Register Real Estate Advisors

The kitchen is a focal point in your home, it’s a place where family and guests gather. So a major remodel should be as much of a lifestyle choice as it is an investment. A good rule of thumb is to keep the cost around 15% of your home value. As for your return, think in terms of recouping your expenses instead of how much can you make. Consider it a victory when you get 100% of your investment back, but most likely, that won’t be the case. 70% +/- of your investment is the more likely scenario.

If you are only doing the updates for resale purposes, the better option would be too deep clean, paint and change the appliances and faucets. Sweat equity is a real plus. For most, cleaning and painting is something they can do, good quality appliances are reasonably priced and relatively easy to replace. Most appliance retailers will deliver and install for a low fee. This kind of updating could see a return of as much as 150% of your investment. With either of these approaches, at the very least your home will likely sell faster and closer to your asking price.

I want to remind sellers about the home sale exclusion tax break in the IRS Code.  If you have owned a home and used it as a primary
residence for 24 months out of the last 60 months, and then you sell it, all the gain is tax free.  So, if you made a $35,000 profit, you would
NOT have to pay the $9,450 capital gain tax like you would have to on any other income.  What if you are a seller with a primary residence and need to sell but have lived there for less than two years?  Can you still get this tax credit?   If you had to move out of a house before the 2 years were up because of an unforeseen circumstance, then you can still get a partial tax break through a loop hole in the home exclusion tax break in the IRA Code.   What qualifies as an unforeseen circumstance?  An unforeseen circumstance would be a natural disaster, a change in employment, becoming self-employed, divorce or legal separation, and even multiple births from the same pregnancy.   So even if you are promoted or demoted at work, you can sell your house and take a partial tax break even if you have not lived in your primary residence for two years.  The same holds true if you start or discontinue self-employment.  So if your home has increased in value and you have lived there for less than two years, you could start up a tiny home based business just to qualify for this home sale exclusion tax break.  It’s that easy!  Now you don’t have to pay all that capital gains tax.  With any financial decision, you should consult your accountant.  This information is meant as a guide to help you in your real estate decisions.  We have many highly trained Realtors at RREA that are ready to help you with all of your real estate needs.  Call today to get started – 281.288.3500.

AUSTIN (Dallas Morning News) – State Farm Insurance has filed for higher rates and a new system for
calculating deductibles for Texas homeowners.

Proposed insurance rates are an average of 10 percent higher than current rates. However, State Farm officials said that several
discounts will be boosted to hold the actual premium hike to 2 percent in the Dallas area and 1.4 percent statewide.

Meanwhile, the new system of deductibles would eliminate dollar limits. The deductible would be 1 percent of the home’s insured value or
an optional higher percentage ranging up to 5 percent.

For example, policyholders who now have a $500 or $1,000 deductible would be subject to a 1 percent deductible on property damage or losses. That means the
deductible would jump to $2,000 for a home insured for $200,000.

State Farm’s higher rates and deductibles would take effect Oct. 15 for new customers and Dec. 1 for existing policyholders. The company currently
insures about 1.2 million Texas homeowners.

Spring Lakes in Spring, Texas is a wonderful gated community to call home.  Many home buyers have been pleased to find that Salyers Elementary School, located in Spring Independent School District, is a warm and inviting experience for students of this neighborhood.  If you are relocating from another area of Houston or across the world, moving to Spring Lakes with children is easy.  The elementary school right outside of the community has about 650 students and is rated Recognized.  The tenure average for their teachers is 7.5 years.  The community offers pools, tennis courts, volleyball courts, lakes with fountains, miles of walking trails, and so much more.  To view homes that are currently for sale in Spring Lakes, please call 281.288.3500 for a showing.  Below is a list of homes currently for sale in this gated community that can be easily accessed from I45 or the Toll Road.

Showing properties 1 - 14 of 14. See more Spring Lakes - Spring, TX 77373.
(all data current as of 5/22/2012)

1. $2,000 : MLS # 83222525 in Spring
   
   4 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 3,062 sq ft

   Lot size: 8,635 sqft

   Year built: 2009

   Parking spots: 3

   Days on market: 7

   Listed with RE/MAX Vintage
2. $229,900 : 25826 Sarah Springs Ct, Spring
   
   5 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 3,270 sq ft

   Lot size: 7,800 sqft

   Year built: 2003

   Parking spots: 3

   Days on market: 16

   Listed with The Taylor Group
3. $265,000 : 25603 Wrexham Springs Ct, Spring
   
   4 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 3,596 sq ft

   Lot size: 11,647 sqft

   Year built: 2004

   Parking spots: 3

   Days on market: 24

   Listed with Coldwell Banker United, REALTORS
4. $1,900 : 25415 China Springs, Spring
   
