Amy Boehm Sellin' & Lovin' The Texas Hill Country Blog

It's Tuesday, And I'm Already Tired

2008-08-19T16:38:57Z

I don't know about all of you, but this has been a tiring summer. Lots of listings, thank goodness, but this seems to make the buyers more confused on what they want.

Summer is/was hot with little rain, but we did get over 3 inches in the last two days and praying for more. But cloudy days make me tired.

School starts next week, so we have to keep a lookout for those school zones and buses. I will be getting my first grader to school which is going to be so much fun. Its wonderful to see your little ones when the light bulb turns on for something new.

Plus the San Antonio Real Estate Board have decided to change MLS and I need a light bulb to turn on for me!! Who has time to learn a new system, though it is suppose to be easier/faster then the old MLS. I'm too tired to have to learn something new.

Fun things have been happening around The Boehm Team. As you know we just added our newest agent, Rita Garza, who I introduced to you last week. Well my assistant, Lora's son, Ryan graduated from A&M on 8/8/08. Lora being the overly proud mother that she is, is still beaming. Course she wanted me to let all of you know that if you were looking for a recent Business Graduate from A&M to hire, Ryan is available RIGHT NOW!!! Lora also added a new member to her household by taking in her nephew, Dylan who will be going to the new Boerne Champion High School for the next 3 years. So she is really tired.

As everyone knows football season is around the corner. I received this football schedule, I hope the link works for you. Its the Big 12 Football Schedule.Click here for printable PDF file Speaking football, watching all the Olympics has made me tired too.....

OK, enough complaining, its almost 5:00 WHOOP!!!

Do you know a good Drip Campaign/Contact Manager Program

2008-08-13T15:08:09Z

Hey everyone

Need some help. I work with a team and we need a good contact management with a drip campaign program that is online. We are currenlty using top producer, but you can not assign leads to a specific person within my top producer. The solution from top producer is that each member of the team needs their own top producer, but that would mean that my assistant would have to move a lead from my lead contact person to my Buyer's agent or myself when they become a prospect. All the notes we have, all the information would have to be duplicated every time the person moves up our ladder of work distibution.

So if you have any ideas please let me know, its getting a little frustrating right now.

Thanks a bunch

Amy

Paradise Now

2008-08-07T15:04:02Z

This is an amazing home! Immaculate 3/2 with the look of a Designer! Upgraded fixtures, colors and wood flooring throughout the downstairs. Open Floor plan with fireplace in living, large kitchen space with island that opens to the living area. Beautiful dining adjacent to kitchen. Eat in breakfast area. Mature trees in the backyard off lots of shade. $1000.00 floor allowance for upstairs w/acceptable offer. Neighborhood pool & amenities. For more pictures and information go to www.myboehmteam.com MLS#736496 $188500.00

Made in the Shade

2008-08-06T14:07:14Z

Bright and lovely home on a quiet Street waiting for you! Open Floorplan with fireplace in living area. The Master Bedroom is located downstairs and has a full bath. The High ceilings & Loft create a spacious area for you to enjoy. Great kitchen with wonderful counter space. Fresh pain inside and out! Just replaced flooring. Super Clean! Mature trees, landscaping was just added to create a warm and beautiful home. Check it out, you will love it! MLS#736361 $122,900. For more pictures and information go to www.myboehmteam.com

The Boehm Team Adds a New Buyer's Agent

2008-08-06T13:58:30Z

Please welcome the newest member to The Boehm Team, Rita Garza. Rita has been a realtor for a year now and loves working with clients to help them find the perfect home. She is also a personal trainer so she knows how to keep you on your toes, not to mention that I am sure that she will whip The Boehm Team into shape in no time at all. Rita is also a former cheerleader who still judges competitions around the state. Rita graduated from the University of Texas, San Antonio.

We are very blessed that Rita agreed to come on over to Boerne and join our team and we look forward to a fruitful and fun partnership.

A Little Jewel on the Southside

2008-08-06T13:31:45Z

A new listing just in from our newest Team Member, Rita Garza. More about her later.

