Saturday, December 31, 2011
Towne Lake is building out a waterfront center
The folks over at Towne Lake are set for a busy new year...the developer is moving forward on a planned waterfront center called The Boardwalk of Towne Lake that is to include restaurants, retail stores, office buildings, a hotel, a green area, a 3,000-seat amphitheatre. Check out the details here:
http://impactnews.com/northwest-houston/328-news/15750-towne-lake-builds-out-waterfront-center
Christmas Tree Recycling
Every year, Houstonians discard thousands of used Christmas trees that could be
recycled into useable items. The City of Houston is encouraging residents to recycle their
Christmas Trees to give them a new lease
on life and make the recycling of Christmas trees a family tradition.
Click here for more info: Christmas Tree Recycling
Click here for more info: Christmas Tree Recycling
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
FHA Extends Waiver of Anti-Flipping Regulations Through 2012
In an effort to continue stabilizing home values and improve
conditions in communities experiencing high foreclosure activity, Acting Federal Housing Administration
(FHA) Commissioner Carol J. Galante will extend FHA’s temporary waiver of the
anti-flipping regulations.
With certain exceptions, FHA regulations prohibit insuring a
mortgage on a home owned by the seller for less than 90 days. In 2010,
FHA temporarily waived this regulation through January 31, 2011, and later
extended that waiver through the remainder of 2011. The new extension will permit buyers to continue
to use FHA-insured financing to purchase HUD-owned properties, bank-owned
properties, or properties resold through private sales. It will allow homes to
resell as quickly as possible, helping to stabilize real estate prices and to
revitalize neighborhoods and communities.
The extension is effective
through December 31, 2012, unless otherwise extended or withdrawn by
FHA. All other terms of the existing Waiver will remain the same.
The Waiver contains strict conditions and guidelines to prevent the
predatory practice of property flipping, in which properties are quickly resold
at inflated prices to unsuspecting borrowers. The Waiver continues to be
limited to sales meeting the following conditions:
·
All transactions must be arms-length, with no identity of interest
between the buyer and seller or other parties participating in the sales
transaction.
·
In cases in which the sales price of the property is 20 percent or
more above the seller’s acquisition cost, the Waiver will only apply if the
lender meets specific conditions and documents the justification for the
increase in value.
·
The Waiver is limited to forward mortgages, and does not apply to
the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) for purchase program.
-- This information was originally shared with us by our friend Diane Rifai, Residential Mortgage Loan Originator. Visit her on the web at: http://www.DianeRifai.com
Monday, December 26, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
Property Flipping rules and FHA
On December 31,2011 FHA’s Temporary Flipping Waiver expires.
For over a year, FHA had waived their requirement for 90 day ownership prior to
purchasing a property using FHA insured financing. But that waiver expires
December 31, 2011. If FHA does not renew it this means we go back to the
regular policy.
FHA flipping policy:
FHA requires a property to be owned by the seller for 90
days before re-sale (this means the contract date cannot be prior to the 91st
day of the seller’s ownership). No work can be done by lender on the property
prior to the 91st day- this includes ordering an appraisal or
ordering a case number from FHA on the borrower). So if you have an investor
property under a listing agreement, then you need to prepare your seller for
this. The 91 days is calculated from the date title transferred to seller (not
necessarily the same as the purchase date) to the date of a new sales contract.
-- This information was originally shared with us by our friend Diane Rifai, Residential Mortgage Loan Originator. Visit her on the web at: http://www.DianeRifai.com
-- This information was originally shared with us by our friend Diane Rifai, Residential Mortgage Loan Originator. Visit her on the web at: http://www.DianeRifai.com
Hot On Homes - Albury Trails
The Pye Team was recently featured in a Hot On Homes! segment. Click the picture
below to view:
Preparing for the Holidays
A few good tips from our friend Diane
Rafai...
This time of year everyone is focused on the holidays: gifts, trips, parties...so much fun but so expensive. Be careful as you navigate through the next few months- you do not want to ruin the good credit scores you spent the year maintaining. Here are some tips to keep in mind about credit scores:
This time of year everyone is focused on the holidays: gifts, trips, parties...so much fun but so expensive. Be careful as you navigate through the next few months- you do not want to ruin the good credit scores you spent the year maintaining. Here are some tips to keep in mind about credit scores:
1. Inquiries: every time a creditor
pulls your credit, it can hit your credit score 4-8 points PER INQUIRY according
to the credit bureaus. So applying for new credit at department stores to get a
discount on a purchase can cost you more than the discount it worth. Be careful
about applying for new credit.
