Sam White's College Station Real Estate Blog

Making it Easy to Be Green in Bryan, Texas

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:56:29 -0500

Happy Fall!

A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending Be Green in Bryan's Greening Your Home 101 workshop, upstairs at the Bryan Public Library. Taught by Mary Strauss, the City of Bryan's Sustainability Program Coordinator, the workshop provided ten realistic, helpful suggestions that will help our environment and save you money.

I'm about to throw a lot of links at you. Most go to information located on BeGreenInBryan.com, which is a site worth visiting. On that site, if you click on the symbols on the left side of the page for a wealth of information on each subject.

Ten things YOU can do in the home to help our environment and save money.

Cut junk mail. Americans pay $320-$370 million per year to dispose of junk mail. Save 1.5 trees/person/year by visiting http://optoutprescreen.com or http://mailstopper.tonic.com.
Stop accepting or using plastic grocery bags. We throw away 100 billion polyurethane bags annually. Despite appearances, these bags are so cheap that they offer nothing to break down, and actually end up in landfills. If you have extras, the Brazos Valley Farmer's Market is happy to take and reuse them.
Reduce, Reuse & Recycle - On average, American consumers purchase 500 million beverage bottles and cans every day. Only one in three get recycled. Bryan's drop-off recycling center is located in the Wal-mart parking lot. You don't even need to get out of your car!
Rid your home of pesticides - Over 80% of human contact with pesticides occurs indoors. 90% of those tested had traces of 5-16 pesticides in their bodies. Check out http://beyondpesticieds.org.
Green the Garden - Use compost instead of synthetic fertilizers. The Bryan Compost Facility sells compost for $21/ton and mulch is FREE! Concentrate on native plants and perennials. You can find a selection at the Brazos Valley Farmer's Market.
Turn off lights and unplug appliances when possible. Reduce phantom power or energy vampires - Up to 40% of the power used by home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off. Standby power consists of 10% of our total power consumption.
Replace standard light bulbs with CFL's and LED's - CFL's use 50%-80% less energy and last up to ten times longer. Some LED's have a 60,000 hour useful life.
Look for EnergyStar Appliances - These appliances use 2-10 less power than their conventional conterparts. Check out http://energystar.gov.
Reduce Water Consumption - Look for leaks, and make sure all faucets have aerators for indoor conservation. Consider low-flow toilets. Catch rainwater for outdoor use.
Replace household cleaners - Over 90% of reported poisonings occur at home, with the leading reported cause being household cleaners. Many chemicals found in household cleaners are known carcinogens. Natural alternatives are in most stores. Why? They are more economical, biodegradable and more healthy for you!

Now, some of these suggestions are easier said then done, but the point is to work on what you can, when you can, and keep moving in a more sustainable direction.

To help us along the way, Mary had the back of the room set up as an organic household cleaner factory, complete with ingredients, fragrances and delivery systems. We got to see and feel how to make these very inexpensive cleaners, and knew what to look for when shopping.

I give the City of Bryan credit for having Mary on board. She is an expert in her field, and charged with several different tasks, all benefiting both the environment and our pocketbooks.

This workshop was the third in a series of five for 2009. I missed the first two, Rainwater Harvesting 101 and Worm Composting 101. There are two more:

Home & Energy Efficiency 101 on Nov. 5
Green Living 101 on Dec. 1

You can view the flyer and register here.

Sustainability makes sense. We can do small things that make a difference. I'll visit more about this later.

Blue skies,

Sam White
SamWhiteRealty.com
979.446.0031

Bryan's Green Team

Take Winter Real Estate Photos - In some parts of the country it's already too late!

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:30:00 -0500

Why?

During the winter months, finding good photographs to use in marketing a property becomes a frustrating task. Even my best photographer has problems with exterior shots because the surroundings are brown, grey and pale blue; the colors of winter.

Those who follow me on twitter or facebook know that I've been banging the drum for two weeks, hoping that folks will take a moment to grab a camera, step outside, and take a few exterior photos of their home while the grass is still green and there are leaves on our trees. Don't forget the backyard.

Our time to do this here in the Brazos Valley is very limited, and it's already too late in many parts of the United States, unless you are after "that fall look."

If there is ANY possibility you will be selling your home, ANY possibility, PLEASE TAKE PICTURES! Even if you have no intention of marketing your home in the near future, take some photos anyway. You never know when they might come in handy.

Busy? No camera? I'll be out and about with our good camera (as I always am), and I'd be happy to swing by and take a few exterior shots for you. Just call, text (979-574-0626) or email sam@samwhiteproperties.com .

Blue skies,

Sam White
SamWhiteRealty.com
979-446-0031

Bryan / College Station Real Estate Market Report for August 2009

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:40:20 -0500

(Click an underlined title to see the appropriate chart.)

Dear clients,

Ouch. The season ends, and although it could have been much worse, it wasn't pretty.

We started behind, as many sellers kept homes off the market, peaked low, and we've begun the historical fall slide.

