Results Realty Buzz

Informing you on the Real Estate Market in Spring Texas and the surrounding areas and other interesting tid bits!

Wordless Wednesday - Please turn out the lights!

Elle sleeping

This is our grand-kitty Elle who lives with us while our flight attendant daughter flies around the world.  She does know who her mistress is though because as soon as our daughter arrives back home she drops me like a hot potato.

(This picture is for you Karen Anne!)

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If you are buying or relocating to Spring Texas or Tomball TXand need help from a professional REALTOR®, Marchel can be reached at Marchel@AgentwithResults.com or by phone at 832-721-8332.

If you would like information about Spring-Tomball TX please visit my websites at www.AgentwithResults.com and at www.ResultsRealtytx.com.

Want to find out about new Spring-Tomball TX properties immediately as they come on the market, then click here to sign up for a free automatic notification of new listings.

Search for home in The Woodlands Creekside VillageClick the button to the left to search our local MLS.

Subscribe to Results Realty BuzzSubcribe in a reader

Copyright © 2010 Marchel Peterson, All Rights Reserved. *Wordless Wednesday - Please turn out the lights!!*

Speechless Sunday - Dusk Moon at Lake Conroe!!

Dusk Moon at Lake Conroe

I have been trying to get a decent moon shot for a couple years now.  I guess I never thought of getting the dusk shot until it appeared during a sail boat race at Lake Conroe.

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If you are buying or relocating to Spring Texas or Tomball TXand need help from a professional REALTOR®, Marchel can be reached at Marchel@AgentwithResults.com or by phone at 832-721-8332.

If you would like information about Spring-Tomball TX please visit my websites at www.AgentwithResults.com and at www.ResultsRealtytx.com.

Want to find out about new Spring-Tomball TX properties immediately as they come on the market, then click here to sign up for a free automatic notification of new listings.

Search for home in The Woodlands Creekside VillageClick the button to the left to search our local MLS.

Subscribe to Results Realty BuzzSubcribe in a reader

Copyright © 2010 Marchel Peterson, All Rights Reserved. *Friday Photo - Clouds to sail with at Lake Conroe!!*

 

Friday Foto - Clouds to sail by; at Lake Conroe!!

Lake Conroe Sailing Association's Thursday night races

This picture was taken at one of Lake Conroe Sailing Association's Thursday night races. We will be having Thursday night races through the fall.  I help on the committee boat and my husband crews. We do have a boat but we don't use it for the Thursday night races.  As you can see it is not necessary to have a boat to participate. If you would like information about Lake Conroe Sailing Association please visit their website

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If you are buying or relocating to Spring Texas or Tomball TXand need help from a professional REALTOR®, Marchel can be reached at Marchel@AgentwithResults.com or by phone at 832-721-8332.

If you would like information about Spring-Tomball TX please visit my websites at www.AgentwithResults.com and at www.ResultsRealtytx.com.

Want to find out about new Spring-Tomball TX properties immediately as they come on the market, then click here to sign up for a free automatic notification of new listings.

Search for home in The Woodlands Creekside VillageClick the button to the left to search our local MLS.

Subscribe to Results Realty BuzzSubcribe in a reader

Copyright © 2010 Marchel Peterson, All Rights Reserved. *Friday Photo - Clouds to sail with at Lake Conroe!!*

Characteristics of a Recession - Texas specific!

Gary Maler the Director of the Texas A&M real estate center recently talked to a group of real estate agents in Tomball about the state of our economy. Much of the talk was about the state of our national economy but he also went in to specifics for us here in Texas. Some of the daunting challenges we face.
  1. Business uncertainties from Washington policies
  2. The great credit contraction
  3. Budget cuts for states, cities and school districts.

