San Antonio Homes Blog

I would LOVE to HELP YOU buy or sell in the San Antonio-Austin area. Please call me, CATHY BUREAU GREEN Home Realty (210) 560-1891.

Did you enjoy reading my blog? Then follow me here:

OTHER GREAT BLOGS THAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:

The San Antonio River Walk - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know

New Homes in San Antonio, Texas - How to Choose a Builder

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Energy Efficient Mortgages On the Rise

Wed, 08 May 2013 05:35:50 -0700

What do EEMs and Utility rates have in common? Everything!

As energy rates rise, so does the demand for Energy Efficient Mortgages. But while FHA and VA are offering these, there is still resistence in the markeplace by lender and real estate practitioners. Why? Most likey due to lack of knowledge and expertise. After all, if you could buy a $250,000 house with an electric bill of $250/mo (avg yearly) verses a $260,000 house with a $45/mo electric bill, which house would you buy?

It's a no brainer, but lets look at the math to explain

for those who are not in the industry or need to see the math to believe.

Monthly perspective:

With energy upgrades you could save as much as $130/month immediately therefore the Payback period or Return On Investment is in year 1. Meaning, from the beginning you will see a cost savings.

Annual perspective:

Save $1,560.

30 year perspective:

Save $ 46,800.

Some may argue that people move every 5-7 years. In realty,that's a statistical skey resulting from National Association of Realtors research that includes re-financing and those who move often; its an average not a median or mode. Most people live in the same home closer to 7-10 years if you ask around; although each market is unique. I'm in military community but my clients tend to hold their home as a rental property with the intention to to return so it holds true to the 7-10 year common place here. But even if they did move every year, they get the savings immediately therefore has a positive impact by increasing their home value in the consumer's eyes.

The bottom line is this, green doesn't always cost more green.

DON'T BE A DINOSAUR! LOVE THE EARTH!

CATHY BUREAU - YOUR MOST VALUABLE REAL ESTATE ASSET

CATHY BUREAU Broker/Owner

MBA, REALTOR, GREEN, SFR, ECOBROKER, SUNAGENT

(210) 560-1891 Direct

I would LOVE to HELP YOU buy or sell in the San Antonio-Austin area. Please call me, CATHY BUREAU GREEN Home Realty (210) 560-1891.

Did you enjoy reading my blog? Then follow me here:

OTHER GREAT BLOGS THAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:

The San Antonio River Walk - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know

New Homes in San Antonio, Texas - How to Choose a Builder

Should There Be a REALTOR Rating System?

Wed, 08 May 2013 03:48:55 -0700

If you think about it, most anything of value has a rating system. These days Yelp and Zagat seem to be pretty popular resources to evaluate a restaurant or business before giving patronage. Angie's List is a pretty good option but I don't like the business model being based on paid membership because that in itself taints the feedback. I've been told some people pay for an annual membership on behalf of another with the requirement that they post a good rating for them. Now of course the old standard. BBB still exists which is probably still considered the best resource for rating a business by the general population. But none of those really provide a good rating system by which the consumer can truly get a glimpse of the quality of service provided by a REALTOR.

I read an article in RisMedia and found there is a proposal on the table for NAR to implement a standardized rating system that would be implemented nationally which is currently being tested in Cleveland. The REALTORs of Excellence Program (REP) in partnership with NAR's Quality Service Certification, MORe, a universal REALTOR rating service is being created whereby consumers can rate specific performance criteria and provide quality feedback and testimonials creating a national database of quality REALTORs. Its about time!

I've always thought that using one person's recommendation or one testimonial is not a good source for choosing a REALTOR since it could be situational rather than the norm. When job seekers submit a list of 3 names for references, smart companies call them and ask each to provide 3 names of other people that the job seeker knows. People submit references for those whom they provided good service for and not those that they did not. By reaching out beyond to find those that weren't listed, an employer can get a more accurate representation of the person's character and performance.

Similar to the automatic feedback that showing service companies generate at the end of a showing, Quality Service Contract (QSC), based out of California) has over 15 years of experience in data collection and analysis within the real estate industry, is the service partner who will be creating this system. The system will send the customer a survey immediately after closing. It will be free to submit and free to access. Of course that makes me wonder who will be paying for this service and operations of the system. I also have concerns regarding the performance of the writers; will the surveys balance qualitative and quantitative questions, will consumer errors be documented to offset the negatives written about the REALTOR? Will the testimonials be measured in some way? Or is this just another standardized evaluation whereby consumers get to slam just because they didn't get the outcome they wanted, regardless? Anywho, these are all things that should be taken into consideration.

What do you think? Should There Be a REALTOR Rating System? Would consumers find this of value? What are areas that should be measured?

DON'T BE A DINOSAUR! LOVE THE EARTH!

CATHY BUREAU - YOUR MOST VALUABLE REAL ESTATE ASSET

CATHY BUREAU Broker/Owner

MBA, REALTOR, GREEN, SFR, ECOBROKER, SUNAGENT

(210) 560-1891 Direct

I would LOVE to HELP YOU buy or sell in the San Antonio-Austin area. Please call me, CATHY BUREAU GREEN Home Realty (210) 560-1891.

Did you enjoy reading my blog? Then follow me here:

OTHER GREAT BLOGS THAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:

The San Antonio River Walk - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know

New Homes in San Antonio, Texas - How to Choose a Builder

Earth Day Celebrations in San Antonio, Texas

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 07:38:14 -0700

Living in San Antonio has been a joy and I especially love our traditions and hill country views. One of the reasons I am passionate about green is to sustain our living for future generations to enjoy as well. While it takes a village, a village is one person times many. So this blog is for you, the one person, who thinks they aren't making enough of a difference or can't.

Consider signing up for PracticallyGreen.com to learn more about your personal capabilities. Its a self-test of current green and ideas for improvement.

Want to save a little gas? Buyers should use the Walkscore.com site to look at their community in a gas saving way.

In San Antonio specifically you can recycle your plastic bags at HEB, Wal-Mart, & Target. Because they get stuck in recycling process they are handled differently.

Join GREEN Home Realty at Rackspace Green Day - Wednesday, April 23, 2013. 5000 Walzem Rd, San Antonio April 24^thfrom 11am-2pm

GREEN FIT! COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS: 207-7234

PUBLISHED ON MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2013

Mayor Castro encourages Fiesta-goers to enjoy a more green, fit and friendly celebration

Fiesta San Antonio, the annual 11-day event that celebrates the history and culture of San Antonio, kicks off in just a few weeks on April 18 and ends on April 28. Today Mayor Julián Castro encouraged Fiesta-goers to think “green” by continuing the recent traditions of recycling, making healthier food choices and enjoying the parades that have been designated as smoke-free areas.

OTHER THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

REDUCE - If you think about it, reducing your consumption is much better than recycling since the process consomes resources. Think about what you buy. Do you need it, really? Can you buy it used? Is it a throw away or good quality? Good quality will mean less landfill.

REUSE - "Repurpose" is the word choice on HGTV and I think it is one of the most creative aspects to being green. You may find an old table and think it is not usable in your home or office anymore. But can you use it for a storage chest in the garage? Or change the top out with a piece of glass and make it for a different purpose?

RENEW - My son's 8th grade teacher makes tote bags out of recycled plastic, juice bags, and all kinds of materials. My son would regularly collect our recyclables and take them to her. For fabulous ideas you can check out my Pinterst site or visit Earth911.com.

GO SOLAR - For as little as $5,000-$10,000 (less than flooring) you can go net zero. Imagine not having to pay anohter electric bill for 20-25 years? Talk about adding value to your home and reducing monthly expenses. Between the 30% federal rebate and the $2 per KW rebate that CPS Energy offers, it's a no brainer! I have a few companiesthat I can refer to get you started.

PLANT TREES - Trees increase property values 5-7%, reduce energy consumption, and minimize rain water run-off that can contaminate our world famous San Antonio River.

RECYCLE - Notice how I put that towards the end. While recycling is great, it does consume resources.

DON'T BE A DINOSAUR! LOVE THE EARTH!

CATHY BUREAU - YOUR MOST VALUABLE REAL ESTATE ASSET

CATHY BUREAU Broker/Owner

MBA, REALTOR, GREEN, SFR, ECOBROKER, SUNAGENT

(210) 560-1891 Direct

I would LOVE to HELP YOU buy or sell in the San Antonio-Austin area. Please call me, CATHY BUREAU GREEN Home Realty (210) 560-1891.

