Christy's Blog

A buydown is a type of financing where the buyer or seller pays extra points (also called discount points) to reduce the interest rate on a loan. Buydowns make it easier to qualify for a loan because they lower a loan's interest rate. They can also allow you to buy more house for your money. Ther...

Trying to get buyers to come and see your high dollar home? Not having any luck. When it comes to high end home buyers you need to treat them a little different than the norm. Here are some ideas on how to change your high dollar home from no one showing up to people are flying in the door.   Sta...

Amazing how you look all over the Internet to find something and its sitting right in front of you all a long. Yesterday, I was trying to help one of my new Realtors find a flyer that she could use.  I looked all over the Internet and tried to find something that would help her out. All found whe...

I was talking to a young couple the other day in my office and was going over their GFE with them and the young lady asked "what are all these closing cost?"  So, it got me thinking. How many other young potential home owners don't know what closing cost are. Which ones are real costs and which o...

Being eco-friendly is an important issue to most people today. Making your home as energy efficient as possible makes sense on many levels, but do you know it makes sense when it comes to federal tax credits too? They're not small incentives either. These tax credits are another major reason to b...

There's a lot of competition in the current market for Houston homes for sale.  If you're thinking about adding your home to the list, this checklist is for you.   #1.  Set your goals.  What do you expect from your sale?  Do you just want to get rid of the home, or do you want the highest price p...

I was talking to a friend of mine that lives in a condo in the galleria and she was wanting to go green but afraid it won't work for condo in Houston?  We sat and talked for a while and thought up some possible ways that it could be done.    1.  Go Energy Star - Anytime you get a chance, use Ener...

Cash in your pocket and equity in your Houston home?  If you've been thinking about making changes to your house but thought you couldn't afford a remodel, it's time to rethink the possibilities.  The payback on renovations in cost versus higher home value, should you decide to sell your house la...

Selling a home isn't easy, especially now.  Yet some homeowners believe they can stick a "for sale" sign in the ground and have the house off the market within a few days.  While FSBO (For Sale By Owner) sales do occur, four out of five homeowners still use a Houston real estate agent.  Why?  Bec...

If you're buying Houston real estate, you might start worrying about your credit score.  Unfortunately, there are a lot of myths about that score, and many individuals actually end up making things worse by following them.    Read this list of common credit score myths and be in the know before t...