3.23 acres with a 20×20 workshop and 20×20 stables

Large Kitchen Area

5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms

deer and other woodland creatures

large kitchen and storage can accommodate guests

freezer area in butler’s pantry

woodland views out of the family room

bonus studio off of the garage

posh laundry and craft room

2 RV hook-ups for your Aggie weekend guests

Back Exterior

bonus workroom upstairs off of the master bedroom

9 minute commute to A&M University, 17 minutes to the Health Science Center

9 minutes to the College Station Medical Center

Exterior North

You can’t beat the commute!

It’s outside city limits but only minutes to various businesses in the Brazos Valley.

Call me to schedule a tour today.  And don’t forget to mention where you know

the music from above:)

Happy fall,

Cindy Seaton, REALTOR

VintagePins

Rose held its grand opening July 24th.  Proprietress Rosemary Rodriguez can boast the most pollos (that’s chickens for you gringos) under one roof in the Brazos Valley.  She’s collected great Mid-Century furniture, retro clothing, and other fun decor.

Down the street there are the BV Decorative Center at 401 S Main, Earth Art at 209 S Main, Southern Grace Antiques at 102 S Main, and waaaay too many more great stops to mention.  Really you need to go get in your car and shop it!  We’re talking about a 15 minute trip downtown as opposed to 2 hours to Austin or 9 hours to New Orleans.

Get the full SoCo experience when you attend a First Friday (one coming up this Friday August 6th).  Sometimes I even pick up a New Orleans vibe, as I walk down the street with others, smelling the great food, hearing the music pouring out from Stafford Main or Revolution Cafe.  Who would have thought the City of Bryan would draw this funky urban artsy crowd?!?

Back to Rosemary at the Vintage Rose, her store hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 10a-5p.  Start your shopping excursion at her bright yellow store and make your way down Main Street.  Finish off your evening at the new Lemon Wedge Restaurant.

What recommendations do you have for First Friday?  Restaurant reviews?  Leave a comment below…

Only a few more days of triple digits,

Cindy Seaton, REALTOR

(979) 422-9763

LaundryRoom- just one corner

town. Not a washateria where you pay to use a commercial machine.  But I mean the best utility/hobby/washing area ever!  It is 140 square feet of organization, efficiency and wash command.  A most important realm for large families.

The location of this luxurious laundry room (and other fabulous amenities) is 51 Pamela Lane in College Station (MLS # 59974).  This is a five bedroom three bathroom house on 3.23 acres with a hidden bonus room upstairs and an additional studio downstairs, off of the garage.

Results from the Bryan Broadcasting Corporation promotion have not yet been announced – their website says to check back soon for the winners.

Happy washing!

LaundryRoom- second corner

Cindy Seaton, REALTOR

(979) 422-9763

Options for buyers

The website TxHomeProgram.com shows a HUGE list of ideas that make the purchase of a home a reality.  Some of the measures are based on income while others focus on location. The one in Brazos County, for example, is a downpayment assistance plan for lower-income families.  A chart shows you how much income qualifies for a household of a certain size. In North Texas, the City of Dallas Mortgage Assistance is for first-time homebuyers only.

There is also a program search tool which will ask you questions about your financial status, how many people in your home, where you want to live, etc.  It will compile a list of programs for which you qualify.

Additionally, interest rates are extremely low right now. Like Clay Lee said in

his post from June 29th,

there are huge savings over the long term of the loan for those who lock in today.  On a $100,000 home and with a good credit score of 740, your interest rate could be 4.5%.  That is crazy low!!  Last year interest rates were up around 6.5%.  When Ace of Base was singing (1994) 9% was your rate for a mortgage.  And remember the 80s?  Pull out your parachute pants – those rates soared at 18%!  Makes my bangs stand up to think about it!

With a little digging and perseverance, homebuyers can still find great deals on the market.  Talk with me or other great agents at Century 21 Beal to see what is available.

What mortgage programs have you seen????   Leave a comment below to inspire other buyers!

Happy Thursday,

Cindy Seaton, REALTOR

(979) 422-9763

51 Pamela College Station

Take my lovely listing, 51 Pamela for example MLS # 59974.  MLS stands for Multiple Listing Service.  It is FS for sale.  It is not a “FSBO” or for-sale-by-owner because I represent the owner in this transaction.  This remarkable home is a 5/3/2; it has five bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a two-car garage.  Currently, that fifth bedroom upstairs is being used as an office.  And you have got to check out the executive master bathroom.

