Raylene's College Station Real Estate Blog

Is Your Home Really Ready for the Holidays?

Raylene Lewis (Century 21 Beal, Inc.) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:46:04 -0600

Is Your Home Ready for the Holidays? November 2009 is finally here, and that means it's a count down until the guests arrive. Thanksgiving, the biggest shopping day of the year, and the infamous game between Texas A&M University and TU are just around the corner. So much to do, so little time! Dealing with the pressure of knowing that people are coming for dinner in a matter of days is similar to the feeling you get when you are just about ready to put your home on the market for sale. Where do you start? It is time to clean, finish the minor house repairs and stage for the holidays! I'll never forget my clients that wanted to list their home on Thanksgiving weekend. As I walked up to the front door the husband greeted me on the porch. "Thanks for coming to talk to us about selling our home," he said. "Please don't step on the yellow mat. It is covering up a hole in the floor and we don't want you to fall through!" The first question, when it comes to home cleaning, is deciding if the best use of your time includes grabbing the mop and bucket or simply picking up the phone and calling someone else to do it for you. There are many great and highly reputable cleaning companies in town, and if you need a Ritz Carlton clean at a Wal-Mart price, another option is for you to call your Realtor. No, we don't clean houses, but with all the sales we do, with clients moving out and not having anytime to make the home ready for the new buyer, we always have a good house cleaner that is on call in a pinch, knows how to clean from top to bottom and is extremely reasonably priced. The key to a good clean for the best price is to make sure you have supplies ready and that the home is picked up and free of toys, counter top clutter, and pets that can prevent access to the entire home. I got a call once from a service provider that told me "Raylene, the rest of the home is fine, but we couldn't go into to the master bedroom closet, because there is a large live boa constrictor hanging from the ceiling." When getting the home ready for visitors, be sure to remember to clean where it will be most noticeable to guests: ceiling fans and return air vents are the areas most commonly overlooked. And when cleaning that return air vent, might as well change the air filter while you are at it. If you are one of those folks who dust and dust yet seem to be getting no where, an item to add to the Honey Do list before the guests arrive is to buy a tube of clear caulk, climb in the attic, and seal your return air vent on both sides. Often, little bits of insulation dust can be brought into the home from the attic. Sealing the return air vent on both sides with eliminate the problem and result in more free time between house hold dusting. Just remember to wait for the caulk to dry before placing the air filter back in place. And of course, when you are in the attic, watch your step! "Yes, Raylene...um this is the Heating and A/C Company. We completed the repair you requested on the furnace for the closing this afternoon and the return air duct is all sealed up. Unfortunately, our guy fell through the ceiling on his way out." When the home is ready, it's time for the fun part! Shopping and staging for the holidays. Guests love walking into a home and getting the nice, warm fuzzy feeling of Holiday Spirit. A good starting place is to find a holiday scent you like and sticking with it throughout the home. Evergreen and Peppermint are popular ones, as long as they are not overwhelming. My mother always told me "the way to a man's heart is though his stomach," and I don't think you can go wrong with a scent of pumpkin spice, sugar cookie or ginger bread. The key is to not mix scents and to try and stay away from smells that are fruity or overpowering. Scents that smell like fresh sweet cooking also complement the holiday, and guests might even think the great smells came from your kitchen! Many of the stores in Bryan-College Station are great with providing holiday accent pieces for home decor. Always check the paper for the latest deals of the day. If you are like me, and want your home staged and looking it's best for guests, confusion erupts when walking into a store and deciding what to buy. (Personally, I want it all!) A great option to eliminate the buying confusion is to hire a holiday stager. This is very different from having an interior decorator or designer come in, and is just a fraction of the price. For roughly $200.00 - $400.00 depending on what you want done, you can have a stager go with you to pick out floral, art, and accent decor. These folks are also great at finding the best deals in town and are highly creative at getting you the look you want in-budget. You can also hire your stager to dress up the home with items you provide and / or rearrange furniture to make the home look its best. For more information on Staging, you can go to www.stagingbcs.com As always, don't forget the point of the November holiday season is to be thankful and enjoy time you have with your close friends and family. This can easily be accomplished, no matter what state your home is in. "Mrs. Smith, I am so glad you are thankful to your husband for surprising you with this Master Garden Jacuzzi tub as an early Christmas present! I know you are going to enjoy it. Now, if you don't mind, can you please get out of the tub so we can finish the final walkthrough of the home? I'm afraid we may be late to the closing."

