I had to take a minute and talk about this darling home for sale located in Allen Forest.  This well maintained, 4-bedroom home is a great starter home.  You'll fall in love with it's warm interior and charm.  The back yard is larger than you think!  There's plenty of room for a swing set, or your back yard patio.  A very nice, large storage building is in the back yard, also. 

Wood floors and the brick fireplace bring warm charm to the interior.  You'll feel right at home with extra touches that make this home special.  Tile back splash in the kitchen and updated lighting throughout really bring the home up to date.  You'll enjoy the extra large utility room with oversized deep freeze, which conveys with the sale of this home.

Located just off of Hwy 6 in Bryan, Texas, this home is conveniently located between Blinn College and Texas A & M University.  Within minutes you can be on campus at TAMU or Blinn College.  This quiet neighborhood makes living appealing for the family or student. 

Charming cottage style home for sale in Bryan, Texas.  Priced to sell at $118K.

Details of Allen Forest boundaries.  Located just off of Hwy 6.  This home is close to
Rudder High School in Bryan, Texas.

Currently, there are five homes for sale in Allen Forest, Bryan, TX.  The home at 2919 Fairchild is well positioned to sell.  Comparatively, this home looks fantastic and is ready for it's new owners. 

Take a look at some more photos of the home at 2919 Fairchild, Bryan, TX.  Call Kathy Scott at 979-777-9067 to take a tour of this home or find out more.

Alexandria is a great community located just south of the heart of College Station, Texas, and within a few miles of Texas A & M University.

10 homes in Alexandria have sold between January 1, 2011 and September 20, 2011.  4 homes sold in the first quarter of the year.  6 home sold in the second quareter, and well into the 3rd quarter of 2011, no homes have sold in Alexandria.  There are only 2 homes listed for sale in the subdivision of Alexandria in College Station at this time.  Both homes are well positioned to sell with listing prices in the low $80's per square foot. The average sales price for homes in Alexandria was $88.92 per square foot. 

The 2 homes for sale in Alexandria subdivision are well positioned, and they look real nice.  Click on the address to see the listing at 1109 Coeburn in Alexandria Subdivision, or click on this address to see the other home on the market today in Alexandria, 1103 Chesapeake.  I don't look for these homes to stay on the market for long.  The average days on the market for this subdivision is 85 days. 

This community was developed a little over ten years ago.  The home sizes range between 1,442 square feet to a little over 2,321 square feet.  There is currently no HOA for the community; although, driving through Alexandria, one can tell that the owners take pride in their neighborhood.  Typically, lawns are manicured and most lawns appear to have sprinkler systems. 

If you are interested in SELLING YOUR HOME in ALEXANDRIA SUBDIVISION, I would be happy to talk to you about our marketing program. You'll receive a free comparative market analysis, and also tips on how to make your home most appealing and maximize your potential earnings.

Looking to buy a home in College Station, Texas?  Our team is happy to help you walk through the home buying process.  Having a thorough understanding of what you are looking for in a home, along with our expertise in the market, we can help you make an informative decision. 

You may set up your own home search by HERE.  Sign up for Daily Updates matching your home search criteria.  When a home is listed by an Realtor in the MLS system, you will be instantly notified. 

Feel free to call me anytime to discuss your home buying or selling needs.

Kathy Scott, Realtor

I will take the time to go through each and every step of the buying process.  Together, we can consider:

• How much you can really afford.
• How to qualify for a mortgage.
• How much cash you should put down.
• How to buy a home with little down.
• What it takes to get approved for financing.  How to shop for a loan.
• How much your payments will be.
• The tax advantages of buying.
• Is renting or buying better.

Tell me about your situation.  If you need help increasing your credit score, I can send you to an expert that can help you get on track.  We'll work together to help you achieve your home buying goal!

Radon gas is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that can pose a serious health risk if it becomes trapped under your house.  Radon typically enters the home through underground crawl spaces, sump pumps, gaps in the basement and even the water supply.  It can pollute your indoor air with its toxic vapors, and is help responsible for more than 20,000 lung disease related deaths every year.  Radon is assumed to be present in millions of American homes.

