SO here comes the  CSISD  to the rescue!  Working with Wilton’s Office Works, a locally-owned and operated provider of office supplies, furniture and services, College Station schools’ PTOs (Parent Teacher Organizations) are offering pre-packed school supply kits!  They include everything your kid needs according to the official CSISD school supply list and will be delivered to the child’s classroom for Meet the Teacher Night or the first day of school. The school supplies will be packaged in a keepsake box with a handle, and you can keep the box and use it for keeping memories throughout the school year.

Participating elementary schools include Pebble Creek, Rock Prairie, South Knoll, College Hills, Creek View, Southwood Valley, and Forest Ridge.  What’s easier than writing a check, for less money than it takes to drive around town hunting everything on the list?  For more information, or to find out if your school is taking part i this helpful fundraiser, contact your school’s PTO or Kathy at Wilton’s, (970)268-0062.

Interested in Buying or Selling a Home?

Give me a call! 979-218-2235

Raylene Lewis– “A House-Sold Name!”

www.buyincollegestation.com

According to the law in Texas, if the house is considered a “Notorious House,” meaning the home is well known by the general public for what has happened on or in the premises, be it due to a death or a home repeatedly said to have ghosts, it has to be disclosed to all potential buyers. However, an exception to this rule is if a death occurs on the property and it was the result of natural causes, suicide, or an accident unrelated to the condition of the property. Under these circumstances, the death that occurred does not have to be disclosed to a potential home buyer.

Back in my first year of selling real estate, many years ago, I was showing a young couple a home that had just come on the market for sale, when the neighbor walked out and waved us over. “Are you thinking about buying Mrs. Murphy’s home?” she asked. “Yes, my clients answered. It has a great floor plan!”  “Well, it’d be mighty fine to have you as neighbors,” she responded…” then almost as an after thought she added “Ya know, she be dead 4 or 5 days in that house before they found her.” Needless to say, we did not write an offer on that home.

Often, when a Realtor sells a home, we have no idea if a death has occurred on the property or not.  (We do find out quickly via the neighbors however, if the home has a reputation of being haunted.) I will never forget one listing appointment I went on, where the Seller told me, “The neighbors will tell you this home is haunted, but really it is not. The ghost-lady is only seen peeling potatoes here in the kitchen occasionally.”

If you are a Buyer and concerned about the possibility that someone might have died in a property you are considering buying, the best way I have found to determine if the house has a past is to Google the property address on the World Wide Web.  Typically, if something noteworthy has happened to the home, it’s likely there is a police report posted on the web that can tell you all the details.  I discovered this when a previous client called me asking why I had not told him there was a ghost in his house before he bought it. I assured the client the home did not have any uninvited inhabitants, as it was less than 5 years old and only had one previous owner—whom we had met at the closing table, just a week or so ago.  I asked the client what made him think there may be a ghost in his home.  His answer was for me to come over as it was currently standing in the room with him.  (Truly, I had no idea how to respond to that statement.)  After a bit of research on public records and police reports, I typed in the property’s address on the world wide web.  To my surprise, the web pulled up the home right away and, as it turned out, the Seller’s spouse had committed suicide in the master bedroom of what was now my client’s home.  We had the home blessed by my client’s church and thankfully, they report no further encounters.

During my career, I have only sold one officially Notorious Home. This was a home where a family of 4 had been murdered back in the early 1970’s and, almost everyone in town knew the home for the events that had occurred there so long ago.  I can tell you, property value can definitely be affected by a home’s grizzly past. This property went for approximately $25,000.00 less than what a home in the area would normally sell for—and was under contract 3 separate times— before finding a buyer who was ok with the property’s history.

  While I am certainly no psychic, and am not sure if I personally believe in ghosts and deceased spirits roaming the earth, I have shown a few vacant homes where both myself and my clients got a bit of an uneasy feeling walking through the home. I can definitely recall one particular home in Bryan that I can confidently say—“if there is such a thing as a haunted house, this house 100% fits the bill.” Every time I would try to take interior photos of the home, they would come out fuzzy and yellow. The lights inside the property were constantly flickering whenever I went from room to room and, I would switch off a light, leave the property, get in my car, and notice the light was back on! I offered the Realtors in my office a free lunch if any could provide me with interior photos that were not blurry or out of color, and although several Realtors tried, their cameras would die in the home or their pictures would come out like mine.  I never had to pay out on my offer with a free meal.  Needless to say I was “Oh, So Happy!” when that house sold.

