in your home, please
contact an expert, visit statefarm.com, or call LaVonda Fletcher at (281) 350-4800
or stop by her State Farm office located at 1614 Louetta Road, Spring, TX  77388.

The article below was written by LaVonda M. Fletcher, State Farm® Agent, Spring, Texas.  Her office is in the same shopping center with RREA and we share some mutual clients.  I trust LaVonda and her staff to insure RREA and I highly recommend you get a quote from her next time you are shopping for home, auto, life, or health insurance.

Imagine coming home to find that someone has broken into your home, stolen valuable items and ransacked your personal possessions.  The feeling of devastation can be overwhelming for victims of burglary. It’s a crime we are all vulnerable to, whether we live in a city or rural area, have a high or low income, live in a house or in an apartment or condominium.

According to the FBI, a burglary happens every 15 seconds in the United States. It’s a serious crime.  The problem is many of us, through our own carelessness, make it easier for burglars to carry out their work.  A few simple steps can make your home a harder target for burglars:

• Lock all outside doors before you leave or go to
  bed.
• Lock all windows.
• Leave a few lights on when you are not home.
• Keep all garage doors closed and locked.
• Don’t allow daily deliveries, like newspapers and mail, to pile up when you’re out of town. Ask a friend or neighbor to pick them up for you or arrange to have deliveries stopped until you return.
• When you’re on vacation, arrange to have someone take care of your yard.

Other Things to Consider

• Contact a locksmith for advice on pick-resistant locks for your doors, sliding glass doors and windows.
• Don’t leave keys under flower pots, doormats or other “secret” hiding places – burglars know them all.
• Keep a detailed inventory of all your personal possessions.  Include a description of the item, date of purchase, original value and any serial numbers.  Creating a video can be helpful.

Be a good neighbor.  If you notice anything suspicious in your neighborhood, contact the police immediately.

The article below was written by LaVonda M. Fletcher, State Farm® Agent, Spring, Texas.  Her office is in the same shopping center with RREA and we share some mutual clients.  I trust LaVonda and her staff to insure RREA and I highly recommend you get a quote from her next time you are shopping for home, auto, life, or health insurance.  Now that Hurricane Season is here, I incourage everyone to get organized in case of evacuation!
– Shannon

If you were incapacitated, would anyone be able to find your important records and take care of your family’s financial or business matters?  Having
important papers organized and accessible in advance can be very important in an emergency or crisis situation.
Consider the following for organizing your important records.

Location: Options for storage might include a home safe, fire-security box or off-site location such as a safety deposit box.  The storage
container should be securable and fire-resistant.  Shoe boxes or cardboard boxes in the closet or under the bed are not appropriate.

Who knows? Does someone in addition to your spouse know where these papers are kept?  Consider making a list of such papers and
records, and on the list state where these documents can be found.  Then advise a trusted third party—an attorney, CPA, relative, or family friend—where this list is kept.  The general idea is that someone not living in your residence knows about this list and how to access it.  This decision requires a certain comfort
level, and you alone are able to make that determination.

Which papers? Regardless of who knows what, organized records are always a plus.  The following items might be part of your
“important documents” list:

• Safety deposit box key;
• Life insurance policies;
• Deeds, contracts, leases, titles, mortgage(s), loan notes;
• Banking, savings, investment and retirement account(s) records;
• Will;
• Burial arrangements;
• All other insurance policies (health, auto, home, etc.);
• Birth certificates.

Beyond however you decide to store your personal records, and whatever you decide to include, one fact is clear.  If important legal, business and personal documents are organized and accessible, the handling of a crisis situation is made much easier.

10 Signs of a Great Neighborhood

When you are looking for a home in a new town or city, it can be difficult to know where to find good friendly neighborhoods to live in. As you look at potential homes, take note of some of the following signs of a great neighborhood to see if they apply to the area you are looking in.

1. Children playing in the yards. This is a very simple sign to pick up on if you are paying attention. If you see children outside playing in the yards of a neighborhood, that is a good sign that it is a neighborhood where parents feel their children are safe. Happy, playful children are  generally a sign of a great neighborhood to be a part of.
2. Green space. Are there parks or walking trails close to the neighborhood? Is there plenty of activity going on in the parks and are they well cared for? These are all signs of a neighborhood that has people who are active and enjoying life.
3. Well kept lawns. They don’t have to be perfectly landscaped and manicured but if homeowners take care of their lawns and homes, this shows a certain pride of ownership and good character. If they have respect for their own property, they are more likely to have respect for yours as well.
4. Activity on the sidewalks. Are there people out walking their dogs or jogging? Are there neighbors talking to each other as they pass one another in the neighborhood? These types of activities are good signs of a healthy and friendly environment.
5. Neighborhood watch signs. You’ve probably seen these blue and white signs in people’s windows. They are evidence that the neighbors have gotten together and agreed to keep an eye out for each other. Participation in these types of proactive programs is a very positive sign.
6. Neighborhood garage sales. When several households within a neighborhood get together to have a neighborhood garage sale, this is a sign of good community relationships within that neighborhood.
7. Good schools. Check out the ratings on the schools for the neighborhood. Do the schools have plenty of extracurricular participation? Do they have consistently high test scores from their students? Good schools are part of a good neighborhood.
8. Block parties. Are there annual block parties held in the neighborhood? This is another sign of a sense of community within a neighborhood. It generally means a low turnover rate within the neighborhood as well.
9. Low crime rate. Check on the crime statistics for the neighborhood. How many serious crimes happened there during the last year? Hopefully only one or two, if any.
10. Long term residents. Are there a lot of homes for sale in the neighborhood? That would not be a positive sign. A good neighborhood keeps its residents. People don’t want to leave a place where they feel comfortable and safe.