One of the things that I came away with is that as a state Texas is weathering fairly good. A few years ago I would have told you that we had not been hit as we really did not have a bubble to burst. That is not the case any longer. He explained it about the best that I have heard. Here in Texas we did not experience a home price bubble we experienced a home sales bubble. The majority of our problems stem from the loans that were given since 2003. He explained that prior to that we had 17 homes sold per 1000 houses. During the no income/no assets loans that increased to 30 home sales per 1000 households. As he explained that was unsustainable and it is what we are dealing with now.

He was honest in that it took us sometime to get in this mess and it will take some time to get out of it. He said in all truthfulness this has been going on for a long time going clear back to LBJ’s administration. We have been living beyond our means for a long time. We will have some pain as we reel in from the excesses.

Future home sales are going to be dependent on job growth, mortgage rates/credit terms and home price affordability. Up to this point the American way has been to buy high and hope for higher. That said he said that NOW is probably the opportunity of a lifetime to a buy a house. Who would have thought we would see interest rates of 4.5% or less. He talked about the interest rates of the 1970’s when 12% was considered a good rate.

In the excerpt below he talks about the characteristics of a recession. The graph that shows the difference in unemployment between those who have a college degree and those who do not is an eye opener. As he said if there was ever an advertisement to get a degree this is it. If you have a son or daughter who is deciding whether they want to go to college this is a clip you might want to show them.

In his closing thoughts he said we will get through this. The other thing we have going here in Texas is a huge influx of people moving to our state. There are many places in our state where the market has stayed relatively flat and in my mind with this economy; flat is good.

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If you are buying or relocating to Spring Texas or Tomball TXand need help from a professional REALTOR®, Marchel can be reached at Marchel@AgentwithResults.com or by phone at 832-721-8332.

If you would like information about Spring-Tomball TX please visit my websites at www.AgentwithResults.com and at www.ResultsRealtytx.com.

Want to find out about new Spring-Tomball TX properties immediately as they come on the market, then click here to sign up for a free automatic notification of new listings.

Search for home in The Woodlands Creekside VillageClick the button to the left to search our local MLS.

Subscribe to Results Realty BuzzSubcribe in a reader

Copyright © 2010 Marchel Peterson, All Rights Reserved. *Characteristics of a Recession - Texas specific!!*

The Texas "termination option" clause!

Texas termination option clauseIn Texas we have a "termination option" clause in our real estate contract that you will want to understand.  This clause allows buyers and sellers to negotiate a specified time during which the buyer can fully evaluate the house. For this right, they buyer pays the seller a nonrefundable "option fee". Your option period is typically that period of time where you do your home inspections however you can back out for any reason during this option period. 

Everything is negotiable but usually you will have put $100 (plus or minus) down for a 5 to 10 day option period. (These are not business days so time is of the essence.) This option period gives you the time to do your home inspections however  as I said you can opt out for any reason during this period and you will only lose your option fee; your earnest money will be refunded. Typically a seller will allow you 10 days but that time can vary.

Fully executed Texas residential contract!

This option period starts once you have finished negotiations and all parties have signed the contract; you now have a fully executed contract. Prior to this it was called an offer but you are now under a legally binding contract.  The option period starts counting the day after the contract is fully executed by all parties.

Foreclosures typically don not ask for an option fee but give you 5 to 10 days to inspect the property.  For foreclosures only this is often written in special provisions and it is usually addressed in the foreclosure addendum's.  I have found that many foreclosures only allow 5 to 7 days. These are not business days; time is of the essence and strict compliance with the time for performance is required.  I know that does not sound like many days but inspector's are use to being on this short notice and I have never had a problem with getting inspections done during that period.

If the inspections uncover more than you bargained for this is the time to back out.  Actually you can back out for any reason during this option period and the only money you will lose is the money you put down for the option and the cost of your inspections. The earnest money will be returned to you in full as long as you provide the owner a  termination letter in the agreed upon days. Again time is of the essence!

