Both Existing and First Time Home Buyers who are Vets Get a Tax Credit When Buying a Home that others do not in Texas! Texas Vets have many breaks when buying a home in Texas from the Texas Vet Mortgage Tax credit program, Texas Vet Land board and for some Vets the $8,000 Federal Tax credit is still in effect for contracts signed by April 30, 2011 and closed by June 30, 2011 who are eligible for the credit. Another home buyer tax credit called the Texas Vet Mortgage Tax Credit gives those who have served an opportunity to reduce their Federal Income Taxes by up to $2,000 a year.  As a military vet in Texas you helped protect the American Dream for all of us.  Now you have the opportunity to live it.  Unlike other Home Buyer Tax credit programs  you do NOT need to be a first time home bu... 01/18/2011

Subject: Title Insurance Shortly after you are "under contract" in the home buying or selling process, you will receive a document in the mail from the Title Company. It is a title commitment for your title insurance on the property you have under contract. Be sure to read through for accuracy (spelling of names, etc).  The document serves as the preliminary title report to ensure title is clear by the time of closing. It is the document referred to on page 1 of the contract you signed for the sale or purchase of your property. Also, keep a copy for your files.   Should you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me. Here are some terms you may find helpful.  Title A legal document evidencing a person's right to or ownership of a property. Title company A company that specializes ... 12/31/2010

Are you a homeowner who really cares about their home? Are you a homeowner that wants to update your home however isn't sure which improvements are the smart ones to make? Are homeowner who wants to know more about energy tax benefits? Are you a homeowner who wants to know more about .............. And the list goes on and on and on. If you are a homeowner who really cares about your home than one of your most valuable assets is a website brought to you by the National Association of Realtors. The website it www.houselogic.com This website contains a tremendous amount of useful information for you. You have probably already prepared your New Year's Resolutions or your personal goals for 2011. Have you thought about doing the same for your house? Don't forget your home is probably your m... 12/27/2010

Home Loans tor Texas Vets in ConroeTexas Vet Loan rates for a 30-home loan this week are 4.03% (30% VA disabled or more) and 4.53% (non-disabled). The maximum Loan amount is $325,000. The Texas Veterans Land (TVLB) board offers Texas Vets the opportunity for some of the lowest home loan rates available today. Contrary to the name these Texas vet loans can be used to purchase existing or new homes. In addition, fees are strictly controlled and limited to protect the Veteran. Realtors, to see if you or your clients qualify for this program contact our office and we'll get them pre-approved for the program.Special Discount of one-half of one percent on the available VLB loan interest rate for Disabled Vets and Surviving Spouses as follows:Disabled Veterans Discount - Veterans with disabili... 12/27/2010

Texas : Montgomery County : Conroe : Introducing the "Texas Real Estate Lawman !" There is a New Sheriff in Town, Lawman to be exact.  He's the "Texas Real Estate Lawman" and he and his posse  at Texas Homeland Title are ready to earn your business in greater Montgomery County TX. If you have questions about Real Estate Law, title issues, tune in to his blog and FaceBook Page  (posted with permission)  You can visit his blog at http://activerain.com/blogs/texhomeland  (free legal advice--Are you kidding??) You see, he doesn't carry a gun, but he will "shoot holes" in bad "title work." "Texas Homeland Title" is the name............"Hassle free closings" are their game.  Horse parking available.  12/21/2010

The November sales numbers are out. MLS area 39, the Lake Conroe area, had a good month. Unit sales were up over 14% compared to last November and the average price was up....wait for it....$73,108! WOW! What a jump. Available inventory climbed almost two months and average days on the market increased to 90. As might be expected units sales dropped from the previous month however the average price did increase. Property located on or close to the water is still retaining its' value. For those doubting whether this is the time to buy the answer is strong YES. The figures show that we have hit bottom in this area.  Prices are rising as are interest rates. The time to act is now. Thanks and have fun Christmas shopping! Do you think I should start mine now? Ron www.ronwickes.com www.lakeco... 12/18/2010

  The rate for the TDHCA bond 77 program is now below that of other loans! This week the average rate for low expense home loans topped an average of 5.125%.  Because of how the Texas Bond 77 rates are set the latest and last lucky 7 allotment is still 4.95%.  This is an ideal time to get down payment assistance AND a lower rate.  To take advantage of this rate you need to fill out our online application here as soon as possible before funds are exhausted.  Because of the demand that this has put on the program it will expire on 4/1/2011 or when funds are exhausted, whichever comes first. If you are already working with another lender you will need to contact them to obtain the assistance.  If they cannot do bond 77 we will be happy to assist you to qualify using our online application... 12/18/2010

