Killeen Fort Hood Real Estate

Know Your House Payment Comfort Zone - Fort Hood Real Estate

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:20:50 -0600

Know your House Payment Comfort Zone - Fort Hood Real Estate
#2 of the Seven Things you Should Do Before Buying Fort Hood Real Estate

It's exciting news when your lender tells you that you qualify for a much larger and more expensive home than you ever dreamed, but the reality is that lenders don't know how you live and how you like to spend your disposable income.

There's nothing worse than buying too much house, so before you sign on the dotted line to buy your piece of Fort Hood real estate, spend some time working on a realistic budget that includes the expenses involved in owning a home.

You'll find as you work on your budget that expenses can be classified as either fixed or variable.

Your monthly house payment is a fixed expense, usually structured to cover the principle, interest, taxes and insurance for one month. More fixed expenses of owning Fort Hood real estate include utilities (water, electricity, gas, trash and sewer). Some variable costs associated with home ownership would be maintenance costs such as yard care and home repairs.

An example of other fixed expenses are car payments, credit card payments and bills for cable TV, internet services, telephone, student loan payments and other regularly recurring bills.

Variable expenses are the expenses you can usually control, like groceries, gas, recreation, entertainment, interior decorating, clothing and pocket money . If you like to indulge in eating out, going out for entertainment or if you have a hobby you like to spend money on, a big house payment can really cut into your "fun budget!"

Try keeping your income and expenses on an electronic budget worksheet for a couple of months. This analysis will give you a good insight into how much Fort Hood real estate you can comfortably afford based on your actual spending habits.

You'll be glad you know your comfort zone for a house payment BEFORE you sign on the dotted line!

Prequalifing is FREE, SIMPLE and DONE - Fort Hood Real Estate

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:01:12 -0600

How do I prequalify for a loan to buy Fort Hood Real Estate?
#1 of The Seven Things You Should Do Before Buying Fort Hood Real Estate

First time buyers who are looking at Fort Hood real estate want to know how to be prequalified, what it means and how it works.

And I always tell them that the three best things about getting prequalified is that it's FREE, it's SIMPLE and then it's DONE!

Where to Begin:

Just call a mortgage lender and ask to be prequalified for a home loan. If you are eligible for a VA loan, be sure to let the lender know. Not all lenders are approved to originate VA or other government insured loans.

How it Works:

The lender will ask for your name, date of birth, social security number, your work history, your address history, info about how many in your family, your pay and information about your bank accounts or other assets. Once the lender has this info, your credit will be checked and your ratio of debt to income will be calculated. Based on all the information collected and then analyzed, the lender will determine if you qualify to buy a home.

It's Done!

This sounds like a lot of work, but the prequalification often takes less than twenty minutes! Once you are prequalified, you are ready to get out there and shop for your Fort Hood real estate. Knowing that you CAN definately purchase a home gives you a lot of power and confidence out there in the market!

Finding a Lender:

If you don't already have a lender in mind, there are many good local lenders in the Fort Hood area. They charge low closing costs and offer VA, FHA and conventional loans at excellent interest rates. Let me know if you need a list of lenders so you can be prequalified before you arrive at Fort Hood.

Fort Hood Shooting Tragedy

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:03:50 -0600

Local news is reporting that the main shooter, a US Soldier, is dead and 12 others are dead also. 31 wounded are reported at this time, and two other suspects are in custody.

Please keep all our Fort Hood families in your thoughts and prayers over the next few days. This is a stunning tragedy for everyone in the area and in the nation.

7 Things You Should Do Before Buying Fort Hood Real Estate

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:29:17 -0600

Buying Fort Hood Real Estate can be a wonderful experience! But buyers do worry that since Fort Hood is such a big place, they won't be able to make a good decision as to where they should live. And, since it's so easy to get around the Fort Hood area, we can see a lot of homes in a short time, which means being prepared is very important!

Take the stress out of your trip to buy Fort Hood Real Estate by taking these steps before you arrive in Central Texas:

Prequalify with a mortgage lender
Discover your house payment comfort zone
Investigate the area by calling local police departments
Check schools at the Texas Education Agency Website
Consider commute times from different areas
Consider lifestyle - do you prefer city living or a slower pace
Arrange travel and lodging - Especially if you travel with a pet

Armed with a prequalification letter, a firm budget in mind, and the information gained by checking out different areas and schools, you will be very prepared to look at Fort Hood Real Estate and to buy your home with confidence.

You'll find more info on each step here in my blog over the next two weeks, so get your checklist planned out and be ready to start preparing for your homebuying trip to Fort Hood!

After a Long Hot Summer, Staging does the Trick on "Perfect Property"

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:13:11 -0500

All I can say is the sellers are astounded and so is their realtor!    Beautiful, quality built home, lovely landscaping, great location, a bargain price  and still not selling.    Sound a little familiar?

I wrote about this property back in APRIL, after about sixty days on the Killeen Fort Hood Real Estate market.. little did we know that we'd burn through the summer (literally with over 67 days above 100 degrees) without a single offer.

We tried open houses, realtor open houses, computed price adjustments. We looked at listings for similar homes in that subdivision that were priced $20,000 above ours, and of course, they were sitting on the market, too.

It wasn't looking very promising and the sellers were preparing to come up with at least $10,000 to close if we did get an offer (That's a lot of $$$ in this market).   They had moved on to their new PCS location in June, and the need to sell the house was even more urgent. Only new homes for sale in this subdivision were selling, and we had to do something to make this sale happen.

Working any market when it's slow is very hard on sellers and agents, because we all want the property to sell.   I usually don't have any problem marketing and selling my listings, but this one.. well let's just say it was a "challenge".

I spent some time just sitting in that empty property, trying to get inspired, to get to the bottom of why it wasn't selling. We were getting plenty of showings, which means the price was right. So what is the problem????

So after walking around the house and looking at it from many angles, inside and out, and pondering the current market, I finally decided the problem was:

This home is just "too perfect, too vanilla, too forgettable". It's getting lost in all the hundreds of homes for sale at Ft Hood.

