Realtor ®-The Woodlands Real Estate

2007 has already been an amazing year in making strides on Environmental Issues.  Environmental Conservation and Awareness is becoming Top Of Mind even to people who have rejected the ideas in the past.

I read an article this morning that really gives great insight as to what our future, not so distant, holds for us. I must say, if I had to hand out an award, it would be to this guy!  I will highlight the main points and share the article at the end.

The first line says "Could pond scum solve the world's energy and warming crises?" 

It discusses how Professor Fu with the University of Hawaii has developed strains of Cyanobacteria (found in pond scum) that grow on carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.  The KICKER-it produces ETHANOL as a waste product! Professor Fu has tried many things but seems to think the best is the GOOD 'OL NATURAL SUNLIGHT! 

This has to be THE BEST IDEA I've heard yet to turn waste into something we can actually use.  He is working with different strains of algae to see which one will produce the most Ethanol.  Until now, producing Ethanol has been somewhat debated because it dumps out just as much carbon as is used to make it.  Which is still better than coal.

Professor Fu's idea-All you need is sunlight, CO2 and a little pond scum which will reduce greenhouse gases.

The article goes on to explain the process which I couldn't even begin to explain. (I must have been asleep that day in BioTechnology and Engineering class) You will just have to read the article.  He explains that his idea would utilize the gases emitted from Power Plants and other CO2 Producers to produce Ethanol with less money and faster than other methods currently being looked into.

What do you think my ECO All-Star Friends? I think Professor Fu deserves the Gold Star for the day!     

Thank You Sally for sharing this article with me.  All of this information came from the Honolulu Advertiser.  It is a must read for the day...Fascinating Stuff!

I had a bad deal today.  My clients have been approved for a loan since December and all at once the lender says they are not approved because their debt to income ratios were high.  What I thought was sad that he tried to take advantage of all the BAD PRESS lately regarding the mortgage industry and blame it on that.  Well, I know for a fact that this is not the reason. 

However, that is not the reason that I am posting this right now.  We all know that in any given industry there are people that are not always honest and have little to no integrity what so ever.  The mortgage industry is going through a tough time right now and I can not even imagine working that side of the real estate industry at this time.  Brokers, loan processors, underwriters....I have to give it to you! 

 The real reason I posted this was to say THANK YOU! 

Thanks to all of you who give our clients Honest Pre-Approval Letters.

Thanks for saving the deals at the last minute when our clients are about to fall out of contract.

Thanks for fighting to give our clients the best rate and closing costs possible.

Thanks for being there for our clients when they have questions and answering your phone and replying to emails.

Thanks for getting docs out on time.

Did I mention Thanks for saving deals at the last minute!

Thanks for everything you do that helps to make our clients have a good, positive buying experience!

There are some great people in the mortgage industry that fight and work hard for our clients.  There may be some that are not so hot, but did you say Thank you lately to the lender that saved your deals and got them to closing on the mortgage side lately?

Agents, don't forget to thank your loan officers and processors when they do a good job for you and your clients!   

By the way, thank you Matthew Blum for returning my call today. I appreciate it! Helped out a lot!

It's Official!  I can now use the EcoBroker Logo!  I am so excited to have finished the EcoBroker Classes and who better to share it with than my AR Family!

As of right now I am the only Agent in the Spring/Woodlands area with this Designation.  Actually, the closest agent with one is in Galvestion.  I have to say that these classes were amazing and it has put a refreshing excitement back into my business.  I am chomping at the bits to start my marketing! 

I hope to share with all of you some of my experiences over the next year.  I plan on doing a lot with this.

Also, I would like to say Thank You to some of you on AR  who have helped me considerably over the last few weeks that I have been here!

Thank You JaneAnneNarrin for inspiring me through your writing to pursue this Designation!

Thank You Dena Stephens for helping me to find EcoBroker!

Thank You Sally Cheeseman for giving me helpful advice and making me feel welcome here on AR!

