Register Real Estate Advisors » Realtor

Texas Existing Home Sales Up 4%

Shannon Register, Broker/Owner — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:07:41 +0000

COLLEGE STATION (Real Estate Center) – Sales of existing single-family Texas homes in December were up 4 percent from a year ago, according to the most recent Multiple Listing Services (MLS) data compiled by the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University.

More than 16,500 homes were sold, data showed. The median home price was $150,700, about the same as a year ago, and the state’s overall inventory was at six months.

December 2011 MLS data for many Texas cities are available on the Center’s website. Here is a sampling (data current as of Jan. 30, 2012):

	Sales	Change from Last Year	Median Price	Change from Last Year	Months’ Inventory
Austin	1,738	up 11%	$188,200	down 2%	4.2
Beaumont	151	up 2%	$114,000	down 14%	11.1
Brownsville	39	down 33%	$86,800	down 22%	12.4
Dallas	3,315	up 3%	$162,800	up 1%	4.7
El Paso	420	down 9%	$97,900	down 27%	7
Fort Worth	645	up 5%	$112,500	down 6%	5.2
Houston	5,048	up 7%	$160,400	up 2%	5.9
Midland	134	up 17%	$184,000	down 1%	3.3
San Antonio	1,393	up 3%	$148,400	down 6%	6.6
Sherman- Denison	84	up 22%	$96,700	up 3%	8.8
Temple- Belton	115	up 4%	$120,700	down 13%	7.9
Tyler	198	down 5%	$130,800	up 1%	11.4
Victoria	74	up 37%	$131,100	down 2%	3.8
Waco	153	up 2%	$116,200	down 1%	9
Wichita Falls	81	down 31%	$102,300	down 9%	7.6
Texas	16,505	up 4%	$150,700	no change	6

"Texas Existing Home Sales Up 4%" was originally posted as a blog post at RREA.com on February 7, 2012.

Top 10 List – How Does a Home Buyer Find the Right Builder?

Shannon Register, Broker/Owner — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:55:33 +0000

Ever wonder how to find the right builder to build your family a home? Below are my Top 10 recommendations for finding the builder that is right for you! If you would like to purchase a home, RREA has many experienced and seasoned Realtors that can help you and there is no cost to you. Your builder will pay our commission! Call RREA today to find the Realtor that best meets your real estate needs – 281.288.3500.

10. Use a Realtor! Realtor’s comply to a strict Code of Ethics and are licensed by the state. They have a fiduciary responsibility to protect your best interest in a transaction. Builders do not fall under this Code of Ethics. They are looking out for their best interest, and many times have their attorneys write their contracts for them.

9. Find the areas of town you want to live in and interview the builders that will build in those areas.

8. Get Pre-Approved for your Financing or have a letter from your financial institution stating how much home you can afford to buy.

7. Figure out the type of home you want – ranch style, basement, two story, patio home, etc.

6. If your Realtor is a member of the Greater Houston Home Builders Association they have access to the list of builders who construct homes in the area. All of the Realtors at Register Real Estate Advisors has access to this membership list.

5. Once you have narrowed down a list of builders, see some of the homes they have under construction and some that have been completed. Ask for testimonials from their clients or references.

4. Before picking a floorplan, walk through as many new homes as you can. You can do this by attending open houses or visiting new communities. This way you can see the differences between builders and find ideas you want to incorporate in your new home. Check out the quality of the homes and see what building trends they use (bay windows, art niches, etc.)

3. Remember that you will be picking your tiles, carpet, countertops, paint, appliances, and much more. When touring homes and looking at magazines, inspect these items to find out what you like best. Take lots of notes to share with your builder and photos if possible. Ask lots of questions!

2. Your goal should be to find a builder you trust and feel comfortable talking to. You will have a close relationship during the months that your home is being built.

1. When you finally pick your builder, ask about his company history, experience, philosophy, and building and payment process. Talk with the builder at length about what your expectations are for the new home.

"Top 10 List – How Does a Home Buyer Find the Right Builder?" was originally posted as a blog post at RREA.com on January 25, 2012.