If you are feeling especially brave, and want to stay at a Haunted House, right down the road just about 40 minutes from Bryan-College Station in Calvert, Texas there is a little Bed & Breakfast known as The Hammond House. The TFC Paranormal Research Team, a real ghost-hunting team based out of Bryan-College Station, recorded Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP) and other readings at the Hammond House. According to Casey Linda Unger, who headed the team, the property definitely has a few ghostly inhabitants.

To learn more about the Paranormal Research team right here in BCS, you can go to their web site http://www.freakuency.org/about.htm and for information on the Hammond House, or to schedule a little get away just go to http://www.thehammondhouse.com/index.php but, if the place is haunted, don’t expect a good night’s sleep!

If you have questions or are thinking about buying or selling your home,–notorious or not– feel free to give me a call at 979-218-2235 or visit my website: www.buyincollegestation.com

There are basically 7 steps to the Closing Process once a property goes under contract and is submitted to the title company.

1) The Contract and Earnest Money is given to University Title Company and UTC deposits the Earnest Money Check

2) UTC issues a Title Commitment – This shows the history of the property and what items need to be taken care of to clear title.

3) All Pre-Closing Items are Provided to University Title Company — This includes inspections, surveys, invoices, payoff information etc.

4) The Title Company Provides a Settlement Statement to all Parties — This can be thought of as a document like a big receipt that shows where all the money in the transaction is going and what each billed item is.

5) The Closing – All parties meet and sign the documents necessary to change the loan and to obtain / release ownership.

6) The Funding – The money is received by the lender or new owner and is actively distributed accordingly.

7) The Title Policy – Within 90 days of funding, the title policies are issued and mailed to the appropriate parties with all recorded documents.

The company has six insurance underwriters, professional title insurance experts, readily available escrow officers (to help address any concerns before closing) and a large title production and closing services staff.  The motto at UTC is “to make each and every transaction as smooth and swift as possible, always expertly tending to the details.”  They can close any transaction for real estate in Texas, and if you will not be able to stay in town for the closing, they can email, fax or FedEx the necessary closing documents to you. 

Their website offers tips for both seller and buyers and, when a contract is submitted for processing, UTC provides an online closing tracking program that allows all parties involved in the transaction see what stage the file is in. It also provides access to documents and emails and lets all parties know when the information is updated.  Their goal is to insure that there are no surprises at closing. Once at the closing table, at UTC you can expect to be provided with a drink and fresh baked cookies.  They also have a patio for pets and DVD’s for children to watch while their parents are signing all the necessary documents.

The company is an active leader in the community and regularly contributes time and support to local charities. They have earned many awards both for the service they provide and for being a great place to work.  If you are going to be needing the services of a Title Company, UTC is definitely a place to consider!

Need information on Buying or Selling a Home in Bryan-College Station? Give me a Call 979-218-2235 or send me an email!

Raylene Lewis

www.buyincollegestation.com

Information on Buying a home in College Station

Information on Selling a home in College Station

  Featured Listings and Active Rain Blog

 Robert Rose, owner of Cycles Etc. for the past 11 years,  takes pride in his shop and makes certain all clients and customers are well informed and properly equipped in the biking world.  He makes certain  that when you walk in his door you are greeted instantly with a bicycle specialist who is ready to help you find your next bicycle, or assist you in fixing what you’ve got.

 The store offers special fittings, bicycle repairs, bicycle gear, and every accessory imaginable. They have bikes to accommodate all age ranges from infant riders to kids first bicycles and up. Their bicycles range from Trek, Gary Fisher, Raleigh and more! You can find Road, Hybrid, Mountain and Tricycles and choose from their many styles including Texas A&M University, The Discovery Channel and even the University of Texas.  

 If you purchase a bicycle from Cycles Etc. you will have free tune-up’s for life and receive half off of labor. From the smallest repair like airing up a tire, to the largest repair–if you bike gets a case of the crunchies– the staff at Cycles Etc. will take great care of you.   They also have a guarantee that you will have your bicycle back within 24 hours, but this does exclude bicycles that require special orders.

Many customers will agree that Cycles Etc. is one of the best bicycle shops in the Brazos Valley and is conveniently located in College Station, Texas walking distance to Texas A&M University!  It is another locally owned and operated business every Aggie should know about!