You can easily detect radon yourself using a Home Depot radon kit.  The test is very easy and you can conduct it yourself. 

The Environmental Protection Agency or EPA has a very helpful website full of information to help you understand the concerns and treatment of radon.

Buying or Selling a Home? Building a New Home?

The EPA suggests the following:  If you are buying or selling a home and need to make decisions about radon, consult EPA's Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon.  If you are selling a home that has a radon reduction system, inform potential buyer's and supply them with information about your system's operation and maintenance.  If you are building a new home, consider that it is almost always less expensive to build radon-resistant features into new construction than it is to fix an existing home that has high radon levels.  Ask your builder if he or she uses radon-resistant construction features.  Your builder can refer to EPA's document Building Radon Out: A Step-by-Step Guide On How To Build Radon-Resistant Homes, or your builder can work with a qualified contractor to design and install the proper radon reduction system. 

All homes should be tested for radon and elevated radon levels should be reduced.  Even new homes built with radon-resistant features should be tested after occupancy to ensure that radon levels are below 4pCI/L.  If you have a test result of 4pCi/L or more, you can have a qualified mitigator easily add a vent to an existing passive system for about $300 to further reduce the radon level in your home.

The Texas Department of State Health Services has an excellent website containing helpful information for Texas Home Owners and radon in Texas.  The website also shows descriptive ways that you may be exposed to radon.

Www.RealEstateBCS.com links directly with the Bryan, College Station area Multiple Listing Service, or MLS.  The MLS is a real estate tool for Realtors to share listings with one another.  You have access to the Multiple Listing Service information on this website. 

You may set up a profile and save your searches.  You may also set up your profile so that you receive listings for sale first!  As a Realtor enters their listing into the MLS you will receive an email with the listing information immediately.

Click HERE to set up your profile yourself, or you may click HERE, and I will contact you to set the search criterea up for you.  This is a free real estate service!

While you are in the process of applying for your mortgage loan, interest rates will most likely fluctuate from day to day and week to week.  If you want assurance that the wonderfully low interest rate on your loan will not increase while you are waiting for loan approval, ask for a rate lock.  A conventional rate lock is a guarantee from the lender that you mortgage will carry a particular interest rate, with specific, predetermined points and fees.

The interest rate is "locked in" for a specific period of time, usually 30-days. When you call a lender for a rate quote, ask how long that rate will last.  If you think you might need more than 30-days to complete your home purchase or refinance, tell your lender how many days you will require, and they will give you an adjusted rate quote.

Rate locks are especially useful if interest rates are on the upswing, and you are concerned about ending up with higher monthly payments.  If you cannot afford the risk of a further interest rate increase, lock in your loan rate now.

If you will be moving to the College Station, Bryan, and Brazos Valley area, Grimes County, or Navasota area, we can correspond by email and phone.  Together, we'll determine what type of home, price range, and neighborhoods you are interested in.  We'll send you every home or property that is currently available that matches your criteria.

When you visit, we'll be ready!  We will visit the neighborhoods and homes that interest you the most in the College Station, Bryan, and Brazos Valley area.  We can even visit Grimes County, Navasota, or Anderson area.

In addition, we can talk about schools, sub-divisions, local market conditions, local culture...anything that is important to you.

Remember, as top College Station, Bryan, and Brazos Valley, Grimes County, Navasota real estate agents, it's our job to know this area inside and out, and we want to make your transition as smooth as possible.

To get started, click HERE and fill out the form to request FREE relocation information.  We're happy to help!!

If you are considering painting, updating the kitchen, landscaping, or making any other improvements that will increase your home's resale value, think about making those improvements while you are still there to enjoy them. Create your own dream kitchen, master suite, or spa, build an outdoor living room, or restore your wood floors now. Improving your property values in your neighborhood, can expedite the sale of your home when you are ready for a move.

If your home is overpriced, the marketplace will reflect that to you. When a property fails to sell in a reasonable period of time, you and your real estate agent should have a frank discussion to determine whether too high a price tag is the reason. Your real estate agent will also be getting feedback from other agents who have shown your home.

Remember that price is only one factor. Consider ways you can make the property more attractiveto show by handling needed repairs, improving curb appeal, or making cosmetic improvements. Improve the condition of your home and you will improve its chances of selling.

