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Kiss 4% Mortgage Rates Goodbye (from CNN.com) - 01/31/11 11:35 AM
By Les Christie, staff writer. January 1, 2011: 3:47 PM ET (via cnn.com)
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The era of near 4% mortgage rates has ended after a quick rate rise since early November. But some industry experts think that may be a good thing for the flagging housing market.
The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate has risen to 4.86% from 4.17%, according to Freddie Mac's weekly mortgage market survey. In the Bankrate.com weekly survey, the rate has risen to 5.02% -- crossing the 5% mark for the second time in three weeks -- after being as low as 4.42% as … (1 comments)
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It's Rodeo Time, San Antonio! - 01/30/11 04:40 PM
It's Rodeo Time, San Antonio!
For those of you that 'ain't from these parts', the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo is the winner of the "Largest Indoor Rodeo" for the past 6 years! This annual event runs February 3-20, 2011 and has events for all ages. And, for those who aren't as enthralled with livestock, worry not: there are concerts every night that you would definately be entertained by.
Here is this year's concert line-up:
Kevin Fowler, Feb. 3rd
Toby Keith, Feb. 4th
Lady Antebellum, Feb. 5th
Allstar Weekend, Feb. 6th
Bill Engvall, Feb. 7th
Reba McEntire, Feb. 8th
… (1 comments)
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Good Neighbor Next Door in San Antonio - Firefighters/Police/Teachers get 50% off! - 01/25/11 03:45 PM
Good Neighbor Next Door in San Antonio - Firefighters/Police/Teachers get 50% off!
If you are a Firefighter, Police officer or Teacher in the Greater San Antonio area, and looking to purchase your first home, this program is for you!
The Good Neighbor Next Door program is a HUD program designed to encourage renewal of revitalization areas by providing an opportunity for law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and teachers to purchase homes in these communities. HUD provides a substantial incentive in the form of a 50% discount off of the list price of eligible properties!
THE RULES HAVE CHANGED!
Previously, all Good … (2 comments)
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Red Bird Ranch, San Antonio, TX - USDA eligible for zero downpayment! - 01/25/11 03:20 PM
RED BIRD RANCH, San Antonio, TX - USDA eligible for zero downpayment!
If you are looking for a New Home in San Antonio, TX, consider the benefits of D.R. Horton's Red Bird Ranch.
This brand new, state-of-the-art community built with an eye toward the future while acknowledging the rich history and tradition of this great Texas landscape. Redbird Ranch is nestled in the heart of San Antonio, outside of 1604 W and Potranco and has all of the convenience of the big city in a comfortable country setting. With homes ranging in size from around 1400 square feet to over … (0 comments)
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This week's deal in Hondo, Texas Real Estate - 01/24/11 12:03 PM
This week's deal in Hondo, Texas Real Estate
This week, January 24-28, 2011, in Hondo, Texas, there are well over 40 Residential Home listings ranging in price from $92,000 to over $400,000. Home available include single-family detached as well as manufactured homes. There are also several Farm & Ranch listings varying in size from 11 acres to over 800 acres - some with homes, some without.
There are also several properties with recent price reductions in Hondo. Only one reported sale through the San Antonio Board of Realtors (SABOR) Multiple Listing Service (MLS) was reported in the last month. However, there … (0 comments)
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I fell of the blogging wagon - 01/21/11 01:52 PM
I'm so ashamed. I joined the "31 days in January" group and promised to blog every day. I started off so well! I found interesting things to blog about. I thought about what I could blog about during the day. I found time to sneak off to my computer to get the blog together each day.
And then it happened.... I fell off the wagon.
I was in bed falling asleep a week ago Sunday and, in the midst of heading to dreamland, I thought: I FORGOT TO BLOG TODAY! I tried to convince myself to get out of bed. … (6 comments)
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Beth Moore and Real Estate - 01/18/11 03:38 PM
Beth Moore and Real Estate
OK Gentlemen, you may have to sit this one out. (Or read on and take a glimpse into some "girly" stuff). For those of you that aren't acquainted with Beth Moore, she is the founder of Living Proof Ministries with the purpose of teaching women how to love and live on God's Word.
