Are you an active agent?  Do you take pride in what you do?  Do you pass out your business cards to everyone you come into contact with?  Do you have a website?  Do you use car magnets?  Do you farm?  Are you out there actively marketing yourself and your services?  If you answered no to some of these questions, then you may be an Undercover Agent!

I am proud of what I do and how I service my community.  I love the feeling of passing over the keys to first time home buyers and love jumping up and down with them and celebrating.  I am ecstatic when I am able to help investors achieve their goals and realize some profitable returns.  I'm glad and relieved when I'm able to help a family in need avoid foreclosure and get their home sold. 

I'm sure most of you would empathize with all of these examples.  Yet, the general public can liken us to used car salespeople!  I'm on a mission to change this perception and show them what a valuable resource we are.  I know it's hard for most buyers and sellers to really understand this because they just see the commission spilling from their pockets.  They really have no idea of the extent of our work; all of the follow-up we are required to do to keep closings on track.  I have had so many last minute phone calls from lenders that have come up with this or that and because I acted quickly, kept the deal from derailing.  They don't see the stress we have to hold on our shoulders sometimes so that they can rest easy.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining and wouldn't choose to do anything else.  I'm proud to say I'm a Broker and I'm very lucky to live and practice in the Houston Real Estate market.  Pass it on!

Foreclosures are the only thing worth buying. Foreclosures are the best deals on the market. Foreclosures are the only way to make money in Real Estate, right? WRONG! Buying a foreclosure isn't always as great as it's cracked up to be. They are definitely not for the faint at heart.

Yes, foreclosures can be great deals at times. You should do your homework. When you buy a foreclosure in Texas, the seller (banks generally) aren't required to provide a Seller's Disclosure Notice. A Seller's Disclosure Notice is 5 pages of information on the home that a regular seller will provide for you. When it comes to foreclosures, what you see is what you get. You need to have a good inspection done on the home to uncover any hidden damages or unforeseen repairs. Keep in mind that an inspector will only inspect what they can see. Pipes and electrical, etc behind the wall is all a guessing game until you need to open it up for renovations or repairs. Banks will generally only sell foreclosures "AS IS" so you need to be prepared with the finances to make what repairs need to be made.

You should be aware of what type of financing the subject foreclosure will qualify for as well. If you are pre-approved for an FHA loan, the home is going to have to be in pretty decent shape, essentially livable. When I personally bought a foreclosure home with an FHA loan, I had to replace a broken window and repair a hole in the wall before they would close it. I have seen FHA deny loans on homes for lack of floor covering, missing appliances, etc.

All in all, your best bet is to work with an experienced Broker to help you through the process. You will need to work with a Broker that knows how to win the bids on foreclosures. Not every agent knows how. It comes with years of practice and learning exactly what the banks are looking for. As always, should you need any help, I am only a phone call, email, text or twitter away!

This is a topic that is near and dear to my heart. I am a mom to a special needs child so I speak from experience. Working with families who have special needs isn't for everyone. It takes a vast deal of patience and a willingness to understand more about the person's condition to better anticipate potential needs.

Different types of special needs require different things. My child has autism. Looking at lots of different houses is not for him. I know that when I have to take him to work with me that I have to go early, give him time to walk through the house and look at everything. If this doesn't happen its a complete overload and overstimulation and ends with my nerves being shot.

We have to take into consideration where we live as well. Families must research the schools their kids will attend and whether they provide the services they need. Do they need to live in close proximity to medical centers or doctors? Sometimes it's necessary to think about how close the neighbors are and whether they will be affected when you child decides to have a meltdown. Other things to consider are will you need a house with special modifications, e.g. wheelchair ramps, bath bars, etc?

All in all, this can be wonderful experience for Brokers who have lots of patience and a willingness to help others to achieve their dreams of home ownership. As always, if you have any questions or need any additional help I am only a phone call, email, twitter or text away!

I want to make some money, lots of money. And, I want to invest in Real Estate. Can these two thoughts still marry? It all depends on where you want to invest, but if that place is Houston, Texas, the answer is absolutely!

I have worked with many investors over the years and it seems they all had different ideas of how to achieve this. There are several ways to go about this actually and the first thing you need to decide is how fast you want to achieve your goals. There are two main concepts to mull over. Is this something you want to invest in and cash out in the near future or is this something you want to invest in for the long haul?