Those who listed their homes saw days on market and price comparable to 2007 & 2008. Basically, if your agent priced your home correctly, it sold.

Sellers who kept homes off the market, or worse, priced their home out of the market, didn't do very well.

Total Monthly Sales peaked in June

After peaking in June, Total Monthly Sales began their annual "fall" a month early this summer. August sales were off $8 million, or 15%, from both 2007 & 2008 at just over $44 million.

Historically, sales free-fall this time of year, with average September sales in the $20 million range. They hover there until the small bump we get (hopefully) in December.

After peaking in July at 303, Units Sold are off 18% for August at 249. This graph will also nosedive, hopefully leveling off above 100 before the Christmas bump.

Prices = Good News

Our Average Single-Family Sales Price was up over $10,000 from July, at $176,772, which is $13,000 over 2007 and $3,000 short of 2008. This graph declines as we move into the winter, although at a much gentler rate.

Average Days on the Market in the norm

After surpassing 2007 & 2008 numbers in July, Average Days on the Market are closely bracketed in August at 108.

New Listings up sharply in June, then subside

Last month I reported "new listings jumped drastically again in July, up 25% from May's record low," but it appears I lied.

Revised numbers for July reveal New Listings in a steep descent after peaking in June. It is obvious that many sellers kept properties off the market this summer.

There were 295 New Listings in August, down 33% from 442 in 2008.

The folks who did list their house, properly priced, sold it on time and for their asking price. You can't sell a property that's not on the market.

What does "properly priced" mean?

My properties sell quickly and at the top of their price bracket because I price them properly before I put them on the market. Period.

My properties aren't discounted.

The goal is for the buyer's agent to tell their client, "Sam's priced this property just above the market, and we should make an offer."

No matter how much you think of your home, you can't sell it if you don't get any offers.

Buyers -

Don't forget, the U.S. Government is offering an $8,000 buyer's credit for only a few more days! Call me or your mortgage broker.

Mortgage loans are available for qualified borrowers, and if you aren't qualified now, we can help you on the path to home ownership.

Bryan & College Station market information is updated daily at MarketReports.SamWhiteRealty.com. There, you'll find links to opinions, charts and statistics.

Follow us on twitter, twitter.SamWhiteRealty.com, or @bcshomes, where we update market and Multiple Listing Service information several times daily.

For links to Brazos Valley events and "happenings," as well as real estate articles from local and state media, visit my facebook fan page, facebook.SamWhiteRealty.com.

I'm always happy to answer questions personally at 979-574-0626 or sam@samwhiteproperties.com.

Best regards,

Sam White
979.446.0031 direct office line
979.574.0626 voice & text
sam@samwhiteproperties.com

Bryan / College Station July real estate market recap

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 07:47:59 -0500

Dear friends,

Bryan and College Station's real estate market ground through the month of July, not really getting better, and thankfully not much worse.

Click an underlined title to see the appropriate chart.

Total Monthly Sales still remain below 2008

Total Monthly Sales were down only slightly from June, almost equaling the dip of 2007at $49.8 million, which is down 17% from 2008's record $61.8 million.

Units Sold climbed three units over June at 303, which also equals the area's 2007 number. We'll hope we see this chart peaking in August.

Prices are off slightly

Again, the Average Single-Family Sales Price seems to be following 2007 statistics, losing $5,000 from June's price of $168,909, or about 2%. 2009 prices are down around 6% from prices one year ago.

Average Days on the Market a long-week slower than 2008

Average Days on the Market are up 3 over June, and it taking 9 days longer to sell a property this year versus 2008.

New Listings up sharply in June and July

New Listings jumped drastically again in July, up 25% from May's record low, as sellers realized the market was still relatively strong, and they raced to get properties on the market late. August will tell us whether the market punished them for their tardiness.

You can't sell a property that's not on the market. Listen to your Realtor.

It is STILL a Good time to become a homeowner

Although Bryan and College Station real estate values have remained steady thus far; it's still a great time to buy. Our inventory is good, values are stable and the U.S. Government is offering an $8,000 buyer's credit. Mortgage loans are available for qualified borrowers, and if you aren't qualified now, we can help you on the path to home ownership.

Visit my Market Reports Website often

Bryan & College Station market information is updated daily at MarketReports.SamWhiteRealty.com. There you'll find links to opinions, charts and statistics, as well as twitter.SamWhiteRealty.com, where we update the local and weather and Multiple Listing Service information several times daily. For links to real estate artless from local and state media, visit Facebook.SamWhiteRealty.com.

I'm always happy to answer questions personally at 979-574-0626 or sam@samwhiteproperties.com.

Blue skies,

Sam White

June 2009 Bryan / College Station Residential Market Report

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:42:54 -0500

Dear friends & clients,

The good news from the June 2009 Bryan / College Station residential statistics is that there are no surprises. Most indexes remain below 2008-2009 figures, but trending in the right direction.

Total Monthly Sales remain below 2008, but climbing

June Total Monthly Sales increased 11% over May at $50.9 million, which is down 17% from 2008's record $61.8 million.

