Register Real Estate Advisors

This weekend is National Open House Weekend and RREA Agents will be participating.  On Saturday and Sunday our agents will be holding open listings around the city.  For exact times, days, and house locations please visit har.com.  We will also be posting many of these open houses here on our blog.  If you are interested in purchasing a home, this is a great weekend to get out and see what’s available in your price range.  You may be surprised at what you find.  There are a lot of resales on the market this spring and interest rates are still at all time lows.  If you are thinking about purchasing a home, call RREA today so one of our experienced agents can represent you in the process.  Our agents negotiate for you, do all of the paper work, and guide you to the closing.  We even offer an in house lender if you need a pre-approval for your mortgage.  Look forward to seeing you at an open house this weekend!

Register Real Estate Advisors is a proud member of the Greater Houston Association of Builders. As the GHBA celebrates Professional Designation Month RREA decided to outline some of our Realtor Designations. At RREA, Shannon Register is both the Broker and Owner. A Broker’s License is probably the highest real estate designation available. We have several Realtors in our brokerage that are Broker Associates (they have a Broker’s license.) Another one of Shannon’s designations is the GRI – Graduate Realtor Institute. This designation includes training in marketing, brokerage, and general real estate buying and selling. The ABR – Accredited Buyer’s Representative Designation makes Realtors an expert when it comes to working with buyers. Shannon also has completed the Texas Realtor’s Leadership Program and is certified to work with the Texas Veterans Land Board. Many of our agents can work with Texas Vets. Shannon has been certified in new home construction sales. Through the local board of Realtors, she is a Social Media Pro. Through the National Association of Realtors she has her ePro Designation. In addition to all of these, Shannon holds the Short Sale and Foreclosure Certification and the Certified Distressed Property Expert Designation. Many of the RREA Agents have their ABR and CDPE. The Certified Negotiation Expert is another one that many of our agents have. This is an important one because you want whoever the Realtor is that is representing you to be a good negotiator. Shannon is also an Accredited Luxury Home Specialist. This designation is for Realtors who work with consumers that are purchasing homes over $400K in the Houston Market. When choosing a Realtor or Broker to represent you with your real estate needs, you want to choose one that is educated in that area and will work for you. To learn more about RREA’s agents, you can read their profiles at rrea.com/team.

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!

Here is a radio segment Kevin Price, host of “Price of Business” on 1070 AM in Houston, and I did with Steve Levine, Publisher of Premier Agent Magazine, last week in the RREA Studios. I am honored to be on the April 2012 cover of the magazine.

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.