Attractions in College Station Texas

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You will be amazed at the amount of quality attractions in the Central Texas area.  If you are looking to purchase a family home in the College Station area, there are many attractions that you can enjoy year around.

Brazos Valley Natural History Museum is located at 3232 Briarcrest Drive in Bryan.  Their hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10-5.  The museum was created to increase the public’s awareness of the Brazos Valley including plants, human activity, animals and minerals.  Some of the exhibits include a live animal room, butterfly exhibit, mineral collections and rare dinosaur fossils. 

Downtown Uncorked Wine Bar is located at 206 West 26^th Street in Bryan.  This wine bar has tall ceilings and gorgeous wooden floors which gives it a look of the 20^th century.  Combined with modern fixtures and furniture and art, it gives off an eclectic ambience with a hip feel.  They have a wide selection of wine and beer with live music playing each night.

Corner of Time Antiques and Collectible Mall can be found at 118 North Bryan Avenue in Bryan.  The hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday 10-5:30.  The show room floor of the mall is filled with a wide variety of merchandise.  There is also a fountain bar where you can enjoy classic favorites such as root beer floats, milk shakes, espressos, iced mocha and ice cream desserts.

The Children’s Museum of the Brazos Valley is located at 111 East 27^th Street in

Bryan.  Their hours are Tuesday through Friday 9-2, Saturday 10-5.  The Children’s Museum of the Brazos Valley gives kids a chance to experience hands-on learning in an interactive environment.  Some of the child centered exhibits include Mrs. Giggly’s Garden with tree fort and toys, The HEB Grocery and the Spaceship and Control center.

These attractions will provide you and your family hours of fun and entertainment.  You will be amazed at the many things to do around the area once you get settled in and start exploring. 

Featured Homes for Sale in Bryan,Texas

I am a seasoned realtor in College Station, TX affiliated with RE/MAX Bryan-College Station. I offer a one-stop source for real estate services and information about Bryan-College Station Real Estate. Please visit my website for a complete list of real properties for sale in Bryan College Station - you just might find the home you have been dreaming of! Or Call today (979) 255-7010.

Curb Appeal - See How It Enhances Your Home Value

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Selling houses in Bryan College Station can be not only lucrative but actually quite fun. With a great community and the built in college spirit of Texas A&M it’s easy to see why many people choose to live here. A few simple steps on creating a great first impression on buyers will not only lead them inside, it will often lead to good sales. Creating curb appeal to a home only requires a few simple things but they mean so much more to buyers than you would think.

One of the main steps in creating curb appeal to a home is simply a good scrub. If the home has vinyl siding or a hard surface finish, a good power washing will take years of dirt and dust off the outside of the house, giving it a fresh look it may not have seen in a while. Bringing out the best color of the house gives buyers an awesome first impression. Also consider sweeping the roof to avoid letting potential buyers see the Frisbees and assorted toys that were left up there.

While landscaping gives a house great curb appeal, one does not need to go overboard. Planting shrubs is nice but often not as necessary as you think since many buyers will have their own landscaping ideas. Simply give the lawn a clean, weed free surface and clean edges to give buyers a canvas on which they can paint their own ideas. This is where using less gives you more appeal since many buyers will want to do their own thing with the landscaping once they buy the house.

Feature Homes for Sale in Bryan,Texas

I am a seasoned realtor in College Station,TX affiliated with RE/MAX Bryan-College Station. I offer a one-stop source for real estate services and information about Bryan-College Station Real Estate. Please visit my website for a complete list of real properties for sale in Bryan College Station - you just might find the home you have been dreaming of! Or Call today (979) 255-7010.

Staging Your Home for Sale - Home Improvement Tips to Help You

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Staging a home for an open house can be interesting for any realtor. Knowing the proper balance of charm and modern touches will attract potential buyers and get great offers.

Although selling houses in Bryan College Station is getting easier with each year, a few staging tips for any house will give your listings a better glance from potential buyers.  Here are just a few:

Take the gender out of the master bedroom: using neutral color paint and bedding that has no overly female or masculine tones gives appeal to both sexes as they can picture the room for themselves. Simply highlight the space and let your buyers imagine their own touches.

Instead of removing an old fireplace screen, give it a new look: Repainting the old fireplace screen takes it from old and dull to bold and brilliant. You can get fire proof spray paints at any hardware store in many finishes from black to brass colors.

Remove clutter and focus on basics: Remove any breakable objects such as figurines or other personal objects as well as excess pictures that can distract potential buyers from the overall home you want to present.

Touch up the bathroom for extra credit: Give the bathroom extra sparkle by really cleaning shower doors and all surfaces. This gives potential buyers a good look at everything they like as well as things they may want to change. Giving them a clean canvas to paint their dream bathroom makes them more likely to make an offer.

Featured Homes for Sale in Bryan,Texas

I am a seasoned realtor in College Station,TX affiliated with RE/MAX Bryan-College Station. I offer a one-stop source for real estate services and information about Bryan-College Station Real Estate. Please visit my website for a complete list of real properties for sale in Bryan College Station - you just might find the home you have been dreaming of! Or Call today (979) 255-7010.

Landscaping Tips for Your Home - Plants that Adds Class and Sophistication

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Central Texas has one of the harshest climates in the US when it comes to quality landscaping. It can be hard to find flowers and plants that can survive both the extreme heat and sometimes extreme cold weather that hits the region. Bryan College Station is certainly no exception to this rule but if you want your listings to stand out above the others, here are a few really good plants or trees that easily survive the climate with little maintenance.

