Register Real Estate Advisors

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) took a National Survey in May 2011 that showed that Americans look beyond the immediate housing market and see the lasting value of homeownership.  The survey found the following:

• 80% of homeowners polled would advise a close friend or family member to buy a home.
• 73% of non-homeowners polled said they have a goal to buy one.
• 74% of all respondents said owning a home is as important as being successful at their job or being able to pay for a family member’s education.
• 75% of all respondents said owning a home is still the best long-term investment that can be made.

COLLEGE STATION (Real Estate Center) – Travel in your way-back machine
to the year 1971, and what do you find? U.S. homes selling for an average $23,900;
40-cent-a-gallon gasoline; and workers earning an average annual income of
$10,600.

Walt Disney World opened that year in Florida, the voting age was lowered to
18 and cigarette ads were banned from television. Hidden among the headlines,
however, was an event that would change Texas real estate forever.

That year Gov. Preston Smith signed Senate Bill 338 creating the Texas Real
Estate Research Center.

Now, the story of the nation’s largest publicly funded real estate research
organization is no longer what a noted Realtor once called “the best kept
secret in Texas.” Learn
more about the past, present and future of the nationally famous
organization that has been helping Texans make better real estate decisions for
40 years.

When selling your home, the last thing you want to do is invest more into it, but in most cases making a few repairs or renovations to your home before putting it on the market can really be worth the financial and time investment. You want your home to look fresh, modern, and clean, and with a little work and money you can sometimes increase the value of your home by a considerable amount. Here are a few improvements that can really boost your home’s salability.

Fresh Coat Of Paint-Rooms with a fresh coat of paint look new and clean. You’ll want to keep the colors neutral and light, and this is a good opportunity to also make any repairs to ceilings and walls.

Flooring-Clean and polished hardwood floors or new carpeting is a big selling point for homes on the market. Again, if you plan on installing new flooring keep the colors neutral and the materials within the price range of the home in order to maximize your investment.

Kitchen Improvements-If your kitchen is outdated and your appliances old, then you may want to consider investing in some changes to this important room. A kitchen is often the major selling point of a home, and with a few cosmetic changes you can transform its appearance. Fresh paint, new cabinetry, and a modern sink and faucet can really make a huge difference in the appeal and asking price of your home.

Bathroom Improvements-Bathrooms, just like kitchens, can make a big difference in the price of your home if they are outdated and shabby in appearance. New fixtures and a fresh coat of paint can really improve your home’s appeal.

Exterior-Curb appeal is also an important point to remember when preparing your home for sale. You’ll want to fix any obvious exterior damage to your home and property, and consider adding some finishing touches such as flowers.

Overall, most of these improvements are relatively inexpensive compared to the increased value they can give your home. It is always a good idea to get the advice of a REALTOR® before going ahead, to ensure that you will get maximum profit from your improvement investment.

HOUSTON (Houston Real Estate Observer) – A new section of the Sam Houston Tollway could benefit developers in the northeast part of the city after it opens in the next few days.

The 13-mile extension, which Houston real estate writer Ralph Bivins said completes the outer loop ”only 59 years after it began,” will run from near Bush Intercontinental Airport at US 59 to the east and loop to the southeast to connect at US 90.

The northeast section of the city has produced steady growth over the years but nowhere near the high-velocity new development that the rest of the area has experienced. Some expect that to change.

“The proximity to the tollway will pay off,” said veteran Houston land broker Stan Creech. “More will happen out there in the next five years than has happened in the last 25 years.”

WACO (Waco Tribune) – According to research from the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, Texas’ rural land values dropped almost 7 percent last year statewide. However, several Central Texas counties had a 6 percent increase in land values.
The area made up of McLennan, Bosque, Hill, Coryell, Falls, Freestone, Limestone and Navarro counties had a median price per acre of $3,029 compared with the state median of $2,086.
Trey Hallmark, a broker for DuPerier Texas Landman, said the increase in land values in the northern sections of Central Texas were because of drilling deals in the Barnett Shale.
The Center also found that agricultural land, which is a separate category from rural land, has held or increased in value statewide.

COLLEGE STATION (Real Estate Center) – Texas is leading the United States in the current U-shaped economic recovery. The state’s economy experienced its second month of positive annual employment growth after 16 months of job losses.

 Texas’ annual employment growth rate was 0.9 percent from June 2009 to June 2010 compared with a negative rate of 0.1 percent for the nation. After 17 months of job losses, the state’s private sector posted a positive annual employment growth rate of 0.4 percent.

 The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose from 7.8 percent in June 2009 to 8.2 percent in June 2010, while the U.S. rate in June was 9.5 percent, the same as in June 2009.

 Six Texas industries — education and health services; mining and logging; professional and business services; leisure and hospitality; manufacturing; and transportation, warehousing, utilities — and the government sector had more jobs in June 2010 than in June 2009. Five other industries experienced net job losses over the same period.

