Texas Real Estate
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3 things that may be even more important than finding a buyer for your house
Great news if you're thinking of selling your home: Almost every area in Texas is a seller's market right now.
Ask George and Chuck
How do I get my earnest money back?
The secret to online real estate information
I added myself to a spammer's list yesterday. So annoying.
The one person you need when selling your home
A friend of mine is in the process of selling her first home and buying a new one. Lucky for her, she got an offer right away on her home that looks promising. But in reviewing some of the paperwork, she became concerned about what one of those documents said.
Ask George and Chuck
Do we have to pay the option fee in two days?
How much should you offer for that house you love?
You found the house of your dreams and everything feels just right. You want to ask your Texas REALTOR "Where do I sign?" But before you submit an offer to buy the property, you have to decide how much to offer.
9 mistakes when pricing your home for sale
Picking the wrong asking price for your home can cost you a lot of money.
Ask George and Chuck
Does the buyer get his earnest money when he backs out of the contract?
What the Internet can't tell you
Yesterday, I found a video online that showed how to build a metal suit like the one worn by crime-fighter Iron Man. Was the video interesting? Sure. Useful? Not at all.
Ask George and Chuck
Do I have to live in my home to claim a homestead exemption?
4 ways to stay safe as a new homeowner
You do things to be safe every day, like fastening your seat belt, looking both ways before you cross the street, or locking your doors before you go to sleep at night.
Why you should think about selling your home before you even buy it
It's been less than a year since my husband and I bought our first house, but we already talk about putting it on the market one day. In fact, we actually discussed selling it before we even bought it because resale value was a factor we considered during our search.
Ask George and Chuck
Should the school build me a wall?
Why you might need to move quickly to get the house you want (and how to do it)
You may have to act fast if you don't want to miss out on the best houses these days. Houston, Dallas, and Austin recently were ranked near the top of a list of cities where homes are being sold in less than a day. Most other Texas locales also have strong seller's markets ...
Make your house look bigger without using a sledgehammer
Instead of just asking me to help with his kitchen remodel, my friend made me an offer I couldn't refuse: Want to come over and knock down a wall?
Ask George and Chuck
Can my neighbor stop me from accessing my land?
Ask George and Chuck
Who's responsible for that tree limb?
What not to do when you decide you want to buy your first home
I have never purchased property. But I almost did. In fact, before my husband and I moved to Texas, we seriously considered buying a house where we used to live.
Why photos may not tell the whole story during your house hunt
I must have looked through hundreds of listing photos during our search for a home last year. But the experience taught me that while a picture may be worth a thousand words, some of those words may not say enough ... and the best way to check out a home's features is in person.
Who's on your side?
My wife and I had just finished signing the papers to buy our first home. We were walking out of the office of the attorney who had handled the closing when he caught up to us with one more document to sign.
Ask George and Chuck
Can I invest without my husban's involvement?
Why a higher offer isn't always better
If you received two offers on your house that were $5,000 apart, you should take the higher one, right? Not so fast.
Ask George and Chuck
Can I terminate a contract if the seller didn't report water damage?
Three ways to prepare for buying while renting
As a current renter, it would be easy for me to make my monthly rental payments and wait to research homebuying until I'm ready to buy. But I can be proactive about buying before I even start looking.
Tax deductions are a new homeowner's best friend
After my fiance and I bought our first house last year, there was a lot to be excited about – updating the landscaping, picking out paint colors – but there was one thing I was dreading.
Ask George and Chuck
Do I need a license to owner-finance the sale of properties?
How long is the list of things you don't know about selling your home?
Selling a house on your own is like explaining the solar system to a child ... you think you can handle it, but as soon as a difficult question comes your way, you realize how much you don't know.
What you need to know before you open your front door
Solicitors canvass my neighborhood once or twice a year, asking me to buy magazine subscriptions or donate to a charity. I'm sure most solicitors, even if they're lying, are harmless. But I don't like letting strangers into my house.
Ask George and Chuck
What happens when a seller signs contracts with two parties for one property?
Why I'm not buying a house ... yet
As 2012 ended, my husband and I had to decide if we would renew our lease for our current rental, find a new property to rent, or start our long-anticipated search to buy our own home. It wasn't an easy decision, but after crunching the numbers we decided that we'd stay put in 2013.
