Christina and Kevin 's Blog

Have fun while working on your career regardless of your market.

Christina Strommen Stevens (Realty Associates, Team Stevens) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:57:20 -0500

I have always known the importance of SEO to all real estate agents. I also know the expense it posses to many of you who are suffering from our little economic debacle. I have been lucky. I married a tech dork who taught me the rules that lead to SEO success. We have managed to keep our website on Goggles first page now since 2004 (all for a whopping $49.99). You really don't have to waste the big bucks if you find time to do what you can on your own.

My market was recently ravaged by Hurricane Ike. Galveston, Texas, agents might not have the funds that other agents may have set aside for advertising due to this crisis. You may not have suffered through Ike but it certainly might feel like it with the looking economic news of each day.

MOST OF YOU KNOW ABOUT OUR SOCIAL NETWORKS. THE 3 WE ALL KNOW ARE LISTED BELOW BUT I WANTED TO REMIND YOU OF SOME MORE OPTIONS. EACH OF THESE SOCIAL NETWORKS CAN BE A FREE LINK FOR YOU. HAVE SOME FUN ALREADY AND CONNECT WITH COLLEGUES ACROSS THE NATION. FIND NEW FRIENDS AND SEND TWEETS TO THOSE AROUND THE GLOBE. LET THE WORLD KNOW ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITIES. HAVE SOME FUN ALREADY.

FACEBOOK
TWITTER
MYSPACE
FOR MORE SOCIAL NETWORKS VISIT THIS WIKIPEDIA LINK AND HAVE SOME FUN. MAKE SOME FRIENDS.

You really have to see this to beleive it.

Christina Strommen Stevens (Realty Associates, Team Stevens) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 18:23:14 -0500

I can across this blog that was passed to me. It hope it gives many of you a idea of what Galveston went through during Hurricane Ike. These photos are the best representation of anything I have seen so far. They are truly amazing, heartbreaking, and beyond your wildest belief. My quest for help should be signified with these images. I really have no words. Here you go. Trust me this is worth your time.

http://www.tpicks.com/pictures%20people%20have%20sent%20me.html

God Bless you all and God Bless Galveston. As you will see we need your prayers.

Christina Stevens, Your Galveston, TX Real Estate agent

WILL FEMA BE THERE TO HELP YOU????? I BEG FOR YOUR HELP.

Christina Strommen Stevens (Realty Associates, Team Stevens) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 10:39:32 -0500

I beg you to read this blog post and pass it on. Galveston needs your help. This could be you no matter where you live. Mother nature can rear her ugly head anywhere. Maybe not in the form of a hurricane.

This post is about Galveston residences who are getting no help from our government. Residents who may have insurance ye the coverage is not enough. The coverage offers them no temporary housing. Did you know that the national flood coverage does not offer benefits for any temporary housing aid?? This falls under general homeowners yet when your house floods you can't use that coverage.

PLEASE READ THE ABOVE AND PASS THIS ON. WE REALLY NEED YOUR HELP AND THE MEDIA DOES NOT CARE.

This post is focused on my bother yet there are countless other just like him. His friend was granted a FEMA trailer yet they can't put it in Galveston because its a flood zone. HELLO Katrina was a flood zone. ALL OF THE GULF COAST IS ARGUABLY A POSSIBLE FLOOD ZONE. Parts of Vegas flooded once due to rain when we lived in Nevada.

Help us please. It could be you next. Pass this on.

How big are your contract files?????

Christina Strommen Stevens (Realty Associates, Team Stevens) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:11:19 -0500

Have you ever had to send a large contract with many pages to a client that only has dial-up? Then why not use 7 zip to compress the file and decrease the pain your client has to go through while waiting for that contract to download??? Here is a link for this FREE tool enjoy.

http://www.7-zip.org/

Christina Stevens, Your Galveston Tx real estate agent

Need help opening that video file???? Do it the secure way.

