Coffee and Pye.. a glance at real estate today

Videos on You Tube

2012-02-22T14:38:00.001-06:00

The Pye Team now has a You Tube Channel! Check it out at: www.youtube.com/user/pyeteam1

And just a little taste...

Pre-Qualified vs. Pre-Approved

Colleen Pye and Debby Colson, the Pye Team talk with Doug Luza of CORE Lending about the difference between pre-qualification and pre-approval in the home loan process.

Home Warranties - Are they worth it?

2012-02-06T14:31:00.001-06:00

Apparently so. Recently, I've been made aware of two instances of using a home warranty to avoid costly repairs. First, Fidelity National Home Warranty repaired a pool and a refrigerator saving the homeowner over $1,800.00. In the second instance, a homeowner had their entire gas furnace replaced by American Home Shield amounting to a total savings of $1,500.00. Both homeowners report a positive experience and were happy to have the home warranty to rely on.

Down Payment Assistance Programs offered by our friend Diane Rifai

2012-02-01T14:15:00.002-06:00

Our friend Diane Rifai now offers down payment assistance programs through TSAHCfor Professional Educators and Homes for Heroes such as firemen, policemen,etc. (see definition below).

Here's a brief summary:
1.       There is a Household Income Limit -see attached chart
2.       There are Home Purchase Price Limits
3.       Must be a first time homebuyer (not had an ownership interest in a principal residence in last 3 years)
4.       Meet standard underwriting guidelines for a loan
5.       Intend to occupy the home as a primary residence
6.       Complete a HUD approved homebuyer education course prior to closing

Homebuyer must be one of the following:
§ A Professional Educator: Defined as a full time Classroom Teacher, Teacher Aide, School Librarian, School Nurse or School Counselor employed by a public school district in the state of Texas; or a full time faculty member * of either an undergraduate or graduate professional nursing or allied health program in the State of Texas; or
§ A Texas Hero: Defined as a full time, paid Firefighter, Emergency Medical Services Personnel, Peace Officer, Corrections Officer, Juvenile Corrections Officer, County Jailer, or a Public Security Officer working in the State of Texas (click here for detailed Texas Hero definitions : http://www.tsahc.org/pdfs/2010_Homes_For_Heroes_%20Eligibility.pdf ).

Call Diane Rifai for more details --
Residential Mortgage Loan Originator
Cornerstone Mortgage
cell: 713-304-2660

Mirror Makeover!

2012-02-01T14:07:00.002-06:00

Just had my three bathroom mirrors updated - wow! The effect is eye-popping. Check out the vendor I used at: www.MirrorMakeover.com You can also check out customer comments by visiting: http://www.youtube.com/mirrormakeover#p/u/0/GJo6L-YzSJI

New HCAD Rules for Initial Homestead Exemption

2012-01-11T12:29:00.000-06:00

If your home does not currently have a homestead exemption, now is the time to file it for 2012. You have up until April 30th to send it in. You can also file for exemptions on disability, over 65 and other types of residential exemptions at this time - check your county appraisal district office to see what is offered in your county.

New rule for 2012 - you must present a driver’s license and vehicle registration showing the current home address - so get that done first. See below for a link to the new rules for Harris County (and some surrounding counties).To file your exemptions, go to your county appraisal district and the forms should be on the web site.

Here's the link for a PDF of the new HCAD rules: http://www.hcad.org/pdf/HB-252.pdf

Below are some additional links for the forms to file at various county offices:

Harris County http://www.hcad.org/

Montgomery County http://www.mcad-tx.org/html/forms.html

Brazoria County http://www.brazoriacad.org/Forms.htm

Fort Bend County http://www.fbcad.org/Appraisal/PublicAccess/OtherOption.aspx?MenuOptionID=1&SelectedItem=51&PropertyID=&PropertyOwnerID=&NodeID=11

Liberty County http://www.libertycad.com/forms.html

Thanks to our friend Diane Rafai for sharing this info with us. Visit her on the web at: www.DianeRifai.com

Your Tax Refund Could Mean a New Home

2012-01-11T12:12:00.001-06:00

Do you remember what you spent last year’s income tax refund on?

Yeah, neither do we. Instead of spending it on something frivolous, why not put it towardssomething that matters, something that you and your family will appreciate for years tocome ~ a home! There is no greater feeling than owning your own home; and by using your tax refund for your home down payment, you eliminate the bigger hurdle!Combining a down payment assistance program with an FHA first mortgage could lead to little or no money out of pocket.

Contact Jenny Matthews, Loan Consultant with iMortgage
to learn about these programs.
Direct 713 395 6915
Mobile 713 395 6915
Fax 855 433 2896
NMLS ID 621639
jenny.matthews@imortgage.com

2011-12-31T11:34:00.001-06:00

Towne Lake is building out a waterfront center

2011-12-31T09:10:00.000-06:00

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

2011-12-31T08:57:00.000-06:00

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

FHA Extends Waiver of Anti-Flipping Regulations Through 2012

2011-12-27T11:33:00.000-06:00

In an effort to continue stabilizing home values and improveconditions in communities experiencing high foreclosure activity, Acting Federal Housing Administration(FHA) Commissioner Carol J. Galante will extend FHA’s temporary waiver of theanti-flipping regulations.