Ask George and Chuck
How can my father break the contract to sell his ranch?
Is living in an HOA the right choice for you?
After we moved into our new house last year, my fiance had to put our lawn mower in the shop for a few weeks ... and it sure showed. A welcomed summer rain storm had the lawn tall enough to lose the cat in. I figured it was no big deal, but until then, I'd never lived in a neighborhood with a mandatory homeowners association.
Ask George and Chuck
Can my wife buy a house without my knowledge?
3 expenses besides the mortgage that you need to be able to afford
While your loan terms greatly affect how much you can spend on a house, the mortgage isn't the only cost you need to take into account when buying property.
No automatic qualification for FHA loans after foreclosure
The Federal Housing Administration wrote a letter recently that should provide some needed guidance to lenders and borrowers who may have had foreclosure trouble in the past.
Why you may not notice some of the biggest buyer turnoffs in your house
It's human nature to look past things you encounter on a regular basis. It might be a wooden monkey, a cracked window, a dead tree, an unusual odor, or a slot-car racetrack you have to step over on your way through the living room.
Ask George and Chuck
Does that person really have the right to sell this house?
Ready to sell your home? Choose the right agent with this advice
Selling your home is a different experience than when you purchased your property. The first important step to put your house up for sale is finding a real estate agent who will be the best fit for your needs.
Ask George and Chuck
Do I have to disclose floor discoloration?
Homebuyers, are you making this classic mistake?
I now realize that I was guilty of making a classic first-time homebuyer mistake when searching for a house earlier this year: I let relatively small flaws or easily fixable things influence my decisions.
Ask George and Chuck
What should I do if the square footage is wrong?
Why do so many people who sell their homes themselves decide not to do it again?
Have you ever taken on a project that looked easy until you actually did the work? It seems selling your home without a real estate agent fits that description.
Ask George and Chuck
Should I sue over undisclosed property defects?
Stop little things from becoming a big deal
I found a great-looking used car online last week. When I saw it in person, though, I noticed some problems.
Ask George and Chuck
Where's my security deposit?
Four important questions buyers should ask when selecting an agent
Choosing a real estate agent to help you buy a home can be just as important as choosing the home itself. Before starting your home search, you'll need to make sure an agent will be good fit for your needs.
Ask George and Chuck
Is the seller entitled to $1,000 because my loan was approved late?
What happened to the fridge?
Have you heard about the case of the missing refrigerator? It's a scenario that pops up more frequently than you would think.
The best way to save money, time, and stress when selling your home
My fiance and I bought our first house earlier this year, and while we were very happy with the process, I'm not sure the seller would say the same thing. She was selling the home as a for-sale-by-owner, and let's just say there were a few challenges.
The secret to knowing the perfect time to buy a home
Experts often talk about the conditions that make it the right time to buy real estate ...
Are you sure you want to determine your listing price from the Internet?
Do you know what your home is worth? If you're like most homeowners, you have an idea, but you need accurate market data to arrive at a listing price. Otherwise you risk giving away your house or watching it sit on the market for months.
Ask George and Chuck
What to do when an HOA's president spends funds irresponsibly
Four dos and don'ts for first-time homebuyers
Recently, I was talking with my older sister about being a first-time homebuyer. She and her husband bought their home 10 years ago, about the same time they were planning their wedding. As young newlyweds, they wanted a place of their own to start their married life together.
Ask George and Chuck
If the seller doesn't cash my check for the option fee, do I have an option to terminate?
The five Ws of your first home inspection
I learned a lot about home inspections when we became first-time homebuyers this past summer. Here are a few Inspection 101 questions that my Texas REALTOR answered for me when it came time to kick the metaphorical tires on our first house.
Ask George and Chuck
Can the builder put my mortgage underwater? Do I owe a commission if I end up in foreclosure?
Ask George and Chuck
Is my listing agreement still valid? How can we get our security deposit back?
How to get your home to sit on the market for 1,805 days (and counting)
There are two homes in my neighborhood that aren't officially on the market, but the owners are willing to sell. All you have to do is pay them way more than their real estate is worth.
Guard against huge repair bills after you buy
Few things fill me with dread as much as warm, moist air pouring from my house's air vents in August. And that's exactly what faced me about six months after I bought my home.
