Jerry Newman,REALTOR®,Texas Agent San Antonio Real Estate & Military Reloc

Facebook Fridays - Business Page Timeline is Here

Many have already made the change with their personal Facebook Profile Page to the new Facebook Timeline, and I finally made that change myself this week. Now, I understand that the Facebook Business Pages Timelines will be mandatory by March 30, 2012. My Facebook Business Page has been changed, but it is not published yet, since I am having a time making a decision on what to have on my cover page.

If you are like me, and wandering what to do with your Facebook Business Page New Timeline, then you need to read this featured post by Inna Hardison, “New Timelines for Business, guidelines, rules and opinions....”. The new Facebook Timeline does have some good positives as Inna pointed out in her post. It appears to me that the positives seem to outweigh all the negatives.

You will have until March 30, 2012 to preview your Facebook Business Page Timeline. Then, if you haven’t switched over and published you page, Facebook will be doing it for you. Consequently, I know I will be searching for an ideal cover for my New Business page Timeline. Looks like I will be out there this weekend with my camera, looking for that idea cover page. Of course, my understanding is that you can always change your cover, but I believe getting off on the right foot is just as important.

If you are wandering what to do with your Apps on your Facebook Business Page, then you need to read Mike Mueller’s post on Moving Your Apps on Facebook. Mike has some great information on Custom Facebook Business Pages too.

So, Check out my Five Candidates this week for March 9, 2012.

1. Brenda and Ron Cunningham, Realtors

2. Rebecca Gajout, Greenbreir County Real Estate

3. Emmary Nicholson, Neighborhoods of Las Cruces

4. Judy Orr, Orland Park Living

5. Barbara Heise, Meet Me in St. Louis

Third Annual Paella Challenge at Pearl Brewery
Mark your calendars for the third annual paella challenge at Pearl Brewery on Sunday, March 11. 2012 from 11:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. The Third Annual Corona Paella Challenge is hosted by the Gloria’s Chef, Johnny Hernandez at the Pearl Brewery. If you enjoy great food, this is an event you don’t want to miss.

Pearl is undergoing a transformation from historic brewery to an iconic culinary and cultural gathering place where you can eat, live, learn, work and play on the Museum Reach of the San Antonio River.

Guests will be invited to enjoy paella prepared by top chefs from across the country and Latin America. Proceeds from the event will benefit The Culinary Institute America-San Antonio and The Educational Foundation of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Celebrating its third year, the Paella Challenge presents to its attendees an afternoon filled with live entertainment showcasing the food and wine of Spain and a fabulous line of craft and imported beers. San Antonio favorite Bachaco will perform their blend of reggae, dance hall, ska with South America's own Caribbean legacy rhythm of Cumbia, which is sure to entertain the entire family.

The line-up of culinary masters will include Bravo's Top Chef: Texas contestants Lindsay Autrey, Ty-Lor Boring and Keith Rhodes. Joining them in competition are Jeff Balfour (Citrus), Jeff Littlefield (Waterfront Resort), Tim McCarthy (Mayo Foundation), Jhojans Priego (Villa Rica), (cookbook author and Seasons of My Heart Cooking School chef instructor) Susana Trilling, Jason Dady (Tre Trattoria), Steven McHugh (Luke), and Jeffrey Axell and David Wirebaugh (Hyatt Hotels).

Tickets to the event are $50 pre-sale. Admission for children under 12 years of age is $25. Tickets can be purchased atthe Wine and Culinary Arts Festival, or the day-of event at Pearl. Pearl is located at 200 E. Grayson St. in San Antonio, Texas.

Also, check out their Facebook Page for a chance to win FREE tickets to this event.

If you are in the San Antonio area, and you are thinking about buying, selling or renting, Contact your Local San Antonio Real Estate Agent, or visit my website at Homes For Sale in San Antonio.

Kidney Bowl - A Huge Success on Sunday!
The Texas Kidney Bowl held this past Sunday, March 4th at the Bandera Bowling Center was a huge success. It was truly a great cause to support, and everyone had a great time Sunday afternoon. Participants filled up half the Bowling Center by taking up 30 lanes for the Kidney Bowl event. More than $4,700 was raised on Sunday to support and assist those who need kidneys, or have some type of kidney disease. 100% of all funds raised at the Texas Kidney Bowl stay in Texas and help continue our mission to help patients with kidney disease and their families.

If you would still like to donate, see the Texas Kidney Bowl, which highlights some of the sponsors and participants to this event. See if you can recognize me and my team. Just for fun, we happened to finish in 6th place as team, and our reward for this accomplishment was right on time for us real estate agents. We all won a FREE Full Service Car Wash, and you know agents need to keep a clean car.

I am looking forward to next year’s event since I am an avid bowler, and I cannot think of a better cause to have some fun, and help to support a worthy cause.

