Results Realty Buzz

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

Speechless Sunday - Energy Exhibit, Houston Museum of Natural Science!!

Houston Museum of Natural Science - Weiss Hall Energy Exhibit

Houston Museum of Natural Science - Weiss Energy Exhibit

I was going to put this in the group where you decide what the picture is but then decided that would not be fair.  You would have to have been to the Weiss Exhibition at the Houston Museum of Natural Science to know that it was an energy exhibit.  The exhibit takes everyone through an oil refinery through a full 3-D color animation.  Our daughter was in town this last week and we visited the museum; she of course took the picture.

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If you are buying or relocating to Spring Texas or Tomball TX and 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 - Energy Exhibit, Houston Museum of Natural Science!!*  Picture taken by Tarina Peterson all rights reserved

With our nation socked in with YUCK weather - Hot Chocolate is in order!!

Hot chocolate from Spring TX

With our Nation (especially our capital) pretty much socked in with yucky weather I thought a little hot chocolate was in order. We are also having a YUCK winter here in Spring-Houston, (you just have to love this global warming). We moved here in 1996 and I Have NEVER seen a winter like this one.  It is so sad seeing all the dead palm trees!!! I'm READY for spring!!

The picture is of course compliments of our daughter Tarina.

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If you are buying or relocating to Spring Texas or Tomball TX and 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.*With our nation socked in with YUCK weather - Hot Chocolate is in order!!* Picture taken by Tarina Peterson all rights reserved

Lifeline Screening at Heritage Retirement Community - Tomball TX!!

4 Facts you Need to know about Stroke Prevention

  1. 80% of stroke victims had no apparent warning signs.
  2. Ultrasound screening can help you avoid a stroke.
  3. Stroke is a leading cause of death and permaent disability.
  4. Screening are fast, painless, affordable and convenient.

Lifeline Screening is coming to your neighborhood!

  • Where:  Tomball Heritage Retirement Community
  • Sponsored By: Tomball Regional Medical Center
  • When: Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 from 8:00AM to 4:00PM
  • Pre-registration is required.  Call: 1-800-779-6353

4 test for only $139 - Add an Osteoporosis screening for $10 more.

  1. Stoke/Carotid Artery Screening
  2. Heart Rhtyth Screening (Atrial Fibrillation)
  3. Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening
  4. Peripheral Arterial Screening
  5. Osteoporosis Screening

Please watch the short video. Jackie the director of the Heritage Retirement Community gives some additional information about the screening.

 

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If you are buying or relocating to Spring Texas or Tomball TX and 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.*Lifeline Screening at Heritage Retirement Community - Tomball TX!!*

New RESPA Rules - How they affect Spring-Tomball TX buyers and sellers!!

How new RESPA rules affect Spring-Tomball TX buyers and sellersThis morning I went to a training that Charter Title offered on the new RESPA rules and how they are going to affect our Spring-Tomball buyers and sellers.  Chuck Jacobus SVP of Charter Title and a real estate attorney with law offices in Bellaire was the guest speaker.

RESPA came in to affect in 1973 and to begin with Chuck said the restrictions were difficult to comply with. According to Chuck it is déjà vu 1973. We are going through the adaptation phase of the new RESPA rules and most don't understand them (which includes title companies, lenders etc.).

LONG story short both the seller and the buyer are going to have to be patient while we go through the process.  He felt that the days of having a loan done in 30 days or shorter are gone.  He recommended allowing 60 days for the loan process.  He said some lenders will be able to go through the process in a shorter time and he felt the smaller lenders and banks had a better handle on the changes than the big banks did.

The buyer is going to have to be proactive on their loan.  I have had buyers who started the loan process and then took a 2 week vacation. He said if the buyer goes on vacation you can just about be assured that the loan will not close on time. He also said the buyer is going to have to realize that they cannot switch loans a week before closing.

As of January 1st2010 lenders are required to use a new good faith estimate (GFE). The new HUD 1 form and the GFE must look exactly alike. All charges must show on the HUD.  Chuck was joking and said if you throw a quarter across the closing table it will need to be on the closing statement.

If there are any changed circumstances that will affect the mortgage amount that is on the GFE the lender will have to make changes which will take time. The lender basically has to live with the GFE that they give you when you start the process. However the quoted terms and prices in the GFE are only good for 10 days. The buyer will need to give the go ahead during that 10 day period or the terms may no longer be available. Please note if you don't contact your lender to say go ahead during that 10 day period; the terms can change on the 11th day.

Changed circumstances include:RESPA changes will affect Spring-Tomball TX

  1.  Acts of God, war, disaster or other emergency. For those of us in the Spring-Tomball area this would be something like Hurricane Ike.
  2. Information particular to the borrower or transaction that was relied on in providing the GFE; which may include; information about the credit quality of the borrower (you lost your job), the amount of the loan, the estimated value of the property.
  3.  New information particular to the borrower or transaction that was not relied on in providing the GFE.
  4. Other circumstances that's particular to the borrower or transaction, including boundary disputes, the need for flood insurance or environmental problems.