2. New credit: every time you do get
approved for new credit, you get a new hit to your score for the following
reason: length of time since new account established - and depending on what
type of account it is, you could see too many revolving accounts, or too many
department store accounts or too many open accounts any of these can have
negative effects on your credit scores.
3. Credit limits: even if you keep your
credit cards paid on time, if your balance at the time of the statement exceeds
30% of the available credit on the card, you may have points taken away from
your score. (This shows up under your credit explanations as proportion of
balances too high or ratios of revolving credit too high.) Many people believe
as long as they pay the credit card off monthly, they are ok. But the fact is
the balance used to evaluate your score on the credit report is the amount shown
on the monthly billing statement. So if your plan is to pay the credit card off
monthly, and you want to maximize your credit score, then you need to pay the
balance BEFORE the bill comes out so the statement reflects an amount less than
30% of the available balance.
How long does a borrower have to wait to get another loan when they have had a financial issue?
Download this PDF prepared by Diane Rifai to answer that question: Download the PDF
Monday, May 9, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Presentation is Everything!
In a competitive market with more inventory than we've seen in some time, presentation is everything! By eliminating points a potential buyer may find fault with and bringing out the positive amenities, you are more likely to sell your home and get the price you want. Here are just a few tips that further your efforts:
* Let There Be Light. Buy some 100-watt bulbs to brighten rooms, and open curtains or blinds to let light in. Unless a window faces a brick wall or some type of eyesore, open the drapes!
* Garage, Not Garbage. Have a garage sale to clean out the clutter and make the garage more spacious. You're moving and probably need to start organizing anyway, so why wait until the last minute? Clean up oil spots in the garage or carport with a good cleanser to remove that "lived-in" appearance. The home may not be brand new, but it's new to a potential buyer.
* Make Scents. Get a nice potpourri air freshener, or keep some refrigerated cookie dough on hand to throw in the oven when a prospect is coming over. Make the house smell like a home.
* Paint-relief. Consider re-painting any areas that need to be touched up, especially the front door and entryway, and any appliances that are showing their age.
* Power Plants. Trim down any jungles outside, especially if they cover the house. Get rid of any half-dead houseplants. Water the lawns briefly before any visit, and keep the lawns mowed and edged.
* The Price is Right. Price may be a sensitive issue, but with increased inventories and declining home values in many neighborhoods, every shopper in a buyers' market is determined to get the best deal possible. Now is a good time to compare your house with others on the market in the same area, because the right price is the one thing that will sell your house faster than anything else.
* The World is Your Stage. Professional staging can help to showcase the best side of a home, create more interest, and get you top dollar. With increased inventories, staging could provide the competitive edge you need.
These tips were derived from 33 Ways to Sell Your Home Fast! and shared courtesy of James Ricks, Bluewater Mortgage. Thanks James!
* Let There Be Light. Buy some 100-watt bulbs to brighten rooms, and open curtains or blinds to let light in. Unless a window faces a brick wall or some type of eyesore, open the drapes!
* Garage, Not Garbage. Have a garage sale to clean out the clutter and make the garage more spacious. You're moving and probably need to start organizing anyway, so why wait until the last minute? Clean up oil spots in the garage or carport with a good cleanser to remove that "lived-in" appearance. The home may not be brand new, but it's new to a potential buyer.
* Make Scents. Get a nice potpourri air freshener, or keep some refrigerated cookie dough on hand to throw in the oven when a prospect is coming over. Make the house smell like a home.
* Paint-relief. Consider re-painting any areas that need to be touched up, especially the front door and entryway, and any appliances that are showing their age.
* Power Plants. Trim down any jungles outside, especially if they cover the house. Get rid of any half-dead houseplants. Water the lawns briefly before any visit, and keep the lawns mowed and edged.
* The Price is Right. Price may be a sensitive issue, but with increased inventories and declining home values in many neighborhoods, every shopper in a buyers' market is determined to get the best deal possible. Now is a good time to compare your house with others on the market in the same area, because the right price is the one thing that will sell your house faster than anything else.
