Homestead Exemption : blog 34

Who likes to save money?  If you are like me, I love to save money.  I live in the great state of Texas.  Here in Texas we have to pay property tax.  Taxes are due every year and you must pay them.  If you do not pay your property tax you could be in a lot of trouble.  When you go to sell your home, they will make sure that the taxes are paid.  Short story, make sure you pay and stay on top of your taxes.

The application is 5 pages long.  Should not take you more then 30 minutes to fill out.  Do not mail it out before Jan 1.  If you do that, they will throw it away.  Please sent it out when you wake up after your New Years party.  They are due before April 30.  Here is the link to get the forms.  This form is for Fort Bend.  Please make sure you fill out the form for your county.

This time of year you have people that will try to charge you to fill out the application for residence homestead exemption.  They will call and ask if they can do it for you.  The cost that they ask for is about $100.  That is about $20 per page.  Make sure that you do not, let me say that agin do not pay for anyone to do this for you.  Please call or text me 713.836.1822.  I would love to help you without it costing you a penny.  We can meet up for coffee and fill out the 5 page form.  This form can save you up to 30% of your tax bill!  You can also have it pro rated for the past 3 years.

October 2016 Housing numbers: blog 33

1. Home prices: The median existing-home price for all housing types in October was $232,200. That is a 6 percent increase from a year ago.

2. Days on the market: Forty-three percent of homes sold in October were on the market for less than a month, according to NAR’s report. Properties stayed on the market an average of 41 days in October, down from 57 days a year ago. Short sale properties were on the market the longest amount of time for a median of 99 days; foreclosures typically sold in 50 days; and non-distressed homes were on the market a median of 39 days.

3. All-cash sales: Transactions involving all-cash consisted of 22 percent of sales in October, down from 24 percent a year ago. Individual investors account for the biggest bulk of cash sales. They purchased 13 percent of homes in October, unchanged from a year ago.

4. Distressed sales: Foreclosures and short sales comprised 5 percent of sales in October, down from 6 percent a year ago. Four percent of last month’s sales were foreclosures and 1 percent were short sales. Foreclosures sold for an average discount of 18 percent below market value last month while short sales were discounted an average of 16 percent.

5. Inventories: Total housing inventories dropped 0.5 percent to 2.02 million existing homes available for sale by the end of October. That is 4.3 percent lower than a year ago. Unsold inventory is at a 4.3-month supply at the current sales pace.

4 ways to update your kitchen before you list it : blog 32

Homebuyers can overlook many deficiencies in a property, but the kitchen isn’t usually a place they like to compromise. As such, it’s a great place to make small improvements before you sell. Here are four things you can do to make your kitchen a selling point.  Schools zones, Kitchens and Master bedrooms are key in getting top dollar for your home.

Freshen the paint and backsplash
One of the easiest updates to your kitchen is to paint the walls and redo the backsplashes to fit today’s trends. Many homeowners are opting for neutral colors, such as gray or ivory, for walls and backsplashes. Not only do these colors provide a modern feel, they also provide a blank slate for prospective buyers.

Put a new face on appliances
Sure, buyers will love new appliances, but spending $10,000 on them won’t necessary add $10,000 to your sales price. Another option is to give your current kitchen appliances a facelift. New doors on the refrigerator and oven and panels for the dishwasher can make the kitchen pop without breaking the bank.  The higher the home price, the more people take notice of the appliances.  There are top brands out there and they want them.

Lighten up the room
Lighting is extremely important for any kitchen. Simple overhead lighting is a thing of the past. Modern homebuyers are interested in unique, functional lighting that is cohesive with the overall aesthetic of the kitchen. Under-cabinet lights and glass pendants over islands are two of the top trends for modern kitchen lighting. Even installed battery-powered LED strips under cabinets can go a long way toward updating your kitchen’s look.

Modernize the cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are perhaps the most noticeable feature of your kitchen. They help establish the style and aesthetics of the whole room. Some cabinet companies have gone high-tech with digital visualizations of what different cabinet styles, designs, and colors would look like in your kitchen. If completely replacing your cabinets isn’t in the budget, a simple refurbishing of the current cabinets can add significant value to the kitchen and the overall appeal of any home. Kitchen updates like these give you great bang for your buck—and will catch potential buyers’ attention.

 

What do you look for in a kitchen?

Home Buying Myths : blog 31

I have helped a lot of people buy a house.  Buying a house is not something you do every day.  I have heard a lot of myths when talking with my clients.  Below are my top 5 myths, let me know what you think!  I am always a call or text away 713.836.1822.  

