Home > Blogs > Gary Woltal > Gary Woltal's Blog

Life on Another Planet

By Gary Woltal

Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty 0575737

February 23, 2008 05:02 AM

Planet Texas always amazes me. A big state. An independent kind of people. They say it is not a state but a state of mind. We were LAST in getting any kind of home equity loan program and then only getting to borrow on 80% of the equity back in 1999.

This now has Texans having more equity in their homes than all 49 other states COMBINED!! Wow.

What that means for those hunting the 40,000 foreclosures from 2007 in North Texas is that there are some profitable deals to be had out there.

We didn't have the run up in prices like California, Nevada, and Florida over the last few years so we haven't had the downturn either in prices.

What truly amazes my east and west coast friends is the "affordability" here. Yes property taxes are higher due to no state income tax, but what your dollars buy in a house from other areas of the country is amazing. Cash out in Massachusetts or California and buy a CASTLE (literally) in Texas. An it can be a totally NEW property too.

Texas just continues to amaze me. When it comes to real estate, it is truly like living ON ANOTHER PLANET!

Comments(15)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Anonymous

Michael Tarabotto

Hi Gary - I went through Texas years back. Being from California, the humidity factor was daunting. But it may have been isolated to the places we traveled through. If it weren't for that, I'd probably give Texas a try. A neighbor friend just moved back to Texas and bought a mansion for pennies to what he would have paid here.

Feb 23, 2008 05:08 AM

Trey Thurmond

BCR Realtors - College Station, TX

College Station , Texas Homes

You are so right. Texas is almost the best value in the " known Universe " right now. ;0)

Feb 23, 2008 05:13 AM

Gary Woltal

Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX

Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Michael: You are right, the humidity varies by area, with coastal and central areas holding in more the moisture. But then they have those break out thunderstorms in the summer afternoons. Other areas are drier. The weather is not for everyone, especially the heat. But then the cold is not for everyone in northern climes like WI and MN either. You have to balance everything out with what you want. Heat and humidity can be handled with pools and air conditioning.

Trey: I am "stunned" by the values I see sometimes. Others just probably wouldn't believe me if I told them.

Feb 23, 2008 05:17 AM

Debbie Malone

Londeree's Real Estate & Property Management - Lynchburg, VA

From Lynchburg To The Lake (434) 546-0369

Gary, that is an incredible statistic. Thanks for sharing the information.

Feb 23, 2008 05:29 AM

Jill Wente

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate | Gary Greene - Spring, TX

Realtor, CRS, MCNE, CHMS

Gary, When I first moved to Texas back in 1993 the slogan for Texas was "Texas its like a whole other country" and after I lived in Texas for a while I knew that the slogan was true. Buyers from other states are still amazed at how much house you can get for the money.

Feb 23, 2008 06:07 AM

Debbie: I thought the statistic was stunning as well.

Jill: Yes, Texas is a whole other country. As a Republic, it once was!

Feb 23, 2008 07:38 AM

Deb Brooks

Brooks Prime Properties Wichita Falls Texas - Wichita Falls, TX

I "bleep" couldn't have said it "bleep" better. We are "bleep" aliens. Thanks for the "bleep" post. Later in the rain~Deb

Feb 23, 2008 10:39 AM

Kay Perry

Kay Perry, Broker - College Station, TX

Hi Gary, So we are living on another planet.....funny...haha. Our prices are much more affordable than many of the other states. We have bargains here, I think.

Feb 24, 2008 04:29 AM

Kate Elim

Dockside Realty - Spotsylvania, VA

Realtor 540-226-1964, Selling Homes & Land a

Gary...I had a piece of the Texas pie. Lived in Baytown and than bought a home in Houston in 1966. I recently bought a lot on the moon. Maybe I should reinvest in Texas.

Kathleen

Feb 24, 2008 02:38 PM

Kathleen Lordbock

Keller Williams Realty Professionals - Baxter, MN

Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Hey, it is not cold in MN - we are now above zero - shirtsleeve weather for the natives.

Feb 24, 2008 02:42 PM

I didn't realize that Texas had a green ring around it - very pretty must be Corpus Christi

Feb 24, 2008 02:44 PM

Scott Leaf Personal Real Estate Corporation

Keller Williams Elite Realty, Port Coquitlam, BC - Port Coquitlam, BC

Scott Leaf & Associates Real Estate Team

Ive been scoping out Real Estate on Seti Alpha 7, great place ya just cant get there from here.

Ive also heard good things about the Pelidies Cluster & Aldebraan. ;)

Feb 24, 2008 02:59 PM

Marchel Peterson

Results Realty - Spring, TX

Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro

Gary we are tipping our hat to you for your post we choose to feature on our Top Ten Texas Roundup! Congratulations Liz & Marchel (L & M), Texas Real Estate Group!

Feb 25, 2008 04:25 AM

Liz and Marchel: Thanks for the tip of the hat!!

Feb 25, 2008 11:05 AM

Carl Winters

Canyon Lake, TX

Gary - Sorry I'm late getting around to say I tip my hat for such a great post. I agree, we live in such a great state. Of course, I have never lived anywhere else but Texas.

90% of the houses I am inspecting are people moving to Texas. From all the comments above we all know why. Just keep them coming. Of course I don't really like some of the things that are happening because of the growing pains. Who would have ever thought talk of "toll roads" in and around San Antonio. Our sleepy area has awakened.

Feb 29, 2008 03:38 AM

Life on Another Planet

Comments(15)

Gary Woltal

Service Areas

Real Estate Resources

Recent Posts

Additional Information