Units Sold climbed 12% over May, from 266 to 300, and are only 2% below 308 units in 2008. Both of these charts are climbing, and should continue the climb through July.

Prices are holding their own

The Average Single-Family Sales Price dropped 1% from May to $168,909, and is 2.9% below 2007-2008. 2008 actually saw higher prices in August and September, while 2007 was slightly lower.

Average Days on the Market remain low and steady

Homes sold one day faster last month, with Average Days on the Market in June on par with 2007 at 112 days. Homes sold slightly faster in 2008, with and ADOM of 105.

New Listings up sharply in June

After missing the usual May bump, New Listings in June jumped 21% to almost tie June 2007 at 403 units. May new listings were down 32% from 2008 as sellers remained out of the market, but many sellers have realized that with the end of the season fast approaching, that you can't sell a property that's not on the market.

Good time to become a homeowner

Visit my Market Reports Website often

Bryan & College Station market information is updated daily at MarketReports.SamWhiteRealty.com. There you'll find links to opinions, charts and statistics, as well as twitter.SamWhiteRealty.com, where we update the local and weather and Multiple Listing Service information several times daily. For links to real estate articles from local and state media, visit Facebook.SamWhiteRealty.com.

I'm always happy to answer questions personally at 979-574-0626 or sam@samwhiteproperties.com.

Blue skies,

Sam White
SamWhiteRealty.com

Custom Home on 1.7 Acres in Austin's Estates - Bryan, Texas

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:59:30 -0500

Dear readers,

The listing of the week this week is in Bryan's Austin's Estates; a rural neighborhood inside the Bryan city limits near Messina Hof Winery and Coulter Airfield.

(Click image for live map)

This well-maintained custom home is located in a quiet, rural neighborhood just 19 minutes from the Texas A&M campus.

The kitchen features Kent Moore ash cabinets with sliding drawers and a large pantry. There is a bright breakfast area in the kitchen, as well as a formal dining area and study.

The great, open floor-plan and partially covered back patio make entertaining easy. The home features lots of built-in shelves and storage, as well as a full-masonry fireplace with cedar mantle.

For more photos and links to a Printable Flyer, please see http://AustinsEstates.com.

You can stay up to date on the latest College Station real estate market reports at my market report Website, MarketReports.SamWhiteRealty.com. We also post links relating to College Station & Bryan real estate and economic reports at facebook.SamWhiteRealty.com.

Convinced and ready to buy? Search all College Station and Bryan real homes listed with any broker at Search.SamWhiteRealty.com.

Blue skies,

Sam White
SamWhiteRealty.com
979-446-0031 direct office
979-574-0626 cell

Bryan / College Station real estate news and local activities...

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 11:09:09 -0500

Dear readers,

All of a sudden its summer time. The Aggies graduated. The first summer session at Texas A&M & Blinn is underway. Bryan & College Station schools are out, and oh, its getting hot.

We've been very busy, and this is the fist time I've had a moment to update my blog and newsletter. I'm going to hit on a few quick things, and write more about each as June progresses.

First, April College Station home statistics are available on my market reports Web page, http://MarketReports.SamWhiteRealty.com. Truly, the numbers aren't pretty, but fortunately, the arrow on the graph is pointed up. I'll visit more about market conditions later in the month, but let me quickly say that my business is up over the last two years, with active and successful buyers and sellers.

Young buyers should consider the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit being offered by our Federal Government. There is also a new program available to help buyers get that money up front. For details, visit my news page at http://facebook.SamWhiteRealty.com. You don't have to be a member of facebook to view articles and links posted there. You can also find more information about the buying process at http://buyer.SamWhiteRealty.com.

Student housing activity remains good, but don't wait to put your student property on the market. For general tips for sellers, visit http://seller.SamWhiteRealty.com.

Parents and students considering buying should visit http://parents.SamWhiteRealty.com and/or http://students.SamWhiteRealty.com for specific information about student properties.

Of course, you can search all properties in the Bryan / College Station Multiple Listing service at http://search.SamWhiteRealty.com.

On a lighter note, tomorrow is the first Friday in June and time to head to downtown Bryan for their usual festivities plus Art Step. It's fun, satisfying (food & drink) and really accents our sense of community. We always hit the Village Cafe and Art979, as well as the Frame Gallery, where I think John Flynn will be hawking What's the Buzz Coffee. All of the details are posted on http://facebook.SamWhiteRealty.com.

Locally, don't forget that College Station water rates are up, and you could get doused watering your lawn this summer. Monitor your consumption. Also, there are several more RED LIGHT CAMERAS operating in town. Turning right on red will get you unless you really come to a complete stop. I encourage everyone in our community to be active and vote.

Blue skies,

Sam White
979-446-0031
http://SamWhiteRealty.com

Texas A&M University's Parents' Weekend

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:49:20 -0500

Dear readers,

This weekend, June 17-19, is special to Aggies and their parents as they come together for Texas A&M University's 2009 Parents' Weekend. There are many great activities. I'll post a schedule at the end of this blog.