Raylene Lewis, Realtor

Century21 Beal, Inc.

979-218-2235 Cell

979-764-2100 Office

979-764-0421 Fax

www.BuyInCollegeStation.com

www.raylenelewis.thecenturytreereader.com

University Title Company

Raylene Lewis (Century 21 Beal, Inc.) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 09:12:13 -0500

University Title Company is Brazos County’s largest title insurance provider, and has been helping the people of the Brazos Valley since 1973. It is the job of the title company to research the title, handle the money, and file all the papers necessary at the courthouse. This means that when the job is given to UTC, they make certain that the property has clear title, all financial aspects with the current lender are handled, and all invoices be it for repair, inspections, or home cleaning/maintenance are taken care of. The title company is also a great source for obtaining deed restrictions, homestead exemption forms, TREC forms, home warranty order forms, and for finding existing surveys on a property. There are basically 7 steps to the Closing Process once a property goes under contract and is submitted to the title company. 1) The Contract and Earnest Money is given to University Title Company and UTC deposits the Earnest Money Check 2) UTC issues a Title Commitment – This shows the history of the property and what items need to be taken care of to clear title. 3) All Pre-Closing Items are Provided to University Title Company — This includes inspections, surveys, invoices, payoff information etc. 4) The Title Company Provides a Settlement Statement to all Parties — This can be thought of as a document like a big receipt that shows where all the money in the transaction is going and what each billed item is. 5) The Closing – All parties meet and sign the documents necessary to change the loan and to obtain / release ownership. 6) The Funding – The money is received by the lender or new owner and is actively distributed accordingly. 7) The Title Policy – Within 90 days of funding, the title policies are issued and mailed to the appropriate parties with all recorded documents. The company has six insurance underwriters, professional title insurance experts, readily available escrow officers (to help address any concerns before closing) and a large title production and closing services staff. The motto at UTC is “to make each and every transaction as smooth and swift as possible, always expertly tending to the details.” They can close any transaction for real estate in Texas, and if you will not be able to stay in town for the closing, they can email, fax or FedEx the necessary closing documents to you. Their website offers tips for both seller and buyers and, when a contract is submitted for processing, UTC provides an online closing tracking program that allows all parties involved in the transaction see what stage the file is in. It also provides access to documents and emails and lets all parties know when the information is updated. Their goal is to insure that there are no surprises at closing. Once at the closing table, at UTC you can expect to be provided with a drink and fresh baked cookies. They also have a patio for pets and DVD’s for children to watch while their parents are signing all the necessary documents. The company is an active leader in the community and regularly contributes time and support to local charities. They have earned many awards both for the service they provide and for being a great place to work. If you are going to be needing the services of a Title Company, UTC is definitely a place to consider! Need information on Buying or Selling a Home in Bryan-College Station? Give me a Call 979-218-2235 or send me an email! Raylene Lewis www.buyincollegestation.com Information on Buying a home in College Station Information on Selling a home in College Station Featured Listings and Active Rain Blog

OriginalArticle

Jose's Mexican Food!

Raylene Lewis (Century 21 Beal, Inc.) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 09:06:36 -0500