Did you enjoy reading my blog? Then follow me here:

OTHER GREAT BLOGS THAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:

The San Antonio River Walk - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know

New Homes in San Antonio, Texas - How to Choose a Builder

What's the Deal With Fiesta Pins?

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 18:40:26 -0700

As I sit and watch the 2013 Texas Cavalier's Parade I think about how wonderful it is to live in such a cultural and exciting city. Founded in 1891, the World Famous Fiesta was kicked off to honor the events at the Alamo.

In 1906 the Queen of the Order of the Alamo was created to celebrate the honor of those who fell to the cause of Texas' independence.

In 1914 the Battle of the Flowers organization was created and hosts what is my favorite parade, held Friday during the day.

In 1926 we had the formation of the Texas Cavaliers who sponsors this river parade.

In 1941 we had the first King Antonio - who wins this prestigious award for raising the most scholarship funds for various charity projects.

The Fiesta Flambeau started in 1949 and started the Miss Fiesta San Antonio contest.

NIOSA (Night in Old San Antonio) is celebrated in La Villita which dates back to the mid 1800s, nearing Alamo days.

Then there are hundreds of non-profit events to raise funds for various organizations such as Chips and Salsa (a casino night fundraiser), A taste of North San Antonio, etc. In short, the city shuts down for an entire week, and is slow moving for two and a half.

You may be wondering why the history lesson when the blog title is about Fiesta pins? Because you need to know what Fiesta is to understand the significance of the pins.

There are two and a half weeks of coronations, parades, carnivals, meat on a stick, fried something or others, music, art, and fun! But how do you know who has supported what activities? The infamous Fiesta pin! They symbolize the support of many non-profit organizations that fund this event and charitable events all year long.

By the way, I do own many Fiesta pins and wear them proudly during Fiesta. I was supposed to be downtown tonight but fell ill. But I will post a photo of me and my metals when I blog about my next Fiesta event - Battle of the Flowers.

DON'T BE A DINOSAUR! LOVE THE EARTH!

CATHY BUREAU - YOUR MOST VALUABLE REAL ESTATE ASSET

CATHY BUREAU Broker/Owner

MBA, REALTOR, GREEN, SFR, ECOBROKER, SUNAGENT

(210) 560-1891 Direct

I would LOVE to HELP YOU buy or sell in the San Antonio-Austin area. Please call me, CATHY BUREAU GREEN Home Realty (210) 560-1891.

Did you enjoy reading my blog? Then follow me here:

OTHER GREAT BLOGS THAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:

The San Antonio River Walk - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know

New Homes in San Antonio, Texas - How to Choose a Builder

Buyer Agency Do's and Dont's

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 10:47:24 -0700

BUYER AGENCY is a concept that rolled out back in the 80's when many buyers felt that they were not getting a fair deal in real estate transactions. Many states, such as Texas, adopted the policy of INTERMEDIARY (assignment of duty to avoid conflict if Buyer and Seller roles are by the same real estate agency) while some states decided on DUAL AGENCY. But for some unknown reason, there are still many real estate agents that just don't get that BUYERS NEED A CONSULTATION TO UNDERSTAND BUYER REPRESENTATION.

GREEN HOME REALTY policy mirrors the TEXAS REAL ESTATE COMMISSION rule that all meaningful conversations with a Buyer or Seller must include the "Information About Broker Services" disclaimer. Nobody has to sign it, but every real estate agent must show proof that the Buyer or Seller received a copy, so signing is best, or get an email receipt. The following step is to point out the last paragraph that states "If you choose to have a broker represent you, you should enter into a written agreement with the broker that clearly establishes the broker's obligations and your obligations. The agreement should state how and by whom the broker will be paid. You have the right to choose the type of representation, if any, that you wish to receive. Your payment of a fee to a broker does not necessarily establish that the broker represents you." This is the right way to sign up a new Buyer "CLIENT" to whom is owed a fiduciary responsibly. Otherwise the Buyer is "CUSTOMER", and is not owed a fiduciary responsibility.

There was a real estate agent that thought he represented one of our clients. He asked the Buyer multiple times if the Buyer had a real estate agent and at the time, did not. The Buyer was not certain about their decision to buy or not, in fact, hadn't even decided or met with a lender. He just inquired about lots, prices, and floor plans. The Buyer knows that GREEN Home Realty is THE GREEN proactive brokerage in San Antonio so he would have hired GHR if he wanted representation, and did, a few days later.

Fast forward, because the real estate agent did not explain agency, did not have a Buyer Agent meeting, did not ask if he could be their REALTOR, instead just assumed the role because the Buyer said they didn't have one, that he represented them. So when I called to introduce myself to the "Sales person" of the builder, he explained that he was their Buyer's Agent. Being surprised, I asked several questions, it later came out that he just told them he would represent them and assumed the role, without any explanation, without any any acceptance of the role, and without any understanding of the meaning "represent" meant. I understand he as upset that he thought he lost a Client, but all he ever had was a Customer, who thought he was calling to get a price and lot availability.

There are two lessons.

1. Buyers should beware, ask alot of questions, and tell real estate agents that they would like an explanation of Buyer Representation. Each state is different. Ask what it means to be a Buyer's Agent and who pays what.

2. Real estate agents should never assume or tell a Buyer they represent them. Rather, explain fully the difference between a Lisitng Agent and a Buyer's Agent, and ASK for the Buyer's business. Asking doesn't have to be direct, but if its indirect, it needs to include something in writing that shows poof of acceptance and responsibilities.

DON'T BE A DINOSAUR! LOVE THE EARTH!

CATHY BUREAU - YOUR MOST VALUABLE REAL ESTATE ASSET

CATHY BUREAU Broker/Owner

MBA, REALTOR, GREEN, SFR, ECOBROKER, SUNAGENT

(210) 560-1891 Direct

I would LOVE to HELP YOU buy or sell in the San Antonio-Austin area. Please call me, CATHY BUREAU GREEN Home Realty (210) 560-1891.

Did you enjoy reading my blog? Then follow me here:

OTHER GREAT BLOGS THAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:

The San Antonio River Walk - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know

New Homes in San Antonio, Texas - How to Choose a Builder

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau "Qualified Mortgage" rule Sucks

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 07:20:39 -0800

NAHREP SA (National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals) announced at yesterday's luncheon the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is proposing a "Qualified Mortgage" rule making it even more challenging for banks to lend.

I found this statement online to support the announcement: "The new QM ability to repay underwriting standards requires full documentation of loans that lenders must preserve for three years in case they are sued by the borrowers. Points and fees on a QM loan cannot exceed 3% of the loan amount under the DFA. And the debt-to-income ratio cannot exceed 43% if the lender wants a safe harbor from litigation." (Dimont & Associates)

While on the surface the 3% rule might sound good for consumers, in full light, it's not. It means that lenders will raise the loan floor, which is currently $55,000 for most lenders in San Antonio, Texas, to $156,000 rather than lower fees. Why not just lower fees? Because lenders have contracts with vendors such as appraisers with set fees therefore they can't. Furthermore, they're not going to reduce the income of their loan originators because nobody wants to work for half price. Thus leaving the only reasonable solution to not award loans over 3%.

Why is this happening? The legislation results from the newly formed "Consumer Financial Protection Bureau" who added the "Qualified Mortgage" rule that also raises debt to equity ratios to 43% as noted above. In the end, it means fewer loans to our buyers, making it even harder to sell homes.

There are 2 ACTION ITEMS on your part.

1) Petition your local congressmen - in my market that would be Ted Cruz & John Cornyn to fail the "Qualified Mortgage" rule and while you have him on the phone, or his assistants, you can let them know that the proposed CFPB needs an oversight committee, which they don't currently have, and pass the "Safe Harbor" rule, another loan nightmare. They report to no one.

2) Buyers and Sellers should take action now to buy or sell because if this passes it will seriously slow down the market.

DON'T BE A DINOSAUR! LOVE THE EARTH!

