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January 2012 Houston and National Housing Market Trends

Tuesday, January 31, 2012
by Lorna Calder

This month's featured video discusses homeowners associations.  These entities can be found in almost every housing environment. Consumers must research to determine if a homeowners association (HOA) has authority over any home they might be considering for purchase. When a person buys a home in an area with a HOA, he or she becomes a member of the association and is responsible for membership dues.  By design a HOA has the goal of ensuring that living in the area or on the property is pleasant for all residents.

The first act of the HOA is to establish a set of rules or guidelines to hopefully accomplish that.  The HOA Board of Directors then establishes monthly dues for all homeowners and can restrict the rights of the way a person can use his or her own property or the joined or common property.  For example the rules may govern the number of people who can occupy a house, the colors one can paint a house, or the time at which common areas like exercise rooms or pools can be used.  Fines or fees can be assessed or even evictions for those that don’t abide by the rules.

Many find the HOA well worth extra fees associated with owning property.  When well administered, the HOA can provide certain predictability to owning a home and clearly delineate both the homeowner’s and association’s responsibility.

Remember a Realtor is always the source of information for all your real estate needs.

 

If you have not reviewed my monthly Housing Trends Newsletter - you could be missing out. Everywhere I go, people are asking me about the housing market conditions - it's on everyone's mind. Staying abreast of local and national market conditions and factors that can affect the future sale or purchase of your home can make the decision process less daunting. I always tell my clients that in order to make the best decision they need to have all the information they can upfront. My Housing Trends Newsletter is just one of the tools in my arsenal to make sure you keep informed.

The January 2012  Local and National Housing Trends has just been released. This month's newsletter is packed full of local and national housing market statistics and news you need to know to stay current with today's changing housing market.

This month's housing trends issue features:    

2011 Energy Tax Credits: What You Need To Know To Collect

8 Small Space Solutions for Shared Kids' Rooms

Top 3 Most Common Home Defects to Check For

Home Security Cameras: Peace Of Mind While Your Away

Winter Gardening: Plants That Provide Beauty All Year Round

You can view the newsletter here.  

If you wish to receive FREE Housing Trends eNewsletter e-mailed to you monthly, click here to Subscribe.   

If you are considering selling your house or buying a home and need more information, I am never too busy to help, please contact me for more information.

 

Teach Values 101!

Thursday, January 26, 2012
by Lorna Calder

Monday Morning Coffee

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"The philosophy of the classroom in one generation will be the philosophy of the government in the next."

- Abraham Lincoln


TEACH VALUES 101!

What do children and government have in common?  That depends on which classroom you visit.  If you have children and are actively involved in their lives, you are likely to encounter a classroom filled with intelligent, interested, involved and respectful children.

Unfortunately, many teachers today will tell you that's not what they are seeing.  In some 1st & 2nd grade settings, children fall asleep because they spent the night in the family car while mom or dad sold drugs.  Others are antagonistic and disrespectful, traits also learned from other family members.  Still others are raised in a "no rules" family, where parents simply abdicate their parental responsibilities.

Many parents still take their responsibilities seriously.  In fact, there appears to be a resurgence of young parents who teach their children the values of honesty, integrity, and service to others.  It's about time.  If you're one of them, I applaud your commitment to making the world a better place.

There has also been a dearth of honesty, respect and morality over the past 30 years or so.  Children brought up during that time often experienced the negative effects of a no rules society.  Today those same individuals are beginning to lead companies and be elected to office, yet we are surprised that company CEO's and elected officials could ever lie and mislead as they have been exposed to do recently. 

As the children of today's classrooms are disposed to believe and behave, so will they as the adults of tomorrow's generation.  Whether you are a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle, you can make a difference for the next generation of leaders.  Take time to encourage, nurture, and teach the children in your family.  Sometimes, a single comment or gesture can give a child the impetus to become great.

Forget The Leader!

Wednesday, January 18, 2012
by Lorna Calder

Monday Morning Coffee

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
and that has made all the difference."

- Robert Frost


FORGET THE LEADER!

On the playground of any school, and on any day, you can witness examples of children playing "follow the leader."  One hops, skips, or jumps, and all the others follow.  As adults, however, many of those children play a variation of that game - called "follow the follower."

