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2011 ENDS ON A HEALTHY NOTE
December marks the seventh consecutive month of increased home sales; 2011 bests 2010 in sales volume and pricing
HOUSTON — (January 17, 2012) — After several months in which home sales figures were skewed by the effects of the 2010 homebuyer tax credit, the Houston real estate market concluded 2011 solidly in the black. December marked [...]
Posted: February 18, 2012
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HOUSTON HOME SALES REMAIN IN POSITIVE TERRITORY FOR A SIXTH STRAIGHT MONTH
November prices are mixed as indicators reflect a healthy year-end market
HOUSTON — (December 20, 2011) — Consumers kept the Houston real estate market humming in November, accounting for the sixth consecutive month of positive home sales this year. The year-over-year increase in single-family homes sales, along with another rise in pending sales and further decline [...]
Posted: December 20, 2011
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Homestead Exemption Time.
Question: How do you know if you already have the homestead exemption on your home in Galveston County?
Goto http://www.galvestoncad.org/Appraisal/PublicAccess/ and look under your address. It will say what exemptions you have there. I’d be happy to look that up for you as well.
If your homestead is not filed you can print out a form from [...]
Posted: January 21, 2011
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HOUSTON HOME PRICES REACH A NOVEMBER HIGH WHILE SALES VOLUME REMAINS COOL FOR THE FIFTH CONSECUTIVE MONTH
Low and high ends of the housing market record the greatest sales volume
HOUSTON — (December 21, 2010) — For the fifth month in a row following expiration of the 2010 homebuyer tax credit, sales of single-family homes across Greater Houston declined in November while the prices of those homes rose. Despite the lingering sales chill, [...]
Posted: December 21, 2010
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HOUSTON HOME PRICES SHOW CONTINUED STABILITY EVEN AS SALES TUMBLE FOR A FOURTH STRAIGHT MONTH IN OCTOBER
Average and median prices remain the silver lining in the monthly housing market report, reaching the highest levels for an October in Houston HOUSTON — (November 16, 2010) — The Houston real estate market staged an encore of its post-tax credit performance in October with a decline in sales volume but continued stability in pricing. [...]
Posted: November 16, 2010
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Thinking of Remodeling to Sell? Wait a minute…
As seen in the Houston Chronicle…
Question: Beside the kitchen, what improvements can buyers do to reep the most return when putting their home for sale?
Aside from shiny new stainless steel appliances and the ever sought after granite counters, there are a lot of inexpensive things you can do to your home to maximize the return [...]
Posted: November 1, 2010
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HOUSTON HOME SALES COOL IN THE MID-SUMMER HEAT
HOUSTON – (August 17, 2010) – An anticipated property sales slowdown set into the Houston real estate market in July following the expiration of the federal homebuyer tax credit. The credit had propelled local home sales for four straight months beginning in March, however home sales suffered a double-digit decline in July. Despite the drop, [...]
Posted: August 27, 2010
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Houston Market snapshot for June 2010
The federal tax credit stimulated the houston real estate market the earlier part of this year. Junes sold numbers have leveled out to what we typically see this time of the year. A growing number of homes on the market and a slowdown in number of homes with contracts pending point to a slower few [...]
Posted: August 7, 2010
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Looking for Forclosures in the Houston Area?
Forclosed homes in the Houston Area
Posted: July 30, 2010
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Smart Homebuyers Hire Home Inspectors
Home inspections are an indispensable part of the home-buying process. Buying a home without one is the same as buying a car without even kicking the tires.
Any good real estate agent will recommend you include a home inspection clause when you make an offer on a house. That usually means you’ll be paying for the [...]
Posted: July 11, 2010
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How to pick a REALTOR- 5 Things you need to know.
The Agent and Buying a House—What to Know
It’s the biggest purchase Americans make … the house. The best way to make sure that buying a house goes off without a hitch is to get as much information about the process as possible, and to also know how to select the right real estate agent. [...]
Posted: April 30, 2010
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First Time Homebuyer Credit ENDS Friday!
If you’re a first time home buyer, you only have until Friday to take advantage of the $8000 tax credit, $6500 for those who are not first time buyers.
It is a phenomenal time for someone to get into the housing market!
Historically low interest rates and low housing prices are the perfect recipe for first time [...]
Posted: April 29, 2010
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FHA announces increases in their Upfront Mortgage Fee
Increase in Upfront Premiums for FHA Mortgage Insurance Effective for FHA loans for which the case number is assigned on or after April 5, 2010, FHA will collect an upfront mortgage insurance premium of 2.25 percent. This policy change will increase premiums for purchase money and refinance transactions, including FHA-to-FHA credit-qualifying and non-credit qualifying streamlined [...]
Posted: March 15, 2010
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Time is Running Out For the Extended and Expanded Homebuyer/Homeowner Tax Credit
The deadline for the extended and expanded homebuyer/homeowner tax credit is just around the corner. It’s important for HAR members to remind their clients that they only have until April 30 to take advantage of this important incentive.
Although the tax credit has been available for some time already, both members and consumers still have many [...]
Posted: March 4, 2010
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Protecting the Mortgage Interest Deduction
On February 1, President Obama released his budget proposal for 2011. Consistent with its proposed FY 2010 budget, the Administration’s again has recommended limiting the value of the mortgage interest deduction (MID) for upper income taxpayers by, in effect, converting the deduction to a 28% tax credit for those individuals currently in the 33% or [...]
Posted: March 2, 2010
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FREE ENERGY EFFICIENCY HOME REPAIRS
A new federally funded program is being provided by the City of League City and BKR Consulting to help residents with home repairs. This program is designed to maximize each homeowner’s energy consumption by implementing cost savings measures to their home. Repairs will include but not limited to: CFL light bulbs, Energy Star ceiling fans, [...]
Posted: February 12, 2010
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Surge in Sales of Homes Priced $500K and Above Promotes Double-Digit Price Appreciation
Surge in Sales of Homes Priced $500K and Above Promotes Double-Digit Price Appreciation
The Houston real estate market opened 2010 with a mixed bag of readings, making it difficult to determine a clear direction for the months ahead.
January sales of single-family homes across the greater Houston area slid 12.3 percent compared to January 2009, according to [...]
Posted: February 1, 2010
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Buyers or Sellers Market? It is all about Current Inventory Levels
Is it a Buyers Market or a Sellers Market???
It is all about Supply and Demand. The number of homes currently on the market compared to how many homes sold last month or year in your market. If there are currently 10 homes for sale in your neighborhood and last year 20 sold, then [...]
Posted: January 6, 2010
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First time homebuyer Tax Credit extended and expanded to include CURRENT HOMEOWNERS!
Recently, the U.S. Senate and House passed legislation that included an extension and expansion of the tax credit for homebuyers. President Obama signed the bill into law. Here are some of the key points…
The $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit will continue until April 30, 2010, and the income limits have been increased to $125,000 [...]
Posted: December 27, 2009
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