CATHY BUREAU - YOUR MOST VALUABLE REAL ESTATE ASSET

CATHY BUREAU Broker/Owner

MBA, REALTOR, GREEN, SFR, ECOBROKER, SUNAGENT

(210) 560-1891 Direct

I would LOVE to HELP YOU buy or sell in the San Antonio-Austin area. Please call me, CATHY BUREAU GREEN Home Realty (210) 560-1891.

Did you enjoy reading my blog? Then follow me here:

OTHER GREAT BLOGS THAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:

The San Antonio River Walk - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know

New Homes in San Antonio, Texas - How to Choose a Builder

THE SECRET TO NICHE SUCCESS

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 07:37:25 -0800

I just posted a pithy comment and I read the blog from which this was derived. I'm impressed with the quality of Realtors here that go outside the box for ideas. Love it! Suggest it!

Via Jill Sackler, Realtor Long Island's South Shore Expert (Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. "Said and Done!"):

THE SECRET TO NICHE SUCCESS

"But what if you don’t want to follow the crowd?

That’s noble, but the pioneers always take all the arrows.

The pioneers are the ones that have to educate the market — and that takes a lot of time and effort. It’s a lot better to follow the crowd (read: competition) and start off there." CopyBlogger.com - Find a Viable Niche

It's most unusual for me to reference another blogger twice in one week. However, I found it especially interesting to read what the author had to say on finding a viable niche.

He argues, quite convincingly, that if other people have come before you and succeeded, there will be room for you in the market, as well. While this thought process may not be foolproof, as you're not privy to all the financial particulars of any business other than your own, your chance at success is greater if you're toeing the party line.

At the very least, you should wait until you're somewhat established before carving out an unusual niche.

In a world where fast and processed is preferred, raw food comes to mind as an example. When I can, I like to incorporate it into my diet. These days, it's not as uncommon as it used to be to find raw food restaurants, especially in trendy neighborhoods. In the past, no sooner did doors open, they closed again.

The nature of this lifestyle means the menu choices need to be made fresh as opposed to prepared ahead of time. This can be somewhat labor intensive and inefficient. Leftover foods cannot be frozen and spoil readily. Restaurants would often compensate by paring down their menu to just a handful of basic options. They lacked the volume necessary to keep them in business.

Fast forward a decade and healthy living awareness is at an all-time high. There are raw food cookbooks galore as well as scores of Youtube videos instructing you in all methods of purchase and preparation while extolling the virtues of eating in this manner. Clearly, this was a roundabout way to success.

If you buy into the concept that a secret advantage is found in heavy competition, then the path of least resistance may well have been the purchase of a popular hamburger franchise.
CHARLES RUTENBERG REALTY INC. ***** "SAID AND DONE" *****
 
 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jill Sackler, 50+ Market Specialist

cell (516) 395-8376

As a long-term resident of Long Island's south shore, I serve all communities from Queens to western Suffolk, south of the L.I.E.

If you're thinking of buying or selling, please give me a call.

My goal is to make your real estate experience as painless as possible. From start to finish, I will be there to guide you.

DON'T BE A DINOSAUR! LOVE THE EARTH!

CATHY BUREAU - YOUR MOST VALUABLE REAL ESTATE ASSET

CATHY BUREAU Broker/Owner

MBA, REALTOR, GREEN, SFR, ECOBROKER, SUNAGENT

(210) 560-1891 Direct

I would LOVE to HELP YOU buy or sell in the San Antonio-Austin area. Please call me, CATHY BUREAU GREEN Home Realty (210) 560-1891.

Did you enjoy reading my blog? Then follow me here:

OTHER GREAT BLOGS THAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:

The San Antonio River Walk - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know

New Homes in San Antonio, Texas - How to Choose a Builder

Intentional Happiness Activities

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 07:09:51 -0800

Welcome Back! Okay well I'm assuming that you read part 1 that I wrote yesterday:

The Happiness Formula - What Can You Control?

Understanding how much control we have over our happiness, regardless of life circumstances, is an integral part of being happy. I mentioned that although what we do is the smallest component of happiness, its the only component we can control therefore make it count. The formula being: It's a simple mathematical equation - (SP + IA + C) = Happiness. To be happy I must first understand my Set Point, know how my Circumstances are effecting me emotionally, and take action to be happy.

A profound statement: "Too often we WAIT for a change that will MAKE us happy. Instead, choose to be content no matter the circumstances!"

Valorie provides a fantastic list of activities but for licensing reasons I'll not replicate her list, but you can go buy here book.

Daily Activities include:

Exercise 30 minutes to boost your mood, and 50 minutes to get a 24 hour happiness rush
Have six or more hours of social interaction (in any format) per day
List 3 happy things that occurred that day

Mega Happiness Boosters:

Set and reach meaningful goals
Use one or more of your strengths to solve a challenge
Engage in gratitude activity - write a letter, note, visit somebody (ultimate high)

The complete 2 page list is available in the book, "Successful Women Think Differently" - Valorie Burton.

Coaching Tips from Valorie:

Make a list of things that bring you joy, keep it with you, take action when you can
Make a list of things that bring you down, keep it with you , then avoid those things
What makes you feel guilty? Dig deep, drill down, then ask yourself, "What personal rule am I breaking" then either adjust the rule or change the behavior.

Life is short and we should make it count. Some of us go along just being happy all the time and others seem to revel in self-pity. I'm probably in the middle somewhere between - Life can be hard at times but do look for the joyous moments. I have 12 aunts/uncles on one side, 3 on the other. Recently I lost 3 and learned another one just announced her cancer is spreading rapidly. I have had this cloud thinking about how 2010 - 2020 would be a hard decade since they're all in their 70s. So I decided to be happy, period. This book has helped me instrumentally thinking about the fact I can take intentional actions to raise happiness level on a daily basis. My plan is to go through each of ten coaching tips and follow through. Rather than moving forward to get through the book, it's more like a college text book that requires reading and re-reading thoroughly at times to absorb and digest. Just like when I read "Eat and Beat Diabetes" I made the decision to Eat to Live, not Live to Eat, now I will add another phrase I made up, "Be Happy, not wait for Happiness."

DON'T BE A DINOSAUR! LOVE THE EARTH!

CATHY BUREAU - YOUR MOST VALUABLE REAL ESTATE ASSET

CATHY BUREAU Broker/Owner

MBA, REALTOR, GREEN, SFR, ECOBROKER, SUNAGENT

(210) 560-1891 Direct

I would LOVE to HELP YOU buy or sell in the San Antonio-Austin area. Please call me, CATHY BUREAU GREEN Home Realty (210) 560-1891.

Did you enjoy reading my blog? Then follow me here:

OTHER GREAT BLOGS THAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:

The San Antonio River Walk - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know

New Homes in San Antonio, Texas - How to Choose a Builder

The Happiness Formula - What Can You Control?

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 06:27:39 -0800

I'm reading "Successful Women Think Differently" by Ms. Valorie Burton, a Certified Personal & Executive Coach. I find she writes well and is well researched; she;s backed by other material that I have read by others.

Valorie shares the Happiness formula, in the diagram (right), starting with the "Set Point." Nobody has any control over Set Point, which is where we start in life, it's genetic. You were born either an Optimist or a Pessimist and unfortunately, there isn't anything you can do to change that natural gravitation. However, Intentional Activity, which are the purposeful daily actions done intentionally to be happy, like when I bought new clothes today, having lunch with my good friend Sandy yesterday, and by writing this blog to share some insightful life thoughts. The third pie portion, Circumstances, is what we usually call Life.

There are some who may be irritated with this ideology because they think I just told them they only have a slight chance at being happy; we'll call them "P" people. But P people should know that's not what I said, its just what the P person wants to believe I said.

There are others who read that they are more foruniate because they have a head start. They might think "Cool, I'm an Optimist so I have a better chance at being happy and now I'll go call a friend and have a Margarita to celebrate!" Do you see the irony?

I've always been a generally happy person and find myself smiling at strangers all the time. I throw emoticons into my texts, FB posts, and even doodle them when I pass a sticky note to others. People sometimes smile back, others scowl. The other day I handed over a referral for a printing company with a big fat happy face on it to my friend who passed it over to the lady who needed the information. The lady loudly whispered "Why is there a smiley face on it?" My friend replied, "Because she's a happy person and likes to pass it along." The truth is, I have plenty of Life Circumstances but I choose to be happy anyway, even if people scowl or try to bring me down.