If you are in the San Antonio area, and you are thinking about buying, selling or renting, Contact your Local San Antonio Real Estate Agent, or visit my website at Homes For Sale in San Antonio.

Rent to Own! Is This a Good Choice for Renters?
With the higher standards and qualifications for applying for a loan to purchase a home in today’s market, many would be buyers are looking into the rental market for the time being. Some of them are even considering “Rent to Own” option, but is this really a Good Choice for Renters? Many investors and private home owners from time to time will offer “Rent to Own Contracts”, which typically include an up-front fee, plus monthly payments that have two components, rent and additional charges that count toward a down payment.

This upfront money is often called “Non-Refundable Earnest Money”, or “Option Fees”. A good example would be if you agree to buy a $185,000 home, paying $3,000 up front money, and monthly payments of $1,500($400 of which goes toward the sale price of the home). At the end of one year, you will have $7,800 towards a down payment, and $17,400 after three years. $400 x 12 = $4,800 + $3,000 non-refundable earnest money.

But, if you decide not to proceed with the purchase for what ever reasons, it is unlikely that any of your beyond the rent payments will be refunded. For this reason, buyers should only consider a “Rent to Own” option only if they are serious about purchasing a home, but need more time to arrange for financing, or have other legitimate reservations. If you decide you don’t like the home after a year or two, all your payments toward the sale of the home is forfeited.

Rent to Own contracts may be a good choice if:

1. A buyer wants to take advantage of an attractive selling price, but just needs a little more time to save up their money for the down payment.

2. The buyer may need more time to improve their credit history and to qualify for a better mortgage interest rate on a loan.

3. The buyers wants to make certain that the house has no serious problems, or wants to experience living in a neighborhood before becoming a home owner. Then, if the buyer decides not to proceed, they may forfeit the money credited to purchase the home. But, these losses could be small compared to the potential cost of multiple real estate transactions or property repairs in order to resell the house, and find a different home.

In any case, buyers should plan very carefully and make every attempt to ensure they can complete a purchase transaction at the conclusion of the contract. It’s also essential to work with a qualified real estate attorney to make sure the contract terms are favorable to your needs and the seller is a legitimate owner. In the state of Texas, it is highly recommended that use utilize the services of an attorney to help you with any “Rent to Own” or even those “Lease Purchase Contracts”.

Some of the Short Comings of a Rent to Own to Deal are:

1. Interest rates may increase. If the rates rise, higher monthly payments could make it harder to secure financing at the conclusion of the rent-to-own contract.

2. Prices Changes. If market prices decline, will the buyer be stuck paying a premium price for the home? Conversely, if prices rise, does your contract provide protection from the seller seeking a different buyer?

3. Late payments. Some contracts say that if your payments aren’t received on time, they don’t count towards the down payment.

4. Foreclosure scams. Make sure the seller isn’t going through foreclosure. You don’t want to make inflated payments. only to be served eviction papers when the bank takes possession of the property.

Rent to Own contracts are not for every buyer. But in some cases, it can be an attractive option. If you think “Rent to Own” may be the right choice for you, Contact your Local San Antonio Real Estate Agent, who can answer your questions, and help you find suitable properties, and direct you towards an attorney for legal counseling on these types of contracts. Visit my website at Homes For Sale in San Antonio.

Time to Bowl for Kidneys
Come and enjoy two hours of Bowing and Fun this Sunday afternoon, March 4th at 1:00 P.M. at the Bandera Bowling Center located on 6700 Huebner Rd, San Antonio, TX, just South of Bandera Road. This is an opportunity to help raise funds for the Texas Kidney Foundation, and a Time to Bowl for Kidneys.

There will be lots of prizes for the Top Fundraisers, Top Team Scores, Top Female Scores, Top Male Scores, and some nice Door prizes too. Teams will consist of 4 members, and you may enter as a team or as an individual. The cost per team is $120 in pledges, or paid directly by the bowlers. All bowlers will receive Two games of bowling, shoe rental, and the opportunity to win some fabulous prizes.

Bowling has been one of my passions for years, and now with the chance to Bowl for Kidneys, it’s all for a worthy and great cause. Your participation and support will help the Texas Kidney Foundation to continue it’s mission to help those with kidney diseases, their families, and all the professionals who serve them.

To sign up for Bowl for Kidneys event online, or to make a donation online, see Texas Kidney Bowl. If you don’t bowl, you can still make a donation, and come on out and support others who will be participating this Sunday afternoon at the Bandera Bowl Center.

If you are in the San Antonio area, and you are thinking about buying, selling or renting, Contact your Local San Antonio Real Estate Agent, or visit my website at Homes For Sale in San Antonio. See you at the Kidney Bowl at the Bandera Bowl Center on March 4th.