  I feel so honored to have joined this Elite Group of Realtors that hold this very Special Designation that goes towards a great cause!

Ok, Now I have to go put something together for my Sphere!  I'll share with all of you when I get to my 100th post also. Right now, this will make 30!  Long ways to go!

Do you get asked this question?  I do.

As many of you know I am working on my 'Operation Localism' where I am posting weekly as many things as possible for my area.  I have had the opportunity to meet many people while taking photos.  In conversation they want to know what I'm doing and I say, of course, "It's for my BLOG."  The very next question 9 out of 10 times was "What is a blog anyway?"

Well, prior to becoming a member of Active Rain, I had no clue what a BLOG was. So needless to say, hearing this question made me relieved that I was not the only one who had not jumped into the internet saavy world.  I always heard it on the news, "What is everyone Blogging about today?" and I would just think "Heck if I know, what is it?"

I realized then that I at least needed to have an answer to this question. 

After doing some research, didn't take much,  here are some definitions.

• Online Publication in the form of a Diary or Journal
• A Personal Online Journal
• A WebLog
• Publicly Accessible Journal

Now that I came across this site, Active Rain, which I now refer to many of it's members as part of my AR Family, it didn't take long to realize what BLOGGING was all about. 

It's about speaking from the heart, writing about what you know and what you want to teach, writing for support, writing as a tool to reach consumers on a level you may not reach them otherwise and sometimes just writing for fun.

Truly, it's a Personal Online Journal of anything and everything that you have a passion for and wish to write about.  So, cheers to my BLOG and I am so glad to have been able to share it with you! 

What does your Personal Online Diary behold? 

By the way, BLOG is a contraction for Web...Log

Looking to buy a home in The Woodlands? Just the size of this community is enough to be completely overwhelming. The population of The Woodlandsis already approximately 80,000 and there are still atleast 7,000 more homes to be built.  Where do I start you ask? How about a breakdown of what you will find here to begin.

The Woodlands is a master planned community with everything you need.  Schools, Shopping, Malls, Golf, Parks with Hike and Bike Trails, this list could go on forever.  To start, The Woodlands is set up into Villages. (Large neighborhoods which are broken up into smaller sections) You will find a vast number of homes in every price range. The best thing to do is figure out what the basics are for you wants and needs in a home. Let's break it down.

• Location-Do you work in The Woodlands or do you work outside of the immediate area.  This will help you decide how close to I-45 you need or want to be.  Front to back it can take 30 minutes driving time.  
• Price Range-As I mentioned, you will find a vast array of prices in The Woodlands. Homes start around $110,000 and go up to Multi-Million. What are your needs? Start with Price Range and work your way down to Bedrooms, Bathrooms, etc.  I recommend make a long laundry list of what you want and then take away as you go.  The broader your search, the more confusing it gets.
• Schools-If you have school age children you may want to look at the schools. There are numerous schools in The Woodlands.
• Golf Courses-If you like to Golf, you may want to be closer to one course than another.

The Woodlands is a beautiful place and a wonderful community to call home.  Just drive through and I promise you will be enamored with the trees and scenery.  You will understand why it has been voted the #1 Master Planned Community in Texas for many years. 

These basics will get you started to finding the home of your dreams. Please feel free to contact me for an information packet with more details about The Woodlands.

Stephanie Edwards-Musa  

www.youragentsteph.com

In the midst of an AVERAGE real estate decline, mortgage lenders and servicers in the media, foreclosures on the rise it has come to my attention that the media in my opinion might spend too much time on the AVERAGE. 

It is unfortunate that many parts of the nation are seeing a decline in home sales and many times a decline in value.  However, what is this doing to the parts of the nation that are still strong? I don't want to bash the media, I just wanted to dispel the MYTH that ALL parts of the nation are experiencing a Real Estate Bubble.