* The World is Your Stage. Professional staging can help to showcase the best side of a home, create more interest, and get you top dollar. With increased inventories, staging could provide the competitive edge you need.
These tips were derived from 33 Ways to Sell Your Home Fast! and shared courtesy of James Ricks, Bluewater Mortgage. Thanks James!
Open house tomorrow.. in Fairfield.. on 700AM
My listing on 15131 Red Cedar Cove Cypress, TX 77429 wil be on KSEV radio.. 700 am.
You can listen on line starting at 1PM... http://ksevradio.com/schedule/sunday/open-house
Just going the extra mile for my clients... Home buying and selling as easy as PYE... it's not just our slogan it's our PASSION
You can listen on line starting at 1PM... http://ksevradio.com/schedule/sunday/open-house
Just going the extra mile for my clients... Home buying and selling as easy as PYE... it's not just our slogan it's our PASSION
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
What to do???
| Tue Mar 15"You Can't Take it With You" |
| Tue Mar 15Cirque du Soleil presents OVO |
| Tue Mar 15 @ 6:00PM - 07:00PMMended Hearts Support Group |
| Wed Mar 16"You Can't Take it With You" |
| Wed Mar 16Cirque du Soleil presents OVO |
| Thu Mar 17"You Can't Take it With You" |
| Thu Mar 17Cirque du Soleil presents OVO |
| Fri Mar 18"You Can't Take it With You" |
| Fri Mar 18Cirque du Soleil presents OVO |
| Sat Mar 19Cirque du Soleil presents OV |
Cy-Fair ... BUdget cuts.. Greatly affecting our system
This will have an effect on our education system- attend a meeting..
The Cy-Fair ISD Board of Trustees discussed potential budget cuts at its work session and board meeting the week of March 7.
At the work session March 7, Stuart Snow, associate superintendent for business and financial services, presented an oral report on the 2011-12 school year budget.
Snow said that although exact budget numbers are unknown, the district has been planning for a significant cut in revenue from the state.
Gov. Rick Perry is calling for a budget with a $10 billion cut to public education in the next two years. This translates to a $65 million to $116 million revenue shortfall in CFISD each year for the next two years.
Snow said if there was a $116 million state reduction in funding, 23,000 CFISD employees making $50,000 a year would need to be laid off. However, he also said the district does not plan on balancing its budget just by reducing its number of employees.
In order to deal with the cuts, the district is considering plans to reduce its health plan, administrative staff, support personnel and electricity costs, and it could increase the cap for the number of students in each K—4 grade classroom to 25 students per teacher.
Despite the cuts, the district still has included plans in its budget to open a new middle school in the fall 2011 and have available staff for an increase of 1,500 new students. Also, many of the employees in positions that could be eliminated in the budget cuts could be used to fill vacant positions in the district.
CFISD superintendent David Anthony did not shy away from the gravity of the budget shortfall.
"We have to understand that the support...will be impacted by these budget reductions," Anthony said. "It is going to put a strain on the system [from] the teachers through the board of trustees."
At the March 10 board meeting, the Community Legislative Committee, a group of community members committed to educating the residents and legislators about the needs of the school district, invited the community to 10 public meetings. The meetings will discuss the potential effects of state budget cuts to education.
Each meeting will take place from 7 to 8 p.m. and will include a presentation about state education funding and a question and answer period.
Meeting dates:
Monday, March 21
Cypress Springs High School
7909 Fry Road, Cypress
Jersey Village High School
7600 Solomon St., Jersey Village
Tuesday, March 22
Cypress Lakes High School
5750 Greenhouse Road, Katy
Cy-Fair High School
22602 Hempstead Highway, Cypress
Wednesday, March 23
Cypress Falls High School
9811 Huffmeister Road, Houston
Thursday, March 24
Cypress Creek High School
9815 Grant Road, Houston
Monday, March 28
Langham Creek High School
17610 FM 529, Houston
Tuesday, March 29
Cypress Ranch High School
10700 Fry Road, Cypress
Wednesday, March 30
Cypress Ridge High School
7900 N. Eldridge Parkway, Houston
Spillane Middle School
17500 Jarvis Road, Cypress
The Cy-Fair ISD Board of Trustees discussed potential budget cuts at its work session and board meeting the week of March 7.