I have been in Beth Moore's bible studies for about 2 years. And, if you are a woman who believes in God, I HIGHLY recommend her bible studies. They really dive into God's word and help apply it to your life, and … (1 comments)
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My Broker Googled me, thanks to Activerain! - 01/17/11 07:44 PM
Picture this: Friday afternoon I was getting ready to leave the house and realized I had missed THREE phone calls while packing the car... from my broker. OH NO! I was so concerned... what does he need? What's wrong? Why would he have called me 3 times in a row and not left a message?
I quickly dialed his number, not quite sure what the fire was (but assuming it was a "fire"). The conversation was fantastic!
Me to Fabulous Broker: Hey Fabulous Broker... I see that you're hunting me down... what's up?
Fabulous Broker to me: I was on the South … (6 comments)
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Good News Friday - 01/14/11 03:56 PM
Retail sales data released by the Census Bureau this morning confirm what other recent surveys have said: consumers are back in the game. Total retail and food sales in December rose 7.9 percent from a year ago while core sales, which exclude autos and gasoline, increased by 6.2 percent. Growth in December was led by non-store retailers (Internet and catalogue), building supply stores (thanks to the sale of storm-related merchandise), drug stores and gas stations (due to rising prices). Sales were weak at department, grocery, electronics and apparel stores. The International Council of Shopping Centers reported that sales at shopping centers … (0 comments)
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Country View Estates, Helotes, TX - Hill Country living just minutes away from San Antonio - 01/12/11 01:03 PM
Country View Estates, Helotes, TX - Hill Country living just minutes from San Antonio
If you take a drive out Bandera Road past 1604 about 15 minutes, you'll find yourself enjoying the "Hill Country" feel of Helotes, TX. Country View Estates is a restricted acreage subdivision that offers the convenience of access to San Antonio, with secluded homesites ready for your custom home.
Currently, there are 6 lots available for sale in Country View Estates. These lots vary in size from .9 acres to 2.5 acres, starting at $35,000 - $66,000. There is paved access throughout the subdivision and restrictions on the type … (0 comments)
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Wild Game Festival, Hondo, TX - This weekend, January 14-15th. - 01/11/11 03:14 PM
WILD GAME FESTIVAL, Hondo, TX - This weekend, January 14-15th.
If you're looking for something fun & interesting (and different!) to do in the Medina County area this weekend, you need to check out Hondo's Wild Game Festival.
Hosted by the Hondo Chamber of Commerce, this will be the 46th Annual Wild Game Festival. According to the Chamber's website, "We will be hosting our first-ever IBCA Bar-B-Que and Wild Game Cook-Off on January 14-15, 2011, at our beautiful City Park, located just a bit north of town, next to the Medina County Fairgrounds on FM 462.
As you know, every … (0 comments)
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Hondo, Texas Real Estate - 01/10/11 02:39 PM
Hondo, Texas Real Estate
Welcome to Hondo, TX (otherwise known as God's Country). This is the original sign that was in Hondo, and the city is currently working on getting the sign back on Hwy 90 after recent road construction.
Remember what a small Texas town should be like? We do! Friendly neighbors, small classrooms, quality health care, safe streets - all for a very affordable cost of living. And if you need it, San Antonio is barely 30 minutes away! If you're looking for Real Estate in Hondo, TX, let me offer you some advice.
1. NOT ALL REAL ESTATE AGENTS … (5 comments)
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5 Things to do to get a Price Reduction. - 01/10/11 09:47 AM
I've heard quite a lot of commentary on Activerain about why we shouldn't take over-priced listings. And while the "rational" part of my brain agrees, the "I'm-new-to-Real-Estate" part of my brain says that I need listings, and over-priced listings are better than no listings at all.
However, I've learned that if I'm going to take an over-priced listing, then I need to have a game plan. So here's my listing:
This 3/2 was built in 1987 and sits on almost an acre of land. Originally listed at $275,000. (I won't bore you with the ENTIRE description).
Here's the game plan:
… (5 comments)
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Give me one reason why I shouldn't throw this computer against a wall. - 01/08/11 01:18 PM
OK, pardon my rant... but does anyone else out there find technology to be frustrating? I've just spent the last hour trying to figure out how to create a flyer or a link or a SOMETHING that would allow me to save/link/embed details on an Open House into my blog. (Insert loud scream here).
