Everything Bellaire, Anything Houston and Some Real Estate
The MLS # is 8742200. This is a 5,699 SF house with a pool and tropical landscaping at the end of a cul-de-sac outside the loop. Lot size is 8,450 and it is offered in the low $800. Let me know at Lucie@MyBellaireBlog.com if you would like to receive any details or have any questions about placing an offer on this property!
Search all Bellaire Homes at www.BellaireBestHomes.com
There is rumor that a $15,000 homebuyer credit has been approved in the Senate. I have not been able to confirm , but I know it is looming. Currently, there is APPROVED a $7500 tax credit that is given at the time they file their taxes. So, if a first time homeowner (who makes less than $75,000/year) buys before July 2009, they can claim this credit for 2008 (if they file an extension) or on 2009 tax return (a whole year from now!). The credit offsets the tax they owe, and is required to be repaid over 15 years. So basically, and interest free loan.
The NEW PROPOSAL posed to the Senate as a part of the stimulus package is: Increase the credit to $15,000 (or 10% of the purchase price if less), and available to ALL homebuyers, regardless of income or purchase history, and not require repayment. Wow. That would spur some buying for sure. I will just avoid thinking where that money will come from for now. Let’s just take a bat for the team on this one, and call it a good thing.
I saw an article online that said ‘Credit Standards Tighten’. Where has that journalist been? That is old news! Yes, it is true. There are more rules, more paperwork. But we just get through it all somehow. The funniest example I have is one of our investors now requires that any letters of explanation for the borrower are handwritten, not typed. Hint: loan officers have really good writing skills. But isn’t that funny? We are going to such extremes. But again, a bat for the team. When I am 80, I hope to look back on 2009 with a grin, and know that I helped a lot of people accomplish the American dream of homeownership.
Jennifer Hernandez
Vice President/Mortgage Consultant
Patriot Bank Mortgage
Office: 713-337-8400
Mobile: 713-446-7791
E-mail: jennifer@patriotbankusa.com
Web: www.loanwithjennifer.com
Should I say only 5 properties closed in January in West U? Well, considering the very dark national news about employment, I should yell “Yippie! 5 closings!”. However, comparing with last year’s January closings of 10 properties, sales were down 50% year-to-year.
Five lucky West U homeowners were able to sell their homes last month, ranging from $625,000 to $3,300,000 for a newly built 7,535 Sq Ft home on a 15,000 Sq Ft lot. At $437 per square ft, the builder (Domus) did very well!
Another 5 properties went “sale pending”, ranging from $619,000 to $1,575,000 in list price which announces a similar, if not better February.
To receive a Market Snapshot, which is an interactive view of the market around you, just email me at Lucie@MyBellaireBlog.com. It is free, and it is specific to your street and the streets surrounding you!
A dismal 7 properties closed in the City of Bellaire in January, with prices ranging from $250,000 to $590,000 with an average of 53 days on the market and an average price per square foot at $197.85. Last January had 12 closings ranging from $239,000 to $1,864,500 and the average price per square foot was $213. The outlook for next month seems brighter: 11 homes went under contract in January and are pending to close this month or next. Those pending sales range from $360,000 to $2,574,900 in their list price! So things started picking up with the new year, and if you are wondering whether to list now or in the spring, call 713-539-1006 for a complimentary in-depth Market Analysis of your home or sign-up for the amazing Market Snapshot email that you can receive free as often as weekly! My email is Lucie@MyBellaireBlog.com .
Also, please visit www.BellaireBestHomes.com to view everything offered for sale in the City of Homes!
Two incidents happened in the last couple of weeks in our neighborhood that came to my attention. A car was stolen from my friend’s driveway at night. Their garage backs up to 1st Street, between Bellaire and Bissonnet. Since they have 3 vehicles, one stays parked on the driveway. One morning, prior to the theft, my friend noticed his car doors were unlocked, and thought it was strange since he always makes it a point to lock the doors of his car. Next thing, the car is completely gone one morning. His car alarm had failed during Ike, and that’s what the thieves were possibly testing the first time around. They now feel very violated and unsafe in their own home.
The other incident has to make realtors and their clients aware of the need to keep the alarms activated on vacant property. The house at 847 Jaquet has been on the market and vacant for a while. It’s front door got stolen last week. The neighbors noticed the house was wide open and the front door gone. It could also be that appliances were taken. Now a piece of plywood in the front tells the story. My friend who lives on Jaquet does not feel too safe either.
So Bellaire be careful! The recession is not helping the crime around here, and lets watch out for our own streets and neighbors. Also, setting your alarm is important even if you’re just going to the grocery store!
At the last Condit Elementary School PTO Meeting, Melissa Lowry, a private education consultant from Smartpantz Education based in West U gave a crowd of Bellaire parents some helpful tips to manage the all-too frequent homework excuses from the kids. As I was starting to wonder whether my child was too young and immature for the responsibilities the school asked of her, Melissa soothed my worries by stating that up until 8th grade, parents need to go through the famous blackhole called “backpack” nightly to ensure important papers have not strangely slipped out of binders and folders.
What a big relief for me! My child was not really behind… Expecting a fifth grader to be on top of all assignments, worksheets, projects and field trip permission slips is apparently too much to ask. So now I don’t feel guilty hovering, digging through the backpack, checking the agenda despite the claims of my daughter that everything is taken care of.
On the other hand, Melissa emphasized that it is important to let the kids fail from time to time in the elementary years so that they learn from the natural consequences of their non-actions: better now, than when you are paying thousands of dollars for a college semester! Homework needs to be a positive experience, with a consistent place and time attached to it. It also needs to be a priority, because kids will learn study skills and the ability to concentrate for along period of time. The role of the parent should be similar to the encouragement of a sport coach’s - as opposed to being tyrannic…
Lastly, your child needs only to be the most effective student to succeed, not necessarily the smartest. Good study skills, test-taking strategies, project management skills are all that are needed to breeze through high-school and college. And consistent homework habits will help to develop those.
If you are interested in having Melissa come to speak at your school, give her a call at 713-444-6471. She is really passionate about teaching and is a great speaker!