Pittosporum and Junipers are shrubs that are not only really tough and grow easily; they make really good screens when fully grown. For a really interesting effect, trim the bottom branches only and turn those ordinary big shrubs into little trees. This effect lasts quite a while and needs little to no maintenance.

For a really great locally grown fruit tree that most people not from Southeast Texas have never seen, you could try the Loquat tree. This fruit looks and tastes a bit like apricots and would be a delight to children and adults who have never had this easy to grow fruit tree.

Bryan College Station is a college town so why not use some English Ivy to give a house the classic look of Ivy league sophistication. The effect really looks great on brick homes and can really spruce up taller homes with a great deal of wasted space on exterior walls.

Central Texas homes can be easy to landscape as long as you follow a few basic rules in regards to the climate and how much direct sunlight plants can get. Great landscaping not only gives a house great curb appeal, it can really give the house an edge over the many other listings in the area.

Featured Homes for Sale in Bryan, Texas

I am a seasoned realtor in College Station,TX affiliated with RE/MAX Bryan-College Station. I offer a one-stop source for real estate services and information about Bryan-College Station Real Estate. Please visit my website for a complete list of real properties for sale in Bryan College Station - you just might find the home you have been dreaming of! Or Call today (979) 255-7010.

Common Building Blunders - And How To Avoid Them!

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When it comes to building a house, there are dozens of opportunities for making mistakes or bad decisions. Not to worry, you've hired a reputable builder who knows what he's doing; these mistakes shouldn't be an issue. Maybe in a perfect world, but all builders can make errors. These may be as simple as locating a shower head too low, causing you to stoop ever time you have a shower, or inconveniently locating a toilet paper roll so that you have to reach. It's not a huge issue, but over time it gets pretty annoying.
Here are a few of the more common builder errors to keep an eye out for.

Outside of the House
Air conditioners should be located on the east or north side of the home for maximum efficiency, but ensure they are not located close to bedrooms. Although the newer units are fairly quiet, you'll still here the compressors when the unit is in use.

Driveways should be wide enough that you don't have to step on the grass when you get out of the car. If you have a double car laneway, you should be able to park two cars, side by side, without dinging the doors. A single lane drive should be no less than 12 feet wide and a double-wide driveway should be 22 feet wide.

A covered porch is a simple improvement you'll thank your builder for time and again. Especially the next time you're standing in the rain with your arms full of groceries, and fumbling for your keys.
Outdoor faucets should be conveniently located at the front and rear of the house. Think of where your gardens and planters will be situated for handy hose access.

Exterior electrical outlets are not used that often, but when they are needed, you want them close by. You'll want them at the front, back and possibly the side, depending on the type of exterior work you'll be doing. It's great to have outlets installed in your soffits for handy Christmas light plug-ins.

Indoors
Interior Electrical outlets can be a huge source of frustration if they aren't conveniently located. You'll want to ensure they're installed in the walls directly behind end tables, next to beds or couches, or on top of a fireplace mantle.

You may also want some floor outlets in a home office or coffee table situated in the middle of a room. My biggest source of frustration was not having an outlet in the island in my kitchen.

Traffic flow should be examined when you're planning your floor layout. Ensure that areas designated as pathways, won't be obstructed by furniture. Usually a 36 inch width is chosen for stairways, you'll appreciate increasing this to 42 inches or more in width.

Spongy floors can be avoided if you request extra stiff floors. The average building code for floors is 1/360, ask your builder to upgrade to a 1/480 deflection design instead.

Trusses are probably one of the least concerns of most new home owners, but so important for future renovation possibilities. If you intend on creating added living space in an attic or above a garage, request that your builder install a truss that will allow for added headroom in these areas. Also, have him install a real staircase in these spaces, not a fold-up model.



Lisa Jones is a seasoned realtor affiliated with RE/MAX Bryan-College Station. She offers a one-stop source for real estate services and information about Bryan-College Station Real Estate. Visit her homepage for a complete list of real properties college station, and you just might find the home you have been dreaming to have.

Coinciding Settlements Clauses - Moving Issues

People who are selling their home in order to buy another frequently put a "coinciding settlements" clause into their contract offer on the new home. One reason for doing this is so they can move from one home to the other at the same time.

Coinciding Moving Day?

One reason people want coinciding settlements is so they can move out of one house and into the other the same day. Sometimes this works out. Sometimes not. If it doesn't work out, don't freak out. 

For example, if the house you're buying is a new one, it may not be completed and have an occupancy permit by the date specified. Are you going to risk losing the sale of your old home by insisting that settlement be delayed? Not if you're smart and you really want to make this change. You might explore delaying settlement, or the option of a "lease back" period. If those ideas don't fly, it's time to cope.

Depending on your budget and the length of time between moving out of your old home and moving into your new one, you could:

1) Have the moving company store your furniture and household goods, or

2) Rent a "smart box," pack your household items into it, and leave it parked in front of your old home, or park it in front of your new one (depending on who grants permission), or

3) Store your things in the basement or garage of your new home (with permission), or

4) Rent a storage unit by the month, or

5) Store your things in the basement or garage of a relative or friend, AND

A) Stay in a hotel or motel for a few nights, or

B) Stay in an extended-stay hotel or motel suite, or

C) Stay with family or friends, or

D) Go camping, or

E) Some combination of the above.

