Register Real Estate Advisors

For buyers, property inspections are very important. Whether you are purchasing a new home or a resale home, I recommend getting an inspection performed so that you know of any defects in the home. If you need a referral to a local inspector, please call me.

I offer a rent vs. buy calculator on my website so people can see the money they could save if they purchase instead of renting. Below is a video that might help you with your decision to rent or buy. You can also call my team to discuss your options. Our agents are trained to help people with these types of difficult housing decisions.

HOUSTON (Houston Business Journal) – Sales on existing single-family homes in the Houston area totaled 5,321 last month — a 26.7 percent increase over the 4,199 homes sold in April 2009.

 The largest sales jump appeared in properties priced above $500,000.

 The average price of a single-family home appreciated to $206,414, up 6.8 percent from April 2009.

 This is the second month in a row for a rise in sales and the seventh consecutive month for an increase in home prices for the Houston area.

WASHINGTON (Associated Press) – The number of borrowers failing to meet the requirements of the Obama administration’s mortgage modification program is rising, almost equaling the number of homeowners who have received permanent relief.

 Over 299,000 homeowners received permanent loan modifications as of April, according to the Treasury Department. However, that’s about 25 percent of the 1.2 million borrowers who started the program since its inception in March 2009.

 By last month, about 277,000 homeowners, or 23 percent of those enrolled, dropped out during the trial phase, which requires borrowers to make at least three mortgage payments on time. This number was a 79 percent increase from the 155,000 who had left the program by March 2010.

 On average, homeowners with permanently reduced mortgages are paying $516 less each month.

McLEAN, Va. (The Wall Street Journal) – Home mortgage rates reached their lowest level of the year, according to Freddie Mac’s weekly survey of mortgage rates.

 The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.93 percent, down from 5 percent a week ago.

 The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage fell from 4.36 percent to 4.3 percent while the five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage showed to be 3.95 percent.

 One-year Treasury-indexed ARMs averaged 4.02 percent.

TEMPLE (USDA) – The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced an additional $14.3 million in conservation financial assistance for working lands through the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP).

 GRP helps landowners and operators protect working grasslands, including hay land, pastureland, native grasslands and certain other lands through rental contracts or conservation easements.

 NRCS and USDA’s Farm Service Agency jointly administer the program.

For more information visit NRCS online.

This Sunday, Feb. 28th,  I will be holding open 20223 Cypresswood Glen in the Cypresswood Lake Subdivision in Spring, TX from 1-3pm.  The gate code to the subdivision is 1057.  You can get directions, see photos of the home, watch a video, and get more information by visiting http://rrea.com/blog/134900-20223-cypresswood-glen-spring-tx-77373/ .  I hope you’ll stop in on Sunday!

When you are looking for security, it pays to have a title company that has some.  The real estate market is a volatile place these days, so you need a title company with financial stability – you need Stewart.  In choosing your title company remember that Stewart Title is sound, reliable and their strengths have already proven their ability to weather any storm.

• Founded in Galveston, Texas in 1893
• Publicly traded since 1972
• Forbes Platinum 400 list of America’s best performing big companies 2004
• Over 9,500 issuing offices and agencies world-wide
• Delivering global title insurance policies in over 60 countries world-wide
• $944 million in reserves 2007

They are here for you today and promise to be there for you tomorrow.

*Source:  Stewart Information Services Corporation 2007 Annual Report