Deb Brooks, Lake Livingston Real Estate

A command. Just do it may work for a shoe company. But, it doesn't really mean anything without the why, how and the total psychology of the reason...with people, compassion, intuition, responsibility, truth, ethics and common sense.

Example: outline of buyers guide.

Show them properties.

Whatever? It's not that simple. Tons of diverse phsycologies are involved in the showing of homes from the beginning "nice to meet you," to what's important to you? Location, price, amenities, schools, playgrounds shopping, work, family location, church, you don't just do it.

You must perceive. You must watch and be intuitive towards the unspoken word of expression and body language. You must listen to the inflection of the voice and the way it is delivered. You must watch for signs. You must follow the signs. You must listen with more than your ears.

You do it with care. With knowledge, understanding, patience and work.

Robotic actions don't get it. They don't reach into the human psyche and soul to find the answers...but a good sales/service person does.

A good sales person cares enough to do so. A good salesperson cares more for his client than himself. All of this will be returned tenfold. Give and ye shall receive. This is true in your real estate business too. As well as your relationships with family and friends. You reap what you sow.

Possibly the command "just do it" means to use each and every God given intuition, sensual perception, emotion, compassion and feeling and work those attributes into a power or strength to find happiness for your fellow human.

That's what I call Real Estate.

You don't just do it. Or, maybe you do.

Do you?

Okay, I don't really know what these things are but I do have a slight understanding. I believe that Kharma is the bad stuff and Dharma is the good stuff. Stuff meaning luck or a power of attraction. So if you go putting out bad vibes to the world, the world sends you back bad stuff called Kharma. If you send out the good vibes then the world sends you Dharma.

(I'm not talking about Dharma and Greg although I just figured out why that was her name)

So, I have a property that has been on the market for nine months now. I couldn't give it away.

I showed it no less than an average of four times a week for the nine month period. It was a beauty but it had an unusual floor plan and it would take the right buyer. It looked over big beautiful Lake Livingston Texas and was in an elite neighborhood.

Nobody wanted it. The house had been listed with yet another agency before they listed with me so it had languished on the open market for well over a year.

I guess it was kharma. Someone made the quote that:" there is never an original idea on this earth, if you're thinking about it then someone else is too!"

Who said that? I don't know! Look it up! (I learned that one from Archie Bunker)

Day one. Monday. Just like any other day. But...

1. Out of the blue an offer came in on my Lakehouse! YEA! I was so excited I about jumped out of my skin! It was for "the" house. The offer came over the Internet which I found strange but just didn't care. I immediately put the paperwork together and sent it to the buyer to be signed. He would send it to me the next day so I could present to my Sellers.

Day two. Tuesday. A call comes in from a man that wants to see the house. "the" house.

2. He was from California and was a trucker and had to see it right away. Of course, I showed it.

He fell in love with it right away and told me he would like to make an offer! Wow, I'm thinking this is too good to be true! His wife was involved but agreed with him by phone to go ahead and place a bid. I told them I had another coming. They placed a strong bid.

Day three. Wednesday. I was waiting till I got all the paperwork for both offers together and signed before I alerted the Sellers. I just wanted everything in writing.

3. By the time I received both signed offers it was late in the day on Wednesday. I contacted the Sellers to schedule an appointment to go over the paperwork. They were so excited! We scheduled a "sit down" for the next morning at 10:00 am.

Day four. Thursday. It was one hour till my meeting time with my Sellers. Our Office Manager walked in and said, "there is a couple wanting to see you and they want to see "the" house.

"the" house? huh. okay. I had yet to present the other two offers...

4. I showed "the" house. They, as everyone else did that week, wanted "the" house. They knew there were two other offers on the table so...they gave me a full priced cash offer.

They won!

So, this has happened to me several times with several properties.

Nobody wants it then everybody wants it.

From Kharma to Dharma. I vote for Dharma.

Later in the rain~Deb

and Proud of it!

I am anxious to introduce to you

Kehaulani Kea of Honolulu Hawaii.

On occasion, I will come across a person with such a wonderful smile I am immediately drawn to them! I am here today to introduce you to a lovely lady that just joined our Community.

