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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.

As a Green designated realtor I am always searching for new updates in the Green market with new homebuilders.  This week I sat down with a local Houston builder and talked about the Green features that go into their homes, The builder is GreenECO, the builders representative, Jeff and I talked quite extensively about the Green features that were added in the building of their homes.  

We started with the roof, as you know the roof has the sun beaming down on it all day so GreenECO uses an LP product called TechShield. This is a standard feature that is used in the designing your roof that reduces the heat entering your attic by up to 17 percent. This product has a radiant barrier built into the other side of the roof decking that is facing your attic, the radiant barrier is perforated to allow the exchange or flow of moisture that occurs during the building process which will stop the growth of mold. TechShield is also an energy star product and if you click on the hyperlinks above it will take you to the LP website and show you in detail the Green features that were used in the design and development of the their product.

When consumers’ think of Green the first thing they tend to think of are windows.  This is the feature that impressed me the most with GeenECO. Most new homebuilders will keep the window orders the same for the whole community.  GreenECO orders windows by home so when the technology changes they are at the forefront of ECO change.  The window will look the same on the outside but might have a different ECO footprint inside.  The reason for this is the window industry is constantly improving the efficiency of windows and as a Green homebuilder they will pass on the new efficiencies to you the homeowner.  

I will continue in future blogs with more Green tips and more Green features that are in GreenECO homes and if you or your friends are interested in seeing a GreenECO home you can contact me at jack@rrea.com or 936.777.2265

Below is a moving checklist that was reprinted from an article in the REBAC Magazine which I receive monthly because I am an Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR.)  I really like this checklist because it includes time frames up to 8 weeks before your move so you can plan ahead.

Moving into your new home is a big job.  The further you plan in advance, the smoother it will go.  This list contains most of the big tasks you’ll need to do and suggested timeframes.  Depending on your situation, you might be able to delete (or may need to add) some items.

8 WEEKS BEFORE

Call moving companies for estimates.

Remove and dispose of unnecessary possessions.

Start compiling an inventory of your possessions.

Get a floor plan (with room dimensions) of your new home to help you decide which furnishings you want to keep and which room they will go in.

Start a file of moving-related papers and receipts.

Locate schools, healthcare professionals and hospitals in your new location.

Arrange to transfer your children’s school records and family medical records.

6 WEEKS BEFORE

Secure off-site storage.

Choose a mover and sign contract.

Contact your homeowner’s insurance agent about coverage for moving and secure more.

Contact insurance companies (auto, homeowner’s, medical, and life) to arrange for coverage in your new home.

4 WEEKS BEFORE

Create a file of important papers, such as auto license, registration documents and title; any medical, dental and school records; birth certificates, wills, deeds, stock certificates, and other financial documents.

Notify the following of your change of address:

• Post office
• Banks
• Credit card companies
• Relatives and friends
• Insurance agent, lawyer, tax/financial advisor
• Magazine subscriptions

Notify utility companies of date to discontinue/transfer service and/or establish service at your new home.  Also arrange for final readings and bills, including refunds on prepaid services.

• Electric
• Heating oil
• Internet service
• Natural gas
• Telephone
• Television
• Trash collection
• Water

Notify your state’s department of motor vehicles of your new address.

If moving from an apartment, arrange for refund of your security deposit.

Discontinue additional home services (housekeeper, gardener/lawn service, snow removal, and pool cleaner).

Start using up things you can’t move, such as perishables.

3 WEEKS BEFORE

Make travel plans.

Make arrangements with condo or homeowner’s association to reserve elevator usage time if moving into or out of a high rise building.

Arrange to close existing bank accounts and open new accounts in new area.

Arrange for child care on moving day.

2 WEEKS BEFORE

Arrange special transport for your pets and plants.

Contact your moving company and review arrangements for your move.

1 WEEK BEFORE

Pack moving-essential boxes—important documents, travel clothes, personal items and prescription medications.

2-3 DAYS BEFORE

Confirm all final arrangements with your mover and other service providers.

