Texas real estate

Every time I talk to someone about my business and career, it always comes up that “they’ve thought about getting into real estate” or know someone who has. With so many people thinking about getting into real estate, and getting into real estate – why aren’t there more successful Realtors in the world? Well, there’s only so much business to go around, so there can only be so many Real Estate Agents in the world. I feel, however, that the inherent nature of the business, and how different it is from traditional careers, makes it difficult for the average person to successfully make the transition into the Real Estate Business. As a Broker, I see many new agents make their way into my office – for an interview, and sometimes to begin their careers. New Real Estate Agents bring a lot of great qualities to the table – lots of energy and ambition – but they also make a lot of common mistakes. Here are the 7 top mistakes rookie Real Estate Agents Make.

1) No Business Plan or Business Strategy

So many new agents put all their emphasis on which Real Estate Brokerage they will join when their shiny new license comes in the mail. Why? Because most new Real Estate Agents have never been in business for themselves – they’ve only worked as employees. They, mistakenly, believe that getting into the Real Estate business is “getting a new job.” What they’re missing is that they’re about to go into business for themselves. If you’ve ever opened the doors to ANY business, you know that one of the key ingredients is your business plan. Your business plan helps you define where you’re going, how you’re getting there, and what it’s going to take for you to make your real estate business a success. Here are the essentials of any good business plan:

A) Goals – What do you want? Make them clear, concise, measurable, and achievable.

B) Services You Provide – you don’t want to be the “jack of all trades & master of none” – choose residential or commercial, buyers/sellers/renters, and what area(s) you want to specialize in. New residential real estate agents tend to have the most success with buyers/renters and then move on to listing homes after they’ve completed a few transactions.

C) Market – who are you marketing yourself to?

D) Budget – consider yourself “new real estate agent, inc.” and write down EVERY expense that you have – gas, groceries, cell phone, etc… Then write down the new expenses you’re taking on – board dues, increased gas, increased cell usage, marketing (very important), etc…

E) Funding – how are you going to pay for your budget w/ no income for the first (at least) 60 days? With the goals you’ve set for yourself, when will you break even?

F) Marketing Plan – how are you going to get the word out about your services? The MOST effective way to market yourself is to your own sphere of influence (people you know). Make sure you do so effectively and systematically.

2) Not Using the Best Possible Closing Team

They say the greatest businesspeople surround themselves with people that are smarter than themselves. It takes a pretty big team to close a transaction – Buyer’s Agent, Listing Agent, Lender, Insurance Agent, Title Officer, Inspector, Appraiser, and sometimes more! As a Real Estate Agent, you are in the position to refer your client to whoever you choose, and you should make sure that anyone you refer in will be an asset to the transaction, not someone who will bring you more headache. And the closing team you refer in, or “put your name to,” are there to make you shine! When they perform well, you get to take part of the credit because you referred them into the transaction.

The deadliest duo out there is the New Real Estate Agent & New Mortgage Broker. They get together and decide that, through their combined marketing efforts, they can take over the world! They’re both focusing on the right part of their business – marketing – but they’re doing each other no favors by choosing to give each other business. If you refer in a bad insurance agent, it might cause a minor hiccup in the transaction – you make a simple phone call and a new agent can bind the property in less than an hour. However, because it typically takes at least two weeks to close a loan, if you use an inexperienced lender, the result can be disastrous! You may find yourself in a position of “begging for a contract extension,” or worse, being denied a contract extension.

A good closing team will typically know more than their role in the transaction. Due to this, you can turn to them with questions, and they will step in (quietly) when they see a potential mistake – because they want to help you, and in return receive more of your business. Using good, experienced players for your closing team will help you infinitely in conducting business worthy of MORE business…and best of all, it’s free!

3) Not Arming Themselves with the Necessary Tools

Getting started as a Real Estate Agent is expensive. In Texas, the license alone is an investment that will cost between $700 and $900 (not taking into account the amount of time you’ll invest.) However, you’ll run into even more expenses when you go to arm yourself with the necessary tools of the trade. And don’t fool yourself – they are necessary – because your competitors are definitely using every tool to help THEM.

A) MLS Access is probably the most expensive necessity you’re going to run into. Joining your local (and state & national, by default) Board of Realtors will allow you to pay for MLS access, and in Austin, Texas, will run around $1000. However, don’t skimp in this area. Getting MLS access is one of the most important things you can do. It’s what differentiates us from your average salesman – we don’t sell homes, we present any of the homes that we have available. With MLS Access, you will have 99% of the homes for sale in your area available to present to your clients.

B) Mobile Phone w/ a Beefy Plan – These days, everyone has a cell phone. But not everyone has a plan that will facilitate the level of use that Real Estate Agents need. Plan on getting at least 2000 minutes per month. You want, and need, to be available to your clients 24/7 – not just nights and weekends.

C) Computer (Preferably a Laptop) – There’s no way around it, you have to have a computer & be savvy enough to use email. You would be wise to invest in some business management software, as well. If you’d like to save some money (and who wouldn’t) then you can get the client & email management software Thunderbird from http://www.mozilla.com and you can get a free office suite from http://www.openoffice.org The only downside to these programs is that they do not sync with your PDA or Smart Phone. A Laptop is a BIG plus because you’ll be able to work from home or on the go. New Real Estate Agents are often surprised by just how much time they spend AWAY from the office, and a laptop helps you stay on top of your work while on the go.