The point is to act like a mature adult. Be flexible. You're making a big change. The chances it'll go off without a hitch are slim. Keep things in perspective. Practice creative problem solving. You'll be proud of yourself and have a smile on your face when moving day comes.

 Lisa Jones is a seasoned realtor affiliated with RE/MAX Bryan-College Station. She offers a one-stop source for real estate services and information about Bryan-College Station Real Estate. Visit her homepage for a complete list of real properties college station, and you just might find the home you have been dreaming to have.

 

 

Make Money Today In Real Estate

The real estate bubble may have burst, but the fact remains that real estate is still an attractive investment.  You just have to be able to look at the advantages that are presented in the down economy.
Some say that the real estate market is in a depression.  Others call it a recession.  Others are in complete denial.   The third parties are usually those in politics or real estate agents.  Anyone who is trying to sell a home knows it is bad out there.  But the good news is that as bad as it is for sellers, it is a great market for buyers.
Anyone who has money to invest should invest part of it in real estate.  The reason for this is threefold:  The interest rates are rock bottom and not likely to get any lower, the housing prices are lower than ever and the market will eventually rebound.  You can still make money today in real estate, you just have to look at the property as a long term investment instead of the quick buck.
The days of flipping real estate properties that are accumulating so fast in value that you cannot keep up with them are gone for now.  They will most likely return, but not for a while.  Now you have to work with what you have which is a real estate market in which there are a lot more sellers than buyers.  This puts the buyer in the drivers seat.
Along with the fact that it is a buyers market, you can also work with the fact that the mortgage rates are lower than ever.  So you have an opportunity to buy low because the market is saturated with homes for sale and not enough buyers as well as an opportunity to get a good loan package because the rates are low and lenders are dying to make loans so that they can stay in business.
If you have money to spend on real estate, you are in a great situation today in the real estate market.  Look at the real estate investment as a long term investment instead of a short, get rich quick scheme.  You can make money when the bubble begins to grow again, and it will.  The real estate market goes up and down like the stock market.  It will rebound.
You can make money today in real estate but you have to make smart choices.  Purchase property in areas where the housing prices have remained stable.  Also look at the growth in your area.  Where is the next boom likely to hit?  This is speculation, but if you track trends in the real estate market and do a little bit of a study, you can see the next area where developers will likely target.  This is a good place to buy real estate, even if it is just a vacant lot.
Real estate is usually always a good investment, especially if you plan to live in the property.  However, it should be looked upon as a good long term investment and not a way to get rich quick. 

·         Lisa Jones is a seasoned realtor affiliated with RE/MAX Bryan-College Station. She offers a one-stop source for real estate services and information about Bryan-College Station Real Estate. Visit her homepage for a complete list of real properties college station, and you just might find the home you have been dreaming to have.

How To Make Money Renting

Although the residential real estate market has hit the skids, it is not as gloomy as it appears.  The market may be down, but it is not out.  And it never will be as people will always need a place to live.  You just have to be prepared for a long term investment in real estate and not panic.
If you own property or want to make money in the market today, the way to go is to rent out property.  We have always been a nation of renters.  Over the past 50 years, however, we gradually moved towards home ownership.  There are still many people, however, who rent and some people who prefer to rent.  Home ownership is a responsibility that not everyone wants to take on.
You can make money in the real estate market today by renting out property to individuals.  You can rent out your own home instead of selling it if you are planning on moving, or even purchasing property to rent to people.  If you are looking for a rental investment to buy, there has never been a better time.  Housing prices are lower than ever as are mortgage rates.  You can purchase a home or a condominium to rent to others and also be a long term investment for you.
Be careful if you purchase a condominium unit with the intent of renting that there is nothing in the bylaws that prohibits renters.  You should also make sure that you do your own market study of the area.  How much are other homes or condominiums being rented for each month?  You need to find out whether the rent will cover not only the mortgage payment, but also the taxes and insurance.
Do your homework carefully before purchasing property to rent to others. This can be an ideal way to make money in real estate today, but you have to make sure that you understand the market as well as the tenant laws.  Tenant laws usually favor the tenant, so make sure that you screen any applicants carefully. You should also take a good security deposit, especially if you are renting a single family home out.  The security deposit should be returned when the house is vacated and in the order as agreed to in the lease.
If you buy property now, you can take advantage of the low housing prices as well as low lending rates.  You can then hold onto the property for several years while renting it to tenants who will, essentially, pay your mortgage.  When the real estate market moves towards a sellers market, which it eventually will, you can have the property appraised.  Chances are that it will be worth a lot more than for what you pay now and by selling, you will get a sizeable return.
Making money in the real estate market today is not difficult if you are patient and willing to look for the long term investment.  Always look to the best locations in which to invest in property as they will tend to gain in value quicker than any other locations. 

·         Lisa Jones is a seasoned realtor affiliated with RE/MAX Bryan-College Station. She offers a one-stop source for real estate services and information about Bryan-College Station Real Estate. Visit her homepage for a complete list of real properties college station, and you just might find the home you have been dreaming to have.

How To Make Money In A Real Estate Recession

There are a lot of ways to make money in a residential real estate recession.  There really has never been a better time to buy than right now.  The interest rates are at rock bottom and so are the prices of homes.  There are more foreclosures on the market than ever before, which gives you an opportunity to make a killing when it comes to a long term real estate investment. 

Because the market is now a buyers market and there are many more homes for sale than there are buyers, it is smart to look at real estate investment in this recession as a long term investment.  This means that the idea of buying the home, fixing it up and selling it for a profit is over for now.  For now.  The real estate market is just like any other market and has its ups and downs.  Right now, it is experiencing a downslide.  It will rebound. 

