Should I Work With A Buyer's Agent? A Seller's Agent? A Dual Agent?In the past, real estate agents always represented the seller, whether the agent helped a seller to market and sell a home or helped a buyer find and purchase a home. In other words, agents were at one time legally bound to represent the seller in a residential real estate transaction. In that scenario, the seller paid both the listing agent and the agent who brought the buyer.Today, agents either represent the buyer, the seller, or both. If you want to sell your home, you can work with a "seller's agent." If you want to buy a home, you can work with a "buyer's agent." Most states require real estate agents to disclose to consumers who they represent. Sometimes an agent will represent the buyer and the seller. A buyer wh... 08/18/2007

Visitors About College Station    History    Quality of Life    View City Charter    Type Of Government    View Code of OrdinancesCommunications & Marketing    General Information    Publications & BrochuresTourism and Attractions    Conference Center    Locate Entertainment Districts    Find Local AttractionsArts, Entertainment and Culture    Culture and EntertainmentEducation    College Station ISD    Bryan ISD     Blinn College    Texas A&M University Shopping, Dining and LodgingHistoric Points of Interest    Historic Preservation    Historic Preservation Committee - MembersParks and Leisure Activities    Find A Park    Find A Pool    Sports    Youth Programs    Facilities    Conference Center    Support Services    Policies, Rules and Regulations    Donations    Senior Programs    C... 08/18/2007

College Station has a wide variety of student condos as well as condos that are perfect for just spending an occasional football weekend in.  Bryan is another good venue for condos, though many there are for active adults as well and tend to be more luxury listings.  We will focus on the more desirable, newer condos available in our market.The desirability of a College Station Condo can be tagged upon how close the complex is to campus, with those being further away selling for less money, even when they are well appointed.Fox Run Condos are probably one of the closest condo projects to campus.  These well built two and three bedroom condos are a mere bike-ride away from the action at football games and 8 am classes.  Built with luxury in mind these condos provide soaring ceilings and l... 08/18/2007

Hello, and welcome to my ActiveRain blog. Its an exciting week for us here in the Brazos Valley as our new Keller Williams office opens. Although construction isn't complete, Keller Williams Realty Brazos Valley became operational Monday morning.I invite you to come by our new office in the Chimney Hill Shopping Center next to the Hilton.Thanks for stopping by. I'm going to post to this blog on Wednesdays.Blue Skies, Sam 08/15/2007

College Station ISD recently revamped their website.  The new website is very appealling!  Kudos for a great job!  On the website you can find the new school calendar, as well as the 2007-2008 school supply lists, there are seperate ones for grades K-4, and grades 5 & 6.You can visit the website also to find school hours, bus information or menus.Information about individual schools can be found here.A&M Consolidated High School (grades 9-12)A&M Consolidated Middle School (grades 7-8)College Station Middle School (grades 7-8)Cypress Grove Intermediate School (grades 5-6)Oakwood Intermediate School (grades 5-6)College Hills Elementary School all elementaries Pre K (income dependant) through 4thForest Ridge Elementary SchoolPebble Creek Elementary SchoolRock Prairie Elementary SchoolSouth... 08/12/2007

It's always fun to live in a community with a Presidential Library and we often have wonderful events here because of it.  Visitors to the area have included queens, princes, ambassadors, heads of state and of course the president, and his family.  Our library is located at 1000 George Bush Drive West, College Station, TX.The exibits at the Bush Library are currently being overhauled and one that is relatively new is up and running. John and Jan Zweifel have built a White House replica in minature.  It skillfully and faithfully brings alive 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue for visitors.  The hours of operation for the Bush Museum are Monday through Saturday 9:30-5 pm and Sunday Noon-5 pm.  For more information go to Bush Library, or call (979)691-4000.  The exhibit will be there until January 2... 08/09/2007

Carter's Crossing, a planned 2,000 to 2,400 square foot home community, located in the middle of College Station, away from heavy traffic corridors is coming in November 2007.A 40-acre development with over 7-acres of city parkNeighborhood streetscapes planned before development beginsDeed restricted home sitesDesigned with curvilinear street design around existing trees and vegetationFor the plat and lot information contact Neetu Kainthla at BrazosLand Realty.   08/03/2007