Christina Strommen Stevens (Realty Associates, Team Stevens) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:02:33 -0500

Have you ever tried to open a video file and it did not work in Microsoft Media Player???

Did you know that Microsoft media player has had many vulnerabilities in the past???

Why not use VLC media player. It can do many cool things such as stream video....ohhhhh

Here is this neat tool you may enjoy.

http://www.videolan.org/

Christina Stevens

Your Galveston Tx Real Estate agent

Free Microsoft Office alternative. Store your passwords for FREE.

Christina Strommen Stevens (Realty Associates, Team Stevens) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:03:53 -0500

OpenOffice is a FREE alternative to Microsoft Office. Here is the link for the download.

http://www.openoffice.org/

It has many of the same features as Microsoft Office. You can write and open document files plus much more.

THE BEST PART IS THAT IT IS FREE.

Here is a program to store all of your passwords. Best "security" practice dictates that you should have a different password for each site. Here is a little program that will help organize those password with one master password. It was written by one of the most famous cryptologist in the industry, Bruce Schneier Here is my information on Bruce if you just really want to know. http://www.schneier.com/

http://passwordsafe.sourceforge.net/

My hubby is computer security dork so if anyone every needs an advice he an email away and loves to help.

Have a great day. Enjoy the freebie's. I'll try and keep them coming.

Chrisitna Stevens

Your Galveston, Tx Real Estate agent

Free AntiVirus for Windows users.

Christina Strommen Stevens (Realty Associates, Team Stevens) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:17:21 -0500

http://free.avg.com/download?prd=afe

My hubby is an IT nerd as I like to call him (computer security professional and system administrator to be specific). The above link is for AVG, a free AntiVirus service.

My friend was talking about Norton and he suggested this AntiVirus as the best in the industry, AND BEST OF ALL ITS FREE.

Norton actually comes in last in most of the security reviews because it is not WCL Level 1 or 2 certified...meaning it cannot catch ALL current virus signatures in the wild. The "Wild" means all viruses that are currently being spread

Here is the current review for Norton and the all antivirus software. http://anti-virus-software-review.toptenreviews.com/

AVG Free.....it is "only" free for noncommercial use so it may be a great tool to use on your HOME computer. Read the guidelines and judge for yourself.

For commercial use we have this service but it will cost you a bit.

Nod32 is by far the fastest AntiVirus on the market. Only the "in" crowd really knows much about it. The cost for business uses is $89 for 2 years or $59 for one. Home users can pay $39.00 to use this service as well.

http://www.eset.com/products/nod32.php

I almost forgot about Avast. It is also free. It is actually ranked as the best FREE AV but I think it is a lot slower than AVG. Avast is for noncommercial use. Here it is.

http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

Have a great day.

Christina Stevens

www.Galveston4sale.com

There is no place like home. Hurricane Kitty Choctaw finds his way home.

Christina Strommen Stevens (Realty Associates, Team Stevens) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:44:17 -0500

This is unbelievable.

http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=6a4c3bbd89188ade

Its nice to talk about a Galveston native that loved the Island so much he decide to return via paw. ALL THE WAY FROM the Waco region of Calvert, Texas.

I guess its fair to say that some cats do like the water. ENJOY the story.

Visit our website for information about Galveston, Texas, Hurricane Ike and much more.

We need your help. Presidents lend a hand to Galveston after Hurricane Ike.

Christina Strommen Stevens (Realty Associates, Team Stevens) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:05:33 -0500

Here is the link to a story featured today in The Galveston County Daily News, the oldest newspaper in Texas. I encourage you all to read about the Presidents reactions in the above link. Very interesting.

We have received a visit fro Presidents Bush and Clinton. They will now kick start the effort to raise money for the damage that Hurricane Ike caused to our Island. THEY ARE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP AND THE HELP OF OUR NATION. THE SAME HLEP MANY GAVE TO THE VICITIMS OF KATRINA.

