The Marion Franke Team

Yesterday our Leadership Montgomery County class attended all day sessions with all levels of governmental leadership. Very interesting and informative.

The day began with award the award winning professor from Lone Star College, Dr. Carolyn Davis. She spoke on the importance of education on our society and that basically all of the other elements such as economic, ecological and political systems are nothing without solid education. As a former educator myself, I couldn't agree more. Our country must wake up to the importance of solid education at the lower grade school levels and up. Dr. Davis gave a statistic that most kids that are going to drop out, have been affected negatively by the educational system by the 3^rd grade! Either they were bored, not engaged or didn't feel accepted. This is very sad and a reason we need to pay and hire the very best teachers. She also spoke of the need to increase the hours our kids go to school as the other parts of the world who are surpassing us in education go to school for much longer days. Interesting to say the least.

The rest of the day we heard from all of our county commissioners as well as the county judge. Each one spoke specifically about their precincts, challenges and plans for the future. Mike Meador, Pct. 1, Craig Doyal, Pct. 2, Ed Chance, Pct. 3, and Ed Reinhart, Pct. 4. Judge Barb Sadler, our county judge stands over the commissioner's court. All agreed that Montgomery County is doing well. Their roles with FEMA and the cleanup efforts after IKE were very important. These men did a fine job cleaning up Montgomery County after the storm.

State Representatives Rob Eissler, Brandon Creighton and Senator Robert Nichols all addressed the issues affecting Montgomery County at the state level. Rob Eissler is the chairman of the education committee and shared with us the challenges of the TAKS testing, No Child Left Behind, etc. He foresees some changes to this system in the near future.

Nelda Blair, the chairman for The Woodlands Township explained how the transition is going for The Woodlands since the election to move to a township. Everything appears to be going well but they have a lot of work to do concerning the transition and the big question, what will the new tax rate be. Ms. Blair said that they would be diligently working toward getting to a hard number as quickly as they could.

We finished day hearing from Congressman Kevin Brady's assistant, Sarah Stephens. She gave us an update from the national level. It was very interesting hearing from her concerning the new administration getting ready to take over in Washington. She feels that President Elect Obama will have to deliver on his promises for national health care. It will be an interesting first 100 days in office. She predicts a lot of changes.

I enjoyed hearing from all of our county leaders as well as some from the state and national levels. I believe that as professionals, we must understand how our communities are made up and who the key leaders are. Keeping informed on the issues will make us more valuable to our clients.

Lake Conroe Real Estate

A few blogs ago, we discussed what a Buyer's Market is. Basically this means that buyers have an advantage over sellers because of a down market resulting in fewer buyers. Right now this means "qualified" buyers.

If you are in the market to buy right now or in the future, there are some strategies that you can do to set yourself apart from other buyers. Of course you want the best deal out there and so does everyone else. Therefore, you need to be proactive as a buyer.

One of the first things that you can do is to insure that you are a qualified buyer. Check your credit scores and make sure you have the highest scores possible. There are many things that you can do to improve your credit scores. Check out the Internet for some great companies that assist you in watching your credit scores.

If you are thinking about applying for a new loan, now is NOT the time to make any new purchases or open any accounts. Wait until you close on your new home to do these things. You certainly do not want to get to a closing and be unable to complete the transaction because of a credit score going below what you were a few weeks prior.

Only buy what you can afford. Most lenders are requiring 20% down payments. If your credit is good, you can sometimes get away with 10% down. The more you put down, the better the rates will be for you.

You also want to make sure that you choose only a reputable lender. In the wake of all of the bad lending that went on in the past, it is imperative that you check out the mortgage broker carefully. Also, make sure that the loan product that you are purchasing is one that you understand and works for you. Be wary of adjustable mortgages. When the rate increases after your low interest period, many people are unable to keep up with their payments.

Lastly, work with a strong buyer's agent. A buyer's agent works only with buyers and knows the market! They are savvy in negotiating and are working on YOUR behalf! If you find an agent with the designation of Accredited Buyer's Representative or ABR, you know that you are working with a REALTOR who has taken measures to be the best buyer's agent that they can.

It's a great time to buy? Are you ready?

Lake Conroe Real Estate

Remodeling is the buzz word right now for homeowners. Just flip on the TV and you can watch show after show on remodeling tips. So, what is a homeowner to do? Does investing in remodeling really help your overall home value?

