Register Real Estate Advisors » real estate

Consumer Warning About Realtors

Shannon Register, Broker/Owner — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 01:20:43 +0000

I feel it is very important and necessary to advise Consumers to be aware of an alarming issue in the real estate community. Right now the market is down and has been since 2007. As a result, many long time agents are getting full time employment jobs and leaving their real estate careers for the weekends. As a consumer with a real estate need, you will want a full time Realtor that can help you anytime, not just after business hours. The same can be true for your lender and inspector. You want someone you can not only get in contact with, but someone with a focus on their real estate career. Someone who has the experience, training, and dedication for every real estate market. We all know the re market swings up and down, but if you are an agent that’s not in it for the long haul, I would not want you helping me with one of the biggest and most important decisions in my life. Please choose wisely when you pick a Realtor.

Ask your Realtor questions about their dedication to the industry and what alternate income streams they have. You may find your Realtor really isn’t a real estate agent at all, they may be a flight attendant, a lender, insurance salesman, or waiter. Ask the questions and consumers beware of part time realtors who want to make money off of you in real estate without having to commit to the industry.

Choose someone who keeps up with industry news and is ready to help you any day of the week! Someone who works in real estate daily!

At RREA, you will find dedicated Realtors that are experienced and in business for the long haul, no matter what the market is doing!

"Consumer Warning About Realtors" was originally posted as a blog post at RREA.com on January 10, 2012.

Understanding Contract Terms for Real Estate

Jack Haymes, Realtor — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 05:16:27 +0000

Terms – This is one aspect of your Real Estate transaction that is the most over looked. Whether you want to negotiate a deeper discount on the price or you would like to have the seller make more repairs than they are willing to. These are terms of the transaction and whichever side I represent you on…. Terms Rule…. Your interests are the reason we are in Business and as my client I will use my Expertise/Experience as a CNE (Certified Negotiation Expert) Designated Realtor in guiding you through the best possible Real Estate Transaction.

"Understanding Contract Terms for Real Estate" was originally posted as a blog post at RREA.com on January 2, 2012.

Fannie Mae: No Evictions During Holidays!

Shannon Register, Broker/Owner — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:48:59 +0000

FANNIE MAE: NO EVICTIONS DURING HOLIDAYS WASHINGTON, D.C. (FannieMae.com) – Fannie Mae announced yesterday that it will suspend evictions of foreclosed single-family and two-to four-unit properties from December 19, 2011, through January 2, 2012. During this period, legal and administrative proceedings for evictions may continue, but families living in foreclosed properties will be permitted to remain in the home. Homeowners with Fannie Mae-backed loans can call 1-800-7FANNIE or visit www.knowyouroptions.com for information and resources on foreclosure prevention options, including contact information for the Fannie Mae Mortgage Help Center or a HUD-approved counseling agency in their area.

"Fannie Mae: No Evictions During Holidays!" was originally posted as a blog post at RREA.com on December 20, 2011.

Selling Homes in Texas with Social Media

Shannon Register, Broker/Owner — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 19:07:31 +0000

"Selling Homes in Texas with Social Media" was originally posted as a blog post at RREA.com on November 27, 2011.

10 Most Expensive Homes in Houston

Shannon Register, Broker/Owner — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 02:27:35 +0000

Houston is a great place to live! With more than our share of FORTUNE 500 companies headquartered in our great city, we have no shortage of palatial mansions and grandiose real estate. Below are the 10 most expensive homes currently for sale in the Houston metro area.

These beautiful homes are fun to look at, but might be just out of reach for most of us. Register Real Estate Advisors has agents standing by to show you your dream home and an in-house lender to get you qualified TODAY! Give us a call to get started. 28.288.3500

Showing properties 1 - 10 of 11. See more 10 Most Expensive Homes in Houston.
(all data current as of 2/10/2012)

$7,500,000 : 19021 Stuebner Airline Rd, Spring

2 beds, 1 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 1,382 sq ft

Lot size: 1.30 ac

Year built: 1950

Parking spots: 4

Days on market: 2

Listed with RE/MAX Northwest, REALTORS
$7,950,000 : 8802 Memorial Dr, Houston

5 beds, 5 full, 2 part baths

Home size: 9,768 sq ft

Lot size: 1.04 ac

Year built: 2007

Parking spots: 4

Days on market: 11

Listed with John Daugherty, REALTORS
$14,000,000 : 19 Grand Colonial Dr, The Woodlands

7 beds, 9 full, 4 part baths

Home size: 15,341 sq ft

Lot size: 4.73 ac

Year built: 2005

Parking spots: 4

Days on market: 85

Listed with Keller Williams Realty The Woodlands
$9,500,000 : 108 Timberwilde Ln, Houston

4 beds, 4 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 8,183 sq ft

Lot size: 2.81 ac

Year built: 1967

Parking spots: 3

Days on market: 116

Listed with John Daugherty, REALTORS
$7,900,000 : 11010 Country Squire St, Houston

