Register Real Estate Advisors

Moving to the Houston area?  I would like to be the first to welcome you and assist you with all of your real estate needs whether you are moving to Houston, The Woodlands, or Spring, Texas.  As a relocation specialist, I can help you sell your current property anywhere in the world and find a new one in this area.  I help relocate families all over the globe.  Please call me today and I will be happy to send you a copy of the Houston Newcomer Guide.  It will help you narrow your search area and give you a lot of helpful information about the communities in the surrounding area.  I would like to help you with all of your relocation needs and my website offers a wealth of information.  You can search the entire Houston MLS database on my website and see my featured listings, too.  You can read my award winning blog and catch up on all the latest housing news.  Please call me today so we can get started.  When you talk to your human resources coordinator, please ask for me by name!  Shannon Register 832.628.SELL

Make your project shine with a perfect finish.

1) Select materials and supplies. After you decide on the type of paint you will use (interior or exterior; latex or oil-based), choose a primer that works with it. Use wide brushes for larger areas and smaller brushes on edges and details. Cover your work surface with a drop cloth, newspaper, or old tablecloth.
TIP: Use paintbrushes with natural bristles for oil-based finishes and synthetic bristles for water-based finishes.

2) Prepare. Use a finishing cloth to clean the sanded surface of your project. To make cleaning your paintbrush easier after painting, pre-condition it with a cleanser that is recommended for your primer and paint (water for latex paints and mineral spirits for oil-based paints). Squeeze the liquid from the brush.

3) Prime. Stir the primer, and dip your brush halfway up the bristles. Dipping the brush halfway allows you to paint without constantly reloading. Apply one coat of primer, and allow to dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Sand the primed areas with fine-grit sandpaper to smooth the surface.
TIP: Always paint in a well-ventilated area.

4) Paint. Use a clean, pre-conditioned brush for the first coat of paint. Be sure to apply smooth brush lines in long, even strokes. Avoid dabbing the brush on the project surface. Allow the first coat to dry, and then apply a second coat. Add subsequent coats if needed at attain full coverage.
TIP: Paintbrushes can last longer than paint rollers if they are cleaned and stored properly.

Antique Finish Give a new project instant character.
Create the appearance of a well – loved piece of furniture with a few simple steps. Apply a light color over a dark color, and then sand to reveal the layers and raw wood.

Your recent woodworking project looks and feels like a new piece of furniture – but you may prefer an aged – wood appearance, instead. Several techniques can mimic the finish of antique furniture.
HOW-TO TIPS:
• Prep the wood for painting by cleaning and/or sanding all surfaces.
• Apply your first coat of paint once you create a good bonding base. This color will be seen the least with you are finished. Let dry thoroughly.
• Mimic a layered look by applying coats of one or two other colors. After reaching your desired number of layers, use coarse-grit sandpaper to scrape away paint on any portion of the piece that might be exposed to natural wear. You can continue this process using a finer grip paper.
• Create an antique finish by applying a crackle glaze to the paint layers. This will make crakes and fissures in the paint surface. For another look, apply a wiping glaze or a thinner coat of dark latex paint over the entire piece, and immediately wipe with a rag. The darker pigment will look like grime collected in the crevices and corners of the furniture.
• Add battle scars to the surface. Several well-placed hammer blows, a rap or two with a length of chain, and a few pokes with a screwdriver or an awl will do the job nicely.

This article was first published in the Fall 2010 issue of Woodworkers distributed by Lowe’s.

LOS ANGELES (Milken Institute) – Texas metropolitan areas dominated the Milken Institute’s “Best-Performing Cities” index for the second year in a row, claiming half of the top ten slots.

 Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood ranked first this year, bumping last year’s leader, Austin-Round Rock, down one notch. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission held its ground at number four.

 El Paso jumped five slots to number nine, meeting Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown on the way (H-town dropped from fifth to tenth place).

 The index ranks 200 of the nation’s largest metros based on their ability to create and sustain jobs.

 According to a Milken press release, “a business-friendly climate, a vibrant tech industry, and little exposure to the housing bubble and the financial services industry helped keep Texas cities and many of their peers on stable ground during the economic downturn.”

This is a great video to watch if you are unsure whether you want to purchase a home in town or one with some acreage. Enjoy!

AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) – Long-term mortgage rates fell to a record low this week with the average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage in the week ending Oct. 7 of 4.27 percent, down from 4.32 percent last week.

 A 15-year fixed-rate mortgage also fell from an average of 3.75 percent to 3.72 percent. The two rates represent the lowest long-term figures recorded since Freddie Mac began keeping track.

 “The 12-month growth rate in the core price index for personal consumption, which the Federal Reserve closely tracks, has been drifting lower over the last six months ending in August and suggests inflation is running at a tepid pace at best,” said Freddie Mac Chief Economist Frank Nothaft. “This allowed mortgage rates to ease to new or near record lows.”

 Additionally, the number of existing homes pending sale rose for the second consecutive month in August, up 4.3 percent, according to the National Association of Realtors. The association also reported that Austin home sales fell 15 percent year-over-year in August while sales so far this year have outperformed 2009.