   4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 2,599 sq ft

   Lot size: 7,761 sqft

   Year built: 2001

   Parking spots: 2

   Days on market: 29

   Listed with Realty Associates
5. $164,900 : 935 Sierra Springs Ln, Spring
   
   4 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 2,232 sq ft

   Lot size: 6,719 sqft

   Year built: 2003

   Parking spots: 2

   Days on market: 32

   Listed with RE/MAX Fine Properties
6. $180,990 : 25818 Clear Springs Wa, Spring
   
   4 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 2,739 sq ft

   Lot size: 8,375 sqft

   Year built: 2001

   Parking spots: 2

   Days on market: 42

   Listed with Realty Right Texas, LLC
7. $2,400 : 25811 Coyote Springs Ct, Spring
   
   5 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 3,649 sq ft

   Lot size: 7,928 sqft

   Year built: 2002

   Parking spots: 3

   Days on market: 50

   Listed with Premier Real Estate Group
8. $150,000 : 919 Sierra Springs Ln, Spring
   
   3 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 2,101 sq ft

   Lot size: 6,538 sqft

   Year built: 2003

   Parking spots: 2

   Days on market: 50

   Listed with Texas Home Group, REALTORS
9. $235,000 : 25811 Coyote Springs Ct, Spring
   
   5 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 3,649 sq ft

   Lot size: 7,928 sqft

   Year built: 2002

   Parking spots: 3

   Days on market: 50

   Listed with Premier Real Estate Group
10. $1,600 : 25642 Myrtle Springs, Spring
    
    4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

    Home size: 2,294 sq ft

    Lot size: 5,314 sqft

    Year built: 1999

    Parking spots: 2

    Days on market: 111

    Listed with RE/MAX Northwest, REALTORS
11. $154,000 : 25502 Forest Springs Lake, Spring
    
    4 beds, 2 full baths

    Home size: 2,319 sq ft

    Lot size: 10,508 sqft

    Year built: 2005

    Parking spots: 2

    Days on market: 112

    Listed with RE/MAX Integrity
12. $205,000 : 519 Savannah Springs Wa, Spring
    
    4 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths

    Home size: 2,945 sq ft

    Lot size: 9,090 sqft

    Year built: 2003

    Parking spots: 2

    Days on market: 225

    Listed with Register Real Estate Advisors
13. $1,450 : 25502 Forest Springs Lake, Spring
    
    4 beds, 2 full baths

    Home size: 2,319 sq ft

    Lot size: 10,508 sqft

    Year built: 2005

    Parking spots: 2

    Days on market: 232

    Listed with RE/MAX Integrity
14. $192,000 : 25735 Beckham Springs Ct, Spring
    
    4 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths

    Home size: 3,587 sq ft

    Lot size: 7,723 sqft

    Year built: 2005

    Parking spots: 3

    Days on market: 233

    Listed with Register Real Estate Advisors

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

Join us this Thursday from 6-7pm at Register Real Estate Advisors for a Home Buyer Seminar. This seminar is for both first time home buyers and repreat home buyers. These can be resale home buyers and new construction home sales. If you have thought about purchasing a home you need to know about representation in the real estate market. You also need to know the process for buying a home. If you know someone that will benefit from a real estate seminar, please forward this information to them. The seminars will be held at 1614 Louetta Rd. Ste I Spring, Texas, 77388. These informative seminars will be hosted by Realtors and will sometimes have guest speakers such as Title Company Representatives, Lenders, Inspectors, Appraisers, and other industry experts. We hope you will attend and bring your questions!

HOUSTON (Metrostudy) – If you’re looking for the nation’s top master-planned communities, your best bet is Texas, particularly the Houston area.

A newstudy from Metrostudy indicates nine of the country’s 20 best master-planned communities are in the Lone Star State. Seven of those are in the Houston market.

One of my favorites in the Spring Market is Spring Trails.  You can find both resale homes and new homes in that community.

The Woodlands is also a master-planned community.  If you want to live farther north there is the all new Woodforest Development.

Placing second on the Houston-based firm’s list was Cinco Ranch in Fort Bend County, followed by The Woodlands in Montgomery County (third), Alamo
Ranch in Bexar County (fourth), Telfair in Fort Bend County (sixth), Bridgeland in Harris County (12th), Sienna Plantation in Fort Bend County (14th),
Riverstone in Fort Bend County (16th), Westridge in Collin County (17th) and Shadow Creek Ranch in Fort Bend County (19th).