This home is perfect for entertaining.  The flow from the kitchen to the family room or a more formal dining area is logical and convenient.  And the huge butler’s pantry and cabinet storage in the kitchen offer plenty of room for foodstuffs and necessities.  The Status on this home is “ACT” .  It refers to the house being an active or an available listing.  EXP means that that listing agreement between the owner and the broker has expired.  UC shows that the house is under contract.  OPS signifies offer pending signature…it’s almost under contract.  OC is option contract…call the REALTOR for deets.  That’s short for details:)

The BRN in the back of the home is a Barn, a 20×20 workshop with loads of room for tools and a 20×20 stable.  This is somewhat hidden by the LGTREES.  That’s pretty straight-forward, large trees.  The woods extend to the north toward a stream which forms one border of the property.  On the south side of the garage are 2 RV hook-ups.  We’re talking relatives that come in their recreational vehicles for an Aggie game.  I.E. you don’t clean up their sleeping quarters!  I.E. stands for id est.  This is Latin for “that is” and is used in place of “in other words”.

If you would like to see your name on the HUD-1, call my peeps.  You say “Slow down, Cowgirl.”  HUD-1 is also called a Settlement Statement or Closing Statement.  It’s the long list of numbers where you experience the deer-in-the-headlights look at UTC, that’s University Title Company.  And peeps is short for peoples – so call my office if you want to make an offer.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/main/6938535.html

My favorite of his decorating tip ideas is “Call my office”!

Happy Spring Decorating and Cleaning,
Cindy Seaton, REALTOR

Home owners recoup large percent of their initial cost on specific home improvements

according to HGTV’s Curb Appeal.  Their REALTOR offered advice on which home improvements would bring the best bang for their buck.  So when the young couple stepped up to the closing table Steve and Linda walked away with a profit in their pocket.  Thanks to their sweat equity and the REALTOR’s remodeling knowledge the sellers recouped most of their monetary investment from the upgrades they performed.  Which projects return the highest value for the cost?

Remodeling Magazine surveyed appraisers and REALTORS last summer on remodeling projects and the values that they hold in 80 markets.  Home Tech Information Systems analyzed the data and factored in regional pricing differences.  The results were published in the January 2010 REALTOR Magazine on page 21.  There were three categories of home improvements – additions, remodeling and replacements.

For those of us in the south and central United States, replacing your front entry door offers the best return on your investment.  The cost for a 20-guage steel door is $1043 – materials and installation.  The resale value of the new front door is $2496!  That’s 239% of your cost recouped…a huge perceived value.

The second best bang for your buck is an attic bedroom addition.  The general job cost is $41,000 a large price tag.  The perceived value is $40k, or 97% return on your money for the add-on.  You certainly can’t receive that matching dollar in your IRA or CD.

Another high return in construction is changing the exterior finish.  By replacing siding, you can regain 86% of your initial cost.  Further down the restoration list, a kitchen or bathroom remodel will bring 82 and 81% back to you.

This is fabulous information for home sellers or others who are staying put in their existing home for another year.  The perceived value from the buyer translates into dollars for the seller on the Settlement Statement.  They see a turn-key home that has been well-maintained and spruced up.  And buyers are willing to pay for it.

For an interactive job cost analysis featuring 80 various markets, click on the Remodeling Magazine Report.

What has worked for you?  Tell me which home improvement projects have given you leverage at the closing table below in our comments section!

Happy Sprucing,

Cindy Seaton, REALTOR

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 great way to see the world.  In 349 pages, this is an easy read with no complicated plots.  You will enjoy the quirky tales of real estate in Morocco.  Share your own harrowing and hilarious experiences selling or buying homes below in the comments section…

Happy New Year,

Cindy Seaton, REALTOR

(979) 422-9763

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 real estate firm in the Brazos Valley again.  In October 2009 we sold 17.3% of the residential properties.  From January through October we have been #1 in the number of residential properties sold in our area…not false advertising.  Just the facts from the Bryan/College Station Multiple Listing Service.  Call me if you wanna see the specs and deets!

Merry Christmas,

Cindy Seaton, REALTOR

(979) 422-9763

Renovate

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:

Water heater replacements

Sprinkler irrigation systems

Carports

The guys at the city are the experts on our safety codes.  If you have a question as to whether or not a permit is necessary, call Greg Cox at 209-5010 or visit www.Bryantx.gov for answers.

Legally, the only reason you don’t have to disturb our friends in Planning and Development is if you are painting, installing cabinets, adding a children’s playscape, building a short fence, or placing a small storage shed on skids.  Everything else has a safety concern…hence the need to call.