Perfect home for first time homebuyers with big living and dining are in an open floorplan. Utility room is located inside the kitchen. The master bath has a wonderful walk in closet. The Backyard is the perfect size. This home is located in a quiet 4 year old neighborhood with easy access to 90 & 410. Close to Lackland AFB. MLS#736476 $95,000 for more information and pictures go to www.myboehmteam.com

Mediterreanean New Construction/Amazing Price

2008-07-29T15:27:15Z

It just doesn't get better than this! Custom Mediterranean style on one acre, close to town! All one story, 4 bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms, 2 half baths. This wonderful open floorplan has a gourmet kitchen with stainless appliances and granite countertops. Top of the line with a tile roof and travertine & hardwood flooring. Outside you will find a 640s.f. cabana with a full kitchen & bath. Cabana bath opens to patio making this backyard perfect for a pool. Entertaining could not be easier with large covered patio, cabana & a gameroom located up, Great trees! Rod iron fencing secures the property. Construction is under way, schedule to be finished end of summer. For more pictures and information go to www.myboehmteam.com

Texas is #1

2008-07-22T13:02:06Z

According to CNBC, Texas is number 1 in economic health and growth. Texas Ranked #1 for Economy, #1 in transportation, #3 Cost of Living, #12 in the quality of our workforce & #20 in Business Friendliness. There are other categories also. You can find this at www.cnbc.com.

Any Texan will tell you that we are #1 and always have been, didn't have to wait for any website to tell us that. Here are a few other things that we are proud to say are Texas Born.

We are the home of Dell & Compaq computers, Dr. Pepper, Whataburger, Fritos and the very first Rodeo ever. Not to mention we have a diverse ecological areas where you can drive from the Piney Woods of East Texas to the Deserts of West Texas or the Coastal areas of South course it will take you a couple of days or more since we are the 2nd biggest state in the Union.

As you have seen on many a bumper sticker here in the Great State of Texas, "I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as fast I could". I did marry a Texan which I think actually gives me citizenship in the Great State of Texas, not to mention he is an Aggie, WHOOP!!

Cleared and Ready for your Home

2008-07-15T15:32:17Z

This gorgeous lot has 3.69 acres already cleared and waiting for your Texas Hill Country Home. The lot has lots of mature oaks and is conveniently located on Rio Cordillera just minutes from FM3351 and an easy commute to San Antonio. Not to mention the Guadalupe River Ranch and the Clubs of Cordillera. Come on over and build the home of your dreams, it's worth it. For more information and pictures go to www.myboehmteam.com MLS#732471 $175,500.00

Made to Order, Comfortable & Convenient

2008-07-10T11:29:39Z

Amazing & Perfect! Super Clean and ready for you. 4 Bedrooms, 3 Baths w/ Gameroom! Open Floorplan w/ Breakfast area, Large pantry, Formal Dining/ living combo, Fireplace accompanies family room. Lots of storage and huge closet space! Mature trees and landscaping. Covered patio in front and back, Updated light fixtures, ceiling fans, 2"wood blinds. Playscapes in back yard remain unless buyer doesn't want them. Close to I10 & Boerne schools! It's what you've been waiting for. For more pictures and information go to www.myboehmteam.com

Ways to Save Money While It All Goes in our Tank

2008-07-08T14:34:20Z

This morning when I was watching Good Morning America, an interview with T. Boone Pickens was being played. This respected oil man (if there is such a thing) was talking about how if something is not done, mainly us changing our ways and converting from the need of using oil to using natural gas and wind. (OK, I'm serious, this is not a joke. I just spent a little time with college boys at my assistance's house and well need I say more....) Anyway back on topic. If we don't start changing our ways we will be looking at $6-7 gas next summer and just keep going up according to Pickens and our only hope is to lobby our government to look into alternatives. As a realtor as I have blogged about before, we just have to keep driving, so I guess we will have to get political, but between now and then here are some tips I found.

Start stocking up on non-perishable at the grocery store etc. Watch for sales and buy extras instead of just when you need them.

