On My Mind
Innovation, job growth and immigration put this Lone Star city ahead of New York and Boston.
By Joel Kotkin
Do cities have a future? Pessimists point to industrial-era holdovers like Detroit and Cleveland. Urban boosters point to dense, expensive cities like New York, Boston and San Francisco. Yet if you want to see successful 21st-century urbanism, hop on down to Houston and the Lone Star State.
When the Nation’s mortgages were going under, one of the few states that were able to avoid the debacle was Texas. Was Texas able to avoid it completely? No, of course not. But, Texas was able to prevent the onslaught of upside down mortgages. These are the mortgages where the home owner owes more on the loan than the house is worth. This causes a thought process referred to as “Strategic Foreclosure“.
Texas was able to avoid much of this due to strategic planning by the REALTOR® lobby in Texas. The REALTOR® lobby opposed legislation that would allow home equity loans. Uncontrolled home equity loans allow a homeowner to owe a considerable amount more on their home than its value. The REALTOR® lobby was unable to prevent home equity loans coming to Texas but, they were able to place intelligent boundaries into the process. They pushed for and received critical legislation that prevented a home owner from borrowing more than 80% of their homes appraised value when applying for a home equity loan.
I received a phone call yesterday from a lady REALTOR® in New Mexico. Her listings were not selling. She had done everything she could think of to move the homes. She will be trying my approach on her listings.
Her call was to thank me for my unique approach to marketing and share with me how it had motivated her.
I was tickled that a blog I had written a response to could make someone feel so good. What she didn’t tell me was; she had read it in REALTOR® magazine, not on the website it was posted to. I opened the magazine this morning to peruse it over coffee and saw my words in the Creative Marketing piece.
I thought I felt good yesterday. I am really tickled today. I am so happy I was able to inspire someone.
SCHEDULE SHOWING 12839 Magic Falls Drive Dr Tomball, Texas 77377
Beautiful Lennar house seeks new owner.
Nestled in a part of Village Creek where the back yards have no lots behind them, this house offers an uncommon amount of privacy not normally experienced in today’s subdivisions. Throw a party with your friends and family by the pool in your oversized back yard.
Enter the house and experience spacious living. Large rooms and tall ceilings await your Buyer as they walk around their next home. It really doesn’t matter who does the cooking, the household chef will enjoy cooking in the well laid out kitchen.There is room for the chef, the helpers and guests.
The Master suite is located downstairs awaiting your Buyer at the end of the day.The remaining bedrooms are upstairs with a game/media room for the upstairs residents to enjoy their privacy away from the hustle and bustle of activity on the first floor. Two full baths are upstairs.
Come by and see how this house is the answer to your dreams. Open House 3/14/2010
I look forward to your visit. I am certain you will be rewarded with the house you will want to call home.
Living:
19×17
Dining:
12×11
Kitchen:
16×11
Breakfast:
11×11
1st Bed:
17×14
2nd Bed:
15×11
3rd Bed:
13×11
4th Bed:
13×10
Study/Library:
13×11
Utility Room Desc:
Utility Rm In House
Utility Room Dim:
8×6
Media Room:
15×14
Fireplace:
1 / Gas Connections, Wood Burning Fireplace
Dishwasher:
Yes
Disposal:
Yes
Compactor:
No
Microwave:
Yes
Range:
Electric Range
Oven:
Single Oven, Electric Oven
Connection:
Washer, Electric Dryer, Gas Dryer
BedRooms:
Master Bed – 1st Floor
Heating:
Central Gas
Cooling:
Central Electric
Floors:
Carpet, Tile, Wood
Countertop:
Silestone
Extr Constrn:
Brick & Wood
Private Pool:
Yes
Lot Desc:
Subdivision Lot
Roof:
Composition
Foundation:
Slab
Open House
Sunday: 3/14/2010
12839 Magic Falls Drive Dr Tomball, Texas 77377
Whether you are just looking for ideas or are seeking your next home,come by and visit. I will be waiting for you.
Upgrading to an energy-efficient heating and cooling system can save hundreds on your utility bills and earn you a tax credit worth as much as $1,500. Read
If money seems to be escaping through drafty windows, doors, and skylights, this federal tax credit might make energy-efficient replacements more affordable. Read
Style, Location and Price make this house a must see. Built during the roaring twenties and remodeled in 2009, it is a true classic. This 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath Craftsman keeps on giving with a 2 room finished attic space. Being situated between Downtown, Rice Village, Greenway Plaza and Uptown, makes for a quick commute to almost any inner loop location. Recent remodeling has married the 1920’s Craftsman style with current modern kitchen and bathroom features to create a highly desirable living space.
Craftsman Style architecture combined with modern touches create a lifestyle that will set you apart from the average homeowner. Coffered ceilings, ornate windows, inlaid wood floors and a modern kitchen create an atmosphere of sophisticated elegance long lost in today’s world.
If you take a look at your local real estate MLS (Multiple Listing Service), you will find homes being marketed without photographs. You will also find photos from camera phones so grainy it is nearly impossible to distinguish the objects in a room. The list continues, yet Seller’s do not seem to demand more of their agents. Why is that? Someone, please explain. I don’t get it. You, the Seller should demand excellent photos to represent your house.
The photos should capture the architecture and the essence of the home.
You have remodeled, repainted, manicured the lawn and staged the house, just like your REALTOR® and HGTV has advised. The photography should capture your effort and intrigue Buyers to view the property. If they don’t, your efforts are wasted. The whole purpose of the photography is to inspire viewings. The photography should make a positive statement about the house. It should beckon Buyers and tell a story about the property.
Do not settle for inferior or mediocre photography when you decide to sell you property. Call a REALTOR® who has knowledge of photography or one who is willing to have an expert take the shots. Call me. 713-419-8014
Testimonial:
I had an exceptional listing that required special photographs. Doyle managed to capture all the unique features of the home as well as convey the layout and design in the photos. This was a difficult task considering the house was over 9000sq ft. I was able to successfully utilize the pictures for both online and hard copy advertising. Doyle’s combined understanding of real estate and knowledge of photography make him an excellent real estate photographer.
Look no further for information on the life expectancy of the products that make a house. The National Association of Home Builders has compiled a great list for you. From appliances to roofing, this list has it all. This is a must read for any potential Buyer to help them determine if the house they are buying will last. I will use it in my real estate practice to assist Buyers in devising an offer on their next home purchase.
