Owner: My Active Rain Blog on Real Estate URL:http://www.activerain.com/blogs/stevehomer Join Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2008 08:37:41 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: The rantings and ravings of a full-time real estate broker who specializes in investment real estate. I service the communities of Round Rock, Georgetown, Cedar Park & Pflugerville, Texas. Site statistics:Click here
Time To Celebrate! 2008-05-01 10:22:34 Ok so maybe 30,000 points doesn't seem like much when you hear of people eclipsing 400,000, but I did it all in 6 weeks and along the way had 6 leads and 3 referrals come from AR and Localism! I am elated! Thanks to all of you "in the Rain" that helped to make this happen. I am amazed at this community and the wonderful people that I have been the pleasure of meeting and associating with here! You are FANTASTIC and I love you all!I could not have made this score in this short time without plenty of associations and subscriptions and I want to encourage you that I reciprocate with anyone who makes me an associate or subscribes to my BLOG! There is a subscribe button below and as soon as I can figure out how to make an Associate with Me button, I&# Read more:Celebrate
May Events in Texas - Things to see and do! 2008-05-01 08:41:34 MAY 2008 1 CONROE Free Concert in the Park, (936) 522-3014, www.cityofconroe.org 1 KERRVILLE Symphony of the Hills, (830) 792-7469 1 AMARILLO [1-3] Greater Southwest Music Festival, (806) 373-5093, www.gswmf.com1 HELOTES [1-4] Cornyval & PRCA Rodeo, (210) 695-2103, www.cornyval.com1 ODESSA [1-4] Fiesta West Texas
, (432) 580-8112 1 PORT NECHES [1-4] Riverfest & Classic Car Show, (409) 722-9154 1 HENDERSON [1-31] Wildflower Trails, 1-866-650-5529, ext. 800, www.hendersontx.us2 AMARILLO Art Walk, (806) 352-7262 2 COLEMAN Ag Day, (325) 625-2361 2 EMORY [2-3] Founders Day Festival, (903) 473-2465, ext. 112, www.foundersdayfestival.org2 LOCKHART [2-3] Cinco de Mayo, (512) 398-9600 2 ABILENE [2-4] Cinco de Mayo Festival, (325) 672-1794 2 HUNTSVILLE [2-4] Sam Houston Folk Festival, (936) 2
Wood Glen Market Report - May 2008 2008-05-01 07:46:53 Through the first four months of this year, Wood Glen home sales have been down over previous years as follows: Homes Sold Difference2007 13 Down by 62%2006 16 Down by 68%2005 16 Down by 68%2004 17 &n Read more:Market
Its Time to Invest In Real Estate... Conservatively! 2008-04-30 18:56:39 Many voices are saying that NOW IS THE TIME TO INVEST IN REAL ESTATE. Becoming financial free is almost an obsession of many people today hence the reason for the huge popularity of the midnight real estate investing courses for sale on cable all night long! I agree that with the slowness of the market at this time, it is an attractive market for the smart investors. By smart investors, I mean the true real estate investors that are just that and are not market speculators or market timers. These last two strategies rarely, if ever work - not in the stock market or in real estate investing either. The smart investor is conservative and at least incorporates these tips for real estate investors (if not, many others as well):Buy properti Read more:Estate
, Real Estate
Are Short Sales Like Snake Oil? You Decide! 2008-04-30 17:56:26 Well the short answer is... complex. In either case, you are going to suffer a 200-300 point loss in your FICO score that will likely not be regained for 3-5 years after either of these finds its way to your credit history. Here is why:Lenders see both events as equally negative on your creditworthiness in the future.Either event is seen as the unsuccessful completion of a loan agreement, in other words you are not trustworthy to complete agreements that you sign up for.So the net effect of either event on your credit is the same. Many "advisors" in the marketplace will say that somehow a short sale can be recovered from more quickly than a foreclosure, but most lenders would disagree. You are probably in for a 3-5 year wait before your credit scores Read more:Short
, Sales
, Snake
Looking for Property Management in Round Rock? 2008-05-03 16:33:41 The HBH Group offers full service Property Management
in Round Rock, Texas and we are currently seeking new management properties. We focus in a small area of North Austin and can offer the following services over and above many of the competing companies in the area:Because we concentrate in a small area (Round Rock, Pflugerville, Georgetown and Hutto only), we keep your property in regular sight, ensuring that the property is in good condition and regular maintenance is being performed on a consistent basis by the tenant.We insulate you from late rent payments by mailing your check for arrival on/before the 5th of every month. We handle all tenant interfaces so you as the owner are completely insulated from the hassles of being a landlord.We manage your repairs by using a service warra
Investment in Texas Can Help You Retire Early! 2008-05-03 16:02:24 Did you know that people just like you make an Investment in Texas