I just help but feel like Galveston have not received the press coverage and media that we need to start a road to recovery. Many reported that Houston was sparred. Houston was not sparred and many lost so much well into the East Texas area and in other regions across our nation. Galveston however did take the burnt of Ike's furry.

Visit our website for more information on Galveston and more photos from Hurricane Ike.

Informative links regarding Hurricane Ike and Galveston.

Christina Strommen Stevens (Realty Associates, Team Stevens) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:03:27 -0500

I would like to post some links that will help anyone who is interested in learning about Galveston and the effects Hurricane Ike has had on my home.

http://www.ghcf.org/ This is where you can learn more about our govt involvement and give any donation that you can afford. Over 75% of the homes in Galveston were damaged by flood waters. Today Presidents Bush and Clinton will tour Galveston with Mayor Lyda Ann Tomas. Both Presidents worked together to help after Katrina.

The Galveston County Daily news has done a great job reporting on our journey towards recovery. They have updated us all with vital city and county information. They are giving away millions in free advertisement to any business that has been damaged. If you are back and ready to work for the community give them a buzz and get a free announcement in the paper.

Galveston.com This is where you can find out about community events such as Dickens on the Strand and the upcoming Bike Rally. Both events are still scheduled to take place on the Strand in December.

The City of Galveston Our official city site which can help provide residence with important information.

www.Galveston4sale.com My website that provides you with local real estate information and search engines for both Galveston and Houston. We will also be creating a Hurricane Ike recovery page, which is currently in the works.

The devastation of Galveston by Ike.

Christina Strommen Stevens (Realty Associates, Team Stevens) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:10:56 -0500

I have not had much time to post due to the changes Ike borough to our lives. I wanted to post a few pictures I took just days after the storm. I have so much to say about this storm, Galveston, lack of media coverage, lack of govt support, and of course real estate in Galveston. Right now I think these photos will speak for themselves. Say a prayer for the people we so hold dear in our hometown. My brother got 12 feet of water while most of my friends lost their homes as well. Many Galveston agents are not even able to sufficiently work. God bless you all.

Here is the old Gaido's Billboard on 45. The Gaido family was awesome after the storm. The opened up their hearts to feed so many. They truly embody Galveston.

Above is a photo taken off Harborside drive.

I think this photo speaks for itself.

Here is one of the gift shops that use to sit on a pier.

I will continue to post photos. I am working on an informational page that will be featured on my Galveston real estate website. My thoughts and prayers go out to all who were touched by Ike. Lets hope we can continue to work as one while we rebuild the place I love.

Help Please

Christina Strommen Stevens (Realty Associates, Team Stevens) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:59:17 -0500

Well it has been one heck of a few months in regards to one horrible deal with a medium sized builder here in Houston (see my last blog for more). I don't want to name names since my goal here is not to slander someone.

We finally make it to closing on Friday (or so we think). We were delayed a few hours because title had one last lien to clear. They called with the good news that we were ready to close. All liens were cleared for closing. The buyer went and signed, dropped his $8000 off and called the utility companies for connection. The seller was coming in moments after us to close. I explained to the buyer that he did not quite own the house yet but the owner of title assured him we were fine.

As the buyer is on his to his home I get a call. The sellers bank decided to send over a revised approved HUD. This new HUD showed the seller owes them $30K. This particular bank owns all his investments in this subdivision so he was under the impression that he could close with now payment of his debt.

We were told that this extra $30K is not due to his debt but due to the fact that the bank feels the seller sold the home for less then it was worth. Funny how that seems like they are trying to inflate the FHA approval to me (if this part of the story is even true). Apparently the seller is trying to explain to them that these houses are not worth what they would like them to be. The builder claims they are treating him this way because this bank backs Royce Homes. We have heard that Royce Homes is filing bankruptcy trying to reorganize. They have all of their closings on hold.