Simply cleaning and painting the front door, and replacing your hardware can make a positive lasting impression on visitors.  It’s most important to consider the front door appearance when selling your home.

The average cost of replacing a front door and hardware is under $1,000.  If you’re selling your home, you are sure to recoup this money in your sale.

Pate and I had a few chuckles this week as we cleaned up another Rental Income Disaster.  Pate is my property management partner. This story is just another reason why home owners should hire a property manager.  Think about what you would do in the following story.  Good news for our property owner is that she was spared the stress and worry of collecting this debt.

Okay, a guy moves into one of our rentals two weeks ago.  He could hardly wait to move in!  We ran our usual credit and criminal history check.  Verified his job, and all was good.  After picking up the keys, he sends me a text telling me not to deposit his checks.  I already deposited the checks.  He then told me that his relative died, and he no longer had money to cover the checks.  Not sure how the relative passing away drained his bank account over night.  None-the-less, the checks were going to bounce. 

After telling the renter that the checks were deposited and we would collect on insufficient funds, he tells me that he can't move in.  Later the same day, he tells me that the bank says the checks are good and he's going to move in until Christmas.  He signed a long term lease-to-own.

The checks cleared my bank and we paid the mortgage on the home for the home owner.  Suddenly, the money was reversed out of my account.  The renter placed a stop payment on the checks!  The mortgage was paid; therefore, my account was down over $1,600.  Luckily, we had other funds in the bank; however, we were unsure if we would get this money back from the renter without placing a judgement on his record.

After some phone calls to the tenant, and another day later, we received the payment in full via "money order." 

Property management in College Station can be interesting!  Of course, Pate had a similar situation with his property management in Longview just a few days prior.  We had a good chuckle comparing notes and scenarios.

I went to bed thinking about what the property investor would have done had she had to deal with collecting these funds from out of town.  She may not have ever gotten the money, and the tenant may have lived in the home for the rest of the month rent free.  Who knows! 

Then I got to thinking about how quickly Pate and I made decisions about how to handle our simular situations, and try to resolve the matter without making it worse.  I believe that it is our experience of over 20 years each that lends us to making quick decisions.  I thought about the number of clients that I've worked with and contracts that I have signed.  After running some numbers in my head, I've signed well over 10,000 lease contracts.  WOW! 

There are properties that are currently occupied with clients that are paying optimum market rents with reduced selling prices.  That means that if you purchase the home now, you will be earning an income above your mortgage payment.  Investing in student properties is a great way to build your future, but it critical that you work with a Realtor that understands the student investment market.

Timing is crucial to purchasing or renting property in College Station, TX.  The reason why is because the number of people looking to move in is determined by the date that Texas A & M or Blinn in Bryan start their classes.  Once classes have started, the students are not moving.  There are several months in the year that you can gain optimum rental rates and purchase price on your investment in Aggieland.

If you'd like to hear more about rental investments in College Station, or Bryan.  Please give me a call.  There are some awesome deals on the market right now.

As I stood in the bedroom upstairs that overlooks La Salle Street in Navasota, I closed my eyes and listened to the cars passing by. As a little girl, I'd sleep in that pretty pink room, nestled under the warm blankets, listening to my aunts and uncles laughing downstairs. I wish I could hear Uncle Johnny telling old stories and everyone laughing.

Karla, I couldn't help but take a picture of the little place we used to sit at the top of the stairs and talk forever.  I remember Uncle Ray's little chemistry set and models in his bedroom that I could never touch.  I love the driveway before it was concrete. I want to take out the push button light switch and stained glass window at the front door. Can I put the old typewriter back on the desk in the den and see grandad typing out this Sunday's sermon again?  Would grandma make those little cookies and host another open house for the entire town?  Can I babysit my little cousins again, Brandy and Chelsie?  How about prom pictures in the formal living room, can we go back there?  Or, sitting on the front porch swing while grandma listened in on private conversations between friends! She said, "Sweet 16 and never been kissed...by the right guy!"  So many memories in this home.

