Thank you Michelle Taylor for arranging it!

Susan

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!

If you own a home and have made a decision to go through with a “Short Sale” there are some important things you need to know.

•  What is my future debt responsibility?
•  What are my tax implications?
•  How will this affect my credit now and in the future?

These are all questions that can be answered by me or I will direct you on.

Another issue is the credit that is affected during a “Short Sale”. If a “Short Sale” is negotiated but a delinquency is reported, the credit would be affected approximately 50-140 points. The score will also depend on the amount of late or non-payments made before the close of escrow. When a home is foreclosed on the credit would be affected approximately 150-300 points and this will stay on the public record for 7 years or more.  To find more information on Foreclosure vs. Short Sale in regards to future loan potential, credit history, credit score, current employment, security clearances and future employment visit the Certified Distressed Property Expert at www.cpde.com.

Susan Hilton

Wonder what businesses are eligible? American Express says…. “Eligible small business merchants are independently owned small businesses located in the United States that accept the American Express Card. Purchases made at large or national chain stores, at franchised business locations and at government agencies are not eligible. Prepaid, Corporate Cards and ExpressPay transactions are not eligible. ”

After you register your card on American Express look on Facebook (click the links to get to the sites you need) and you can search by zip code to see which small businesses are available. I found most local smaller businesses (that take the American Express card) are on the list!

A friend of mine sent me an email a while back about why we should buy local and how much buying local affects our LOCAL economy.  The email sent to me may have been written by someone else so if I am plagiarizing I apologize!  Below is the message. Are you going to buy local this year or send your money to another country instead?

GREAT Christmas thought from a friend – Where are you spending YOUR money?

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods — merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor.

This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Oh…. Yes there is! It is time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?

Everyone — yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It’s appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

Who wouldn’t appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down the Benjamins on a Chinese-made flat-screen TV? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a gazillion owner-run restaurants — all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn’t the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint.

Remember, folks this isn’t about big National chains — this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn’t use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip.

And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre. Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community.

If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US (We the People), encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we could not imagine.

THIS is the new American Christmas tradition!!

If you haven’t seen Farrah Spears, Realtor with Century 21 Beal, with her boots on checkout this video!!!

Farrah has helped bring awareness and support to the Boot Campaign in Bryan College Station. The campaign was started by the Boot Girls! Check out the campaign and thank Farrah for her support of the troops!

Aggieland Boot Campaign

Get Your Boots On & Support Our Troops

The homeowner needs to have their information ready before meeting with the mortgage company. The homeowner needs to have an explanation ready regarding their current financial situation and demonstrate their inability to make mortgage payments. There are many short sale programs that can be found on the internet available to people looking into short sales.

Susan Hilton

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

After a foreclosure Fannie Mae is telling us that you will normally have to wait 7 years before you can purchase another home using money from Fannie Mae. (See chart) Of course if there are extenuating circumstances (who knows what those could be) you could possibly get another loan in 3 years with additional requirements.

With a Short Sale the wait is substantially shorter!

Fannie Mae is a private institution that is federally backed. (seems kind of screwed up doesn’t it!)  They are the LARGEST originator of home loans in the country so you really don’t want to rule them out as potential lenders.

If you have questions about which is better for you – Short Sale or Foreclosure or if you are behind in your house payments or just need to sell – CALL ME!

97-764-2100

• Short Sale or Foreclosure in Bryan College Station Does it Really Matter?
• Short Sale or Foreclosure in Bryan College Station Part 2
• Certified Distressed Property Expert in Bryan College Station Texas
• Do I Qualify for a Short Sale in Bryan College Station? Don’t Let Them Foreclose!
• Are You Behind in Your Mortgage Payment?
• Bryan College Station Foreclosure Specialist Helping Homeowners Avoid Foreclosures CDPE
• Certified Distressed Property Expert in Bryan College Station, Texas

What else needs to be considered when deciding whether to let a house go back to the bank through foreclosure or if a short sale is the best option.

• Future Employment – Credit checks are often done by employers. Remember the foreclosure will show up on the credit report while a short sale will not!
• Deficiency Judgment – This is almost always a surprise to owners whose home is foreclosed. Yes, the bank has the right to go after you for the difference between what they are owed and what they get when the sell it after expenses. And, yes this can be a lot of money!!!  In a short sale this issue is usually resolved PRIOR to the sale so you don’t have a surprise debt later on.

One last issue that should be investigated with an attorney and/or tax accountant prior to the foreclosure or short sale is the “phantom tax.”  The phantom tax being referenced is the forgiveness of debt tax. Normally if you have a debt (the loan not paid) and it is “forgiven” or not collected you may owe ordinary income tax on the amount not collected by the bank.  I don’t know about you but having the IRS after me is one of the last things I want!

So, if you know someone who is behind in their house payments or have lost their job or had an illness or death in the family and they are not going to be able to continue making their house payments PLEASE call me and let me see what we can do to help.  Even if all you do is get information you are much better off KNOWING what is coming than being surprised. Help College Station and Bryan homeowners so we PREVENT foreclosures in our cities which helps ALL our property values hold firm!

For more articles on Foreclosures and Short Sales -

• Short Sale or Foreclosure in Bryan College Station Does it Really Matter?
• Certified Distressed Property Expert in Bryan College Station Texas
• Do I Qualify for a Short Sale in Bryan College Station? Don’t Let Them Foreclose!
• Are You Behind in Your Mortgage Payment?
• Bryan College Station Foreclosure Specialist Helping Homeowners Avoid Foreclosures CDPE
• Certified Distressed Property Expert in Bryan College Station, Texas

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!