Real Estate Market Trends for Houston, Texas

Shannon Register, Broker/Owner — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:14:09 +0000

November 2011 real estate search results are in and Houston, TX was the #27 most searched market in the country in November 2011, based on data released today by Realtor.com, the #1 homes for sale real estate web site. The Median list prices for homes in Houston, TX hit $174,500 in November 2011, a 2.79% increase from one year ago this month, and -0.20% decrease from October 2011. The national median list price in November 2011 was $189,900, a 4.05% increase compared to November 2010. Active for sale inventory of homes in Houston, TX in November 2011 leveled out at 24,561, a -21.68% decrease compared to November 2010. National inventory counts for November 2011 were 2,014,352, a -21.30% decrease as compared to a year ago. The median age of inventory in Houston, TX in November was 91 days, a 2.25% increase compared to October 2011. Nationally, the median age of inventory was 114 days, a 3.64% increase compared to October.

"Real Estate Market Trends for Houston, Texas" was originally posted as a blog post at RREA.com on January 25, 2012.

What Are the Benefits of Home Ownership?

Shannon Register, Broker/Owner — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:11:59 +0000

First of all, home ownership is the American Dream. It’s creating a home for your family with potential finacial rewards in the future. How can you benefit in the future from home ownership? Appreciation. Usually land and homes appreciate in value over time. Historically, your home will be worth more in the future than when you purchased it, but you can’t sell it the year after you purchase it. It’s considered a long term investment. As your home appreciates and you have been paying down the mortgage, you can use the equity in your home to move to a more expensive or nicer home. Or move to a smaller home and use that equity to pay off bills, pay for a child’s college, or fund your retirement. It gives you some flexibility for your future. If you don’t want to sell the home, you can still tap into the equity by refinancing or getting a home equity loan to remodel or make a large purchase. Basically, you can leverage your property. This is just another benefit of home ownership. Lastly, you get tax breaks when you own a home. You can deduct property taxes and mortgage interest. Owning a home has always been a wise investment. If you would like to know more about the benefits of home ownership, please call Register Real Estate Advisors at 281.288.3500 where we can advise you on purchasing land, a home, or any residential or commercial property. Our Realtors fall under a strict code of ethics and can help you make the best financial decision for your family!

"What Are the Benefits of Home Ownership?" was originally posted as a blog post at RREA.com on January 19, 2012.

What Should a New Homeowner Do?

Shannon Register, Broker/Owner — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:30:03 +0000

As a new homeowner, what should you do? Ever wonder what’s important after you move in?

Most likely your builder gave you a homeowner’s book or guide for your new house. Shortly after unpacking and settling into your new home, you should make a home maintenance checklist. There are many systems in a new home that will require checking and testing regularly. Some will need maintenance and repairs each year. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has a Home Maintenance Checklist that you can download from their website www.hud.gov. It provides guidelines for keeping your home dry, clean, well-ventilated, free from contaminants, pest-free, safe and well-maintained. This, plus your builder’s guide, should help you maintain your new home.

Next, protect your home from breakins. Make sure you re-key your new locks. If there is no glass in your front door, install a peep hole so you don’t have to open the door to see who is knocking. Secure sliding glass doors with a long stick in the track that will prevent the door from sliding open. Make sure all entrances to the home are well lit areas. As your new shrubs grow, prune them so noone can hide in them.

Make a wildfire checklist of items to pack in case of wildfire in Texas. Also, you will want to have a hurricane evacuation checklist, as Texas has a large coast. Keep an emergency first aid kit and survival kit in case of a disaster. Plan for services to be turned off (sewage, power, gas, electricity, water, telephones, and mobile devices.) The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends stockpiling at least three days worth of food and water for your family. Their website www.ready.gov offers a list of items to include in a basic emergency preparedness kit, as well as guidelines on food and water storage and protecting yourself from airborne contaminants.

You should confirm that you have adequate insurance coverage, although if you went through a lender for a mortgage, they most likely confirmed your coverage. However, if you paid cash, you will be the only one reviewing your policy to make sure you have enough coverage.