6 beds, 7 full, 2 part baths

Home size: 11,735 sq ft

Lot size: 39,960 sq ft

Year built: 2011

Parking spots: 4

Days on market: 186

Listed with John Daugherty, REALTORS
$17,500,000 : 2945 Lazy Lane Bl, Houston

5 beds, 6 full, 2 part baths

Home size: 14,365 sq ft

Lot size: 4.89 ac

Year built: 1935

Parking spots: 3

Days on market: 249

Listed with John Daugherty, REALTORS
$8,900,000 : 4 Rivercrest, Houston

8 beds, 8 full, 2 part baths

Home size: 19,668 sq ft

Lot size: 3.80 ac

Year built: 2005

Parking spots: 6

Days on market: 253

Listed with Doug English Properties
$8,900,000 : 11682 Arrowwood Ci, Piney Point Village

6 beds, 9 full, 4 part baths

Home size: 17,178 sq ft

Lot size: 40,040 sq ft

Year built: 1997

Parking spots: 4

Days on market: 283

Listed with Greenwood King Properties
$7,800,000 : 1 Longfellow Ln, Houston

5 beds, 4 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 7,751 sq ft

Lot size: 2.05 ac

Year built: 1926

Parking spots: 3

Days on market: 351

Listed with John Daugherty, REALTORS
$19,000,000 : 88 Grand Regency Cir, The Woodlands

10 beds, 13 full, 5 part baths

Home size: 30,717 sq ft

Lot size: 4.21 ac

Year built: 2006

Parking spots: 6

Days on market: 414

Listed with Coleman Realty

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

"10 Most Expensive Homes in Houston" was originally posted as a blog post at RREA.com on November 21, 2011.

Houston Area Home Sales Rise For A Fourth Straight Month

Sheryl Hunter, Realtor — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 04:02:48 +0000

Houston is finally cooling off a bit but home sales remain hot. Sales of single family homes climbed nearly 17 percent compared to one year earlier and accounted for the fourth consecutive month of increased sales volume. The prices of those homes achieved all-time highs for a September in Houston. In addition, months of inventory fell to the lowest level since May 2010 while pending sales rose and active listings declined. All are considered signs of a healthy and balanced housing market.

"Houston Area Home Sales Rise For A Fourth Straight Month" was originally posted as a blog post at RREA.com on November 17, 2011.

Crooks find new ways to prey on home woes

Jay Richardson, Realtor — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 03:20:56 +0000

Watch Out! An old axiom states, “The more things change, the more they stay the same”. Crooks and scam artists find new ways to separate you from your money or good name. This article by Amy Hoaks brings you up to speed on some of the new moves from the thieves.

Link to original article HERE.

CHICAGO (MarketWatch) — Fraudsters find a way to scam lenders and homeowners out of money no matter how the housing market is faring, but in recent years they’ve shifted their tactics to profit from the market’s downturn.

Today, there’s less identity fraud and misrepresentation of income or employment to obtain a mortgage, mainly because stricter validation criteria when a borrower applies for a loan makes that strategy much less successful, said David Johnson, vice president of fraud and consortium solutions for CoreLogic, a provider of financial, property and consumer information.

But other types of fraud are replacing those scams. Some schemes target distressed homeowners who are looking for a way to save their home from foreclosure. Another tactic: Profiting off of short sales at the expense of the lender.
Foreclosure rescue

Schemes that prey on struggling homeowners heading toward foreclosure are still prevalent, even years into the foreclosure crisis, said Yolanda McGill, senior counsel for the Fair Housing and Fair Lending Project of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

“It’s a crime of opportunity. A lot of people who are participating in this are probably long-term schemers and this is the cash cow right now,” McGill said. “They’re going to ride the train and milk it for all it’s worth. You have an enormous pool of distressed homeowners.”

Scammers use various pitches. Some say they can prepare your documents for you as you try for a loan modification; others claim to be an attorney or say they are working with an attorney. Often, these offers sound legitimate, echoing some of the same language used by big government programs and lenders to gain a homeowner’s trust.

They offer a service, take the homeowner’s money, then disappear, McGill said.

But the Mortgage Assistance Relief Services Rule, in effect since January, prohibits firms offering mortgage-modification or mortgage-relief assistance to accept up-front fees, McGill said, so homeowners should never pay before services are rendered. There’s an exception for attorneys, causing some scammers to pose as representatives of law offices, she said.

Other fraudsters get homeowners to sign a quit-claim deed, which transfers ownership of the home to the scammer, who promises the homeowner a situation where he or she will be able to remain in the house, McGill said. In a newer scam, those who have already lost their homes are being approached to pay money to get the home back, she said.

“The scams are going to morph, but the message really needs to be: Don’t give anyone money to help you with this,” she said. Instead, seek out a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-approved housing counselor and your servicer, she said.
Short-sale fraud

A short sale can be a lifeline for a distressed homeowner heading for foreclosure. That’s because in a short sale the lender accepts a lower mortgage payoff when the homeowner owes more than the home is currently worth.

But fraudsters have found ways to make a profit off these deals. CoreLogic estimates that suspicious short-sale transactions may cost lenders as much as $375 million a year.

"Crooks find new ways to prey on home woes" was originally posted as a blog post at RREA.com on November 16, 2011.