Nothing beats a chain-food lunch or dinner like an original restaurant. A well known local establishment for fine Mexican food is Jose's on South Texas Avenue in Bryan. Jose's is known by locals for "good food, good drinks and good fun." It is named after it's owner Jose Montemayor, who came from Mexico to live out the American Dream and cook fine Mexican cuisine for the people of the Brazos Valley. Jose came to Bryan-College Station in 1971 and purchased the local Zarape Restaurant. He wants all patrons to know that the menu choices you find at his restaurant comes from what you would normally find served in a typical Mexican home. The recipes from the Jose's and Zarape restaurants come from Jose's Mother, Mama Maria de los Angeles Garcia de Montemayor. Everything cooked and served in the restaurant is made from scratch, and there are no pre-prepared foods, no soy extenders, no flavor enhancers, and no instant mixes. If you are hungry for authentic Mexican food, Jose's and Zarape's are definitely places to try! Questions about Buying or Selling Real Estate? Give me a call 979-218-2235 or Send me an Email! Raylene

www.buyincollegestation.com

College Station Real Estate - Buying A Home

College Station Real Estate - Selling A Home

Active Rain Blog and Listings of Featured Homes for Sale

OriginalArticle

10605 Forest Dr.---- $179,900

Raylene Lewis (Century 21 Beal, Inc.) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:34:57 -0500

Beautiful 3 bedroom 2 bath home in very popular Forest Lakes! This homes featuers include: raised ceilings throughout, electric appliances in the kitchen, eating bar, breakfast area, formal dining room, spacious family room, custom archways throughout, ceiling fans throughout, carpet, tile and laminate flooring, cozy woodburning fireplace in the living area and a very large backyard with covered patio! The master suite is very large with walkin closets & has double sinks, jetted tub & walkin shower!

www.BuyInCollegeStation.com

Welcome to Cycles, Etc! Bryan/ College Station, Texas #1 Bicycle Shop!

Raylene Lewis (Century 21 Beal, Inc.) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 10:49:20 -0500

Located just across University Dr. from the United States Post Office on Texas A&M University Campus in College Station, Texas you will find Cycles Etc. This Locally owned and operated bike shop is walking distance to campus and a place every Texas A&M University Student should know about. It is your one-stop bicycle needs shop.

Robert Rose, owner of Cycles Etc. for the past 11 years, takes pride in his shop and makes certain all clients and customers are well informed and properly equipped in the biking world. He makes certain that when you walk in his door you are greeted instantly with a bicycle specialist who is ready to help you find your next bicycle, or assist you in fixing what you've got.

The store offers special fittings, bicycle repairs, bicycle gear, and every accessory imaginable. They have bikes to accommodate all age ranges from infant riders to kids first bicycles and up. Their bicycles range from Trek, Gary Fisher, Raleigh and more! You can find Road, Hybrid, Mountain and Tricycles and choose from their many styles including Texas A&M University, The Discovery Channel and even the University of Texas.

If you purchase a bicycle from Cycles Etc. you will have free tune-up's for life and receive half off of labor. From the smallest repair like airing up a tire, to the largest repair-if you bike gets a case of the crunchies- the staff at Cycles Etc. will take great care of you. They also have a guarantee that you will have your bicycle back within 24 hours, but this does exclude bicycles that require special orders.

Many customers will agree that Cycles Etc. is one of the best bicycle shops in the Brazos Valley and is conveniently located in College Station, Texas walking distance to Texas A&M University! It is another locally owned and operated business every Aggie should know about! Raylene Lewis The Century Tree Reader-- Original Post http://raylenelewis.thecenturytreereader.com/2009/07/27/cycles-etc-a-brazos-valley-bike-shop/

Questions about Buying or Selling a home? Give me a Call 979-218-2235 or send me an email!

Raylene Lewis

www.buyincollegestation.com

Buying a Home in Bryan-College Station

Selling a Home in Bryan-College Station

Raylene's Active Rain Blog

1803 Lakeshore- $225,000

Raylene Lewis (Century 21 Beal, Inc.) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:39:08 -0500

Amazing Lagrone Construction home! This 3 bedroom 2 bath homes features include: spacious bedrooms, granite counter tops throughout, ceiling fans in all rooms, formal dining room, family room, gas log fireplace, eating bar, gas appliances in the kitchen, tons of natural light, oversized two car garage, raised ceilings throughout, great master suite with walk-in closets, double sinks, and separate shower and jetted tub. The HOA maintains the front yard and you have a beautiful view of the pond!

www.buyincollegestation.com

www.raylenelewis.com

Buying a Home in College Station

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A Great Place for Breakfast and Coffee in College Station

Raylene Lewis (Century 21 Beal, Inc.) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:55:36 -0500

While you can never go wrong with a sit-down breakfast of bacon, pancakes and eggs, if given the choice on what we are eating for breakfast, my son and daughter will always suggest going to Kolache Rolf's before anything else. Whether you have time to sit down and enjoy your meal, or if you need to get breakfast on the run, Kolache Rolf's is always there to provide you with a variety of breakfast choices.