Here we are on Tuesday waiting to hear from title or the seller about this issue. The seller says he has the figure down to $10K and is still in negotiations with his bank. My buyer now has the electric on in his name yet the bank would not allow him to move in (which in my opinion is a good thing, I hate lease backs). He paid for extermination, and also is homeless in 2 weeks (we were suppose to close on this house, that was 90% done when we put in the offer, 2 months ago). The buyers bank is working with us to try and close before tomorrow.

What advice does one have for the buyer who now may have to get an attorney? How long does his give this seller to solve the problem???? The seller and his agent have both told me they have other parties that want this house. I have never had a deal that was so frustrating and so stressful for my clients. I have been lied to for months about many things regarding this hoe by the selling parties. The buyer has been treated poorly. His needs put on the back burner. It really has been the worst deal I have ever had. I am just at a loss for words. This is a first time home buyer who is just the sweetest guy in the world.

We all know it is the sellers responsibility to sell this house for the negotiated price once the contract has been executed. His actions have been very negligent. At this point I am worried he will try to screw the agents out of their commissions.

I am just trying to get through this one with our heads held high and do the right thing. Any advice would be great.

UPDATE (AS MY SOAP OPERA UNFOLDS)

The sellers bank just spoke with me and they never set HUD. Title must be covered for the seller who obviously has told some tall tales. The bank did not try to inflate the sales price. They merely want their principal balance paid asap.

The bank stated that they have waived every possible fee known to man for this builder, just so things will progress. The fact is he owes the balance and if it is not paid they will take the home back into their possession within 45 days, along with the rest of the subdivision. They are beyond upset with the way this man has conducted business but their hands are tied in terms of my buyer. The seller must pay now, final decision.

They did also state that the buyer getting an attorney would be pointless since the seller would most likely be forced to file bankruptcy. They stated the bankruptcy court is only forced to pay secured debts.

Christina Stevens

Realty Associates

Team Stevens

www.Galveston4sale.com

Mirror, Mirror on the wall Who is the FAIREST of them all??

Christina Strommen Stevens (Realty Associates, Team Stevens) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:39:03 -0500

My blog entry comes today after much annoyance, stress, and a few other emotions I just don't think fit into this forum. I pose the question to you all.

Is fairness part of real estate? Is it FAIR to make a buyer wait 3 months for a home that was 90% done when his offer was excepted? Is it far that this buyer had to pay an extra, unexpected months rent with no consideration for a contribution from the seller to cover this cost? Is it far that this builder believes agents should not get paid so much and that they have no real reason to read over the schedule C (apparently it is not the agents business to do so)?

I am so annoyed that builders seem to play by a different set of rules when it comes to our profession. They can (in many states like Texas where we work) hire unlicensed sales "hostesses". They can offer buyers expensive gifts to use their hostesses for referrals. In Texas a closing gift from a licensed agent cannot be a $500 Lowe's gift certificate. Would you call the agent that was by your side and help you with the builder during your purchase or would you call the builder to give a referral? I might even want a nice $500 incentive myself. Why refer to my great agent who can only give me a nice plant of take me to dinner when I can get a new dryer???

What truly bothers me is how captive a builder has the buyer. MOST large names builders try to keep a very strict deadline but the little guys, well not so much. The medium size builder will leave you homeless 3 months into your agreement. I am just a bit annoyed by a recent experience had with a medium sized builder here in Houston. They have lied to us, delayed us time and time again, with no recourse the buyer can take. He has invested time and money into this house only to walk away with nothing except expenses. He was considering legal action last week but we decided that is not the way to go. However amazingly the house was finally finished and appraised today. God willing we want have any problems with the appraisal. This first time home buyer really has been through the wringer.

So I would like to start a dialogue. Why do builders get to play by a different set of rules? What have your experiences with them been? We work with many new home builders and the last few, mid sized builders have been quite the ride. I just think they should have to follow the TREC laws when selling. All states should require licensed agent to work for new home builders.