At the work session March 7, Stuart Snow, associate superintendent for business and financial services, presented an oral report on the 2011-12 school year budget.
Snow said that although exact budget numbers are unknown, the district has been planning for a significant cut in revenue from the state.
Gov. Rick Perry is calling for a budget with a $10 billion cut to public education in the next two years. This translates to a $65 million to $116 million revenue shortfall in CFISD each year for the next two years.
Snow said if there was a $116 million state reduction in funding, 23,000 CFISD employees making $50,000 a year would need to be laid off. However, he also said the district does not plan on balancing its budget just by reducing its number of employees.
In order to deal with the cuts, the district is considering plans to reduce its health plan, administrative staff, support personnel and electricity costs, and it could increase the cap for the number of students in each K—4 grade classroom to 25 students per teacher.
Despite the cuts, the district still has included plans in its budget to open a new middle school in the fall 2011 and have available staff for an increase of 1,500 new students. Also, many of the employees in positions that could be eliminated in the budget cuts could be used to fill vacant positions in the district.
CFISD superintendent David Anthony did not shy away from the gravity of the budget shortfall.
"We have to understand that the support...will be impacted by these budget reductions," Anthony said. "It is going to put a strain on the system [from] the teachers through the board of trustees."
At the March 10 board meeting, the Community Legislative Committee, a group of community members committed to educating the residents and legislators about the needs of the school district, invited the community to 10 public meetings. The meetings will discuss the potential effects of state budget cuts to education.
Each meeting will take place from 7 to 8 p.m. and will include a presentation about state education funding and a question and answer period.
Meeting dates:
Monday, March 21
Cypress Springs High School
7909 Fry Road, Cypress
Jersey Village High School
7600 Solomon St., Jersey Village
Tuesday, March 22
Cypress Lakes High School
5750 Greenhouse Road, Katy
Cy-Fair High School
22602 Hempstead Highway, Cypress
Wednesday, March 23
Cypress Falls High School
9811 Huffmeister Road, Houston
Thursday, March 24
Cypress Creek High School
9815 Grant Road, Houston
Monday, March 28
Langham Creek High School
17610 FM 529, Houston
Tuesday, March 29
Cypress Ranch High School
10700 Fry Road, Cypress
Wednesday, March 30
Cypress Ridge High School
7900 N. Eldridge Parkway, Houston
Spillane Middle School
17500 Jarvis Road, Cypress
Saturday, March 12, 2011
The Red Cross... $10...
American Red Cross Responds to Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami
Evacuation shelters are open with additional locations on standby in Oregon, Washington and California.
Those who want to help can go to http://www.redcross.org/ and donate to Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami. People can also text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation to help those affected by the earthquake in Japan and tsunami throughout the Pacific.
Those who want to help can go to http://www.redcross.org/ and donate to Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami. People can also text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation to help those affected by the earthquake in Japan and tsunami throughout the Pacific.
Come on $10.00 .. you will spend this at Starbucks this weekend...
Friday, March 11, 2011
Fairfield Open Houses.. and a House sold in under 5 days
www.visitfairfield.com website.
This house sold in 5 days... it took a seller doing the right things... and it was a GREAT PLAN.. We marketed this house at a higher price... we are closing April 15th,2011... ROCK ON...