Ask George and Chuck
How can I prove I own my house?
One surprising way a Texas REALTOR can help you with your move
Last December, my husband and I were visiting Texas and had no idea if we'd be living here in the new year. Outside of meeting with potential employers, we had only one other important meeting to attend before we left town: An afternoon out with a Texas REALTOR.
Ask George and Chuck
When can a seller cancel a contract?
How you can help the buying process go smoothly
After buying my first house earlier this year, it still amazes me how many people were involved in the process. However, I learned that even with a team of real estate professionals working on your behalf, there are some things you can do yourself to help make the buying process go as smooth as possible.
Ask George and Chuck
What instructions can agents follow?
You don't have to disclose this stuff, but here's why I would
You're legally obligated to disclose certain things about the house you're selling ... like if it ever flooded or contains lead-based paint or if termites damaged it. Why not also reveal the things you really like about your home, too?
Ask George and Chuck
Can I break my lease because of a murder? How long does it take an estate to clear probate?
Advice from an experienced "new girl in town"
I've moved frequently. In fact, Texas is the 10th state that I have lived in, but it's already one of my favorites. Here are my tips to help you transition to a new place.
Ask George and Chuck
Who's in charge of HOAs?
When searching for your first home, nothing beats the in-person experience
In many aspects of my life, the Internet is the first place I go for information. So it may come as no surprise that I started my search for our first home earlier this year online, too.
Ask George and Chuck
Can sellers conceal their sales price from appraisers?
The surprising reason you can buy a more expensive home this year
How can the price of a house go up but actually cost less?
Ask George and Chuck
Where can I find a service to show my home? What does appurtenance mean?
You won't get help if you don't ask
You may think all the homebuyer-assistance programs vanished when lending standards tightened — and you'd be wrong.
Lone Star Livin'
I am the proud aunt of 21 beautiful nieces and nephews, ages 15 to due-in-December, all of whom live in Katy, outside of Houston. Since we're the only members of our family who don't live within 15 minutes of each other, it's a pretty big deal for the nieces and nephews to visit us in Austin, and we try to host as many of them as we can each summer.
Texas home sales up, inventory down: What does it mean?
The latest Texas Quarterly Housing Report, compiled by the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M and issued by the Texas Association of REALTORS, paints a strikingly different picture from the same time a year ago.
Ask George and Chuck
Can my ex-wife sell a house with my name on the deed? How long does my landlord have to fix the plumbing?
Love your neighbors (even renters), and they'll love your neighborhood
Being new to Texas, my husband and I wanted to rent a home first and learn about our new community before choosing a home to buy. With some advice from our Texas REALTOR, we were able to find a home in a neighborhood that has given us a great introduction to the city.
Lone Star Livin'
As regular readers will know, my home is on a cul-de-sac just outside of Austin, which means there are only six houses within a stone's throw of ours. One of those houses changed owners this month, which is a first since we've been residents, so we have a new neighbor in our little community!
Ask George and Chuck
Am I paying more than the standard fee? What are my options with a tenant who has let family members move in?
3 things to love about owning your own home
My fiance and I bought our first house exactly one month ago. And after moving in during the first days of a Texas summer, we're settling in just fine.
Selling your home? Little things make a big difference
You know you should keep your house clean if you're trying to sell it. Surely you know. Everyone knows that, right?
Lone Star Livin'
Since the age of three, when my family moved to the outskirts of Houston from Iowa, my two sisters and I piled into the family station wagon with my brave parents every summer for the 20-hour drive to visit family in Des Moines.
How anti-social behavior can help your negotiations
I've Googled the names of people who applied to babysit my kids or responded to ads I posted to sell items on Craigslist. You can learn a lot about a person with 30 seconds of Internet research.
Ask George and Chuck
Do I have to disclose problems with a wall that's not on my property?
The most important advice from an experienced homeowner
My parents have bought and sold their fair share of properties. And even though we moved a lot when I was younger, my parents have lived in their current home for 12 years (a record). They just sold that house and have purchased their sixth in another state, set to move in just a few weeks.
Lone Star Livin'
Now that summer is officially underway, the Armijo family is hitting the road to a family reunion out of state. As we pack up the minivan, it seems like a good time to revisit tips for keeping your home safe while traveling for anyone else who may be kicking off their summer adventures.
