Texas Still Most Popular "Moving-to" State

For the fourth straight year, Texas is the No. 1 state Americans are moving to, according to Allied Van Lines, which annually tracks U.S. migration patterns. Texas had the highest net relocation gain (inbound moves minus outbound moves performed by Allied Van Lines) of 1,903 in 2008. “With the continued job growth we’re seeing in major cities like Dallas and Houston, and very affordable home prices statewide, Texas is still the place to be,” says Brooke Hunt, 2009 chairman of the Texas Association of REALTORS®. Texas’ 9,879 total Allied shipments (inbound and outbound moves) in 2008 ranked second behind California, which had 11,400. But more people moved out of California last year, enabling Texas to retain its status as the No. 1 “moving-to” state in the country. In fact, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Texas gained more residents between July 2007 and July 2008 than any other state. Texas gained 484,000 residents during the 12-month period, followed by California (379,000), North Carolina (181,000), and Georgia (162,000).

If you’ve recently moved to Texas, or you’re thinking about it, check out the Moving to Texas section of TexasRealEstate.com.

Sources: Allied Van Lines, U.S. Census Bureau, Texas Association of REALTORS®

Foreclosure, Short Sale, Lease to Buy, House Values, Interest rates

What is it that everyone is talking about? What is really happening and can anyone really help?I have been doing real estate since 1992. I have been self employed for over 1/2 my life. Self employed for those who don't know what that means. Cindie's definition is unemployed with an attitude.That means if I don't show up and perform I don't get paid, in fact sometimes I show up and show up and still don't get paid. The difference is I still just show up anyway. If I was doing real estate to become rich I picked the wrong career. However, if I picked real estate because I genuinely like helping people find a great deal and a nice home to live in or help them sell the one they have then I picked the right career. If you are having trouble and can't seem to find someone that really cares then keep looking till you do. There are lots of people that play are real estate one deal at a time. I like to say I get to help someone one person at a time.

Real estate is normally the largest investment that anyone will make in their life time. So, it should not be handled by someone that just thinks your another deal. If you are facing foreclosure you need to talk to a Realtor who knows and understands the process in your area. There are several different options you can take to stop it long enough to see what options would be best for you. If you don't have the credit score you need to buy a home FHA just passed via the local banks here a minimum of a 620 FICA. FHA did not pass that the banks have taken that on themselves to do. They got the money to loan from the government but your not going to get it so easy. Maybe you need to sell but your home is not worth what you owe that would be a Short Sale. This is where your good Realtor can be worth their weight in gold to you. It is a transaction that your current lender will have the final say on what the terms, price etc will happen. This is a tough pile of paper work. It can be done. I was doing these in 2006 when things were going like gang busters. The biggest issue is getting someone on the lenders side to help your file over the pile they have on the desk. These employees are over worked and under paid in my opinion. If your credit is good and you have enough money to put at least 10% down it is time to buy. I have been telling people when rates were around the 5% mark buy.

The market here in the Dallas Fort Worth Texas area is really good. The kind of home you can owe for the rate of interest you can buy at is unbelieveable. I just got a deal accepted on a 550,000 home buyer is putting down 20% and the interest rate is fixed at 4.78%. Not to mention the deal on the home this would be a 780,000 home. Guys you can't buy the materials to build this home again at this price. Lease to Buy, boy the phones have been ringing off the hook on this deal. Here in Texas none of your monthly rental can be applied, your landlord must keep excellent records or you better make sure you have copies of all cleared checks to show you have been making your rent on time. Your deposit can be put into the pot to close the deal. You really are getting the first right to refusal or you agree to a prices at a much later closing date than normal and at that time you get a real loan and you will own the home after funding and no longer a tenant.