The way to make money now in the real estate market is to either buy partial construction homes or dirt cheap foreclosures and rent them out to tenants.  Real estate is a unique investment.  It is unlike other investments that are usually on paper.  Real estate is something that you can actually use. Not only that, it is something that we actually need.  Everyone needs a place to live.  You can capitalize on that by purchasing dirt cheap foreclosures, fixing them up a bit and renting them out to tenants.  

We were once considered a nation of renters.  Until WWII, most people rented property instead of owned a home.  Mortgages were pretty tough to get and required 50 percent deposit.  Today, mortgages are easy t get and we have become a nation of homeowners.  Although the tide is turning and many people are finding that they bit off a bit more than they could chew when times were good.  Now that the real estate recession threatens the entire economy of the United States, many people are finding themselves out of work and unable to afford payments on their homes.  This is one of the reasons for all the foreclosures. 

You can grab foreclosure properties easier than ever before.  You will need to do your homework and make sure that the property is in a good area where the home prices are stable.  You will also need to have proof that you can purchase the property for the amount that you bid. This will include a pre approval letter from a lender as well as a certified check for the amount of the down payment.  If you are planning on paying cash for the property, you need to show proof that you have the funds available.  

You can get a pretty good deal when you buy a foreclosure.  You will have to wait for a decision as banks and lenders do not have the incentive to act as quickly as individual homeowners, but if you do manage to be able to purchase a foreclosure, you will be surprised at the bargain that you get.  Buying a foreclosure and either living in the property or renting it to a tenant is one of a few ways to make money in a real estate recession.

Lisa Jones is a seasoned realtor affiliated with RE/MAX Bryan-College Station. She offers a one-stop source for real estate services and information about Bryan-College Station Real Estate. Visit her homepage for a complete list of real properties college station, and you just might find the home you have been dreaming to have

Rental Properties: 10 Ways To Increase Income

What if you want better cash flow from your rental properties? You can't just raise the rents arbitrarily. If tenants leave, income goes down, not up. There are other ways, though, including the ones listed below. 

 1. Install coin-operated washing machines. Even if you don't have the money to do this yourself, you can find a company that will do it for you, and share the income with you. 

 2. Rent extra parking space. When I got tired of a renter's extra car, I just started charging a weekly fee. Then I didn't mind so much. 

 3. Raise the rent. Okay, we did dismiss ARBITRARY rent hikes as a cash-flow solution, but check on the rates for similar units. Are you renting at below-market rates? 

 4. Rent storage sheds. Especially if your apartments are small, your renters may need a place to store their things. Don't let them spend their money elsewhere. Put a few sheds on the property. 

 5. Enforce late fees. It is perfectly fair to have a fee for late payment of rent, and guess what? Those who are chronically late usually don't even mind - they just don't look at these things the same way as others. 

 6. Offer improvements for rent increases. If it's worth $25 more monthly rent to a tenant, install that dishwasher. Even on a credit card you'll pay less than that per month for it. 

 7. Install vending machines. If your rental properties are large enough, others will do this for you for free, and give you a share of the income.

 8. Rent by the room. A four-bedroom house might make more money if you include all the utilities and rent by the bedroom. This has made a lot of fortunes for investors in college towns. It does mean a lot of management, however. 

 9. Rent-to-own sale. Usually there's a non-refundable deposit, and higher than market rents in these deals. When renters change their minds, as they often do, you got the deposit and better cash flow. This is great when poor cash flow makes you want to sell. You either sell or get the better cash flow as you repeat the process. 

 10. Reduce expenses. Every dollar of expense you cut goes straight to the bottom line. List every expense of your rental properties, and look at them one at a time. How can you reduce them?

 Lisa Jones is a seasoned realtor affiliated with RE/MAX Bryan-College Station. She offers a one-stop source for real estate services and information about Bryan-College Station Real Estate. Visit her homepage for a complete list of real properties college station, and you just might find the home you have been dreaming to have.

Rent To Own Is The Win-Win Scenario

If you are a renter who is tired of paying someone else's mortgage and want to own your own home, there are many ways to buy a real estate; one of them is Rent to own (RTO) option, a means of acquiring ownership over time without taking on debt. The renter agrees to lease the home for a pre-determined time usually from one to three years. There may be an up-front consideration fee. The seller allows the buyer to lock in a monthly price for the property till it is paid off. This is a way to settle on something that is right for you even if you are not in the position to make an immediate purchase. A lease purchase can make your rent money work for you instead of making your landlord rich. 

Similar to a rent to own for a TV you can have a rent to own for a piece of real estate. In this case most sellers that are willing to do this (and there is not many) will want a non refundable deposit on the property, then you pay the landlord rent until you can purchase the property. This is similar to a lease option as well, except all you pay is rent. The deposit is much less than an option and you do not pay the taxes or the mortgage, since you are still a renter. The benefit of doing this is you get into your home with the intention of buying the house at a later date. A rent to own agreement, where the money goes directly to the payment of the home, could be saving you a lot of money in the long run. 