If your answer is cashing out in the near future, you should consider a flip. A flip is buying a property under market value, performing necessary repairs and then reselling at market value to realize a profit. There are several things that you must consider when thinking of taking on a flip. Do you have cash to buy the home? If not, will you be financing the purchase conventionally or with hard money? If you are financing, is there a pre-payment penalty for paying off the loan quickly? Do you have the cash on hand to pay the contractors as the work is completed? Do you have a project manager to oversee the renovations or repairs (this would mostly apply if you are not local)? Do you have the ability to hold on to the property for at least 6 months? When it comes to flipping, some lenders for the potential buyers will not allow too large of a profit if you are selling in under 6 months. In almost all cases, I have seen them ask for receipts as proof of the repairs completed in order to calculate your profit. These are all things that must be considered and working with an experienced Real Estate Broker (like myself) can help you maneuver through this maze.

If your answer to the above is investing for the long haul, you have the potential of realizing even more of a profit through the bounty known as appreciation. It's going to take an understanding of the market you are investing in and a healthy dose of optimism for the future real estate and financial markets. We have certain areas of town in Houston that can realize an excellent appreciation on a yearly basis. These areas tend to be centrally located and close to a town's epicenter. You will need to be able to manage these properties efficiently and have a cash reserve for repairs that may arise. A local property management company could help with this undertaking and make it a not so painstaking venture.

Now, let's make some money!

As always, I'm only a phone call, email, text or twitter away!

I want to make some money, lots of money. And, I want to invest in Real Estate. Can these two thoughts still marry? It all depends on where you want to invest, but if that place is Houston, Texas, the answer is absolutely!

I have worked with many investors over the years and it seems they all had different ideas of how to achieve this. There are several ways to go about this actually and the first thing you need to decide is how fast you want to achieve your goals. There are two main concepts to mull over. Is this something you want to invest in and cash out in the near future or is this something you want to invest in for the long haul?

If your answer is cashing out in the near future, you should consider a flip. A flip is buying a property under market value, performing necessary repairs and then reselling at market value to realize a profit. There are several things that you must consider when thinking of taking on a flip. Do you have cash to buy the home? If not, will you be financing the purchase conventionally or with hard money? If you are financing, is there a pre-payment penalty for paying off the loan quickly? Do you have the cash on hand to pay the contractors as the work is completed? Do you have a project manager to oversee the renovations or repairs (this would mostly apply if you are not local)? Do you have the ability to hold on to the property for at least 6 months? When it comes to flipping, some lenders for the potential buyers will not allow too large of a profit if you are selling in under 6 months. In almost all cases, I have seen them ask for receipts as proof of the repairs completed in order to calculate your profit. These are all things that must be considered and working with an experienced Real Estate Broker (like myself) can help you maneuver through this maze.

If your answer to the above is investing for the long haul, you have the potential of realizing even more of a profit through the bounty known as appreciation. It's going to take an understanding of the market you are investing in and a healthy dose of optimism for the future real estate and financial markets. We have certain areas of town in Houston that can realize an excellent appreciation on a yearly basis. These areas tend to be centrally located and close to a town's epicenter. You will need to be able to manage these properties efficiently and have a cash reserve for repairs that may arise. A local property management company could help with this undertaking and make it a not so painstaking venture.

Now, let's make some money!

As always, I'm only a phone call, email, text or twitter away!

Are you in the market to buy a home? Confused about where to even start? There seems to be an overload of information out there. Don't get overwhelmed or frustrated. I can help guide you through the process.

The very first step to take is to get yourself pre-approved for a mortgage. This can be done by going to your own financial institution or by asking the advice of a Realtor. We generally have many contacts of loan officers and mortgage brokers to address your specific needs. When you get pre-approved, you will find out how much home you can afford and what your monthly payments would be. That's absolutely essential for beginning your search.

I would recommend seeking out a local Realtor to assist you in your task. We are equipped with the knowledge and expertise to show you the necessary steps to home ownership. In the wonderful state of Texas, you can hire an agent as your Buyer's Agent. If you choose to hire a Buyer's Agent, you should enter into a written contract so you know who your agent represents. When you hire a Buyer's Agent, you get our advice and expertise, but the best part of it is, it's at no cost to you! Wow, it's like having your cake and eating it too! I have heard of some companies charging an administrative fee to their buyers, but we don't practice that with our company.

Your Realtor will then ask you specific questions to narrow down your needs. As you visit homes of friends or relatives, write down those features that appeal to you. I would love to have an open kitchen, a huge backyard, a pool, etc. It helps us tremendously when we conduct our searches in finding you the perfect home.