What do these communities have in common? According to Metrostudy, they have healthier job markets and local economies; proximity to
employment centers and services; open space; amenities within walking distance; and town centers.

A press release issued by the firm said the results are based solely on a lot-by-lot housing survey, not on a phone
survey to individual developers or homebuilders.

By Bryan Pope, Associate Editor, Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University

Sept. 26, 2011

COLLEGE STATION, Tex. (Real Estate Center) – Texas continues to outperform the United
States in job creation, according to the Real Estate Center’s latest Monthly Review of the Texas Economy.

The state gained 271,400 nonfarm jobs from August 2010 to August 2011, an annual growth
rate of 2.6 percent compared with 1 percent for the United States. Texas jobs
created during that period accounted for 21.1 percent of nonfarm jobs created in the nation.

The state’s private sector grew by 284,200 jobs (3.3 percent) compared with 1.6 percent for
the U.S. private sector.

Texas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 8.5 percent in August 2011
from 8.3 a year earlier. The nation’s rate decreased from 9.5 to 9.1 percent.

All Texas industries except the information industry and the state’s government sector had
more jobs in August 2011 than in August 2010. The state’s mining and logging
industry ranked first in job creation followed by the construction,
professional and business services, and leisure and hospitality industries.

All Texas metro areas except Abilene and Texarkana had more jobs in August 2011 than a
year earlier. Victoria ranked first in job creation, followed by Odessa, Lubbock, McAllen-Edinburg-Mission and Midland.

The report was written by Research Economist Dr. Ali Anari and Chief Economist Dr. Mark
Dotzour.

Thinking about selling your home? Wondering if it’s a good time to sell your home? Join us at Register Real Estate Advisors in Spring, Texas this Thursday for a Seller’s Seminar. This seminar will discuss how our Realtors make your home stand out from the competition. They will explain home staging and home pricing for sellers. You’ll walk away with a better understanding of the home selling process and ready to list your home with one of our knowlegeable real estate advisors. Don’t even think about selling your home until you hear what we have to say about marketing houses! Join us this Thursday from 6-7pm for a Seller Seminar at 1614 Louetta Rd, Ste I, Spring, Texas 77388. Call for directions 281.288.3500 and our complete seminar schedule.

The article below was written by LaVonda M. Fletcher, State Farm® Agent, Spring, Texas.  Her office is in the same shopping center with RREA and we share some mutual clients.  I trust LaVonda and her staff to insure RREA and I highly recommend you get a quote from her next time you are shopping for home, auto, life, or health insurance.

This one goes in the category of those things we are planning to do when we get the time – making or updating a
home inventory.  It may not sound like an exciting activity, but in the event of a calamity such as a fire, burglary,
flood or tornado, a current home inventory can save a lot of time, money and frustration in the insurance settlement process.

Take this test.  Sit down and try to make a detailed list of what’s in each room of your dwelling.
It’s amazingly hard to remember all the “stuff” that accumulates—wall hangings, curtains, cookware, clothing, sports gear, jewelry, knick-knacks,
rugs, clocks, etc.  Get the picture?

This weekend, go ahead and face the situation.  Video or photo each room
and list major items on paper.  Record brand, model, date and amount of purchase, if possible (serial numbers are
important on some items).  Also, saving receipts on big-ticket items is always a good idea.

For antiques and jewelry, written descriptions or appraisals are important.
Don’t forget the closets, and remember, even your attic may be full of
valuables.

Finally, remember to update your inventory every year or so, and keep it in a safe location away from your dwelling.
Taking the time to make and update your inventory now, can help you in
working with your insurer later and maximizing your recovery should you have
the need.

1. Cleaning and De-cluttering, with an average cost of $290, which increased home sale price by $1,990.
2. Lightening and Brightening, with an average cost of $375, which increased home sale price by $1,550.
3. Home Staging, with an average cost of $550, which increased home sale price by $2,194.
4. Landscaping, with an average cost of $540, which increased home sale price by $1,932.
5. Repairing Electrical or Plumbing, with an average cost of $1,505, which increased home sale price by $1,505.

These are huge increases in return on investment! So if you are thinking about selling your home, you will want to think about these five things that you can do to raise the amount of money you will get when selling your home. If you are thinking about selling, our agents at RREA are well trained and experienced in helping consumers get a good return on their real estate investment! Call us today at 281.288.3500 or email info@rrea.com.