Questions about Buying or Selling a home? Give me a Call 979-218-2235 or send me an email!

Raylene Lewis

www.buyincollegestation.com

Buying a Home in Bryan-College Station

Selling a Home in Bryan-College Station

Raylene’s Active Rain Blog

 The store is owned and operated by Rolf and Melissa Larson.  When Rolf was a child, he purchased a pig at a county fair and then raised him as a loving pet.  Rolf fed the pig old Kolaches, rode around on his back and had the pig following him on a leash.  Rolf learned responsibility through caring for the pig and the pig and boy developed a strong friendship.  As a result, his dad named the pig “Kolache Rolf” and that is where the store got it’s name. 

 The Lawsons’ have three store locations: on Longmire–in the Kroger shopping center in South College Station, on Texas Avenue–next to Copy Corner, and in the Tejas Center in Bryan–next to the HEB.  Our favorite breakfast items are: the Sausage and Cheese Kolaches, the Bacon Egg and Cheese Bubba Buns, the Cream Cheese Kolaches and the Cinnamon Rolls.  But keep in mind, there is a huge selection of Breakfast items a well as traditional &  fruit kolaches and cinnamon baked goods. Kolache Rolfs is a fabulous College Station owned and operated business that should be taste-tested by all!

Questions about College Station? Thinking of Buying or Selling Your Home? — Give me a call 979-218-2235 or send me an email!

www.buyincollegestation.com

Raylene’s Active Rain Blog

Selling Your Home In College Station

Buying A Home in College Station

The first game was won 7-1 with the score being 7-0 in the second game and 6-0 in the third.  All the players worked really hard and played as a team. When it was time to face the last team for the Championship, the opposing team was very aggressive.  There was a lot of pushing and shoving, and the Speed Demons stepped up to the plate, played very hard, and fought fire with fire against the other team’s aggressive play.  The championship game was a hard win with the final score being 3 to 2.

Congratulations Speed Demons! We Are All Very Proud of You!!! A Big Thanks to All The Parents for Their Support!!! And a BIG GOOD LUCK to The Speed Demons as they head off for the Labor Day weekend tournament.

Kyler was concerned since Mater would not talk to him, but I told him that he was busy guarding all the cars in the wrecking yard.  While we were there, 3 cars pulled up behind us to take pictures too.  No matter what you are doing, try to not be so busy getting from one place to another that you miss appreciating the things around you.

 I have really enjoyed looking for Ranch land with my family, just because of all the great quality time we have been able to spend together. We are making some great memories and discovering all sorts of fun places, just a stone’s throw away from home! 

Nothing is more important than the first impression a Buyer will receive when they take their first look at a home.  As a Seller, there are two opportunities to provide a buyer with a first impression.  The first opportunity is when the Buyer views photos are advertising the home on the Internet. The second is when the Buyer sees home for the first time.

There are several things you can do make sure your property will provide Buyers with a successful first impression.  It is a good idea to start with the exterior front of the home. After all, that is the very first thing every prospective buyer will see.  Below is a check list to help you get the exterior of your home ready to be placed on the market.

• If you have a Sprinkler System, check to make sure all heads are working properly and the entire yard is being watered.
• Make sure the Landscaping is in good condition: mow and edge the yard, weed flower beds and add fresh flowers and mulch as necessary, remove all dead tree branches and shrubbery, and be sure to hide all outdoor toys and lawn equipment.
• Check the Fence and be sure to replace all rotting boards, and paint or stain it if necessary.
• Look at the Driveway. Check for oily or greasy spots and try not to have vehicles parked in the driveway while the home is being shown.
• Inspect the Garage Doors and make sure they are in good working order. Also make sure the doors do not need to be painted or stained.
• Take a good look at the Roof from the front yard. Make sure all eaves and gutters are clear of leaves. If you see any loose or missing shingles have them replaced. If the roof is stained with mildew, you might want to consider having it professionally cleaned.
• Review the Exterior Trim, Gables, Soffit, Fascia, and Mailbox to see if any painting needs to be done.
• Most importantly, look at the Front Entrance of the home. Make sure the front door is clean and painted or stained if necessary. Check to insure the doorbell and all outside lights are operating properly.

Happy Selling!

http://www.buyincollegestation.com

http://www.househuntingprofessionals.com

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