Archive for the 'Real Estate True Tales' Category
What’s in a name?
September 5th, 2008 categories: Kids, Family & Personal Stuff, Real Estate True Tales, Texas A&M University
I am a fan of history, especially the history of places. The history of an area is something that is important to Realtors. When I look at something as simple as a legal description for a property or as complex as a title commitment, I am reminded of the people that originally surveyed and owned the virgin wilderness and the hardships they endured to create a home, a livelihood, and a community out of the natural resources around them. Being able to trace the chain of title back to the original owners brings them back to life and gives them meaning and context. Where people settled, towns often sprung up. Sometimes these rural communities grew into mighty cities. Sometimes they faded away and disappeared. Thanks to online mapping programs like Google Earth and Microsoft Virtual Earth, those tiny unincorporated communities that still exist and the ones that don't are more accessible and visible than ever. There are many communities in the Bryan and College Station area that barely merit a dot on the map. Others aren't even mentioned at all. Thanks to modern technology, we can look at them and wonder...why did they give it that name? (more...)| Discussion: 1 Comment »
Foreclosure Home for a $1.00?
August 13th, 2008 categories: Foreclosures, Investment Property, Market Trends, Real Estate News, Real Estate True Tales
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Staging for a Loan or Staging to Sell?
August 13th, 2008 categories: Real Estate True Tales
Real estate agents often suggest sellers use "Stagers" to assist with making the home for sale look more appealing to buyers so it will sell quicker and for the highest price.
Staging is one of many things a real estate agent works with sellers on. This is a good, reasonable and honest thing to do to showcase a home in the best possible light. But, staging a home for an appraisal is a completely different thing!
When a lender (mortgage broker) calls a staging professional to stage a vacant home (more...)
| Discussion: Your Comments Please »
Another College Station Animal Adventure with Raylene Lewis
August 9th, 2008 categories: Community Events, Kids, Family & Personal Stuff, Real Estate True Tales, The Realtor's Life
OK, so if you know me you know I am a big animal lover, gigantic really. I don't know why, but my broker and the office manager here at Century 21 Beal, Inc. in College Station TX can attest to the fact that I am always running into unique animal situations. I think it all started 6 years ago when I was a newer agent:
I was on a final walk through on a home in the country. The Buyer noticed that the chickens were still in the coup in the back yard. She didn't want them, and the Seller was long gone, so to complete the sale I took them home. Truth be told, at the time I lived in a subdivision and although I thoroughly enjoyed the fresh eggs, one day after work I came home to find two of the birds "nesting" on the top of my roof. After that, they had to go, but I found a great country home for them.
Since then there has been a plethora of creatures cross my path: from squirrels, turtles and rabbits hit by
| Discussion: Your Comments Please »
Are There Haunted-Houses Here in BCS?
May 5th, 2008 categories: Kids, Family & Personal Stuff, Real Estate True Tales, The Realtor's Life
In my career as a Realtor I have sold hundreds of homes. A few of these properties in the Bryan, College-Station and surrounding area were homes that had a history; that is homes where previous occupants had died in the property.
According to the law, if the house is considered a Notorious House, well known for a death or for being Haunted, it does have to be disclosed. However, if a death occurs on the property and it is not a caused by natural causes, suicide or an accident unrelated to the condition of the property it does not have to be disclosed.
Often, when a Realtor sell a home, we have no idea if a death has occurred on the property or not. If you are a Buyer and concerned about that sort of thing, the best way
(more...)| Discussion: Your Comments Please »
What the Psychic Failed to See
April 1st, 2008 categories: Real Estate True Tales, The Realtor's Life
Nearly all of my clients are wonderful. Each comes with their own list of search criteria, personal preferences, quirks and likes & dislikes. And with every client that walks through my door, comes a story and an adventure. Currently two of my clients, I'll call them Jack and Jill to protect the innocent, (more...)
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