D) Real Estate Friendly Car – You don’t have to have a Lexus, but your Miata won’t do the trick. Make sure that you have a 4 door car or SUV that is comfortable and presentable. Keep it clean, and for God’s sake, don’t smoke in it! You’re going to spend a LOT of time in your car, and put a lot of miles on it, so if it’s fuel efficient, it’s a BIG plus. If you’re driving a sporty convertible, or still have your KILLER Jeep from college, it’s time to trade it in.

4) Lack of Proper Funding

If you’ve taken the time to create your business plan, than you should definitely have your budget, but I can’t stress enough the importance of having and following your budget. However, the budget alone doesn’t address the important aspect of funding. 90% of all small businesses fail due to lack of funding. Typically, new agents will want to have 3 months of reserves in savings before taking the leap into full time agency. However, money in the bank isn’t the only way to answer the question of funding. Maybe your partner can support you for a certain period of time. You can keep a part-time job that won’t interfere with your business as a Real Estate Agent. Many successful waiters make the transition to successful real estate agents with no money in the bank. When you start your new business, don’t expect to earn any income for, at the least, 60 days.

5) Refusing to Spend Money on Marketing

Most new Real Estate Agents don’t realize that the hardest part of the business is finding the business. Furthermore, they’ve just shelled out around $2000 for their license and board dues, so the LAST thing they want to do is to spend more money! Again, the problem lies in the lack of understanding that you’ve just jumped into the Real Estate Business, you haven’t taken a new job. And any good businessperson will tell you that how much business you GET is directly correlative to how much you SPEND on marketing. If you choose the right brokerage, then you will get some good inbound leads. However, don’t neglect a good, personal marketing campaign from the beginning to get your own name out as the Real Estate Agent to go to.

6) Not Focusing Their Marketing Efforts in the Most Effective Areas

One reason why many new Real Estate Agents who do begin spending money on personal marketing stop is because they spend it in the wrong place. The easiest place, and where conventional Real Estate tells you to spend your money, is in conventional print marketing – the newspaper, real estate magazines, etc… This is the most visible place to see real estate advertising, it’s where large offices spend a good part of their money, and so many new agents mistakenly spend their money here. This becomes very frustrating to new agents because of its low return. Large brokerages can afford to spend their money here because they’re filling two needs – they’re marketing their own properties for sale while creating new buyer traffic for their buyer’s agents. New Real Estate Agents should look to their own sphere of influence and referral marketing to see the most effective return on their investment. An agent can spend as little as $100/month marketing to their family, friends, and colleagues and see an incredible return. There are many great referral systems around that all focus on the same premise – that if you consistently market yourself to your sphere of influence as the Real Estate Agent to go to – then you will get more business. The key is to pick a system and to follow that system. You will see results.

7) Choosing the Wrong Brokerage for the Wrong Reasons

New Real Estate Agents choose their new broker for a variety of reasons – they have a good reputation, they offer the most competitive split, the office is close to their house, etc… While these alone aren’t bad reasons to choose a broker, they aren’t going to do a lot to help you in your success. The #1 reason to choose a broker, and the question to ask is, “What do you offer your new agents.” If the answer is, “The most competitive split in town” you should definitely keep looking. Remember, 100% of $0 is still $0. If you’re leaning towards the largest broker in town, who has a great reputation, remember this: You’re starting a BUSINESS not a JOB. While it might be fantastic to brag to your friends about landing a job at a prestigious company, it’s no accomplishment to hang your license on the same wall in the same office as other successful agents.

Your #1 concern when interviewing new Brokers is what they offer you as a new agent. Do they have incoming leads? What does their training program consist of? What’s their retention level? What’s their average sales price? Do they encourage their agents to promote themselves? A Broker’s purpose is to help new agents start successful careers and to help established Agents progress their careers to the next level. As a new agent, concern yourself less with commission split or agency name and more with specific programs and agency standards.

A new career in Real Estate is very exciting. Starting a Real Estate business provides the new Agent with opportunities for limitless potential and freedom. New Agents have a notoriously high failure rate, however, so a new Real Estate career can also be a very scary prospect. However, if you avoid the 7 Top Mistakes Rookie Real Estate Agents Make, then you’ll be far ahead of the competition!

By: Eric Bramlett

eBay is used to sell everything from used baby clothes to brick-and-mortar businesses and everything else in between including real estate. When most people think of eBay they think of the old mantra: “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure,” this is still very true but eBay has become more than just a place for people to sell their old junk.

People are actually selling big ticket items such as boats, vacation packages, high dollar electronics, etc. successfully on eBay, not to mention that eBay is officially where the most cars are sold anywhere on the planet. The point is that eBay has millions of buyers from around the world who will buy almost anything and everything you can think of which is why it would be the perfect venue to advertise and/or sell your home.

For the most part, you will most likely be using eBay to advertise that your home is for sale via eBay classified ad which gives your property a good amount of exposure.

You do have the option of auctioning your house on eBay but usually unless the property is an investment property, a rehab project, and/or being sold at a wholesale price it wont sell on eBay. The exception to this would be if the homeowner offered seller financing in which case there would be a ton of interest in the auction; but in most cases when it comes to auctions on homes people are looking for steals.

Also, when it comes to auctioning real estate on eBay there are a ton of rules that you have to abide by. But if you want to try actually selling your home on eBay I recommend checking out all the rules and regulations first.