After that epiphany, I advised the sellers to let the listing expire. Then we let it sit off the market for a few days, while I did some minor staging. Staging is not the norm here, but this house needed punching up a bit to give it something buyers could remember.

We then put it back on the Killeen Ft Hood Real Estate market and, in TWO DAYS, we had THREE offers and a bidding war!

Was it the really staging that set off the bidding war? Or was it the freshness of the property back on the market? Or was it just time for that particular piece of Killeen real estate to sell?

In truth, it was probably a combination of the three.    But I give a big nod to the staging for giving this home an extra bit of WOW that buyers could remember.

In any case, the sellers are ecstatic, as they are now under contract to close at a sales price $10,000 higher than the asking price.   After preparing for the worst all summer, they will be in great shape after closing!

SOLD! Lovely Home near Lampasas for Sale

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 10:55:16 -0500

Mary Ann Daniell | Coldwell Banker United, Realtors | 254-681-4875

7820 East Highway 190, Lampasas, TX

3BR/2BA Single Family House

offered at $144,900

Year Built	1986
Sq Footage	2,100
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	1 acres
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Big home nestled in the trees. Large rooms, two living areas, huge screened porch. Woodburning fireplace. Just updated with new carpet, vinyl, new range, attic ductwork, exterior just painted, and more. Ten minutes to Lampasas, Ten Minutes to Copperas Cove on about 1 acrea of land with plenty of trees and storage, Lampasas school bus stops at end of driveway. $5000 below tax appraisal value! Seller is a licensed Texas Realtor.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C	- Central heat	- Fireplace
- Walk-in closet	- Tile floor	- Family room
- Living room	- Dining room	- Dishwasher
- Refrigerator	- Stove/Oven	- Laundry area - inside

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 1	Photo 2
Photo 3	Photo 4
Photo 5	Photo 6

Contact info:

Mary Ann Daniell

Coldwell Banker United, Realtors

254-681-4875

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Aug 6, 2009, 7:45am PDT

Putting Yourself in Your Clients Shoes

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:39:35 -0500

Sometimes even the best plans go off course! I've found myself in this position before and bless my Fort Hood buyer clients for their understanding and patience and willingness to work it all out. Top tier service means being available to clients when they need you. But what if all of them need you at once????

Via Rich Jacobson Your Kitsap County WA Real Estate Agent (Windermere West Sound, Inc.):

Walk a Mile in My Shoes

As a licensed real estate professional, I pride myself on the level of knowledge, expertise, and experience I have gained over the years. I consider myself a very skilled and relentless advocate for representing my client's best interests and empowering them to succeed in their real estate adventures.

However, when you've been at this business for any length of time, there can be the tendency to forget what it's like for those who haven't been through the process before. We've become so intimately familiar with every element and nuance of the real estate transaction, there can be times when we fail to see things through our client's eyes.

Case in point:

Found on Facebook

A couple from Kentucky found me on Facebook. They explored my blogs, read my articles, toured my website, and liked what they saw. They contacted me through Facebook and explained that they were in the process of relocating to Kitsap County WA. They were planning on coming out for a house hunting visit and had allotted themselves two weeks to find the perfect home, go under contract, conduct the home inspection, then fly back to Kentucky.

Due to the time constraints, they wanted to make sure that I would be able to devote some concerted time to assist them in achieving their goals. I assured them that I was up for the task and we agreed to work with each other.

The Kentucky Two-Step or 'Off to the Races!'

They arrived over the weekend, and we hooked up first thing Monday morning. Even though they were 1st Time Buyers, they were in their mid-Thirties and were both launching second careers. I could tell right away that the 3 of us were going to click and work well together. This was a good thing because we ended up spending that entire first week from 8am to 6pm each day looking at properties!

After the first day, we were able to narrow our focus a bit more specifically to what they really wanted - waterfront or water view properties, Master on the main, 2500 sq. ft. plus, on acreage, for $400K or less. A bit challenging, but not impossible in our current market.

The 2nd day out, we had actually found several homes that met with their approval. By the end of the week, we had determined 4 or 5 viable candidates for them to choose from. They told me they would spend the weekend relaxing, exploring the area, and reviewing the homes they had seen and start narrowing the decision-making process.

Thank God, It's Friday!

I took this to mean that I could relax over the weekend as well. After a very intense week of showing houses, I was ready for some downtime.

But as Murphy's Law of Feast & Famine Real Estate would have it, my weekend would be anything but downtime.

When It Rains, It Pours!

A part-time agent who was formerly with our office contacted me with a desperate plea to help him out of a bind. He had a client who wanted to go looking at potential investment properties, but he wasn't able to meet with him because his day job was taking him out of the area for a few days. His client had provided a list of about 15 properties he wanted to see over the weekend. I agreed to help him out and scheduled showings for most of the properties on Saturday.

At the same time, a new client I had received on referral from an ActiveRain member was starting to get antsy, and wanted to go out looking at homes that weekend as well.

And if that wasn't enough, some other buyers I had taken out a few leisurely times (friends of mine through the church we used to attend) decided that Sunday would be the perfect day to go house shopping again.

I spent most of the day Saturday showing properties to the investment buyer. We found a couple that penciled out and made sense. I figured that Sunday would only take a couple hours to finish up with him and make a decision, so I scheduled an appointment for Sunday afternoon with my new referral Buyer. Since we only had 4 or 5 homes to look at, I told my church friend buyers we'd go out for a couple hours in the early evening.

I get tired just thinking about it again!

Your Cheatin' Heart

Anyway, it's Saturday and we're about halfway through the investment buyers list of properties when my cell phone rings. It's the Kentucky couple. They've been discussing all the various home choices and they want to meet ASAP to discuss some strategies and possibly write up an offer on one of the homes. I explain my situation to them, and suggest we meet later in the day after I'm done with the investor buyer. The extended sigh on the other end tells me I've pushed the envelope of their patience. Reluctantly, they concede.