So, there it was in all of its splendor-----a truck, a "semi" to be exact---- "Going Green" along Interstate 45. Driving to my office the other day, I witnessed one of the many available visual ironies A semi -- hauling-----you guessed it----yet another trailer ("pups" as they are called) with the logo "Go Green!" Hmmmmmmmmmmm.............. Kind of made me think of several things, besides the obvious irony. For one, the House Hunters episode (I love that show) that was about a woman in Oregon looking to live in a Green Commune.  The concept is smaller living areas with the basics and a large main house where communal dinners are shared, and fresh organic vegetables from the communal garden are used.  Cool concept.  In this country, we have SO much.  America, the land of plenty and---- ... 12/15/2010

Here is your weekly interest rate update: Conventional 30 year Mortgage: 4.75% Credit score:740 LTV:80% Loan Amount:$200k APR: 5.375% FHA 30 year:4.5% Credit Score:640 LTV:96.5% loan amount:$200k APR:5.375% Conventional 15 year:4.125% Credit score:740 LTV:80% Loan Amount:$200k APR:4.5%   Call me today if you are thinking of refinancing or buying a home, for the best mortgage rate possible.    12/08/2010

Texas : Montgomery County : A Dallas Cowboy Profile in Courage: A Special Teams Hero! Stunning, isn't it?  Cowboy stadium in all of its glory, and the Cowboys?    Well, I dunno.  Who will "show up" tomorrow again the Indianapolis Colts.  Should be "some" game. I mean, how inconsistent can they get?  Picked to not only play on the Super Bowl---but WIN the Super Bowl.  What happened? So many expectations, yet so much disappointment.  Players let us down, coaches let us down.  But let me say this: The special teams coach, Joe DeCamillis, is an amazing man and an amazing coach. Now, I do not pretend to be any kind of expert about football--but, let me say, I know people, and I know courage, excellence and an impregnable spirit when I see it.  He is quite a coach as demonstrated by the quali... 12/04/2010

Home Loans tor Texas Vets in Conroe Texas Vet Loan rates for a 30-home loan this week are 3.65% (30% VA disabled or more) and 4.15% (non-disabled). The maximum Loan amount is $325,000. The Texas Veterans Land (TVLB) board offers Texas Vets the opportunity for some of the lowest home loan rates available today. Contrary to the name these Texas vet loans can be used to purchase existing or new homes. In addition, fees are strictly controlled and limited to protect the Veteran. Realtors, to see if you or your clients qualify for this program contact our office and we'll get them pre-approved for the program. Special Discount of one-half of one percent on the available VLB loan interest rate for Disabled Vets and Surviving Spouses as follows: Disabled Veterans Discount - Veterans with disab... 11/29/2010

I recently was reading an article about plumbing problems in the typical home.  The article described seven really dumb things people do that can cause major plumbing problems. After reading the article I decided to summarize the seven "no nos" and send them to my listing clients. You never know who might not know what and I would rather be safe than sorry. I also thought it might be a good idea to pass the "sins" along to you too. What are the seven deadly plumbing sins? Here they are: Leaving hoses connected during winter - this can lead to freezing of the outdoor faucet Using too much drain cleaner - to much of these can cause corrosion and even make the stoppage worse Pouring household chemicals into a septic system - these chemicals kill the good bacteria needed in the system Screw... 11/23/2010

Home Loans tor Texas Vets in Conroe Texas Vet Loan rates for a 30-home loan this week are 3.65% (30% VA disabled or more) and 4.15% (non-disabled).  The maximum Loan amount is $325,000.   The Texas Veterans Land (TVLB) board offers Texas Vets the opportunity for some of the lowest home loan rates available today.  Contrary to the name these Texas vet loans can be used to purchase existing or new homes.  In addition, fees are strictly controlled and limited to protect the Veteran.  Realtors, to see if you or your clients qualify for this program contact our office and we'll get them pre-approved for the program. Special Discount of one-half of one percent on the available VLB loan interest rate for Disabled Vets and Surviving Spouses as follows: Disabled Veterans Discount - Veterans with... 11/19/2010