However, your best bet would be to stick with classified ads to advertise your house for sell. People across throughout the U.S. look at real estate on eBay and even people outside the U.S. look at real estate on eBay to buy. Thus, your property is not just getting local exposure and not just national exposure but international exposure from overseas buyers.

The average 30-day classified ad for real estate on eBay gets a few thousand thousands views and the ad costs $150 to insert but there are no other fees after that even if you sell the house through the classified ad. For a 90-day classified ad it costs $300.

How the ad performs is dependent on many things most importantly the title of your ad, subtitle (optional for an additional $1.50), the pictures provided, and the description.

When it comes to your title the most important thing to have in your title is the state in which the property is in and the keywords “home” and/or “real estate.” If you’re selling a condo that is definitely a keyword that you will want to have in the title.

If you’re not putting highly searched for keywords such as “home” and “real estate” it will be difficult for buyers to find you on eBay. But keep in mind that you only get 55 characters for your title and that includes spaces.

The keyword phrases around real estate that seem to get a lot of searches on are:

- Florida Real Estate
- Florida Home
- Florida Condo
- California Real Estate
- Texas Real Estate
- Maine Real Estate
- Michigan Real Estate
- Myrtle Beach Condo
- Seller Financing

Not to say that if your home is not any of the above that it wont get hundreds if not thousands of views on eBay; it’s just that those keyword phrases are searched a lot on eBay when it comes to real estate.

With your subtitle, which it’s highly recommended that you pay the extra $1.50 to get one, you want to put information here such as number of bedrooms and bathrooms, lot size of the property, if you offer seller financing specify how much down and monthly payments, etc.

The subtitle isn’t as important as the title itself because the subtitle isn’t searched for by people on eBay but it is necessary for getting people even more interested in clicking on your ad, and for only $1.50 it’s a wise investment.

Another important factor in getting people to click your ad is the little gallery picture beside the title and subtitle when people get a list of results for a search on eBay. The gallery picture should be the best picture of the front of the house. And this gallery picture will be the main picture in the ad. But the more pictures you can provide for the classified ad of the house the better.

On the other hand, if you really want to appeal to prospective buyers you should consider providing video of the property alongside of or in lieu of the pictures. Video really sell homes or anything for that matter online.

And last but not least the description. The more descriptive you are of the house for sale the more likely you are to get a serious buyers and minimize the number of questions you get about the house. And there is no limit to how long the description can be.

In addition, you can change the classified whenever and however you want as many times as you want for as long as the ad is running – 30 or 90 days.

By: Brittany Andrews

Most Houston Texas real estate agents see Houston as a competitive market for builders, since some of the biggest builders in the United States are located here. Houston, Texas is a world-class city. You have a wonderful choice of housing in a variety of price ranges, whether you opt for an urban neighborhood or an outlying community. This city has several neighborhoods for the new homebuyer, excellent medical care facilities, and quality educational institutions.

A Houston real estate agent often uses the phrase ‘master planned community’ when he or she talks about Houston real estate. When you buy a home in these communities, you will be bound by its strict regulations and deed restrictions. These communities are set in rich foliage and trees, equipped with community centers, educational facilities and recreation areas featuring pools, ballparks and golf courses. You will find these mostly around Houston in Conroe, Copperfield, Fort Bend County, Friendswood, Jersey Village, Katy, Kingwood, League City, Pearland and The Woodlands, among others.

Recently, central Houston has seen a spurt in residential development. There are areas with historical homes and neighborhoods that are very attractive to the homebuyer and these include areas like Houston Heights, South Main, MacGregor-Riverside, Third Ward, Denver Harbor, Idylwood, etc. River Oaks is a wonderful Houston neighborhood that has beautiful large homes.

If you prefer to live in the city, Downtown Houston is ideal. It is right in the middle of the business district, but with access to entertainment and many sports – NBA, Major League Baseball, etc. There are many residential options available in the form of new high-rise apartment buildings, mid rise developments and lofts. Some of these lofts have shopping and dining on the ground floor with apartments on the top floor. There are also private town homes available.

When you are looking to buy a home in the Houston real estate market, be sure to know that using the services of a real estate agent is free! Houston Texas real estate agent websites give you listings of new homes for sale. They also keep you updated about new home communities. This Internet access is most convenient, since many homebuyers prefer to initially use a search engine to find a property. Preferably, your Texas real estate agent, who can represent you exclusively, should be your personal buyer’s agent, especially if you are thinking of buying a property since he or she will represent you throughout the transaction. These agents will usually work with an office that does not have listings of homes on sale; rather, they will act as consultants who help you in the buying process using their unique expertise.

By: Fernando Spindola

If you are contemplating a move to the Wylie, Texas area then these are some things you’d want to know. Saying that a few things are happening in Wylie would be an understatement. Wylie is one of the fastest growing communities in Texas, and Wylie has a number of projects that are in the planning or construction stage. Some of those are street and road improvements along with new buildings and facilities, to park improvements, the City of Wylie is working to meet the needs of it’s growing population.

It’s a pretty much accepted fact that a Texas home is one of the best investments you can make; but like many things in life, timing is everything. Recent worrisome talk about subprime mortgages, falling property values, foreclosures and slow real estate markets are keeping more than a few homeowners up at night. The cure for those concerns is information.