Also, he Dixie Chicken is busy today, as many Texas A&M Seniors (whoop!) received their rings this week, and they are flocking to The Chicken to dunk them.

It's an exciting time for everyone. The spring semester is almost over, Aggie Muster is coming up on April 21st, and graduation is just around the corner.

We are looking forward to meeting the families who have appointments with us this weekend. There is a great selection of homes, town homes and condominiums on the market right now. Many are priced to sell.

We have two Websites set up for students and parents looking for Aggie housing:

parents.SamWhiteRealty.com
students.SamWhiteRealty.com

Interested in condos? Check out:

FoxRunCondo.com
WoodsmanCondo.com

Or, search all properties in the Bryan/College Station Multiple Listing Service at:

search.SamWhiteRealty.com

Follow this link to the official Texas A&M University Parents' Weekend Website, and watch my blog or facebook page for more information on the Earthday Celebration in Downtown Bryan this weekend.

Blue skies,

Sam White
979.574.0626
SamWhiteRealty.com

Fox Run and Woodsman Condominiums....

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 08:53:32 -0500

Dear readers,

With parents' weekend coming up in a few days, I want to spend some time talking about College Station condominiums. I've chosen two examples, Fox Run Condos and Woodsman Condos.

Fox Run is known locally as a safe, relatively new upscale complex, located on Luther Street between Wellborn Rd and Harvey Mitchell Parkway. The complex features 2 bedroom/2 bath units located on the ground floor, priced in the $120k range, as well as 3 bedroom/3 bath units located on the second level which are priced in the $140k-$150k range. There is a pool and volleyball courts. The complex is gated, and each unit has an individual security system. For more information and photos, see FoxRunCondo.com.

Woodsman Condominuims, which were constructed in the early 1980's, are located on Longmire Drive in Southwood Valley. These units, built in a Hill Country style with wood siding and real rock, have two distinct floor plans. Both plans feature 2 bedrooms and two bathrooms, with one being slightly larger with vaulted ceilings in the living area. Although this complex doesn't feature a pool, there is covered parking for each unit, which is valuable in College Station during the warmer months. For more information and photos, see WoodsmanCondo.com.

Looking for something different? We can help! Use these links for further information, or contact me directly at 979.574.0626.

search.SamWhiteRealty.com

MarketReports.SamWhiteRealty.com

Have a great week!

Blue skies,

Sam White
SamWhiteRealty.com
979.574.0626

Texas A&M University's Parents Weekend

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:09:22 -0500

Dear readers,

Spring has sprung in our college town and thoughts are already turning to graduation and the coming academic year. One spring event that students and residents look forward to is Texas A&M University's Parents Weekend.

Parent's Weekend festivities will be held April 17-19 this year, with a long list of activities for Aggies and Aggie parents. They include:

Ring Day: April 17th, All Day

Parent Programs Reception, Cain Hall, 10:30-Midnight

Midnight Yell: April 17, Midnight, Kyle Field

MSC Variety Show:April 17, 7:30 pm, Rudder Auditorium

Bevo Burn BBQ: April 18, 11 am-2 pm, Duncan Field

Maroon and White Football Game- April 18, Time: 2:00pm

Singing Cadets Concert: April 18, 7:30 pm, Rudder Auditorium

Aggie Moms' Boutique: April 17, 10 am- 4:30 pm, Reed Arena & April 18, 9 am- 5 pm, Reed Arena

All University Awards Ceremony: April 19, 9:30 am, Rudder Auditorium

For more information on parents' weekend and activities, see http://parentsweekend.tamu.edu/.

Parents' Weekend is also a great time for residents to show off the College Station community, and is a busy time for the local real estate industry. The student housing market has already picked up, and we are looking forward to meeting many Aggies this spring and summer.

Sometimes it makes more since to buy a home for your student, versus throwing money at rent for four years. We've built special Websites for students and parents considering investing in their future. See:

One of the misconceptions that we spend a lot of time talking about refer to local market conditions. College Station market conditions are not like the remainder of the United States. For up-to-date local market conditions visit MarketReports.SamWhiteRealty.com.

I hope everyone's week is going well!

Blue skies,

Sam White
SamWhiteRealty.com
979.446.0031

What's a little college worth?

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:07:02 -0500

Dear readers,

One of my favorite annual reports came out today. In it, Texas A&M attempts to assign numbers to the impact our University has on the local economy. According to the report, released by Texas A&M Univeristy Marketing and Communications, "the in-house study authorized by Texas A&M President Elsa A. Murano shows that the university and other locally headquartered members of the Texas A&M System had a direct $1.3 billion impact on College Station, Bryan and the surrounding area during 2008-a direct increase of about $146.5 million compared to the previous year and the previous record.

Adding the impact of those dollars being reinvested throughout the region, the total impact is about $3.28 billion-nearly $366 million more than the prior record set in 2007."

