Many buyers frequently ask the question, "how much are closing costs?" Buyers can estimate that closing costs will be between 3 and 5 percent of the purchase price of the home. The exact amount varies depending on a buyers financials,…
If you bought a home in 2016, you might be wondering "what is a homestead exemption?" Well, the homestead exemption allows you to save money on your property taxes by reducing the taxable value of your home. The exemption in…
Like many, I have plans for 2017. Some big, some small. If one of your bigger plans is to buy a home this year, you've picked a great year to do so. Mortgage rates are around 4%, and despite recent…
About a year ago, I wrote a blog titled "Can You Really Get A One Bedroom In Houston For $1000?" Here we are a year later and the market has shifted. While, I wouldn't say we have an excessive surplus of…
You have made an offer on a beautiful home and it has been accepted. Congratulations! You're on the way to being a homeowner. Now, the real work begins. During your option period, it is suggested that you get the home…
Working with buyers, I tour a lot of homes and meet a lot of builders. It isn't often that I see a home that really does something different, but Zander Homes wowed me from the moment I walked into a…
In the digital era that we live, the photos of your home are the most important component of the marketing plan. More and more buyers and agents are using online resources to research and share listings. If buyers aren't impressed with what…
The new high rise apartment on Montrose Boulevard is nearing completion and the first resident moved in this week! The latest product by Hanover (the same developers that introduced to Houston the mixed use building in Rice Village, Hanover Rice Village)…
Football season for Houston Texans fans realistically started on July 31st with training camp, but this weekend marks the second pre-season game. The NFL team and my favorite player (let's face it, he's everyone's favorite player), JJ Watt are taking on the…
You may be one of the many individuals in Houston, Texas that owns a pet, shopping for a new apartment. During your search, you have probably noticed that many apartment communities have pet restrictions. These restrictions often include the number of…
When buying a home, a home inspection is an essential step in the process. Shortly after your offer is accepted, you will want to conduct your due diligence to make certain the home you have chosen is a good fit…
Buyers and renters have more and more resources available to them now than any time in the history of real estate. There are apps for the smart phone and tablet that help users search for homes, estimate mortgages and taxes,…
Summer is here and Houston moving season is in full swing. People are relocating to the area from all over the country (and world) as they finish college and start new jobs, medical programs and graduate school. Others are being…
Today marks the start of the busy season in Real Estate. School is out for summer and families are shopping for their next home to buy or lease before fall classes start. Sellers are also taking advantage of the increase…
The greater Houston area is huge, and with all the annexations, the sprawl is overwhelming. The whole city is a whopping 627 square miles, for crying out loud! However, that includes a large portion of the city that an urban…
When you buy or sell a home, and a mortgage lender is involved, an appraisal is required. The appraisal is an estimate of a property's value and is required by the lender to make sure that the value of the…