realestate: Motivational Video From WalkTheTalk.com - 02/24/09 08:53 AM
As The Month of Love comes to a close, I thought it would be a nice time to share with you a story near and dear to my heart, which shows how great the power of love can be. Focusing on the actions of one brave little girl, this story, taken from The Power of 10%, encourages us to get involved, to support one another, and to make a difference. Pass this on to friends so that they, too, will be inspired to reach out more often and take action while they still can.To Your Success,
Eric HarveyFounder and President, WalkTheTalk.comQuestions? … (1 comments)

realestate: Did you know about Lenders Advantage? - 02/23/09 09:48 AM
Lenders Advantage is a division dedicated to meeting the needs of lenders involved in residential loans, commercial loans, refinances and home improvement loans. Services include:Flood Compliance: First American Flood Data Services
Basic Flood Determination Life of Loan Determination Tax Service: First American Real Estate Tax Service
Mortgage Credit Reporting: First American CREDCO Three levels of credit reporting Appraisal Services: First American Appraisal Automated Valuation Title Search for home improvement loans consists of:
Legal Description Current Tax Information Record Ownership Current Lien Holder(s) Documents of Record If you have any questions or would like more info. on our Lenders Advantage fill free … (0 comments)

realestate: Buying Bank Owned Property or HUD, and REO as some know them as. - 02/20/09 01:10 AM
Finding and filing properties
Develop a system to keep track of properties that interest you. A good tracking system is important as most foreclosure buyers pursue many properties, sometimes over a period of several months.
After you find a property online, it's a good idea to drive by the property to get a better idea of the property's condition and the type of neighborhood. Some buyers and investors who have driven by the property have found notices posted there that provide more information about the bank who now owns the property. You'll also see if the property is listed with a … (3 comments)

realestate: What is Foreclosure? - 02/20/09 01:08 AM
What is Foreclosure?
Foreclosure is a process that allows a lender to recover the amount owed on a defaulted loan by selling or taking ownership (repossession) of the property securing the loan. The foreclosure process begins when a borrower/owner defaults on loan payments (usually mortgage payments) and the lender files a public default notice, called a Notice of Default or Lis Pendens. The foreclosure process can end one of four ways:
 
The borrower/owner reinstates the loan by paying off the default amount during a grace period determined by state law. This grace period is also known as pre-foreclosure. The borrower/owner … (0 comments)

realestate: Buy Now! Beat The Spring Rush-by Denise Lones - 02/20/09 01:04 AM
by Denise Lones
Down market. Up market. It doesn't matter. Spring showers typically bring spring buyers.
But if you wait for the seasonal thaw you'll join what could be a throng of market savvy buyers who have already scoped the lay of the land and are elbowing for position.
In many communities, an over-supply of homes for sale with reduced prices, foreclosures, auction sales and sellers shopping for short sale buyers, all make it an opportune time not to procrastinate.
"We are seeing a confluence of events that contributes to the increase in the number of closed sales," said Quincy Virgilio, … (0 comments)

realestate: Buying a new home? - 02/18/09 06:26 PM
Finding the right first home starts with a price range and a short list of desirable neighborhoods. But there are many other factors you'll need to consider before investing in what may be your biggest asset.
Before You Start:
 
Grab your current household budget so you can consider your financial situation and your ability to make mortgage payments. Ask family and friends if they can recommend experts, like a lawyer and an inspector, who can help with the home buying process. Think about your lifestyle and how it might affect your choice of home and neighborhood. Do a little research … (0 comments)

realestate: How to stay ahead on the gadgets and pick a winner! - 02/10/09 11:55 PM
- Sometimes even a well-designed and innovative product can still be a total dud. See the Apple Newton.
The industry analysts at Forrester Research now say they know why this happens.
In a new report released Friday, Forrester analyst James McQuivey zeroes in on what makes seemingly good products fall flat once they reach store shelves: lack of convenience. And he doesn't just mean "convenient" in that you can, for example, transfer a music device easily from your pocket to your car dashboard, but rather the entire experience using that music device--from buying the songs to putting them on that device, … (0 comments)