Other highlights:

Payroll - 20,844 university & system employees = $796.8 million, up $27.8 million
Students - around 48,000 give or take = $378 million, up $96 million
Visitors = $137.9 million, up $22.6 million
Construction = $98.3 million, down $3.5 million

It's no wonder we enjoy such a good life here. Who knew that the little college south of Bryan would turn into a multi-billion dollar economic machine.

Convinced and ready to buy? Search all College Station and Bryan real homes listed with any broker at Search.SamWhiteRealty.com.

Blue skies,

Sam White
SamWhiteRealty.com

College Station spring break activities...

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 09:27:33 -0500

Dear readers,

This is just a quick note to mention two events occurring today.

First, as every Ag should know, the Texas A&M men's basketball team will tip off its opening-round game in the NCAA Tournament against BYU today at 1130 am, which is one of the earliest starts in the tournament. Local coverage is on KBTX-TV as well as www.CBSsports.com. Several of your favorite bars and restaurants are gearing up for the game. Go Ags!

Locally, the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships run today through Saturday at the Texas A&M Rec Center Natatorium on West Campus. Prelims begin at 11am with finals at 7pm.

Finally, its just a beautiful day in the Brazos Valley. Get out and enjoy our parks and excellent spring weather.

Spring also brings buyers and sellers of student properties to College Station. Things have been picking up on both sides.

If you are considering selling a property valued at less than $150,000, its time to get it on the market, as we have been working with buyers every weekend this month. We have one of the most extensive and effective marketing plans in the business, as well as our own buyer clients. Learn more by contacting me at http://samwhiterealty.com/sellnow.html.

Parents and students, have you considered purchasing a College Station property for your stay at Texas A&M? We specialize in finding the best student housing for Aggies. Sometimes it makes more sense to buy. Find out more at Students.SamWhiteRealty.com or Parents.SamWhiteRealty.com.

You can also search all properties in College Station, Bryan and the Brazos Valley at Search.SamWhiteRealty.com, and view our latest College Station real estate market reports at MarketReports.SamWhiteRealty.com.

We'll see you out and about. Enjoy College Station's great spring weather.

Blue skies,

Sam White
SamWhiteRealty.com

College Station market report for February 2009

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 10:18:56 -0500

Dear readers,

Raw numbers regarding the Bryan and College Station market were released this morning, indicating a decline in total monthly sales of almost 30% from February of 2008 and 2007. Total monthly sales in February 2009 were $15,736,430, compared with $22,342,476 in 2008, and $22,937,147 in February 2007.

Remarkably, February 2009 numbers are comparable to February 2006, when total monthly sales were actually lower at $16,286,059.

As always, I'll insert the caveat that these are raw numbers, and they may change slightly over the course of the week as they are studied more carefully.

You can expect the complete, February 2009 College Station Market report on my Website, MarketReports.SamWhiteRealty.com, on Thursday, along with the Broker's and Lender's Synopsis.

Subscribers to my monthly College Station Market Report Newsletter will receive the market report via email and rss feed on Wednesday evening.

You can also find daily, real estate news updates, as well as timely articles from the Texas Association of Realtors on MarketReports.SamWhiteRealty.com.

We may be seeing some spillover from the national paranoia caused by the world financial situation, but people will ALWAYS need to buy and sell homes. College Station didn't boom, and we ARE NOT going to bust. The Brazos Valley has a professional, dedicated, RESPONSIBLE group of Realtors and lenders that have been here for years, and will be here for years, to serve buyers and sellers.

DON'T PANIC!

Blue skies,

Sam White
SamWhiteRealty.com

First Friday in Downtown Bryan, Texas

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 08:39:16 -0600

Dear readers,

It is the first Friday of March, and spring has sprung here in the Brazos Valley. Combine the two, and there should be great turnout at First Friday in Downtown Bryan.

If you have already attended a First Friday event, you know how much fun they are. There is art, music, specials and happy hours. You will run into friends, and see some things that you didn't know existed in the Brazos Valley.

More information, including a list of activities and a map is located on the Downtown Bryan Economic Development Association Website.

There is a lot happening in downtown Bryan, much of it behind city walls. Watch for another blog coming soon about Fibertown, a visionary company that is making Bryan the high-tech crossroads of disaster recovery.

Interesting in living downtown and becoming part of the urban scene? You can search all Bryan & College Station homes at search.SamWhiteRealty.com.

Have a great Friday!

Blue skies,

Sam White
SamWhiteRealty.com
979.574.0626

Two articles of interest regarding the College Station real estate market

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:12:20 -0600

Dear readers,

Today The Eagle, our local newspaper, has two articles of interest regarding Texas, the economy and real estate, both written by members of the Texas State Comptroller's staff.

The first article, written by Bruce Wright, headlines "State's housing market still sound," and is a good read.

"Thus far, Texas' housing market is relatively healthy, and the state has a good chance of avoiding the worst effects of the meltdown. But the landscape of corporate America has been altered in unprecedented ways."

Follow this link for the entire article: http://www.theeagle.com/business/State-s-housing-market-still-sound

The second article, by Michael Castellon, details "start-up" dollars and how they are helping Texas as the nation and world go through a downturn. The article can be found at http://www.theeagle.com/business/Texas-startups-boost-economy.

