About Harris County, TX

Enhancements

03-12-12

Jeanne and Ralph Janisch CRS, Brokers Durango Home Team

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Office: (713) 632-4500

Mobile: (713) 447-4343

One of the truly priceless additions to the house we now call home, is the backyard.

Yes, most homes have yards. This one however comes with all manner of artful flower beds and unique sculpture. Many of the sculptures were not apparent when we purchased the house.

Finding these little treasures has provided us with an ongoing treasure hunt.

The pictured tree appears to be made out of peacock feathers. It isn't! Each of those is a wire creation. It is difficult to move around. In fact moving it is not recommended for your general hand health.

The sculptures original home was under a make shift shed at the edge of the yard. We believe the shed was the workshop used by the artistic previous owner. Perhaps we should have spent time out there soaking up his left over creativity?

The butterflies were an added find from the second bedroom closet. Together these sculptures have added feelings of tranquility and beauty to one of the outdoor patio spaces.

Most of the stuff acquired with the house will remain when we leave. Somewhere out there in the great and diverse universe is a person who will love this yard as much as we have.

We feel that it is special privilege to have been allowed to carry on the legacy of love started by the original owners.

Depersonalizing hopefully is not a requirement that extends to the yard. Something's are not personal, just soul food!

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Sign of the Times....

03-12-12

Jeanne and Ralph Janisch CRS, Brokers Durango Home Team

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Office: (713) 632-4500

Mobile: (713) 447-4343

There are all sorts of advertising techniques. One of the most frequently used over the years is "the sign".

This one is ancient! Found on a very well weathered part of our back fence, it would probably disintegrate if relocated.

How lovely it would be to salvage it to a more prominent place. It is art at its finest! From the color to the wearer sculpted edges it has character!

Since the fence is about 39 years old we are guessing that is the signs age. There it sits making us thirsty on a hot day. Isn't that really the highest and best use of a sign?

The fact that it does double duty as a part of the fence is just one little extra plus.

It might be interesting to find out if "Bargs" was a favorite beverage of the original owners!

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FHA Mortgage Insurance is Increasing on April 9th.

03-11-12

David Krichmar- DaveYourMortgageguy.com

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Office: (832) 689-6012

HUD(FHA) just announced that the monthly mortgage insurance is increasing on all case numbers ordered on and after April 9^th. This increase will be .10 on all FHA mortgages that have monthly mortgage insurance. A FHA case number is ordered when you start a new FHA loan. This change is for purchase loans and regular refinances(not streamlines). HUD is also increasing the upfront mortgage insurance amount from 1% to 1.75%. To give this change some perspective, the increase in up front mortgage Insurance will increase the payment on a $200k loan by $5 a month.

Here are the exact changes to the monthly Mortgage Insurance:

30yr Mortgage(20 yr, etc)

LTV: 95% + Mortgage Insurance: 1.25

LTV:95% and under. Mortgage Insurance: 1.20

15yr Mortgage

LTV:90%+ Mortgage Insurance: .60

LTV: 90% and under. Mortgage Insurance: .35

And don’t forget any FHA 15yr mortgage with a Loan to Value of 78% and less has no mortgage insurance. This increase of .10 to the monthly mortgage(30yr) would crease the payment of a $200k loan by $17 a month

And incase you missed my earlier FHA update, starting April 1^st all collections that have a total balance of $1000 or more must be paid off.

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Exxon Project Underway in Spring, Texas - Photos of New Development

03-11-12

Jeremy Williams - Assistant Team Leader

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Office: (281) 364-1588

Mobile: (281) 387-7689

Here are photos of the anticipated Exxon Development just south of The Woodlands, Texas in Spring, Texas. For those Exxon employees looking to relocate to The Woodlands, TX area, visit Keller Williams The Woodlands and Magnolia.

Exxon The Woodlands TX and Spring TX

Exxon The Woodlands and Spring TX

Exxon The Woodlands and Spring Texas

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FHA REFINANCE PROGRAM GETS BOOST|League City, TX|Marilyn Wier 713-542-8461

03-10-12

Marilyn Wier, ABR, CDPE, CIPS, CLHMS, CRS, SRES

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Office: (281) 204-1015

Mobile: (713) 542-8451

FHA REFINANCE PROGRAM GETS BOOST|League City, TX|Marilyn Wier 713-542-8461

WASHINGTON (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) – Price cuts to the Federal Housing Authority’s (FHA) Streamline Refinance Program could benefit millions of borrowers with FHA insured mortgages.

Beginning June 11, the Upfront Mortgage Insurance Premium will drop to just .01 percent and reduce its annual premium to .55 percent for certain borrowers.

For the 3.4 million households with existing FHA-insured mortgages endorsed before May 31, 2009, refinancing through the new streamlined process could save about $250 per month or $3,000 a year. The newly discounted prices also allow borrowers to refinance into the lower-cost mortgage without the need for additional underwriting.

FHA-insured homeowners can determine their eligibility by contacting their existing lender.

The changes apply to mortgages insured under the FHA’s Single Family Mortgage Insurance Programs, except Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECM), Section 247 (Hawaiian Homelands), Section 248 (Indian Reservations), and Section 223(e) (Declining Neighborhoods).

http://recenter.tamu.edu/recon/reconSearch.asp?CID=6561

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