With certain exceptions, FHA regulations prohibit insuring amortgage on a home owned by the seller for less than 90 days. In 2010,FHA temporarily waived this regulation through January 31, 2011, and laterextended that waiver through the remainder of 2011. The new extension will permit buyers to continueto use FHA-insured financing to purchase HUD-owned properties, bank-ownedproperties, or properties resold through private sales. It will allow homes toresell as quickly as possible, helping to stabilize real estate prices and torevitalize neighborhoods and communities.

The extension is effectivethrough December 31, 2012, unless otherwise extended or withdrawn byFHA. All other terms of the existing Waiver will remain the same. The Waiver contains strict conditions and guidelines to prevent thepredatory practice of property flipping, in which properties are quickly resoldat inflated prices to unsuspecting borrowers. The Waiver continues to belimited to sales meeting the following conditions:

· All transactions must be arms-length, with no identity of interestbetween the buyer and seller or other parties participating in the salestransaction.

· In cases in which the sales price of the property is 20 percent ormore above the seller’s acquisition cost, the Waiver will only apply if thelender meets specific conditions and documents the justification for theincrease in value.

· The Waiver is limited to forward mortgages, and does not apply tothe 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

Wow...

2011-12-26T16:46:00.002-06:00

Property Flipping rules and FHA

2011-12-19T11:43:00.000-06:00

On December 31,2011 FHA’s Temporary Flipping Waiver expires.For over a year, FHA had waived their requirement for 90 day ownership prior topurchasing a property using FHA insured financing. But that waiver expiresDecember 31, 2011. If FHA does not renew it this means we go back to theregular policy.

FHA flipping policy:

FHA requires a property to be owned by the seller for 90days before re-sale (this means the contract date cannot be prior to the 91^stday of the seller’s ownership). No work can be done by lender on the propertyprior to the 91^st day- this includes ordering an appraisal orordering a case number from FHA on the borrower). So if you have an investorproperty under a listing agreement, then you need to prepare your seller forthis. The 91 days is calculated from the date title transferred to seller (notnecessarily 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

Hot On Homes - Albury Trails

2011-12-19T11:39:00.004-06:00

The Pye Team was recently featured in a Hot On Homes! segment. Click the picture below to view:

Preparing for the Holidays

2011-12-19T11:38:00.005-06:00

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:

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.

Use your credit wisely this season so you start 2012 in as good or better shape than you end 2011. Credit scores are so important to all aspects of your financial health that proper management insures a solid foundation.

How long does a borrower have to wait to get another loan when they have had a financial issue?

2011-12-19T11:38:00.002-06:00

Download this PDF prepared by Diane Rifai to answer that question: Download the PDF

2011-05-09T18:43:00.001-05:00

2011-04-06T23:54:00.001-05:00

What's Happening in Houston...

2011-04-05T20:56:00.001-05:00

Presentation is Everything!

2011-03-19T21:54:00.000-05:00

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!

Open house tomorrow.. in Fairfield.. on 700AM

2011-03-19T17:41:00.000-05:00

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

What to do???

2011-03-15T07:07:00.001-05:00

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

2011-03-15T06:50:00.000-05:00

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 Red Cross... $10...

2011-03-12T06:57:00.000-06:00

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.

Come on $10.00 .. you will spend this at Starbucks this weekend...

Fairfield Open Houses.. and a House sold in under 5 days

2011-03-11T18:36:00.000-06:00

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

2011-03-11T15:50:00.000-06:00

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

http://impactnews.com/tomball-magnolia

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

2011-03-11T15:38:00.000-06:00

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.

Planning an event? Whether it's a fund raiser, a reception, a business meeting or a birthday party, check out their fabulous Party Room. The perfect place for a GenuWine event to remember

Raos Bakery Coffee Cafe.. Free Coffe on St. Pats Day

2011-03-11T15:29:00.000-06:00

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!

SRES: Universal Design

2011-03-04T13:17:00.000-06:00

SRES: Universal Design

How does your house Smell??

2011-02-16T18:17:00.000-06:00

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

NEWS you can use...FHA update

2011-02-16T13:43:00.000-06:00

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

Getting an Inspection

2011-02-15T23:18:00.000-06:00

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

Lakewood Glen

2011-02-11T16:07:00.000-06:00

The Pye Team is a real estate group that has a strong focus in Lakewood Glen. So many things to do ... stop in Mezzanote , Locattelli, The Urban Vine.. no need to go to far for a hardware store.. Ace is the PLACE.. just minutes away. Kroger shopping center has dentsts, doctors, insurance, a great Sprots Bar.. churches minutes away in many denominations. This community is zoned to Exemplary Schools. Thinking of moving to the Cypress , TX area.. give us a call. Or stop me.. I drive through the community almost daily.. and you can not miss my truck.

Newly Formed Howard Hughes Corp Now Owns Bridgelands

2011-02-10T20:33:00.000-06:00

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.

On FOX news

2011-02-08T12:03:00.000-06:00

Please consider the news on FOX about the housing market. This is not HOUSTON. I will update more.

Houston .. the place to be

2011-02-07T11:10:00.001-06:00

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.

IRS Deductions... Great news

2011-02-05T08:35:00.000-06:00

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..

Memorial Landscaping and Irrigation.. A perfect meeting

2011-02-03T09:04:00.000-06:00

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

2011-02-03T08:59:00.000-06:00

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.

Wedneday.. Whats UP in Real Estate

2011-02-02T15:15:00.000-06:00

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.

Coffee and Pye: What's Your Take on Real Estate in Houston?

2011-02-02T12:51:00.000-06:00

Snow coming to Houston

2011-02-02T10:41:00.000-06:00

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.