The store is owned and operated by Rolf and Melissa Larson. When Rolf was a child, he purchased a pig at a county fair and then raised him as a loving pet. Rolf fed the pig old Kolaches, rode around on his back and had the pig following him on a leash. Rolf learned responsibility through caring for the pig and the pig and boy developed a strong friendship. As a result, his dad named the pig "Kolache Rolf" and that is where the store got it's name.

The Lawsons' have three store locations: on Longmire-in the Kroger shopping center in South College Station, on Texas Avenue-next to Copy Corner, and in the Tejas Center in Bryan-next to the HEB. Our favorite breakfast items are: the Sausage and Cheese Kolaches, the Bacon Egg and Cheese Bubba Buns, the Cream Cheese Kolaches and the Cinnamon Rolls. But keep in mind, there is a huge selection of Breakfast items a well as traditional & fruit kolaches and cinnamon baked goods. Kolache Rolfs is a fabulous College Station owned and operated business that should be taste-tested by all!

Questions about College Station? Thinking of Buying or Selling Your Home? - Give me a call or send me an email!

www.buyincollegestation.com

Original Article on Kolache Rolf's In College Station, Texas

Buying a Home in College Station

Selling a Home in College Station

8603 Rosewood- $549,500

Raylene Lewis (Century 21 Beal, Inc.) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:39:30 -0500

Amazing 6 bedroom 5.5 bath home in very secluded Emerald Forest. This homes features include: 3 fireplaces including 1 in the master bedroom, 22 ft high windows in the living room, gas appliances in the kitchen, formal dining, office, spacious bedrooms, gas start wood burning fireplace, marble floors, tons of natural light and utility room with laundry sink and freezer space! The backyard is an oasis with a great inground pool, hot tub and a covered back patio!! This home is a must see!

9026 King Oaks Dr.- $324,900

Raylene Lewis (Century 21 Beal, Inc.) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 09:19:16 -0500

Beautiful brand new Hardee TexStar Home in very quiet King Oaks!! This 4 bedroom 3 bath homes many features include: Outdoor kitchen, raised ceilings throughout, large gameroom upstairs, granite countertops throughout, tons of natural light, large walk-in pantry, large formal dining room, separate vanities in the master bathroom with a separate tub & shower and a great sitting room in the master suite. The home is walking distance to the large covered bus stop & just 15 minutes away from Texas A&M!

1742 Creekside- $223,000

Raylene Lewis (Century 21 Beal, Inc.) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:50:53 -0500

Another fine built Lagrone construction home! The HOA maintains the entire front yard, flower beds, mulching and etc! This amazingly beautiful 3 bedroom 2.5 bath homes features include: unique granite countertops throughout, raised ceilings, ceiling fans in all rooms, tons of natural light, gaslog fireplace, great eating bar, stainless steel appliances, tile and carpet flooring and spacious bedrooms! This open floorplan is one you cant miss seeing! Perfect for entertaining guests! Close to shopping!

6845 Wooded- $179,900

Raylene Lewis (Century 21 Beal, Inc.) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:18:19 -0500

Beautiful 3 bedroom 2 bath home in Forest Lakes. This homes features include: electric appliances in the kitchen, spacious layout, raised ceilings throughout, tons of natural light, ceiling fans in all rooms, great flooring, spacious master suite, large oversized garage, tons of storage, french drains, great patio/deck in the backyard and much more!! This home has a beautifully landscaped front and backyard! The owners of this home show pride in ownership with their many flowers beds and gardens!