It generally isn’t too hard to recognize a really great neighborhood, it just has a good feel to it when you drive through. It is a combination of all these little clues that communicate that a neighborhood is a place where people are happy to call it home.

Guest post provided by Juliana Smith.

The Credit Bureaus are a branch of the government, infallible, and above reproach.  FICTION – The credit bureaus are publicly & privately traded companies in business to impress stockholders. They are not government agencies. They are one of the most heavily regulated industries. The strict regulations stem from a public outcry of abuses and mistakes.

A recent survey by an independent research group revealed more than 70% of credit reports contained mistakes or errors.  The prevalence of errors has lead to consumer protection legislation that allows consumers to challenge the bureaus and force the removal of inaccurate, outdated or unverifiable information. 

Is Credit Repair Legal?   FACT – You bet it is! As a consumer you have rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) passed in 1970.  Essentially this gives you the right to have the information about you reported accurately, the information can be verified and if you dispute an item they have 30-40 days to respond.  The other law that protects you is CROA, the Credit Repair Organizations Act.  If credit repair was illegal then there would not be a law governing Credit Repair Organizations!

When I pay off a past-due account, such as a charge off or a collection account, it will show “paid” and no longer be negative.  FICTION – It is difficult to fully restore your credit without paying your outstanding debts. However, paying off a debt can actually hurt your credit. Negative items on your credit report are allowed to stay on your credit report for up to seven (7) years, except for bankruptcy that can stay for up to ten (10) years. This 7 or 10-year clock begins ticking at the date of last activity. When paying an outstanding debt, you will change the account status to paid collection, paid charge-off, satisfied judgment, so now it scores like a brand new paid collection, charge off or judgment and the 7 year reporting clock starts all over again!  

It is illegal for creditors to take a negative trade line off my credit report. The law requires that these items remain on the credit report for at least seven (7) years.   FICTION – There is no law that states negative information has to stay on your credit report for 7 or 10 years!  The law sets an upper limit that negative information can’t stay on your report for UP TO 7-10 years. The credit grantor or credit bureau may choose to delete the item whenever they see fit.

It is almost always prudent to have a professional help so as to not further damage your credit by trying to do the right thing.   Jim Hogle – “the credit expert” www.usccra.com.

SHANE GUILLORY orginally passed this article on to me.  He is the Senior Loan Officer at Moncor Mortgage Bank on Tamina Road in Magnolia.  You can reach Shane at 936-521-2773 wk (direct line).

A recent article from Insurance News suggests that a large portion of homeowners do not have a clear understanding of what their policy is comprised of. As a former claims adjuster, I found that much of my time was spent helping customers determine what their coverage should be, or better put, how it should have been before the loss. Not always, but often, regular people find themselves owing for damages that exceed their policy limits due to circumstances that they underestimated when buying their coverage.

Ok, so how much then?

A good insurance agent will insure your home for the reconstruction cost. As the attached article suggests, the costs of replacing your home vs. the market value can create a significant gap in coverage. When you purchase insurance you purchase peace of mind. That peace of mind goes right out the window when you realize that there is not enough money in the policy to pay for all that was lost. This is especially true for the contents of your home.

Most people don’t realize the value of their possessions. Your agent should encourage you to catalogue your contents by taking pictures of your property to be stored at the agency. This will ensure an easier claims process. Can you imagine trying to recall and further prove the value of your possessions after they have been destroyed?
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If you intend to pay off your mortgage as quickly as possible, then you’re in the majority; a survey released in 2008 by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation claims that more than 75 per cent of survey respondents who bought a home in the last year said being mortgage-free sooner was their goal.

Of course wanting to be mortgage-free sooner is easier said then done, but there are some tips that can help you along the way to reach your goal quicker.

Make the largest down payment you can afford.

Fact is, the more you put down the less you’ll have to pay back; not just in the principal but in interest too.

Make more mortgage payments.

There are two ways to go about doing this; both will save you some money along the way but one more so than the other.

Your first option is to pay twice a month (or whatever frequency works best for you) the total you would normally pay on a monthly payment plan. For example, if your monthly mortgage payment is $1,000 you can opt to make two payments a month of $500 each. You’re not paying any more than you have to each month, although you will save on interest by making part of your monthly total payment early.

Your second option is to pay weekly or bi-weekly payments in lieu of a monthly payment. Why does this save you money? Well, not only will you save money on interest like you would with the first option, but it’s also a way you might not notice that you actually are making a couple of extra payments each year. Let’s say for example, your monthly mortgage payment is $1,000 for a total of $12,000 per year. If instead you decide to pay $500 every two weeks, you’ll actually end up putting $13,000 a year against your mortgage.

Make pre-payments or anniversary payments.

Even if you have a closed mortgage, most mortgages allow you to make “extra” payments, once a year, for up to 20% of the mortgage owed. This money is applied to the principal, saving you money in annual interest costs.

When interest rates drop, keep your payments the same.

If interest rates decrease when it is time to renew your mortgage, consider keeping your payments the same; since less money will go towards paying interest, more will go to paying down the principal.

Choose a shorter length of time to repay your loan.

Look at all your amortization options to see how choosing a 15-year period versus a 20-year period versus a 25-year period will affect your payments and interest costs. Your mortgage payments will be higher, but you’ll pay far less interest over the course of the loan. Do this exercise at the end of each mortgage term as what may have worked for you 5 years ago, might not be the best option for you now.
This article is a guest post from http://www.kanetix.ca