I have heard from clients that there are states where the only ramification of backing out at any time during the process  is losing your earnest money but that is not the case in Texas.   In Texas you will usually  lose your earnest money and you also may be sued for specific performance.  In my experience most seller's will just move on but they do have the option of suing.  Long story short the time to back out if you are so inclined is during the option period.

I have lived in four states and each state has handled the home inspection process in a different manner. Personally I like this process the best of those I have come across.

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If you are buying or relocating to Spring Texas or Tomball TXand need help from a professional REALTOR®, Marchel can be reached at Marchel@AgentwithResults.com or by phone at 832-721-8332.

If you would like information about Spring-Tomball TX please visit my websites at www.AgentwithResults.com and at www.ResultsRealtytx.com.

Want to find out about new Spring-Tomball TX properties immediately as they come on the market, then click here to sign up for a free automatic notification of new listings.

Search for home in The Woodlands Creekside VillageClick the button to the left to search our local MLS.

Subscribe to Results Realty BuzzSubcribe in a reader

Copyright © 2010 Marchel Peterson, All Rights Reserved. *The Texas "termination option" clause!!*

 

Friday Foto- Storms A-Brewin at Lake Conroe!

LCSA - Thursday night racing!

This picture was taken a few weeks ago at one of Lake Conroe Sailing Association's Thursday night races.  My husband crews and I help on the committee boat.  We never know what the weather is going to be like and it can change in the flick of an eye.  We ended the race early because of those weird clouds you see (I did not photo-shop this picture).  As it turned out this time the clouds turned to nothing but you do have to be careful when you are on the water.

One of the many things we love about Spring is the accessiblity to Lake Conroe.  You don't have to live on the lake to sail on the lake.

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If you are buying or relocating to Spring Texas or Tomball TXand need help from a professional REALTOR®, Marchel can be reached at Marchel@AgentwithResults.com or by phone at 832-721-8332.

If you would like information about Spring-Tomball TX please visit my websites at www.AgentwithResults.com and at www.ResultsRealtytx.com. The AgentwithResults site is rich in Content about Spring and the surrounding areas of Tomball, The Woodlands and Magnolia. If you prefer pictures with your content then visit my ResultsRealtyTX site.

Want to find out about new Spring-Tomball TX properties immediately as they come on the market, then click here to sign up for a free automatic notification of new listings.

Search for home in The Woodlands Creekside VillageClick the button to the left to search our local MLS.

Subscribe to Results Realty BuzzSubcribe in a reader

Copyright © 2010 Marchel Peterson, All Rights Reserved. *Friday Foto- Storms A-Brewin at Lake Conroe!!!*

Speechless Sunday - Now I lay me down to sleep!

Now I lay me down to sleep - Elle Spring TX

It has been quite some time since I shared pictures of my grand-kiity Elle (who lives with us as our flight attendant daughter travels the world).  The contortions she gets in to cracks me up.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

If you are buying or relocating to Spring Texas or Tomball TXand need help from a professional REALTOR®, Marchel can be reached at Marchel@AgentwithResults.com or by phone at 832-721-8332.

If you would like information about Spring-Tomball TX please visit my websites at www.AgentwithResults.com and at www.ResultsRealtytx.com. The AgentwithResults site is rich in Content about Spring and the surrounding areas of Tomball, The Woodlands and Magnolia. If you prefer pictures with your content then visit my ResultsRealtyTX site.

Want to find out about new Spring-Tomball TX properties immediately as they come on the market, then click here to sign up for a free automatic notification of new listings.

Search for home in The Woodlands Creekside VillageClick the button to the left to search our local MLS.

Subscribe to Results Realty BuzzSubcribe in a reader

Copyright © 2010 Marchel Peterson, All Rights Reserved. *Speechless Sunday - Now I lay me down to sleep!!*

My credit is not good - but my co-signers credit is excellent - Yippie, I can buy & use FHA loans

Rarely do I re-blog but Jeff has outdone himself with this post.  The rules keep changing and it is good to know what they are today.