2212 Carlisle Ct.- $189,900

Raylene Lewis (Century 21 Beal, Inc.) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:24:12 -0500

Beautiful 3 bedroom 2 bath home in very beautiful Castlegate! This like new home features include: bull nosed corners throughout, 2 inch faux wood blinds, tons of natural light, ceiling fans in all rooms, tile in wet areas, very open floor plan, looks like it has never been lived in, separate tub and shower in the master bathroom, double vanities in the master bathroom, located in a quiet cul-de-sac and a beautiful large shade tree in the backyard. This home is one you can't miss seeing!

3 bedroom 2 bath home in desirable Edelweiss Estates

Raylene Lewis (Century 21 Beal, Inc.) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:45:37 -0500

Beautiful 3 bedroom 2 bath home in very desirable Edelweiss Estates. This home features include: raised ceilings, ceiling fans in all rooms, open concept floor plan, 2 living areas, kitchen with eating bar and views of the breakfast area and living area, spacious bedrooms, master bathroom with separate tub and shower and double sinks, oversized two car attached garage, beautiful landscaped front yard, spacious backyardwith covered patio and plenty of room of entertaining in and out.

303 Sophia Ln. $239,900

Raylene Lewis (Century 21 Beal, Inc.) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:13:08 -0500

Beautiful 4 bedroom 2.5 in desirable Edelweiss Estates! This home features: hardwood floors throughout the entire house except in the kitchen and bathrooms, popular open floor plan, large picture windows in the living area, large kitchen with island, spacious bedroom, raised ceilings, tons of natural light, double vanities in the master bathroom & separate tub and shower. The backyard is very large and has a great covered patio! Great location to Pre-K, high school, tennis & other rec facilities!

4509 Northwood! $99,000!!!

Raylene Lewis (Century 21 Beal, Inc.) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:00:50 -0500

Great 3 bedroom 2 bath home in Northwood! This home features: large atrium entrance, carpet & vinyl flooring throughout, large bedrooms, beautiful dark colored cabinets in the kitchen, gas appliances, gorgeous arch windows in the master bedroom suite, tons of storage, tons of natural light, large closets, oversized two car garage and a large backyard with a great deck! The washer, dryer, refrigerator and microwave convey with this property.

101 College View- $199900

Raylene Lewis (Century 21 Beal, Inc.) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:34:05 -0500

Beautiful 3 bedroom 2 bath home in central location to Texas A&M University!! This homes features include: large spacious bedrooms, carpet, tile and wood flooring, great wood burning fireplace, raised ceilings, ceiling fans in all rooms, electric appliances in the kitchen, island, formal dining room, breakfast area, great family room, and a covered patio. This home is within walking and biking distance to Texas A&M University and is very secluded with beautiful large trees!

1301 Mullins Loop S- $174,900

Raylene Lewis (Century 21 Beal, Inc.) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:27:27 -0500

Beautiful 4 bedroom 2 bath home in desirable Alexandria! This great home features: raised ceilings, ceiling fans in all rooms, spacious bedrooms, large living area with a beautiful fireplace, oversized two car garage, seperate shower and tub in the master bathroom, double vanaties in the master bedroom, large walk-in closet in the master bedroom, new installed and insuallted garage door done in January, new hot water heater, new microwave and is situated on a large corner lot. Cute as a buttom!

810 Rio Grande- $89,000

Raylene Lewis (Century 21 Beal, Inc.) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:06:18 -0500

Great 2 bedroom 2 bath home approximately 2 miles away from Texas A&M Univeristy! Central location to the Vet school, biking distance to campus, spacious rooms, fresh paint, new hardi-plank exterior siding in 2003, great sized backyard, roof replaced in 2001, tons of natural light, walking distance to a Texas A&M Univeristy shuttle bus stop and perfect for the firs time home buyers, students or investors! Must see this great home to appreciate!

$179,900- 2107 Miana

Raylene Lewis (Century 21 Beal, Inc.) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:12:40 -0500

Beautiful home across the street from Traditions Golf Course! This 4 bedroom 2.5 bath home features: beautiful flooring, raised ceilings throughout, split floor plan, game room could be considered the 4th bedroom, large master suite, large kitchen, tons of natural light, eating bar, breakfast area, built-ins throughout & a large living area with a beautiful fireplace. This home is very open and perfect for entertaining guests! This is one you can't miss seeing! Perfect for the first time home buyer!