Remember, the real estate game is best played over the long haul. So trust time to be on your side! Mortgage rates are at a two-year low. If you finance your home while rates are low, you can save hundreds of dollars a year (or more), according to Freddie Mac’s January 10, 2008 Primary Mortgage Market Survey: The average principal and interest payment on a $250,000 loan has dropped by $131.83 per month since August 3, 2007.

The city of Wylie has more than sufficient Real Estate agents to assist you in making a choice. A number of those are national firms as well as builders. Some of those are Remax, Century 21, Coldwell Banker and others. Some of the builders are Choice Homes, Era Signature Homes, Country Ridge, Sage Creek Phase 8 and others.

The Real Estate market in Wylie is still strong and there is value from Wylie ISD to the convenience of outdoors activities. As a resident you’ll have quick access to Lake Lavon, Lake Ray Hubbard as well as many other parks and recreation areas that are our little secrets.

From Seis Lagos to Birmingham Farms, there is a host of subdivisions that will meet every type of home buyer’s tastes and price range. It is hard not to find exactly what you are looking for in a home in Wylie Texas – the variety of builders make Wylie a great place to call home!

Our tax rates are lower than other equitable communities and the Mayor has stated that he wants a decrease to be considered in the near future. The value of the school systems, convenience of bus service and quality of teachers all play a part in property values,and the ability to hold those to a high rate. Wylie ISD serves approximately 3,220 students in Pre-K through 12th grade on five campuses. WISD was ranked an “Exemplary” district for seven consecutive years from 1996-2003. The district continues to rate as one of the best School Districts in Texas by the Texas Education Agency. WISD has also been rated “Superior” by TEA’s Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas. This is the highest rating awarded by the state.

Public Safety sets Wylie apart from other cities. Wylie’s Crime Rate continues to be one of the lowest in North Texas and Wylie Fire Rescue maintains its ISO 1 rating. Community involvement through the Citizens Police Academy, Volunteers in Policing, CERT (Community Emergency Response Teams) and SkyWarn weather spotting, strengthens the Emergency response and preparedness.

The City of Wylie projects an expected population growth of 39,000+ or – by the end of 2008. But, there is another side of the city’s growth and that is the commercial and business development here in Wylie. With the growth, Wylie has now home to an expanding business climate with industrial and commercial development.

As Wylie continues to experience residential growth, more businesses are popping up on the Wylie landscape. According to the Texas Comptroller’s Office, there were 843 active sales tax businesses located in Wylie, Texas as of January 1, 2007. In 2006, there were only 204 new sales tax permits issued for the 75098 zip code.

With increased commercial development, the City continues to experience substantial growth in sales tax revenue. For the 2006 fiscal year, the City received $4.39 million in sales tax revenue, which represented a 24% increase since the 2005 fiscal year.

There is more than one (1) million square feet of retail and commercial development approved in Wylie that is still to be built. The majority of this development is located along the FM 544 and Highway 78 thoroughfares. With proactive evaluation and planning for retail development, they anticipate increasing Wylie’s retail base which will provide Wylie and surrounding small towns with additional shopping options having a considerable impact on the City’s sales tax revenues.

Some of the things under consideration are:

1. A New Library (40,000+ sq ft), Recreation Center (40,000 + sq ft) and a New City Hall with final planning still in the works by the City Council.

2. Woodbridge Crossing development anchored by Target. The center, scheduled to open Summer 2009, features 575,000 sq. ft. of retail space and a potential $202 million in retail sales.

3. More than 13 miles of new and reconstructed roadways, funded through the State, County and City bonds, to be completed in the next five years. Roads include Ballard Avenue, McCreary Road, Stone Road, FM 1378, Brown Street and McMillen Road.

The Mayor feels that the City, School District, Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Merchants Association, Economic Development Corporation, citizens and community organizations working together will provide the future success of the City of Wylie.

So there you have it Wylie, Texas a once sleepy little town, becoming the rose of Collin County and one of the fastest growing communities in the DFW Metroplex.

By: Jude Sutton

Downtown Austin is growing faster than ever. Well, maybe not ever, but more than in the last 14 years I have lived here. The city council and the community in gereral is pushing for growing the downtown into a live-work area with high density, shops downstairs, and living upstairs. The term is “multi-use” and it is pretty much pretty much the montra for Austin real estate. There are 10+ condo projects going up in the next couple years that cater to the different appeals of living in downtown Austin.

A couple condos are situated at the turn of the river in downtown Austin, taking advantage of views down the river. The first time I saw the views, I was pretty surprised. You can see all the way down the river from the Congress bridge, past the Lamar Bridge, and past downtown. One nice aspect about these places is that there is not much chance of anything being built in the way of the river view since you are at the bend. The two places are called The Milago and The Shores. The Milago is right at the bend of the river with only the Town Lake Trail between it and the water. If you want protected river views, The Milago is pretty much it. Also, to get any views, you need to be above the trees and that is at about the 6th floor as well as on the west side of the building; the east side of the building pretty much has nothing interesting right now. The Shores has a similar view corridor down the river and to the west and is a little more north of the Milago. It has the Mexican-American cultural center being built in front of it and has a low-rise, older townhome project that poses no threat as of now to block the view. This building is not as rectangular as The Milago so more of the units have some sort of view, whether it be the river or downtown.