It's a simple mathematical equation - (SP + IA + C) = Happiness. To be happy I must first understand my Set Point, know how my Circumstances are effecting me emotionally, and take action to be happy.

I continued this blog here:

Intentional Happiness Activities

DON'T BE A DINOSAUR! LOVE THE EARTH!

CATHY BUREAU - YOUR MOST VALUABLE REAL ESTATE ASSET

CATHY BUREAU Broker/Owner

MBA, REALTOR, GREEN, SFR, ECOBROKER, SUNAGENT

(210) 560-1891 Direct

I would LOVE to HELP YOU buy or sell in the San Antonio-Austin area. Please call me, CATHY BUREAU GREEN Home Realty (210) 560-1891.

Did you enjoy reading my blog? Then follow me here:

OTHER GREAT BLOGS THAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:

The San Antonio River Walk - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know

New Homes in San Antonio, Texas - How to Choose a Builder

Year of the Snake - Asian New Year Festival 2013

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 05:16:20 -0800

Being a military Brat I love exploring cultures. One of my favorite places to do that is right here in sunny, beautiful San Antonio, Texas - just another reason why to retire here! If you too are military and are thinking about moving here, ask me about my "Military" promotion.

The UTSA Institure of Texan Cultures celebrates Asian New Year annually at its wide open indoor/outdoor facilty. Bonus, while you are there you can explore the center itself, showcasing the many cultures that have settled in our great state of Texas.

ASIAN NEW YEAR CELEBRATION

Saturday, February 16, 2013

UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures

Opening Ceremony: Lion Dance at 10am

Closing Ceremony: Lion Dance at 5pm

DON'T BE A DINOSAUR! LOVE THE EARTH!

CATHY BUREAU - YOUR MOST VALUABLE REAL ESTATE ASSET

CATHY BUREAU Broker/Owner

MBA, REALTOR, GREEN, SFR, ECOBROKER, SUNAGENT

(210) 560-1891 Direct

I would LOVE to HELP YOU buy or sell in the San Antonio-Austin area. Please call me, CATHY BUREAU GREEN Home Realty (210) 560-1891.

Did you enjoy reading my blog? Then follow me here:

OTHER GREAT BLOGS THAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:

The San Antonio River Walk - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know

New Homes in San Antonio, Texas - How to Choose a Builder

Are You Stuck in a Box?

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 04:28:57 -0800

We've all heard that all-too-familiar saying, "Think Outside the Box," but what does that really mean?

Real Estate Coaches and Brokers say it, so Realtors buy into it - "Don't re-invent the wheel." We farm by neighborhood, type - condo, multi-family, etc., we may even have a good SEO program with our website or blog, but do we ever really "Think Outside the Box? Shift our paradigm? If our Coach, Broker, and colleagues believe we should think one way, how can we actually explore something unique?

I could share my shift but then I'd just be giving you a new box. To break down the walls you have to first change your paradigm. You need to find your own cheese. So my recommendation is, read, read, and read. I am not an avid ready, I'm too high energy to get past 20 pages so reading 200 pages is daunting; seems sureal given I have an MBA which is 3 years of heavy reading! However, if you have purpose and you include other media, you can find ways to expand your thinking.

I've been working with a business coach, not a real estate coach, big difference! I'll credit Ron Brockwell with guiding me toward tearing down walls with thought provoking questions, which at one point made me think, really? Are you sure you understand how real estate operates? Later I realized, those thoughts were just my walls talking. So I took his challenge to read a book he suggested, but had two others in mind so I challenged myself to read 3 books over December.

"Who Moved My Cheese" is an easy 45 minute read so I started there.

"Eat and Beat Diabetes" is another easy read since half is recipes but the other half is medical science behind Diabetes making it that much easier to shift my eating paradigm; eat to live not live to eat.

"The eMyth" had the most significant impact and was the one Ron suggested I read first, which clarifies between owning a job and being an entrepreneur - helping me to understand what massive ideological ideas I need to make in order to expand my business.

I've started "Successful Women Think Differently" which is a research based book that separates from those who choose to be stuck in the box, and those who see the doors in the box (my own little analysis).

So here's my challenge for you: Read 3 books in areas that you need self-improvement and then come back to this blog and share your thoughts. I also think this is such a fabulous idea that should be spread, so hit that suggest button making it easier for others to find. Thank you in advance!

DON'T BE A DINOSAUR! LOVE THE EARTH!

CATHY BUREAU - YOUR MOST VALUABLE REAL ESTATE ASSET

CATHY BUREAU Broker/Owner

MBA, REALTOR, GREEN, SFR, ECOBROKER, SUNAGENT

(210) 560-1891 Direct

I would LOVE to HELP YOU buy or sell in the San Antonio-Austin area. Please call me, CATHY BUREAU GREEN Home Realty (210) 560-1891.

Did you enjoy reading my blog? Then follow me here:

OTHER GREAT BLOGS THAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:

The San Antonio River Walk - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know

New Homes in San Antonio, Texas - How to Choose a Builder

The Tree to Paper Calculator - How Much Paper Does a Tree Produce?

Sat, 19 Jan 2013 13:41:23 -0800

I started an action plan to post a daily Green tip. One of my colleagues has suggested that I blog some that have heavier content so, for day 19 of 2013, How many trees do you save by recycling paper? Not much but when you consider everything helps, see below.

Green Tip Day 19 - When printing, save wasted or un-needed print outs for non-client based or inter-office communication printing. Factoid below!

It is probably hard to get an exact number, but here is how I would start answer to this question: First, we have to define what a "tree" is. Is it a giant redwood tree or a little weeping willow? Most paper is made from pine trees, so I went out in the woods and looked at some pines.

Most are about 1 foot in diameter and 60 feet tall. Ignoring taper, that's about 81,430 cubic inches of wood:

pi * radius2 * length = volume
3.14 * 62 * (60 * 12) = 81,430

3.14 * 62 * (60 * 12) = 81,430

I have a 2x4-foot piece of lumber in the backyard. It weighs about 10 pounds and contains 504 cubic inches of wood. That means a pine tree weighs roughly 1,610 pounds (81430/504 * 10).

I know that in manufacturing paper, the wood is turned into pulp. The yield is about 50 percent -- about half of the tree is knots, lignin and other stuff that is no good for paper. So that means a pine tree yields about 805 pounds of paper. I have a ream of paper for a photocopier here and it weighs about 5 pounds and contains 500 sheets (you often see paper described as "20-pound stock" or "24-pound stock" -- that is the weight of 500 sheets of 17" x 22" paper). So, using these measurements, a tree would produce (805/5 * 500) 80,500 sheets of paper.

These are all fairly rough estimations, and I weighed things on a bathroom scale, but you get the general idea. See the next page for learn more.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/question16.htm

DON'T BE A DINOSAUR! LOVE THE EARTH!

CATHY BUREAU - YOUR MOST VALUABLE REAL ESTATE ASSET

CATHY BUREAU Broker/Owner

MBA, REALTOR, GREEN, SFR, ECOBROKER, SUNAGENT

(210) 560-1891 Direct

I would LOVE to HELP YOU buy or sell in the San Antonio-Austin area. Please call me, CATHY BUREAU GREEN Home Realty (210) 560-1891.

Did you enjoy reading my blog? Then follow me here:

OTHER GREAT BLOGS THAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:

The San Antonio River Walk - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know

New Homes in San Antonio, Texas - How to Choose a Builder

Romeo & Juliet - May 1, 2013

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 13:54:33 -0800

Wed, May 1, 2013

7:30pm
Majestic Theatre

(Courtesy of www.artsa.com)

Mejia Ballet International’s program, “Romeo and Juliet,” will feature Mejia’s most popular works “Jeux” set to music by Claude Debussy, Webern Pieces set to music by Anton Webern, “Café Victoria” set to the Tango “Contrabajisimo” by Astor Piazzolla and “Romeo and Juliet” set to Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet fantasy overture.

Russian prima ballerina Olga Pavlova graduated from the famed Bolshoi Ballet Academy and has toured in more than 30 countries and danced principal roles in 54 ballets. Pavlova’s lyricism and warmth are wonderfully suited to the ill-fated Juliet. Dance Magazine has noted that “She moves . . . with fluidity and a guarded sexual energy.” Pavlova was named DFW Weekly Critics Choice Ballerina for Juliet in Mejia’s “Romero and Juliet.”