Whats happening in Tomball and Magnolia
| Mon Mar 14 @ 7:30PM - 10:00PMBethesda Night with the Houston Rockets |
| Tue Mar 15 @ 6:30AM - Texas Republican Women's Club |
| Sat Mar 19 @ 6:30AM - 05:00PMB-GeO Magnolia Miles |
| Sun Mar 20 @ 2:00PM - 05:00PMCindy Jaeger Designs Spring Fling |
| Mon Mar 21 @ 8:00AM - Tomball Chamber of Commerce Golf Classic |
| Fri Mar 25 @ 8:00AM - 05:00PMWings of Freedom Tour |
| Fri Mar 25 @10:00AM - Tomball German Heritage Festival |
| Fri Mar 25 @11:00AM - 07:00PM1st Annual Woodlands Scholarship Pageant Golf Tournament |
| Sat Mar 26 @ 8:00AM - 05:00PM19th Annual Montgomery County Fair & Rodeo Scholarship Trail Ride |
| Sat Mar 26 @11:30AM - Layla Grace Foundation - 1st Charity Golf Tournament |
| Fri Apr 01 @12:00PM - "Ain't Foolin' Around" BBQ Cook-off and Dance |
| Sat Apr 02 @ 8:00AM - 12:00PMSt. Matthias Bazaar Kickoff Dance |
| Sat Apr 02 @ 9:00AM - 04:00PMGullo's 2nd Annual Spring All Ford Car Show |
| Mon Mar 14 @ 7:30PM - 10:00PMBethesda Night with the Houston Rockets |
| Tue Mar 15 @ 6:30AM - Texas Republican Women's Club |
| Sat Mar 19 @ 6:30AM - 05:00PMB-GeO Magnolia Miles |
| Sun Mar 20 @ 2:00PM - 05:00PMCindy Jaeger Designs Spring Fling |
| Mon Mar 21 @ 8:00AM - Tomball Chamber of Commerce Golf Classic |
| Fri Mar 25 @ 8:00AM - 05:00PMWings of Freedom Tour |
| Fri Mar 25 @10:00AM - Tomball German Heritage Festival |
| Fri Mar 25 @11:00AM - 07:00PM1st Annual Woodlands Scholarship Pageant Golf Tournament |
| Sat Mar 26 @ 8:00AM - 05:00PM19th Annual Montgomery County Fair & Rodeo Scholarship Trail Ride |
| Sat Mar 26 @11:30AM - Layla Grace Foundation - 1st Charity Golf Tournament |
| Fri Apr 01 @12:00PM - "Ain't Foolin' Around" BBQ Cook-off and Dance |
| Sat Apr 02 @ 8:00AM - 12:00PMSt. Matthias Bazaar Kickoff Dance |
| Sat Apr 02 @ 9:00AM - 04:00PMGullo's 2nd Annual Spring All Ford Car Show |
Impact News... what a great source of WHATS HAPPENIN .. I know ... this is how I meant to spell it..
German FEST.. yeah...
GenuWine.. a ROCKING WINE BAR
Born on a day, when friends decided over lunch, that Magnolia was in need of a local wine tasting room, Rhonda Redmon and Barb Salinas decided to pursue their dream. On September 26, 2010, their dream became a reality when they opened the doors to GenuWine Tasting Room, Magnolia’s first retail wine and gift shop.
GenuWine offers over 150 specialty and boutique style wines that are unique, yet affordable. Find the wine that is right for you by taking advantage of their weekly wine tastings or just sit back and relax with friends on their heated outdoor patio, while enjoying the sounds of the weekly live music. Whatever your taste and style, there is something for everyone.Raos Bakery Coffee Cafe.. Free Coffe on St. Pats Day
So get some IRISH COFFEE... I love this . FROST BANK.. a local bank does this onces a month.. no joke FREE java... Come join me. Frost Bank does so much for the community.
My how things have changed.. when I was in my 20's... I would have had beer by this time...
Your friends from
Frost Bank - Northgate
Invite you to enjoy a cup of
Freshly Brewed Coffee!
When: Thursday, March 17, 2011
8:00am - 9:30am
Where: Rao's Bakery Coffee Cafe
6915 Cypresswood, Suite F
Spring, Texas 77379
Enter to win a $25.00 Rao's gift card.
Bring your friends, family and colleagues.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Friday, March 4, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
How does your house Smell??
Smell is one the most memorable experiences one can have. Often times some of our oldest memories can be tied to a smell... moms apple pie, cookies, jellies and jams;
These scents can be a factor to some when purchasing a home.
On the other hand certain smells can make the potential buyer feel at home. Fresh cookies and or a roast, lavendar, vanilla can create a sense of home .
Basically the idea is to entice the buyer into feeling like this home could be their home.
Today’s market is a is a beauty contest and a price war... Staging the home for sale properly is one of the ways to differentiate a house for sale in today’s competitive market. Cut out the clutter today.. and reap the benefits at the closing table
These scents can be a factor to some when purchasing a home.
On the other hand certain smells can make the potential buyer feel at home. Fresh cookies and or a roast, lavendar, vanilla can create a sense of home .
Basically the idea is to entice the buyer into feeling like this home could be their home.
