Deb Jamail Galveston Real Estate

What do pancakes & Shriners Hospital have in common?

On March 1^st…….. EVERYTHING!

IHOP restaurants all over the country are teaming up to raise money for Shriners Hospitals. On Tuesday March 1^st IHOP restaurants will be serving up hot cakes and asking only that you make a contribution to Shriners Hospital. This favorite dining spot for those of us who like pancakes (who doesn’t?) has set up a huge goal of raising $2 million for this one day event that is a tribute to pancakes and children. (What’s not to like?)

For those who are not familiar with the Shriners Hospital, this is a group of 22 pediatric, specialty hospitals that treat children with burns, spinal cord injuries, cleft palate and orthopedic conditions. Treatment of these children is not dependent on the ability to pay.

The hospitals depend upon fund raising and donations for their main source of revenue. Not only are these facilities excellent care centers with fantastic outcomes, they also are known for their leadership in the area of research & development within their specialties.

So if you are looking for a great breakfast (who isn’t) bring a client, bring a friend to an IHOP near you for pancakes on March 1^st. Do a good thing…..eat and give at the same time!

Buying & Selling Property with an Attached Lien in Galveston County, Texas

First of all the definition of a lien is:

1. A legal claim on another person’s real property for the payment of an owed debt or obligation.

2. It is filed as a legal document with the county clerk in the county where your home is located.

3. Anyone that has a ‘legal interest’ in the property can file.

4. It will limit the seller’s title to the home and must be removed before selling.

There are several types of liens:

· The most common lien is a “Mechanics Lien” This is a lien placed on your home by a contractor, sub-contractor, builder, or home repair man for payment in full for work that has been completed on your house.

· A “Judgment Lien” This type of lien will occur if someone sues and wins a lawsuit against you. With a judgment lien the creditor is assured payment upon sale of the property.

· “Tax Lien” This is a lien placed on the property by a taxing authority. This could be the IRS, County or State.

How to deal with a lien:

· Negotiate with the person who has placed the lien on the property. Such as if you owe a contractor, make arrangements to pay what you owe in exchange for release of the lien.

· A lawsuit can be filed to order the lien removed. If a lien has been wrongly recorded against your home, you may be able to recover damages.

The best thing is to avoid liens by paying your contractors and taxes on time. If you lose a lawsuit, pay what you are ordered to pay. Should a lien show up on your property or one you are looking to buy, consult an attorney as they will be able to direct you according to the laws regarding buying and selling property with a lien in Galveston County, Texas or the state where your home is located.

(This post is NOT legal advice, it is just an overview of the definition of a lien) ALWAYS consult with an attorney in matters of liens and judgments on real property.

Neptune Properties Bayou Vista Texas Galveston County FREE SHRED DAY

Are you one of those people like me, who saves up all your documents to shred?

Well, save them no more!! Neptune Properties is sponsoring a FREE SHRED DAY! Saturday February 12, 2011 9AM- 12:00

will be in the parking lot to shred your papers & documents. Shred-Pro the secure document destruction company will be parked in the front lot with one of their mobile shred trucks. These cool trucks are capable of shredding as much as 5000 pounds of material per hour! Wow (that's a bunch of paper)

So drive in at Neptune Properties in Bayou Vista Texas and they will load your documents into their ‘giant’ shredder and voilé like magic…DONE!

Front Door Takes the Prize!!

Remodeling Magazine has come out with its 2010 -2011 home remodeling jobs and their cost versus value on the resale of your home. For the South Central Region of Houston and surrounding area, it came out like this.

#10. Replacement of the roof. The value of a new roof to sale has fallen again this year. The cost of roof replacement around $21,488 the actual value / recoup at sale $12,780 [59.5%]

#9. Addition of a family room. Adding a 16x25 [400 square feet] extra room will only pay you 62.5% of what it cost you to build. [Cost $85,740 versus value at resell $53,624]

#8. Remodeling the bathroom, however wonderful, will get you back only 64.1% of your cost. [$16,634 in updates gets you $10,668]

#7. Minor kitchen remodeling would include replacing cabinet fronts, hardware, countertops, sink and faucet, oven and cook top, and replace flooring. This is a wonderful way to change the feeling of the home, since the kitchen is the central place of most activity. The re-coop on this very fun re-model is 72.8% on investment. [$21,695 versus $15,790]

#6. Wood deck addition is one of my very favorites, as outdoor living space is in such demand. A 16x20 [320 ‘of decking] adds more than just space, it adds lifestyle. Parties, relaxing, plants…a sanctuary as such. The financial reward for this one is 72.8% of actual cost [$10,972 in cost and at resale $7,986] But who cares……for me this one is a must!

#5. New double hung insulated windows will pay you back in energy savings for sure, but on resale value [$12,027 in cost nets you $8,707 or 72.4%]

#4. You can change the absolute total look of your home with new siding. The colors available in vinyl are great you can hang the siding horizontal or vertical….Nice! Cement fiber board is a super choice as well. This can be painted any color you choose! Cement Fiber siding will net you 80% profit and vinyl 72.4%. [Costs depending on the size of the home, with Cement fiber board running a bit higher than vinyl]

#3. Square footage is ‘KING’ everyone wants just a little bit more! Converting an attic into a bedroom is a nice way to do this. A 15x15 foot finished space [225 square feet] with a 5x7 foot bath/shower at re-sale will bring you 72.2% of your costs. [$51,428 versus $37,142]

#2. You can get 83.9% of your investment back on new garage doors. 16x7 garage door will cost you around $1,291 and you will get $1,083 at resale….Now that is not bad!

#1. THE #1 remodel ‘take your money to the bank’ again this year is…………… The Front Entry door. Again one of my top picks for changing the look of your home, and by far the most rewarding, with a whopping 102.1% resale value! Who Knew? Yet so very easy to do. Depending on the type of door you choose the range of cost could go anywhere, BUT this easy face lift won’t let you down! Your REALTOR is a great resource for helping you decide if or what remodels would be right for you!

HARBORWALK MARINA

We are moving to the Galveston area and will be living on our sailboat until we find a home. Do you have any suggestions?

Of course I do!!

Tucked quietly away is a wonderful marina located within the boundaries of the gated community of Harborwalk.

Located next to Buoy Marker #59 [Coordinates: N29° 17’ 06" W94° 57’ 28"] on the Intercoastal Waterway.

You can find the entrance to the Marina easily [Coordinates: N29° 17’ 21" W94° 57’ 31"]

This lovely community and marina is 43 miles from Houston and 12 miles from Galveston.

[Only 10 Nautical miles from the Galveston jetties]

AMMENITIES:
P Aluminum truss floating docks, decked with hardwood

P Slip sizes from 30 feet to 125 foot yachts

P Each dock has broadband internet, electricity and potable water

P Fuel docks with marine grade diesel

P Floating facilities include Bathroom, showers and laundry

P Concierge service

P Live bait well systems

Ships store with deli, boating and fishing supplies, groceries and Starbucks…Yummy!

Harborwalk Marina is a great place to rent a boat slip, you can obtain a membership to the Yacht club will you are staying here and that includes usage of the pool and restaurant. Don’t forget that there are wonderful home sites here as well. New homes, re-sales and lots to build your waterfront dream home on.

Pictures: Harborwalk.com
Master-Piece Custom Homes

View Harborwalk Marina in a larger map