Moving on to a another downtown Austin condo sector. Some hotels are renovating the top floors of their places or building new high-rises next-door to accomodate those who want more high-end services associated with hotels. They will have room service available, workout facilities, concierge, and whatnot. The Hilton probably has the most upper end units right now called the Five Fifty Five. To name a couple slick attributes, they feature wolf ovens, wood floors, 24hr. concierge & security, and walls of windows viewing Austin downtown. They have a couple penthouses left.

The other downtown Austin aspect of living that some condos will be banking on is the trend to live near walkable shops and restaurants. Clarksville is a neighborhood thriving around some shops and restaurants on West Lynn as well as the 6th & Lamar area. It is probably the closest actual neighborhood (meaning houses too) to downtown to the west. There’s a local shop to walk to on West Lynn, and if you want more of a supermarket, the Whole Foods mothership headquarters complete with ice rink is at the corner of 6th & Lamar along with REI, Waterloo Records, Amys Ice Cream, and other fun stuff. The Nokonah is right there in the midst of all that. It was built in 2001, so it is all resale at this point, but a good location with concierge and security.

And of course, people just want to live by cool areas. Austin’s South Congress is known for probably being the hippest street in Austin. It is so cool it has been abbreviated to be called SoCo. A couple different condo projects are popping up around that area. Most are the loft, slick style that blends with the SoCo area. One is practically the neighbor of a popular restaurant and club. It’s a smaller condo project at only 14 units available and starting at 380K. A larger condo projects is being developed further down south called the SoCo Lofts. These will have bamboo floors and stainless appliances. They will not really be walkable to the SoCo shopping area but will be creating its own multi-use shopping, retail, and restaurants. Since they are a little more south from the saught-after SoCo strip of shops, they are a more affordable option, starting at 225K for a 1-1.

Another area in the south that is trying to model itself after SoCo is being coined as SoLa, or South Lamar. SoLa is parallel to SoCo and about 2 main streets west. It is not as dense with shops but city plans are in the works to rezone almost everything along the street between the river south to 71 to be multi-use. It could be pretty cool and much more expansive than the current SoCo. There are various condos planned to take advantage of the new SoLa. One is just south of the river called The Magnolia. They’ve already begun construction and are moving fast, targeting completion by July 2008. The funny story behind this location is that it used to be a Wendy’s.

It will be interesting to watch Austin develop over the next several years. There are a number of downtown Austin Condos but the new ones that are coming online should widen the selection for people interested in living downtown. Additionally, the increased density should allow for more small shops and businesses to set up shop downtown which will hopefully make downtown a more walkable interesting location for years to come.

By: Ki Gray

Buying a piece of America isn’t just the American dream, now it is what smart Europeans are doing, too. Strong Euro against the weak US dollar makes investing in the United States by overseas investors a quite smart and potentially profitable choice.

One of the quickest ways that an investor can increase his or her wealth involves owning real estate. This is particularly the case when it comes to European investors, especially if they are looking to invest in U.S. real estate. There are numerous advantages to choosing the United States over other countries for investing purposes. One main reason is because the U.S. dollar is weak compared to the Euro. This allows the European investor to leverage the purchase of real estate at prices that are tens of thousands less than what an American could make the same purchase for.

However, not all real estate in the United States is prime for investment purposes. For example, areas in California, Florida and parts of the Northeast United States have somewhat considerably inflated real estate prices. These properties might be too expensive for an ordinary European investor. This is why it is better that Europeans ought to be considering alternatives that are more reasonably priced, though even then they should be careful. Inexpensive options for real estate are not effective if they are in areas that are not capable of increasing in value over time. Instead, the real estate will just remain on the market for much longer, as the investor will have to struggle to find a person who is willing to buy.

So, what would be a very good solution for overseas investors? Investors who want to be successful need to find an area within the United States that is both reasonably priced and has a moderate cost of living. With this winning combination, investors will be able to purchase into something that they can afford while still being allowed the opportunity to make a decent profit in a reasonable amount of time. If investors are unfamiliar as to which U.S. cities fits such a set of criteria, one of the greatest places to begin a search is in San Antonio, Texas.

Real estate in San Antonio averages around only $150,000, (or currently with the devalued dollar about 105,000 in Euros). Compare this to the national United States real estate price average, which is in excess of $220,000 and you will be pleasantly surprised. Just because the real estate is significantly less expensive in San Antonio, Texas; does not mean that anything will be sacrificed when it comes to quality. This is because even at $150,000, you will be able to choose between new or previously owned, either, absolutely stunning.

Chances are high that any property bought in San Antonio will increase in value over time. This is because there are two different prospective markets for San Antonio real estate: native San Antonio residents, and people from other states who are looking for more economic freedom. In fact, the latter category might be even more likely to buy or rent than the former, since native San Antonians are already acquainted with the economic advantages associated with their location.

Take a quick look online at example San Antonio homes to give one an idea of what the real estate worth $150,000 in San Antonio actually is going to look like. Most of the real estate you will find in San Antonio will range 1600-2500 square feet, single-family homes with 3-5 bedrooms, and at least 2 full bathrooms and 2-car garage. In terms of style, many are ranches or 2-story. Although most of the homes in San Antonio have been constructed in recent years, their prices average around the same as the older homes in the city. Additionally, many of the properties are brand new construction or already in move-in condition. Investors will not have to worry themselves with the idea of spending thousands more trying to repair ‘fixer-upper’ properties.