realestate: Stamp prices to go up 2-cents in May get ready to send out to clients!! - 02/10/09 11:48 PM
Agents Great opportunity send out some cards to your Data base!
The post office will get an extra 2-cents worth when you mail a letter starting in May.
The U.S. Postal Service announced Tuesday that the price of a first-class stamp will rise to 44 cents on May 11.
That gives plenty of time to stock up on Forever Stamps, which will continue to sell at the current 42-cent rate until the increase occurs. They will remain valid in the future regardless of rate hikes.
"The Postal Service is not immune to rising costs which are affecting homes and businesses … (14 comments)

realestate: Why do we need Title when buying a home? - 01/27/09 04:29 PM

Title Insurance & Escrow Service
Title insurance insures against loss sustained by an insured party due to the condition of title being other than as insured. The beneficiaries of title insurance policies generally are real estate buyers and mortgage lenders. A title insurance policy protects the named insured against title defects, liens and encumbrances existing as of the date of the policy and not excepted from coverage. For a one-time premium, the policy remains in effect until the property is sold or refinanced.
The title company is a neutral third party that performs the following functions in relation to … (1 comments)

realestate: Title it's your choice. - 01/22/09 08:57 PM
 
 
It's Your Choice
Most buyers don´t know that you can choose which title company handles your purchase.
Often your realtor makes the selection for you, but you should know that not all title companies are the same, and which one you choose can make a difference in your purchase.
Title Officers, Searches & Insurance
The title company plays several roles in the home buying process. Title officers:
Supervise the Closing/Settlement Process: As a neutral party, the title company manages the documents and funds that change hands as part of the purchase or refinance Conduct Title Searches: The officer checks … (3 comments)

realestate: What will help get your home ready for a speedy sale? - 01/22/09 08:45 PM
Always remember first imressions are lasting when it comes to houses so in order to do this your home must shine!  Do it yourself or hire a professional cleaning crew.  While you home is for sale it's probably a pretty good investment to have a cleaner come in every week.  Most cleaners do not do windows, so have them professionally cleansed inside and out and be prepared to redo the windows after major storms.
The two most important areas are the kitchen and the bathrooms. Deep cleaned all counter and tile surfaces to a spotless condition.   Another critical area is the floors - all … (1 comments)

realestate: An upside to a down Market - 11/12/08 10:11 PM
 
Well, there's little you can personally do to change the market's direction. Even big shots like Treasury Secretary Hank "Bazooka" Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben "Helicopter" Bernanke haven't been able to manage that.
But you may be able to take a bit of the pain out of falling stock prices by harvesting some investment losses in your taxable accounts and trimming your tax bill in the process. If you want those losses to trim your taxes for 2008, however, you've got to take them by the end of the year.
The process of booking tax losses is fairly straightforward, … (0 comments)

realestate: Best Time to Buy a Home - 11/12/08 10:01 PM
November 4, 2008 8:11 pm
No one knows when we'll reach a bottom, but you can get a great bargain, if you shop around.
Questions: Given all the foreclosures and other problems in the housing market and the economy, do you think this is a good time for someone to buy a house? Or would I be better off waiting for the housing market to recover? -Mari, San Francisco
Answers: If you're asking me to predict when the housing market will hit bottom and when prices are likely to start climbing again, I'm sorry, but I can't help you. My … (0 comments)

realestate: Forcast 2009 Your Home - 11/12/08 09:55 PM
 Forget the old saw that all real estate is local. What's pummeling housing prices in your nabe is the same thing that's hurting them around the country: the credit crisis.
You know the drill - banks' troubles have made it harder for many home buyers to get mortgages, and those who do qualify have to pay more. A borrower with good credit and a
20% down payment recently got charged an interest rate of 6.7%, on average, according to HSH Associates.
It's true that this rate is not historically high (rates often surpassed 9% in the early 1990s). But it's more … (2 comments)

realestate: Need to Squeeze More Money From Your Home - 11/03/08 08:50 PM
Sales of new homes rose unexpectedly in September--2.7% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 464,000 homes.
Good news, right? Not so fast.
The median price of a new home dropped 9.1% from a year earlier to $218,400, and September sales were still 33.1% behind the numbers posted a year ago.
In Depth: How To Squeeze More Money From Your Home
If you're a homeowner looking to unload your property and finding few buyers, there are alternatives to dropping the price below what's palatable. These options allow you maximize your cash flow so that you can stay afloat. And if … (0 comments)