Mike Logan, an area developer, has announced plans to take our woefully inadequate Wolf Pen Bowl and Skate and convert it into a entertainment center.  The renamed complex will be called Grand Station and will feature bowling, laser tag (multi level) and indoor putt-putt golf.  Logan is the former developer of Boonville Station which was put on hold just after Logan found out about Wolf Pen being on the market.Lost will be our little skating rink.  However, this is a huge step in the right direction for College Station and the surrounding areas.  Finally, some nice entertainment that doesn't focus on the Northgate area and keeps it clean for all ages!November is forecasted to be the grand opening of our new Grand Station which will feature almost 72,000 square feet of indoor area.  Plac... 07/30/2007

College Station's Texas A&M is a school rich with traditions.  One of the newest, but best, in my opinion, is First Yell.  First Yell is for the new students, returning students and the community to get acquainted.  It's the start of football season with the promise of fall right around the corner.  We lack the crisp apple weather, but not the crisp apple mentality!Yell is by no means new.  According to custom in 1907 when A&M was a military college restricted to males only, a little company from the ladies was welcome.  Aggies would invite ladies from Texas Women's University to take the train ride to College Station for football games.  Games are not an automatic admit!  A certain amount are set aside for guest and these are doled out according to rank with Freshman rarely getting the... 07/17/2007

On a beautiful day last week in my bright and sunny office in my favorite area of the world a prospective client and I were talking and she mentioned that moving here from Atlanta she would be giving up cultural events and all the excitement of a large town and didn't know if she could do it.  I was immediately shocked at her suggestion and rose to the defense of my city! To give you some background, Bryan and College Station, Texas are twin cities smack in the center of most of the larger cities in Texas.  Dallas is around 3 hours away, Austin around 2, Houston about 1.5 hours and San Antonio around 4.  The combined population is approximately 130,000.  Small right?  Yes....but for Texas A&M, one of the largest colleges in the United States, this is home.  Having a large university in ... 07/13/2007

Woodcreek, one of the prestigious subdivision in College Station, has 8 homes active on the market ranging in price from $224,900 to $549,900. These houses were built from 1986 to 2000, have heated area between 2,067 sq. ft. and 4,000 sq. ft., with lot sizes varying between 10,400 sq. ft. and 20,575 sq. ft.21 homes have been sold since January 1st . The homes were listed for price ranging from $174,900 to $495,000 and sold between $170,000 to $479,000. The heated area for these houses varied from 1,809 sq. ft. to 4,696 sq. ft and the lot size varied from 3,150 sq. ft. to 26,920 sq. ft. The houses were built from 1986 to 2001.4 homes are under contract or option contract. They are priced from $234,000 to $249,500. These houses were built from 1986 to 2000, vary in size from 2,371 to 2,60... 07/10/2007

I rarely blog about anything besides real estate.  After all this is a real estate forum and it's purpose is to spread information about real estate.  That being said, I've become addicted to blogging and need an outlet.23 years and 7 months ago I had a baby boy.  It seems like yesterday!!!  I remember very well how his little bald head shined when we were in the pool together and how his smile melted my heart.  Saturday my baby boy is getting married.  It's hard to see someone that you feel you still need to nurture and protect making adult decisions and I'm doing my best to cope with it.  It does help that I still have two kids in the nest, a 16 year old and 13 year old.For those of you with little one's...make sure you spend a little extra time with them this holiday.  Before you kno... 07/03/2007

The Villages of Indian Lakes is a great subdivision with rolling acreage lots located in the south part of College Station.  The netrance to the subdivision isn't the best, going past the back part of Nantucket as well as several relatively unkept rural properties.  Once you pull in the subdivision,however, you know you've made it to a very special place!Horseback riding trails dot the subdivision along with rolling hills and rustic looking signs.  Attendance in the highly desirable Forest Ridge Elementary, College Station's newest elementary campus, is a definate plus.  Ten homes are currently for sale.  They range in square footage from 3,085 to 5,329 and in price from $424,900-$824,000 (per square foot from $125-$175.5).  Homesites range from 1.66 acres to 4 acres in these current ac... 07/01/2007

