The City of College Station is ranked by The Business Journals as the brainiest city in Texas among those with populations between 50,000 and 100,000. Some 28 percent of College Station residents hold a bachelor’s degree and another 28.23 percent have a graduate or professional degree. A lot of this has to do with Texas A&M faculty as well as so many Aggies staying here after graduation!

The Business Journals ranked 483 mid-sized U.S. cities using 2009 U.S. Census Data. The rankings were based on the percentage of population with each level of educational attainment.  Not only were we #1 in Texas, but College Station ranked No. 31 nationally.

So, next time someone makes an Aggie joke, make sure and let them know that they are actually making fun of the smartest city in all of Texas!

Unfortunately a lot of times we don’t realize that there are those in our community who don’t know where their next warm meal will come from, where they will sleep, or if their children will be warm enough this winter!  We don’t see it a lot, but it does exist more than you could even imagine!

This year, my kids and I decided that we would like to help those who are less fortunate than the majority of us in Bryan/College Station. We have started a coat/blanket drive in Castlegate with the donations going to the Twin City Mission!  What started as a small project has taken flight.  My daughter and I printed out about 100 fliers and asked a few of her friends to help us pass them out in our subdivision!  The kids have all gotten so into it that it has amazed me!  They just light up when people ask about how to donate!  Now it is on the Castlegate website and on Facebook!

It’s very simple if you want to get involved!  We are taking donations at 2445 Newark Circle today from 4-6 and tomorrow 9-11 am!  All you have to do is drive up to the curb and we’ll grab them from you.  If that time isn’t convenient, you can call me at 979-229-0919 and we can pick them up.  You can also drop them by the Century 21, Beal offices located at 404 H University Drive East at your leisure.

The kids are waiting to take your Coats and Blankets to give to the less fortunate!

We have a lot to be thankful for Aggieland, so let’s get out there and make this winter a little warmer for our Brazos Valley Neighbors!

For more information, give Farrah Spears a call at 979-229-0919

Your first question when you read the title is probably; “What is Nansulate® ?”  Here is the simple definition from the manufacturer….”Nansulate® Crystal is a patented, one-of-a-kind, clear thermal insulation coating for concrete or clay tile roofs, slate roofs and asphalt or wood shingle sloped roofs that lowers your energy bill and keeps your roof looking beautiful and new.”

I ran across this website while looking for a roofing product to seal roofs that have a small hole or something simple.  This is what I found.  At approx. $85/gal, the initial cost is a little hard to swallow, but the end benefit is reported to be great!

Zoom in on the shingle….can you see the difference?  It seals all the granules and makes the roof able to withstand high winds and hard rain.

The manufacture states that the average energy savings after 3 years is 46%.  Click here for the case study.

We are in Central Texas, Brazos Valley, College Station/Bryan.  What affect would it have here?  I found a case study in Dallas!!!!

Look at the Attic Temps!!!

It is a totally Green product that falls in line with Aggie values and what everyone should be thinking about when looking to the future!!

This would be a great opportunity for home owners to make their house more energy efficient and if you have your house listed, it would definitely be more appealing to buyers. I know my buyers would be definitely move faster on a house that is more energy efficient.

If you have any questions about this or any questions on the market here in Aggieland, feel free to contact me!

For more information about Castlegate and any home in Bryan/College Station, give me, Farrah Spears, a call at 979-229-0919.

Farrah Spears

979-229-0919

For all your real estate needs, Call Farrah B Spears at 979-229-0919

Don’t miss this great opportunity to save money from refinancing or  by having the ability to get a higher priced house that fits within your budget from the lower interest rate!  We are ready for your calls and if you are in the area, just stop by Century 21 Beal, Inc. the #1 Real Estate company in Bryan and College Station at 404 University Dr. East in College Station, Tx. across from The Fox and Hound Sports Bar.  My name is Joey Condon and I am ready to help you find a new home, sell your existing home, or help your friends and family with any of their real estate needs.  Call me!  979-218-4091

Tonight is National Night Out in Bryan/College Station, so get out and meet your neighbors.  We live in one of the safest cities in the country, however crime still does occur, so what can we do to curb the small amount of crime that rears it’s head every once in a while….get to know your neighbors!  Tonight is the night to do just that.  There will be National Night Out parties in different parks and subdivisions around the cities, so look for the signs.  If your subdivision does not have a party tonight, then just get out and meet your neighbors so that you know who belongs and who doesn’t .  There is no better way to stay safe than to get to know the people who live around you, so get out there Aggieland and meet your neighbors!