Ask George and Chuck
Can my HOA make me plant flowers? Why am I not getting my rent back?
5 things I had to learn for myself while buying our first house
I'm set to close on my first house this week after a six-month search. While the process proceeded relatively quickly once I found the right house, it hasn't been without a learning curve.
Ask George and Chuck
Do I have to replace my roof? Which listing agent gets the commission?
3 things to consider when buying a house in a seller's marker
The real estate market is tilting toward sellers in many parts of Texas. In my neighborhood, most homes are under contract within a week of being listed for sale ... many on the first day.
Stop making it hard for people to buy your house
Your house isn't that special. I'm sure it's a great place to live and you have fond memories and all that. But to buyers, it's just another house on their list.
Vacation rental market heats up for second-home owners
Not only is the number of vacation home sales on the uptick, but the percentage of those purchasers who intend to rent out that vacation home to friends, family, and travelers also is climbing like never before.
Ask George and Chuck
Doesn't my rent count as downpayment? Why do banks get to choose the title company?
Lone Star Livin'
One of my co-workers is buying her first home. It's an exciting time and conversation around the office regularly drifts to mortgages, home inspections, and the many other topics that come up in the home-buying process.
Are you ready to buy a foreclosure?
We've all seen news stories about the large number of foreclosed homes for sale. More and more buyers today ask their REALTOR to limit their new-home shopping to only foreclosed homes. But is that the best strategy for finding your next home?
What it takes to really become a Texan
Texas makes a big first impression. As soon as I drove over the state line, I was greeted with an extra-large lone star and a reminder to drive friendly - the Texas way. Still many hours away from my new home, I already felt like a Texan.
U.S. economy recovering, but slowly; Texas job growth fuels home sales
The economic recovery in the U.S. has been tentative and showed weakness in the first quarter, with GDP down from 3% to 2.2% annualized. The slow rate of growth will probably continue, as credit is not fully flowing.
Ask George and Chuck
Can the HOA evict my tenants?
Why your first home may not meet your expectations ... and that's OK
If you watch TV shows about house hunting before buying your first home, you may think the process is exciting, goes smoothly, and wraps up in 30 minutes. I sure did.
Lone Star Livin'
My home is not brand new, which means the appliances in it are not the most energy efficient. I've often thought of replacing them, but the prospect of hassle and expense has kept me from taking action.
Ask George and Chuck
Do I owe rent even though I don't know when my lease ended?
Why homeowners insurance for Texas coastal properties may go up next year
Property owners along the Texas Gulf may see a hike in their insurance bills soon.
Protesting your property-tax appraisal may be easier than you think
Ever protested your property-tax appraisal? I have. Twice. The first time was easy. We had bought our home six months earlier, ...
Ask George and Chuck
How did my house lose 622 square feet? Can I close on a refi without my husband?
Attorney general rules that military ID doesn't meet homestead-exemption requirement
Recently, the Texas attorney general issued a legal opinion that could cost some homeowners extra time and expense when applying for a homestead exemption.
A simple way to put yourself in a stronger negotiating position that's really hard to do
There's a simple thing you can do to put yourself in a powerful negotiating position: If you want something, don't care about getting it.
Ask George and Chuck
Can I void my contract without penalty? How about my lease?
5 tips for finding the right movers
After my husband and I decided that we should hire professionals for our move, we searched for the best deal for our budget.
Ask George and Chuck
What are my options if I can't pay for my timeshare?
What do they know?
When people hear that my fiance; and I are looking to buy our first house, they frequently offer lessons learned from their own experiences ... though they can sometimes contradict.
Ask George and Chuck
Was the seller required to disclose previous water damage?
Lone Star Livin'
The other day, I opened my mailbox and there it was: my property tax appraisal. Just a standard size envelope like so many others, yet this one causes me a little trepidation.
How I chose a home in about six minutes (and how you can, too)
I'm usually a deliberate decision-maker. So why did my wife and I make an offer on a home just a few minutes after first seeing it?
Lone Star Livin'
I'm happy to report that the Easter Bunny brought something extra special to my family last weekend: a new niece! Not only was I thrilled to cuddle a newborn, it gave me an opportunity to test my home organization skills.
Ask George and Chuck
Does death terminate a contract? Can I sue the builder?