This song by Miranda Lambert sums up all of the thoughts and feelings of revisiting an old home that holds memories.  Do you have a home like this held in your heart?

In nearly 20 years of property management, I have only had to follow through with a handful of evictions.  Most of the time, I can make it very clear that there will be a judgement on the delinquent client's record for non-payment of rent if they don't move.  Almost always, the tenant moves within a few days.  A new tenant is promptly procured, and in some cases, we can even collect the delinquent tenants past due amount by making a payment arrangement. 

If no payment arrangement is made, and the prior tenant makes no payments within 30-days, then the bad debt is reported on the tenant's credit.  At some point in the future, when they get ready to move again, or buy a house, they often show up in my office to pay off the debt to clear their credit report. 

This is just one of the services that our management company does for our owners.  We diligently collect rent and bad debt.  This is just one of the reasons  a home owner that is renting property should hire a management company.  It's a small fee to pay, but well worth the service.

I wish that I could have helped my new client out several years ago.  Staying on top of her property would have saved her from the mounds of repairs that the home needs now.  We could have collected her rent.  She could have held onto her asset without frustration and throwing in the towel. 

Often, small investors become frustrated when they self manage a property.  Before that becomes you, contact my management company, and let's talk about how we may be able to help you maximize your income, and minimize your vacancy.  Reliable Management manages property in Bryan and College Station, TX, and also Longview, TX.   

This morning's Brazos Valley Home Finder had an article about home ownership and maintenance, "The Maintenance Mindset."  The article hit home to me today.  Seems like everything has fallen apart at once! 

A hot water line leak in the slab caused major trouble for the Scott house.  Wood floors buckled from the hot water that spread throughout the house for days before discovery.  Cabinets mildewed, sheetrock and paneling was torn into by the plumber in order to find the water lines to cap off and re-run.  That was just one of the issues that we've tackled this year with our aging home.

Replacing floors, I decided to knock down a few walls in the process.  You know, open the rooms up!  Instead of going back with wood floors, I thought we needed to try something new, and opted to install slate flooring.  New flooring meant new baseboards, and trim.  By the way, slate is the toughest flooring to work with when picking a wall paint.  We tried over a dozen different samples of paint to pick the perfect color.  Thanks to Sherwin Williams anniversary, we saved 40% on our paint materials.

Had I not known contractors to take care of these repairs, I don't know what I would have done.  As a Realtor®, I have a pool of resources for repairs.  If your home is in need of repair, painting, cleaning, or landscape, feel free to give me a call.  I'm happy to share the name of several contractors that I know and respect. 

I'd insert some before and after pictures of the flooring; however, I seem to have a problem figuring out how to insert the photos on my new blog!  Ha! Ha!  In the end, I'm happy with the slate floor, and the new paint.  Now to tackle the cabinets!! 

We're still working on the links, content, and some of the stealth sites.  We're also adding video.  You can follow the progression of some of our remodeling projects.  We'll take you through before, during, and after a remo.  I'll also report on prior sales and rental prices compared to after remo sales and rental prices. 

You'll gain an understanding as to what properties are worth remodeling and flipping, and which ones aren't worth the time and money. 

Currently, we're remodeling Cripple Creek Condos at 904 University Oaks Drive in College Station.  This property is the perfect student property.  I'll blog more on that in the upcoming days.  At the launch of this website, we're about halfway through remodeling three units. 

Please let me know what you think about my new website.  If there are links or information that you'd like to see on Real Estate BCS, please let me know.  I'd like this website to be a usable resource for the community.

Thanks for reading and visiting!

Kathy

Home prices are one factor in determining your cost of ownership, but so are interest rates and financing availability. Even though interest rates have gone up in the last six months, they are still near historic lows. Since your monthly mortgage payment is a combination of paying down your principal and paying the interest owed, if home prices come down a little further but interest rates up, it could cost you even more to service a mortgage on an identical home!

While a home is a major investment, it is also the center of your personal life. It's important to live in a home that reflects your taste and values, yet is within your financial "comfort zone." To that end, it may be more important to lock in today's relatively low interest rates and low home prices, rather than to hope for a further break in prices in the future.

Please give me a call if I can be of any assistance in determining how much home you can afford in today's market.