In Houston right now, we are still seeing a healthy market. In The Woodlands just north of town we are seeing a 4.5 month of inventory which is well within the range of a seller's market.  The average median sale price in Houston is up 5% even though we are seeing an 8% decline in new construction sales over 2006, which I might say was amazingly in March of last year.  Job Growth is up and still climbing. The Port of Houston alone has created nearly 56,000 jobs since 2000.

I had a prospective seller AND buyer approach me yesterday and said "How would it affect me to buy/sell seeing as it is a buyers market right now?"  This really sort of disturbed me.  The media has focused on the Bubble as a whole nation.  I would like to take a minute to explain why Houston is a little different.

• Average appreciation on a home in the Houston and Surrounding areas is typically 3-5% per year.  Sometimes not even that.  We could see this as a negative but let's flip that.  The areas most affected by the "Bubble" typically have a significantly higher appreciation which allows for more room to decline as well. I refer to it as the pendulum-to the left, to the right, back to the middle. 
• Job Growth-Texas as a whole has had more people moving in than moving out the last year and a half.  There are many job openings and business growth.  This really goes back to supply and demand.  Our businesses are still growing and bringing employees and are expected to do so atleast through 2010 according to the Texas Real Estate Center at A&M.
• More Reasonable Home Prices- Houston has always had more affordable homes than many parts of the nation.  On the North side of Town you can find homes, great homes, under $80 per square foot.  That's Phenomenal compared to many States.

Houston seems to follow in different footsteps.  I wanted to let consumers know that even though we see the media talking about the bubble, there are several parts of the nation still doing well.  It is best to contact a Professional Real Estate Agent that services the area you are interested in for specific information. 

So let's hear it agents, what other parts of the nation are doing well?

Just for fun, If your state had a Lottery Jackpot of $220 Million and your office was pooling money to buy a bunch of tickets would you:

A) Chip in hopes for an early retirement

or

B) Not chip in hopes they win the jackpot and you can take all of their listings when THEY quit?

Just wondering....What would you do?

It was brought to my attention that I left off an option.

C) Chip in, but don't quit if you win-take all of the listings AND reinvest to become some sort of Donald Trump! Without the American Express Commercials!

I originally posted this as a fun Members Only Question but after careful consideration I have decided to post this as a public post.  It's great to see that a majority of the agents purue Real Estate as a passion to help others and would continue at no cost.  Excellent!  Thank you eveyone for inspiring such great ideas!

Disclosure is possibly the single most important part of a Real Estate Transaction.  In Texas, ALL Sellers are required to fill out a Sellers Disclosure which gives the potential buyer a short history of the property.  Even if you are selling or buying a home For Sale By Owner, it is required.

However, there is always the chance that the seller "forgot" about something, or maybe the previous owner "forgot" something.  Never Fear, Steph is here!

While searching for a home there are many tools available to help you.  The one that I am going to mention here is the CLUE Report.  (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) 

This is a report that you can request for FREE from your insurance company.  This is like a credit report for homes.  Not only do claims filed agains insurance follow you, but they stay with the home.  This list will show you any claims filed and the amount paid out for them.

This can be important in several ways.  Hot Water Heater bottoms out and causes water damage.  I'd want to know.  Hail Damage to the roof and funds were paid out by the insurance company BUT the home still has the original roof. Uh Oh! 

I always recommend getting one of these reports, sometimes before writing an offer.  It is important that during your option period (inspection period) you contact the insurance company that you plan on using to get you quotes.  If there has been a long line of claims on the property, you might get a surprise rate. 

So, don't be CLUEless.  No reason not too! It's FREE!

Stephanie Edwards-Musa  

www.youragentsteph.com

As Houstonians we deal with so much directly and indirectly related to Real Estate.

• *Our Property Taxes are pretty high
• *It's HOT as heck in the summer
• *Rising Electric Bills-This goes back to It's HOT as heck in the summer
• *Humidity-Today the humidity is about 75%
• *Poor Air Quality
• *Rising Interest Rates

 Ok, I think that is enough to make my point.  There are many of us, including myself, that are passing up ways to save money and live more comfortably.  If you read up on the rest of the nation and what they are doing, you will see that many areas are focusing on Energy Efficiency, Solar Electricity, "Green" Building and so on.  I have yet to read anything about it here in Houston.  I think it's time Houston put a little more effort into the GREEN world.    