Myth about 3.8% tax on all home sales still false
Homebuyers everywhere rejoiced this week as word spread that rumors of a 3.8% federal tax on all home sales were still false.
Lone Star Livin'
Occasionally, my husband and I like to take a free weekend to go on home tours. Though we're not looking to buy a new house tomorrow, we expect to do so eventually and enjoy getting ideas. We did this recently on a lovely spring weekend and I was intrigued by what we found.
How I moved to Texas without breaking the bank ... or breaking down
Before you pack those boxes, invest some time into making a plan and enjoy a smoother move.
Lone Star Livin'
Like many of you, we're knee-deep in tax preparation at our house. For me, tax time is a little like playing Wheel of Fortune ... I might "win" big money through a refund, but I'm just as likely to find myself tapping the savings account to pay Uncle Sam.
Ask George and Chuck
How long will it take to get my rental deposit back?
A first-time homebuyer's advantage
My fiance and I decided to make the transition from renters to homeowners at the start of the new year. And, of course, the step between the two roles requires us to temporarily become house hunters.
Lone Star Livin'
If you've driven on a Texas highway recently, you've likely seen one of the best features of spring in our state: the bluebonnets. I imagine I have the same reaction to my first bluebonnet sighting that our northern friends have to the season's first snow ...
Ask George and Chuck
Who's entitled to see the appraisal report? How can I get out of my buyer's rep agreement?
Ask George and Chuck
Who can change the wording on a form?
Going green doesn't have to break the bank
If you're in the market for an existing home, you'll find all kinds of great properties that could use some updates. But what if you're looking beyond paint and curtains to more "green" improvements?
Two great reasons to do home repairs now
One of my neighbors has a dent in his garage door. A huge one. The kind of dent you get when you drive into your garage without first opening the garage door. It's been there five years now.
Ask George and Chuck
Can I avoid paying a listing broker? Can my neighbor make me move my 25-year-old fence?
Texas and national economies polar opposites
The U.S. economy, very weak during the first three quarters of 2011, picked up to an annualized growth rate of 2.8% in the fourth quarter.
Ask George and Chuck
What does it take to void my buyer-representation agreement?
Tax consequences of turning your longtime home into a rental
Seniors are particularly careful about guarding their assets. With little monthly income, older people still living in their longtime primary residences need to make the most of an eventual home sale.
It's 2012 ... time to get off the fence
So far in 2012, newspaper columnists and television pundits seem to be preoccupied with presidential polls and contentious primary elections across the country.
Ask George and Chuck
Can the HOA sue me if it doesn't exist?
Ask George and Chuck
What happens when my landlord can't pay his mortgage?
Ask George and Chuck
Whose duty is it to disclose a bug problem?
Do the math ... affordability of homes depends on many factors
I did some math this morning when I saw 30-year mortgage rates still under 4%. That's unbelievably low.
Ask George and Chuck
Should I buy a home with my boyfriend? Can I take over my neighbor's mortgage?
Ask George and Chuck
How can I get out of my listing agreement? Why has my bank cancelled my home's foreclosure?
Demystifying exchanged-property timelines
The start of 2012 has many investors looking for bargain properties, sometimes in bunches. The ways of funding the purchases also have become more creative as buyers rethink the role of real estate not only for their portfolios but also for their residences.
Selling this spring? Start cleaning now
Spring is the busiest time of the year for selling a home. The trees are budding, the grass is green, the songbirds return, and homebuyers feel the urge to begin their home-buying search.
Ask George and Chuck
Why do I need to fill out a form to see property? Can a seller accept another offer during our negotiations?
Don't take anyone's word for it
Negotiations were tense when I bought a used backyard play house for my two-year-old. The seller wanted $60. I countered with $50. We consulted our attorneys, faxed amended offers back and forth - include the plastic fireplace logs or no deal - but finally settled on $52.75.
Tell it like it is ... or else
If you're selling your house, why would you tell potential buyers about the stuff that's wrong with it? Caveat emptor, right? Not so fast.
Ask George and Chuck
Can I evict my tenants?
Ask George and Chuck
How many homestead exemptions can we claim?
Return of once-popular investor loan makes sense
Two years ago, the National Association of REALTORS (NAR), one of the largest professional membership associations in the world with more than a million members, floated its idea of a housing solution to attendees at its annual convention.