I read The Eagle daily and link to many of their articles. It's the least I can do. I want to support my local newspaper as they try to find an appropriate economic model.

Of course you can get detailed College Station market reports, as well as state and national real estate news at my Website, MarketReports.SamWhiteRealty.com.

Normally, I'd plug my facebook page, facebook.SamWhiteRealty.com, because it has been a great place to post revelant links and articles. Unfortunately, facebook is going through a major change this week and the page conversions aren't going very well.

Have a good Thursday.

Blue skies,

Sam White
samwhiterealty.com

College Station Market Reports - Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 09:27:31 -0600

Dear readers,

We are fortunate to have a great source of real estate information located right here in the Brazos Valley. The Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University studies Texas real estate markets full time, and has a wealth of on-line information available to Realtors and the public.

One page I visit frequently is a page devoted to College Station and Bryan Real Estate Market News. On that page you can search almost 600 articles that the center has collected regarding the local economy. The page includes an RSS button, so you can get updates whenever the page is modified.

Also, don't forget that College Station market reports, as well as data for Bryan and the rest of the Brazos Valley is available at my market report Website, MarketReports.SamWhiteRealty.com. Data from our local Multiple Listing System, and a brokers & lenders synopsis are updated monthly. Local and international real estate news, as well as current mortgage rates are updated daily.

I also post photos, updated news and College Station market reports and information on my facebook page at facebook.SamWhiteRealty.com.

Of course, there is a wealth of information for buyers and sellers, as well as the capability of searching all College Station Homes, as well as Bryan homes, at my Website, Search.SamWhiteRealty.com.

Have a great Wednesday!

Blue skies,

Sam White
SamWhiteRealty.com
979.574.0626

2009 Home, Garden & Recreation Expo - Brazos County Exposition Complex

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:43:34 -0600

Dear readers,

The highlight of the upcoming weekend, at least in our industry, is the 2009 Home, Garden and Recreation Expo. It will be held at the Brazos County Exposition Complex this weekend, Feb. 28 - Mar. 1.

In addition to the great exhibits at the show every year, there will be several useful seminars throughout both days.

Saturday February 28, 2009

1000am - Light control and sustainable residential design
1100am - Mosquito misting systems and outdoor cooling systems
1200am - Custom home building seminar
100pm - Dream windows and custom draperies and valances
200pm - Growing tomatoes in the Brazos Valley
300pm - Foam insulation for your home
400pm - Water conservation inside and outside your home

Sunday March 1, 2009

100pm - Custom home building seminar
200pm - Mosquito misting systems and outdoor cooling systems
300pm - Pond management
400pm - Growing tomatoes in the Brazos Valley

Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for seniors and $1 for children under 12 years of age. Tickets will be available at the door.

The Brazos County Exposition Center is on Leonard Rd., just east of SH47.

Remember, if you are in a home-buying mood, you can search all College Station & Bryan homes at search.SamWhiteRealty.com.

I'll be wandering around the exposition site, so text or call me at 979-574-0626 and we can visit!

Blue skies,

Sam White
MarketReports.SamWhiteRealty.com

College Station market outlook called "strong"

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 08:17:25 -0600

Dear readers,

The Eagle, our regional newspaper, published an new assessment on the local economy today in the Brazos Business section. Overall, the economist reported a strong economy, but cautioned of possible spending cuts at Texas A&M University and the possibility of those cuts "rippling down" to the local economy.

Quoting Karl Ingham, an Amarillo economist who studies the area, "Because Texas A&M is a powerful driving force behind the economy, any funding shortfall should have minimal ripples. I'm not so worried about that," Ingham said.

The entire article is posted on the Eagle's Website under the headline "BCS outlook called strong." The article is also posted on the Sam White Properties facebook page.

For more local market information and statistics, as well as mortgage rates and national headlines, please visit my Market Report and News Webpageat SamWhiteRealty.com.

Have a great Thursday!

Blue Skies,

Sam White
SamWhiteRealty.com

Pondering facebook and landing pages...

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:25:09 -0600

Dear readers,

I still haven't found a good, practical use for my company facebook page - Sam White Properties.? Being in a student market (College Station is home of Texas A&M University) I've had good luck with facebook ads...good click-through and conversion. But, I'm sending them to specific landing pages on my domain, bypassing my facebook page. I can tell, its lonely.

Currently, I'm using Sam White Properties on facebook as a place to post notes, links or photos. Most of the traffic to the page comes from my Monthly Market Report page on my primary domain, as well as through sub-domain facebook.SamWhiteRealty.com.

My activerain blog automatically posts to the page as a note, so as long as I'm blogging, I'm adding content. I also like the way it will post a graphic or photo beside the link in that section.

I try to add seven items per week, but that doesn't always happen. As an avid, personal facebook user I'll keep it updated, but I just haven't really found a purpose for it in all of the noise.