Show me the $$$$$

Christina Strommen Stevens (Realty Associates, Team Stevens) — Thu, 15 May 2008 09:52:11 -0500

So I had an interesting offer come in yesterday. It was low and that is fine (within workable range), but what was so interesting is that the buyers agent has no idea how the buyer plans to pay. She sent over an incorrect 3rd party financing agreement just in case he decided to go with a loan. She thinks a family member must be paying because he stated he has 100% financing (a lender want give you 100% on a condo, just 90%). She also told me he may be borrowing money from a family member, or the family member may be getting the loan. These are all guesses on her part BECAUSE SHE HAS FAILED TO ASK HIM TO SHOW HER THE MONEY. When I explained to this nice lady that she should get me a pre-qualification letter she said she just could not ask. Then she proceeded to tell me that the request would have to come in writing from me since it is bad practice to ask these questions. She stated that her brokerage just practices TRUST. Her broker was an ex member of the Texas board of Realtors, I doubt this. This lady has been an agent for over 10 years and hold a GRI designation. HELLO. Whats a girl to say??? TO TOP IT OFF, SHE TOLD ME THE REQUEST TO VERIFY LOAN APPROVAL OR CASH FUNDS WOULD BE AN INSULT AND THE BUYER WOULD POSSIBLY MOVE ON TO A CHEAPER CONDO. Then I was told this is just how things are done in Galveston since she thought I needed a lesson. She is a bit older then me so I get these lovely tips from agents who look down on any agent my age. Apparently being in your 30's just makes you clueless when it comes to real estate.

So we have presented a counter with emphasis on knowing how this young buyer plans to pay my seller. More to come later. I am just appalled that an educated agent would not be willing to address the most essential part of the deal. Furthermore why did she waste her time with him, driving around with gas so high, before knowing that he CAN in fact purchase his home.

As agents we take chances, but with the economy in this state we need to make sure we address our needs as well as the needs of our clients. Address your gas bill before you spend your valuable time with a lead that may not be worth your time. For example I just showed one of my listings to a couple who had a wonderful history (so they said). I make it practice to be a bit more lenient when showing my listings to people who call on the sign. I like to meet them once before I start hounding them for financial information (sometimes you just have to take one for the team.) So we had a wonderful showing and then they told me they were new to the US but had excellent credit and socials. Come to find our my mortgage representative found out only the husband has a social. They were still willing to consider an FHA loan for this couple. After he worked for 2 weeks to get them the FHA approval, we were denied all because they had lied about filing bankruptcy in Canada. They had been point blank asked if they ever filled bankruptcy.

A blanket of beauty.

Christina Strommen Stevens (Realty Associates, Team Stevens) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:00:27 -0500

Here are some photos we took during 2007 on Easter. Very rare weather since it was Spring time. We wanted to show Bluebonnets in a different light. Thankfully they survived the chill. We are seeing the beauty a bluebonnet possesses all over our great state. Take the time to enjoy the small yet beautiful things in life. This was a great day and a wonderful, yet chilly memory for our family.

Thanks for enjoying the beauty of the Texas Bluebonnet. To find out more about Texas Wildflowers you can see our last post regarding Wildflowers by the Beach. For more on our real estate market visit our Galveston, Texas Website.

Wildflowers on the Beach.

Christina Strommen Stevens (Realty Associates, Team Stevens) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 09:38:43 -0500

Galveston, Texas has such an array of natural beauty that often it is sometimes hard to notice the beautiful wildflowers. They grow along the beach and throughout the island. The beach itself provides such natural beauty. You have to remind yourself to stop and notice the other gifts nature has given us. You will be glad you took the time to remember all of natures wonders.

The photo above is of a flower called the Indian Blanket. It blooms from May to September. In addition to its beauty it provides our island with an important benefit. It helps to prevent beachfront erosion.

Next we want to draw your attention to the Evening Primrose, aka Ozark Sundrops. This flower blooms from May to June but the individual flowers are only around for a few days.