San Antonio is the 7th largest city in the US with nearly 2 million people. These economic advantages to living in San Antonio, Texas are many. First, San Antonio residents do not have to pay state income tax, allowing them to receive more from their paychecks. Secondly, the overall cost of living is much easier to handle in the region. This can be observed using the cost of living index, which is 95.2, (compared to the U.S. average of 100). Thirdly, San Antonio is already poised for further economic growth. Economists predict that the city will gain over 85,000 new jobs over the next 5 years.

Of course, San Antonio also offers many social advantages as well. For instance, the region has undergone significant urban development, especially in comparison to other major cities in Texas. This includes having one of the main elements that makes for a well-functioning city: good transportation. San Antonio fits into this set of criteria by possessing very good bus and downtown streetcar services, as well as access to multiple major freeways.

There is also a lot to do in San Antonio. The area is well saturated with shops, clubs, stadiums, restaurants, golf courses and movie theaters. What sets San Antonio apart from other cities within the US is the city’s myriad of tourist attractions that can be enjoyed by visitors to the city, and residents as well. For example, a popular attraction in San Antonio is the Alamo. Texas most visited tourist spot.

There is also the Downtown Riverwalk, which is claimed to be the most popular tourist destination in San Antonio. The area holds a wide array of events and festivals.

If a person is unable to attend a Riverwalk event, another way to enjoy the scenery is through a traditional boat ride tour. These boat rides can be a simple stroll in a ferry, or something much more luxurious, such as a dinner cruise. Either choice will allow residents to be able to fully enjoy the idyllic experience available through the River walk.

Another reason why people from other states tend to consider relocation to San Antonio is because of the city’s excellent weather. In the winter months, San Antonio’s temperature ranges from 62 to 71 degrees. In the spring the weather ranges from 74 to 86 degrees. The summer months brings temperatures between 90 and 95 degrees. Finally, the fall has weather that is between 82 and 90 degrees. So, as one can see, the region does not get unreasonably cold or unbearably hot, unlike other areas that are touted for their good weather.

Investors from all over, particularly from Europe, who are not taking advantage of the real estate market in San Antonio, are putting themselves at a serious disadvantage over other investors that are. European investors can get some suggestions on ways to begin investing endeavors in San Antonio, Texas real estate.

Before a European investor can make any official moves, they must be aware of what is available on the market. To do this, they will need to conduct some research. Suggested sources Texas A&M Real Estate Center, the San Antonio Express News-local newspapers , and local San Antonio real estate agent websites.

Financing is available for the foreign investor. This step may require a little bit of extra investigation because not all Texas mortgage companies have programs available for financing an international investment. Still, enough of these transactions are completed on a regular basis that the European investor should still be able to obtain the help and the financing that they need.

Once a European investor has acquired the property their heart was set on, they will need to put a significant amount of consideration into how they are going to utilize the property. Vacation, second home, home for student child attending a university in San Antonio.

If a European investor decides to rent the property out instead, they can squeeze a monthly payment out of the property for as long as it is in their possession. How can a European investor collect rent if they do not live in the same country as their tenants? The best solution to this conundrum is simply to hire a property management company to handle these affairs. Property managers can be responsible for collecting rent, as well as handling any repairs that may need to be done throughout time on the property. The downside to using a property manager to handle these affairs is that they must be paid through a portion of the rent fees. Still, they can be quite beneficial to an investor who lives out of the country, which means it may be a worthwhile consideration to make.

It should be quite clear by now that San Antonio is a prime location for a variety of strong and productive investing opportunities, especially for Europeans who are looking to own a piece of America. San Antonio offers beauty, affordability and a large number of attractive amenities that nearly guarantee a boost in population in the near future. What this means is that now is prime time to make a serious move. Investors who put their money into San Antonio real estate will surely be glad that they did.

By: Randall Watson

El Paso is the fourth-largest city in Texas, and almost close to Los Angeles. The beauty of El Paso tx real estate commands the fondness of the years resident and the newcomer alike. Once if you come across El Paso beauty, it is very difficult for you to forget its gorgeousness. The charm lies in it – as varied as the colors in sunsets and sunrise. English and Spanish in language, American and Mexican in culture attract the people from every side. Cooperation and friendliness between two countries is a living example.

El Paso tx real estate appeals everybody for its contrast such as stunning, modern industrial buildings and old mission bells, dry warmth of a summer day and the coolness of a sparkling night, trails and fabulous highways, cactus in the entrance of an deserted mine and Salix beside a calm lake. You cannot know about El Paso tx Real estate beauty fully in one day or one week, as it has been relished with vogue in all seasons. The cost of living is also comparatively low due to mild and relaxed climate.

Horse racing, dog racing, corridas, baseball, soccer, football, basketball, tennis, hiking, skiing, camping and what else you’ll find most every sport in El Paso. Fort Bliss shows the mock-up of the U.S. Army post that stood guard and protected El Paso. To fulfill your life come here try El Paso’s symphony, award-winning civic theater and relax at night clubs at unexpected costs.

El Paso tx Real Estate is the heart of an international transportation network, frequently landing planes, major highway routes, opportune bus service, and even passenger rail service. All of these things have placed El Paso in the list of fastest growing cities in Texas. The city has walked its way from a small town to a monolithic southwest mercantile system and banking center. The total population of El Paso is 503,000. Cities’ largest industries include garments, wader manufacturing, copper, oil refineries, and electronics. The lush Rio Grande Valley raises cotton fiber, wheat, alfalfa, fruits, vegetables, and a lot more.

