Register Real Estate Advisors

TYLER (Texas Veterans Land Board) – Generations of veterans gathered Wednesday in Tyler to dedicate what Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson called a “one-of-a-kind” home for Texas veterans. Patterson said Watkins-Logan-Garrison Texas State Veterans Home is “nothing less than a model for the future of long-term care.” What makes the facility unique? It’s the only state veterans home in Texas that consists of ten cottages, each centered around an open kitchen and one common building. Family-style meals will be served at the table, and residents can enjoy each other’s company afterward in a large living room with a fireplace. “The kitchen is the heart of any home,” Patterson said. “Instead of one large, hospital-like facility, Watkins-Logan-Garrison Texas State Veterans Home draws residents together around the dinner table every day, just like at home.”
The Tyler facility was built on 20 acres donated by the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler. A grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs paid for 65 percent of the construction costs. The remainder was covered by a grant from the Veterans Land Board.
The home was named in honor of three local heroes, two Medal of Honor recipients and a Tuskegee airman: Travis Earl Watkins, James Marion Logan and Samuel M. Garrison. It joins seven other Texas State Veterans Homes across the state in Amarillo, Big Spring, Bonham, El Paso, Floresville, McAllen and Temple. For more on this story, listen to Edie Craig’s “Small Towns, Big Deals” report on this week’s Real Estate Red Zone podcast.

HOUSTON (Houston Business Journal http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2009/09/28/daily35.html ) – A 1.1-million contract has been awarded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to Austin-based RVI Planning to prepare construction documents for the fourth phase of development for the Houston National Cemetery.  The project at Veterans Memorial Dr. will develop about 20 acres of the 44-year-old cemetery into new burial sections and also calls for construction of a new public information center and restrooms, a committal shelter, access roads and parking, water distribution and irrigation systems, utilities, fencing, signs and landscaping.  Other improvements will include repairs to existing roads and storm sewers, upgrades to the existing electrical distribution system and improvements to the existing maintenance facility.  The design project is scheduled for completion in spring 2010.

AUSTIN (North Texas e-News) – A new law allows certain Texas veterans to apply for exemption from 100 percent of their local property taxes. The exemption applies only to the person’s residential homestead property.

Under HB 3613, which became law during the recent legislative session, the homeowner must receive 100 percent disability compensation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to qualify for the exemption.

To apply, veterans must complete the State Comptroller’s Form 50-764 and submit it to the appraisal district office along with a copy of their driver’s license or ID card and a copy of the VA Disability Award Letter from the Department of Veteran Affairs showing the 100 percent service-connected disability.

I am a Realtor trained in the Texas Veteran’s Land Board.  If you are a Texas Veteran and need assistance with real estate, please do not hesitate to call me for help.  I can assist you with buying, selling, getting financing, and much more.  You can visit the Texas Veteran’s Land Board web site  below for more information about the programs they offer.

http://www.glo.state.tx.us/vlb/