Our final photo features a lovely purple mystery. We would love input on the identity of this flower.

Why Activerain really works.

Christina Strommen Stevens (Realty Associates, Team Stevens) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 21:54:20 -0500

I would like to take a minute to thank 2 wonderful Activerain ladies. Chris Tesch from College Station, Texas (Go Aggie's) and also Marchel Paterson from the Woodlands/ Spring area. Marchel recommended us for a listing. Chris gave us a call and we have now listed an adorable home in the Sageglen (Clear Creek ISD/ Houston side). Sageglen is located in the Southbelt region of Houston. Clear Creek is a wonderful school district in our area. Sageglen is surrounded by beautiful parks, bike trails, and so much more. We have officially taken the listing but we are waiting for keys so we will not have the home on MLS until later this week. More to come on HAR and our website ASAP. The seller seems like she will be just a great lady to work with.

This is why Activerain works. In addition to the relationships we make, both professionally and personally, we also cannot forget the valuable content these blogs provide. Both for the soul and for the SEO. After all your sellers want to see your site ranked well. This is a great benefit when presenting your capabilities at the listing presentation. We all need to work together to make real estate agents what we can be. A great group of professionals that strive to do excellent work.

Its nice to have Actiuverain for many reason. The referrals are obviously great but the emotional help that we get from one another is also priceless. We have a great place to market our listings, to advertise our services, and to really enhance our careers.

Activerain works. Work Activerain and you will be thankful.

Here is a photo we took this weekend while we played in Galveston. It was a great weekend for the Texas Coast. The beautiful weather was just remarkable. After moving for 6 years this photo sums up why it is wonderful to be home.

Check out 921 Marine #323

Christina Strommen Stevens (Realty Associates, Team Stevens) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 21:36:47 -0500

Visit our site to learn about our new listing at 921 Marine #323. This is our newest Marina Pointe listing. The complex is just a wonderful little spot to enjoy life at UTMB. You could get a second home right by the yacht Basin. You have a place to keep your boat just steps away. it really is a great little place to live. Here is the pool view that was taken at the units door. Click here to learn more about 921 Marine #323.

Are you correct when you tell a buyer that they have to have earnest money??? You may want to read this.

Christina Strommen Stevens (Realty Associates, Team Stevens) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 08:09:00 -0500

I recently had an interesting experience. I was working with an investor who flat out refused to put earnest money down when presenting an offer. He did however think that a compromise was to pay earnest money after the appraisal came in. The seller already had an appraisal so we had no issue yet for some odd reason he just felt earnest money was no necessary. Needless to say that deal did not move forward and I do not think that I will continue to work wit this investor. His thinking was very far off from reality when it comes to the process of using a Realtor and buying property with Texas promulgated forms.

Most of us think that you must have earnest money to have consideration but in all actuality this is not true in Texas. My husband and I argued this point for some time. He was right. In Texas the consideration is the monetary amount you plan to purchase the property with. So the promise to purchase is the consideration. We research this in all the sources you ca reference to review Texas law. He was very indepth with his research. In the end me learned that this is just a bit of a Realtor myth. You do not have to enter money into escrow at title. Call your local title company and they can confirm. Of course this is not the customary way we practice real estate in Texas.

Yes we all know that NO SELLER will accept this offer. Earnest money goes to the heart of the buyers true intent to purchase the property. In this day and age an option period help to protect the buyer while they are working to see if the property is just what they want by using inspections. Our option period also gives the buyer the chance to walk away for ANY reason under the sun. Just because they have a bad feeling. In Texas the normal time frame for an option period is 7 to 10 days. This period is negotiable and paid for by the buyer. The option money goes directly to the seller. My investor also would not pay for an option period yet he felt he should be guaranteed, in writing, the comforts to walk away AT ANY TIME due to inspections and just a bad feeling. Hello!!! That is what the option is for but it does not lat the entire length of the deal. The seller is taking the property off the market and giving the buyer the exclusive right to purchase from them for a set number of days. The option period was created to give the buyer a chance to walk away if the property does not appear to be what they perceived. The added bonus in regards to option is that again you can walk away for ANY REASON.