Did you know there are new homes and recreation in The Woodlands’ Village of Sterling Ridge? May Valley is 400 acres located inside of Sterling Ridge which is located in The Woodlands, Texas. This area includes prices from the $180’s – $550’s. Some of the homebuilders include DR Horton, Highland, Lennar, Trendmaker, and Village Builders. Within May Valley there are several neighborhoods including Almondell, Clare Point, Golden Orchard, Hawkhurst, Hearthshire, and Vershire. Most of the home sites are over one acre. Some of the builders are offering solar power while others offer home automation systems. This area of The Woodlands feeds into Magnolia’s school system. There is a large park within the community. Other amenities include a splash area, pavilion, playgrounds, tennis courts, and streams.

Did you know that over the past year, according to the Houston MLS, we have more people renting than in years past. If you want to invest in real estate, it’s better to put a renter in the house than flip it. Many of the short sale and foreclosures on the market currently require that you own the property for a certain amount of time before you can flip it, so it’s better to go ahead and rent it out. The rental payments can pay down your loan and the property can be used as leverage to purchase more investment properties. Call us today at RREA if you want to learn more about investing in real estate to supplement your future income. Our agents would love to help you become an investor and take advantage of the rising rental market we live in today.

Buying and Selling Houses has become more complicated in recent years. Changes in the economy have brought about new laws, regulations, and a more conservative mortgage industry. The National Association of Realtors has statistics that show that when homeowners sell with a Realtor instead of doing a For Sale By Owner sale they get more money for their property. When purchasing, be sure you have someone on your side protecting you. Selling or buying a home is one of the biggest decisions many consumers make. Be sure to contact an experienced Realtor who can look out for you and your interests and be by your side each step of the way to make your next real estate purchase or sell a great one!

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.

If you are looking to purchase a home in The Woodlands or Spring area, go to RREA.tv to watch all of our neighborhood videos. We have created videos of most of The Woodlands and Spring communities and villages. You can see from the videos what amenities are available and how the homes look from the street. We usually add price ranges and information about the schools and surrounding areas in the videos. Choosing an area of town and narrowing down the right neighborhood for you and your family will depend greatly on your personal needs and wants. It is helpful if you make a list of your top criteria for a home so we can help you narrow down communities into a prioritized list. If you are not currently working with a Realtor, please call us at RREA. Our agents can help you with all of your buying and selling needs. We would like to help you choose your next community and find a great fit for your family. When it comes to real estate – we know our market!

Do you need to sell your home? Are you planning to purchase a home in the Houston area? Either way, now is a great time! Right now, interest rates remain low. Indictors predict they will be rising soon. So now might be the best time to purchase before rates go up. If you have good credit, stable income, and a down payment, it’s even a good time to qualify for a loan. In general, it’s usually more cost effective to buy rather than lease a home right now. On the other hand, if you are selling, it’s nice to know our Houston area home prices have not fluctuated a lot like the homes on a national level have gone down. According to the MLS, home prices are actually up now compared to last year at this time. The amount of inventory on the market has reduced, so there’s less competition on the market now. It’s a great time to consider buying or selling a home in the Houston area! Right now you can purchase more home for less money – so if you have been thinking about making a move – now could be the very best time! Call RREA today to find an agent that can meet all of your buying and selling needs.
There are a few things to consider when purchasing a home. You will need to consider factors like your finances, what areas of town you prefer to live in, proximity to your employment, and where you like to socialize. At RREA, our in house lender can pre-qualify you for your next home within twenty four hours. You can apply online anytime through our website.
Your lender will print off a list of your purchasing costs. Use that to compare lenders based on interest rates, fees, monthly expenses, and upfront costs. Our in house lender has a track record for saving our clients money on purchases. He works closely with our Realtors to find the best mortgage for your buying needs. It will take time to compile all of the necessary documents, so plan with your lender before the purchase. Lenders are asking for a lot of additional documentation these days.
The bottom line is that although now is a great time to buy or sell a home – you need someone on your side protecting your best interest. You need someone who understands the changes going on with new complicated laws, regulations, and a more conservative mortgage industry. The Realtors at RREA are very well educated on this changing market and can help protect you and maximize your savings when buying or selling a home.

Wondering why your neighbor that hasn’t paid a mortgage payment in a year is still living nextdoor or down the street from you?  You might not think it’s fair since you pay your mortgage payment every month, but Freddie Mac is allowing forebearance on mortgage payments for up to 12 months.  In some cases it’s longer than 12 months.  Freddie Mac is trying to help unemployed homeowners, hoping they will find employment and be able to keep thier home.  Below is an article about the help Freddie Mac is offering to homeowners.

By Ronald D. Orol