Caitlyn Lopez

Did I ever tell you the story about the first home I ever purchased? I was 18 years old and was finishing my freshman year of college. After spending a year living on the 10th floor of a 10 floor high rise in San Angelo, Texas where the wind blows and the buildings sway I was ready to find another option. The houseing market their is perfect for a young buyer, they have lots of older neighborhoods that were perfect. I landed my first property in a little area within walking distance from the river (where the North and South Concho meet) and decide it would be where I would live to finish college. It was a 1980's 3 bedroom 2 bath house that was about 1300 sqft for $50,000. What a steal!!!! The house was school bus yellow with brown trim. The inside had the strangest colors and mushroom print wall paper in the kitchen. I guess even at the age of 18 I knew how to look at the "bones" of a house and see past the way the current owners are living. Once we closed on the property, I set to work - painted everything that stood still and took down all the wall paper I could find. I later sold the house with a small profit after I finished college - I was moving back to Bastrop and it was to far to maintain a rental property. There are times that I look back on that house and wish I could get my hands on it again. Oh, the changes I would make!!!

I'm hoping this will find it's way into a REALTOR in Indiana's inbox...

I recently contracted with a REALTOR that owns his own brokerage in Indianapolis, Indiana to have my website designed. I was refered to this person (who I hate to use the term "REALTOR" with because they do not exemplify any of our ethics in my opinion) by two other agents in my office, one had just recently started working with them and the other had their website designed by this person 2 years ago and has been working with him since then. I contacted him and set up phone appointments with them to discuss the options and design of my website. All went well and the conversations occured just as they should...over the course of the conversations I found out that "he" had been around real esate all of his life, as his mom was a real estate agent and his first web design client. I also found out he was now a Broker/Agent and owned his own firm along with his web firm - C E Productions - and several other companies. I did conduct internet research on him and liked what I saw for his web designs, I liked his lead capture program, and then spoke with the two agents in my office that had worked with him and found that they were very happy with his services as well. I paid for my web design, and began to wait. I was told I would have my design by the 15th of December. Needless to say I did not recieve a proof of my design and had some difficulty contacting the designer. Once I finally spoke with him I was told I would have my site proof by the 1st of the year. That has now come and gone and again not word from the designer. I have found 3 or 4 different numbers to contact him on, all of which go to the same voice recording, on which I have left several messages (not to mention a number of un answered e-mails). At times I will call and get the recording only to find out the voice mailbox is full and I can not leave a message, the next day I will be able to leave a message and do, and then by the next day it is full and then empty again.

I have checked with the other two ladies in my office that have been working with him and they are in the same boat. One has also paid for a site and gotten nothing, the other has her site (for over 2 years) and pays a monthly hosting fee and needs a few typos changed on her site and cannot get a response for that.

My lawyer has not contacted him with a refund or provide service letter with no response.

So if anyone in Indiana, or more specifically Indianapolis comes across this and wants to lend a fellow REALTOR a hand, please contact me.

Thanks!

Riverside Grove Home Sales, Bastrop, Texas

Despite the scares on TV, the market is holding strong in Riverside Grove. Nearly one out of ten houses in the neighborhood sold in 2007. The number of homes sold stayed the same from 2006 to 2007. A total of 42 homes sold in the subdivision in 2007. The average length of time on the market decreased for the entire neighborhood by four days from 2006 down to 2007. Average sales price for the neighborhood increased by $2,068 from 2006 to 2007. There were only eight foreclosure properties in the neighborhood for 2007.

To break this down even more, 10 of these homes were located in the Enclave part of the subdivision with four of these homes being 2-story and six were 1-story homes. The homes in the Enclave had an average sales price of $151,795 and spent on average 66 days on the market.

Twenty-four of the homes sold in 2007 were 1-story homes that were not in the Enclave. These homes sold for and average sales price of $124,901, up $5,623 from 2006. The average number of days on the market for these properties was 48 days, down 11 days from 2006.

Eight homes were 2-story homes not in the Enclave. These homes sold for an average of $137,513, up $3,047 from 2006. The average number of days on market for the 2-story properties was 106 days, an increased length of time from 2006 by 26 days.

So what does all this mean to you as a homeowner?

If you are looking to sell your house, now is the time for several reasons. The housing market is still strong in Riverside Grove, a well maintained house that is priced correctly should sell in a reasonable amount of time. The values of the properties in the neighborhood are increasing and there is still a want for people to buy in the neighborhood. Though lending restrictions have gotten a little tighter in the last six months, interest rates have dropped making it a good time for people to buy. Not only that, if you are looking to sell your house in order to move into a bigger house, it is a great time to do so. You may have the opportunity to sell your house, and get a new house at an interest rate equal to or lower than what you are currently at - therefore letting your money work for you.

No matter what you choose to do, remember that pride in ownership of your home and neighborhood are very important factors to keep your house values high and keep properties in the neighborhoods selling quickly.

If you would like to find out more specifics about the market please feel free to contact me at caitlyn@stanberry.com or (512)304-8760.