I thought this earnest money topic was interesting. I was told in my contracts class that you MUST have an earnest money deposit as consideration. My husband learned the above but not until his GRI class. I have noticed a thread on this before. I am not sure about other stats but in Texas almost 60% of the agents who commented would have been incorrect. You do not have to have earnest money to have an offer for purchase. Quite interesting. It just makes you realize that sometimes a little research can be worth the time.

Have a great day.

Christina Stevens

409-515-9542

Considering Galveston Tx real estate? Give us a call for yourself or to facilitate your referrals. Yes we do recommend earnest money and an option.

New Listing at Marina Pointe.

Christina Strommen Stevens (Realty Associates, Team Stevens) — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 19:55:30 -0500

We are in the process of taking a new listing at the Marina Pointe in Galveston, Texas. The real estate market in Galveston, Texas is really starting to boom due to the time of the year. This has been a very busy week for us. This new listing is another great condo right by UTMB. The listing price will be $123,900. It is a 2/2.5 with a pool view. We will provide more details and photos tomorrow. Tune in to our bog for more information. Please visit our Galveston Tx real estate site. Our site will feature this listing soon.

Contact Christina or Kevin Stevens for more information on the Galveston real estate market.

409-515-9542

Sacred Heart Church in Galveston, Texas

Christina Strommen Stevens (Realty Associates, Team Stevens) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 09:13:48 -0500

Bishops Palace in Galveston, texas

Christina Strommen Stevens (Realty Associates, Team Stevens) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 09:11:10 -0500

The Historical Sacred Heart Church in Galveston, Texas. A true beauty of our time.

Christina Strommen Stevens (Realty Associates, Team Stevens) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 12:45:17 -0500

Sacred Heart Church, located in Galveston Texas is just breathtaking. As a Galvestonian I have admired the beauty of this religious sanctuary all of my life. The photo of this church speaks for itself. Little else in needed when it comes to describing just how magnificent this landmark truly is.

Sacred Heart is a Catholic Parish. The church was established on June 21, 1884 by Rt. Rev. Bishop Nicholas A. Gallagher. He decided the East End of Galveston would become the Society of Jesus. Reverend John F. O'Connor was given the task starting this parish. With the help of Father Slevin Sacred Heart had its first mass the Sunday after July 15, 1884 (Father Slevin arrived on the Island July 15, 1984). The land which would become Sacred Heart was donated by Michael B Menard. The Menard family has played a large part in the history of Galveston, Texas.

At one point Sacred Heart was the largest church in Texas (1892). It was also the third largest in the southern United States. This is in part due to the history Sacred Heart had with St. Mary's University.

The building was designed by architect Nicholas Clayton. The design was French Romanesque. Sadly the Storm of 1900 demolished the original building. This storm devastated most of Galveston and became what has been known as the worst natural disaster to ever strike the United States. All but two stained glass windows, the Mass bell, the statue of the Sacred Heart and the Crucifix were destroyed. These items remain at the church to this day. The Catholic parish family immediately made plans to reconstruct the church. On June 21, 1903 a cornerstone was laid and the church was consecrated on January 17, 1904.

Here are some exerts from the Texas Historical Commission Marker. These words truley describe the heart and soul of why Sacred Heart Chruch is an amazing part of my cities history. This church just embodies what life in Galveston, Texas is all about. Beauty, tranquility and beleifs in the true foundations that make us know we are.