Ask George and Chuck
Doesn't water damage have to be disclosed? Why won't my lender call me back?
Texas economy still best; 2012 looks to mirror 2011
On New Year's Eve, many bid farewell to the old year by singing "Auld Lang Syne" lyrics that include, "Should old acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind."
Got a complaint against a mortgage company?
As of Dec. 1, 2011, consumers can file complaints against mortgage companies with the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) through the agency's home page.
Ask George and Chuck
How do I gain access to my neighbor's townhouse? Can I run a business from my apartment?
Could you save more money when buying? It doesn't hurt to ask
I think I lost some money. How? My wife and I probably would have qualified for assistance when we bought our first home. I'm not positive about that since we didn't even explore the idea.
Ask George and Chuck
Does my significant other have to be on the deed?
Ask George and Chuck
Who certifies inspectors? How do I get a property's mineral rights?
Ask George and Chuck
Can the county make me pay taxes from before I owned a property? What constitutes normal wear and tear?
Why pricing your home from a Web site could cost you thousands of dollars
Home valuation Web sites are great ... except when they're wrong ... which is most of the time.
New tools to help manage your vacation rentals
An old friend of mine who owns and operates a small development company showed up in town for a weekend event. We blocked out some time to revisit the old days and what's in store next. Like me, his four children had grown and gone.
Opportunity's knocking ... answer the door, buy a home
The national media still reports on the collapse of the housing market and the downturn in the economy. While I agree unemployment is still too high and housing is not appreciating the way it did from 2000 to 2006, I believe opportunity's knocking. Now is the time to buy a home.
Ask George and Chuck
If I die first, does my second husband get the house?
Why has this great house been on the market for so long?
If I told you a house had been on the market for the average amount of time for its neighborhood, would that affect your decision to make an offer? How about if I told you that it had been on the market for 13 months?
Ask George and Chuck
How long do I have to keep tenant records?
Lone Star Livin'
Unfortunately, the drought in Texas continues and, according to most reports I read, it's not likely to let up for another year. For me, that means it's time to scale back on our lawn watering.
Ask George and Chuck
Shouldn't my neighbor share the cost of a new fence? What constitutes "adverse possession"?
Texas home sales up nearly 18% compared to Q3-2010
Texas homes continued to hold their value as sales jumped up sharply in the third quarter of 2011, according to the new Texas Quarterly Housing Report released by the Texas Association of REALTORS.
Proposition can help Texas meet its water needs
If there's a lesson from this terrible drought, it's that nothing is more important to Texas than a clean, reliable water supply. And on Nov. 8, you'll have the chance to protect it.
What does buying a home have to do with a visa?
A recent bill introduced in the Senate would offer visas to foreigners who make a cash investment of at least $500,000 in residential real estate. Foreign investors could spend at least $500,000 on one residence or spend at least $250,000 on a residence and invest the remaining $250,000 in other residential property, such as rental property.
Lone Star Livin'
In our first year as homeowners, I was excited about Halloween. Trick-or-treaters don't frequent many second-floor apartments, so for the first time, I would get to open my own door to a front porch full of giggling witches, ghosts, and princesses. Sadly, I was in for a lesson.
Ask George and Chuck
Should I tell buyers that the county has my house's square footage wrong? Why did that foreclosed house sell for less than my bid?
Voters can help solve Texas water problems
Like cowboys, oil derricks and football, droughts are native to Texas. Now an extraordinary drought has gripped our state, capturing national headlines as it decimates crops, kills trees and cracks home foundations.
Let's do this the right way - support Proposition 2
I support Proposition 2 because I think the availability of a clean, reliable water source is one of the biggest long-term priorities facing this state ... on par with education and healthcare.
Give your house that un-lived-in look
How many family photos are in your living room? Go ahead, count them. You need to know how big a box you'll need to pack them up.
Proposition 2 saves taxpayers money
Proposition 2 may be the most important item on ballot this November 8. It's all about giving local communities a cost-effective way to improve their water- and wastewater-delivery systems.
Lone Star Livin'
The Texas wildfires have really been on my mind lately. For some living in neighborhoods at risk, residents had as few as five minutes to evacuate their homes. That got me thinking ... am I prepared to evacuate my home in five minutes?