1. The only upfront cost is the down payment.

Buyers need to be prepared for several expenses – everything from fees, taxes, costs for inspections, credit reports, insurance, and others. Closing costs can be anywhere from 3 percent to 6 percent of the purchase price. Those costs can fluctuate greatly depending on the state you live in too.  Closing cost are always something that comes up.  My buyers are always sticker shocked, when they get the closing cost.
2. Just looking for a house casually is not a big deal.

Some people may want to just start looking at homes to get a feel for the area, before they even sit down with a REALTOR®. But they could be setting themselves up for major heartbreak. “A buyer might be viewing homes that are in a higher or lower price range than what they are qualified for.  You should get pre-approved for a mortgage so they know their budget from the get-go and don’t waste time looking at homes that are out of their price range.  You can never get time back.

3. You must have a 20 percent down payment.

A 20 percent down payment will help a buyer avoid paying private mortgage insurance. But 20 percent down isn’t required. Many lenders will still qualify a buyer for home loans with 10 percent or 5 percent down. Some buyers can even qualify for only 3.5 percent down with a Federal Housing Administration loan. There are many options for down payment assistance that lenders can explore with a buyer who has a limited amount to put down.  I can step up a meeting with my money guy!

4. Schools shouldn’t matter if you don’t have kids.

“The neighborhood you choose matters – both now and later when you might consider selling,” notes the realtor.com® article. “Even if you don’t have children, good schools are a sign of a good neighborhood.” Buyers should explore all factors with their REALTOR® on items that could influence their homes appreciation and desirability so they don’t run into trouble later on one day when they try to sell.  Schools play a big part in home value.

5. You don’t need a home inspection.

When the housing market is extremely competitive, some home shoppers may be willing to waive the home inspection in order to get the home they want.  It means you’ll get the home as is, including any and all problems that come with it. And sometimes those problems aren’t exactly visible.  Spent the $250-$500 on your home inspection.  Once again I have inspections that would love to work for you and make sure you are safe in your new home!

Paint Colors That Make a Room Look Bigger : blog 30

A room’s size is sometimes a matter of perception, and the paint color on the walls has a lot to with that perception. Some colors can actually make a room appear smaller, while other colors can make the walls expand and feel larger.  Below you will find three colors that will help rooms look bigger.
White: White reflects light, thereby making a space look brighter and feel more open. White will make any room appear bigger.  White will also complement the natural lighting.

Yellow: A creamy and soft yellow can also reflect light, and can create a softer alternative to white (as long as it’s not too bold of a yellow). Add white accents, such as on the trim, to add further dimension to the room.

Gray: A calming, light shade can help expand a room and, unlike white, doesn’t cast off a glare.

What color do you like to use?  What do you think the it color will be in 2017?

 

Denver, CO : blog 29

I was lucky enough to go visit my younger brother in Denver.  He lives in Loveland.  Loveland is about an hour drive north of Denver.  I touched down on a Friday.  The first thing that I thought when I was out of the airport.  Was that its dry, I saw a lot of dry land.  I was thinking that Denver was going to be all green and nothing but trees around.  I got on a train to go into Denver.  I took the RTD which is by far the best public trains and buses.  With more than 150 bus routes, eight rail lines, and many specialty services, RTD makes it easy to get around town.  From the airport to Denver the cost is $9.  That ticket alone was worth the trip alone.  But you are able to use any of the buses and other trains on that one ticket.

When I got into town, the first thing I did was go to the Pepsi Center.  Def Leppard was playing the next day.  I wanted to make sure and get tickets.  After picking up the tickets I went back into the city.  Ate lunch and went to the room.

I also got to see the Colts play the Broncos.  It was the first time i saw a game outdoor in about 5 years.  I do not miss watching games outdoors.  It was so hot and just not the same as watching the game inside a dome.

After a great weekend in Denver, I went back to Loveland.  If you have any questions let me know or if I missed a must do thing in Denver let me know!

Home Depot Pro Xtra : blog 28

I have been spending a lot more time and money at Home Depot.  If you going to spent your money with a company, it never hurts to check to see if they have a loyalty program.  The Home Depot has one, the Pro Xtra loyalty program.  It does not cost anything to join and it will take you less then 2 minutes to sign up for it.  You will find everything that is included in this program.

Easy Purchase Tracking

Manage multiple jobs and keep more accurate records with Pro Xtra’s time-saving features.