Moving to the Houston area?  I would like to be the first to welcome you and assist you with all of your real estate needs whether you are moving to Houston, The Woodlands, or Spring, Texas.  As a relocation specialist, I can help you sell your current property anywhere in the world and find a new one in this area.  As a RE/MAX agent, I help relocate families all over the globe.  Please call me today and I will be happy to send you a copy of the Houston Newcomer Guide.  It will help you narrow your search area and give you a lot of helpful information about the communities in the surrounding area.  I would like to help you with all of your relocation needs and my website offers a wealth of information.  You can search the entire Houston MLS database on my website and see my featured listings, too.  You can read my award winning blog and catch up on all the latest housing news.  Please call me today so we can get started.  When you talk to your human resources coordinator, please ask for me by name!  Shannon Register 832.628.SELL

Many people buy homes and never think about their exit plan.  When you buy, make sure you have one.  Unforseen circumstances could cause you to have to sell your home unexpectantly.  So when you purchase a home, think about how quickly you would be able to resale the property if needed.  Are there things about the house that you don’t mind, but would make it hard to resale?   Is it in an area where you could rent the house if you needed to?  Usually, if you have to sell quickly, you don’t make much, if any, profit.  Generally speaking, real estate is a long term investment.  During a great sellers market you might be able to flip a home quickly for profit, but probably not in today’s market.

1.  What is the assessed value of the property?  Note that assessed value is generally less than market value.  Ask to see a recent copy of the seller’s tax bill to help you determine this information.

2.  How often are properties reassessed and when was the last reassessment done?  Generally taxes jump most significantly when a property is reassessed.

3.  Will the sale of the property trigger a tax increase?  Often the assessed value of the property may increase based on the amount you pay for the property.  And in some areas, such as California, taxes may be frozen until resale.

4.  Is the amount of taxes paid comparable to other properties in the area?  If not, it might be possible to appeal the tax assessment and lower the rate?

5.  Does the current tax bill reflect any special exemptions that you might not qualify for?  For example, many tax districts offer reductions to those 65 or over.

Reprinted from REALTOR Magazine Online by permission of the National Association of REALTORS, Copyright 2005, All rights reserved.

Moving to the Houston area?  I would like to be the first to welcome you and assist you with all of your real estate needs whether you are moving to Houston, The Woodlands, or Spring, Texas.  As a relocation specialist, I can help you sell your current property anywhere in the world and find a new one in this area.  I help relocate families all over the globe.  Please call me today and I will be happy to send you a copy of the Houston Newcomer Guide.  It will help you narrow your search area and give you a lot of helpful information about the communities in the surrounding area.  I would like to help you with all of your relocation needs and my website offers a wealth of information.  You can search the entire Houston MLS database on my website and see my featured listings, too.  You can read our award winning blog and catch up on all the latest housing news.  Please call me today so we can get started.  When you talk to your human resources coordinator, please ask for me by name!  Shannon Register 832.628.SELL

1. Don’t buy if you can’t stay put.
If you can’t commit to remaining in one place for at least a few years, then owning is probably not for you, at least not yet. With the transaction costs of buying and selling a home, you may end up losing money if you sell any sooner – even in a rising market. When prices are falling, it’s an even worse proposition.

2. Start by shoring up your credit.
Since you most likely will need to get a mortgage to buy a house, you must make sure your credit history is as clean as possible. A few months before you start house hunting, get copies of your credit report. Make sure the facts are correct, and fix any problems you discover.

3. Aim for a home you can really afford.
The rule of thumb is that you can buy housing that runs about two-and-one-half times your annual salary. But you’ll do better to use one of many calculators available online to get a better handle on how your income, debts, and expenses affect what you can afford.

4. If you can’t put down the usual 20 percent, you may still qualify for a loan.
There are a variety of public and private lenders who, if you qualify, offer low-interest mortgages that require a down payment as small as 3 percent of the purchase price.

5. Buy in a district with good schools.
In most areas, this advice applies even if you don’t have school-age children. Reason: When it comes time to sell, you’ll learn that strong school districts are a top priority for many home buyers, thus helping to boost property values.

6. Get professional help.
Even though the Internet gives buyers unprecedented access to home listings, most new buyers (and many more experienced ones) are better off using a professional agent. Look for an exclusive buyer agent, if possible, who will have your interests at heart and can help you with strategies during the bidding process.

7. Choose carefully between points and rate.
When picking a mortgage, you usually have the option of paying additional points — a portion of the interest that you pay at closing — in exchange for a lower interest rate. If you stay in the house for a long time — say three to five years or more — it’s usually a better deal to take the points. The lower interest rate will save you more in the long run.

8. Before house hunting, get pre-approved.
Getting pre-approved will you save yourself the grief of looking at houses you can’t afford and put you in a better position to make a serious offer when you do find the right house. Not to be confused with pre-qualification, which is based on a cursory review of your finances, pre-approval from a lender is based on your actual income, debt and credit history.

9. Do your homework before bidding.
Your opening bid should be based on the sales trend of similar homes in the neighborhood. So before making it, consider sales of similar homes in the last three months. If homes have recently sold at 5 percent less than the asking price, you should make a bid that’s about eight to 10 percent lower than what the seller is asking.

10. Hire a home inspector.
Sure, your lender will require a home appraisal anyway. But that’s just the bank’s way of determining whether the house is worth the price you’ve agreed to pay. Separately, you should hire your own home inspector, preferably an engineer with experience in doing home surveys in the area where you are buying. His or her job will be to point out potential problems that could require costly repairs down the road.

This information was first published on http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/money101/lesson8.