Archive for the 'Real Estate True Tales' Category
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: 3 Comments »
Do Haunted Houses Really Exist In Bryan/College Station??
October 12th, 2009 categories: Real Estate True Tales
In my career as a Realtor, I have sold over 500 homes in the Bryan and College Station area. A few of these properties were homes that had a history; that is homes where previous owners had died on the property. 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...| Discussion: Your Comments Please »
Raylene Lewis is a Published Author!!!!
November 24th, 2008 categories: Real Estate True Tales
Raylene Lewis is a top agent at Century 21 Beal in College Station Texas. A few months ago she was contacted about publishing her "interesting real estate experiences" in a book. Below are the 2 stories (TRUE STORIES) they chose. Real estate is an interesting business. We deal with people at their bests and at their worsts! We see clean houses and houses no one should live in. We work with people who are understanding and those who are demanding. We find pets left in houses, appliances and sinks removed, wires cut, houses flooded, carpet removed, clients that lie but more often than not, we get to meet WONDERFUL people. Most of our clients are kind people who enjoy working with us to achieve their goals of either buying or selling real estate. Most of the time we not only have a real estate transaction together but we also build long term relationships and friendships. Enjoy Raylene's stories. They are only 2 of hundreds of experiences we have on a regular basis. Smashing Success A story like this will probably have some considering the need for a real estate driving course and designation. Raylene was having an open house for agents on her very...| Discussion: Your Comments Please »
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
From an article in the Detroit News, this house in Detroit, Michigan was recently listed for $1.00. That's right. One American greenback. It sold for full price! The buyer plans to pay cash. Between sales commission and $1,000 bonus, buyer's closing costs, back taxes and a past due water bill, the sale will cost the bank owner about $10,000. The empty, foreclosed home is now a shell of its former self. As a vacant home, (more...)| Discussion: 5 Comments »
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 »