This type of agreement works well with those who are new to the housing market or have made a job transition. It also is positive for anyone who needs to strengthen his/her credit or pay off an obligation to qualify for a home purchase. Another advantage to a rent to buy situation is that if you compare how much rent money is applied monthly to the home price, even if it is only 25-50%, it will still be much more money paid on the principal of the house than if you had taken out a loan for it. If you look at how much money goes to the principal payment of a home with a typical mortgage loan, you will find that most of your mortgage payment in the beginning is just paying interest on the loan. The best part about this is that with a rent to own home, you get to live in the home you want to buy while you work on fixing your credit up. 

The biggest drawback to this is quite often the agreed upon price is a future price of the home. If you have a house that is valued at $350,000, a rent to own price would look closer to $370,000. That might seem like a rip off, but a lot cheaper than a rent to own with a TV where you would pay 2-3 times the price of the TV over a 5-year period. 

This creative process of how to buy a rent to own house is becoming more and more popular because it creates a "Win - Win" scenario. The Buyer is able to get into a home with limited money and credit, and the Seller is able to get a fair price for their home and get it sold more quickly.

Lisa Jones is a seasoned realtor affiliated with RE/MAX Bryan-College Station. She offers a one-stop source for real estate services and information about Bryan-College Station Real Estate. Visit her homepage for a complete list of real properties college station, and you just might find the home you have been dreaming to have.

5 Things You Should Know Before You Flip A Property

1. Money is made at the buy, not the sell of your flip. When flipping a house your money is made at the purchase not at the sell of the house. So, many times people buy a house with the intensions of making a huge profit only to find out that they could not make any money after all the renovations because the purchased price of the house was too high. When you purchase your property you need to be sure that you buy the house with enough money to make renovations, have carrying cost, and add about 5 $6,000. Now, cost is at $147,000, and that is if everything goes as planned. Profit is under 10,000 dollars. The mistake was made at the purchase at the home, not the sell.  

2. Get an inspection on the home - Get a complete inspection done on your property. By, spending a few hundred dollars on this expense you can save thousands in problems that you cannot see. Foundation, Pest, Wood Rot, Etc... By, getting a full inspection you can rest assured that you know everything that is wrong with the property before it’s too late. In the contact for the house you need to make sure that you have 7 days to have an inspection preformed, and if the inspection finds problems that are going to cost more money that you are willing to spend you can get out of the contract with no penalties. 

3. Don't do the work yourself: - Get a contractor or several sub-contractors and have the work done quickly. You need to have you house flipped ASAP, so that you can get it on the market and get it sold. When I started flipping my brother and me did a house together, and we did all the construction. I had a construction background and figured it would save thousands, but it took us over 4 months to get the work done that a contractor could have had the work done in a month. But, we trying to save money on our flip did all the work on our time off and after work, and it just took too long. On our 2'nd flip we used contractors for almost everything and had the house completely flipped with a new roof, new air conditioning, new hardwood, and much more in only 3 weeks. We did not have to spend all our time working on the property and were able to spend that time looking for the next deal. This is how you get rich in real estate. 

4. Place the property 1 to 2 percent below market value: If you are wanting to flip real estate and make money the object is to buy and sell the property as quickly as possible, so that you can move on to the next house.  If you purchase a house and try to sell it at top dollar to make and extra couple of thousand dollars on your flip, and end up holding it for 6 months you are losing money.  Get the house on the market at a price that is going to blow the competition away, and you will sell it no matter what the market conditions. On our second house the market for selling house went down due to the housing market as a whole, and the tightening of the loans across America.  We were told that you could not sell a property in this market, but we went ahead anyway and flipped our house. After 3 weeks on the market we had 3 people wanting to buy the house. Why, because we offered it at such a great deal that people wanted to jump on it. That is what you have to do especially if the market is slow. 

5. Use a real estate agent - Do not try to sell your house on your own. Harness the power of a real estate agent and the power of the MLS system. When you do a FSBO you are depending on people driving by your house and seeing you sign, with a real estate agent you have someone actively marketing you house to get it sold. Once again this will free up more time for you to look for more great deals. If you want to help the process I have found that craigslist and listing you house in Google ad words help to, but I use these tools with the help of an agent to make sure I have all my bases covered. 

I hope this article has been helpful with the basics needs of flipping a house. If you will study and learn you will make money. But, do your homework before you purchase a house, and make sure that you can pull a profit on your deal. Then, make it happen!

 Lisa Jones is a seasoned realtor affiliated with RE/MAX Bryan-College Station. She offers a one-stop source for real estate services and information about Bryan-College Station Real Estate. Visit her homepage for a complete list of real properties college station, and you just might find the home you have been dreaming to have.

 

4 Steps To Real Estate Investing Success!

Real estate investing is always good and sometimes it's red hot. When it's hot dozens of real estate seminars begin rolling across the country and thousands of people spend thousands of dollars for investing education. 

It's startling to learn that of all those thousands of eager folks who attend these seminars only about 5% buy even one investment house. Why? The real estate gurus sell the "sizzle" and make profiting from real estate sound easy. The truth is that it's simple, but not easy. 

Here's a quick plan that will enable anyone to begin building financial independence. 

There are basically four steps to investing in single family homes: 

1. Buy homes below full market value. Yes, people really do sell homes for less than the home's full value. The key is to understand that most home owners will only consider a purchase offer that is all cash and within 5% to 10% of their asking price. 

The successful investor learns to find financially distressed home owners who have no choice but to sell for less than market value. They have lost their job or been suddenly transferred; they are divorcing; they been living beyond their income; the family has been overwhelmed with medical bills and, not uncommonly these days, their money has gone to support a drug habit. 

Those are examples of motivated sellers. They have to sell and they will accept something other than a conventional, all cash offer. 

