What You Should Know About Home Closing Costs
Closing costs are expenses over and above the price of the property in any real estate transaction. Costs incurred include loan origination fees, discount points, appraisal fees, title searches, title insurance, surveys, taxes, deed-recording fees, and credit report charges. Prepaid costs are those that recur over time, such as property taxes and homeowners’ insurance, and […]
Holiday Traditions in Texas
No matter which ones you celebrate, the holidays are a time to join family and honor history and heritage. In our state, we have a diverse range of cultures, and each of these groups celebrates individual holiday traditions that make Texas unique during the holidays. Tamales Many Texas holiday traditions can be traced back to […]
How to Deal with Tragedy in Your Neighborhood
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
What are the Initial Steps I Need to Take Before a Natural Disaster Strikes?
Every part of the world is susceptible to natural disaster, as we’ve seen in the USA this year. Hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, and wildfires have affected numerous locations across the country. Learn about the types of disasters that are likely in your community and the local emergency, and shelter phone numbers, websites, and plans for […]
Key Points To Pay Attention to in a Home Inspection
If you have completed a real estate transaction in Texas, you likely experienced a home inspection. Home inspections occur to protect both buyer and seller. When purchasing a home, buyers want to know they are making a sound investment—and a thorough home inspection can provide assurance. For home sellers, an inspection verifies the condition of […]
What Is Mortgage Protection Insurance? Do I Need It?
Sometimes, you must present hard questions to yourself and then choose how to protect yourself, your family, and your home. Consider what would happen if someone listed on the mortgage became disabled, came down with a serious illness or died? Do other family members have the finances to make monthly mortgage payment? Do you have […]
Why use a Realtor to buy a home in Texas?
Buying a house without a Realtor isn’t a situation where you can just set a few days aside. From researching the projected cost of utilities to local zoning restrictions—for example, is it legal to run your home-based business from the new dwelling—you’re going to invest countless hours in research before making an offer. As a […]
7 Unusual Succulents For Any Home
A new house means new house plants!
Is the Era of 20 Percent Down Payments Over?
Purchasing a home in Texas is not an impulse buy. From appraisals and inspections to closing costs and down payments, it can take years to save the upfront cash required. However, thanks to low-down-payment loans now on the market, homeowners can have keys in hand to that home for sale with significantly less cash out […]
Why You Need a Home Inspection
When you buy a house in Texas, you’re not just buying that beautiful master suite or spectacular fireplace, you’re also buying any problems lurking in the walls, the foundation, the crawl space or the attic. The home inspection is your chance to avoid those problems, or at least, use the results to negotiate with the seller. A certified home inspector is […]
