August 7, 2008

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Buyers Articles

Find the Perfect Houston Home - Quick Checklist

Being on the hunt for a new house can be a very fun time. It can also be exhausting.

Make it a little easier on yourself by writing down your priorities before you start looking and knowing exactly what you want and need out of that new home.

Keep in mind who will be living in the house and for how long, what their needs will be now and in the future. Make sure to bring the list with you when you are looking at houses and write down anything that is important.

Submitted by paige-martin on Mon, 05/12/2008 - 7:16pm.

Buyers Articles

2008 Tax Changes That Are Noteworthy

If you're still completing your 2007 taxes, here are some last minute deductions you might want to consider:

2007 Tax Deductions

Submitted by paige-martin on Wed, 04/09/2008 - 1:18pm.

Buyers Articles

Mortgage Pre-Approval: 6 Steps to Get Your Finances in Order

There’s been a lot of changes in the mortgage market over the last few weeks – especially in the “jumbo” loan mortgage.

In the last week, one of my clients (who was already pre-approved for a mortgage) found their interest rate jumped by 1.00% and the origination fees increased dramatically.

Submitted by paige-martin on Fri, 04/04/2008 - 10:05am.

Advice for First-Time Homebuyers

Buying a home for the first time is very exciting!

You get to search for the house of your dreams and envision what it will look like and imagine having all the home features that you have wanted for a long time.

And you should get excited! Searching for a place to finally call your own is a wonderful thing! But there are certain considerations that first-time homebuyers need to keep in mind as they’re searching for their dream home.

Submitted by paige-martin on Thu, 03/13/2008 - 11:22am.

Buyers Articles

Things to Consider Before You Buy a Home

Buying a home is a very exciting time.

You get to tour some great houses, learn more about exciting Houston neighborhoods, and invest in your future.

Before you make that major purchase, there are a number of things you’ll want to research and keep in mind to make the experience as positive as possible.

1) TIMING

Submitted by paige-martin on Fri, 02/15/2008 - 3:49pm.

Buyers Articles

Forbes Article - Best Cities For Bargain House Hunters

Forbes magazine just completed a great article entitled "Best Cities for Bargain House-Hunters."

Key items include:

Submitted by paige-martin on Wed, 02/13/2008 - 2:08pm.

Houston – A Great Place to Live!

Why do people want to live in Houston?

Well, it could be the fact that the sun shines all year long, making hiking, swimming, and golfing activities to enjoy in any season.

It could also be the fine cuisine that is available from every corner of the world, or it could be that Houston has some of the best education in the country.

Submitted by paige-martin on Tue, 02/12/2008 - 7:39pm.

1031 Exchange Explained

Property owners that are looking to sell in Houston, Texas may benefit from a 1031 exchange. Learn about 1031 tax exchanges here!

The IRS regulation "1031" provides specific tax benefits for homeowners, whereby selling one home and then purchasing another within 180 days, can be treated as an exchange, versus a sale that would be treated as capital gains income.

Exchange Treatment

HAR 2007 Survey of Home Sellers & Buyers

The Houston Association of Realtors (HAR) recently released their 2007 Survey of Home Sellers and Buyers.

The 89-page report profiled people who recently completed real estate transactions in the Houston TX area.

Highlights included:

CHARACTERISTICS OF HOMES SELLERS AND SOLD HOMES

Submitted by paige-martin on Fri, 02/01/2008 - 4:16pm.

Is it better to buy a new home or sell your current home first?

When it's time to buy a new home and also sell the current house that you're living in, one of a homeowners biggest questions is whether they should sell their current home first or try and do both transactions at the same time.

Submitted by paige-martin on Tue, 01/29/2008 - 2:47pm.