As my luck, or lack thereof, would have it, I wasn't able to meet with them until later that evening around 7pm. As I opened the office lobby door to let them in, I could tell by their demeanor that they were upset. When I asked what was up, they both unloaded on me. They felt I had abandoned them. I had agreed to devote a concerted amount of time with them over a two week period and when they needed me, I wasn't available.

Smokin' in the Boy's Room

I was proud of myself for maintaining my composure exceptionally well. As agents, we learn to have fairly thick skin at times. I apologized for not being available to meet with them earlier in the day, and explained my understanding about their plans for the weekend.

A few minutes later, I excused myself to use the restroom. It gave me welcomed time to collect my thoughts and vent some of my own frustrations. I had just spent the last 5 days from sun-up to sundown with these folks, looking at nearly 50 properties, and here they were accusing me of abandoning them! What nerve!

We ended up writing a 'Hail Mary' offer that evening and I was able to work out their concerns over my allegiances.

In hindsight, what I learned (and I always try to learn something new from every transaction), is to never lose sight or empathy for how my clients perceive things. Clear communication is critical, with specific levels of expectation spelled out fully. Clients can be very needy at times, especially stressed out 1st Time Buyers on a short time-line. While I would love nothing more than for my clients to feel as though they are my 'only' clients, that's not always realistic. Additionally, Clients need to understand that good, qualified agents are naturally going to be in demand and busy, to some degree, with other clients.

And They All lived Happily Ever After!

The happy end to my story is that the Kentucky couple is under contract with a home they're both absolutely 'In Love' with and we close the 2nd week of August. They are really awesome people. We share a solid, mutually enjoyable relationship that I know will last for many years to come, and will most likely result in their future referrals.

Fort Hood Real Estate - The Market is Starting to MOVE

Sun, 17 May 2009 12:40:34 -0500

Phones are ringing again and buyers are out there looking at homes, which is good news for local home owners who have their Killeen Fort Hood homes listed for sale.

After months of no showings on some of my listings, several of them were shown multiple times last week, and it's just a matter of time now (hopefully) until offers start to come in.

One of these homes, which I wrote about a couple of weeks ago, Beautiful Home - Bargain Price, has TWO interested buyers now who have made several trips to see the home. Neither buyer has made an offer yet, but their agents tell me the home is at the top of their lists.

Fort Hood area home builders are also feeling the pressure for their products as the building permits have increased significantly the past two weeks! This is always a good sign that the market for home sales is starting to heat up.

So it's shaping up to be an interesting summer here at Fort Hood. There is a great inventory of both new and resale homes in Killeen, Harker Heights, and Copperas Cove, pricing is better than it's been in several years, interest rates are LOW and the First Time Buyer $8000 tax credit is still available, with no payback required. If a new home isn't in your plans, maybe it should be!

Beautiful Home, Bargain Price, No Buyers - Where Do We Go From Here?

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 15:35:25 -0500

It's a simple question. Where do we go from here?

These sellers are a wonderful military family who understand that the local Fort Hood real estate market is in a state of flux. So they have made sure to keep their home spotlessly clean (with 4 children!!). They've installed a couple of upgrades to make sure they are more competitive in the market. They are ready to show at the drop of a hat. AND they understand and agree that they must price their home aggressively to get it sold $10k under market) as well as agree to pay all the buyer closing costs and prepaids when the time comes. Our marketing is the best the area has to offer and we know that the property is as well positioned on the internet as possible,

But still no buyer has made an offer. In fact, it's only been shown three times in three months. There are 22 homes for sale in this subdivision. ONE resale home has sold in the past three months. Two brand new construction homes (by less quality builders) have sold.

So where do we go from here? Their PCS date is coming up and they will have to move on. They'll leave it on the market through the summer in hopes that a buyer who needs this Killeen location will turn up. And then if it doesn't sell they will have to make the hard decision to keep it on the market or turn it into a rental.

These sellers are not alone right now here at Fort Hood. There are many, many other properties out there that are facing the same issues. Some are holding out hope that the Corps of Engineers Homeowner Assistance Program will come to the rescue, but as of last week, the Fort Worth office of the Corps told me that they were pulling all their information on that program off the website because it looked like the funding for the program was "either on hold or canceled". I'll be checking the Corps of Engineers website daily until there is an update.

Fish City Grill Opens in Harker Heights

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 20:03:33 -0500

Here's a quick review of the new Fish City Grill, one of the many new restaurants in the Market Heights shopping area in Harker Heights Texas. We found ourselves in the area on Saturday after meeting buyers at their new home to do a walk through and decided to give the Fish City Grill a try for lunch. It was early, probably around 11:30, but the restaurant was already looking pretty busy. There were people seated at tables and booths as well as in the bar. The interior is very attractive, not too "nautical", very tasteful and comfortable. The wait staff was wearing T-shirsts with witty sayings you have to be sure to read! There were lots of creative specials on the board but we stuck with basic fried oysters. The service was fairly fast. The waffle fries could have used another half minute in the fryer, but the oysters were first rate as was the slaw with apple cider dressing. We ended the meal with beignets and coffee, which were both very good, even if the beignets were not particularly traditional.

Fish City Grill is a franchised chain and their menu is online. We will go back... for the food and to find out what was up with the waitress who was wearing a Nanook of the North fur cap with ear flaps as she waited tables!

Fort Hood House Hunting - Port-A-John, Anyone?

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 15:57:37 -0500

If you are a first time buyer, getting ready to start looking for a home at Fort Hood, here's a quick peek into a real house hunt in the Fort Hood Real Estate Market:

My latest buyer already had a target subdivision and price range in mind when we met for our first consultation. He and his wife are first time buyers and are looking for a home that is close to Fort Hood and close to her work in Killeen. They also want their children to attend Copperas Cove schools, so it's been pretty easy to narrow down their choices.

They've been looking at new construction but just didn't find anything that quite fit their needs and time frame (before the holidays). So we moved on to looking at existing homes, which are a pretty good value in the market right now since sellers are paying most if not all of your closing costs.