503 E. 1st St- $48,000

Raylene Lewis (Century 21 Beal, Inc.) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 09:36:58 -0500

Great remodeled 3 bedroom 1 bath home in the heart of Hearne! This home features tons of charm and features: new gas stove, new refrigerator, carpet in the bedrooms and vinyl everywhere else, pedestal sink, claw foot bathtub, great storage in the kitchen, tons of natural light, update countertops great back patio and a large lot!

4427 Rocky Meadows- $224,900

Raylene Lewis (Century 21 Beal, Inc.) — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:16:07 -0600

Beautiful Spanish style home in Woodland Hills! This 4 bedroom 2 bath home features include: Open split floor plan, large bedrooms, double fireplace, crown molding throughout, knotty pine cabinets in kitchen, large utility room, raised ceilings, and a formal dining & living room! The master bedroom is spacious with high ceilings and the master bathroom features an antique claw foot tub with his and hers closets. The backyard features a large covered sandstone patio with a gazebo! This is a must see!

4206 Arundel- $169,900

Raylene Lewis (Century 21 Beal, Inc.) — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:14:44 -0600

GREAT HOME IN THE HEART OF CASTLEGATE! LOCATED ON QUIET CUL-DE-SAC THIS 3 BEDROOM 2 BATH HOMES FEATURES INCLUDE: BUILT-IN'S THROUGHOUT, TONS OF NATURAL LIGHT, BREAKFAST ROOM, EAT IN BAR, GAS APPLIANCES, LARGE LIVING ROOM WITH BUILT-IN'S, CEILINGS FANS IN ALL ROOMS,DINING ROOM AND LIVING ROOM COMBO, CROWN MOLDING THROUGHOUT AND EVERY DOOR AND WINDOW IS TRIMMED OUT. THE MASTER SUITE FEATURES RAISED CEILINGS AND A LARGE MASTER BATHROOM WITH DOUBLE VANITIES AND A SEPERATE TUB AND SHOWER! BEAUTIFUL!

1814 Lakeshore- $254,000

Raylene Lewis (Century 21 Beal, Inc.) — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:13:20 -0600

GREAT LAGRONE CONSTRUCTION HOME IN THE GATED AREA OF LAKESIDE VILLAGE! THIS 3 BED 2 BATH HOME IS STILL IN THE WORKS FOR YOU TO COME AND CHOOSE YOUR COLORS! THE HOA MAINTAINS THE FRONT YARD AND YOU WILL HAVE BEAUTIFUL VIEWS OF THE POND! THIS HOME WILL FEATURE: GRANITE COUNTERTOPS, EATING BAR, BREAKFAST AREA, DINING ROOM, DOUBLE VANITIES, SEPERATE SHOWER AND TUB, 2 CAR ATTACHED GARAGE, STAINLESS STEEL APPLIANCES, LARGE WALK-IN CLOSETS, TONS OF NATURAL LIGHT & BUILT-INS THROUGHOUT! CLOSE TO SHOPPING!

1425-1427 Western Oaks- $179,900

Raylene Lewis (Century 21 Beal, Inc.) — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:02:36 -0600

BRING ALL OFFERS!!! BRING ALL OFFERS!!! SELLER MUST SELL!!! SELLER IS WILLING TO PAY BUYERS CLOSING COST OR BUY DOWN BUYERS INTEREST RATE WITH ACCEPTABLE OFFER!!! Great 3 bedroom, 2 bath duplex at 100% occupancy! Features include ceiling fans throughout, walk-in utility room, washer, dryer, and refrigerator convey, tile floors except the bedrooms have carpet, and a great location! Less than 5 miles to A&M campus and 2 golf courses! Great rental history and low maintenance expenses!

1.35 Acres N. Earl Rudder Frwy- $79,900

Raylene Lewis (Century 21 Beal, Inc.) — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:00:53 -0600

Great property that can either be used to build a home, duplex or put a mobile home on! Great for investment! This wont last long!