General Real Estate Information 
There are currently 67 blog entries related to this category.
HOA Reform Means Changes for Houston Texas Homeowners
Monday, January 2nd, 2012 at 4:14pm. 6665 Views, 0 Comments.
When I was shopping for my first house, my dad pulled me aside for a bit of fatherly wisdom. "Find a place with a strong Homeowners' Association and plenty of deed restrictions. Trust me, you want a lot of deed restrictions." And to a point, he was right. It's those HOA rules which ensure that the neighbors all maintain their homes at a consistent level. HOAs can help ensure the neighbors don't let the yard get full of weeds, park junked-out cars in the driveway and generally let their homes get run-down, taking our property values with them.
But as many homeowners can attest, being part of an HOA isn't aways an easy experience. A quick survey of the Internet reveals story after story of ordeals and horrors homeowner's have endured at the hands of…
New Ways Houston Home Builders are Selling Houses
Wednesday, December 28th, 2011 at 5:21pm. 2796 Views, 0 Comments.
No one can dispute the buying power of the Internet. All we have to do is enter a credit card number and boom, we're the proud owner of shoes, books, music, clothes, toys and … houses?
"The latest trend," says one of the 567 million Google hits I found on this very topic, "is to buy a house online."
You can't really buy a house online. But you can look at photos, watch video, print listings – or simply scan a QR barcode while out and about – to help narrow down the choices.
"Baby boomers want a lot of information and it's up to us to get it to them in a way they want it," said Rosemary Bickford, vice president of sales and marketing at Brickland Homes. "Buyers want to know almost everything before they even pick up the phone."
And hopefully from there, they…
Mortgages Underwater, Housing Recovery Stalled: Bring Out the Bulldozer
Friday, September 23rd, 2011 at 1:46am. 21137 Views, 0 Comments.
In recent months, discussions on the economy have been dominated by two topics: the national deficit and jobs. And rightly so. Mushrooming debt casts a pall on our long-term financial outlook and unemployment is a singular focus for anyone looking for a job. As the economy continues to sputter, though, many economists and analysts are reaching the conclusion that, just as the housing market was at the core of the economic crisis, it is also the key to recovery.
Currently, 1 in 5 mortgages is underwater; with these homeowners often pouring all of their resources into just keeping their homes, they often have little money left to put back into the economy. Foreclosed homes, which in some areas sit in limbo for months or even years, often fall into…
Making Your Houston Home Energy-Efficient can be Easy Peasy Money Squeezy
Friday, September 23rd, 2011 at 1:03am. 2661 Views, 0 Comments.
This is the time of year that makes even seasoned Houstonians want to hide from the heat in an air conditioned cocoon; and as temperatures soar, our electric bills do, too. In fact, thanks to our sultry summers, Houstonians have among the highest utility bills in the country.
Luckily, there are things you can do to ease the pain - and that doesn't mean packing up to move north. (You don't want to live there come winter anyway.) With changes to your home big and small, you can slash your energy bills, help the environment - and use local and federal rebates to help pick up the tab.
Fix Those Leaks and Insulate
Regardless of what new, energy-saving technology might be out there, much of our home's energy efficiency comes down to simple and low-tech - how…
Glenbrook Valley In Houston Texas Gets Groundbreaking Historic Designation
Wednesday, August 17th, 2011 at 10:59am. 6249 Views, 0 Comments.
In 1956 Glenbrook Valley was just hitting its stride. The Parade of Homes had singled out the residential area, exclusively featuring Glenbrook Valley for all 30 homes on their annual tour. The development had previously been included in a citywide Parade of Homes in 1954, but not for the entire event.
Nestled along Sims Bayou between I45 and Telephone Rd., Glenbrook Valley originally opened in 1953 with a lot of fanfare. It was designed by the renowned Kansas City landscape architecture firm Hare and Hare, which was known for many Houston layouts, including River Oaks. The subdivision also received a lot of interest when Better Homes and Gardens featured 7923 Glenview on the September 1954 cover for an article titled “The Home for All America” and was the…
Keep Your Emotions Out of the Real Estate Selling Process
Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011 at 10:21pm. 2897 Views, 0 Comments.
