Real Estate Buyers 
There are currently 77 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…
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 Downtown Alliance Showcases Skyline Living with Home Tour
Wednesday, April 27th, 2011 at 2:04pm. 4326 Views, 0 Comments.
Houstonians got a glimpse into downtown living on Saturday, April 16, during the Downtown Home Tour hosted by the Houston Downtown Alliance.
HDA members and nonmembers alike purchased tickets that granted access to dramatic residences with up close and personal views of the downtown skyline. Owners graciously opened up their private residences at the Bayou Lofts, Franklin Lofts, Commerce Towers and the Cash Register Building. Other stops included the Four Seasons Private Residences, One Park Place and the Post Rice Lofts, which served as the Downtown Home Tour headquarters for the event.
Attendees were given walking maps showing the location of each of the properties. The Houston Wave was also on the route to offer those weary of walking the opportunity to…
The Real Estate Transaction | For Sale to Sold
Tuesday, March 29th, 2011 at 12:28am. 3211 Views, 0 Comments.
So much goes into a house before a “For Sale” sign can turn into “Sold” sign. The real estate transaction begins when the seller puts the house on the market and ends when the buyer and seller meet at the closing. First time home buyers or those wishing to sell their first home may be unfamiliar with the sales process, so here is a general overview of most aspects of a typical real estate transaction.
Real Estate Sellers
Hire a Listing Agent - Although it is possible to sell a home without representation, selling a home is best accomplished with the help of a real estate professional. A real estate agent knows all the ins and outs of the real estate transaction and can be a seller’s greatest ally. The real estate agent will determine the home’s value…
Looking for the Elephant in Your Next Home
Monday, March 21st, 2011 at 6:40pm. 3810 Views, 1 Comments.
Buying a home is a huge undertaking, and no one needs to be reminded how significant a financial decision this is. Suffice it to say, buying a home that you soon outgrow, learn to hate after a couple of years, or contains a proverbial elephant can have significant consequences. But, so many of us go into this big decision with either limited criteria (“I know I want a yard for the kids and granite countertops in the kitchen”) - or unrealistic expectations (“If it doesn’t match everything on my list, I’m not buying.”) But, sort of like our significant others, compromise is often required, and the things that draw us in at first aren’t necessarily the things that will make us happy in the long run.
Focus First on What You Can’t Change
Location, Location,…
Buying a House: Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck
Thursday, March 3rd, 2011 at 5:54pm. 2209 Views, 2 Comments.
If you’re one of the lucky ones out there with a steady job, a nice cushion in savings and an opportunity to buy a new home, you’re shopping in the best house-buying environment available. In many areas where the prices were exorbitantly high, they are now reasonable and have been for some time. In areas where prices only rose marginally, the prices are back down and with a huge surplus of homes still on the market, you can essentially have your choice of house when you’re shopping – so how do you know what to pick to get the most bang for your buck?
New Construction There are still homes available that are being built from the ground up. In fact, you can walk into a builder’s office today and start the process of building your own home and likely walk out…
Four Steps To Consider Before Meeting a Realtor
Monday, February 28th, 2011 at 2:06pm. 1613 Views, 1 Comments.
Looking to buy your dream home? Then you have to have a plan. Before making this major purchase, there are 4 steps to consider before meeting with a realtor that can save you and your realtor time, and keep all parties focused.
Get Pre-Approved
The first step is to get pre-approved by a reputable mortgage lender. Few people can buy with cash, with nearly 9 out of 10 buyers financing the purchase of a home; this is especially true for first time home buyers. By having mortgage financing in place prior to meeting with your realtor shows your realtor that you have your ducks in a row, are serious about purchasing, and know how much you can afford. Looking at the various loan options also allows the borrower to find the best loan program suited for their…
Del Webb's Sweetgrass Grand Opening Showcases the Sweet Life
Sunday, February 20th, 2011 at 3:57pm. 1951 Views, 0 Comments.
People came from all points around Houston to Richmond, Texas, Saturday, February 12, for the grand opening of Sweetgrass, Del Webb’s newest active adult development in Texas. No less than 1500 visitors streamed into the subdivision, with cars parked all the way to the front entrance. Guests were treated to live entertainment, light bites and libations as they learned about the Del Webb concept of active adult living. Prospective buyers were given a brochure along with an activity card that guided guests to various stations where a Del Webb representative explained a different aspect of the community. Station 2 provided guests information about the extensive list of onsite offerings, while Station 3 gave information about numerous floor plans. Visitors…
One Story or Two, Sprawl or Tall: What is Your Houston Home Flavor
Sunday, February 13th, 2011 at 3:40pm. 3298 Views, 2 Comments.
Single or double, up or out, tall and towering or low and sprawling.
How to decide between a 1-story or 2-story house?
Really, it seems to be whatever floats your boat.
"Cleaning stairs sucks so bad," said Spring resident Karen Edgerley, who lives in a 1-story.
"I love having stairs," said Spring resident David Bamberg, owner of a 2-story. "You can decorate the area all the way up and make it look great."
"I always wanted a 2-story...I like the idea of kids coming downstairs on Christmas morning," said Rosenberg resident Cristy Johnston. "But stairs are inconvenient. And cleaning up and downstairs would suck."
Cristy lives in a 1-story.
But Houston resident Samantha Young, owner of a 2-story, likes the added privacy of having her bedroom downstairs while the kids…
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