Most new homes are very energy efficient. To save money on utilities you can still check your bulbs for necessary improvements. If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, you may want to consider changing yours out. Also, adding attic insulation and wrapping water pipes and water heaters can save on power bills. The U.S. Department of Energy has an online Home Energy Saver™ tool for homeowners at www.hes.lbl.gov that recommends energy-saving upgrades that are appropriate for the home, the climate and local energy prices.

"What Should a New Homeowner Do?" was originally posted as a blog post at RREA.com on January 16, 2012.

Texas Veterans Land Board

Shannon Register, Broker/Owner — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:14:24 +0000

RREA will be hosting a $10 MCE Class on Tuesday, January 16th at our 1614 Louetta Road location next to Specs. The Texas Veterans Land Board will be providing training to Realtors, free marketing materials, adding Realtors to their website, and more. All Realtors are invited to join us at 9:30 for this great training and breakfast. No RSVP reqired, we look forward to seeing you tomorrow! Hope you will come join us!

"Texas Veterans Land Board" was originally posted as a blog post at RREA.com on January 16, 2012.

Can’t Choose a Better Place to Relocate than Shadow Creek Ranch in Pearland, Texas

Laquitta Walker, Realtor — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 01:34:26 +0000

Shadow Creek Ranch is located in the City of Pearland, just minutes away from Houston’s downtown and Texas Medical Center. It is located on the highway 288 corridor just South of Beltway 8 and is near many hospitals, day care facilities, and churches. Exciting News for travelers! It is just minutes away from Hobby Airport. This community has lots of amenities and entertainment for your family to enjoy. Check this out! It has the Diamond Bay Water Park and two recreation centers, Reflection Bay Recreation Center and Emerald Bay Recreation Center. There is also a 22 mile hike and bike network, and a town center with shopping and dinning. Can’t ask for anything better then living in Shadow Creek Ranch!

"Can’t Choose a Better Place to Relocate than Shadow Creek Ranch in Pearland, Texas" was originally posted as a blog post at RREA.com on January 15, 2012.

Maintenance Tips for New Homeowners

Shannon Register, Broker/Owner — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 17:54:32 +0000

As a member of the GHBA, RREA received the Houston Custom Home Builders Resource Guide. The article below was reprinted from an article in the 2011 Resource Guide. I felt it was very informative for consumers and wanted to share it with you so when you purchase a new home, you will know how to maintain it. It’s very important that you maintain the home so that the warranty will work in your favor. I hope you enjoy this information:

Maintaining a clean home is one way to ensure its longevity. Here are some tips for properly maintaining some of the systems in your new home.

Heating and Cooling Systems

Late summer or early fall are the ideal times to do an annual inspection and cleaning of these systems.
Change or wash the filters every three months.
If you have a gas furnace, keep your pilot light burning during the summer to help keep the furnace dry and prevent corrosion.
Registers help regulate the flow of air and maintain the desired temperature in your home. Keep registers closed in rooms you don’t use to save on cooling/heating costs.

Plumbing

Every member of your family should know where the intake valves are located. Label each one.
If any of your appliances develop a leak, inspect your drain trap. A partially clogged drain can cause overflow. Use a plunger or a plumber’s snake to unclog the drain. If you need to, use boiling water to help unclog a partially opened drain. Call a plumber if these techniques don’t work.
A worn washer, a loose part in a faucet or steam in a hot water pipe are generally the causes of a noisy pipe. Do not hesitate to repair the noise—vibrations can follow the noise and lead to leaks.

Gutters and Downspouts

Clear away leaves, tree limbs and other debris from gutters and downspouts.
Turn the downspouts away from your home’s foundation.
Every four to six years, paint gutters that are not made of aluminum or vinyl to help prevent rust.

Remember to read the instruction manual for every appliance in your new home. The manuals provide recommended cleaning and maintenance schedules. Also familiarize yourself with any warranties you have on both the house and its systems. Some warranties may be voided if problems arise because of failure to perform routine maintenance.

"Maintenance Tips for New Homeowners" was originally posted as a blog post at RREA.com on January 15, 2012.