The buyers picked five properties off the internet to see this past week, and here's what we found when we got to the homes:

Property #1 - First Impression: Big pile of rocks and dirt in the front yard (lots of work required to remove). Front porch and door were covered in dog paw prints. The interior was, frankly, filthy. Looking into the back yard we saw that the dogs had pretty much destroyed it, and they had chewed chunks out of the back porch posts, too!

Property #2 - First Impression: Nicely maintained yard. Attractive brick with stone accents. Spotless interior, nice floorplan with a fireplace and playscape in the back yard for the buyer's children. Well priced! These sellers are as perfect as possible for an unoccupied home.

Property #3 - First Impression was not good. Yard is full of dead grass and weeds, not a bush, tree or flower to be seen. And this home was occupied! Interior was surprising in that it was clean, neat and nicely decorated, perfect for showing to a buyer. Many buyers would never get past the dead yard to even consider this home. It was very well priced, though, and the buyers took a chance and went in to see the interior. It appears the seller is pricing the home low to offset the condition of the yard.

Property #4 - First Impression: Beautiful yard, neatly trimmed, healthy, green, with nice landscaping touches. Interior was clean, neat, with a big covered patio overlooking the healthy, landscaped back yard. This floorplan was actually the same as property #3. These sellers had painted several walls a variety of "interesting" colors that didn't appeal to the buyers. This was the highest priced home we looked at. This home had been on the market three days.

Property #5 - New construction. The builder had confirmed the home was finished and ready for buyers to move in. When we got to the address, we were greeted with a bare concrete foundation....... I guess he thought we were going to pitch a tent and use the Port-a-John out in the street!

After looking at these five homes, the buyers said they would call in the morning with their decision of which home they wanted. But it didn't take 20 minutes before they called back with their choice! Property #4 was the clear winner. We met the next morning, wrote the offer, and by the end of the day had everything negotiated and signed. They will be spending the holidays in their new home in Copperas Cove!

What's Your VA Loan Interest Rate?

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 11:29:41 -0500

UPDATE 1/2/09: Rates were at 5.5%!

Great news from local Fort Hood lenders this morning! Late yesterday afternoon the VA rate plummeted from 6.75% to 6% and stressed buyers can, for the moment, give a sigh of relief.

If you've been waiting out the rates before committing to a home at Fort Hood, this could be the time to jump in. Rates have been volatile the past month, swinging between 7% and 7.5%, so 6% is looking pretty good today!

Fort Hood Home Builders - Which One is Best?

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:56:52 -0500

Here are a few thoughts this afternoon about Fort Hood home builders.

Some buyers think that buying a home from a nationally known home builder is the way to go.

These BIG builders offer buyers "the moon" as incentive to buy their homes. They offer to"pay" closing costs, buy interest rates down, put in refrigerators, sprinkler systems and privacy fences and even more to get the buyer's business.

By the time the sales pitch is done, buyers are starry eyed and ready to sign that contract!

But what buyers don't know, is that they are really paying for all those goodies. Extras aren't "thrown in" for free. And buyers may be paying for things they don't even want or need.

Consider the sales price of an 1850 square foot home. A well known national builder may price it at $156,000. There may be no ceramic tile or decorator lighting, or other upgrade features. Most of the homes only have brick on the front, and that translates into miles of siding that will eventually need painting. (Who wants that in TEXAS in the summer?)

The national builders have professional advertising that appeals to buyers. They are seducing buyers with beautifully crafted (and expensive) marketing materials, along with television and internet advertising that promotes a lifestyle that is attractive to new home buyers. (Think MCDONALDS style advertising!) (And who is paying for that advertising? Could it be YOU?)

Here's another idea: Consider the smaller, local builder. Could an experienced local builder possibly offer a better product for a lower price?

The smaller builder offers the 1850 square foot home for $139,900 for a beautiful quality built home. If you want extras, you can add them on. Need a fence? That's about $3000. Want a sprinkler system? That's $2200. A refrigerator? $2000. Closing costs? $3500 should cover it. That's a grand total of $151,600.

Your $151,600 is buying a beautiful brick veneer home with upgrades like French doors, ceramic tile flooring, two tone paint, high ceilings, crown molding, custom built oak cabinets, garden tub, separate showers, tile tub surrounds and other amenities. Your closing costs are paid and your landscape amenities are installed. And you aren't paying for the builder's expensive advertising. Or interest rate buydowns you don't need.

Why would you spend approximately $5,000 MORE for a less attractive and possibly lesser quality home?

Now, before you ask me, I have nothing against the national builders who are building homes at Fort Hood. They meet the needs of many buyers. The continued popularity and sales of these homes prove that. I even show and sell these homes, as well as selling homes by local Fort Hood builders.

Just keep this in mind: Before you settle for what the BIG national builders offer, ask your Ft Hood Realtor to show you homes by local builders, too. You owe it to yourself to see what all Fort Hood builders offer, not just the national builders.

It could SAVE YOU MONEY, and we all need more of that!

Fort Hood Lenders have Money Available for VA Loans

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:16:34 -0500

Part of my job is staying informed so I can give advice to my Fort Hood home buyers and sellers. I owe it to them to be a good source of reliable information.

For the past two weeks, I've been staying in particularly close touch with local lenders, checking in on movement in interest rates. I'm also checking on the availability of funds for federally insured loan programs (VA and FHA).

GOOD NEWS: The lenders assure me that money is available to lend on VA and FHA loans. All you have to do is qualify for the loan, as in the past.

VA LOANS: This is a true NO MONEY DOWN loan. As of yesterday, if you have a credit score of at least 620 and meet the income to debt ratios and other requirements, you could get your VA loan at 6.5% fixed rate for 30 years.

If your credit score is between 580 and 619, you can still get a VA loan, but will pay a little higher interest rate.