When there is a "changed circumstance" the loan originator must issue a revised GFE within three business days of receiving the information to establish the changed circumstance.  This goes back to the buyer not going on vacation as then it will be hard for them to deal with the changed circumstance.

All of this came about to keep consumers better informed in response to the predatory lending that happened in the last few years. As always when the government gets involved it can get a bit more complex so both buyers and sellers are going to need to be patient with the process.  More than ever it is going to be important that a buyer go to a reputable lender who can get the loan done.  If you need the phone number of a good lender please give me a call.

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If you are buying or relocating to Spring Texas or Tomball TX and 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. *New RESPA Rules - How they affect Spring-Tomball TX buyers and sellers!!*

Speechless Sunday - Rippling Reflections!!

Rippling Reflections

Our daughter took this picture while she was on vacation in Vienna.  I know what the white object is; only because she told me. Now it is your turn; name that picture!  Maybe you will be more successful than I was.

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If you are buying or relocating to Spring Texas and 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 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 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 - Rippling Reflections!!* Picture taken by Tarina Peterson all rights reserved

Litter in Spring TX, I still don't get it!!!

Litter in Spring TXThis is the second time that I have written a post about litter in Spring TX and I still don't get it .  We had a heavy rain overnight and as I was driving down Hufsmith-Kuykendahl this morning the ditches were full of water.  These are big ditches so when I mean full I mean full.  I was almost overwhelmed looking at the trash that was floating in the ditches.

I just DON'T GET IT.  I love our country and I'm proud to live here.  I can't imagine throwing trash out the window.  Precinct 4 here in Spring TX maintaine our roads using prisoners to clean the roads.  I see them once or twice a month picking up trash but it is NEVER ending process!! 

I don't know what the answer is.  I know there are suppose to be fines for littering but I don't think it is something that is enforced.  Maybe a little more enforcement needs to happen.  What do you think?

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If you are buying or relocating to Spring Texas and 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 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 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. *Litter in Spring TX, I still don't get it!!!*

Cold facts on plant survival for Spring TX plants- A follow up!!

Spring TX plant survival for cold weatherSeveral weeks ago I wrote a post called Cold facts on plant survival for Spring TX plants!!  At the time we were preparing for some Arctic air and were looking at having several days in a row in the 20's.  In this particular case the weather man got it right. 

At that time I read an article in the Houston Chronicle about getting plants ready for the cold temperatures and realized I had been going at it all wrong. I was just covering with plastic. They recommended watering your plants good if it has not rained.  After that you cover the plants with either fiber row covers, sheets or blankets.  I had one N-sulate permeable fabric cover(the hardware stores were sold out of more) so I used sheets for the rest of the plants. For even extra protection I put the heavy plastic I was previously solely using over the cloth covers and secured them with rocks.

I covered a large percentage of our plants front and back but it was getting cold and I did not cover them all.  The proof of how good this worked is in the pictures.  This is a wild Iris often called Dietes Bicolor. 

My husband asked shouldn't we cover tCold weather facts for Wild Iris in Spring TXhis one and I didn't feel like scrounging for sheets and I told him I thought it would be okay as that wasn't the plant that I thought needed protection. That was a big mistake; I look at these plants and so regret that decision. If you look close at the almost dead plant there's a little green so it may come back. I can guarantee you it is not going to look like its neighbor though.

We are supposed to have cold temperatures coming in tomorrow again and you can bet I'm covering my plants. This time I went to the hardware store while the weather was in the 70's and bought two additional N'sulate permeable fabric covers. 

We have lived in Spring 14 years and this is the coldest winter that I can remember.  We normally have two seasons here summer and January. I'm ready for January to be over and to get on with summer. It has been an unusual year though so I would not be surprised if our winter doesn't continue in to February. You just have to love that global warming.

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If you are buying or relocating to Spring Texas and 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 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 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. *Cold facts on plant survival for Spring TX - A follow up!!*

Speechless Sunday - New beginnings!!

New beginnings!

On our daughter's Flickr site she called this Dead and Living.  I am calling it New Beginnings!  Years ago I remember a radio commentator saying we have two seasons in Houston; summer and January.  I for one am ready for January to be over with and the new spring beginnings to start.

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If you are buying or relocating to Spring Texas and 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 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 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 - New beginnings!!* Picture taken by Tarina Peterson all rights reserved

 

Boston - Where it all began!!

This last September we took a vacation to Rhode Island and on the way spent a day in Boston. What an exciting day that was! I love history and Boston is full of history! I loved walking along the Freedom Trail and seeing where it all began! 

Today with Massachusetts again making a bit of a revolt I thought this was a good time to post my Boston pictures.

 

Boston, where it all began!!

I have to admit I'm thrilled this evening!  I think our founding fathers put checks and balances in so one party would not have absolute control. I'm glad we no longer have a filibuster senate. The people have spoken!!

Thank you Massachusetts voters!!

