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League City, TX - Worrell Team, REALTOR, GRI, CNE

Surprises Left By Past Owners

Ah, there are so many surprises you might find when you buy a resale home. I was at a friends house in League City for the Superbowl and they told me about a couple of surprises...

Here are a couple of entertaining surprises:

1. The toilet tank lids are glued shut. It took nearly a year to figure this one out... some of the tank innards are needing to be replace. The water is running on one -- but the lid is glued shut. Luckily it looks like the previous owner used silicone, so it should be easy enough to cut it loos and pry off the lid!

2. A vase of flowers is bolted to the art niche... and in over a year, she hadn't even cared to move it anyway. But if she wanted that moved, it would require tools. It really looks like the wooden vase of flowers could be simply lifted and moved.

These are pretty harmless things to discover, and just make you wonder, "What were the previous owners thinking?"

What are some fun things you've discovered in your home(s)?

Selling a Home at the Very End of the Year?

Many sellers want to make sure they have paid their property taxes in the current calendar year so they can claim this benefit when filing their Income Taxes for the same year. Your League City Real Estate Experts have the answers! Call The Brian Worrell Team if you need any clarification, 281-948-7042.

There are a few options for paying property taxes:
There are a few options for paying property taxes... This example is based on assuming a scheduled closing date of 12/30/2011.

Option 1. Pay each of these yourself with CASHIER'S CHECKS to each tax entity in at each of their offices respectively in person. Get a copy of each cashier's check. And get a copy of the paid receipt. This would ensure all taxes are paid in 2011.

Option 2. Do not pay anything now. If on the 30th, it looks like we are not closing on time, then pay the taxes online yourself. The title company will need to retain the total amount of taxes from your proceeds until they can verify through each tax entity that they have been fully paid. They they will send you that money once verified which may take several weeks. This would ensure all taxes are paid in 2011.

Option 3. Taxes will be paid at closing on the 30th from your proceeds. If the closing is delayed for whatever reason, taxes would be paid in 2012 from your proceeds. The Income Tax benefit of paying for 2011 property taxes would have to be claimed at the end of 2012 with this option.

Thoroughly confused?? Please feel free to email me any specific questions, brian@brianworrell.com

Friendswood, Texas -- New Medical Clinic Breaks Ground in Downtown

New Medical Clinic Breaks Ground in Downtown Friendswood, Texas

Friendswood Family Chiropractic Clinic and Spuhler Medical Associates began construction on their new 10,250 square foot building at 1111 S. Friendswood Drive and the corner of Whispering Pines. Earlier this year, City Council approved a $15,000 municipal grant for the construction of this $1.3 million medical clinic. In addition, approximately $14,700 of City-related development fees will be waived since the project is located in the City's Downtown Neighborhood Empowerment Zone.

The Downtown area of Friendswood, Texas has sure seen some very significant growth in that past 1-2 years. This should be another great addition!

How to Protect your Pool in a Freeze

Great advice from Platinum Pools!

Freeze Warning Tonight:
DON'T WRAP YOUR PIPES

1. Have Freeze Protect?

Pool owners with freeze protect: Your equipment should turn on automatically and may cycle on and off throughout the day. This is normal.

2. Don't have Freeze Protect?

Run your pool equipment during the freeze. Change your timers to run the pool equipment at night, and keep the equipment running if freezing temperatures continue into the day.

DO NOT WRAP YOUR PIPES: The pool pump will get hot and will catch the blankets or whatever you use to wrap on fire.

Internet Lenders Vs. Friendswood / League City Lenders

I recently sat down with Jason Holter over lunch at Perry's in Friendswood, Texas.  Not much can beat the Wednesday Pork Chop Special...  Jason one lender that I use for my clients in the Friendswood, Leauge City, and Clear Lake areas of Houston, Texas.  We got to talking about buyers that use the Internet to find their lender, and here's what he had to say:

An increasing number of astute borrowers are using the Internet to shop for the best mortgage rates. Unfortunately, it is easy to forget that the rates reflected on the rate monitor web sites are advertisements, specifically designed to generate leads for the companies who pay fortunes to have their rates listed.

I received a call from a valued client who had just come to us for mortgage financing for the 3rd time. Although she had always been a very loyal client she expressed some concern that the zero point rates she found on the Internet were around 3.125%. What's the deal Jason? After all these years, and all the customers I've referred to you, why are you trying to rip me off??

Everyone had heard the old adage about things that "sound too good to be true" and Internet mortgage rates are no exception. Upon hearing the doubts created by the Internet mortgage advertisements, I felt compelled to research the credibility of the rates quoted. I logged onto a mortgage rate monitor website and found a rate of 3.125% and zero points listed by a number of Internet mortgage factories. I then proceeded to each individual website as if I were going to apply for a mortgage and acquitted quotes for rates and closing costs. The rates were a half to a full percent higher than advertised, the zero points did not pertain to the excessive lender fees and there were more disclaimers than the fine print on a new prescription drug advertisement. So why are these companies flooded with business?

Why are people willing to pay more and trade in personal service for technology? Would we rather deal with a drop-down click than an uplifting visit with a mortgage professional that can help us make the best choices? How did something called a mouse come to wield so much power? Your home mortgage is one of the biggest decisions in your life and the smallest mistake can cost you and your family a fortune. Surfing is no way to navigate through the maze of mortgage products available today. There is nothing wrong with doing your best to get a great deal, but remember... There is no secret pool of cheap money, and you cannot go directly to the manufacturer to get a mortgage. The best mortgage lenders have access to the most programs at the lowest rates.

If you would like additional information of mortgages in Texas please visit the website www.HoustonMTG.com.  You may also email Jason at jason@houstonmtg.com

Jason Holter at Premier Nationwide Lending in Friendswood, Texas

Main Number: 281-993-3727
Fax Number: 832-213-0362
Email:
jason@houstonmtg.com

Address
Premier Nationwide Lending
907 S Friendswood Dr. Ste 209
Friendswood, TX 77546