Listen, I'm not completely ignorant. I've worked on/with computers and software for years in various professions. But I'm no technology-guru. And I get so incredibly irritated that it takes SO long to get something accomplished. I mean... one website wants the files to be in .pdf format. … (3 comments)
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If you've ever had Cedar Fever, you've GOT to see this Cedar tree. (Good for a laugh!) - 01/07/11 01:40 PM
I know this is totally random. But if you're anywhere in the Texas Hill Country right now you're probably suffering from itchy eyes (the kind that make you want to take a scrub brush to the inside of your eyelids), a snotty nose worse than any toddler you've ever met, and sneezes big enough to wake the dead.
You think I jest.
Last night on the news, one of the local weathermen was beating the Cedar tree to show the incredible amounts of pollen. It was one of the most insane things I've ever seen. Later, I was awake at 3am trying … (1 comments)
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San Antonio Young Professional's Network: Mixer at Aldaco's, January 27th - 01/06/11 03:15 PM
I attended the first meeting of Young Professional's Network (YPN) at SABOR this morning. This group is a growing group of young, career-minded real estate professionals who want to stay abreast of the latest tools, resources, and networking opportunities.
YPN is having it's first mixer January 27th from 6-10pm at Aldaco'sin Sunset Station. They're going to have time to network, and some fun activities (cooking enchiladas with one of the chef's was mentioned!). This is going to be a great opportunity to network with other Realtors and it's OPEN TO ALL REALTORS and Affiliates, not just YPN members.
Let me know … (0 comments)
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Newsweek said it: No place beats Texas - 01/05/11 10:59 AM
I know... it's a tough pill for me to swallow too. This Southern Louisiana girl begs to differ with the "everyone wants to live in Texas" mentality. But the truth is, it's a great place to live, work and raise a family.
Newsweek stated in it's recent article "The Top 10 Places in America Poised for Recover": "For sheer economic promise, no place beats Texas".
I can hear it now... "The Eyes of Texas are Upon you!"
And, according to the article, the new term for the major Metros in Texas is the "Texaplex". What luck - San … (2 comments)
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Thomas Jefferson’s Ten Rules (for Real Estate?) - 01/05/11 10:31 AM
Thanks Charles - this is a WONDERFUL reminder of how we should be acting/thinking daily. I hope you all enjoy this as much as I did.
Tara
Via Charlottesville Real Estate Solutions (Charles McDonald):
Thomas Jefferson has a wonderful list of 10 rules that is above my computer. These same rules can apply to Real Estate today or just our daily lives….
Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today. - As agents we can easily procrastinate. Make that call, send that email, Blog!!!
Never trouble another for what you can do yourself. – … (2 comments)
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RIP Gerry Rafferty (think of the song "Baker Street") - 01/04/11 08:28 PM
So I'm a music fan. I love most types of music (although Country is low on the list). I heard on the news tonight that Gerry Rafferty passed away. He wrote the famous "Baker Street". I recently read that you should blog about more than just work... that you should blog about yourself so that your readers can get to know you better. I'm not sure if I agree or not. As a matter of fact, I haven't followed any of my friend's blogs because I always thought they were boring and pointless (blush!).
However, I'll blog about my love for … (4 comments)
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Why is it taking them 2 months to paint the front door? - 01/04/11 11:46 AM
I'm working with sellers on a cute little property close to a local lake. I told them that before we list it, I needed to walk the property and THEY asked that I give them advice on what needed to be changed in order to sell.
The list was actually relatively short:
Power wash the stucco Paint the front door Stain/paint the deck Add a couple plants next to said front door According to Realtor.org, there are certain "remodel" items that will give you the biggest bang for your buck. The front door is one of them. The article states that … (4 comments)
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Real Estate Designations... do they matter? - 01/03/11 08:37 AM
A few months ago I was meeting with a "seasoned" Realtor to pick up a contract and mentioned that I had been taking a GRI (Graduate Realtor Institute) class. His response: "Oh, I don't have the alphabet behind my name".
So it got me thinking. I've only been at this for a year, but I'm an educated professional and have always valued continuing education. But what if he's right? I jumped on MLS to see what this guy has closed recently... what kind of listings he has... and he seems accomplished. He's certainly made more money in the last year than I … (6 comments)
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Tara Lewis, Medina County TX Real Estate
Hondo,
TX
More about me…
The Horn Company Real Estate Group
Address: 15001 Old Bandera Rd., Helotes, TX, 78023
Office Phone: (210) 695-5000
Cell Phone: (210) 607-9807
Email Me
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