To addition it all, El Paso tx Real Estate has much more to offer everyone – the tourist, the serious home-buyer and investor. For a new engage on life, be it a new job, retirement, or a change of pace, come to El Paso Tx and admire the tranquil, relaxed life-style of the our sun country.

By: Robert Grazian

Plano Texas Real Estate Agent

Looking for a Plano Texas real estate agent does not need to be a chore. If you are buying or selling real estate in Plano Texas, you likely have enough hassles and hoops to jump over.

A Plano Texas real estate site on the internet may give you the MLS listings, but without the right Realtor?, they can tell a buyer very little.

If you are buying, the MLS listings cannot tell you about the neighborhood or the schools, but the right Realtor? can. Ads on a Plano Texas real estate site cannot tell you about nearby attractions, parks, employers and public transit. The right Realtor?, however, can. Deciding what is important to you (such as distance to work or daycare) can help your Realtor? help you.

Real estate in Plano Texas is popular for many reasons. The city ranked high in Money Magazine’s “Best places to live in the United States” list. More than 25 major corporations bought real estate in Plano Texas for their corporate headquarters, helping the city to achieve one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country.

Plano is one of the largest suburbs in the Dallas area, but further expansion is no longer possible, thus real estate in Plano Texas is highly sought after because demand is high but supply is limited.

Sellers get good prices for their homes and buyers know that their property value will most likely continue to rise. Unlike many areas of the country, Plano enjoys a thriving economy.

Most anyone would want to be a Plano Texas real estate agent and a lot of people delve into the business on a part-time basis.

But, helping people buy or sell real estate in Plano Texas or anywhere is not a part-time job. Not if you are a seller who wants the best possible price in the shortest time possible, and not if you are a buyer who does not want to look at numerous properties that are not really “what you had in mind”.

Depending on your needs, there are several credentials and certifications that you can look for when choosing a Plano Texas real estate agent. Are you selling one of the multi-million dollar properties in the area? If so, look for a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS). They know the best way to market your property and buyers interested in high end properties are more likely to come to them.

Are you a first-time home buyer? Then look for an Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR). They can answer all of your questions about everything from an ARM to a wraparound. Many first time buyers are confused by the jargon. A Plano Texas real estate agent with and ABR can help simplify the whole transaction.

Are you relocating? Look for a Certified Relocation Professional.

If you are looking for a home, rather than a commercial property, look for a Certified Residential Specialist. If you are a senior citizen, look for a Seniors Real Estate Specialist. But, most important of all, to tell the difference between the average Plano Texas real estate agent and the better qualified professionals, look for the Realtor? sign.

This sign means that the agent is a member of the National Association of Realtors? and has made a financial, educational and professional commitment to being the best in the business.

You should look for Realtors?, for example, typically work in the area they live in. To you this means that they are familiar with the area. If you are buying, they can help you find a property that meets not only your price range, but your hobbies and interests.

If you browse a Plano Texas real estate site and you like to bike, you still cannot tell which properties are near the miles of bike trails in the city. If you have kids, you will want to know the location of the elementary, middle or high school and what parks and playgrounds are nearby. You want a Realtor? familiar with available real estate in Plano Texas and the surrounding area.

MLS listings on a Plano Texas real estate site are only a beginning and may only increase your confusion. You will have questions like what is the neighborhood like. Are the residents mostly families with kids or retired couples? Are museums close by? How far away is downtown? And so on.

Find a Realtor? concerned about your wants and needs and those of your family.

By: Russell Cantwell

On June 26, 2005, the Houston Chronicle did an article about people in their 20′s (Generation Y) entering into the real estate market. This age group of buyers was part of the bull rush to enter real estate boom, and I had the honor of being featured in this article.

During that article, I remember telling Nancy Sarnoff of The Houston Chronicle and it was later printed, “There’s a risk that some of these people who bought in hoping that they have the American Dream are going to be caught on the wrong side of this. Everybody hears the 30-second blurb on an infomercial or real estate is the hot new thing, it’s explosive and better than the stock market, so people are acting accordingly.”

One year later, those fears are becoming a reality for thousands of developers and buyers who nationally are facing a period of decreasing sales, decreasing prices, and rising foreclosure rates. The National Association of Realtors has announced that they believe new home sales will dip 16% in 2006 and that existing home sales could fall 7.6%. Growth in prices is expected to increase 3% from 2006 to 2007. NPR reported in the 2nd quarter that foreclosure rates had increased 38% from the prior year.

This slowdown is showing signs of affecting the Texas market as well. Though Texas lags Arizona, California, Florida, and Nevada; the rate of foreclosures as noted by the Real Estate Center stated that Texas’s pre-foreclosure posting rates of 63.3 per 1000 is above the national average of 57.6. Additionally, Texas rate of pre-foreclosure sales is also higher at 16.1 per 10,000 housing units versus a national average of 13.8. However, these rates do significantly lag the leaders.

The interesting caveat is that the Houston market has been insulated from these pressures. In the first quarter of 2006, the median rate of 6.2% outpaced the national rate and was better then Dallas’s rate of 4% as noted by the Texas Real Estate Center. This growth can be directly linked to the city’s dependence on the energy industry. During the past few years, the national energy scene has felt remarkable growth due to surging demand in oil and energy. This can be witnessed by the incredible earning produced by large energy conglomerates such as ExxonMobil who have posted over 1 Billion dollars in earnings in their past two quarterly returns.