Like you, I am looking forward to learning more about her!

When I visited Kehaulani's web site I knew I had come across a very special lady. Her talent in design is spectacular.

Kehaulani Kea is Art Director for JDS Consulting and is a professional Graphic and Fine Artist. She has since retired from owning and operating the Kea Studios in Honolulu, HI a picture framing and design consulting company for 32 years.

Kehaulani retired from JDS Consulting Kehaulani is a graduate of Punahou School, majored in Fine Arts at the University of Arizona, studied at the Honolulu Academy of Arts fine art program and is currently enrolled at the Honolulu Academy Arts Linekona Art Center.

Kehaulani works together with her son, Kimo Stowell, President of JDS.

http://www.realestatedesignonline.com/

Please visit her website for a feast of Top Notch Design Tips and Advice! Let's all visit with Kehaulani and help her become acquainted with our communities. Active Rain is helping to create a very SMALL WORLD!

WELCOME KEHAULANI AND COME ON BOARD KIMO! IT'S GREAT TO MEET YOU!

What do you get when you combine a quaint little town amongst hills, tall trees, tailored streets and an Active square? Then you mix in a little...okay, a lot of History, President Sam Houston of the Republic of Texas, a few prisons, massive expanse of State Owned land with grazing horses, cattle, crops and black and white striped workers herded by Prison Guards on horses? Then add up to 17,000 youth at any given time walking Sam Houston State Universities beautiful campus, winning football games, featuring Arts and Academics and is one of the fasted growing schools in Texas?

You get the one and only...

Huntsville became the home of Sam Houston, who served as President of the Republic of Texas, Governor of the State of Texas, Governor of Tennessee, U.S. Senator, and Tennessee congressman. General Houston led the Texas Army in the Battle of San Jacinto into the victory of the Texas Revolution. Houston has been noted for his life among the Cherokees of Tennessee, and - near the end of his life - for his opposition to the American Civil War, a position which was a very unpopular in his day.

Huntsville Texas feels like its History! Walking the square you will stop and read markers talking about how Sam Houston and his friends would sit and play checkers or whittle the day away while watching the comings and goings of the townspeople. Sam Houston State University shares the same area (across the street) from Houston's original homestead. The Sam Houston Museum is built next to his Homestead's and provides a day of History, fun and great sight seeing. 

Huntsville was also the home of Samuel Walker Houston(1864-1945), a prominent African-American pioneer in the field of education. He was born into slavery on February 12, 1864, to Joshua Houston, a slave owned by Sam Houston. Samuel W. Houston founded the Galilee Community School in 1907, which later became known as the Houstonian Normal and Industrial Institute, in Walker County, Texas.

In 1995, on the grounds of the old Samuel W. Houston Elementary School, the Huntsville Independent School District.

Along with the Huntsville Arts Commission and the high school's Ex-Students Association, commissioned the creation of The Dreamers, a monument to underscore the contributions made by the black community in the growth and development of Huntsville and Walker County.

This is one of the most impressive pieces I have ever seen.

 

The detail is gorgeous and worth seeing. Huntsville is filled with artistic pieces from many very talented artists.

The faces are created to depict the progression of time, beginning with the youth at the bottom, middle aged at the middle and the elders at top.

Beautiful piece!

Mr. Dan Phillips is a well known "local" gentleman here in Huntsville. Dan is well known for his "unconventional, eclectic" designs of homes. Dan's philosophy is that each and every person in this world deserves a home. Dan actually puts his money where his mouth is too. He collects remnants, old boards, nails, broken glass, chipped concrete, cracked wood and any other "creative" piece of leftover building material and waves his magic hands. Up comes a home fit to be enjoyed by anyone at a cost of at least 1/2 the local average price. Dan gleans pleasure from teaching an Eco Friendly lesson to all that want a home. Dan Phillips is making his own history for our little town of Huntsville, Texas. Please watch this video and enjoy... 

I was lucky enough to grow up in the small town of Huntsville Texas and I have many memories there. Our Prison system has always been a seed for jokes...I tell everyone that I grew up on the outside. Ha-ha.  I was going to share a story with you that is special to me and not something everyone would get to do!