Via Jeff Belonger- The FHA Expert FHA Loans - FHA mortgages - USDA loans - VA Loans ( - FHA Home Loans - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc):

FHA Loans - FHA Home Loans - FHA Mortgages

 

There will always be some sort of mortgage myth in our industry or a piece of information given by a loan officer that is misleading. What I am about to talk about is regarding FHA loans and a borrower using a co-signer to help them purchase their new home. We call this a non-occupant co-borrower type of loan.

 

 

 

Knowledge of FHA loans

Let's first talk about co-signers for mortgages, because this term is used loosely throughout the real estate industry. When doing a mortgage, a co-signer is much different than when buying a car. When buying a car, you can still have bad credit below normal standards and bring a co-signer into the mix to solidify the deal. On a mortgage, if the primary borrower doesn't fit the normal credit score requirements and or the credit criteria, then you can't use a co-signer to help you purchase or refinance. A co-signer is used only for the purposes of qualifying with more income. The main point, the good credit of a co-signer can't be to offset the bad credit of a primary borrower, it's not allowed.

Now, there is a difference between specific types of loan products when using a co-signer.  On a conventional loan, the primary borrower still needs to qualify with an income ratio, which is usually only about 6%-8% above the normal qualifying ratios of 28/36. In regards to an FHA mortgage, there is no minimum requirement. In many cases, the primary borrower wouldn't even need income, but this depends on the overall deal. As long as the primary borrower met the credit requirements and the credit scores. This kind of scenario is typically scene when doing a FHA kiddie condo loan, which can also be known as a FHA non-occupant co-borrower loan. This is when you have a college student buying a property and the parent(s) are co-signing. More details on FHA kiddie condo loans.

 

 

 

Summary : I had to bring this up because I just received a call from a borrower who has credit scores of 565 who was told by a large bank that they can't get a loan.  But if they get a co-signer with good credit, that they would be able to get a loan. Knowledge in regards to the basics of FHA loans is so important. To me, this is actually Mortgage 101.

In regards to the word co-signer, in the mortgage industry, this is referred to as a non-occupant co-borrower. As long as the person who is co-signing is a family member or a relative and they aren't living in the property. Hence why they are called a non-occupying co-borrower. And a FHA non occupant co borrower is much easier doing this with than a conventional loan. So it's a mortgage myth if one says that you can get a co-signer no matter how your credit is. Lastly, if the primary borrower has someone that will occupy the property with them and will be on the loan, they are known as a co-borrower.

 

 -- Update per Missy Caulk's comment # 8 - The co-signer, aka non-occupant co-borrower can have a primary home, even a home with a FHA mortgage on it. Meaning that the home does not have to be free and clear. It's considered a debt and is part of the qualifying ratios.

 

 

 

 

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follow Jeff Belonger on Twitter               The FHA Expert   

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- FHA Loans - USDA Loans - VA Loans -

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Experience & Knowledge at its BEST !!!

 

 

Follow me on:

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For more information on FHA loans, please go to this link. The FHA Expert

For important mortgage insight to watch for, please read : Consumers need to be aware of these Red Flags!

HUD

For information about FHA myths & FHA rumors, please read : FHA Myths & Rumors

 

Copyright © 2010 by Jeff Belonger of Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc

 

Christmas in July with the Spring-Klein Chamber of Commerce; at Augusta Pines Golf Club!

Spring Klein Chamber of Commerce Christmas in JulyPlease join us for the 3rd Annual Spring-Klein Chamber Christmas in July Gala and Live Auction at Savannah's at the Augusta Pines Club House.  This years event will take place on Saturday July 31st.  It will have all the ambiance and feeling of Christmas along with dinner, dancing holiday décor, live music and a live auction.  The festivities will start at 6:30 and go until 10:00. 

From 6:30 to 7:00 there will be a cash bar and Jennifer Grassman will be singing some Christmas songs.