Eat out on only special occasion (geez that will be hard for a person who never gets home before 6 or 7)

Don't buy bottled water, tap water is cheaper and apparently there have actually been studies that show that bottle water is no better then tap in some cases. My kids are going to hate this one.

Raise your thermostat (we talked about this one before)

Skip the latte, make it at home (This one is not happening around here, but its the thought that counts right?)

I am sure that there are other people who can add a whole lot more of tips to save money to buy gas!! Bring them on.

Dang It Didn't Appraise Out

2008-07-01T15:48:50Z

In the last month I have had two homes not appraise for the sale price! You can blame my CMA or you can take in consideration that one owner had a lot of emotional value placed on her home and really wanted a price a little higher then I thought would work and the other one was a fairly new home in a subdivision that the builder had just dumped his last two homes for a really low price. Well there goes that market according to the appraiser.

Sellers don't always understand and sometimes realtors, including me, don't always understand the process that the appraiser uses to come up with his/her report. Here's a few things we all have to keep in mind. The appraiser is completely independent of the realtor, buyer, seller and the lender. They are held to guidelines set by Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice and Fannie Mae.

The appraiser uses comparables from the same area and also the size of the home to find a fair market value that have sold in the last 6 months. As much as our sellers would like views, pools, upgrades, etc. don't really add their full value to the value of a home. Apparently upgrades in a newer home actually add more value to a home then upgrades in an older home. I can only think that is because upgrades to an older home just bring it up to current standards where upgrades in an newer home make it above standards. (Sure some appraiser can clarify that one for us a little better).

So with 700-800 new homes fixing to hit the market in the San Antonio area with the AT&T move, we all better get ready for some changes in those CMA's or at least get our sellers ready to have their home on the market for a little bit longer then what we have seen in the past.

OK, I'm closing, How do I get Utilities

2008-06-24T14:09:40Z

If your a realtor, I know you hear this question almost every time you close a property. Who are the utility companies etc? Well I found this website. It doesn't necessarily work for smaller communities, ie. Boerne. It doesn't even mention Guadalupe Valley Telephone or Cable company as an alternative, but I think if you live in a larger area, this could really work for your clients. www.whitefence.com. You can schedule all your utiltities or at least get the phone numbers. It also does a comparison in those places where there might actually be competition for phone and cable service. You could even use this site if you are not moving and just want to find out what those other companies have to offer. You might find a great deal, who knows! There is even a place to do a change of address form, and other needs such as maid service (I wish), lawn service (how come we have this and we don't have maid service, Glen!) and other helpful information whether you are moving or not. Course you can always just call your realtor and I'm sure they will have the answer. :)

Country Comfort, City Convenience

2008-06-17T15:06:58Z

Adorable home located convenient to I-10. Fresh paint inside and out, updated with laminate wood flooring & tile. Galley kitchen and breakfast area, 2 bedrooms and 2 full baths. Fireplace in living room adds charm and warmth. Back deck is great for entertaining all located on almost 1/2 ac. Well wooded in front and back with mature trees. Neighborhood amenities include tennis court, pool and clubhouse. MLS#726080 $139,900.00 For more pictures and information please go to www.myboehmteam.com

Let Save Some Money (Gas Money)

2008-06-10T10:54:47Z

As a realtor, I need gas just like I need food. Actually I think I need gas more then food. (SIGH) Unfortunately in this day and age both of those things are going up and going up fast. So I thought I would search around and see if I could find someways to save money on gas.

This website is a great place to start whether you are driving locally or going on a cross country trek. It has all the best gas prices all the way across the country. www.gasbuddy.com

Other ways to save some money on gas:

Carpool (won't work for a realtor, but our clients can take advantage) Try www.carpoolworld.com to find a carpool in your area.
Take care of your car. Just like your body, your car is more energy efficient when it is in tiptop shape.
Make sure your tires are properly inflated.
Don't do quick starts and stops. Use cruise control when possible.
Don't allow your car to idle. It takes less gas to start it then to let it idle for a length of time.
Use the A/C only when necessary (OK, its always necessary all the time in TX) but you can help the A/C by parking in a shady spot, cracking your windows and using window shades or park in the garage when possible.
Take out the extra weight. All that stuff in your trunk is actually costing you gas. So Jen, you can't use your car as a closet anymore!!!
Buy your gas in the morning. Gas is more dense in the morning (sort of like me before coffee) and apparently denser gas makes for more energy. (OK, so not like me in the morning before coffee).