On the job, they look around, see how someone else is doing their work, and duplicate the effort.  What they don't realize is that their fellow employee is also watching someone else.  A circular game of "follow the follower" evolves, resulting in a mediocre work force.  The same can be true in marriages, education, hobbies, and sports.

Consider the story of a telephone operator in a small town.  Every day she received a call from a gentleman asking for the correct time.  Finally, one day, she asked the mystery caller who he was and why he called every day.  His answer?  "I'm the one who blows the whistle at the factory each day at noon.  I like to be right on time!"  The operator laughed and then responded, "Here at the telephone company, we set our watches and clocks by the noon whistle at the factory!"

Tired of playing follow the follower?  Want to rejuvenate your life?  Begin acting like the unique person you already are.  See what everyone else is doing . . . and do something different.  Strike out in the direction of your own imagination instead of theirs. 

In the words of Henry David Thoreau, "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.  Live the life you've imagined."

December 2011 Houston and National Housing Market Trends

Friday, January 13, 2012
by Lorna Calder

This month's featured video discusses why consumers should always use a realtor when buying, selling, or leasing a property.  Realtors subscribe to a strict code of ethics and are expected to maintain a higher level of knowledge of the buying process and selling real estate.  Real estate transactions involve one the biggest financial investments that most people will experience during their lifetime.  Your Realtor can help you determine how much you can afford to spend and possibility more importantly how much you should spend.

Your realtor has many resources to assist you in your home search.  Sometimes a property you are seeking is available but not actively advertised in the market and it will take some leg work by your realtor to find all available properties.  Your Realtor can assist you in the selection process by providing objective information about each property.  Realtors can provide local community information and insight during evaluation of the property. Depending on the area this can include inspection for termites, asbestos or roof condition just to name a few. 

When selling your home your Realtor can give you up to date information about what is happening in the market place.  This is the key to getting your property sold at the best price, quickly and with minimum hassle.  Your Realtor acts as marketing coordinator, distributing information about your property to other real estate agents through a multiple listing service or other cooperative marketing networks, open houses, etc.  Your Realtor can guide you through the closing process and make sure everything flows together smoothly.  The required paperwork along is overwhelming for most sellers.  Your Realtor is the best person to objectively help you resolve these issues and move the transaction to closing.  A Realtor is always your best source of information for all your real estate needs...

If you have not reviewed my monthly Housing Trends Newsletter - you could be missing out. Everywhere I go, people are asking me about the housing market conditions - it's on everyone's mind. Staying abreast of local and national market conditions and factors that can affect the future sale or purchase of your home can make the decision process less daunting. I always tell my clients that in order to make the best decision they need to have all the information they can upfront. My Housing Trends Newsletter is just one of the tools in my arsenal to make sure you keep informed.

The December 2011  Local and National Housing Trends has just been released. This month's newsletter is packed full of local and national housing market statistics and news you need to know to stay current with today's changing housing market.

This month's housing trends issue features:    

San Antonio is Number 1 in Texas and US in 2011 Best Performing Cities

Hidden Treasures Found Beneath Homes

Stay Warm and Keep In Budget This Winter Season

Buying a House at Foreclosure Auction is Risky

7 Tips For Staging Your Home

You can view the newsletter here.  

If you wish to receive FREE Housing Trends eNewsletter e-mailed to you monthly, click here to Subscribe.   

If you are considering selling your house or buying a home and need more information, I am never too busy to help, please contact me for more information.

 

The Meaning of Poverty!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012
by Lorna Calder

Monday Morning Coffee

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"The man who dies rich, dies disgraced."

- Andrew Carnegie

THE MEANING OF POVERTY!

A colleague passed this delightful story along:

One day a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his son how much poverty exists in the world. They spent several days and nights on the farm of a very poor family.

Upon their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?" The son's answer? "It was great, Dad!" "Did you see how poor people can be?" the father asked. "Oh yeah," said the son.

"So, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father. The son continued, "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden, and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden, and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard, and they have the whole horizon."

His son added, "We have a small piece of land to live on, and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who work for us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, and they have friends to protect them."

With this the boy's father was speechless. Then his son finally said, "Thanks Dad, for showing me how poor we are."

Too many times we forget what we have and concentrate on what we don't have. What is one person's worthless object is another's prize possession. It is all based on one's perspective. It makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for the bounty we have, instead of worrying about wanting more. Take joy in all you have, especially your friends.