The present building, the second for the parish, was constructed in 1903-04 during the pastorate of the Rev. D. J. Murphy. A prominent landmark in the city, it features ornate octagonal towers, flying buttresses, elaborate ornamentation, and a variety of arches. The design reflects influences of the Moorish, Byzantine, Gothic, and the Romanesque styles. The buildings original dome. damaged in a 1915 hurricane, was redesigned by Nicholas Clayton. Scared heart Church has played a significant role in the growth and development of Galveston. Since the 1880's, many of the city's prominent business, professional, civic, and religious leaders have been associated with the parish. Recorded Texas Landmark- 1981

I hope these facts and photos make you want to explore Galveston, Texas. This church is open to visitors. Please come experience the absolute stunning beauty of Sacred Heart. The location and contact information is as follows.

Sacred Heart Church

1302 Broadway

Galveston, Texas 77550

409-762-6374

www.sacredheartgalveston.org

What you should expect out of your agent and why.

Christina Strommen Stevens (Realty Associates, Team Stevens) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:50:41 -0500

I have been fuming inside due to the conduct (or should I say lack of conduct) on behalf of some agents who must be pretending to practice real estate. I prefer to post this for both real estate professionals and consumers so that both parties can educate themselves on what is expected of a real estate professional. Lets begin with the story behind my latest rant.

I have been researching other agents listings for an investor only to find that half the agents I speak to have no idea what they are offering. For example I called on a rented duplex. The investor needs to establish a cap rate. The agent who has the property listed has no idea how long the lease terms are, what the owners expense are, etc. (she even had to think about the rent). I gave her a list of things that we assumed she would know and of course she was getting back to me. Here we are a week later (2 more phone calls later) and we still have no answers. I asked to preview the property since the agent also has NO INTERIOR PHOTOS. I was told they would get back to me. So finally the investor has said he wants to stop waiting and just go see for himself what we can find out by touring the duplex. We have an appointment and another call in to find the missing information. I did ask the agent why she does not have any interior photos of the property. She told me she does not know. Her MLS entry (done by the broker) has no tax information, no detailed property information, etc. Our MLS usually fines for that so I am not sure how they are getting away with putting ???? in the required fields. I bet the poor buyers who see this on IDX searches are just passing it by because it was done so poorly. In all actuality the investor tried emailing the listing agent about this property yet they never returned his request. His is an emailer and prefers his contact via the computer so they missed out on what could have been a sale for them. I am sure this agent is a wonderful person. Her brokerage is quite busy in our area. maybe the onwer has just failed to give her what she needs. Who knows. I just know this is not how successful transactions are handled. Deals cannot be made when you don't even know exactly what you are making an offer on, esopecially when it comes to an income producing investment. The details of any leased property are essential to the investor. Know your lease terms, amounts, and expenses, even if you are not the one handling the leases.

If you want to practice real estate do the job the right way. If you have a property you are listing please be proactive about who you give this listing to. Ask to see the MLS entries. Ask about the details, even the things that you may think are little. Be sure your agent is educated on the property they are trying to sell for you. Don't just trust that the MLS advertisements are correct. View them yourself. Make changes if need be. Ask to see the photos and request that 10 quality photos be taken of your property. Agents be aware that the more time you invest will pay off. If you do a terrible job you will have terrible results. Get creative. Don't just type a one line description. The more initial effort you put in means less time on the market and a bigger better pay day for you.

When you are considering a real estate agent for your home please spend some time looking at how other agents have property advertised in your area. In the Galveston, Tx real estate market we see many listing entries that are just terrible. Little description, terrible pictures, and just plan unappealing. Get creative people. Your market deserves to shine when it comes to real estate. This is not just a problem in our area. This is a problem across the board when it comes to listing agents. Visit our Galveston, Tx real estate website to learn more about Team Stevens and our area.

Be aware that your efforts make your market stand out. Have a wonderful and productive week.

Christina Stevens

Happy Easter

Christina Strommen Stevens (Realty Associates, Team Stevens) — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 10:48:28 -0500

We just wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a lovely holiday weekend. Happy Easter.

Christina Stevens