Hope these tips help everyone in this time of amazingly disgusting gas prices.

Amy

This one is a Show Stopper

2008-06-06T09:23:38Z

Adorable home with open floorplan convenient to 281 & 1604, and shopping. The kitchen has it all, lots of cabinets & counter space, oversized oven, sink, butler's area, large pantry with breakfast and formal dining. The home has canned lighting with dimmer controls throughout and surround sound speakers in most of the rooms and outdoors. The utility room is perfect for gardening with a door to backyard and a utility sink. This home is a show stopper with upgraded carpet and decorator colors throughout. Not to mention the exemplary schools in the area. Your going to love it. For more pictures and information go to www.myboehmteam.com

Baby, Its Hot Outside

2008-05-28T11:25:14Z

My assistant just got back from 4 days in Phoenix bragging that it was only in the 80's while she was there and it was so pleasant etc etc. Well that's not what it was here and add a little humidity and you have a fun mix of just plain hot!!

So here are some tips I found that I thought those of you who didn't have a pleasant "dry air" Memorial Day might like to take into consideration.

Whole-house fans help cool your home by pulling cool air through the house and exhausting warm air through the attic. They are effective when operated at night and when the outside air is cooler than the inside.
Did you know that if you set your thermostat to the highest temperature comfortable for you it will lower your co0ling bill because your unit will not have to work as hard when there is not much difference between the outdoor and the indoor temperature.
And Husbands (j/k) hear this one! Setting your thermostat way down when you first get home does not cool your home faster, it just results in unnecessary expense.
Keep those ceiling fans or even room fans running. They help spread the cooled air from your air conditoning which in turns makes your a/c unit not work as hard.
Keep lamps & TV sets away from your air-conditioning thermostat. The thermostat senses heat from these appliances, which can cause the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.
Plant trees & shrubs where they will shade your air conditioning unit but not block the airflow. If possible place your room units on the north side of the house. Units that are placed in the shade will use 10% less electricity.
And last but not least seal your windows and doors, electrical outlets etc. to keep that expensive cool air from escaping.

Hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day and are ready for SUMMER!!!

You can Fight Your Property Taxes

2008-05-20T12:25:46Z

Well if where you live is like Kendall County, Texas you just received that delightful little notice letting you know that your property is worth even more then last year, YIPPEE! Right, Well sort of, but who really wants to pay more taxes and who says your property really has risen that much since last year. Here's possibly the most depressing thought of all except for maybe owing income tax on the 15th of April, property taxes have actually outpaced inflation over the last 8 years. Hopefully you have been keeping abreast of what values really are in your area so that you know when you get that little notice whether it is fair or not.

Recently, the National Taxpayers Union estimated that as many as 60% of home values were assessed too high, resulting in an incorrectly larger property tax bill. So maybe its time for you to take a look and maybe even talk to a tax arbitator for your area.

Here are some steps that you can do yourself:

First, contact your local tax assessor's office and ask for someone in the reassessment area. Find out when appeals are heard, and how the process for submitting a property tax appeal works.

Check to make sure that the tax assessor's office have the correct square footage for your home & number of rooms. Maybe the Tax Assessor will change your taxes without a formal review if that informaiton is inccorect. Now its time for you to do some homework. Remember the assessed value more then likely will be less then the market value of your home, but still could be too high. Find out what the formula your county uses for determining assessed value.

If you have a current appraisal that supports the value being lower using recent market-value information, many counties will accept a copy of the appraisal with the appeal. If you don't have a current appraisal, check public records to see what homes with similar features and in your neighborhood are appraised for. The goal here is to find similiar homes that are appraised below your current home tax appraisal. Don't be surprised at finding a big discrepancy between what your home and homes in your area are appraised. In Texas you can go to www.txcountydata.com and find almost every county's online property tax information.