The Woodlands Real Estate Sales in Area Markets

Shannon Register, Broker/Owner — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 22:24:43 +0000

THE WOODLANDS – The following reflect data for monthly home sales in the The Woodlands area markets.

**The Woodlands Area Monthly Home Sales**
Month	Number Sold / Average Price
Month	77380	77381	77382	77384	77385	77386	77389
Aug. 2011	22 / $402,399	62 / $319,909	85 / $434,301	21 / $207,993	17 / $152,427	70 / $206,705	51 / $333,781
Aug. 2010	16 / $315,102	58 / $311,434	70 / $55,692	13 / $270,351	23 / $184,466	62 / $212,814	42 / $372,041
July 2011	18 / $241,463	62 / $294,546	98 / $372,758	21 / $227,566	30 / $162,286	80 / $200,626	50 / $330,376
June 2011	21 / $277,228	60 / $321,929	100 / $471,185	23 / $262,001	36 / $153,462	93 / $181,857	50 / $305,985
May 2011	24 / $480,214	62 / $363,148	63 / $427,020	19 / $261,168	22 / $152,958	71 / $181,820	44 / $292,776
April 2011	16 / $286,834	50 / $323,327	61 / $380,175	24 / $237,895	22 / $171,610	74 / $198,298	32 / $306,066
March 2011	25 / $233,562	39 / $388,044	51 / $617,020	19 / $247,531	19 / $155,272	73 / $199,459	42 / $298,982

Source: Mark Dimas, The Professional Group Realty

"The Woodlands Real Estate Sales in Area Markets" was originally posted as a blog post at RREA.com on November 9, 2011.

WBM #33 – Selling Your Home Safely

Meyosha Scott, Realtor — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 22:53:00 +0000

Hey guys! Meyosha here with this week’s White Board Monday.

The process of selling your home is by nature very intrusive. Strangers are coming into your home, walking around, and gaining access to your living area. There are some things you can do to ensure that the process happens as safely as possible.

I hope you enjoy and don’t forget to call or email if you have any real estate need. meyosha@rrea.com

"WBM #33 – Selling Your Home Safely" was originally posted as a blog post at RREA.com on October 10, 2011.

Champions Park North – Houston, TX 77069 Market Activity Report

Sheryl Hunter, Realtor — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 15:17:47 +0000

(Transactions During Past 9 Months Ending 9/7/2011)

Here’s a look back on the real estate market in Champions Park North.
4 Homes Sold
4 Homes Pending
9 Homes Currently Active
If you are relocating, moving, or need to sell your home, pricing is key in Champions Park North. Aggressive marketing and competitive sq. foot numbers will get your home noticed.
If you are considering buying a home, look no further for great buying opportunities. Interest rates are still very attractive, so now might be your best opportunity for home buying in Champions Park North.
If I can assist you in your home buying or selling in Champions Park North, please don’t hesitate to call me! Email at Sheryl@rrea.com

If you are not familiar with the area, here is a brief introduction.

Here are some of the homes currently for sale in Champions Park North

Showing properties 1 - 8 of 8. See more Homes for sale in Champions Park North.
(all data current as of 2/10/2012)

$360,000 : 6807 Champion Village, Houston

4 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 3,841 sq ft

Lot size: 15,218 sq ft

Year built: 1991

Parking spots: 2

Days on market: 16

Listed with Heritage Texas Properties
$289,900 : 6911 Penny Ct, Houston

5 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 4,180 sq ft

Lot size: 9,851 sq ft

Year built: 1993

Parking spots: 2

Days on market: 29

Listed with Prudential Gary Greene, REALTORS
$297,000 : 14010 Haynes Dr, Houston

4 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 3,397 sq ft

Lot size: 8,625 sq ft

Year built: 1989

Parking spots: 2

Days on market: 31

Listed with Prudential Gary Greene, REALTORS
$290,000 : 6838 Cherry Hills Rd, Houston

4 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 3,228 sq ft

Lot size: 8,510 sq ft

Year built: 1989

Parking spots: 2

Days on market: 38

Listed with Prudential Gary Greene, REALTORS
$299,900 : 6923 Amber Ct, Houston

4 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 3,776 sq ft

Lot size: 9,600 sq ft

Year built: 1995

Parking spots: 2

Days on market: 39

Listed with Heritage Texas Properties
$349,000 : 6918 Penny Ct, Houston

4 beds, 4 full, 2 part baths

Home size: 4,016 sq ft

Lot size: 9,720 sq ft

Year built: 1992

Parking spots: 2

Days on market: 50

Listed with Congress Realty, Inc.
$229,900 : 7030 Napier Ln, Houston

4 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 3,873 sq ft

Lot size: 14,197 sq ft

Year built: 1992

Parking spots: 2

Days on market: 81

Listed with Heritage Texas Properties
$286,000 : 6819 Prairie Dunes, Hou

4 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 3,759 sq ft

Lot size: 12,468 sq ft

Year built: 1991

Parking spots: 2

Days on market: 941

Listed with Texas United Realty

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

"Champions Park North – Houston, TX 77069 Market Activity Report" was originally posted as a blog post at RREA.com on September 10, 2011.