Before you take that sledge hammer to your home, consider these facts as reported by the National Association of REALTORS®:

• Consider the area of your home that you would like to remodel. Not all areas are as valuable to the appreciation value of your home.
• Typically the areas of the home that bring the highest return are the kitchen, siding replacement, deck replacement or addition and higher end windows.
• Areas that have shown a low return for remodeling have been adding studies, converting extra bedrooms into master baths or large closets. For one client this might be great but for the majority of buyers out there, you have just cut down on your available bedrooms. This in the long run might hinder your resale value.
• Before deciding to remodel, it is also important to remember what colors you will use. Don't go out on a limb and choose loud or bold colors. Not everyone likes them. The more neutral you go, the safer it will be for resale.
• Another important factor to consider before remodeling is what type of materials you choose. The best rule of thumb is to choose moderately priced materials. Choosing really low-end or extreme top of the line materials are not wise investments.
• Be very careful to use remodeling contractors that have good references and are licensed by the state of Texas. Remember the rule of thumb, you get what you pay for.
• Unless you are highly skilled in doing carpentry work, plumbing, etc. hire a professional. More homes are botched by well intended homeowners trying to save money but in the end, can't finish a project or have a project that really does look like poor workmanship. In these cases, the homeowner ends up spending more money to have someone come in and repair the work.

If you have a local realtor that you work with, give them a call. Real estate agents go into so many homes and can tell you honestly if you need to remodel or not. Additionally, they can help guide you toward honest and trustworthy contractors.

Lake Conroe Real Estate

How was your Thanksgiving?? Mine was great but not home made. This year I decided to make it easy on myself and try a not-so-homemade Thanksgiving. It worked out so well I think I have started a new tradition. The "Let's Take It Easy Thanksgiving". First I ordered a smoked turkey, which was a 2 person helper. Little Hanna's dance school made money by selling the turkeys and I had a ready made main dish. Well, what's turkey without dressing (stuffing)? To the rescue came Stove Top, yes you heard it right, Stove Top Stuffing. I added some fresh onion, mushroom and some extra seasoning and no-one had any idea it wasn't homemade. Move on to the side dishes; frozen and placed in my own baking dishes. I'm telling you I am on a roll. Oh yes, speaking of rolls, mine were frozen and placed out to rise so that just as the family came milling around the kitchen they saw me put them in the oven. Oh, what a good Mom! Dessert, a piece of cake, so to speak. Ready made from the supermarket, add a little whipped cream on the pumpkin pie and some sprinkles on the chocolate cake. Decorate the table with a pretty tablecloth and fresh flowers and my family thoroughly enjoyed the meal. But I think they especially enjoyed the fact that I was not so stressed that I couldn't enjoy it with them. What am I thankful for this Thanksgiving? I am thankful for the super market and the fact that I was able to let go of all the preconceived notions that if it isn't homemade it isn't good. Mostly I am thankful for my wonderful family and especially those perfect Granddaughters. What can I work out for Christmas dinner?? Any suggestions?

Article by: Carol Hawkins

There is not a day that goes by that someone does not stop and ask me, "Is real estate still a good investment?" I love that question because it allows me to share the really good news about real estate. For those of you who study the economic history of our country, there are common ups and downs in the economy. The market changes and everyone must make a shift.

Historically however, owning land, homes and businesses in the United States has been an overall better investment than many have fared in the stock market. With real estate, especially in our area, this tangible asset has held its own. Of course we have seen prices take a dip but that is a simple market correction. What goes up will go down and also what goes down will come back up.

Real estate ownership has and always will be the American dream. We can never forget the importance of this fact. Now more than ever, I personally am very glad that my assets are in real estate. I am always drawn back to the scene in Gone With the Wind where Scarlett O'Hara is gripping the soil in her hands while her father tells her that owning land is everything.

Because home prices are lower right now, it is the perfect time to purchase. Consider buying a home to lease out. You can get some great deals out there, turn around and lease it and have instant mail box money. In fact, the statistics are very strong towards a leasing market! When the market is up again, you can considering selling the leased property at that time. The options are endless.

I believe that Texas is still the best kept secret! More and more people however, are figuring this out and our school enrollment that keeps increasing every year in Montgomery County is a huge indication of this. Owning property now I believe will be a great bet as the demand for housing continues to increase in Montgomery County.

I recently heard J.R. Moore, our county Tax Assessor speak. I was highly encouraged with the report that he had on Montgomery County. Folks, take a look at this report. You can find the report on the website for Montgomery County. I believe that you too will be as encouraged as I am.

So yes, Scarlett - now is a good time to consider investing in real estate! Don't wait around and think about it tomorrow - take action today!

Lake Conroe Real Estate