every day by purchasing investment real estate here? Did you also know that real estate is one of the safest and yet most lucrative investments of all and is available to nearly everyone? These are just two of the many facts that are true of real estate investing and unfortunately many people never take advantage of the freedom that they have in this country to grow their net worth and work towards financial independence through real estate investing. Further, those that do are often drawn to more volatile real estate markets around the country chasing rapid appreciation. There are many people who have invested in the recent past in various places around the country that we HOT a few years ago only t Read more:Early
Reducing Your Gas Expenses... 2008-05-06 07:02:49 I have written a couple of posts recently on reducing your expenses on gasoline. These include: Gas Prices ARE KILLING OUR BUSINESSES! and Tips on Saving Money in an Era of Higher Gas Prices. In this post, I want to share another way to reduce your costs at the pump - a more collaborative method using the web. Check out GasBuddy.com to see a creative method to share local pricing information with other consumers. Once you create an account at the site, you can report on gas prices that you have encountered daily so everyone in your area can keep up to date on the most cost effective places to pump gas on any specific day.And by the way, for my readers in Round Rock, the new HEB Plus store on Palm Valley offers HEB points on gas purchases so if you have a Points Club Rewards car Read more:Reducing
, Expenses
1084 Zeus Circle, Round Rock, Texas - For Sale - Keller Williams/The HBH Group 2008-05-05 18:18:09 Welcome home to 1084 Zeus Circle
, Round Rock, Texas
. This home is an exquisite Gehan plan that is four years young and bacs up to an open field area. Located on a quiet circle, schools are withing walking distance and this home is very close to all the new outlet malls and shopping as well as the hospitals and Texas State University campus on University Drive. Hurry! This one will go quickly at this price! Read more:Keller
, Williams
, Group
Why Austin Texas Real Estate Investment Has a Great ROI 2008-05-05 10:33:10 Real Estate
Investors love AustinTexas
and The HBH Group loves Real Estate investors. You are a major focus of our business and we have configured our service mix to meet the needs of Real Estate investors and those interested in Real Estate Investment
. Why is the Austin Texas area so popular with investors?There are many reasons why. Here are just a few of the many:Austin Texas Real Estate Investment has a solid appreciation history. Most areas of the town have a historical track record of 6-8% appreciation annualized over about the last 10 years. Many higher demand areas in town enjoy even greater appreciation rates; however they may also be more volatile so we tend to recommend areas of town that are more stable and steady to our investors. Our Real Estate Investment philos Read more:Great
Protecting Your Children While Online - Free Tips from The HBH Group 2008-05-05 07:40:41 My team and I are committed to families and as a result your children as well. No one single group is more vulnerable in the world today more than children. Albeit a fantastic information source and a cornerstone of our business at The HBH Group
, The Internet can be a dangerous place for your children. We would like to present you with a few family policy ideas to protect your children from some of the more dangerous aspects of the high-tech world of the internet. Here are a few:Develop an agreement (in writing) with your kids about their Internet usage - This can be a sort of contract of trust with your children - the do's and don'ts that they agree to. There are several examples of similar documents that you can find on the Internet. A few exam Read more:Protecting
, Children
The HBH Group – Specialists in Texas Real Estate Investing 2008-05-05 07:31:34 From all over the U.S. the word is coming out that Central Texas
is the next big real estate investing area the investors are moving toward. There are some significant reasons for this fact. These include:Substantial job growth - The technology boom has brought the jobs to Central Texas in a big way. This has increased the average household income levels in the greater Austin area to almost 50% greater than the Texas average! Real EstateInvesting
in Texas has exploded in the past few years as a result with investors moving dollars into the area and creating high demand in both single and multi-family properties.Income growth - Again the high-tech nature of the job growth market has given Texas a decided edge over most other cities in Texas! This makes real estate investing here Read more:Group
What Is The Deal With Roundrock Texas? 2008-05-04 14:10:15 Since 2000, the population of Roundrock Texas
has grown by nearly 50% from 61,000+ to 91,000+ people. Roundrock is one of the fastest growing areas in Texas and even the entire nation for that matter. What are some of the factors drawing people to this area? Here are a few:Substantial job growth - Dell Computer has brought the high tech jobs and support jobs to Roundrock Texas in a big way. This has increased the average household income levels in the Roundrock area to almost 50% greater than the Texas average!Income growth - Again the high-tech nature of the job growth market has given Roundrock Texas a decided edge over most other cities in Texas!Low cost of living - Round Rock enjoys a kiw cost of living while still having a higher standard of living due to the quality job growt