2. How do you find motivated sellers? You work at it! Like any business it is important to develop a little marketing plan. One that is simple, yet very effective, is the one that was proven 75 years ago by the Fuller Brush company; door to door sales. 

You are selling your skill as a home buyer to people who must sell. Your are there when they need you and you have the skill to help them solve at least part of their problem. With door to door prospecting you will learn more and buy more homes quicker than any other method. However, most people just won't walk door to door for three or four hours per week. OK, there are other ways. 

You can watch public notices for the announcement of foreclosure sales. Meeting with a home owner right after they've received a notice that they are about to lose their home allows you to deal with a very motivated seller. Other public notices that provide buying opportunities include probate, divorce and bankruptcy. You can follow the Homes For Sale listings in your local newspaper or Internet site. 

You can telephone the names found in these notices or, and this is the least time consuming, send a postcard expressing your interest in buying their property. It will produce buying opportunities, just not as many as personal contact. 

3. After you've found a motivated seller you must understand how to frame offers that provide benefits for both you and for the home owner. A good real estate investor quickly learns that this is not a business of stealing property, but of solving problems in a way that benefits the seller. 

The home owner is in a tight spot of some kind and you can save them from public embarrassment and, in most cases, give them at least a little cash to get a new start. 

No investor can afford to leave cash in every deal. No one but Bill Gates has that much available money. You must use creative techniques like, leases, option and taking over mortgage payments. Little or no cash is needed for those deals. You can find plenty of reasonable priced educational material on those subjects in book stores or on EBay. The same education that seminars sell for thousands of dollars. 

4. You make your profit when you buy! Never make a purchase until you've carefully determined exactly how you will get to your profit. If you hold it as a long term investment will the monthly rental income more than cover the monthly mortgage payment? Will you sell the deal to another investor for fast cash? Will you do some fix-up and sell the property for full value? Will you quickly trade it for a more desirable property? Have a plan before you buy. 

 

There you have four steps that even a part-time investor can execute in three to four hours per week. What's the missing ingredient? Your determination and perseverance. If you will unfailingly follow the plan for a few months you will be well on your way to financial independence.

 Lisa Jones is a seasoned realtor affiliated with RE/MAX Bryan-College Station. She offers a one-stop source for real estate services and information about Bryan-College Station Real Estate. Visit her homepage for a complete list of real properties college station, and you just might find the home you have been dreaming to have.

Best House Color to Sell

Love at first sight is a concept that applies to the real estate market. So, what is the best house color to sell your home to a love struck buyer?

Best House Color to Sell

When you go to social events, do you make an effort to snazzy yourself up? Of course you do. The simply fact is attraction is a key factor in forming relationships and the same applies to your house. When you put the house on the market, you need to make it look good for the dates with potential buyers. The color of your house can make all the difference. 

First, there is no absolutely correct answer to the best color. Instead, the decision depends on the makeup of your home and the surrounding landscape. Let’s take a look at some issues:

1. Whatever color you choose, make sure it doesn’t clash with the other homes in the neighborhood. An otherwise appropriate color could end up making your house an eye-sore. 

2. The Roof. What color is the roof on your home? If it is a red tile roof, off-whites are probably going to be the best choice. Dark green will not. Unless you are going to invest money in a new roof, make sure the paint color doesn’t clash with it. 

3. Highlights. If there is a particular part of your house that should be emphasized, used light colored paint around it to draw attention. 

4. Hide It! Conversely, if there are parts of the house that are mundane, use darker colors to draw attention away from them. 

5. On large flat surfaces, such as the side of a garage, keep in mind the color you choose will have a washed out appearance. 

Now we get to the fun part. After considering the above issues, make a preliminary list of colors and buy small cans of each color. In a private area of the house, start applying samples strokes a couple feet long and a foot or so wide. Try to paint examples in both shaded areas and those exposed to the sun. 

Do not immediately judge the results of your experiments. Instead, wait a few hours for the paint to dry and then start comparing. Dry paint takes on a very different appearance than wet paint. 

Once the paint is dry, take a long look at each sample. You will typically find the colors look much different than you thought they would. You may find one color is perfect or you may find something a little different would be best. Either way, you’ll have come up with the best house color to sell your home.

Lisa Jones is a seasoned realtor affiliated with RE/MAX Bryan-College Station. She offers a one-stop source for real estate services and information about Bryan-College Station Real Estate. Visit her homepage for a complete list of real properties college station, and you just might find the home you have been dreaming to have.

 

Banks Profit Big Killing Real Estate Values

Everyone is aware now of the slow housing market and the fact that many people are losing their homes.  There is, however, another segment of the housing market that is seldom spoken of, but which is also being hard-hit by the current situation.  And the banks - who started the whole "tumble" - and who "profited greatly" in creating the "tumble" - are still profiting BIG !

First, let's talk about the homeowner.  In the 1990's, banks developed a GOLDMINE in the housing industry...the equity loan.  They began a huge marketing program to encourage people to take their money (savings) out of their homes and spend it.  They touted that the homeowner could "use the money for anything you want - a vacation, home improvements, college tuition, new car, whatever".  The banks then proceeded to appraise the home over the home's actual value and loan people equity up to 125% of the home's value.  This meant that people would no longer have any savings in their home - they would owe the whole value of the home at that time.  Anyone who didn't take out the money and spend it, was considered foolish - to have credit cards or pay interest on anything else, when they had money available in their home that they could pull out. People used their homes like an ATM.  Anytime the bills got too big, they just refinanced and took cash out or borrowed on an equity loan. Who made the most with interest and fees? The banks.