Artistic Director and Choreographer Paul Mejia joined the School of American Ballet in 1958. Mejia joined the New York City Ballet in 1964, and danced principal roles in many of George Balanchine's ballets. The New York Times has called Mejia’s choreography, “Fluent and sophisticated in his approach to movement.”

Tickets can be purchased at:

ARTS San Antonio
418 10^th Street
San Antonio, Texas 78215
(210) 226-2891

***** The Majestic Theatre *****
"Recognized as one of the most ornate facilities in the country, the Majestic has long held a special place in the archives of Texas theatrical and architectural history. Located at 224 E. Houston Street in the heart of downtown San Antonio, the Majestic was designed and built in 1929 by John Eberson for Karl Hoblitzelle's Interstate Theatres, and stood proudly for many years as the largest theatre in Texas and the second largest motion picture theatre in the country. It was intended to be the most modern and ornate building in South Texas - complete with new sound and projection equipment - and was the first theatre in the state to be totally air-conditioned." (www.majesticempire.com)

DON'T BE A DINOSAUR! LOVE THE EARTH!

CATHY BUREAU - YOUR MOST VALUABLE REAL ESTATE ASSET

CATHY BUREAU Broker/Owner

MBA, REALTOR, GREEN, SFR, ECOBROKER, SUNAGENT

(210) 560-1891 Direct

I would LOVE to HELP YOU buy or sell in the San Antonio-Austin area. Please call me, CATHY BUREAU GREEN Home Realty (210) 560-1891.

Did you enjoy reading my blog? Then follow me here:

OTHER GREAT BLOGS THAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:

The San Antonio River Walk - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know

New Homes in San Antonio, Texas - How to Choose a Builder

Can Women Have It All?

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 07:31:45 -0800

An all too common discussion with women is the choice to work in the work place full-time, part-time, or to be a full-time mom. I came across an interesting blog post by Robert Kiyosaki, "Rich Dad Poor Dad" and truly appreciated that their writing team took the time to research from various perspectives. It made me think about my choices and the impact being in real estate has had on my own life. I'm writing this blog to share my story but mainly to hear about yours. I find these types of posts inspirational. Please keep that in mind as I will delete anything that berates one's choices.

Feminism - Women's Freedom to Choose. (Not abortion, not condemnation) While abortion does play a role, that's not the focus here. Thank you for respecting that.

At 17 I was deteremined to be a career gal, get a BBA by 20, get married around 30, and maybe or maybe not have children. I met the most wonderful man, whom I'll call the love of my life, at 17, the day after High School graduation. We dated, knowing it would end when he deployed to Hawaii in 5 months. To fast forward, we married in 1988 and I continued my college while living in Hawaii. I earned that BBA - Marketing and was employed with an up & coming software company. Feeling somethign was missing, we had my daughter after 7 years of marriage, the year after I graduated from UT Arlington. She having a LD (learning disability) forced me to evaluate my values so I chose to stay home with her and work part-time on ocassion in marketing. 2004 comes along and I'm ready to enter the work-force full time but being a bit rusty, enter grad school, earning a MBA from UT San Antonio. After all I experienced with my family, the challenge of grad school while working part-time to pay for it, I turned down a job with what is now San Antonio's most desriable IT firm in the country, and who's CEO was named the biggest Billionaire in Texas. It all went back to my lack of willingness to trade dollars for my family. I grew up in a working class family with a mom who ocassionally worked, and I didn't respect her choices, but I do now.

I entered the commercial real estate world to avoid working nights and weekends, then the market crashed. I had dabbled in residential and was a Broker so I started Green Home Realty & Green Commercial Realty, now legally known as Texas Green Realty, LLC. A profitable company in the growh mode. I work from home even though I have an office. I only use it for training and to fulfull the illusion that brick and mortar makes you a viable company; it doesn't. I am focussed on hiring agents now so that in good time I can retire and only work at the pace I desire. In doing so, I taught my children how to run a business, how to think independently, how to take calculated risks, how to be resiliant in the face of another great depression, and above all, I taught them my and my husband's values - God, Family, Work, in that particular order.

Please share your story.

DON'T BE A DINOSAUR! LOVE THE EARTH!

CATHY BUREAU - YOUR MOST VALUABLE REAL ESTATE ASSET

CATHY BUREAU Broker/Owner

MBA, REALTOR, GREEN, SFR, ECOBROKER, SUNAGENT

(210) 560-1891 Direct

I would LOVE to HELP YOU buy or sell in the San Antonio-Austin area. Please call me, CATHY BUREAU GREEN Home Realty (210) 560-1891.

Did you enjoy reading my blog? Then follow me here:

OTHER GREAT BLOGS THAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:

The San Antonio River Walk - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know

New Homes in San Antonio, Texas - How to Choose a Builder

Realtor Property Resource - The Listing Agent's Resource

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 07:08:04 -0800

I always try to share new stuff that I learn at seminars and workshops. I sat in a workshop during the Texas Realtor Convention and boy oh boy were there loads of etoys! I think my favorite take away is......

RPR! A Freebie on that!

https://www.narrpr.com/

What is it? Here's what NAR says:

Exclusively for REALTORS®

RPR is an NAR member benefit that will be available to all REALTORS®. RPR is 100% owned by you, directed by you, and operated for the benefit of NAR and its members. Only REALTORS® can access the information available in RPR—there is no consumer access.

Breadth of robust data

RPR provides a detailed view of every parcel of property in the United States, including; public record and tax assessment information, details of prior transactions and sales history, zoning, permits, mortgage and lien data, FEMA flood maps, neighborhood and school district boundaries, as well as the largest database of foreclosure information by county in the industry . RPR merges MLS/CIE-provided information with this robust catalog of publicly available data, while also incorporating psycho graphic and lifestyle information, all in one place. Imagine a single-source national compilation of public information that provides all the facts on over 147 million U.S. residential and commercial properties, for the exclusive use of NAR’s members. That’s RPR!

I love the idea of presenting a customized full property report to a seller client as part of a listing present ion to showcase that we thoroughly researched a property to showcase it as best we can.

There is a commercial version being beta tested, fyi.

While it's an excellent listing tool, it's an even better buyer tool for due diligence, especially in the commercial arena! I sat with the RPR rep and saw the beta test of the demo and phsychographic reports. I thought of a 100 uses! In fact, my current insurance company would probably like to know the demos of neighborhoods to target for sales. Her sales staff could pick out certain neighborhoods to sponsor like national night out, etc. to get in front of her target market. Now that's think-outside-of-the box marketing!

DON'T BE A DINOSAUR! LOVE THE EARTH!

CATHY BUREAU - YOUR MOST VALUABLE REAL ESTATE ASSET

CATHY BUREAU Broker/Owner

MBA, REALTOR, GREEN, SFR, ECOBROKER, SUNAGENT

(210) 560-1891 Direct

I would LOVE to HELP YOU buy or sell in the San Antonio-Austin area. Please call me, CATHY BUREAU GREEN Home Realty (210) 560-1891.

Did you enjoy reading my blog? Then follow me here:

OTHER GREAT BLOGS THAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:

The San Antonio River Walk - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know

New Homes in San Antonio, Texas - How to Choose a Builder

365 Green Tips for 2013

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 05:30:56 -0800

Since I'm committed to using Facebook for PR, I decided on January 9th to post a daily GREEN Tip. To play catch up from Jan 1 to Jan 9, I posted 9 things you can do to green up your life. My good friend Scott Godzyk suggested I blog it because he really enjoyed how simple it is to make a few choices that will improve energy, air, and earth. So, just for you Scott, here it is!

I'm going to start posting things to do to improve energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and eco friendly living. Since we are in day 9 of the year I'll start with 9 things... Just to show you how many things I can think of in 9 minutes.

1. Use Vinegar & Water instead of OTC Glass Cleaner
2. Use borax to remove pests instead of OTC pest removals
3. Clean your air ducts
4. Make a grocery list to shop to avoid making extra mid-week trips
5. Run your errands by map, to avoid back tracking, thereby saving fuel
6. Use reusable bags, even for produce ($1 laundry bags at the Dollar stores)
7. Shop local - it saves fuel, reduces carbon foot print
8. Shop at resale shops - Retro chic is fun & creative
9. Eat more vegetables - they consume fewer resources to grow than meat or processed foods

(Did this in about 4 minutes!)

