Real Estate Reads
January 2nd, 2010 categories: Home Improvement & Design, Real Estate True Tales
CASABLANCA MOROCCO -- You think your last sales transaction was cursed...spend some time in the North Africa real estate and you'll see Bryan Texas as a cake walk. The Caliph's House by Tahir Shaw accounts a real estate adventure. The London businessman grows tired of the rat-race and finds an ancient riad - mansion - in Casablanca. Aside from learning the nuances of the Islamic culture Shaw tries to renovate his palatial compound and meet the neighbors. The storyline is similar to the book Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes. But this is much funnier with a focus on African and Islamic architecture. The vendors that Mr Shaw hires to refurbish his home bring unusual stories and experiences for the his family that remains camping out in one room of the compound. The one room that the Shaw's can't enter remains a mystery...only to be secretly accessed by one of the inherited house keepers. Mr Shaw not only purchased the property but he also acquired the home's original attendants and extended families. Assets or liabilities? The house keepers create sinister situations all in the name of guarding the mansion. For REALTORS and home owners not traveling this winter, the Caliph's House is a...| Discussion: 2 Comments »
Market Analysis
December 10th, 2009 categories: Buying Real Estate, Market Trends, Real Estate News
BRYAN, TX -- Sluggish but successful best describes our market.We did not sell as many properties as we did in 2008 BUT it is not nearly as far behind now as it was in January! Notice on the chart below – WE HAVE ITEMS IN GREEN!!! Notice on the chart above – the available inventory on the market is on a slow and steady rise. Is it rising enough to really be concerned about? Not yet but it does bear watching. Did you hear congress extended the First Time Home Buyer Credit AND added a little for those of us who already own real estate? The First Time Home Buyer Credit is up to $8,000 and the Repeat Home Buyer Credit is up to $6,500. If you could purchase a home and get back up to $8,000 MAYBE it is time to think about making a purchase! Also - we are thrilled that Century 21 Beal sold more properties than any other...| Discussion: Your Comments Please »
Do I need a permit?
November 17th, 2009 categories: Home Improvement & Design, Land & Rural
BRYAN, TX -- Well, I'm not really doing any major structural repairs...No one will notice if I add-on a little room here...The city is just out to make an extra buck on my renovations. Yes, we've heard all the excuses for not pulling a permit on your little bathroom upgrade. Think about it from a community position, though. If you don't visit the City of Bryan website to apply for a permit, you're jeopardizing your good neighbors in the loss of utilities or phone services. The city makes it so easy now to mail in the short form I highlighted from the city website in the previous sentence. There are more construction items requiring work permits than I have room or time for here. Some upgrades you might not think about are: (more...)| Discussion: 2 Comments »
Chicken Chic
August 29th, 2009 categories: Home Improvement & Design, Kids, Family & Personal Stuff, The Realtor's Life
BRYAN, TX -- Shabby Chic has come to include chickens!! With all of the interest in green products and organic foods, you had to know it was just a matter of time before raising hens became hip. Truly, there is no better pet than a brood of hens (call me if you wanna hear stories about roosters:( Poultry in motion - they are cheap cute and cuddly. Their food and water is low maintenance. Then they give you eggs every 26 hours. This is a cash positive pet! My interest in poultry began many years ago. I grew up in Dallas with a little yard. Each year at Easter I asked my parents for those cute colored chicks at the feed store on the edge of town. The reply: "they grow up into older chickens which we have no time nor space for." In 2008 my family had an open Spring Break...not one thing planned. So I got the marvelous idea to buy three baby chicks for week-long entertainment. My daughter within three days herded her brood around the yard. We had no previous knowledge of poultry so some family friends who have property in Robertson County helped us out. They told us how to...| Discussion: 1 Comment »
Electric Lawn Mowers – Green but Grievous
June 1st, 2009 categories: Home Improvement & Design
BRYAN, TX -- The Texas Municipal Power Agency encourages homeowners to use electric lawn mowers rather than gas to promote cleaner air. They are offering vouchers worth $150 toward the purchase of an electric-powered machine, corded or cordless. You're thinking, I gotta push this reel mower or work my way around power cords? That's a big sacrifice for clean air. Well, Black and Decker does have a handy 24V battery mower but it will only cut up to 1/3 of an acre at a time. Then there's a solar powered cordless from Solaris - that sounds neat. (more...)| Discussion: Your Comments Please »
Places to Eat
May 24th, 2009 categories: Community Events
BRYAN, TX -- Now that the university students are out for the summer, you can try new restaurants around town without waiting in a line ;) Actually, I can't give them a hard time - the students are the reason why our local economy is so insulated from the extremes shown in the national news stories. Back to the menu...There is one place in town that you need to visit, tucked away at 110 Dominik near Texas Avenue in College Station. It is Shiraz Shish-ka-Bob, an Iranian restaurant with various ka-bobs with rice and vegetables, humus, and flat bread. The owners finished-out a former photo store/donut store very nicely. It sits near Blue Baker and Gumby's Pizza. The restaurant is named for the city Shiraz in southwestern Iran known for poetry and arts. We've been several times - my favorite ka-bob is the lamb. In the Aggieland of chicken fingers and BBQ, Shiraz is divine. The sodas and regular beverages sit near the cash register, but I recommend asking for their hot tea. It is dark and wonderful - don't know the name. But I am learning Arabic. Oops that's another story for another time. And, if you are ever in need of Egyptian food, ...| Discussion: Your Comments Please »