Ask George and Chuck
What does no smoking mean? Should the house be in both our names?
Lone Star Livin'
Our family has big plans this weekend: we're carving our first jack-o-lantern together. Though this isn't our son's first Halloween, it is the first one in which he'll do more than coo, cry, and fill diapers ... and it all begins with carving the perfect jack-o-lantern for our doorstep.
Ask George and Chuck
Should I let a builder use my property? Are bonuses to selling agents legal?
It's not going to fix itself ... really
About six months ago, I heard a knocking noise coming from a bedroom in my house. I discovered that it wasn't coming from the room, but outside it - a woodpecker was having quite a time on a trim board near the roof.
Invited to the foreclosure table, finally ... investors
Lenders have always viewed real estate investors with a wary eye. It seems all investors are grouped into flip-and-run speculators with little skin in the game, no plan for maintenance and repair, yet huge expectations for short-term profits.
Biggest expense? Not the price of the horse ... uh, house
Typically, when people decide to buy a home, they don't start their search with a certain-priced house in mind. They start with a list of features they want and need.
Lone Star Livin'
If you live anywhere near Texas, you already know that devastating wildfires have been ravaging our state. In fact, an official of the American Red Cross recently told me that we've had a wildfire burning every day somewhere in Texas since December 2010. Ouch.
Ask George and Chuck
How can we terminate our listing agreement? Is my verbal lease enforceable?
Ask George and Chuck
Can I get my neighbors away from my bedroom window? Is it unethical for a real estate agent to serve on an HOA's board where she sells homes?
Affected by wildfires or want to help others who were?
For those of us who haven't been through it, it's hard to imagine what it's like to leave your house as a wildfire approaches. Many Texans have faced that situation this year. Thousands have returned to find their property and belongings damaged or destroyed.
An easy way to lower your property-tax bill
What has four pages and can knock $15,000 off the taxable value of the home you purchase? The application for a residence homestead exemption.
Ask George and Chuck
Can we change the contract at closing? Is my listing invalid? Can I cut tree roots?
Two ways to beat other buyers to the home of your dreams
Before you even find a house you'd like to buy, you may want to sit down with your Texas REALTOR and talk about the contract. That way, when you do come across your dream home, you'll be able to craft an offer that will leave other buyers shaking their heads at "the one that got away."
Ask George and Chuck
What happens when three people own land and two of them want to sell it? Can my neighbor block my easement?
Ask George and Chuck
Who can make my neighbor move his fence off my property?
Ask George and Chuck
How can I prevent my neighbor from planting on his side of my fence? Can potential buyers control how I use my air conditioner?
What will you do when your home purchase gets derailed?
Something will go wrong when you try to buy a home. There are too many pieces ... too many people ... to expect a real estate deal to glide to a successful result without a single hitch.
Ask George and Chuck
Where do I get my deed now that I've paid off my mortgage?
Ask George and Chuck
Who has to pay for a wheelchair ramp?
Ask George and Chuck
Verbal offers, terminating listing agreements
Price fixes a lot of ugly
One of the most discussed issues at our house is ... our house. Not the house we just bought, mind you, but the one my wife owned before we got married. We made the decision to hang on to it and give property management a shot.
Second-home owners look to alternative financing
Many second-home owners, especially those in the full-time vacation rental business, are looking to purchase another property but are facing stringent financing guidelines.
Should you hire an agent if you already found a buyer?
We could have sold our home without an agent.
Have you ever fried real property?
I have come to the realization that everything edible tastes better fried.
What's round and green and could derail a real estate transaction?
Perhaps the most important DVD that my mom owns was created by her plumber. No, he's not an aspiring director of feature films. It's a video of the inside of her home's wastewater pipe.
Ask George and Chuck
Verbal offers, security deposits in foreclosure, and terminating listing agreements
Lone Star Livin'
Any day now, something very exciting is going to happen in our house: our 13-month-old son will take his first steps. My husband and I have been eagerly anticipating the event, holding our breath each time we set him on his wobbly feet. We're ready for the big moment and know we need to get our house ready, too.
Ask George and Chuck
Does my wife have to sign the listing agreement?
Are you ready to buy?
As I was watching TV the other day, I saw a commercial that said, "It's a great time to buy a house."