MLS area 39 in Montgomery County is the area around our fantastic Lake Conroe. Unfortunately sales have not been quite as wonderful. Single family residence (SFR) unit sales were down 26.8% as compared to last September. The big gain though was in the average sales price. The average sales price jumped an astounding 35%. I think that some really expensive homes sold in September. That amounted to an almost $80,000 increase in the average home sales price. Year-to-date SFR unit sales are down 9.5% as compared to 2009.  At the end of September there were 215 more homes on the market as compared to last year. There was 8.5 months of inventory available. Although sales in this area have not been what any of us would like prices have held their own. Year-to-date, both the average and median ... 11/01/2010

MLS area 19 in Montgomery County is having a pretty good sales year thus far. Single family residence (SFR) unit sales were down only 1 unit as compared to last September. The big gain though was in both the average sales price and median sales price. Both were up over same month last year by an astounding $22,000+. This is an almost 18% increase over September of last year. There were far fewer foreclosures available this year than last year. Foreclosures seemed to dominate this MLS area last year. Year-to-date SFR unit sales are up a whopping 15.7%.  Talk about a very nice increase over last year this is it. Both the average and median sales price are also up over last year by  about 5%. This MLS area does have the lowest average and median sales prices of our counties four MLS areas.... 10/27/2010

Yes Virginia homes sales are still showing a pulse. A little slow maybe however it is still there. The Woodlands which comprises most of MLS area 15 did not have a sterling sales month in September. Single family residence (SFR) unit sales were down 12.1% as compared to last September. However the average sales price and median sales price were both up over same month last year. Active listing were up 362 compared to last September. Year-to-date SFR unit sales are up a paltry 1.45%.  I am sure that most of us will take any increase over last year no matter how small. Both the average and median sales price are also up. The average sales price is up 2.8% year-to-date and the median sales price is up 1%. Considering the statement of our economy I honestly do not consider these bad numbers... 10/25/2010

Conroe Homes -- Huntsville TX Real Estate : It's All About the "RAIN," baby! Active Rain is "the" forum for active real estate professionals today. We live in a fast moving--fast paced world and business. It is VITAL to be:1. connected2. informed, and 3. aware of changes, new ideas, helpful business strategies and a whole lot more.     Isn't it time to get your business "dressed for success?" There are groups to refine your networking circle to customize your Active Rain Experience. Write about or read more about SEO strategies, clouds, REO's, mortgage lending, the dense fog in Homer Alaska. I mean for "soup to nuts." You can hang out with the "Night Owls," the "Active Rain Addicts," the "Tech" group, you can "Express with Words, Photos, Videos, etc."---you name it Active Rain has got i... 10/24/2010

Do you want to try and get to that ever elusive perfect credit sore? Do you want to be one of the fewer than 1% of Americans who have that score? If you do want to try and get your credit score to that perfect or almost perfect level here are four things that are considered a must. 1- Have a long and great payment history. Start young, use your credit, pay it off and repeat for about 20 or so years. 2- Keep a careful balance of installment and revolving accounts. One for one is a good measure. 3- Keep open those accounts you got early in your credit life. The older the credit the better. 4- Keep the credit inquiries off of your of your credit report. In other words try and stay with the cards or lending institutions you currently use. That makes it sound really easy to obtain that perfe... 10/23/2010

Conroe Homes - Montgomery TX - What's East TX Girl Doing at Cowboy Stadium???  Here we go.  Sorry Houston Texan fans. I promise it was in my pre-nup.  My husband has been a Cowboy fan for more years than he cares to count. How in the world did I get this footage?  Bootleg, baby!  This was fascinating to visit the locker room and walk in the tunnel, see Jerry Jones private parking garage and the private elevator that opens into the tunnel to the stadium. Make sure you watch the video.  I ALMOST get caught.  The operative word is "almost." Oh, there's more to come and it's some great footage!  Stay Tuned.  Go Cowboys!  What a Place.  Take a look.  Wonder who comes out of the elevator at the end??????  Can you guess?   10/23/2010

Conroe Homes - Montgomery TX - Showing Property With One Shoe On and, well...a sock on the other. Yes....it was embarrassing.  Yes....it hurt like a monkey.  Yes.....I still showed property with one shoe on and a sock on the one that wouldn't fit into the shoe.  Yes....I am as stubborn as my husband says. What is it?  Something in the air, this penchant for hurting myself at quite inopportune times.  Well, in my defense, it happens when I am exhausted as a result of pushing myself a little too hard.  It happened when I was finishing up my last year as a high school choral director.  I was soooo tired.  I started my pre-licensure classes in the middle of our "contest season."  I finished my pre-licensure classes, passed the big real estate test (in a wheel chair), took my kids to contest... 10/23/2010