How to Identify Great Investment Property in Texas 2008-05-04 13:50:29 My team and I specialize in assisting investors acquire and manage investment property in and around the north Austin area: Round Rock, Georgetown, Pflugerville and Hutto. I post this article in order to help you identify what factors constitute a great deal here and how we can help you acquire, lease and maintain such properties.In recent months property investment has been on the rise in this area due to several factors:An increase in the incidence of foreclosure and pre-foreclosure investment properties.A slight slow down in the real estate markets in this area.A more aggressive rent price posture.A slow down in the active owner-occupying buyers active in the market.These and other factors have accelerated the incidence of property investments in the area and have investor buyers to u Read more:Texas
, Great
Why You Should Buy Properties, Not Consumables 2008-05-07 12:03:31 Consume, consume, consume – consumption of goods and services is what makes our market-based economy click. Money has to move from person to person to keep the economy going. Most of my readers can hearken back to your college days when you sat through an accounting class, sifting through all those benign terms like debits, credits and the like. I also know that a very few of you actually liked those topics and became CPA’s, financial advisors and CFP’s. Realistically, most of you turned to other interests other than subjects such as asset acquisition. If I can, I would like to ask you to recall the definition of the term “asset”. In this article, we are going to analyze that term and its meaning. According to the investor’s dictionary, an asset is defined as a Read more:Properties
In a Catastrophe, Home Inventories Can Be Your Salvation! 2008-05-08 21:10:41 Why a Home Inventory is ImportantPut yourself to the test. Could you make a list of everything in your home from memory, without going room by room? Most of us would answer no, which is why a Home Inventory is such a necessity. When a natural disaster or burglary occurs, your insurance company will require documented proof of possessions that are stolen, damaged or destroyed. They will want an itemized list which is not easily created, especially during a crisis. A Home Inventory will also help you determine the amount of insurance coverage you need.What to IncludeEVERYTHING! The first items that come to mind are usually the most obvious: furniture, appliances, electronics, artwork, jewelry and treasured keepsakes. But don't forget the oc Read more:Catastrophe
, Salvation
There Could be Poison in Your Backyard! 2008-05-08 21:04:57 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has banned the use of a cancer-causing wood preservative. That's the good news. The bad news is that the substance, known as CCA (for chromated copper arsenate), is embedded in 90% of all outdoor wooden structures, including decks and play equipment. If you have any outdoor wooden structures there is a good chance you're within exposure distance to arsenic. So, if you're thinking of refurbishing your deck instead of buying a new one, or have wood structures on your premises, learn to be aware of the hazards. Take reasonable steps to protect your family from unnecessary exposure to the arsenic that leaches from CCA-treated wood. Arsenic exposure from pressure treated wood& Read more:Poison
1147 Stone Forest - Round Rock - For Lease 2008-05-08 06:59:40 The HBH Group | Keller Williams Realty | 512-439-3771 1147 StoneForest
TR, Round Rock, TX Open, spacious home 3 BR + a study, great floorplan, living flows to large kitchen with ample cabinet space. This home is professionally managed by HBH Property Management and is ready for move in today. Call today for a showing! 3 Bdrm Single Family House $1,295/month Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 2 full, 0 partial Sq Footage 1,759 Parking 2 dedicated Pet Policy Cats, Small dogs (< 25lbs) Deposit $1,100
see additional photos below RENTAL FEATURES
Air conditioning
Central heat
High/Vaulted ceiling
Walk-in closet
Family room
Office/Den
Breakfast nook
Dishwasher
Refrigerator
Stove/Oven
Microwave
Attic
Laun
Free Real Estate Investing Training and Seminars - from The HBH Group 2008-05-10 08:55:27 The HBH Group
offers FREE monthly seminars to teach the principles of "The Millionaire Real Estate
Investor", the groundbreaking new book that offers the novice real estate investor proven models and systems to create wealth with real estate. Here are some examples of the success stories that are shared in our seminars as well as a synapsis of the book:
When Wendy Patton bought her first investment property she was living in a hotel, made $20,000 a year, and owed that much in student loans. Today Wendy has bought and sold more than 600 houses.