Top 10 Housing Predictions for 2012

Sunday, January 08, 2012
by Lorna Calder

I stumbled upon this interesting video by Dave Liniger and decided to repost...

Dave Liniger, Co-founder and Chairman of RE/MAX shares what he views to be the Top 10 Housing Predictions for 2012 and provides what he thinks the real estate market will bring to 2012.... 

Top 10 Housing Predictions for 2012

Overall the forecast for 2012 is better, due in part to the pent up demand for housing creating by young buyers entering the housing market. This creates a tremendous opprtunity for investors, and those same people will help with the hosuing recovery.

  1. Interest rates will continue to be both historically and generationally low.
  2. Prices should remain stable the first half of the year with a possibility of some markets seeing a small decline. We should then see home prices start to rise in the latter half of the year.
  3. Increased home sales resulting in steady gains.
  4. Rising inventory, with foreclosures and distressed property making up a large percentage.
  5. Increase in distress property sales.
  6. Improved short sale and foreclosure process.
  7. Lower homeownership rates with an increase in rental rates.
  8. Investors will make up 25% of the market including foreign and domestic
  9. Increased reliance on REALTOR expertise due to the changing market
  10. Consumer friendly technologies will continue to be available and tech savvy REALTORS will continue to make use of these tools.

See the video below....

Top 10 Housing Predictions for 2012

Overall the forecast for 2012 is better, due in part to the pent up demand for housing creating by young buyers entering the housing market. This creates a tremendous opprtunity for investors, and those same people will help with the hosuing recovery.

  1. Interest rates will continue to be both historically and generationally low.
  2. Prices should remain stable the first half of the year with a possibility of some markets seeing a small decline. We should then see home prices start to rise in the latter half of the year.
  3. Increased home sales resulting in steady gains.
  4. Rising inventory, with foreclosures and distressed property making up a large percentage.
  5. Increase in distress property sales.
  6. Improved short sale and foreclosure process.
  7. Lower homeownership rates with an increase in rental rates.
  8. Investors will make up 25% of the market including foreign and domestic
  9. Increased reliance on REALTOR expertise due to the changing market
  10. Consumer friendly technologies will continue to be available and tech savvy REALTORS will continue to make use of these tools.

source: YouTube REMAXIntl Channel

Make A Pain-Free Resolution!

Friday, January 06, 2012
by Lorna Calder

Monday Morning Coffee

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"We shall do much in the years to come, but what have we done today?
We shall give our gold in a princely sum, but what did we give today?
We shall lift the heart and dry the tear,
We shall plant a hope in the place of fear,
we shall speak the words of love and cheer, but what did we speak today?"

- Nixon Waterman


MAKE A PAIN-FREE RESOLUTION!

So . . . we're into the second day of our new year.  How are your new year's resolutions holding up?  You've added some new ones, and rejuvenated the one from last year about losing weight.  You've got some big plans for this year.

Having major goals like increasing sales, saving for a big trip, or buying a new vehicle is admirable. They'll require considerable time and effort to pull off, but think how good you'll feel when you achieve them.  Now, why not add a few small ones to your list - the ones that require no effort.

First, add praise to your list. Praise comes in small packages.  A simple "thank you" to a clerk or friend is praise for their help.  A simple pat on the back accompanied by "You're the best!" will brighten someone's entire day.

Next, give something away every day. That something might only be a spare 25¢ dropped in a jar at the convenience store for a local burn victim.  It might be an item of clothing rescued from the back corner of your closet.  It might be two hours of your time at a local soup kitchen.  No matter what the gift, add this habit to your daily activities.  At the end of the year, you will have affected many lives.

Send a smile toward those who frown. Talk positively to those who would rain on your parade.  Say "Yes!" when asked for a favor.  Kiss your loved ones like you mean it.  Ask a friend, "Is there anything I can do for you?" or "How can I help?"

Keep it simple, but do it often - and keep it to yourself.  A year from now it will be impossible to tally the impact you have had on your world.  Isn't it about time we all made this resolution?    

Learning To Fly!

Thursday, December 29, 2011
by Lorna Calder

Monday Morning Coffee

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY!

"When you come to the edge of all the light you have known, and are about to step out into darkness, Faith is knowing one of two things will happen - there will be something to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly."

- "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" by Richard Bach


LEARNING TO FLY!