DON'T BE A DINOSAUR! LOVE THE EARTH!

CATHY BUREAU - YOUR MOST VALUABLE REAL ESTATE ASSET

CATHY BUREAU Broker/Owner

MBA, REALTOR, GREEN, SFR, ECOBROKER, SUNAGENT

(210) 560-1891 Direct

I would LOVE to HELP YOU buy or sell in the San Antonio-Austin area. Please call me, CATHY BUREAU GREEN Home Realty (210) 560-1891.

Did you enjoy reading my blog? Then follow me here:

OTHER GREAT BLOGS THAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:

The San Antonio River Walk - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know

New Homes in San Antonio, Texas - How to Choose a Builder

2013 Housing Market Report - San Antonio, Texas

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 07:17:50 -0800

SAN ANTONIO'S HOUSING MARKET LOOKS BRIGHT!

The nation looks to San Antonio because we are one of the strongest markets in the country. We seem to be buffered because we don't have bubbles, we don't inflate quickly or deflate quickly, rather we have a strong military and government presence that keeps us stable.

In recent years, however, our city and county government are actively recruiting corporations from other states so we are now seeing job growth in areas that we've not been associated. In fact, it's a myth that San Antonio's largest employment sector is travel; it's bio-medical. Let's look at how this is impacting our market.

ANNUAL SALES TRENDS

We rounded out the year with four consecutive quarters of growth. Overall, we surpassed 2011 by 1,712 in sales, which is the second year in a row that we grew consistently for a gross number of homes sold - 18,343.

INVENTORY

As you can see to the chart on the right, the yellow line shows that we are at an all time low in inventory. In part sellers are waiting for prices to return to the 2007 levels but that might take a little while longer.

However, those who are listing at market value are getting 98% of list to sales price; meaning, 2% margin. From a buyer's perspective that means, you need to offer within that range in order to get the house.

Case in point, I submitted an offer on behalf of a client who lost the sale over less than 1% difference. We didn't mind too much because there was a plan B, which he did get, and ended up being a better financial deal for him. Does that make it a sellers market?

DAYS ON MARKET

The number of days a house sits on the market should be calculated as an Absorption Rate, a ratio of active to sold listings. Anything less than 6 is a Seller's market, and vice-versa. So DOM alone doesn't indicate Seller or Buyer market, rather, how long your house might sit if you put it on the market, and that it is priced and staged well. Looking at our DOM chart below you can see that compared year to year, 2012 homes sat for 10% less, or 83 DOM. Not bad, not bad at all.

AVERAGE SALES PRICE

San Antonio is one of the most affordable metropolitan cities in the country, but due to job growth and our warm climate, our prices are creeping. Looking at the chart to the right, we've increased from $150400 in 2008 to $160,000 in 2012. I think we'll keep creeping as a big announcement is looming but nobody will say what company it is.... stay tuned!

$$$$$$$$$$ 2013 INSIGHTS $$$$$$$$$$

Did we hit bottom? Yes - Most speculate it was December 2011

Should we buy now? Yes - Even though Ben Bernanke will hold interest rates low to recapture the home values, they won't stay low forever and the market will result in higher prices.

Are there still foreclosures? Yes - but even those go for about 5% of list or better.

The best way to find the best deals is to work with a Realtor who understands what's happening in the market and how to structure an appealing deal. I'm ready when you are!

Charts courtesy of SABOR.com

DON'T BE A DINOSAUR! LOVE THE EARTH!

CATHY BUREAU - YOUR MOST VALUABLE REAL ESTATE ASSET

CATHY BUREAU Broker/Owner

MBA, REALTOR, GREEN, SFR, ECOBROKER, SUNAGENT

(210) 560-1891 Direct

I would LOVE to HELP YOU buy or sell in the San Antonio-Austin area. Please call me, CATHY BUREAU GREEN Home Realty (210) 560-1891.

Did you enjoy reading my blog? Then follow me here:

OTHER GREAT BLOGS THAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:

The San Antonio River Walk - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know

New Homes in San Antonio, Texas - How to Choose a Builder

What's a Bill Miller?

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 07:08:41 -0800

I moved to San Antonio, Texas in 1998 & began to notice Bill Miller BBQ signs on what seemed like every street corner. It has a pig, chicken, and cow on it. After taking the plunge and buying the family meal deal, I came to appreciate the value Bill Miller Bar-B-Que offers our city.

Every time I work with an out-of-town client they always ask the same thing, "What's a Bill Miller?" or "What's up with this Biller Miller restaurant?" as if its some type of cult restaurant (with 67 locations I used to have the same weird thought, and maybe it is!)

Let's take a look at how Bill Miller was founded. From their website, "In 1950, on a $500 loan from his father, Bill Miller opened a small poultry and egg business. Three years later Bill Miller Bar-B-Q began as a small fried chicken-to-go restaurant. Fried chicken led to hamburgers and then to barbecue. The second restaurant opened in February of 1963. Today there are 67 Bill Miller Bar-B-Q restaurants."

From a local stand point, it's home grown and did it the right way - from ground up. So many franchises come up and go down faster than an Led Zeppelin. Why? There is no real value - nothing unique, just another burger, taco, or whatever type restaurant. But when you are an entrepreneur, and build a living for your family by offering tasty food at a buget price - ding, ding, ding, you've got a winner!

Not to be misleading, the food is not the best you've ever had. If you think you can cater a wedding, well, you might want to know your audience's expectations first. But if you are coming home from work and don't have time to (or don't want to) cook, you can feed your family Brisket, ribs, sausage, fried chicken, fish, ham, or turkey, with so many tasty sides to choose from, all for under $25.00 for a family meal - wow!

About 10 years ago they started offering breakfast tacos. Again, if you're not from here you might not fully appreciate this; tacos are the main staple of every San Antonio resident! Every event, business or personal, starts with bean & cheese, potato & egg, chorizo & egg, or bacon and egg. In fact, every real estate class I've attended, that was breakfast sponsored, had breakfast tacos. The Bill Miller breakfast taco takes it to a new plateau! You can get a brisket taco, sausage taco, or any of the others I just mentioned all made perfect. I can't say how, other than good training and systems, that they can crank out order after order for my family and never mess up an order - after frequenting this place for over 10 years!

Okay, maybe one time my order was wrong. I called the manager to request a free taco replacement and his response was, come by and enjoy lunch with your family on us! No kidding! He made a $1.19 mistake and gave us a $25 meal, then offered us a pie too!

So, if you are a newcomer to San Antonio, now you know why Bill Miller BBQ is near and dear to our heart. It's like the Whataburger of BBQ - quality ingredients, efficient and affordable, and much tastier than most food in its price category.

DON'T BE A DINOSAUR! LOVE THE EARTH!

CATHY BUREAU - YOUR MOST VALUABLE REAL ESTATE ASSET

CATHY BUREAU Broker/Owner

MBA, REALTOR, GREEN, SFR, ECOBROKER, SUNAGENT

(210) 560-1891 Direct

I would LOVE to HELP YOU buy or sell in the San Antonio-Austin area. Please call me, CATHY BUREAU GREEN Home Realty (210) 560-1891.

Did you enjoy reading my blog? Then follow me here:

OTHER GREAT BLOGS THAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:

The San Antonio River Walk - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know

New Homes in San Antonio, Texas - How to Choose a Builder

"A Christmas Story" Live @ Woodlawn Theater - Review

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 06:43:16 -0800

If you are looking to start a new holiday tradition with your family or just looking for something fun to do, then check out A Christmas Story at Woodlawn Theatre.

I blogged "A Christmas Story" Live - Woodlawn Theatre, San Antonio Texas recently that I would come back and write a review since I purchased family tickets.

The cast starred Cutter Grant as Ralphie Parker, who stole the show with his unexpected sneezing causing some of the children in the show to laugh. The actors are local, many of which trained by the Magik Children's Theatre. The show was cute, entertaining, and all those little kids did a great job of getting their lines out and makins us feel like we were at the playground watching the frozen tongue scene! I have to add that an 9 year old that can spit out "Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle!" repeatedly without mis-speaking has to be commended!