Jimmy and Linda McKissack struggled for years to turn a restaurant and nightclub into a sustainable business. They began supplementing their income though investment properties. Within five years they went from a handful of investment homes to 83 Read more:Seminars
, Training
, Investing
264 E. Lakeshore Drive - Sunrise Beach, TX - Lakefront Paradise for Sale! 2008-05-09 19:29:29 Lovely home on the water in SunriseBeach
. All the amenities here and great for a weekend retreat or a lifetime of fun all the time. Boats and boat dock included. Fishing area with automated fish feeder and cleaning area. Lake water irrigation keeps the grass green and lush. See a virtual tour by CLICKING HERE. Read more:Paradise
When Do You Fire Your Property Manager? 2008-05-10 11:32:12 With the surge in real estate investing in recent years, many people have moved money into real estate all over the country. This has been especially true of our area and now with Round Rock and Killeen being rated by Entrepreneur Magazine as some of the best places to buy real estate in the nation, the trend is skyrocketing here. More property management companies have been springing u
Today Does Matter - What are You Doing With It? 2008-05-10 09:47:44 Dr. John Maxwell is one of the most recognized business and motivational speakers of our day. He has authored more than thirty books, focusing his work on leadership and its impact on business, church and personal life. I have been a student of Dr. Maxwell's works for years now and would like to focus this article on one of my favorite books by him: Today
Matters.
"Successful people make impo
Change what you can... 2008-05-13 07:21:08 We can't change the market... We can't change our clients and who they are (well we can, but that is usually a pretty painful process!)... We can't change the economy...
We CAN change our attitude. We can make a positive attitude a habit for ourselves, daily. I am reminded of a fantastic quote from Dr. Chuck Swindoll. I had this hanging on my office wall for many years.
Dr. Swindoll sa Read more:Change
Home owners energy saving tips: Reducing your utility costs related to hot water heaters 2008-05-12 13:00:03 There are a few easy ways to cut down on utility costs as they apply to heating water
, the third largest energy expense in your home. There are many ways to save which would include using less hot water, insulating your existing heater, or buying a new one. Insulating blankets may be purchased at Lowe's or most home improvement stores. New water heaters are MUCH more efficient than models ma Read more:Reducing
, related
Buyer's Checklist When Shopping for a Home... 2008-05-12 12:32:37
The HBH Group offers you this quick checklist in the home hunting process. Notice we didn't call this the home buying process, because this article is intended only to help you pick the right home for you. The actual purchase process is much more complex and is why you as a buyer should call us to assist you with that!
Here are some simply steps to help you select the perfect home for you and Read more:Buyer
, Checklist
, Shopping
How to Find Great Real Estate Deals Now... 2008-05-12 07:45:23 If you listen to national news and give it much credence, you probably think that real estate is a bad investment during the current economic conditions. In reality, real estate has never been better and the future is always bright in this area based on historical performance numbers. Throughout the history of the United States, real estate has been a solid economic investment and it is one of Read more:Great
, Estate
, Real Estate
Reducing Your Summer Energy Costs (pt. II) 2008-05-14 07:37:08
Air Conditioning (part II)
Now on to some additional myth-busting. It is another common fallacy that you can cool your home off faster by setting a lower temperature on the thermostat. This somehow kicks the air conditioning system into "overdrive" where it cools faster - NOT TRUE. Actually it does nothing to speed up the process and you take the risk of forgetting to adjust it Read more:Reducing
, Summer
, Energy
, Costs
Personal Property vs. Real Property 2008-05-13 19:52:28 When you negotiate a contract, make sure you know what furniture, fixtures and appliances, if any, are being sold with the property. Technically, anything that’s permanently affixed to or installed in the home is real property. Everything else is the sellers’ personal property. This definition leaves a gray area that can lead to disputes between a buyer and a seller. When The HBH Group lists Read more:Personal
Reducing Your Summer Energy Costs (pt. I) 2008-05-13 19:49:01 Energy ExpensesFor the average Texas resident well over half of your total energy expenses in the summer will go to cooling your home. Electricity is produced most often in our area of the country by using fossil fuels which as you know are getting more costly every day and also come with a pollution by product of reducing quality of our air, placing more carbon dioxide in our atmosphere (wh Read more:Reducing
, Summer
, Energy
, Costs
The Two Most Important Things in Selling Your Home... Now... 2008-05-18 09:22:12 Most sellers know that we are in a major real estate slump in most markets of the country as I write this. Selling a home in markets such as this requires that you understand two things: Pricing and Marketing. This article will introduce you to these two concepts and why they are important to you as a seller.
If no buyers see your home, no offers will ever be written on it. This
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