Today, the rate for a 620 score is up to 7%. Still not a bad rate, all things considered. But rates are moving. They may go higher. If you are thinking of buying, this might be the time to do it. Sellers are motivated. UPDATE: VA and FHA Rates were back to 6.5% on Oct. 2.

FHA LOANS: As of yesterday, for a 620 score, you would pay about the same rate as the VA loan, but you must make at least a 3% down payment. As an example: On a $100,000 home, you must pay $3,000 down out of your own pocket and finance $97,000. You are allowed to receive your down payment funds as a gift from a relative, if that is an option. FHA is a little more flexible for buyers who have had some problems in the past due to medical or family issues that may have affected their credit score.

NOTE: FHA has terminated all down payment assistance programs as of today. As of January 1, 2009, the minimum down payment requirement will increase to 3.5% of the purchase price of the home.

The FHA insured loan rate is 7% for a 30 year fixed loan today.

TO RECAP: If you qualify for a VA or FHA loan, money is available for you to buy a home at Fort Hood, at reasonable interest rates, fixed for 30 years. Rates may be headed for an upward trend, but that is to be determined.

Click here to prequalify for a VA or other home loan. There is no charge for this service!

5 Great Tips for Negotiating with a New Home Builder at Fort Hood

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:26:27 -0500

The Fort Hood Real Estate Market has slowed and builders are starting to see their inventories of unsold homes increase. And that's a GOOD thing for you if you are thinking of buying a brand new home when you get to Fort Hood.

Before you go out to make an offer on a new construction home, consider this: Did you know that every new home has a backstory? You aren't privy to this information (and neither am I), but the builder has a lot to consider, especially if he borrowed money to build the home. He's committed to making monthly interest payments on the money he borrowed (and the rate is much higher than your mortgage rate!) He has to respond when his bank questions him for having it in inventory so long. What is his cash flow position on this particular day? Does he need the money TODAY? Was this a home that he thought was sold, only to have the sale BOMB and the home go back on the market? All these situations are great motivators to him to accept your offer! He took a gamble, built the house, it didn't sell, and NOW maybe he's ready to cut his losses!

All that being said, you can see that a builder has a lot on his plate and some days might be more mentally frustrating than others. That's the perfect time to take your own gamble and try these five tips for making a great deal with a new home builder at Fort Hood:

1. Look for the new home that has been on the market for 300 days or more. Your real estate professional can help you with this.

2. If the price has already been reduced, go in lower with your offer (but not insultingly lower! You want this to work, right?)

3. Ask the builder for extras, like blinds, a refrigerator and/or garage door opener or lawn sprinkler system.

4. Ask the builder to cover all your closing costs and prepaids, as well as the cost of paying points to get you a lower interest rate. (Your lender can help you with this number).

5. Be brave and confident! You might get a counter offer, a total rejection of your offer, or the builder just might accept your offer and you will be doing the happy dance!

I've been working for and with the home builders at Fort Hood and in Killeen, Copperas Cove and Harker Heights for many years and have seen every conceivable kind of offer come across my desk. Builders welcome any offer, because it is a starting point to come to that meeting of the minds we all want to happen. And, upon reviewing your offer, a builder will usually do SOMETHING for you! He is more likely to give you extras instead of lowering the price, BUT...

Sometimes he WILL lower the price, too. I helped a nice couple purchase a brand new home in Copperas Cove last week that had been on the market for about 500 days. The price had already been reduced from $169,900 to $158,900. After we finished our negotiations, they got the home for $153,900 and the builder threw in a stainless steel refrigerator to match the other appliances in the house, and he agreed to pay their closing costs and do some other minor items we asked for.

One last thought: Remember. the builder that won't negotiate isn't trying to be difficult (I believe buyers usually say he's being a "horse's ass"!) He'a just not in a distressed position. He may have built the home with cash, and a bank is not in the picture pressuring him for interest payments and a quick sale. He's not being a "horse's ass" when he won't negotiate, he's just running his business!

Good Luck with your negotiations! If you need any more information about working out your best deal on a brand new home at Fort Hood, just call me at 254-681-4875 direct to my cell phone. I'll be happy to help you work it all out!

Opportunities for Fort Hood Real Estate Investments are Increasing

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:41:57 -0500

Mary Ann Daniell | Coldwell Banker United, Realtors | 254-681-4875

Circle M, Killleen, TX

REO - INVESTORS LOOK! Priced waay under market and very close to
Fort Hood!

2BR/1BA Multi-Family, 4 units

offered at $139,900

Year Built	1997
Sq Footage	Unspecified
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	1 full, 0 partial
Floors	2
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Great opportunity for an investor willing to put in some work - mostly cosmetic. Property is located ten minutes from Fort Hood, and is close to shopping and dining. Property sold "as it, where is".

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C

Central heat

Yard

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Mary Ann Daniell

Coldwell Banker United, Realtors

254-681-4875

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Sep 29, 2008, 9:26am PDT

One Important Issue First Time Home Buyers Should Know About

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:09:50 -0500

A lot of you may not be aware that the new Housing Stimulus Legislation recently signed into law by President Bush will be a source of interest free funds to this year's First Time Home Buyers.

If you were, or will be, a first time buyer between April 9, 2008 and July 1, 2009, you may be entitled to a temporary $7500 tax credit. This means you can receive money from the government, interest free, to be paid back at $500 a year for 15 years, unless you sell the home.

When you sell your Fort Hood real estate, the balance of the tax credit is to be paid back from the proceeds of the sale. If there was insufficient profit to cover the balance owed to the government, the remaining credit payback would be forgiven.

This would be a great opportunity for those of you thinking of buying a home to plan to use the tax credit funds to pay off high interest credit card debt, or to pay off student loans that may be a burden on a first time buyer.

As always, when dealing with the government and the subject of income tax and estimated tax credits, always consult a qualified tax professional who can explain everything to you in greater detail. If you'd like to read more now, visit www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com.

This should prove to be a super program if buyers use the funds as part of a solid plan to grow their financial future!