Who made the most money on these loans?  Yes, the banks. The homeowners didn't care about the fees the banks charged or the closing costs. The only thing they looked at was the big fat amount of money they could pull out and spend - as if it were the lottery. Who profited big? The banks.

As times were good and home values steadily increased, another segment of the housing market developed.  In times of affluence, ordinary people became investors, buying homes and condos to offer as rental property.  This is an intelligent way to save money on taxes and serve those who cannot afford to buy their own home, by providing a nice place to live for a reasonable monthly rent.  The other advantage, of course, was the appreciation on the property and having someone else help you pay the mortgage on the loan. The problem, however, was that much of the money they used to invest, came from home equity loans that they had taken out on their primary residences. The banks made this easier by providing "second mortgages", with high fees of course, and added prepayment fees and penalties to ensure they made a high profit, regardless of the life of the loan and with second mortgages, you could buy a 2nd or 3rd or 4th house or condo with very little down. But when the market values slipped and the appreciation never came, people lost money on the rentals and it resulted in losing on their personal residences also, because of the home equity loans we talked about above.   The only ones still guaranteed to make money? The banks.

Now, that people have spent all of their savings in their homes and they owe more than the home could be sold for, many homeowners are letting the house go back to the bank...in foreclosure.  As many foreclosures as there are, it's still a small percentage of the total market.  Because it is such a small percentage, the banks can "dump" the houses for half of what would be the real value.  This further devalues the market price of the other homes that are for sale.  It's peanuts to the banks, but to the other homeowners out there that have to sell for one reason or another - it's devastating.

Worst part, when the crisis hit, the government instituted programs to bail out whom?  The banks !

Lisa Jones is a seasoned realtor affiliated with RE/MAX Bryan-College Station. She offers a one-stop source for real estate services and information about Bryan-College Station Real Estate. Visit her homepage for a complete list of real properties college station, and you just might find the home you have been dreaming to have.

 

 

 

Bankruptcy And Buying A House - Is It Smart To Buy A House After Bankruptcy?

Each year, millions of people file bankruptcy as a means of erasing their consumer debts. While this approach may relieve stress, a bankruptcy is damaging, and will hang over your head for the next ten years. Still, it is possible to overcome bankruptcy. The key is making smarter financial and credit decisions. With this said, some people choose to purchase a home after a bankruptcy. Here are a few pointers to consider when buying a home.

Reasons to Delay the Buying Process after Bankruptcy

If you consult with mortgage or financial experts, they will likely discourage you from buying a home following a bankruptcy. After your bankruptcy is discharged, there is a black cloud that looms over your credit report.

When any prospective lender reviews your report, they will be notified of your recent or past bankruptcy. In some instances, this justifies an immediate denial. On the other hand, there are lenders eager to help you establish or rebuild your credit. Thus, they will approve a loan request. Nonetheless, the penalties are steep.

Higher mortgage rates can be anticipated when purchasing a home after bankruptcy, especially if you have not established other credit accounts. Mortgage lenders consider two factors: credit scores and credit reports.

Although a bankruptcy appears on your credit report, having a high credit score will increase your odds of getting a comparable rate. Unfortunately, if you buy immediately following a bankruptcy, you will not have the opportunity to boost your score.

Reasons to Buy a Home after Bankruptcy

Lenders will approve mortgage loan applications one day following a discharge. Therefore, it is possible to get a home after a bankruptcy. Buying a home is perfect for rebuilding credit. Moreover, it is the quickest way to increase your credit score.

 

After a bankruptcy, the average person has a credit score below 600. Good credit consist of credit scores 650 and above. Maintaining current mortgage payments will gradually increase your score. After two years of regular payments, you will have established a good payment history. Hence, you may qualify for a low rate refinancing, which may lower your mortgage payments. 

 

Lisa Jonesis a seasoned realtor affiliated with RE/MAX Bryan-College Station. She offers a one-stop source for real estate services and information about Bryan-College Station Real Estate. Visit her homepage for a complete list of real properties college station, and you just might find the home you have been dreaming to have.

 

 

 

Real Estate Terms – From Appraisals To Comps

When you’re selling your home or other real property on your own, you don’t have to know everything about the process. It does help to have a practical knowledge of the terms that come up during the process. 

Keep in mind, these aren’t intended as “be all, end all, penultimate” definitions.  They’re working definitions for pragmatic folks. Let’s go…

1) Acceptance - A legal term referring to the acceptance of a buyer’s offer by the seller. Acceptance is often preceded by a number of counter offers between the parties. 

2) Appraisal – a professional opinion of the value of real property.  Most jurisdictions have careful rules defining who may call themselves an appraiser, and most lenders have a “stable” of approved appraisers whom they use regularly.  Typically, the lender making the new mortgage loan will require that the property appraise for at least as much as the purchase price.  Occasionally, a buyer will require the same thing in an all cash transaction.

3) Bridge Loan – Short term loans used to “bridge” any time gap between the sale of a home and purchase of the next one. These loans can be valuable when escrow is delayed on the sale of a home and the seller has committed to the purchase of another home. Bridge loans are also known as “panic loans”, but can be a life saver. 

4) Coinciding Settlements – when a buyer needs the funds from the sale of his prior home (which is under contract to be sold) in order to purchase his next home, he may well make settlement under his sale a contingency for settling on the home he is purchasing.  In reality, the sales don’t usually coincide.  They usually take place back to back.  Funds from the first are often wire transferred to the second.   