I have spent a lot of energy educating myself and my team on all these issues so we can better service you the clients. Interview and re-interview your Realtor. Make sure your a person with needs and the Realtor your hiring wants to really help you, not just put a sign in the yard and or your bottom in their car seat. Ask a Realtor for help or advise. Their service of talking to you on the phone is free to you. Most are very willing to answer any questions you might have.
--
Cindie Stewart
Broker/Owner
Texas Sold Team Realty,LLC
213 S. Elm Street
Keller TX 76248
Office: 817-337-5169
Mobile: 817-881-7653
Fax: 817-796-1242
WWW.SOLDTEAM.NET
Women's Council of Realtors
2009 VP of Membership of NE Tarrant
2008 President of NE Tarrant Co.
Chair for Technology for State of Texas Co-Chair Ways &Means for State of TX
www.wcrnetc.com
www.wcrtexas.org
www.techytalktuesdays.com
ePro, CLHMS, Realtor, CRS
This is a great day and there will not be another one just like it, enjoy fully it will be over soon good or bad

Praise Dave Ramsey for he has spoken the Truth about Real Estate

Last night as I laid in bed watching a little TV prior to falling asleep, I was flipping channels and came across the Dave Ramsy program. He was talking about real estate so my ears perked up and listened. I was so very impressed since he is the only real person with exposure to the general public that was finally speaking the truth about this industry.

I have been so tired of the sky is falling attitude of the media. I totally get that bad news sells, but surely people must be getting tired of this. The truth that Dave Ramsey was saying was that most of the foreclosures are in 35 counties of which most of these are in the following: California, Arizona, Nevada, Florida, Michigan. There is a huge thread about these areas too not just in real estate but with social ideas as well. That I won't go into but the real estate is important. News you won't hear on the national media is that home sales in CA alone are up over 100 percent. WOOO HAAAA but not a word about it.
Second talking point that Dave Ramsey said was that we were going to see over 3 million in foreclosures this year alone. I have said this as well most of the ones that file won't get foreclosed on, their foreclosure will be cleared by a sale of the property, the home owner works something out or the sell with a short sale.

Third talking point that Dave Ramsey said was that according to the Reatlor.org site put out numbers for January 2009 in that month alone there were over 4 million homes sold.

Please not year and month it is important that you are in the know.

There are over 4 million out of work and funny apparently there is over 2 million jobs available. Sure might not be what you want or you might have to move to the job or whatever but there is work if you want to do what you want.

Ok, so if you have over 3 million in foreclosure in a year that is about 257,000 homes a month going into foreclosure.

Why is this news not getting on the national media----- It does not sell. Americans can't get enough of the Dirty Laundry. We wonder why there is so much anti depressant medication available. What we allow to be feed our brains.

I am not saying not be informed. Make sure the facts are true and look for the whole story. You can't get the whole story in a 30 second clip. Do your research.

I just want to thank Dave Ramsey for standing up to the BS that seems to be spread around on a well fertilized field ready to be planted.


--
Cindie Stewart
Broker/Owner
Texas Sold Team Realty,LLC
213 S. Elm Street
Keller TX 76248
Office: 817-337-5169
Mobile: 817-881-7653
Fax: 817-796-1242
WWW.SOLDTEAM.NET
Women's Council of Realtors
2009 VP of Membership of NE Tarrant
2008 President of NE Tarrant Co.
Chair for Technology for State of Texas Co-Chair Ways &Means for State of TX
www.wcrnetc.com
www.wcrtexas.org
www.techytalktuesdays.com
ePro, CLHMS, Realtor, CRS
This is a great day and there will not be another one just like it, enjoy fully it will be over soon good or bad.

WINE & CHEESE OPEN HOUSE 8949 GLENDARA DR., NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS

Texas Sold Team Realty is hosting a Wine and Cheese Open House

Friday, March 13th from 3:00 - 6:00

Come see a beautiful custom built home by Independence Custom Homes, Inc.

Click on the link below for more information.

http://soldteam.net/files/533341/WINE&CHEESE-glendara.pdf

The Perfect Storm for the Ft Worth Home Buyer

The Perfect Storm for the home buyer who feels like they have a stable job, good credit, a little money, you will owner occupy and don't think you will be leaving or wanting to move for 10 years and you want to live in these areas. Boy, do we have a deal for you! City of Fort Worth will launch its program March 2009 to give you the home buyer $25,000.00 yes you heard me right $25,000.00 big ones.

Of course you have to want to live in the following zip codes 76131, 76137, 76133, 76123, 76179, 76112,76248 with the city of Fort Worth as your address (some of these might be Keller, Haslet etc zip codes as well if they are not really city of Fort Worth they do not qualify.)

You can't make to much money either 1 person can't make more than $54,250 a year it goes up the more people in your family.