5 Killeen Furniture Stores to Furnish Your Fort Hood Home

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:53:23 -0500

If you are buying a house at Fort Hood or even looking at houses for rent at Fort Hood, you may need some furniture fairly quickly. I'm hearing that many of you are landing here with only a few days to set up your house before you head out to Ft. Polk or National Training Center at Fort Irwin and you've got to find a rental or get a house under contract before you hit the road for training prior to deployment.

If you are in a hurry when you arrive, here are five places to shop for furniture. Remember, if you pay cash, ask for a discount, and don't be afraid to try to negotiate with the stores. It's sort of like real estate.. if you don't ask for something in negotiations, you give up your chance for a better deal!

FORT HOOD FURNITURE STORES

Lacks Furniture
1001 S Fort Hood St
Killeen, Texas

Patriot Furniture
2301 Imperial Dr
Killeen, Texas

Ashley Furniture
1101 S W S Young Dr
Killeen, Texas

Big Lots
800 S Fort Hood St
Killeen, Texas

Furniture Row
825 W Centraltexas Expy
Harker Heights, TX

This list is provided to you as a convenience only. Neither Mary Ann Daniell, Realtor nor Coldwell Banker United, Realtors is endorsing or recommending you do business with any of these merchants.

House Creek North New Home Builder Sells OUT!

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:48:43 -0500

It's been a phenomenal summer for sales out in House Creek North, and Randy Bruton, the builder, is happy to announce that he is SOLD OUT of homes. Thank you everyone who bought one of my QCH Builders new home listings this summer!

Quality Custom Homes is !completely sold out! These are quality built brick veneer homes with covered patio, two car garage, all electric Maytag appliances, custom cabinets, garden tubs, high ceilings and updated lighting and fans starting in the $120,000's.

Buyers are attracted to the Copperas Cove area because of the great Copperas Cove Schools, easy access to Fort Hood, wonderful neighbors, excellent home builders and a beautiful natural setting with views of the hills to the west of the city. The simplicity of life in Copperas Cove has made House Creek North a very desirable destination subdivision for new home buyers in the Fort Hood area.

Mary Ann Daniell is a Licensed Texas Realtor
Working for Buyers and Sellers Across the Fort Hood Area

Buyers are looking for Bargains in the Killeen Fort Hood Real Estate Market

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:40:22 -0500

With the ongoing real estate news being reported by CNN, MSNBC and FOX NEWS about the state of the real estate market, buyers are arriving at Fort Hood with high expectations of getting a real bargain.

According to the news outlets, there SHOULD be huge numbers of stressed sellers at Fort Hood who will accept any offer you throw at them! There SHOULD be street after street of foreclosed properties that lenders are letting go for a song! Builders SHOULD be dumping new construction at a fraction of market value in order to survive!

Wow, if all that were true, I'd be out investing every dime I have in Fort Hood real estate, just waiting for the market to turn around!

The reality is, though, when you get here and start looking at homes, you are going to find a great inventory of well priced homes and a very stable real estate market. We have not suffered the pains of the so called real estate "bubble" here in Central Texas. Texas has been named as a "recession proof" state, and real estate is still perking along nicely, thank you!

According to a report issued by Texas A & M University (TAMU), the Killeen Fort Hood area is on track for approximately 30% growth from 2000-2020.

Fort Hood area Sellers are not highly stressed and are not willing to accept extremely low offers. Sellers ARE offering to pay most if not all of your closing costs. And they will do repairs on the home for you prior to closing. But they are NOT in a position to take a low ball offer. They might be able to take a LOWER offer, but no offer significantly below market value as a rule.

Keep in mind that the majority of homes that are for sale in the Killeen Fort Hood area were purchased with a no money down VA loan. This means that if someone has only owned their home for two or three years, they do not have any equity in the house to speak of. They can not even consider taking a lowball offer. You might really love the house and really want it, but a really low offer can upset and offend a seller, who may refuse to negotiate ANY price with you. Ask your Killeen Texas real estate agent to show you what similar homes are selling for in the area. You should adjust your expectations and make a reasonable offer if you have your heart set on a particular home.

Foreclosures are another area where lowball offers are not having much success. Since the market is so stable here, unless the property has been on the market for a very very long time and needs major repairs, the banks that own these properties are not willing to lower prices below market or to complete cosmetic repairs.

The best tip for bargain hunters looking at foreclosed properties is that CASH is king in foreclosure sales. If you can pay cash, you can get a much better or even bargain price on a foreclosed property. Some foreclosed properties are in such poor condition, like the one pictured here, they can not qualify for a government insured loan (VA or FHA), so if you are going to use your VA loan to buy a home at Fort Hood, be sure you ask your real estate professional if the foreclosed property would qualify for the VA loan program based on its condition.

New Construction is the other area where I'm seeing buyers set on making a low ball offer. Buyers are arriving with the notion that the homes are priced way above market value (because prices, they assume, are crashing) and that builders are expecting a low offer and will negotiate with them. The reality for bargain hunters is that the new home market is the strongest segment of the Fort Hood real estate market. Most builders are in great shape and their homes are selling well. There is no need for them to cut prices or to offer any extra incentives to buyers. Most real estate professionals in the area are aware of this and will advise you as to what to expect when you make your offer.

Please don't get offended if you make a low offer and the builder counters at full price. You didn't do anything wrong, and your agent didn't do anything wrong. The builder knows the value of his/her product in the market and knows that if you don't want to pay the asking price, someone else will. The best tip for a new Fort Hood home bargain hunter is this: If the house has been on the market a long time, the builder will be more willing to negotiate with you.

Bargains can be found in any type of market. It takes time to understand what constitutes a bargain and how to locate a bargain. Your Experienced Fort Hood real estate agent should be able to help you analyze the local market and to help you locate the bargain you are looking for if it is out there!

Mary Ann Daniell is a licensed Texas Realtor specializing in new homes and resale homes in all price ranges in the cities of Killeen, Harker Heights, Copperas Cove and Kempner, Texas.

Selling Your Killeen Fort Hood Real Estate – And The Winner Is….?