Submitting an appeal is generally a fairly simple process, but make sure to take the time to fill out all forms in advance and be prepared with your documentation if there is an in-person hearing that needs to take place. Make sure that you file it on time or you will not be granted an appointment.

Good Luck! If you live in my area, Kendall, Bexar or Comal County, Texas and don't want to do this on your own, email me at info@myboehmteam.com. I can refer you to a great tax arbitrator.

Dreams Do Come True

2008-05-15T15:08:29Z

Call Me Beautiful! The best backyard in the neighborhood. Nice Trees & privacy for your enjoyment. Lovely floor plan with 2 living areas, large spacious kitchen with island. Built in oven & microwave. Lots of cabinets and counter space. Large master retreat with separate shower and garden tub. Just replaced light fixtures and ceiling fans. Fresh paint. Shows like a model and barely lived in! Access to neighborhood park! Come check it out today. You won't be disappointed. For more pictures and information go to www.myboehmteam.com

Serenity Just Waiting for You

2008-05-14T15:28:54Z

Perfect place to call home in the Hill Country. Come, build your custom home on this lot. This subdivision has it's own park with access to the Guadalupe River!!! Mature trees, good views! Check it out today. Survey will be needed. For more information and photos, please go to www.myboehmteam.com .98 acres for $35,000.00

Gorgeous New Construction In Bergheim

2008-05-12T16:21:54Z

Beautiful new construction located in Dresden Wood with easy access to Boerne, San Antonio & 281. 2300 s.f.+/- of open floor plan with high ceilings, granite countertops & tile throughout. Stainless steel appliances and Alder Cabinetry make this a dream kitchen. This home is just about ready to move in so come on by and see it. For more pictures and information go to www.myboehmteam.com $329,000.00

Cordillera Signature Property

2008-05-08T14:59:33Z

Immaculate & beautiful! Lots of privacy on over 4 acres in the prestigious Cordillera Ranch. Open Floor Plan, 29' ceilings in Living Room with rock fireplace. Windows along entire backside of home let you enjoy the scenery and wildlife. Great master retreat! Kitchenaid appliances, double oven, granite countertops, gas cook top, island kitchen make this a Chef's delight! Two bar areas, 600+ s.f. of covered patio w/stained concrete, Gary Pools in ground pool with hot tub make year around entertaining possible. Seasonal Creek runs behind the property! Priced to Sell!! For more information and pictures please go to www.myboehmteam.com $799,000

Courtyard Paradise

2008-05-06T11:32:50Z

It's like your own paradise. Very cute and adorable u-shaped home located on over 1 acre. Incredible courtyard with outdoor cooking area in the middle of the home. Great home for entertaining with large kitchen & 4 huge bedrooms. Additional rooms can be used as a study & work out area. This property ha also been fenced and cross fenced for horse! Electric Gate accompanies the circular driveway. Great location with easy access to I-10 and Boerne Schools. Come check it out today! For more pictures and information go to www.myboehmteam.com

Live in the Heart of Boerne

2008-05-05T11:16:10Z

Lovely Townhouse within walking distance of Historic Downtown Boerne. Immaculate, rarely lived in! Open Floorplan with travertine flooring, granite countertops, large pantry, two car oversized garage. Plush landscaping adorns this home. Walk out the backdoor to the Cibolo Creek, shopping, restaurants, and all that jazz! Ready for move in TODAY! For more pictures and information go to www.myboehmteam.com

Mediterreanean Dream

2008-05-01T14:40:23Z

Mediterranean lifestyle set in the Texas Hill Country., Soaring ceilings with tile throughout the downstairs bring elegance & luxury. Stainless appliances, granite countertops, double ovens are all part of this delightful kitchen. Large master retreat with fireplace that is double sided to the master bathroom. Separate closets in the master & large whirlpool tub! Relax and enjoy the huge open balcony on the second floor. Views for miles, peace and serenity all come with this home. For some amazing pictures and more information go to www.myboehmteam.com