You must be realistic. I find this to be hard for a lot of buyers. It's not very often that you will find the PERFECT home without any flaws. Even when you have a home built, it's usually not perfect. There is always some give and take in your choices. Figure out what you can't live without and go from there. It may be a matter of not being able to find a home with those wood floors you want, but that's something you can always add later, right?

This should help get you started and on your way to finding your new home. If you should have any questions or need any help with buying a home, I'm always an email, phone call, text or twitter away!

Is now the time to sell?  This question has been resonating lately from the mouths of sellers near and far.  And, it's a great question!  Let me begin by saying Thank God we live in Texas and especially the Greater Houston area!  We haven't seen any major dives in home prices here compared to the rest of the country. 

There are many factors that go into answering this question correctly.  A person must look seriously at their motivation for selling.  Perhaps your company is transferring you to another area or you need to move to get into a better school district.  Maybe the family has suffered from a job loss or other great expense.  Is it something that you must do or something that you want to do?  If it's something that you must do in order to keep from losing your home, then the answer would be the sooner, the better.   

If you have to sell, there are times of the year that are better to sell than others.  April-August are the best months in which to put your home on the market.  Kids are out of school and families are taking vacations.  More people are looking to move then than at any other time of the year.  You are more likely to get a higher price and more overall interest in the Summer time.  Buyers know that when you put your home on the market during off seasons such as Christmas and Thanksgiving that you are a motivated seller and will most likely treat you as such.  Selling during this particular timeframe will not only garner more interest, but also get you a higher price.

If you have lived in your home for many years and are just looking for something new or even to upgrade, you could really pick and choose your timing.  Obviously right now, there are deals to be had just about anywhere.  There are lots of foreclosures on the market along with lots of owners having to do short sales.  If you have lived in your home longer than the last 5 years, chances are you have some nice equity built up.  It might do you well to cash out of that home and purchase more home for less money adding to your potential for some great appreciation in the future.   

Whatever your reason for selling, only you yourself can decide when is the best time for you to sell.  Seeing as how we have no crystal ball, it's quite difficult to predict the future of the housing market.  Go with your gut and choose a qualified Real Estate Professional to help you along the way.  As always, should you have any questions, I'm only a phone call, email, twitter or text away!

"Wow, I didn't know it worked like that!" "Thanks for telling me, because I had no idea!" "Really, one agent can show me all of the homes I want to see?"

I hear these exclamations time and time again. I'm writing this to educate the consumer on how things work in the home buying arena. Here, in Texas, we operate in a couple of different roles as agents. We either represent the Seller as the seller's agent (listing agent) or we represent the Buyer as the buyer's agent. There are times when the Broker has a listing that one of their agents sells to a buyer that they are representing. When this happens, then an intermediary relationship is formed and both parties must agree to it in writing or locate another Broker to represent them.

Now, on to home buying etiquette. This is what us Brokers/Agents expect from the buyers that we represent. When you choose to have an agent represent you, it's always a good idea to sign a written contract with them to clarify. This doesn't mean you are signing your life away, but simply let's everyone know where they stand.

We understand that buying a home is a huge undertaking and so exciting. Most of us have been there ourselves and have our own experiences to draw from. Please don't get ahead of us. There is a method to our madness and we know the process of how to go about getting it done properly. Yes, it's fun to drive around and look at homes. (It's fun for us too.) Please, please, please leave the home showings to us. If you decide you want to go out and drive around, that's great. Get familiar with the areas you want to be in and the different subdivisions. But, when it comes time to see the home or even to get more information on a home you pass by, call YOUR agent first. Most agents who have been selling homes long enough will ask the question before they ever show up to show a home: "Are you working with an agent?" Please be honest. We do have lives and families outside of our careers and most of us would jump at the prospect of selling one of our listings. I'm sure you can understand how we might feel though if we spend the time (and gas) showing you our homes and then a contract comes from another agent with your name on it.

Another example of bad manners would be the following...Yes, I would love for you to help me buy a home, but would you pay for some of my closing costs with your commission? Or, yes, I need to sell my home, but XYZ Real Estate company will give me a rebate if I let them list it. Tell me, how would you feel if your boss were to come to you and ask for some of your paycheck back. I'm sure the same way we feel when approached with these types of questions. For those of us who do this as a full time career, this IS our paycheck. Would you ask your neurosurgeon for a discount on surgery when you need his services and you know that he is the leading expert in his field? Much like Doctors, we have gone to school and studied to be in this profession. We have had to sit for our own "bar" so to speak. We have to educate ourselves continually and stay on top of the market trends in order to represent our clients in the best way possible. While these are not life and death decisions that are made, they are life decisions that will impact you for many years to come or for however long you decide to keep your home.