Today’s market is a is a beauty contest and a price war... Staging the home for sale properly is one of the ways to differentiate a house for sale in today’s competitive market. Cut out the clutter today.. and reap the benefits at the closing table
NEWS you can use...FHA update
Good morning everyone,
I'm sure you have probably heard the news about the changes being made by FHA, but I thought I would give you a quick synopsis on the recent changes.
FHA has now approved our accepting and closing loans for borrowers with credit scores down to 500. Wells Fargo's minimum score up until this change has been 600. As you can imagine, with the additional risk involved with the lower scores, other changes have been put in place regarding down payment, source of funds, and possible required reserves. A quick review:
With credit score of less than 600, seller concession is limited to 3.00%
With credit score of less than 600, no gifts funds are allowed in order for the borrower to reach their minimum required investment
If I do not get an "approved" response when first decisioning the loan, the qualifying ratio is going to be limited to 31/36 (down from 31/43), and the borrower is required to have two months house payments in reserve after closing
If I do get an "approved" response when first decisioning the loan, the qualifying ratio is limited to 31/43 with NO exceptions
Credit score 500 - 579:
10% down payment required
Borrower must have two months house payments in reserve after closing
Borrowers down payment and cash reserves must be their own funds - they cannot be a gift
Credit score 580-599:
5.00% down payment required
Borrowers down payment must be from own funds - they cannot be a gift
If no "approved" initial decision, borrower will be required to have 2 months payments in reserve after closing
In my personal opinion only, these loan will still be a challenge. Lenders are taking on additional risk at a time when most are very much risk averse. I'm excited about the new opportunities for all of us, but I have no doubt there will be a learning process for a while on what will fly and what will not. I plan on sending out an another update next week on borrowers with no credit score and "non-traditional" credit
I'm sure you have probably heard the news about the changes being made by FHA, but I thought I would give you a quick synopsis on the recent changes.
FHA has now approved our accepting and closing loans for borrowers with credit scores down to 500. Wells Fargo's minimum score up until this change has been 600. As you can imagine, with the additional risk involved with the lower scores, other changes have been put in place regarding down payment, source of funds, and possible required reserves. A quick review:
With credit score of less than 600, seller concession is limited to 3.00%
With credit score of less than 600, no gifts funds are allowed in order for the borrower to reach their minimum required investment
If I do not get an "approved" response when first decisioning the loan, the qualifying ratio is going to be limited to 31/36 (down from 31/43), and the borrower is required to have two months house payments in reserve after closing
If I do get an "approved" response when first decisioning the loan, the qualifying ratio is limited to 31/43 with NO exceptions
Credit score 500 - 579:
10% down payment required
Borrower must have two months house payments in reserve after closing
Borrowers down payment and cash reserves must be their own funds - they cannot be a gift
Credit score 580-599:
5.00% down payment required
Borrowers down payment must be from own funds - they cannot be a gift
If no "approved" initial decision, borrower will be required to have 2 months payments in reserve after closing
In my personal opinion only, these loan will still be a challenge. Lenders are taking on additional risk at a time when most are very much risk averse. I'm excited about the new opportunities for all of us, but I have no doubt there will be a learning process for a while on what will fly and what will not. I plan on sending out an another update next week on borrowers with no credit score and "non-traditional" credit
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Getting an Inspection
It is so important that you get an inspection. It seals the nail on the contract.. DO you want the house? Only you the consumer can make that decision. You will get a sellers disclosure, review it completly... you can also do an independent investigation.. the power of GOOGLE is amazing. You can find out a lot about a property on line. Do not let an AGENT speculate on the inspectors report. It is the realtors job to NEGOTIATE the contract and work on your behalf. The opinion of the realtor on the inpsection results is purely an opinion.. it is up to YOU
Friday, February 11, 2011
Lakewood Glen
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Newly Formed Howard Hughes Corp Now Owns Bridgelands
The newly formed Howard Hughes Corporation announced in January that it now owns Bridgeland, one of northwest Houston's largest master-planned communities.
Bridgeland, located off Fry Road and Hwy. 290, had been owned by General Growth Properties Inc. The Howard Hughes Corp. has been created by General Growth to own, manage and develop commercial, residential and mixed-use real estate assets previously held by the development company.
According to the company's press release, this “portfolio of master planned communities” includes Bridgeland and The Woodlands in the Houston area.