If there’s one thing that will always get in the way of selling your home, it’s your emotions. So, how do you remain objective when selling something in which you have an emotional investment? Below are several important tips to aid you in this process.
- Hire a Realtor to help you set an objective price – The truth is that, most of the time, you will think your is worth more than it really is. And rightfully so; after all, you’ve likely invested a good deal of time, money and energy into making your house a home. However, buyers simply are not interested in your emotional investment. So, instead of pricing your home according to what you think it is worth, call in the advice of a qualified real estate agent who can give you an accurate price at which to…
Houston Texas, Taxes and Houses. A Harris County Property Tax Overview
Monday, May 9th, 2011 at 12:54pm. 4044 Views, 0 Comments.
If you own Houston property, chances are you recently received a "notice of appraised value" in the mail from the Harris County Appraisal District ...or you will soon. Spring is tax appraisal season in Texas, and although what we're receiving aren't bills - these taxes won't come due until next year - it's important to understand how appraisers arrive at these numbers, and what your rights are if you disagree with them.
While Texans overall enjoy a relatively low tax burden thanks to the fact that we don't have a state income tax, Texas property tax rates average higher than most states, These tax rates are not set by the state; in fact, all property taxes are both collected and spent locally. Rather, it's up to each individual taxing unit (i.e. the…
Home Letting, Leasing or Renting - It All Spells Property Management
Friday, April 15th, 2011 at 5:52pm. 3316 Views, 1 Comments.
Even though the real estate market is showing small signs of improvement, it’s still tough to sell a home out there - which is one of many reasons people are turning to leasing these days. Potential buyers who would’ve once qualified for mortgages are being turned down, and sellers are sometimes unable or simply unwilling to sell in this market, making leasing their most attractive option. Leasing out your home, though, is a business transaction and one which can often be more complicated than it appears on the surface. If you’re considering leasing your home, arm yourself with knowledge to help set it up for success.
First, consider whether leasing is truly the right option for you. If you live in a Houston neighborhood with a homeowner’s association,…
Six Kitchen Redesign Trends for 2011
Wednesday, April 13th, 2011 at 5:33pm. 2940 Views, 0 Comments.
A kitchen is still the place reserved for cooking, however, it also serves as the epicenter to many homes. Today, more than ever, professional designers acknowledge its role and their design trends reflect it as a fulcrum point.
From relatively small investments of a few hundred dollars (trendy new counter-top appliances) to big-time overhauls (Bamboo cabinets anyone?), following are six kitchen redesign trends from top designers who know where kitchen trends are today.
1. Wicked Wine Refrigeration
Have a killer wine collection (or want one?) then upgrading to a state-of-the-art wine refrigerator should be on the top of your kitchen redesign wish list. The latest designs include freestanding models that secure well over 100 bottles to smaller built-in units…
Quick! Hurry Fast to the Bat Cave Before the Neighbor Talks to Me
Saturday, April 9th, 2011 at 12:04am. 3445 Views, 0 Comments.
We work longer hours just to make ends meet.
We build taller fences to feel safer in our own yards.
We know the make and model of our neighbor's car, but nothing about the person who drives it.
We crave our cave, and ignore our community.
We're supposed to be neighbors, but more often we're strangers. What happened?
Even the Welcome Wagon doesn't go door to door anymore.
Thomas Briggs of Tennessee founded the organization in 1928, hiring women to personally deliver baskets of gifts from local businesses to new homeowners.
It was a win-win-win situation. Newcomers learned about the community, local business got a boost, and people met their neighbors.
But home visits stopped in 1998, when an increase in two-income families meant nobody was there to answer the…
My Account
Log in, to view your saved searches and add to your favorite listings.
... So You Can:
- View detailed property information
- Print detailed property flyers
- Save your searches & favorite homes
- Inquire about a private showing
- Map individual property locations
- Share your favorite homes with friends
Blog Navigation
Blogroll
Archives