You have to purchase a lender-foreclosed home as well. That should not be to much of a problem since most of the foreclosures are in theses areas.

My whole team has been trained for this program and we have talked with Emily Weathers at Innovative Mortgages who is an approved lender and knows how to get this loan done.

Add some BAM to your deal if you are a first time home buyer on top of that your friendly Federal Government is giving you another $8,000.00 tax credit if you buy prior to December 2009.

That is a great deal combined with the current cost of homes as well as the current interest rate. What are you thinking if you don't at least look into this deal?

Seriously, this is just to good to be true but it is the truth. Yes, there are some conditions that if you don't follow it is not a great deal so you must completely understand the transaction.

You need to find someone that won't take you down the wrong path with a home with major issues, not a good buy and that you are not fully aware of all the terms in which you must live by to do these programs.

Dude, you can put down any where between 10-20k down on the principle of the loan and you don't have to pay it back if you stay for 10 years. This is simple math my friends simple math.


http://www.fortworthgov.org/ecd/info/default.aspx?id=61060

Keller Family's 'Extreme Makeover' Home to Air March 1 on ABC

BY BETTY DILLARD
February 26, 2009

The newly rebuilt home of the Augustin family in Keller will be unveiled March 1 during an episode of the Emmy Award-winning television series Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

The program will air locally at 7 p.m. on Channel 8 WFAA.

Amber and Peter Augustin, a March of Dimes volunteer family, received a new home built and donated by Wall Homes of Arlington in less than a week’s time during the taping of the program in December 2008. Since that time Wall Homes has filed for bankruptcy.

The show is a highlight of the program’s “Heroes in the Community” series.

The Augustins were selected because they are dedicated to helping families with premature babies and because of their active participation with the March of Dimes.

The couple’s son, Lane, was born prematurely in 2004, and spent a month hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit at Baylor Healthcare Systems. He underwent countless surgeries before he was a year old and today still has some on-going health challenges.

Two years after Lane’s birth, a flood destroyed the Augustins’ house along with Amber’s photography studio.

“I can’t believe this is happening,” said Amber Augustin. “Losing our home was a nightmare, but the silver lining is the support we’ve seen from our community and our family at the March of Dimes.”

The Augustins have raised thousands of dollars to support March of Dimes research and other programs to help prevent and treat premature death.

“My dream is to raise national awareness that premature birth is a serious and growing problem,” said Peter Augustin. “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition not only gave us a new home, but is helping more moms have healthy, full-term babies by highlighting the March for Babies this year.”

Donations can be made to the Augustins’ team, Lane’s Light, or a family can create its own team by visiting marchforbabies.org

Farmers Insurance, a national sponsor of the March for Babies, provided insurance for the new home for one year at no cost to the family.

bdillard@bizpress.net

Good Guys Do Still Exist!!

My husband was given a beautiful stainless steel, 3 burner, bells and whistles grill
last year. It was approximately 1 year old when he got it and this brand carries a 10year warranty. Come to find out Lowes is the only distributor for this brand grill so you have to get all replacement parts and warranty issues done through them.

We cookout 2-3 times a week minimum, year round no matter what the weather. 2 of the 3 burners quit working and when we went on line to Lowes to order replacement parts we were told they were on backorder. Lee decided to go to the Lowes by our home and see if they could help him with replacement parts. Being the rebel that he is he walked into the garden section wearing his Home Depot hat! Tell me that didn't get some attention real quick. He explained his dilema to the department manager and she sent a guy to the back to rob parts off another grill. Lee was thrilled to death! He was going to get to cook last night on all 3 burners!

After trying to install the new burners he discovered that they were too long. So back to Lowes he went. It's a good thing they are close. Come to find out the grill we have is no longer made and the company has merged with someone else and yada, yada, yada. They asked him to load up the old grill and bring it to the store. Good thing the strong neighbor was home to help load this huge, heavy thing into the back of the truck. Back to Lowes he went and they informed him that they were going to swap out the old grill for a new one. This is a $600 grill! When he left there he not only had a new grill with a new warranty but he had a new blue Lowes hat to replace his Home Depot one and he was a very happy camper!! He was cookin on it when I got home last night just smiling from ear to ear!

The art of good customer service still exist! The customer is still #1 and a flailing home repair store has gained a new customer. The customer is still important regardless of what business it is.