Okay you are probably wondering where Cheers fits in but it is a bit of Boston history also.

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If you are buying or relocating to Spring Texas and 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 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 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. *Boston - Where it all began!!*

Calvin's Invisible Fence!!

Calvin and Elle, Spring TXOur area of Spring TX has had a problem in the last few years of lost cats. I myself knew of 8 that had disappeared in just a few months.  We don't know for sure why they disappeared but we think it could have been coyotes.  Our subdivision has always been out by itself but the city is moving closer and closer.  The Woodlands is building a village literally a stone's throw from our house. As progress happens there's less room for the coyotes to feed. I personally think they started feeding on the cats in our subdivision.  We have two cats and I did not want to see that happen to our cats so  a few years ago we got one of them an invisible fence.

Calvin is our cat.   We adopted him from a friend of our daughters. Elle is our daughters' cat. Our daughters' cat lives with us as our daughter is a flight attendant and commutes so is only here now and then. The problem was not with her cat but with our cat; Calvin. It is not hard too hard to tell which is Elle, snoozing in Spring TXwhich. Elle is the fat one and could not go over or under the fence.  I take that back she did go over the fence once.  It was shortly after she started living with us and she had seen Calvin go over so she got up on our waterfall and was looking over. I turned on the waterfall and she fell in to our neighbor's back yard.  I had to go knock on their door and ask them if I could retrieve our cat out of their back yard.

Calvin on the other hand is all boy.  He was an indoor cat until he came to live with us but he found out that he loves to explore. He is a very good hunter and loves to bring us his prizes. He would go over the fence but would usually come back when I called but when all these cats started disappearing I became concerned. That was when we started looking in to our options.  We talked to the Vet and she said we could make him an indoor cat again but I hated to do that as he loves the outside.

One of our neighbors made a very cool cattery off of the back of their house. We explored that idea but their back yard faces east and our back yard faces west.  If you have been to Spring TX in the summertime you will understand why the direction your house faces makes a difference.  We have a covered patio on the back of our house so we can even go out on our back porch in the heat of the summer. The only place that would work for a cattery was already being used for a spa.  I did not want toCalvin in his little area of Spring TX give up the sap so that idea was out.

About that same timeframe I went in to our veterinarians and saw the Invisible Fence people installing an indoor system.  It seems that the vet cats were getting in to food at night and had destroyed about $1000 worth of food.  That was when we started exploring the idea of putting an invisible fence in.

We found all kinds of do it yourself invisible fences but the reviews that I read were not good.  On the other hand the reviews for the Invisible Fence sounded decent.  Now mind you there is a huge difference in price but in life I have found you get what you pay for. We decided to go with the Invisible fence.

They came out and installed the wires all around the outside of our house and then two different times a trainer came out. The first time the trainer came out they put an indoor fence in our house.  They use white flags and we started letting Calvin look at the flag and then he got a jolt.  It sounds mean but mind you it was for his protection.  I had to get Calvin use to wearing a harness also for the next round of trainings.  To be honest I think the harness was probably the hardest part of the whole ordeal. 

About a week later the trainer came out and put white flags around the boundaries where Calvin would get shocked.  It was a good thing that I had the harness on him because he was having no part of it and went to bolt over the fence.  He was in for a shock; literally.  For about a week after that I would go out with him with the harness but he learned fast.  He hated the harness and was thrilled when the trainer came out for the last time and we finally let him out without it.

Calvin has now had the fence for a couple of year and it has worked GREAT.  We put Calvin's collar on when he goes out in the morning and we take it off when he comes in at the end of the day.  It must not bother him as he sits and purrs as we put it on him.  He has plenty of room to roam along the back of our house.  He has a covered patio and beside the patio there are some bushes that he can hang out in. 

Calvin displaying his invisible fence collarThe battery has to be changed every 3 to 4 months and we did have one incident where we forgot to change the battery and all of a sudden Calvin was exploring again.  We have learned our lesson on that and now keep a better eye on the battery.  This is a special batter that we order through the invisible fence people. 

The only downside is that you can't keep cats from coming in to your property.  Because of that I always make sure that I'm home when Calvin is outside.   There have been two different times where we have had to go out and chase a cat away.  Our dog Dundy is more than happy to chase the offending cat out of our yard. 

I know that I raised a few eyebrows when I got an invisible fence for our cat but like I said it has worked GREAT. If you have a dog that roams you can use the same fence for them also.  You just have to buy an additional collar for whatever pet you are using it for. Our dog stays close and with living in a cul-de-sac we don't have a worry; so for us it is just used at this point for Calvin.  We have also protected a lot of wildlife as Calvin has a small hunting area now. I figure if a bird is dumb enough to come in to his area it is their problem.

We have only had one incident where he disappeared and that was just after the time that we let the battery expire. This post is getting long so Calvin's great adventure will have to go in another post.

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If you are buying or relocating to Spring Texas and 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 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 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. *Calvin's Invisible Fence!!*