March 5, 2007

The Hot Summer Selling Season is Just Around the Corner

Welcome to the first new issue of At Home in Katy's RealtyTimes in almost 3 months. We apologize for the disappearance of the newsletter during this time - what can we say, we got wrapped up with more pressing business. We hope you understand. We've got a new look, which hopefully will make the newsletter much easier to read, and after some problems with mail delivery we've got a new delivery engine as well - all designed to get you the information you want to read in a timely manner. We hope that you enjoy this issue, and if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions - we'd love to hear them! Just visit our website and submit a comment. DO NOT reply to this email as it is NOT monitored.

Thanks for taking the time to read, and enjoy the show!

HUD Foreclosures

Could they be the option you're looking for?

When homebuyers get a mental picture of 'foreclosures', they often start imaging the worst. Broken down homes that need countless amounts of time and energy just to return them to livability. While sometimes this is the case, it's not always. HUD foreclosed homes often are move-in ready, and in many cases only a few years old. And here's the kicker - first - you can usually buy these homes well below market value, two - owner occupants ALWAYS get preference over investors - even if their offers are lower! Read on to learn more about HUD Foreclosures.

For Sale by Owner?

How For Sale by Owner Can Cost You in the Long Run

There are a bunch of them out there - BuyOwner.com, ByOwner.com, FSBO.com, Assist2Sell.com - and they all have basically the same model. You pay them large sums of money up front, usually a set rate and in return you get a sign, an internet listing on THEIR website and a 'good luck'! The problem is they've already made their money so what incentive do they have to sell your home, and for top dollar? To learn more about how these programs work, and why it pays to have a real Realtor in your corner, check out The Problems with For Sale by Owner.

The Facts About Your Credit

How Your Credit Can Affect Your Ability to Buy a Home

The simple truth of the matter is the better your credit, the better rates your going to be able to otain. Lenders are willing to loan to just about anyone these days but the loan product you get can have a substantial impact on the amount of home you can afford. A higher interest rate will mean a lower total sales prices and vice versa. To learn about the impact of your credit worthiness on your ability to buy the home of your creams, click through to read The Facts About Your Credit.

What CLUE Reports Mean to You

How Insurance Reports Can Affect the Home Your Buy or Sell

We are all aware of Credit Reports and how our credit reports affect our ability to obtain future credit -- especially when purchasing a home. But did you know that the Insurance Industry also keeps track of homeowners and their Insurance histories? The bottom line to CLUE Reports is that a home with multiple claims against it can be potentially uninsurable. No Mortgage lender will make a loan on a property that cannot be insured since that property is their collateral in case of default. To learn more about What CLUE Reports Mean to You, read on.

Real Estate Commissions

Why does it cost 6% to sell my home?

The common misconception is that is HAS to cost 6% to sell a home. The fact of the matter is that commissions are negotiable, but most reputable Realtors won't sell a home for less than 6%. Your less experienced agents might lower their rates to try to get your business, but what they've just done is limited the amount of exposure they can get for your home and still make any kind of living. This is why there is so much agent turnover in the real estate business. In our article, Why Does it Cost 6% to Sell My Home we'll tell you the ins and outs of why a Realtor charges what they do.

Tax Savings Are A-Coming!

How Recent Legislative Changes Will Affect Your Homeowners Taxes

Last year, the Texas Legislature made key changes to the tax structure as they relate to our homeowners taxes. School districts around the state in turn reacted by changing the rates at which they tax homeowners. The changes resulted in lowering the tax rate, which in our community have been capped for two years. Learn how these changes will affect your bottom line in What is Going on With My Taxes? And more good news (at least for Katy area residents): they'll go down again next year too!

Let Us Help!

I WANT TO BE YOUR REALTOR!
As your Realtor®, it is my job to understand your needs and respond to them promptly, professionally and with integrity. It is my pledge to provide you with sound real estate advice, helping you to understand the wisdom of the decisions you make. By being your Realtor®, our relationship is built on trust. Value and service will be provided before, during, and after the transaction, so that your changing needs are always addressed and satisfied.

It is not only my business philosophy, but also a commitment to provide you with exemplary personalized service beyond your expectations. My practice is to listen, hear and truly understand your needs; a quality of business conduct that often seems to have been forgotten in today's fast paced, highly automated society. Call me when you're ready to buy, sell or lease real estate in the Houston and surrounding areas!

Brian Varvel
281.787.0930
Visit our Website!

Homes for Sale

730 Long Prairie

7278 Batts Ferry Rd.

28115 Longspur

28115 North Firethorne

2219 Cactus Finch

We Need Listings

The end of 2006 and the start of 2007 delivered to us an abundance of buyers and as a result, we need more listings! We've been soliciting homeowners in popular neighborhoods simply because we've got buyers waiting to buy in certain communities. If you are thinking about selling your home, or even just kicking the idea around, there's never been a better time than now! Give us a call, and we'll review your options, delivery a property analysis, and best of all - we'll get it sold quickly!