This next example is one that has affected me twice in my career and was really eye opening. I had some buyers that I was working with. We went out for a couple of months looking at homes. We had lunches and dinners together and had just a great time. We developed a really nice rapport. We finally found "the one". We placed an offer on the property. We received a counter offer from the seller's listing agent. Suddenly, they won't return my phone calls. When I finally reach them, they have changed their mind and decided to wait to buy a home. Next thing you know the property has a contract on it. It closes. I'm driving through the neighborhood one day and lo and behold, I see their mustang parked at that same property. I go back and look at the tax records and sure enough, they bought the property. When I called the listing agent to question her about it, she suddenly has an attorney calling me back. She knew what she did was wrong and so did the buyers. They went directly to the listing agent and she rebated them some of her commission for closing costs if they would use her. This was something that I could have pursued, but the broker I was working for at the time, chose not to for their own reasons. It is definitely a violation of the code of ethics we subscribe to and just not nice.

These are just a few examples of not so good conduct I have ran in to over the years. We want to be the perfect Realtor and we really would like to have the perfect client. It isn't always a marriage made in heaven, but please understand we do our best and we would like the same consideration we give to our customers and clients. Thus endeth my sermon. If you should have any questions or need any help with your real estate ventures, I'm only a phone call, email, twitter or text away.

Having a hard time selling your home? There are 5 things that will affect the sale of your home. Before you bludgeon your Realtor, review this list and see if any of these apply. They are, in order of importance, Price, Location, Condition, Accessibility and Market Conditions. Let's visit each one in more detail.

The biggest and number 1 hindrance in getting your home sold is the Price. Pricing your home is the single most important part of selling your home. I would absolutely recommend that you seek the advice of a qualified Real Estate Professional (such as myself) in order to price your home correctly. We, as home owners, tend to place a higher value on our homes. We have built memories in our homes and have great affection for them. You must take into consideration though the homes that have sold in the last 6 months in your community and try to look at it from a buyer's stand point. You will only sell your home for what the market in your area will allow. It's so important not to come out of the chute with such a high price that it turns buyers away. When doing so, your home will sit and will become stale to active buyers. After sitting at the incorrect price for too long, if you take a reduction to try to correct the list price, buyers will hold out and wait on you to keep reducing in order to get a bargain.

It IS all about Location! Location, location, location. When it comes to selling our home, we can't do anything about the location because we have already bought. However, while you are in the home buying process, it's so important to consider where you are buying along with what you are buying. Are there creditable schools in your area? Are you close enough to adequate shopping and restaurants? Different areas go through cycles of desirability. The suburbs may go through a time of boom, but when inflation kicks in and gas prices go up, people will tend to try to stick closer to their workplace. It seems as though the homes located closest to the city's inner city or hub of activity retain their value and reach the greatest appreciation.

Let's venture into the sticky area of Condition. First impressions are everything. Please do ask our advice when you choose to have an agent sell your home. We are able to walk through your home and point out the things that would help present your home in the best light. Yes, a new coat of paint in a neutral color will help. How is that carpet looking? Do you have some updated frieze or the 70's shag? Do you have pets and if so, do your carpets have a pet odor? How about the counter tops? Are they full of clutter or nice and clean? Remove as much "stuff" as possible and don't over do it with large furniture pieces. You want to make sure your home looks as large as possible and that buyers can envision their things in your home.

How easy is it to Access your home for showings? Are you working along side your agent to make sure your home is accessible at all times? Are you restricting showings on your home on certain days/hours, thereby missing out on potential buyers? It is difficult to live in your home while selling it; I know, I've been there. It's especially challenging when you have little ones or pets. We must make the home available to be seen by every potential prospect. The more showings you have, the greater likelihood you will have an offer on the horizon.

The last item on the list is Market Condition. If you are living in an area that has seen decline in recent months, you will most likely stay on the market longer. Thank goodness here in Houston we haven't been hit too hard with this. Our average time on market is right under 6 months. This is the one condition that you have no control over. This one just has to be ridden out. Markets do go through cycles. Be sure to ask your Realtor where you are in that cycle.

As always, if you need any additional information or have any questions, I'm only an email, phone call, text or twitter away!