LET'S GET MOVING!

It seems with Christmas festivities behind us, some folks are once again turning their attention to real estate. With the incredible interest rates that are available, this is a great time to be making a move. There are some beautiful homes for sale that in a typical real estate market wouldn't have lasted a week. But, alas, the market hasn't been typical, so these homes are still available. If you've been toying with the idea of moving up, or scaling back, now's the time.

Give me a call....and we'll chat about how to work this market to your advantage.

In the meantime, have a safe New Year's Eve celebration.....Designated Drivers, please!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

The holidays are in full force; there are the sounds of Christmas music, the smells of yummy things in the kitchen (i.e., COOKIES!); the sights of shoppers, traffic and sparkly lights. I love this time of year...even with all the chaos that surrounds it.

I wish you a very Merry Christmas....I pray your loved ones are safe, happy and healthy....and maybe even spending the holidays with you in your home. Hold them close...enjoy the chaos...it's just part of the package.

In the midst of all the hectic activities, I hope you'll steal away some quiet moments to reflect on what this season is all about....remembering a babe in a manger so many years ago.

Merry Christmas to you and yours....Beez

Happy Thanksgiving

We all have much to be thankful for...family, friends, health, country...I hope today is a time of love and friendship at your home.

BACK TO BUSINESS

Election is finally over....stock market is what it is. Holidays are quickly approaching..it's 46 more days until Christmas!! Real estate is oftentimes busy at the end of the year because people want to get settled while they might have some vacation time during the holidays. If you're contemplating making a move...now's the time. Close before year-end, so you can Homestead Exempt that new home.
I'm home for the holidays....and I personally have listings that answer the call .. whether a 2 bdrm condo for $92,000 in West Houston; a $300-$450,000 family home in West Houston; or a $1,500,000 Bunker Hill exec home. And, of course, I can sell any home listed on MLS. Ready? Give me a call or email!

EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2008

MAKE YOUR VOICE KNOWN

VOTE!!!!!!

HALLOWEEN SAFETY HINTS

Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.
Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.
Secure emergency identification (name, address, phone number) discreetly within Halloween attire or on a bracelet.
Because a mask can limit or block eyesight, consider non-toxic and hypoallergenic makeup or a decorative hat as a safe alternative.
When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories, purchase only those with a label indicating they are flame resistant.
Think twice before using simulated knives, guns or swords. If such props must be used, be certain they do not appear authentic and are soft and flexible to prevent injury.
Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts.
Plan ahead to use only battery powered lanterns or chemical lightsticks in place of candles in decorations and costumes.
This is also a great time to buy fresh batteries for your home Smoke Alarms.
Teach children their home phone number and to how call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they have an emergency or become lost. Remind them that 9-1-1 can be dialed free from any phone.
Review with your children the principle of "Stop-Drop-Roll", should their clothes catch on fire.
Openly discuss appropriate and inappropriate behavior at Halloween time.
Consider purchasing individually packaged healthy food alternatives (or safe non-food treats) for those who visit your home.
Take extra effort to eliminate tripping hazards on your porch and walkway. Check around your property for flower pots, low tree limbs, support wires or garden hoses that may prove hazardous to young children rushing from house to house.
Learn or review CPR skills to aid someone who is choking or having a heart attack.
Consider safe party guidelines when hosting an Adult or Office Party.

Hurricane Ike Takes The Wind Out Of Houston Area Property Sales In September
Sales of single-family homes fall while average and median pricing continues to climb; demand for rental properties is up.. Source: Houston Association of Realtors.

HOUSTON — (Oct. 21, 2008) — Property sales across the greater Houston area declined further in September, due largely to the widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Ike and the resulting interruption to business that included many real estate transactions. According to statistics released by the Houston Association of REALTORS® (HAR), sales of single-family homes dropped 30.2 percent for the month of September when compared to September 2007, marking the thirteenth consecutive monthly decline.
However, home values again remained the bright spot in the HAR monthly report. The average price of a single-family home rose by 4.4 percent in September to $211,660, the highest level ever for a September in Houston. The median price of a single-family home rose 5.0 percent last month to $157,500, also an all-time September high. The median price represents the figure at which half of the homes sold for more and half sold for less.Sales of all property types for September 2008 totaled 4,189, reflecting a 29.5 percent drop compared to September 2007. Total dollar volume for properties sold during the month was $857 million versus $1.2 billion one year earlier, a 28.6 percent decline.“Hurricane Ike effectively shut Houston’s real estate business down for half of September,” said Michael Levitin, HAR chairman and principal of HTownRealty.com. “Like other businesses, real estate agencies lost anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of weeks due to power outages and damage caused by the storm, and thousands of property transactions were postponed so that sellers could make repairs. Ike did, however, help accelerate transactions involving rental properties as many people sought short-term housing.” September Monthly Market Comparison Despite Ike’s rampage, the month of September brought Houston’s overall housing market mixed results when considering all listing categories. Total property sales and total dollar volume fell, however average and median single-family home sales prices continued their steady increase on a year-over-year basis.
The number of available properties, or active listings, at the end of September fell 6.6 percent from September 2007 to 50,155. That’s 2,676 fewer active listings than August 2008, and is seen as an indication that inventory levels are balanced and that home prices should remain strong.
Month-end pending sales – those listings expected to close within the next 30 days – totaled 2,583, which was 37.9 percent lower than last year and strongly suggests the likelihood of another sales decline next month. The month’s inventory of single-family homes for September came in at 6.4 months, the lowest level since April of this year. That compares to the September 2007 single-family homes inventory of 6.3 months.

Time to Buy and Sell?

Autumn is here....Ike is Out...Stock market is nuts (though as I write this blog, I'm very happy with the direction it's taken today!).....Buyers are back on the streets again. We've had some pretty quiet weeks lately, but showings are happening again. The big question with the stock market so volatile is "should we just sink our money in real estate" now rather than chance the market place. I have no crystal ball, so I'd be the last to offer you financial advice....but Houston housing seems to still be in good shape. So, if you've been considering buying and selling, now might be a good time. You can get into that new house before the holidays....and before January 1, 2009...so you can ensure you can apply for Homestead Exemption next year! If you're ready, let me know and we'll get started!

Pesky Ike

As we recover from Pesky Ike's fury, we are all trying to get back to life as we knew it before he showed up! For those of you who have your homes listed, the market has been quiet as folks try to find some normalcy in their lives. I hope that within the next few weeks, we'll see a return to buyers getting back out there in their hunt for a new home. In the meantime, you will want to get your home repairs handled, yards cleaned up and insurance claims finalized. As for insurance adjustments, you'll find that the adjusters are swamped with claims, and they are trying to handle the worst case scenarios first, as it should be. So, if you have't seen an adjuster yet, it's not surprising.

Many of you have been without power (some without water). There have been yards of debris to deal with; insurance adjusters; roofers; contractors. Please be cautious as to who you hire to do your repairs. There are folks who will show up at your door, uninvited, offering to do repairs. I would caution you about hiring them without checking out their credentials and referrals. As you have often heard, "buyer beware"....this is especially true right now. If the deal sounds too good to be true, odds are that it is!