5) Closing – Depending upon the state you live in, Closing can have different meanings. Generally, the closing of a real estate transaction refers to the exchange of necessary documents, execution of the same and transfer of money. 

6) Comps – This term refers to the sales prices of similar properties in the area of a house in question. Comps are used to help determine the fair market value of a property. 

7) Conditions – any conditions which must be met before the sale can be consummated.  Some typical conditions include things like the property’s appraising for the purchase price or more, the property’s being in good condition when a home inspection is done, the buyer’s loan being approved.

As you can image, there are many real estate terms for which you have a general understanding. In our next article, we continue with the terms starting with “Condominium.”

 

Lisa Jones is a seasoned realtor affiliated with RE/MAX Bryan-College Station. She offers a one-stop source for real estate services and information about Bryan-College Station Real Estate. Visit her homepage for a complete list of real properties college station, and you just might find the home you have been dreaming to have.

 

Real Estate Team - Building One

In real estate, you need a team of people you can trust and rely on. Here are some possible team members, and what you should look for when building your team. 

photo credit

 1. A mortgage broker or banker. A broker can offer many options, but a banker can make the loan decision. They each have their advantages, and you could use both on your team. In either case it's important they understand what you want (fast closings, lower interest, corporate loans?)

 

2. An accountant or bookkeeper. To keep proper books for real estate investments is getting more complicated with all the tax-law changes. Find someone that understands the law, and understands what you want.

 

3. A real estate attorney. Find someone familiar with the laws and legal customs of your area, and that has experience with the type of deals you intend to do (If you are buying rentals, she should be familiar with doing evictions, for example.)

 

4. A good real estate agent. An agent with experience in the area you invest in and access to the MLS (Multiple Listing Service), can be a great help. If she is a seller's agent, she can still ethically bring the best deals to you once she knows you're a serious buyer.

 

5. An appraiser. A good appraiser can give you an accurate valuation of a property, but they can also suggest ways in which you can most efficiently raise the value of a property. Find someone that will talk to you.

 

6. An inspector. Some states make it too easy to become an inspector with little experience. You may want to find one that is or used to be a contractor, so he can find the problems AND give you some idea of the cost of repairs.

 

7. An insurance agent. Good ones will understand what you want, and find ways to save you money. Insure all your properties with one agent, and you're likely to have discounts available, aas well as better service.

 

8. An escrow officer. They'll usually be with a closing company. Find someone that's efficient, and can explain things clearly to both sides. If he is confused by a slightly creative contract, he should educate easily or be replaced.

 

9. A cleaning person or crew. When you have a trusted person or crew ready, it means a fast turn-around when you buy a rental or rehab project.

 

 10. Rental property manager. Be certain that the company you hire has exerience, is responsive, and will have time when you call. Good property managers can tell you what you should get for rent in a given area BEFORE you buy.

 

Start building that team. Investing in real estate is a whole lot less stressful and more profitable with a good real estate team.

 

Lisa Jones is a seasoned realtor affiliated with RE/MAX Bryan-College Station. She offers a one-stop source for real estate services and information about Bryan-College Station Real Estate. Visit her homepage for a complete list of properties for sale in bryan and college station, and you just might find the home you have been dreaming to have.

 

Real Estate Success

Real estate success? It happens by way of the many things you repeatedly do right, and it is your habits that ensure they get done. Here are some habits to develop for your real estate investing success.

Ask for people's names, and tell them yours. People are your most valuable resource in real estate investing. The more you know, the more likely you are to find good properties, or buyers for your good properties. Get to know the right people too. Start with a real estate agent that gets many listings of the type you are interested in. Wouldn't it be nice if he called you first?

Think numbers. Think people first, but know the relevant numbers. Ideally, when you look at a rental property, for example, you should be thinking about the income, the expenses, and the cap rate. You should be imagining how certain changes would allow you to raise the income, and what that would do to the value. Having a "feeling" about a property, and ignoring the numbers, gets investors into trouble.

Carry supplies. Always have at least business cards, pen and paper on you. You never know when you might see a property for sale, or hear about one. Mention that you invest in real estate, and sellers, buyers and other investors suddenly appear with information, opinions, and sometimes deals. Be ready.

Think risk reduction. Put those inspection, financing, and other contingency clauses in the offer, so you will get your deposit back when a deal falls through. Know your exit strategy before you buy. Find value by comparables, not "hunches." Buy properties through your corporation or LLC. Always look for ways to reduce the risks.

Real Estate Success Is Found In Action

Set action-oriented goals. Get in the habit of taking regular steps towards real estate success. Require yourself to look at a certain number of properties, and maybe even to write a certain number of offers each month. Set at least minimum goals for all sorts of little steps, like making five phone calls per week, checking online for new listings twice per week, and so on. Action creates momentum, and repeated action creates habits. Good habits lead to success.

Finally, learning more about investing from books, magazines and even tapes or CDs is a great idea. Just be sure to spend as much time doing something as reading about it. Some of us let our fascination and enjoyment of reading about investing get in the way of actually investing, and of our real estate success.

 

Lisa Jones is a seasoned realtor affiliated with RE/MAX Bryan-College Station. She offers a one-stop source for real estate services and information about Bryan-College Station Real Estate. Visit her homepage for a complete list of real properties college station, and you just might find the home you have been dreaming to have.