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:47:39 -0500

If you are thinking of selling your Fort Hood area home soon, I bet you've been surfing and reading suggestions on staging, decluttering, pricing, and landscaping, right?

Sounds like WORK!

Welll.. here's a true story that show just how necessary and effective all your work will be if you take it to heart and properly prepare your Fort Hood real estate to sell.

One of my dearest real estate clients called me around the middle of March to let me know they were getting orders to Fort Bragg and needed to sell their home in House Creek North Subdivision. They also have a two year old and are expecting a baby! They wanted to visit with me to find out what they needed to do to prepare their home for sale, to talk about pricing the home, and what they could expect to net from the sale.

We met to go over all their concerns regarding pricing the home and arrived at a solid price. (Mrs. Seller is an accountant.) We also talked about the fact that there was a large number of comparable homes for sale in their neighborhood, and that they would need to be ready to make their home the best it could be.

We walked all through their home, along with Carol Easters, my professional home stager (a complimentary service when you list with me). I was very impressed, as these sellers took careful notes of all the suggestions:

1. Remove the curtains in the living and dining area (tooo dark)

2. Install mini blinds in the living room and dining area

3. Remove all personal photos from the walls

4. Remove all exercise equipment from the house

5. Purchase storage tubs to organize the toddler toys in the living room

6. Remove the dead aquarium in the living room

7. Remove all items on top of the kitchen cabinets

8. Remove inexpensive storage cabinet from the master bath (they used for towels)

9. Remove the sports awards, photos, and games in their "sports room" (4^th bedroom)

10. Remove the baby gate from the fireplace

11. Remove general clutter from both bathrooms and master bedroom

12. Fertilize and water the yard well to help it green up faster

13. Keep yard mowed and trimmed.

14. Plant a few flowers in beds for color.

15. Have carpets cleaned immediately

16. Keep the garbage dumpster somewhere besides the front porch

17. Put away all blankets and throws on the living room furniture for showings

18. Keep all shoes in the closets - not in the entry

19. Be sure kitchen and bathrooms are always sparkling clean

20. Leave all the blinds open in the living and dining area for showings, since the kitchen was a bit dark (dark green counters and black appliances).

Now this is quite a list for two people who work full time and manage to chase after a two year old, too. But these owners were committed to SELLING their home quickly, not just listing it for sale.

Within a week, they had accomplished everything on the list. It was amazing! The house went from feeling dark and a bit cluttered to feeling light, bright, airy and wide open, which is exactly what relocating Fort Hood home buyers are looking for!

We listed the house on March 29^th and ended up with TWO competing offers! We worked hard and finally negotiated their best offer and were under contract on April 8^th for excellent terms and $600 above the asking price! Closing is scheduled for April 29^th, and everything is already in place to close.

Talk about WINNERS! These sellers did everything they needed to do to be the BEST home in their neighborhood (there are approximately 50 homes for sale in that area).

When you are ready to sell your Killeen Fort Hood real estate, make a commitment to SELL your home, not just list it.

Then you will be a WINNER, too!

Mary Ann Daniell is a licensed Texas Realtor and a
Military Relocation Specialist who can help you relocate to anywhere in the world with Coldwell Banker's vast network of relocation experts.

Why in the World Would You Buy A House at Fort Hood?

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:45:27 -0500

Credit Crisis! Falling Prices!! Foreclosures!! Why in the world are you even thinking about buying a house right now when you relocate to Fort Hood?

Maybe because you are sly like a fox?

Credit Crisis? This is a GOOD thing for you if you are buying right now. It means that you can be confident that your lender is going to be CONSERVATIVE and won't shoehorn you into some kind of weird subprime loan to get you into a home. If you get turned down for a loan, that is GOOD. It means you are NOT ready to buy and should encourage you to work on your credit and prepare yourself to be a home owner.

Falling Prices? First quarter Killeen Fort Hood home sales showed an average price increase of $3000 over the same period as last year. Appreciation is happening in our market, not in all price ranges, but it is evident that prices have been increasing.

Foreclosures? Yes, there are more foreclosures in the Fort Hood real estate market right now, but reference back to the Credit Crisis above. This is fallout from the wild lending that went on two to three years ago. Risky buyers got risky loans. These buyers should have NEVER bought a home. They were not ready for home ownership. And they didn't understand the loan documents they were signing. The documents that clearly explained to them that their low interest rate was only good for a couple of years, and then would explode into a much higher (and unaffordable) interest rate and payment after that. Once the payments went up (per their loan) these risky home buyers were unable to make the larger payment and had to let the house go. Since their credit still wasn't good, no lender would approve them for a new loan to refinance the house at a lower fixed rate. They were risky buyers to begin with and still didn't work on their credit after they bought the house in order to be prepared to refinance when their adjustable rate mortgage reached the date the interest rate was scheduled to go up.

So what does all this mean for you?

It means you might find that you have an opportunity to buy a home at Fort Hood, so don't fear the credit crisis, or falling prices or foreclosures. If you have good credit, good employment history, and you make sure to get a fixed rate loan, you are in great shape to buy when you get to Central Texas.

There has probably never been a better choice of real estate to choose from in Killeen, Harker Heights and Copperas Cove than there is right now, also. Beautiful resale homes are on the market this spring, as is a large inventory of brand new homes. So whichever type of home appeals to you, go out there and buy your new home at Fort Hood feeling confident that the time is right!

SOLD! Elegant New Home with a Touch Of Rustic Texas - Fort Hood Real Estate

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 21:50:30 -0500

Rustic Texas Style - Granite Counters/Limestone Accents

Location: Kempner, TX

You'll love the valley view, the vaulted ceilings, the granite countertops and everything else about this brand new home located in an established neighborhood. Over 1 acre of land with many trees including oaks and elms. Awe inspiring open floorplan features wood laminate flooring, vaulted and beamed ceiling, gorgeous kitchen cabinets. Construction is quality throughout with total attention to every detail. The home is configured with three bedrooms and a dedicated office with built in desk. There's also a huge laundry/pantry combination with custom cabinets, long counter with sink, upper cabinets over washer dryer. Tile flooring in all wet areas and thick carpeting in bedrooms. Master bath is gorgeous with granite counter, vanity knee space, jetted tub, custom linen storage and oversized shower. Walk in closet in master is a dream with built in shelves and shoe racks. Call for a full size floorplan or to go see this truly amazing home! Prewired for security system, computer network, surround sound.