There have been no major changes in the development of Bridgeland and all managing staff still remains the same within the community.
Bridgeland, located off Fry Road and Hwy. 290, had been owned by General Growth Properties Inc. The Howard Hughes Corp. has been created by General Growth to own, manage and develop commercial, residential and mixed-use real estate assets previously held by the development company.
According to the company's press release, this “portfolio of master planned communities” includes Bridgeland and The Woodlands in the Houston area.
There have been no major changes in the development of Bridgeland and all managing staff still remains the same within the community.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
On FOX news
Please consider the news on FOX about the housing market. This is not HOUSTON. I will update more.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Houston .. the place to be
Jobs, Jobs, Jobs:
This article is nothing that I am surprised at... look all around and our HOUSTON economy is booming. The day after our FREEZE OUT... you would have thought it was BLACK FRIDAY. The stores and eateries were PACKED. ROCK on Houston
Three major jobs reports were released last week and all showed unexpected strength - all of which is good for the housing market.
Friday's Unemployment Report stunned economists by dropping from 9.4% to 9.0%. The Unemployment Rate has now dropped from 9.8% to 9.0% in just two months. But many question the drop due to how the data is collected via phone surveys, so let’s focus on two other reports that hit last week which are much more scientific.
The ADP Private Payroll report showed much stronger than expected growth. They reported that private corporations hired 187,000 people last month. Economists had expected a gain of only 151,000. The Challenger Job Cuts report measures downsizing. This report showed that the number of layoffs companies have announced plunged 34% in December to its lowest level in 13 years.
As the employment picture continues to brighten, it will add fuel to the very strong levels of Existing Home Sales that we have seen over the past two months.
This article is nothing that I am surprised at... look all around and our HOUSTON economy is booming. The day after our FREEZE OUT... you would have thought it was BLACK FRIDAY. The stores and eateries were PACKED. ROCK on Houston
Three major jobs reports were released last week and all showed unexpected strength - all of which is good for the housing market.
Friday's Unemployment Report stunned economists by dropping from 9.4% to 9.0%. The Unemployment Rate has now dropped from 9.8% to 9.0% in just two months. But many question the drop due to how the data is collected via phone surveys, so let’s focus on two other reports that hit last week which are much more scientific.
The ADP Private Payroll report showed much stronger than expected growth. They reported that private corporations hired 187,000 people last month. Economists had expected a gain of only 151,000. The Challenger Job Cuts report measures downsizing. This report showed that the number of layoffs companies have announced plunged 34% in December to its lowest level in 13 years.
As the employment picture continues to brighten, it will add fuel to the very strong levels of Existing Home Sales that we have seen over the past two months.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
IRS Deductions... Great news
The IRS allows many deductions related to home ownership. Everyone knows about the interest and real estate taxes deductions, but are you missing any other tax savings on your home? For instance, did you know that your mortgage insurance premiums may be tax deductible? If you own a home and have equity of less than 20% (or have a VA loan) you probably are paying mortgage insurance each month in your payment. Congress has extended the tax deduction for Mortgage Insurance premiums through 2010 so don’t forget this possible tax savings when filing your tax return. Attached is the IRS Form 936 which has a complete list of all the deductions associated with home ownership (the mortgage insurance deduction info is on page 7). Coutesy of Diane Rifia..
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Memorial Landscaping and Irrigation.. A perfect meeting
Some of my favorite meetings are at Starbucks... today I met Chad Touchet. He is just an awesome guy. He was kind enough to share information with me. Where I am sure he would love to have everyones business... he shared this wonderful tip.
Wrap your backflow device or write a check for $287.00 made out to Memorial Landscaping and Irrigation 281-802-7657.
You can send this out to the friends that you like……………… to your other friends you can forward my number after the freeze!
The backflow device will break in these low temperatures. I have a photo below of what the device looks like.
Wrap it with towels or a blanket and put a trash bag over everything. Make sure to tape the bag tight so that it does not blow off in the wind.