Whether you plan on staying in your existing home, buying a new home or selling-here are some things that will help your pocketbook.

Windows-We aren't all privy to these wonderful double pane windows. BUT, we can look into re-caulking and weather stripping. Get a contractor to give you a bid!  You'll be surprised that it makes a difference!

Insulation-My home was built in 1982 and I recently looked up in my attic at the insulation, or lack there of to be accurate.  Building code states it should be R-30. What do you have?  $$$ Your money could literally be going through the roof!

Appliances-Did you know that you could get a Home Energy Rating?  These Pros will give your home a score and tell you what it will take to improve the efficiency and save you money.  When replacing your appliances, look for the Energy Star!

Heat and A/C-Not having your systems serviced regularly can be costly. You might save the cost of that service call in less than a year on electric bills!

ATTENTION ALL HOME BUYERS! AND SELLERS!

I found one of the best kept secrets in the Mortgage Industry!  An Energy Efficient Mortgage. Yes, even if the  house is not currently Energy Efficient you might qualify!  This is a DEFINITE to look into!   

I think we should all look to see what we could improve.  Wanting to sell? Buyers will pay attention.  Buyers, you should pay attention.  Don't want to move? It's ok. Look into reducing those light bulls!

If you would like to know more about energy saving tips CLICK HERE!

Wanting to sell? For a personalized marketing plan please feel free to contact me.  I can get you all of the information you need if you are planning to move!

Wanting to buy?  For a detailed list of how to find a home that either are/could be energy efficient or promote healthier indoor air quality please feel free to contact me.  I can get you all the information you need!

Stephanie Edwards-Musa  

Coldwell Banker United, Realtors

www.youragentsteph.com

Auburn Lakesis conveniently located on Gosling Rd. between 2920 and Woodlands Parkway in North Harris County.  As soon as you drive in you will be enamored with the beautiful scenery of lakes, fountains and trees.  Auburn Lakes is a 500 acre Master Planned Community complete with Golf Course, Recreation Center and homes priced from the $170's to over $1 Million.

Auburn Lakes The Estates section offers large lots with custom homes built by local custom builders starting at the $600's.  You have a choice of Golf Course and Waterfront lots and you can't miss the Fountains and Waterfalls as you drive in!

Auburn Lakes The Courts is the Gated section of Patio Style Homes with Golf Course Lots available here as well.  These Beauties are built by Cannon Custom Homes starting at the $330's.  If you are looking for a home with lawn maintenance included in the Association Fees but don't want to sacrifice quality of construction-This is the place to be!

Auburn Lakes The Retreat has 80' Lots by Village Builders starting at the $310's. Many Elevations and Floorplans available and located across from the Recreation Center.

Auburn Lakes The Reservehas 70' Lots and homes built by Imperial Homes and Lennar starting at the $220's. 

Auburn Lakes The Pineshas 60' Lots and homes also built by Imperial Homes and Lennar starting at the $170's.

There is something for everyone here! Parks and Picnic Areas for the kids, tennis, basketball, indoor fitness center, you name it!

The amenities here are phenomenal but so is the location! At about any time of day you can get from Auburn Lakes to I-45 and The Woodlands Mall in less than 15 minutes. Grocery Shopping, even closer!  In addition, you will find Medical Facilities, Public and Private Schools, YMCA, Churches and Multiple Golf! 

For a more detailed packet of Auburn Lakes feel free to contact me and I will put together an informative packet specific to your needs.  Also, don't forget to watch the video below!

Stephanie Edwards-Musa      

Coldwell Banker United, Realtors

Steph@turninghoustongreen.com

www.turninghoustongreen.com