(Photo Left to right: Scott Bureau, Cutter Grant, Alexandria Bureau, Cory Bureau, Jack Dullnig, & Cathy Bureau)

The set was authentic and efficient. The story was narrated by an adult version of Ralphie, played by Benjamin Scharff, who retold his story about this special Christmas. I appreciated that they dressed the adult and the boy in the same style attire, as if he never changed, and the adult version was equally innocently cute.

The cast of the boys and girls came out to sing carols during long narratives which I found quite charming.

Little brother Randy, Jack Dullnig, had a slightly scary moment when he tripped on some wiring while behind he scenes, which only a few saw, but because I was in the front row I noticed. I didn't think seeing his face fly forward and hitting the ground was part of the story. Shortly later the Director ran forward and Randy went MIA for a few scenes. I had a chance to speak with Jack Dullnig, aka Randy, and he was bubbly and funny!

Young Ralphie was absolutely adorable. Between the allergy sneezing and occasional chuckle when trying to spit out "Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle!" really fast, the fans loved him. But the climatic pink bunny suit truly made him endearing to us because he wore that infamous face walking down the stairs for his entry! The crowd awed very loudly! I chatted with him after the show and he was just as cute off stage as on!

The theater has free parking, advanced ticket purchasing direct from the theater online, in person, or by phone. I chose to print mine but you could do will-call. The food was cheap - $5 for a soda and a bag of M&Ms. Popcorn was only $2.00. My daughter who is a former Santikos Pallidum Theatre employee was stunned at the low food prices. It gave me an opportunity to talk about how things used to be, including how in the old days, 1930's, there was only one screen, and no Dolby sound!

The Woodlawn Theatre is now my second favorite theatre, only second to the Majestic, another blog for another day.

Enchanting, inexpensive, and fun entertainment for all!

DON'T BE A DINOSAUR! LOVE THE EARTH!

CATHY BUREAU - YOUR MOST VALUABLE REAL ESTATE ASSET

CATHY BUREAU Broker/Owner

MBA, REALTOR, GREEN, SFR, ECOBROKER, SUNAGENT

(210) 560-1891 Direct

I would LOVE to HELP YOU buy or sell in the San Antonio-Austin area. Please call me, CATHY BUREAU GREEN Home Realty (210) 560-1891.

Did you enjoy reading my blog? Then follow me here:

OTHER GREAT BLOGS THAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:

The San Antonio River Walk - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know

New Homes in San Antonio, Texas - How to Choose a Builder

Inman News Quotes Cathy Bureau on FHA Anti-Flipping Blog

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 06:05:36 -0800

Historically speaking (double entendre intended), when an investor purchases a home (cash or financed) they are not permitted to re-sell that home within 90 days, known as the "FHA Anti-Flipping Rule." As a Realtor it concerns me greatly because while it is intended to protect consumers it is actually an anti-consumer problem in that it encourages hard money lending and non-insured loans.

Last December I blogged the FHA Anti-Flipping rule after reading an Inman News article announcing the Obama waiver extension. Ken Harney, with Inman News & Washington Post discovered it, FHA Extends Temporary Waiver of Anti-Flipping Rule: Investors Still Strong in San Antonio, Texas, introduced below.

"Inman news reported December 2011 that the "Federal Housing Administration is extending a temporary waiver of its "anti-flipping" rule, meaning home buyers relying on FHA-insured financing will continue to be able to buy homes that have changed hands in the last 90 days." which is a continuation of the 2011 ruling by the Obama administration to approve the waived the waiting period."

Ken called me a few weeks ago to request an interview for an update article (the rule was extended to 2014) he was researching. Ken and I chatted about why I wrote the blog, the 2014 extension, and how the rule impacts my market.

I spoke primarily on the impact of ICRIP (Inner City Revitalization Infill Project) and CRAG (the original 36 square miles of the city) because there are some interesting homes circa 1920's-1960's that are quite dilapidated, but well worth saving. After-all, some have views of the Hemisphere Tower and are within walking distance to the Alamo. Others boast beautiful verandas, stair cases, stained glass windows, and gingerbread architecture. One of my favorite up and coming communities that is the Lavaca District, which is walking distance to local artisans and fine dining like Azuca's Nuevo Latino Cuisine on a moderate budget.

My contribution:

"Cathy Bureau, broker-owner of Green Home Realty in San Antonio, Texas, who specializes in the central areas of the city, says FHA's two-year extension assures investors that there will be takeout financing for buyers, thereby cutting costs on the "hard money" line of credit financing they use to acquire their houses. At interest rates of 14 to 16 percent, "every day costs money," she said, so for investors the ability to sell quickly after completing repairs is crucial."

The good news for investors and buyers alike, is that the continued flipping occurring within the ICRIP area and CRAG area may continue into 2014.

If you'd like to invest in that area and want an expert opinion then contact me to schedule an appointment.

My website offers community information on San Antonio Historic Districts.

www.GreenHomeRealtySA.com

DON'T BE A DINOSAUR! LOVE THE EARTH!

CATHY BUREAU - YOUR MOST VALUABLE REAL ESTATE ASSET

CATHY BUREAU Broker/Owner

MBA, REALTOR, GREEN, SFR, ECOBROKER, SUNAGENT

(210) 560-1891 Direct

I would LOVE to HELP YOU buy or sell in the San Antonio-Austin area. Please call me, CATHY BUREAU GREEN Home Realty (210) 560-1891.

Did you enjoy reading my blog? Then follow me here:

OTHER GREAT BLOGS THAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:

The San Antonio River Walk - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know

New Homes in San Antonio, Texas - How to Choose a Builder

Christmas at the Historic San Fernando Cathedral (Est. 1731)

Sun, 16 Dec 2012 17:34:45 -0800

One of our oldest churches that still operates today is San Fernando Cathedral, founded in 1731.

Their website describes it as the oldest, continuously functioning religious community in the State of Texas. The Cathedral building has the added distinction of being the oldest standing church building in Texas, and for all of its more than 281 years, has been serving the people of the Archdiocese and San Antonio. For almost 95 years, San Fernando served as the church for all of the religious denominations of San Antonio as the Catholic Church was the only recognized religion of the Spanish and Mexican governments prior to Texas' independence. San Fernando has become more than the geographic center; it has become an ecumenical, cultural, civic, and service center of San Antonio. San Fernando serves as a refuge for many of the poor in this area who come for help and trust their needs will be met. As the first church in the city, San Fernando has a rich history of responding to the people's needs in and around the church.

Enjoy a little history & mariachi music while celebrating Christmas.

Dec. 16, Sun. – La Gran Posada

6:00 pm – Starts at Milam Park

Dec. 24, Mon. – Christmas Eve

5:00 pm & 7:00 pm – Vigil Masses (Bilingual)

11:00 pm – Service of Carols

12:00 midnight - Mass (Bilingual)

Dec. 25, Tue. – Christmas Day (HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION)

9:00 am & 11:00 am Masses (Bilingual)

Dec. 30, Sun – Feast of the Holy Family

Regular Sunday Mass schedule

Dec. 31, Mon. – New Year’s Eve

12:05 pm Mass (Bilingual)

8 pm – 12 midnight – Adoration of Blessed Sacrament

DON'T BE A DINOSAUR! LOVE THE EARTH!

CATHY BUREAU - YOUR MOST VALUABLE REAL ESTATE ASSET

CATHY BUREAU Broker/Owner

MBA, REALTOR, GREEN, SFR, ECOBROKER, SUNAGENT

(210) 560-1891 Direct

I would LOVE to HELP YOU buy or sell in the San Antonio-Austin area. Please call me, CATHY BUREAU GREEN Home Realty (210) 560-1891.

Did you enjoy reading my blog? Then follow me here:

OTHER GREAT BLOGS THAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:

The San Antonio River Walk - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know

New Homes in San Antonio, Texas - How to Choose a Builder

Out with the Old, In with the New Contest

Sun, 16 Dec 2012 15:51:14 -0800

Excellent idea! Its a great opportunity to refresh and renew - very green, very cool! It's a great way to earn up to 2100 points too! I'm in!

Thanks Debbie, Dick, & Kerri!

Cathy

Via Debbie Reynolds, "The Real Debbie Reynolds" (Prudential PenFed Realty):

Out with the Old, In with the New Contest. As we come to the end of the year everyone is thinking about how to do things better in 2013 and how to make our businesses grow. We have learned so much through ActiveRain this year in the way of technology and how to improve our blogging.