realestate: Real Estate Markets Most Likely to Rebound in this Market - 11/03/08 08:42 PM
If you're a homeowner seeing property values plummet, look to the commercial real estate market for solace. It might tell you which areas will recover fastest--and which will likely remain weak.
The Urban Land Institute recently asked 700 real estate professionals to name the best (and worst) places to invest in commercial real estate in the coming year. Those surveyed included private developers, Realtors and Real Estate Investment Trust executives. Their answers also apply to the residential market, since the single-family-home sector typically follows the economy. As wages go up and there are more jobs, more people can buy homes, pushing … (6 comments)

realestate: First American is lone title insurer bearing good news - 08/01/08 08:51 PM
First American is lone title insurer bearing good news
Other top companies post losses or decline in profits
By Matt Carter, Friday, August 1, 2008.
Inman News
<form enctype="application/x-www-form-urlencoded" method="get" accept-charset="UNKNOWN"></form> It's looking lonely at the top for First American Corp., as the nation's leading title insurer is the only company in the industry to report good news during the second quarter.
First American said Thursday that it racked up $42 million in profits during the quarter ending in June, as cost-cutting measures outstripped a 20 percent year-over-year decline in revenue, which fell to $1.72 billion. The results beat analysts' expectations … (1 comments)

realestate: Best Cities To Buy A Home - 07/30/08 09:32 PM
Houston, we don't have a housing problem.
The city's $152,500 median home sale price is up 6.6% from 2005. It boasts a low vacancy rate and an oil-rich economy. Throw in a bubbling entrepreneurial tech scene, and you've got four factors that put Houston on the top of our list of best places to buy a home.
San Francisco, Charlotte, N.C., Jacksonville, Fla., and St. Louis, Mo., are other areas buyers can feel safe investing in.
We examined the country's 40 largest metropolitan areas and looked at cities where home prices have appreciated over the last two years. We also measured … (6 comments)

realestate: HomeVestors ranks Houston second for real estate investing! - 07/15/08 07:45 PM
Houston was the second best market in the nation for real estate investing in the second quarter of 2008, according to a ranking by HomeVestors of America Inc.
Only Dallas was a better market than Houston during the quarter, according to the national franchise company, which specializes in buying, rehabbing and selling single-family homes.
Dallas-based HomeVestors, which has purchased more than 35,000 homes in the United States over the past 12 years, based the findings on the number of houses bought in each market by its franchise network.
Other Texas cities on the list were Fort Worth at No. 5 and … (1 comments)

realestate: THE FREDDIE AND FANNIE CRISIS! - 07/15/08 07:40 PM
WHAT ARE THEY?
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are government-sponsored enterprises and the nation's largest buyers and insurers of mortgages. They pool some of the mortgages they buy from banks and sell them to investors, which effectively makes them middlemen between banks and investors. Fannie and Freddie hold or back more than $5 trillion in mortgages, about half the outstanding mortgage debt in the U.S. They are publicly owned and their stock is traded on the open market.
WHY WERE THEY CREATED? To give low- and middle-income Americans the chance to buy homes at a reasonable interest rate. The money they … (3 comments)

 
Spartan_photo3 Rainmaker_large

Kevin Heinrich

Clear Lake City, TX

More about me…

Heinrich Group

Address: 5827 Beaver Falls Dr., Houston, Tx, 77346

Office Phone: (281) 488-0607

Cell Phone: (281) 723-1982

Email Me

Real Estate News with a Value added punch Clear Lake Texas Real Estate

I think this is a good rule to live by! "We are not put on this earth for ourselves, but are placed here for each other. If you are always there for others, then in time of need, someone will be there for you." ~ Jeff Warner

One last thought for the day:

"Winners Make it Happen, Others Let it Happen!"

kheinrich@firstam.com www.fatcohouston.com

Real Time Web Analytics

Clicky

ButtonGenerator.com


Listings

Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog