Register Real Estate Advisors

Register Real Estate Advisors is a proud member of the Greater Houston Association of Builders. As the GHBA celebrates Professional Designation Month RREA decided to outline some of our Realtor Designations. At RREA, Shannon Register is both the Broker and Owner. A Broker’s License is probably the highest real estate designation available. We have several Realtors in our brokerage that are Broker Associates (they have a Broker’s license.) Another one of Shannon’s designations is the GRI – Graduate Realtor Institute. This designation includes training in marketing, brokerage, and general real estate buying and selling. The ABR – Accredited Buyer’s Representative Designation makes Realtors an expert when it comes to working with buyers. Shannon also has completed the Texas Realtor’s Leadership Program and is certified to work with the Texas Veterans Land Board. Many of our agents can work with Texas Vets. Shannon has been certified in new home construction sales. Through the local board of Realtors, she is a Social Media Pro. Through the National Association of Realtors she has her ePro Designation. In addition to all of these, Shannon holds the Short Sale and Foreclosure Certification and the Certified Distressed Property Expert Designation. Many of the RREA Agents have their ABR and CDPE. The Certified Negotiation Expert is another one that many of our agents have. This is an important one because you want whoever the Realtor is that is representing you to be a good negotiator. Shannon is also an Accredited Luxury Home Specialist. This designation is for Realtors who work with consumers that are purchasing homes over $400K in the Houston Market. When choosing a Realtor or Broker to represent you with your real estate needs, you want to choose one that is educated in that area and will work for you. To learn more about RREA’s agents, you can read their profiles at rrea.com/team.

Ashton Woods is an eco friendly home builder in the Houston area.  They have communities in Missouri City, Humble, Katy, Pearland, Richmond, Tomball, and Houston, Texas.  Currently, there are 12 Houston area communities that Ashton Woods is building in.  The homes are between $130,000-$360,000.  They have been offering buyers on new construction a free central vaccum system.  They give their buyers a lot of value with low E3 windows, radiant barriers, and washers and dryers.  If you are interested in visiting an Ashton Woods community please call us at 281.288.3500.  Our Realtors are familiar with the local builders and communities and can help negotiate for you when purchasing a new construction home.

COLLEGE STATION (Real Estate Center) – Revised employment data for Texas released in March 2012 show that the state’s economy is currently experiencing a “more solid economic recovery than before,” according to the Real Estate Center’s latest Monthly Review of the Texas Economy.

The economy gained 266,200 nonagricultural jobs from February 2011 to February 2012, an annual growth rate of 2.6 percent compared with 1.6 percent for the United States. The state’s nongovernment sector added 319,000 jobs, an annual growth rate of 3.7 percent compared with 2.1 percent for the nation’s private sector.

Texas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 7.1 percent in February 2012 from 8 percent a year ago. The nation’s rate decreased from 9 to 8.3 percent.

All Texas industries except the information industry and the state’s government sector had more jobs this February than last. The state’s mining and logging industry ranked first in job creation, followed by the leisure and hospitality, other services, and the professional and business services industry.

All Texas metro areas except Abilene, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Waco and Wichita Falls had more jobs than a year ago. Odessa ranked first in job creation followed by Laredo, Corpus Christi, San Angelo and Midland.

The state’s actual unemployment rate in February was 7.2 percent. Midland had the lowest unemployment rate followed by Odessa, Amarillo, Lubbock, San Angelo and Abilene.

DALLAS (Dallas Morning News) – Unemployment continues its decline in Texas for the sixth month in a row, according to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).

Nearly 28,000 jobs were added in February, dropping the state’s unemployment rate to 7.1 percent, down two-tenths of a point from January.

Unemployment was at 8 percent last February.

Ronny Congleton of the TWC said eight of the 11 major industries saw growth in the state in February, with local governments adding the most jobs. The construction industry added 4,500 jobs, which Southern Methodist University economist Bernard Weinstein said is due to an increase in commercial and infrastructure work.

The lowest unemployment numbers in the state can be found in Midland and Odessa. Their rates are 3.8 and 4.5 percent, respectively.

Beaumont-Port Arthur has the highest unemployment rate in Texas, at 10.9 percent.

At RREA, we are a brokerage in the cloud. Are you looking for a Brokerage? Do you want a broker you can call anytime? RREA might be the perfect fit for you. Although we are located in Spring, Texas, we are looking for agents to service all areas of the Houston and surrounding markets. Currently, the only reason our agents need to come into the office is to pick up signs, make a video in our studio, or attend a class of their choosing that’s in the office. Our agents are never required to step foot in our brokerage. We offer everything an agent needs in the cloud. You can fax, scan, or mail your documents to your broker. We offer a broker that can be contacted every day of the week via fax, email, text, phone, and Facebook. If you are looking for a brokerage that offers all the documents you could need for your business in the cloud, call us today to join. We are an independent brokerage, so there are no franchise fees. We offer you everything you need in the comfort of your own home office. Call our broker today to join us – 281.288.3500. We offer everything you need – online – and we have a variety of plans to choose from. We want to help you grow your business and work whatever area of the market you live in!

HOUSTON (Houston Business Journal) – Texas cities are still the destination of choice for those relocating, according to U-Haul International Inc.

Houston took the top spot on U-Haul’s list of destination cities for relocation in 2011. San Antonio also attracted many new residents from other cities, ranking at number five, followed by Austin at number six. Other Texas cities in the top 50 include Dallas (15), Plano (35) and Fort Worth (44).

Rounding out the top five were Orlando, Fla., at number two, followed by Las Vegas (three) and Chicago (four).

U-Haul considers data for movers traveling more than 50 miles using its trucks.

As Spring approaches, many homeowners and home sellers want to choose a landscape company to improve their curb appeal. If you need a good reference for a landscaper, call us at RREA and we can provide you the names and numbers of many landscapers that have done work for us and our clients. When choosing a landscape company, below are a few things to keep in mind.
1. Find a company that meets your purpose – is it a drainage issue, planting issue, or maintenance service you need?
2. Get a contract – a contract will help to steer you clear of a miscommunication. It should include a time frame for doing the work and what will be planted.
3. Insurance – does the landscape company have workman’s comp insurance? What about liability insurance? Get the names and numbers and call them before the work begins to confirm coverage.
4. Picture Perfect – Take photos before the landscape work begins, especially those problem areas you expect to be fixed.
Over the past few years I have hired many landscapers to work at my personal residence and I have yet to be completely satisfied with any of the companies. Once I was purchasing palms and the contract stated they would be 3-6 feet tall and they were all under 3 feet. That particular company said that was due to the weather and that’s all they could find – no funds for my shortage. I have had them promise me I will love the plants they choose and I don’t. I have requested only perennial plants and flowers that will last year around, and that never happens. I have had them remove items from my landscape as a mistake and take them back to their shops and never return them back to me even when I remind them many times. That particular company also said they would fill all of my baskets with flowers and they left a few empty and even after many requests they never came back to complete the work. These are all big name Houston Companies that I have used. So honestly, you need to be careful who you choose not only when putting in landscaping, but also outdoor lighting and water features. Now, I go buy my own plants and pick what I like, then I have my current landscaper plant them where I want them. That is where I have had the best luck!!

COLLEGE STATION (Real Estate Center) – Existing home sales across the state surged in February, reflecting a stronger market, an improving economy and “better weather than February last year,” said Real Estate Center Research Economist Dr. Jim Gaines.

“In some cases, the increased sales occurred within the lower-priced home market as mortgage lending requirements have improved,” Gaines said.

Sales in Texas last month were up 21 percent over February 2012, according to Multiple Listing Service (MLS) data compiled by the Center. The National Association of Realtors reported an 8.8 percent year-over-year jump in sales.

Median prices continued to be flat across the state as a whole, but they exhibited wide variation among individual markets, with some markets showing significant surges and others further declines.

“Median price in the four major markets (Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio) were essentially flat, with more significant changes occurring in the smaller markets where large percentage changes can occur more easily,” Gaines said.

When you are purchasing a property, whether a townhouse or single family home, you need a Realtor that specializes in that area. You will want your Realtor to evaluate the community where you are considering your purchase. If you’re looking to buy a property for investment purposes, you will want to know the rental rates in the area and how long it takes to find tenants. If you are purchasing a home for your family, be sure you know the statistics of the neighborhood. For example, the foreclosure rates and owner occupancy rates will be important. These factors can impact your loan options.

NEW YORK (CNBC) – Last week, CNBC referred to Texas as a “well-oiled real estate machine.” And they meant it literally.

According to the news source, residential real estate in Texas is benefiting from an economy driven by energy production. Real Estate Center Research Economist Jim Gaines agrees.

“The middle of the country, the spine, has done much better than the two coasts,” Gaines said. “A common thread is energy, from Texas to the Dakotas — there has been a real boom time due to the exploration and drilling activity.”

This boom means more jobs. In fact, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show Texas ranks in the top ten in job growth from 2001 to 2011.

That helps with housing prices. CNBC reports Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio saw minimal declines in the bust and are essentially fully recovered.

“The ability of all markets in Texas to weather the national economic storm was due in significant part to the strength of the energy industry,” said Texas Association of Realtors Chairman Joe Stewart. “However, more important than that is the diversity of the Texas economy, which has helped drive job growth and demand for real estate.”