College Station is now planning for it's 7th elementary campus, the new Creek View Elementary.  Plans currently are to locate it on Graham Road, presumably where the newest elementary school, just opened last year was initially slated to be.  Forest Ridge, the newest elemntary, is the fastest growing school in the district, but officials are taking no chances and commissioning a high priced, no doubt, study on where the growth lies.  According to current data most students live in the central part of the city.  In most Realtors experience true growth that would support our younger citizens occurs at the southern portion of the city.  With Creek Meadows in the far south side of College Station soon opening up over 1000 homesites, plus a slew of other new subdivisions breaking ground and ... 07/01/2007

I get phone calls on a weekly basis from potential clients interested in buying duplexes.  Many of these potential clients have the thought that they will buy a duplex and rent out one side while living in the other. Not a bad strategy.  However, many of these people have the idea that the one rental side will cover the payment and they will be living for free.  Great idea, but usually not practical.  Good return on these units, and what I use to pass the viability test is about 1% of purchase price per month.  I currently have a duplex on Westcreek available.  It's an awesome 2 bedroom/1.5 bath duplex with a fireplace and a nice sized yard.  It is listed at $129,900.  Monthly rental on one side is $650 and the other side (which has been occupied for the past 10 years with this tenant) ... 06/29/2007

Pebble Creek currently has 30 homes active on the market ranging from a luxurious 4156 square foot home on 1/2 acre for $959,900 to a modest golfcourse townhome that is 2,118 square feet for $234,900.31 homes have closed since January 1st in Pebble Creek with prices ranging from $190,000 to $785,000.  These homes were priced anywhere from a high of $194.63 per square foot to $88.30 per square foot and sold for $191.46 to $85.16 per square foot.  The average selling price per square foot was just over $110.  Of these five were new builder homes with prices ranging from $339,900 to $538,000.  Days on the market ranged from a low of 28 to a high of 406 with the average home being on the market for 100 days or more.  The average price of a home in Pebble Creek this year has been $413,689 an... 06/23/2007

Are you looking for something your middle schooler can do instead of lying around the house all day?  Don't want to spend a bundle to send them to camp?  Then the Exit Teen Center is your solution!During the school year they are open from 3:30 p.m.- 7:00 p.m.(Monday-Thursday) and 3:30 p.m.- 10:00 p.m. (Friday).The summer hours are 12 noon to 8:00 p.m (Monday-Thursday) and 12 noon to 10:00 p.m. (Friday). The codt is minimal at $1 a day or $10 a year. They have many activities that can be taken part in.  For instance the game room where young teens can play pool, air hockey or video games.They also have a computer room which is supervised by a counselor, this allows them to play games and listen to music.If your teenager is into movies or playing cards this next room is for them. They alw... 06/21/2007

With school out for the summer, I think its important for parents to show their children a good time without taking a hard hit to their pocketbook. You hardly see kids playing outside anymore because of "hand held babysitters" such as PSP, Gameboy, etc. With all of the hustle and bustle of today's world, I can understand the convenience of getting a hand held babysitter, as opposed to simply taking a walk in the park. It will definately pay off to spend time with your kids on shared activities. Brothers Pond Park in south College Station is a great place for "getting back to the basics". Everything from a shaded basketball court to a shaded play area makes the park so much more enjoyable! Shaded basketball court Shaded play area also has canopy for added protection from the sun!  Bring ... 06/21/2007

You've You've got to see this great three bedroom, 2.5 bath townhome located one half of a mile from the University!  Imagine the perfect location, just across the street from a middle school and intermediate school,  constables office and numerous parks and then make it just that much more attractive by giving it a easy jog to the university and it's awesome golf course.  Sweeten the pie by making it affordable, at $129,900 and you've got this listing!New granite tile countertops in kitchen, with appliances having been replaced within the last three years.  Roof only two years old, new carpet upstairs and tile floors down.  Community pool and low, low HOA dues of $50/month. 06/12/2007

   A little known townhouse community is directly across from the University Golf Course and easy walking or biking distance to classes.  Oakwood Intermediate and A&M Consolidated Middle School are quite handy as well to these units.  Not many come up for sale each year, but when they do they easily sell as they appeal to professors, students and people wanting a second home to watch games.  These units were built in the 70's, but many have been updated with appealing items such as granite countertops, new flooring choices and energy efficient appliances.A community pool is yours for the taking and mature trees line the streets.  Home owners association dues are some of the lowest around, at $600/year.  Each unit has either a garage or a carport.  Currently two townhomes are on the mark... 06/12/2007