After our Christmas in July Christmas dinner we are thrilled to have Congressman Ted Poe as our guest speaker. He will be sharing some of his experiences from when he was a judge and he will also be talking with us about issues that affect our border.

A live auction isn't your normal Christmas theme but it is for the Spring Klein Chamber Christmas in July.  ThChristmas in July with the Spring-Klein Chamber of Commerce at Augusta Pines Golf Clube live auction will feature a number of items from sports memorabilia, Gift Certificates (photography, restaurants), home décor etc. etc. etc.  Shawn Mazyn with Cheray Auctioneers, License # 16626is volunteering her time in support of the chamber.  If you have something you would like to donate please contact Marchel Peterson the banquet chair via email at marchel@agentwithresults.com or phone Marchel Peterson at 832-721-8332Auctioneer Mark Moore is volunteering his time in support of the new Spring Klein Chamber.

After the live auction we will be having a disc jockey who will be providing us with music to dance by.  This will also be the time to pay for your auction items.

Tickets are on sale now.  The prices are $55 for non-members and $50 for members.  The Spring-Klein Chamber is soliciting donations for door prizes and auction items as well as underwriters and advertisers for the event program.  Click here to go to the form you need to order your tickets. 

"The Spring Klein Chamber of Commerce (SKCC) is a premier business and community support organization dedicated to bringing the primary resource for area economic development, business expansion and overall quality of life in Spring-Klein http://www.springkleinchamber.org/".  I have been involved with the Spring Klein Chamber since their inception two years ago in May. I just finished my term on the Spring Klein board of directors and it was an honor to serve my community.

The Chamber has had a successful couple of years. This event will help them to raise funds to continue to grow and support their community.  This is a grass roots effort and all help from the community is appreciated.

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If you are buying or relocating to Spring Texas or Tomball TXand need help from a professional REALTOR®, Marchel can be reached at Marchel@AgentwithResults.com or by phone at 832-721-8332.

If you would like information about Spring-Tomball TX please visit my websites at www.AgentwithResults.com and at www.ResultsRealtytx.com. The AgentwithResults site is rich in Content about Spring and the surrounding areas of Tomball, The Woodlands and Magnolia. If you prefer pictures with your content then visit my ResultsRealtyTX site.

Want to find out about new Spring-Tomball TX properties immediately as they come on the market, then click here to sign up for a free automatic notification of new listings.

Search for home in The Woodlands Creekside VillageClick the button to the left to search our local MLS.

Subscribe to Results Realty BuzzSubcribe in a reader

Copyright © 2010 Marchel Peterson, All Rights Reserved. *Christmas in July with the Spring-Klein Chamber of Commerce; at Augusta Pines Golf Club!!!*

 

Crepe Myrtles in Spring TX!!

Crepe Myrtles in Spring TX

The crepe myrtles in Spring TX have been absolutely BEAUTIFUL this summer!  (Maybe they like a hard winter.) I tried getting the vibrant colors while the sun was out but I found a dusk picture brought the colors out.  We are enjoying the color in our back yard.

Crepe Myrtles in Spring TX

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If you are buying or relocating to Spring Texas or Tomball TXand need help from a professional REALTOR®, Marchel can be reached at Marchel@AgentwithResults.com or by phone at 832-721-8332.

If you would like information about Spring-Tomball TX please visit my websites at www.AgentwithResults.com and at www.ResultsRealtytx.com. The AgentwithResults site is rich in Content about Spring and the surrounding areas of Tomball, The Woodlands and Magnolia. If you prefer pictures with your content then visit my ResultsRealtyTX site.

Want to find out about new Spring-Tomball TX properties immediately as they come on the market, then click here to sign up for a free automatic notification of new listings.

Search for home in The Woodlands Creekside VillageClick the button to the left to search our local MLS.

Subscribe to Results Realty BuzzSubcribe in a reader

Copyright © 2010 Marchel Peterson, All Rights Reserved. *Crepe Myrtles in Spring TX!!*