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Contact Information

Mary Ann Daniell

254-681-4875

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Pricing

Asking Price: $229,900.00

Features

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 2

Year Built: 2008

Lot Size: 1.2

Garage Size: 2

Square Footage: 2251

Agent Name: Mary Ann Daniell

Broker: Coldwell Banker United, Realtors

MLS #: 137483

Source of SF: builder plan

Attributes

Appliances

Range/Oven

Dishwasher

Microwave

Interior Amenities

Fireplace

Hardwood Floors

Kitchen Island

Vaulted Ceilings

Exterior Amenities

Grass Lawn

Secluded setting

Photo Gallery

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Equal Housing Opportunity

VFLYER ID: 1573547

Myths About Fort Hood VA Loans - 5 Common Misconceptions

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:43:45 -0500

Part of my job as a realtor at Fort Hood is to help buyers find financing for their new homes. And since we are in a military market, we often discuss financing that Fort Hood real estate purhase with a VA Loan.

One of the best benefits of the VA Guaranteed Home Loan is that you can purchase your home with no money down. Most buyers know this about the loan program, but there's also plenty of mis- information floating around out there, too.

Sometimes it feels like its harder to get the facts about VA loans than it is to get a security clearance!

Some common misconceptions buyers often bring up during our search for financing:

VA Loan Myths

I have to apply to VA for my VA loan
I am already APPROVED for a VA loan since I am active duty military
VA Loans can take 90 days to close
I must have my Certificate of Eligibility in hand
VA Inspects the home for defects before I buy the house

Here's a quick clarification of these points about VA loans:

I have to apply to VA for a VA Loan - Not True!

You apply for a VA loan through a lender who is approved by VA to originate and underwrite VA loans. You are free to pick your own lender. VA does NOT make loans. They only guarantee the loan in case you default on your payments. They will repay 25% of your loan to your lender if you go into foreclosure.

I am already APPROVED for a VA Loan - Not True!

Just because you are eligible for a VA loan does not, unfortunately, mean you will be APPROVED for a VA loan. You must meet the lender's credit requirements and the debt to income ratios as determined by VA. Keep your credit as clean as possible if you are thinking of buying a home in the future! Also, if one lender turns you down, talk to another one. Some are more conservative than others. The term VA Guaranteed Loan means that VA guarantees that the lender will be reimbursed part of your loan funds if you default on your loan.

VA Loans can take 90 Days to Close - Not True!

In the local Fort Hood market, we are blessed with highly experienced lenders who can close your VA guaranteed home loan in two - three weeks. Lenders with less experience with VA loans will often take 45-60 days to close a VA loan. You are always free to use any lender you desire, but sellers will often not accept offers from buyers using lenders outside the area because of the possibility of delays in closing.

I have to have my Certificate of Eligibility in hand before I can look for a house or apply for a loan - Not True!

Lenders can request your certificate through an automated system if you do not have your certificate yet. Don't let the lack of your certificate stand in the way of applying for a home loan or looking for a new home. The certificate is the document that shows you are entitled to the VA loan benefit. It can be ordered any time after you find your new home here in Killeen, Copperas Cove or Harker Heights.

VA Inspects the Home I Buy to be Sure it is Free of Defects - Not True

VA does not inspect your Fort Hood home in detail. Your lender contracts with a VA approved appraiser who will look over the property to determine a value for the home. This is not a home inspection. If you would like an inspection of the systems of the home, contact a licensed home inspector! (Always a good idea!)

So there you go! If you have any other questions about VA loans, let me know and I'll add them to this list! Now, go and inform your friends about VA loans. I think they have a need to know!

For more authoritative information about VA loans, take a look at the VA Website.

email anytime if you need help buying a home or selling Fort Hood Real Estate in the Killeen Fort Hood area!

Fort Hood Real Estate Sales Are HOT so far in March 2008

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:30:27 -0500

Hi, Everyone out there across the map and at Fort Hood! I've been absent from my blog for a while because it has been SOOO busy. New construction and resale homes have been selling like mad for the past three weeks and has been keeping me BUSY, BUSY! It does seems as if today is going to be a bit quieter for a change, so I'm ready to get back to writing about real estate at Fort Hood!

Since the first of March, 2008, approximately 182 Fort Hood area homes have gone under contract, meaning buyers and sellers have agreed to a price and are waiting to sign all the paperwork to close on their new home.

Prices on those 182 Fort Hood homes ranged from $39,900 to $674,400, with an average price of $130,659 and a median price of $118,400.

Breaking those statistics down into New Construction and Resale Homes, the numbers look like this:

There were 59 New Homes with average price of $153,250 and a median price of $143,500. The highest priced home came in at $289,000 and the lowest was at $89,900.

On the resale side, there were 123 Resale Homes with an average price of $128,612 and a median price of $109,990. Highest priced resale home was $674,000 and lowest was $39,900.

We're seeing buyers traveling now to Killeen and Copperas Cove in anticipation of a summer PCS. They are contracting for new homes to be built, as well as negotiating contracts on existing homes to close in the next 30-60 days. This assures they will have a home ready for them at the completion of their military relocation this summer.

I expect the March-April time frame to continue to be busy, as home buyers take advantage of Spring Break to travel to the Fort Hood area. Buyers can check out neighborhoods, schools, churches, shopping, restaurants and the different communities without the stress of trying to do all that when they get here this summer.

So get a head start on the summer crowd and come on down! We're experts at helping military buyers find the right home and community that fits their needs.

The statistics quoted here are from the Fort Hood Area Association of Realtors MLS Database.