• Log, assign and track purchase orders by job name or number from your desktop or smartphones
• Export records seamlessly into your preferred accounting program
• Quickly access and view your last two years of purchase

 

Exclusive Offers, Savings & Paint

Get additional savings and benefits only available to Pro Xtra members.

• Receive online-only offers, selected by pros, direct to your inbox
• Take advantage of bulk pricing on thousands of items daily 
• Get help compiling your order and receive special quotes for volume pricing on most 
  orders of $1,000 or more at the Pro Desk

Pro Xtra Paint Rewards

The more you spend on paint, the more you save:

• Save 10% once you spend $2,000
• Save 15% once you spend $4,000
• Save 20% once you spend $7,500

Also access free factory tinting, job-site delivery and special-order paint supplies  

Exclusions apply and benefits may vary by location. Please see store for details.

 

Business Tools

Manage, analyze and grow your business with our easy-to-use, professional business tools

• See your top jobs, top purchased items, spend by department and more at-a-glance
• Authorize purchases quickly via text with Text2Confirm 
• Pro Xtra reloadable cards allow you to limit and track employee purchases and receive e-receipts of all transactions

What do you you guys think?  Where do you stop when you have home repairs.

Denver in a week : blog 27

I will be flying out to Denver in one week.  I have never been into the city before, I have had a connecting flight.  I do not think that counts to say that you have been into a city.  My brother moved out to Denver about 2 years ago.  I will be going to see a show at the Pepsi Center and a football game.  The Colts are in Town!

If you know any place to see or eat at.  Please let me know, Thank you.  Next week I will post my pictures from the trip!

Credit Karma : blog 26

Credit Karma is a great web site.  I used it once a month.  Most people think that you can just do one thing on this site.  To look up your credit score.  You can do so much more then this.  Below are the other things you can do on this free site.

Credit Score Simulator :The Credit Score Simulator can help answer some of your credit “What Ifs.” See how your credit choices might affect your score.

Home Affordability Calculator : The Home Affordability Calculator easily estimates how much home you can afford along with estimated monthly payments.

Debt Repayment Calculator : The Debt Repayment Calculator will show you how long it will take to pay off your credit card debt.

Simple Loan Calculator : The Simple Loan Calculator will determine your estimated payments for different loan amounts, interest rates and terms.

Amortization Calculator : Our amortization calculator will amortize your debt and display your payment breakdown of interest paid, principal paid and loan balance over the life of the loan.

If you want to talk about credit scores and what role they play in getting a home.  Give me a call 713.836.1822

5 Fixes That Can Raise a Home’s Value : blog 25

1. Open up the space.

Create more space, whether that’s even removing a kitchen island or knocking out a non-structural wall. “Right now buyers want a wide open floor plan, the living room right off the kitchen. They are into big spaces,” Kristin Wellins, senior manager of program development at ERA Real Estate, told This Old House.  I find that mom’s want to be in the kitchen and still be able to see this kids playing in the next room.

2. Light it up.

Keep the home bright: Have windows open to let the natural light flow in, consider lights that use motion detectors to turn themselves off, or install sun tubes, a reflective material that funnels natural light from a hole cut in a rooftop down through a ceiling fixture in a room. “High wattage bulbs make small spaces feel larger, and soft lighting brings warmth to empty spaces,” This Old House notes.

3. Enhance the front door.

Don’t underestimate the power of a front door.  People make up their minds in the first seven seconds of entering a house.  Here in Houston the sun just beats down on front doors.  Make sure you stay on top of this.  Don’t let the front door get too bad, make sure you are touching up every year.  Have an overhang on the front porch, such as an awning or portico above the front door.

4. Pay attention to the floors.

Spend some money on the floors, suggests the real estate professionals surveyed by This Old House. Even a $600 to $900 investment could help boost the home’s value by possibly $2,000, they say. Get a carpenter or handyman to eliminate distracting squeaks from floors, repair any broken tiles, patch damaged floor boards, and remove wall-to-wall carpeting, they suggest.  I see more and more people not wanting more carpet.  I know that I dislike carpet.  Tile or hard wood floors are so much easier to clean up.

5. Tackle easy bathroom upgrades.

Bathroom upgrades can quickly get pricey but a few upgrades can still make a big difference. For example, swap frosted glass for clear glass, remove any rust stains, apply fresh caulk, update doorknobs and cabinet pulls, replace faucets, buy a new toilet seat, or install a low-flush toilet.  Tile around to shower is also a big hit.