As the Seasons Change, Don’t “Fall” Prey to a Scam

Shannon Register, Broker/Owner — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 06:09:10 +0000

Trulia is one of the most widely visited real estate sites in the country, but it now has a similar problem for REALTORS® as we had experienced on craigslist.com.

The general scam takes a property that is listed for sale and posts it as being for rent at some ridiculously low price (for example, a house that is listed for sale but would rent for $3,000 per month is posted as being available for $1,200 per month). It makes it so attractive to visitors to the sites that they jump on the great deal. Again, it usually involves emailing back and forth with the “owner” who is out of the country for some honorable reason, and they ask the prospective renter (of the house that isn’t really for rent) to wire them the first and last month’s rent. They say they will overnight the keys to them as soon as they receive confirmation of the money transfer. Obviously, no keys ever arrive, and the consumer is out potentially thousands of dollars.

This is a Reprint of an Excerpt of an Article by Matt Burrus in the October 2011 Houston Realtor®Magazine

"As the Seasons Change, Don’t “Fall” Prey to a Scam" was originally posted as a blog post at RREA.com on January 15, 2012.

Texas Poised to Outpace Nation (Again)

Shannon Register, Broker/Owner — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 05:26:21 +0000

COLLEGE STATION (Real Estate Center) – Texas’ economic outlook for 2012 is positive. Job growth is occurring in several sectors, and a low cost of living is enticing businesses to move to the Lone Star State.

It will be tougher going for the nation, however, because of several factors. The housing market needs to clear a high number of foreclosures. Consumers need to pay off their debt. The banking system needs to write off bad debt. Small businesses need to start hiring again.

Writing for the January issue of Tierra Grande magazine, Real Estate Center Chief Economist Dr. Mark Dotzour says, “Fortunately, Texas is poised to outperform the U.S. averages. Home sales volume in Texas should show modest improvement over 2011, and prices should be stable throughout 2012.” Dotzour’s economic outlook is titled “Texas Sails On: Nation Battles Headwinds.”

Other articles detailing findings from the nation’s largest publicly funded real estate research organization are in the issue scheduled for mailing in late January.

“Beyond a Reasonable Drought” by noted agricultural expert Dr. Joe Outlaw and Center Research Economist Dr. Charles Gilliland. Farmers, ranchers and service businesses that support them are suffering negative effects of the drought. To make matters worse, federal agricultural programs are on the chopping block to reduce the deficit.
“The Great Recession: Why Intensity and Duration Varied” by Center Research Economist Dr. Ali Anari. Why did some Texas metros fare better in the Great Recession? Results from the Center’s business cycle research program pinpoint several reasons. These included shares of employment in the government sector, education and health services industry, mining and construction industry, and the metro’s level of educational attainment.
“Dialing Down Debt: Road to Recovery Begins at Home” by Center Research Analyst Gerald Klassen. It will hurt, but American households will have to liquidate their assets and reduce debt if they want the economy to recover. This means selling luxury items including vacation homes, boats and RVs, as well as selling investments, declaring bankruptcy or suffering through foreclosure.
“For the Record: When to Toss Old Tax Records” by Center Research Fellow Dr. Jerrold Stern. At a minimum, tax records should be kept three years. However, a period of seven or more years is recommended. Tax and nontax factors play a role in the decision.
“Vested Rights: Project Protection for Developers” by Houston attorney Reid C. Wilson. Vested rights freeze land use regulations affecting property classification, building size, lot size-dimension-coverage and certain other matters once the owner or developer files a permit application for that project.
“The Trouble with Troubled Assets” by Center Research Economist Dr. Harold Hunt. The volume of distressed property sales was expected to be much higher by this time. So far, everyone is still waiting. However, according to commercial real estate insiders, distressed sales are on the way up.
“Terminated: Transfer Fees Outlawed” by Center legal expert Judon Fambrough. Transfer fees, money paid for transferring interest in real property, were implemented in 2007 legislation. Four years later, that law was repealed, prohibiting any future transfer fees and terminating existing fees that do not comply with the new legal requirements.

"Texas Poised to Outpace Nation (Again)" was originally posted as a blog post at RREA.com on January 15, 2012.