Chad Touchet
Snow Day in Houston.. Coming
| The whole state of TEXAS is having Rolling power outages to conserve energy. http://www.khou.com/news/local/Officials-Statewide-rolling-blackouts-issued-to-conserve-energy-115093329.html I really feel a little left out.. and everyone else in the country has so MUCH snow. It is really a very interesting time in Houston when snow comes.... the whole city shuts down. So if you are coming to HOUSTON to live... expect maybe once a year it MIGHT snow... you see all the SNOW people out.. recalling days of sledding, building snowmen, hot chocolate.. wet clothes.. warm up and do it again.... and then you see the faces of people who have never seen snow. I know my son AL.. gets very excited when it snows.. he still calls me when it does snow here. |
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Wedneday.. Whats UP in Real Estate
Yes.. home ownership is still POPULAR. It is what makes this business so AWESOME. I know you hear of the DOOM and Gloom... but life goes on, people get married, divorced, families blend... it is the circle of life in real estate. See a segment from Realtor.org
A substantial majority of both home owners and current renters agree that owning a home is a smart decision over the long term. That’s according to the results of a National Association of Realtors® survey of 3,793 adults conducted online by Harris Interactive.
The American Attitudes About Homeownership survey found that in today’s challenging economy, 95 percent of owners and 72 percent of renters believe that over a period of several years, it makes more sense to own a home. In addition, an overwhelming majority of home owners are happy with their decision to own a home – 93 percent of owners surveyed would buy again.
“Home owners and renters agree that home ownership benefits individuals and families, strengthens our communities, and is integral to our nation’s economy,” said National Association of Realtors® President Ron Phipps, broker-president of Phipps Realty in Warwick, R.I. “The results of this survey illustrate just how important issues related to home ownership are to people in this country.”
The survey uncovered some differences between home owners and renters, as well. While more than half of owners are “very” or “extremely” satisfied with the overall quality of their family life, only one-third of renters report the same levels of satisfaction. Similarly, 43 percent of home owners are very/extremely satisfied with their community life, compared with 30 percent of renters.
A majority of renters – 63 percent – said that it was at least somewhat likely that they would purchase a home at some point in the future. Among this group, young adults (18-29 years old) have the strongest aspirations for home ownership; only 8 percent of young adults said that it was “not at all likely” that they would purchase a home at some point in the future.
A substantial majority of both home owners and current renters agree that owning a home is a smart decision over the long term. That’s according to the results of a National Association of Realtors® survey of 3,793 adults conducted online by Harris Interactive.
The American Attitudes About Homeownership survey found that in today’s challenging economy, 95 percent of owners and 72 percent of renters believe that over a period of several years, it makes more sense to own a home. In addition, an overwhelming majority of home owners are happy with their decision to own a home – 93 percent of owners surveyed would buy again.
“Home owners and renters agree that home ownership benefits individuals and families, strengthens our communities, and is integral to our nation’s economy,” said National Association of Realtors® President Ron Phipps, broker-president of Phipps Realty in Warwick, R.I. “The results of this survey illustrate just how important issues related to home ownership are to people in this country.”
The survey uncovered some differences between home owners and renters, as well. While more than half of owners are “very” or “extremely” satisfied with the overall quality of their family life, only one-third of renters report the same levels of satisfaction. Similarly, 43 percent of home owners are very/extremely satisfied with their community life, compared with 30 percent of renters.
A majority of renters – 63 percent – said that it was at least somewhat likely that they would purchase a home at some point in the future. Among this group, young adults (18-29 years old) have the strongest aspirations for home ownership; only 8 percent of young adults said that it was “not at all likely” that they would purchase a home at some point in the future.
Snow coming to Houston
| The whole state of TEXAS is having Rolling power outages to conserve energy. http://www.khou.com/news/local/Officials-Statewide-rolling-blackouts-issued-to-conserve-energy-115093329.html So I recall 17 years ago when I moved to HOUSTON.. we had like 4 snow days.. okay.. ICE DAYS. My husband said.. it never snows, never cold... LOL. Well it does not very often. I rather think it is fun when it snows here. YEAH.. a snow days. Oh I remember the days in Omaha.. 1977.. we built igloos from my dad's battery boxes ( compliments of John Deere)... they lasted clear into the Spring. I loved the SNOW when I was a kid... okay I still love it now. Nothing beats a good snowball fight.. some hot cocoa.. and soing it all over again. Houston will be on SHUTDOWN.. and you see all kinds of things. People that have never seen snow, people that look at the snow gazing like an old firend... I love it.  |
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