I did an experiment with targeted advertisements driving visitors to landing pages last weekend. I used four types of landing pages and three of them were bombs, while one worked very well. Now I have to figure out why.

Blue skies,

Sam White

Welcome to Aggieland Saturday!

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 06:48:52 -0600

Dear readers,

Last night I was fortunate to attend a reception held for prospective Aggies and their parents. I never cease to be amazed at the intelligence and enthusiasm of today's "youth." If this group was any hint of the quality of next year's freshman class of Aggies, our next class will be outstanding.

Over 10,000 prospective Aggies and parents are in town for Aggieland Saturday, which is a University-wide open house for prospective Aggies and their parents. There is a vast selection of activities available, many sponsored by different colleges and departments of the university. Follow this link to Aggieland Saturday Activities.

One Day. One Place. Aggieland.

I had some time to visit with parents last night and speak frankly about the local and national economic situation. Many parents are surprised how insulated (so far) College Station real estate is from what's going on in other areas. We spoke a bit about "No Boom, No Bust," and how that applies to our area.

I referred many parents to the monthly market report section of my Website for more insight from brokers and lenders. This page contains an RSS feed (for those using a RSS reader) and also a link to sign up for the monthly version of the market report.

Today we are also launching two new sections of SamWhiteRealty.com, designed for parents and students seeking more information on purchasing student housing. Those sections are:

parents.SamWhiteRealty.com

students.SamWhiteRealty.com

These new sub-domains, combined with search.SamWhiteRealty.com and marketreports.SamWhiteRealty.com are just part of our commitment to bring excellent content and access to our clients.

On a related note, Texas A&M's Parents Weekend will be held April 17-19, 2009...the event's 90th. anniversary.

We hope you have an excellent Aggieland Saturday, and wish our new friends an informative day on campus and a safe drive home.

Blue skies,

Sam White
sam@samwhiteproperties.com
www.SamWhiteRealty.com

Aggieland Saturday - University-Wide Open House at Texas A&M

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 08:43:32 -0600

Dear readers,

This weekend the College Station community has the opportunity to shine, as we welcome an anticipated 10,000 prospective students and parents coming to town for Aggieland Saturday. The event is a university-wide open house sponsored by the Texas A&M Department of Admissions and Records and the Association of Former Students.

Quoting the office of admission and record's Website, "Howdy! We at Texas A&M University invite you to Aggieland Saturday, an annual campus-wide open house for prospective students and their families. During this one day, you can meet current students, tour the dorms, visit libraries and computer labs and see what Texas A&M has to offer you. You can also learn more about our colleges and majors, get information about admission and pick up some financial aid and scholarship information, too."

Concurrently, we are unveiling two new Websites today designed to inform Aggie parents and students about student housing options. They are:

http://parents.SamWhiteRealty.com
http://students.SamWhiteRealty.com

Combined with http://search.SamWhiteRealty.com and http://marketreports.SamWhiteRealty.com, we are striving to give our browsers and clients the best tools and content available to help them in their College Station home search.

Finally, for more information regarding this weekend's Texas A&M University Open House, visit http://www.oar.tamu.edu/aggielandSaturday/default.aspx. There you will find directions, schedules and frequently asked questions.

One day. One place. Aggieland.

Blue skies,

Sam White
sam@samwhiteproperties.com
www.SamWhiteRealty.com

Brazos Valley Market Report - College Station Real Estate

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:40:40 -0600

Dear readers,

January 2009 sales figures have been posted at marketreports.SamWhiteRealty.com. The results are mixed at best.

I'm completing vendor interviews today, and I will publish the synopsis tomorrow.

Blue skies,

Sam White
sam@samwhiteproperties.com
www.SamWhiteRealty.com

Texas Housing Numbers

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:59:47 -0600

Dear readers,

The following information came to me via RECON, a weekly e-mail publication of the The Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University. Subscription information can be found at the bottom of the article.

TEXAS' EXISTING HOME SALES, PRICES DOWN IN OCTOBER

TEXAS (Real Estate Center, MarketWatch, CNNMoney) - A total of 16,711 existing homes were sold in Texas last month, a 17 percent decline from October 2007, according to MLS data compiled by the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University. The median price dropped 0.8 percent to $142,300 during the same period, and the state finished the month with a 6.8-month inventory of existing homes.

Here is how select Texas cities fared in October (data current as of Dec. 2, 2008):