In the 1930's and 1940's, there were numerous women's magazines.  Ladies' Home Journal and Good Housekeeping were two of them.  They showed women in the role of the day - housekeeping.  They suggested the number of times per week the home should be dusted, scrubbed, organized, and otherwise kept spotless.  They suggested ways to look good when the "man of the house" arrived home from a tough day at the office.  In short, those magazines and their publishers set up an impossible regimen of expectations for their readers.

Many of us know women who have spent much of their lives trying to live up to the model housewife role prescribed by those magazines.  The trouble is, many of them have (or had) dreams of their own, like wanting to write, or to travel, or to participate in the freedoms only men then enjoyed.

Today, any of us can achieve our dreams.  All too often, however, we are still denied our destiny by the expectations set by others.  We are bombarded by radio, TV, CD, DVD, and WWW messages that insist we follow their example, their guidelines, or their models.  We allow our dreams to wither and die - waiting in line for their turn to blossom - never receiving the water of encouragement needed to grow and bloom.

What about your dreams?  Need some encouragement to help you "think outside the box?"  Begin by spending time with others who have already achieved their dreams. Leave your nay-sayer acquaintances behind.  Read inspiring biographies.  Pick up a copy of "Think & Grow Rich" or "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People."  If you haven't yet learned to "fly," pick up "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" or "Illusions" by Richard Bach.

As Jonathan says in the book, "Don't believe what your eyes are telling you.  All they show is limitation.  Look with your understanding, find out what you already know, and you'll see the way to fly!"

The Sky Is Falling... Not!

Monday, December 19, 2011
by Lorna Calder

Monday Morning Coffee

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds; and the pessimist fears this is true."

- James B. Cabell

THE SKY IS FALLING . . . NOT! !

"The glass is half-full." "The glass is half-empty." "Looks like a beautiful day!" "I think it's going to rain." "I'm happy." "I'm depressed." "I'm an optimist!" "How can you be an optimist with things the way they are?"

OK, we all know the difference between an optimist and a pessimist - right? In some of Steven Covey's material, he states that "no one knows enough to be a pessimist." Pessimism, more often than not, is generated by inner fears, most likely fears "of the unknown." Hence, "No one knows enough to be a pessimist."

Consider the child about to learn the art of riding a bike. "I know I'm going to fall," proclaims the child - just before taking a skinned knee. After a week of practice, is the child still fearful? Once bike riding becomes second nature, i.e. once the child "knows" enough about bike riding, the fear (a.k.a. pessimism) disappears.

Just as the child's pessimism ("I'm going to fall...") precedes the skinned knee, our other pessimistic thoughts may precede our worst fears. By substituting a positive thought for a negative one, therefore, is it not possible that the action that follows might also be positive?

Add to that positive thought an extra measure of learning and knowledge, and it's highly unlikely there will continue to be room for either the pessimism or the subsequent negative action. From one optimist to another, heed this advice: "Don't worry - be happy!"

No Mickey Mouse Story!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011
by Lorna Calder

Monday Morning Coffee

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"Time, which changes people, does not alter the image we have retained of them."- Marcel Proust

NO MICKEY MOUSE STORY!

While watching a Disney re-telling of the well-known "A Christmas Carol," one of the scenes was striking.  Scrooge McDuck (a.k.a. Ebenezer Scrooge) was being taken on a tour of his past by Jiminy Cricket (the Ghost of Christmas Past).  As Scrooge glimpsed himself at an early age, losing the love of "Isabel Duck" as he paid closer attention to his piles of money, he couldn't stand the pain of his past.

Scrooge lamented to Jiminy Cricket to "Take me home. I can no longer stand these memories!"  It was Jiminy's reply that brought a powerful lesson forward.  He explained, "Remember Scrooge, you fashioned these memories yourself."

Of course, we all have missed an opportunity at one time or another to craft a positive memory for someone we love.  If we think about it very much, we will wish we had done things differently.  But that's not the point.

If it is indeed we ourselves who fashion life's memories, then we also have the power to fashion good ones - beginning now.  It is what we do NOW to craft a special memory for others that will last far beyond tomorrow.  During this magical season of giving, why not create a forever "Kodak moment" for someone you love?  To coin a familiar song title: "Memories are made of this!"

Displaying blog entries 1-10 of 80

REALTOR Kingwood TX ~ Lorna Calder, ABR, GRI, CRS, CDPE, SFR, ePRO 

 Each Office Independently Owned and Operated.