Houston may be partially insulated from national housing dynamics due to our correlation to the energy industry, but investors should remember that this was the scenario that played itself out during the 1980′s real estate downturn. If energy industry weakens, where will that leave all the rosy predictions for the future? We have already witnessed prices drop from peak highs in energy prices of $78.40 to prices closing above the $60 a barrel range. If demand and prices drop due to technological shifts in hybrid, ethanol, and renewable energy; what would that mean to the Houston energy industry? An energy downturn could disrupt our housing market, and investors who look at real estate in a purely speculative, short term mindset could suffer in that correction. If you need examples, look to other housing markets whose foreclosure rates are rising, prices are dropping, or time to sale are increasing.

Real estate has historically been an investment that millions of people have found and created wealth. This does not make it a fool proof investment, and as such, investors must take time to review their deals including a “worst case scenario” analysis. This analysis should take into rising interest rates, longer time to sale, lower rental occupancy rates, or whatever dynamics that could affect your real estate investment to determine if you as an investor can deal with downturns or corrections. We may have enjoyed some immunity in the Houston real estate market, but it does not mean that prudence or caution should be removed from the decision-making. As they say, “Bulls make money, Bears make money, but Pigs get slaughtered.”

By: Jay Raman

As Realtors, a routine part of our job is to write ad copy for newspapers, brochures and internet sites. Our goal is to create a favorable sense of the property and intrigue a potential buyer. However, it is easy to cross the line into false statements or discriminatory language. Although we may not intend to write discriminatory text, some of the language that we casually use may be interpreted that way. Today, more than ever, we must be careful that our property descriptions are accurate, as well as in compliance with Fair Housing laws. Here are some reminders:

Always be careful to describe the features of the property. Never profile the buyer. Although we may have a likely type of buyer in mind, we should never focus the ad directly at a particular group of people. Consider every financially qualified person a potential buyer. Here are some examples that describe the property:

Historic home with wide front porch Condo with well equipped exercise center and pool Qualified senior housing Take a break from yard work! Enjoy your own private resort! Bring your hammer and lots of ideas!
Avoid phrases, such as these, that focus on the buyer:

Empty nesters welcome (Are kids not welcome?) Great family neighborhood (Will a single be suspect?) Hispanic community (OK, I get it.) Near Indian grocery (Is this the Indian part of town?) Perfect for single guy (Is it safe for other people?) Bring your kids (Sorry, don’t have any!)
Our ad copy often conveys a sense of the neighborhood, as well as of the home itself. Here are some phrases that describe the community:

Gated neighborhood Estate sized lots Popular neighborhood close to shopping Tree lined streets with sidewalks Secluded setting 1940′s era neighborhood Horses allowed On the golf course

It is one thing to talk about the neighborhood and another thing to talk about the neighbors. Avoid phrases that focus on the neighbors themselves. Never indicate a preference for certain types of people, to the exclusion of others. Stay away from these kind of phrases:

Exclusive area (Who is excluded?) Executive level home (What about middle management?) Elite neighborhood (Who qualifies?) Country club area (Are non members allowed?) Neighborhood of young families (What about older folks?) Mature area (Are kids non-grata?) Attends top schools (Says who?) Quiet, conservative neighborhood (Liberals need not apply!)
Remember to stick to the facts when describing property! Some obvious puffery is fun, and light general language creates a sense of the property. Here are some samples that work:

Extensive remodeling, including new floors and windows You’ll love the new look Fresh and bright Move right in Designer colors Comfortable and spacious Stop looking – this is it!
But, before going to print, consider subtle meanings that might be misinterpreted, such as these:

Totally remodeled (Really?) Kept in perfect condition (Wait til you see the inspection report!) Wonderful neighbors (Yes, rock bands are fun!) Safe area (Can you guarantee this?) Lovely hardwood floors under carpet (Does someone have x-ray vision?) New carpet (Well, it was new last year.) All appliances replaced (Does this include the hot water heater?) New heat and AC (All parts of the system?)
Also, in the interest of accuracy, avoid the use of brand names in a generic way. If you use a brand name, make sure the item is that brand. Here are some common mistakes:

Jennire grill Jacuzzi tub Corian counters Sisal carpet Andersen windows Sub-Zero refrigerator
Lastly, do not offer assurances about what can be done with the property. Adding on may be more difficult than you realize. Easements on the property, deed restrictions, soil conditions, neighborhood opposition or building ordinances may be obstacles to construction. The buyer may rely on your offhand statement, and be very disappointed later. Avoid statements like these:

Plenty of room for a pool Ready for new master bedroom Add second story and see downtown Sub-divide, and have two lots Backs to greenbelt (Is it a dedicated preserve, or private property?) Perfect for bed and breakfast Un-obstructed view of lake

In marketing a home, it is our job to bring out its best features and attract qualified buyers. As we create ad copy for newspapers, brochures, and the internet, it is very important to use accurate language, and to stay in compliance with Fair Housing laws. We should never refer to the sex, racial origin, familial status, or age of potential buyers, or residents who live in the area.

If we appear to direct property advertising to certain groups of people, some prospective buyers may feel that they are not welcome to consider the property. Or, if their offer is not accepted, they may feel that, based on your statements, the rejection was the result of a bias against them. This could result in an unwanted problem for all parties. Now, more than ever, it is important to analyze ads for ambiguous meanings. Your reputation is at stake.

By: Roselind Hejl