There have been Rain Camps, SEO and Link Training, discussions about how to get noticed and how to get better position in the Google Rankings. We have learned how to write better posts, include graphics and photos, create links and provide pertinent information that will be picked up by Google and better than that the public.

Now it’s time to put what we have learned into action. One of the things we have also learned is that we need to be refreshing our old blogs and keep the information current and relevant. So now you have the opportunity to do just that with the Out with the Old, In with the New Contest.

Here’s how it works. Go back through your old Activerain posts and pick six that need updating. By updating I mean that when you originally wrote the posts, you may have not used good photos, added links, had an attractive layout or font and it generally lacked pizzazz and relevant information to get much attention.

Now using these six old posts as your basis this is what you need to do to write some brand new posts.

Keep the basic same idea or theme of the original post but write an entirely new post for each one.

As Bob says to get our point across and show our knowledge on a subject, the post needs to be at least 300 words so we are going to do what Bob says.

Add at least one photo or graphic but no more than 3.

You must have good relevant information that relates to your topic.

Add a Link to your old post in the blog so the judges can see how you have made improvements.

Plus have at least 2 other different links that take the reader to other supporting sites relative to your post or that give added value. Your general home page of your website cannot be one of them but it can be a specific page giving specific information to the reader.

Make the post something people will want to read by choosing a good title and a good layout.

My esteemed fellow ActiveRainers, Suzanne McLaughlin and Dick Greenberg will be reviewing the posts with me. It will be time consuming so we ask you to not submit more than 2 of your new posts per week. Start posting on December 1.You have until 11:59 P.M. PST on December 31st to get them all submitted. All entries must be entered into the New Group,Out with the Old, In with the New. This will be the way we know that they are Contest Entries and they can be checked and you can be awarded the points.

Kerrie has graciuosly agreed to award 350 points for every post that you submit that meets the criteria stated above for a total of 2100 points if you do all six. Do one, two, three, four, five or do all six, it is up to you.

Not only will you earn extra points but you will freshen up some of your old posts and be able to use your new blogging skills. This will also be good for your internet presence. If you need to brush up on some of the blogging techniques that are being used in this contest, please go to the University for Videos, Webinars and Help Questions. Or why not contact a fellow Rainer to get assistance and get to know each other a little better.

Out with the Old, In with the New Contest. Come on everyone and join in the fun and let’s show the AR staff just how much we have learned throughout 2012. Do not post your entries in the comments below. The contest entries must be posted in the Group Out with the Old, In with the New.

Want To Know What Debbie Has to Say?

If you are needing Real Estate services in Clarksville TN it would be my pleasure to assist you!

.

"The Real Debbie Reynolds" at DebbieReynolds.net

Prudential PenFed Realty, 2503 Wilma Rudolph Blvd., Clarksville, TN 37040

An independently owned and operated member of BRER Affiliated, Inc.

Not affiliated with Prudential. Prudential watermarks used under license.

931-920-6730 (office) 931-320-6730 (cell)

DON'T BE A DINOSAUR! LOVE THE EARTH!

CATHY BUREAU - YOUR MOST VALUABLE REAL ESTATE ASSET

CATHY BUREAU Broker/Owner

MBA, REALTOR, GREEN, SFR, ECOBROKER, SUNAGENT

(210) 560-1891 Direct

I would LOVE to HELP YOU buy or sell in the San Antonio-Austin area. Please call me, CATHY BUREAU GREEN Home Realty (210) 560-1891.

Did you enjoy reading my blog? Then follow me here:

OTHER GREAT BLOGS THAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:

The San Antonio River Walk - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know

New Homes in San Antonio, Texas - How to Choose a Builder

Saint John's Live Nativity Web Site

Live Nativity - San Antonio, Texas

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 18:32:20 -0800

Lo Esperamos: A Family-Friendly, Bilingual, Live Nativity

Lo Esperamos is a beautiful live Nativity put on by St. John’s Lutheran Church, Grace, and Our Savior; it translates to “We are waiting”. Attendees will go through the same journey that Mary and Joseph did, complete with Roman centurion, shepherds, wise men, live animals, and of course the Holy family. A simple meal and hot beverages will be provided. This is a free, family-friend, bilingual event. Lo Esperamos provides a wonderful setting in which to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.

Event Details

When: December 14, 2012 6-9 p.m

Venue: St. John's Lutheran Church

Address: 502 E Nueva

Phone: (210) 372-9041

Price: Free

Concoria Lutheran's Live Nativity

Do you need a gift this Christmas that will refresh you, your family, and your friends? Are you looking for a way to spend some quality and meaningful time together this Christmas season? If you answered yes, the Concordia Drive-Thru Nativity is for you!

What's a Drive-Thru Nativity? As you enter the Concordia Campus in your vehicle, you'll be given an audio CD (along with an on-loan CD player if you don't have one in your car). The audio CD will provide music and narration as you drive-thru our campus and view the 10 stations that tell the story of Christmas. You'll see remarkable sets, live animals, and real actors! It's a memorable and fun Christmas activity for the whole family.

You'll also be welcomed warmly. Live music will get you started on your journey. You'll even receive a bag of homemade cookies. The Drive-Thru portion will take about 20 minutes. You may wait in line during peak viewing times (7:30-8:30p.m.), but the experience will be worth it. Come as a family, as a neighborhood group, as a church group, or even on your own. This Gift is for you!

Visit Concordia's Web Site for more information.

Event Details

When: December 15 & 16, 2012 5-9pm

Venue: Concordia Lutheran Church

Address: 16801 Huebner Road, San Antonio, TX 78258 (Map)

Phone: 210.479.1477

Price: Free

DON'T BE A DINOSAUR! LOVE THE EARTH!

CATHY BUREAU - YOUR MOST VALUABLE REAL ESTATE ASSET

CATHY BUREAU Broker/Owner

MBA, REALTOR, GREEN, SFR, ECOBROKER, SUNAGENT

(210) 560-1891 Direct

I would LOVE to HELP YOU buy or sell in the San Antonio-Austin area. Please call me, CATHY BUREAU GREEN Home Realty (210) 560-1891.

Did you enjoy reading my blog? Then follow me here:

OTHER GREAT BLOGS THAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:

The San Antonio River Walk - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know

New Homes in San Antonio, Texas - How to Choose a Builder

The Best Holiday Lights in Greater San Antonio, Texas

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 18:15:03 -0800

I have to admit that I truly love driving around looking at lights. When we first moved to San Antonio we asked around, where is the best place to see good lights?

We were told Windcrest by person after person. This is what City Lights has to say about Windcrest, the City of.

A tradition since the 1950s, San Antonio residents and visitors enjoy viewing the dazzling Christmas lights in the City of Windcrest annual Light Up. Thousands drive through the Windcrest streets in awe of the amazing Christmas light displays. A contest is held by the city to select the most beautifully decorated homes in various categories prior to their opening ceremony in mid-December. To find all the best locations, you can print a map from the city's official website. It's not just the homes in Windcrest that participate; churches, schools and businesses also get involved. The streets of Windcrest get very crowded with spectators as Christmas approaches, so visit on a weeknight for less traffic. Windcrest is adjacent to the Interstate 35/Loop 410 interchange, just 15 minutes from downtown San Antonio.

We soon discovered another option, on the Northwest side of San Antonio - Braun Station. While the lights are not quite as numerous, the neighborhood featured 3 different streets that are lit up from end to end. So for those of you on the west side, you might want to check out their lights.

Have fun! Drink Hot Chocolate!

DON'T BE A DINOSAUR! LOVE THE EARTH!

CATHY BUREAU - YOUR MOST VALUABLE REAL ESTATE ASSET

CATHY BUREAU Broker/Owner

MBA, REALTOR, GREEN, SFR, ECOBROKER, SUNAGENT

(210) 560-1891 Direct

I would LOVE to HELP YOU buy or sell in the San Antonio-Austin area. Please call me, CATHY BUREAU GREEN Home Realty (210) 560-1891.

Did you enjoy reading my blog? Then follow me here:

OTHER GREAT BLOGS THAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:

The San Antonio River Walk - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know

New Homes in San Antonio, Texas - How to Choose a Builder