Sixteen Texas metro areas experienced positive employment growth rates from June 2009 to June 2010, up from 13 for the period from May 2009 to May 2010. College Station-Bryan ranked first in job creation followed by San Angelo, McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood and Waco.

 The state’s actual unemployment rate in June 2010 was 8.5 percent. Midland had the lowest unemployment rate followed by Amarillo, Lubbock, San Angelo, Abilene and College Station-Bryan.

 The Real Estate Center’s complete economic review is available on the Center’s website.

This week Governor Rick Perry appointed two new public members to the Texas
Appraiser Licensing & Certification Board (TALCB); Mr. Malachi O. Boyuls of
Dallas and Ms. Sheryl Swift of Galveston. Mr. Robert D. Davis, Jr., currently a
public member on the Board, has been reappointed with a new term expiration of
January 31, 2012.
Mr. Boyuls is an associate in the Dallas office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP,
where he currently practices in the firm’s Litigation Department. Mr. Boyuls
received his law degree from New York University in 2006 and his undergraduate
degree in Religion and Philosophy from the University of Mary Hardin Baylor in
2002, where he was a member of the Crusader football team. Mr. Boyuls’ term
expires January 31, 2012 and he replaces Bill Schneider of Austin.
Ms. Swift is a Registered Texas Assessor Collector and is the Chief Deputy of
Operations with the Galveston County Tax Office, where she supervises all fund
related operations within the main and branch offices. In addition, Ms. Swift is
responsible for training all management staff on the Operations team. She has been
with Galveston County since December 2000. Ms. Swift’s term expires January 31,
2011, and she replaces Danny Perkins of Houston.
“I am very happy to welcome Mr. Boyuls and Ms. Swift to the Board and look
forward to working with them on the many challenges facing the appraiser
profession in Texas,” commented TALCB Chairman, James “Jaime” Ratliff. “At
the same time, while we are sorry that Mr. Schneider and Mr. Perkins are leaving,
we sincerely thank them for their many years of dedication and service.”
Also new to the agency is Mr. Steven Leipsner of Lakeway who has been appointed
as the sole public member to the statutory TREC Broker-Lawyer Committee. His
term ends in 2015.
The agency welcomes these new appointees!

HOUSTON (Bank of New York Mellon Corp.) – Atlanta-based RCG Ventures LLC and URDANG have purchased the 180,000-sf, 99 percent occupied Louetta Central Shopping Center in Houston.
“We were attracted to this center due to the combination of location, access, visibility and quality of tenancy,” said Mike McMillen, principal of RCG Ventures. “Louetta is located in the center of northern Houston’s economic drivers, and we believe the asset is well positioned to capitalize on northern Houston’s future employment and population growth.”

1. An Agent You can Count On
Your home may be your biggest personal investment. One of the most important decisions you’ll make when selling your home is who you will trust to assist you. You should put the sale of your home in the hands of an experienced agent who’ll produce results for you. RE/MAX Sales Associates will put their experience to work for you to improve your odds of getting your home sold for the best price in the shortest time. This requires specialized skills and knowledge:
Knowing the market
Pricing your home correctly
Staging your home, inside and out, for maximum impact
Marketing to deliver maximum exposure of your home
Negotiating the offer to deliver the best deal
Navigating inspections, appraisals and the details
Successfully closing the deals

2. An Expert at Your Side
RE/MAX Sales Associates are professionals who are committed to you and possess the knowledge and experience to help you navigate today’s complex real estate market.
RE/MAX Sales Associates lead the industry in professional designations, which means they have expertise in specialized areas, including foreclosures, short sales, the luxury real estate market, working with Seniors and many others. With access to online, on-demand training in every facet of real estate, they are up to date on emerging trends and issues.

3. Marketing for Maximum Exposure
Looking for more potential buyers to find your property? A RE/MAX Sales Associate can help your home stand out in a very competitive marketplace through trust-generating yard signs, local and national advertising, and Internet and compelling marketing materials.

4. It’s All in the Details
Pricing, staging, and marketing are the first steps in successfully selling your home, but closing the deal requires in-depth knowledge and experience. Once you’ve accepted an offer, a lot of details remain before you get to the closing table. A RE/MAX Sales Associate will help you understand the process, navigate the details and keep the transaction on track.

5. Involved Community Citizens
RE/MAX Sales Associates are well-known locally and nationally for their involvement in many community programs. When you use a RE/MAX Sales Associate to sell your home, you contribute to the well-being of your community. RE/MAX is a national sponsor of Children’s Miracle Network, which aids sick children, and Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, dedicated to finding a cure for breast cancer. Concerned about the environment? So is RE/MAX. Together, you and your agent can take steps to ensure a better environment for future generations.

RE/MAX International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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