For all your real estate needs, give me, Farrah Spears, a call at 979-229-0919

Farrah Spears

979-229-0919

farrahs@century21bcs.com

Part of the American Dream is owning your own home, now there is a program to help America’s heroes achieve that part of the dream.

Active duty personnel (Active Duty, Reserve & National Guard), employees of the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security & Defense, and Veterans are eligible to qualify for the Dream Makers Program by the Pentagon Federal Credit Union Foundation.  This program allows qualifying first time home buyers to receive a grant of up to $5,000 for a down payment and closing costs.

Do you qualify?  You are eligible if:

• You are active or former Military – Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard, Veteran, DoD or DHS
• You are a first time home buyer. Or have not owned a home in 3 years or have lost your home through divorce or natural disaster.
• Your gross household income, that you use to qualify for your mortgage is: A maximum of $55,000 per year or a max of 80% of the median income of your community based on your family size

Now that you know that you are eligible, then what?

1. Decide how much money you will be putting forward for your home purchase.   You have to contribute at least $500 to receive the grant.  The program will match your contribution 3 to 1 up to $5000.  To get the most help from the program, you would need to put forward $1,667.  That is the minimum amount to put down to receive $5000 in assistance.  The amount of your contribution and the grant funds must equal at least 3% of the purchase price to receive the grant.
2. Apply for Dream Makers.  You can do this as soon as you start thinking about buying a home, so there is no reason to wait.
3. The foundation will respond with instructions on the process.  They will give you contact information to share with your lender to help out the process.

You can out more information about the Dream Makers program here on the Pentagon Foundation website.

 

As always I’m here to help, if you would like help with this process or more information on homes in the Brazos Valley please feel free to give me a call @ 979.255.1839.

Clay Lee – Realtor

Century 21 Beal, Inc.

(979) 255-1839

www.ClayLee.com

clay@century21bcs.com

Timeless Service, Quality, and Experience Guaranteed

Are there keys inside?

Young couples are in need of lots of items when starting their new partnership.  What is one of the most important things they need?  A roof over their head!  Couples can start off on the right foot towards homeownership by establishing a FHA Bridal Registry account.  The program, started in 1996, has been recently changed to make it easier for newlyweds to put their wedding gifts towards a home purchase.  You can apply these funds towards a down payment on a FHA loan, and even earn interest before you make the purchase!

How to get started:

• Visit your choice of FHA lender and set up a savings account for the down payment
• Give your friends and family the banking info on where their gifts can be deposited
• You can even put gifts received by Uncle Joe who didn’t want to bother with the bank in the registry account
• All of the funds can be used towards a FHA down payment
• You don’t even have to tie the knot before you can close on your new home with this program!

The biggest advantage of this program is that you do not have to follow the typical rules and regulations regarding gifts that are applied to a home purchase.  The program allows the funds to be used with simple documentation, no more than a letter from the lender verifying that the funds were gifts from friends and family with no business interest in you purchasing a home.  That is the only kicker; builders, Realtors, and any other party that could benefit from the sale are not allowed to give to the account.

This underutilized program could help that soon to be wed couple make their first home purchase even before they walk down the aisle.  Share it with friends and family that could put it to use!

For help finding that perfect first home in the Brazos Valley, give me a call @ 979.255.1839!

Clay Lee – Realtor

Century 21 Beal, Inc.

Pre-qualification is an estimate (using information not usually verified) concerning the mortgage amount you can be approved for. Pre-qualification is a “test run” of the loan application process.

Pre-approval includes an application fee and will require a complete application. Pre-approval is also different from pre-qualification because it is the bank’s guarantee of the amount they will lend you toward a home, if of course all requirements for the loan are met.

It is important to talk with a reputable lender before you start your search for a home. Getting pre-approved before you start your home search will help you save time and when you are ready to make an offer it also shows the seller you are more serious about buying a home. So, when you need a GREAT lender let us know! We will  be happy to make a few suggestions.