	Sales	Change from Last Year	Median Price	Change from Last Year	Months' Inventory
Amarillo	226	down 7 percent	$130,000	up 12 percent	5.6
Austin	1,464	down 23.4 percent	$189,000	up 4 percent	5.9
Beaumont	178	down 3.8 percent	$139,000	up 23.7 percent	7.7
Brownsville	69	down 21.6 percent	$103,300	up 14.8 percent	na
Bryan-College Station	126	no change	$148,000	up 7.6 percent	5
Corpus Christi	255	down 30.1 percent	$140,900	down 1.7 percent	9.4
Dallas	3,471	down 17.8 percent	$155,700	up 0.6 percent	6.3
El Paso	413	down 5.9 percent	$130,500	down 0.3 percent	12.6
Fort Worth	730	down 20.9 percent	$109,100	down 6.6 percent	5.9
Houston	4,671	down 20.1 percent	$142,400	down 2.8 percent	6.4
Laredo	87	down 7.4 percent	$115,700	down 15.2 percent	9.7
Longview-Marshall	187	down 8.3 percent	$118,800	down 1 percent	6.2
Lubbock	192	down 23.8 percent	$116,400	up 6.4 percent	5.4
San Antonio	1,470	down 14.6 percent	$143,500	down 0.6 percent	8
Texarkana	67	up 31.4 percent	$131,200	up 17.5 percent	7.6
Tyler	212	down 22.3 percent	$139,000	up 9.8 percent	10.7
Victoria	56	down 17.6 percent	$108,900	up 7 percent	6
Waco	166	down 9.3 percent	$117,500	up 9.2 percent	8

Additional home sales data for these and other major Texas cities are available on the Center's website.

Nationally, sales of existing single-family homes dropped 1.6 percent over the past year to a 4.98 million seasonally adjusted annual pace, according to the National Association of Realtors. At $183,300, the median sales price was down 11.3 percent from a year earlier. Inventory was at 10.2 months.

Meanwhile, sales of new homes nationally were at 433,000 in October, off more than 40 percent from a year ago, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. The median sales price was $218,000. At the current sales pace, there was more than an 11-month inventory.

@ THE CENTER To subscribe or unsubscribe to RECON or to view back issues go to the Real Estate Center's website.

The Real Estate Center is part of the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University in College Station - the heart of the Research Valley.

------------

Blue skies,

Sam White

www.SamWhiteRealty.com

Black Friday statistics

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:45:32 -0600

Dear readers,

Happy Monday!

I'm sharing two links, one from The Eagle here in Bryan & College Station, and the other from the Maimi Herald, regarding Black Friday sales locally and nationwide.

http://www.theeagle.com/local/Black-Friday-lures-hordes

http://www.miamiherald.com/business/nation/v-print/story/792355.html

Both articles, along with local, national and international market information can be found on my facebook page.

Monthly market information from out local Multiple Listing Services, as well as a monthly synopsis can also be found on my Website Reports.SamWhiteRealty.com.

Its a busy Monday, so that's all for now. No fancy graphics or photos. Sorry.

Blue skies,

Sam White
www.SamWhiteRealty.com

Rant- Do you really need that software upgrade?

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 09:10:30 -0600

Dear readers,

I had a great post prepared this morning for Thanksgiving, but just as I was adding the tags, Internet Explorer stopped responding. With Windows Vista, the screen turns milky and the little hourglass won't go away. I was patient, just in case the problem might work itself out, but to no avail. later, I opened the task manager and with the push of the end task button, several times, all that work was gone.

Well, not really gone. You see, over the year that I've had this Vista laptop I've learned this can happen...way too often. So now, I write in notepad and transfer it to whatever destination is appropriate. Sure, its extra work, but at least when IE takes a dump I don't have to start over.

As a technology guy, I know transitions can be difficult. There is always a learning curve which can be frustrating, so I always establish a time frame for the upgrade to make itself useful. During that period I write of my frustration. If the upgrade doesn't prove itself out, then its gone.

I'll use three examples today.

1- Suddenlink Communications, our cable provider, has "upgraded" the software in our DVRs. We have two boxes, one for my son, which keeps his father sane, and another for the adults. When the adult DVR failed in late September, I took it to the local office and they exchanged it for a new box with new software.

As usual, the transition was difficult, but I said I'd give it to mid-November to get used to it. Well, it wasn't me...the software is definitely inferior to the previous version. I contacted Suddenlink to see if there was a chance of getting an old box, but to no avail. Everything was being "upgraded." True, if I hadn't used the old software, I would have known how bad it was. Unfortunately, there is no going back.

2- My wife's place of employment "upgraded" their off-site mail access last week. She is in a field where access to e-mail away from the office is essential, so when she couldn't get on line over the weekend, it was off to the office for her. As of today, two days into the following week, her IT guy won't respond. I know its only been a couple of days, but this is essential stuff. We'll see how this goes in the long run.

3- Finally there is Window's Vista. I bought my first Vista computer a year ago last October. Knowing Vista's reputation, I planned to give it a full year before giving it a yea or nay. That year is up, and I have bought two more computers...both with Windows XP. Luckily, major manufacturers have recognized the continued problems with Vista, and make new XP computers available for those of us who want a reliable operating system.

Technology is a TOOL for me, so I've learned to just say no when the newest thing comes along. To coin an old phrase, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Someone else can work the bugs out, and later, if the upgrade is worthy, I'll embrace it.

In the meantime, when a salesman comes to you with the latest upgrade, take a step back and ask if the upgrade is really for you, or just for the salesman.

Blue skies,

Sam White
www.samwhiterealty.com

PS - Join me for next month's rant regarding short time-outs and overly complicated passwords.