Back in 19...uh, well, what the heck...1969, I was assigned a special "writing" report for English class. I had a boyfriend, and his father was on the Board of Directors of The Texas Prison System and he was in charge here in Huntsville.

Downtown Huntsville, is the Prison Unit called "The Walls" and it houses the worst of the worst criminals. Many of these prisoners are on death row.

Due to my connection I was allowed to interview a man that was serving life in prison right there at the walls. He was very old but full of colorful information!

This man (I will call him George) was serving time consecutively with Clyde Barrow. 

  

Clyde met, and fell in love with Bonnie just after being thrown into one of Huntsville's prison units. He was a part of the labor crew

digging out white rock from one of our quarries. 

George knew Clyde personally and gave me incredible insights into his character and attitudes.

George told me a girlfriend was sending Clyde many a letter, love letters at times and angry letters at other times. Clyde was known to be a real Casanova.

  

Clyde shared a great deal of personal information with the general cell mates which later posed as bad news for Clyde.

He shared a bit too much and some of the details were later used against him in the locating of CW Moss, one of their right hand men.

 

Although Clyde grew up in a poor home, he never really acclimated to hard work. George told me about the day when they were on Quarry duty. The sun was hot, the men were weak and tired and Clyde took his shovel and chopped off a couple of his toes from his own foot.

George said that the day Clyde got back to his cell from his medical stay in the prison was the very day Clyde's news was delivered to his cell.  Clyde had been officially released from TDC and would be going home. History tells us that was the beginning, and the end of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow.

George said he believed the "higher ups" had planned it that way just to punish Clyde............................................could be.

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Please come visit Huntsville, Texas when you can. There is much beauty and history to be shared.

For more information contact me at

www.brooksprimeproperties.com

and Proud of it!  

Our market, next to the water, is still in great demand. Lake Livingston Real Estate and Waterfront land is getting so difficult to find. I am finding that Lake Livingston Properties, as well as many various large waterfront communities are experiencing the very same phenomenon. At this point, it is almost as economical to purchase the land with an existing structure as it is to purchase unimproved land. The land values have multiplied in worth to the consumer to the point of near exorbitance. What does this mean to the landowners' future of equity?

Herein lies the problem. Land value is affected by several outside variables. How deep and boat-able is the water? Which part of the lake is it located on? Is it located in a deed restricted subdivision? Are there city utilities available and what about sewer?

Five years from now, what will my land be worth? Is it worth my investment today?

If there is no sewer and the land is right on the water it must be over 1/2 acre to qualify for an aerobic system. If it is less than 1/2 acre on the water, the Trinity River Authority requires either city sewer or what is called a DripSystem. A Drip System consists of hundreds of tiny field lines that run underneath the ground that distribute waste in minute amounts throughout the ground. This system is very Eco Friendly but this type of system is very expensive.

Up goes your land cost.

What about erosion? There are many parts of the lake that require bulk-heading. What does bulk-heading require? Depending on the area of your lake and the body of water, bulk-heading may be necessary to preserve your land. In the larger areas of Lake Livingston there are waves the same size as found in the Gulf of Mexico at times. These waves are a threat to your existing shoreline, landscaping and homestead.

While you are shopping bulk-heading don't forget the boathouse! Your boathouse is the main housing for your boat and the center of your entry to the water. Contact www.watersideconstruction.com for personalized information on bulkheads and boathouses. David and Gabrielle Thomson will be of service.

If you are not in a restricted area of the Lake and you want to build for the future you must be careful. If the area is non-restricted and you are the only occupant on that stretch of the lake it may seem great right now. But, be careful. If you build a 3200 square foot retirement paradise (or anything close) and use top of the line products for build-out, you still want to protect your value. If you are setting up on unrestricted land your neighbors may soon set up a manufactured home and a "used parts" business right next to you and no one could stop them. Be careful. This will determine the amount of equity you have for your future.

These are just a few of the intricacies of buying at Lake Livingston and Brooks Prime Propertiesis the company to call for advice. Our specialty is Waterfront Properties and we can help you with all your questions. We will help you find the right property for purchase and minimize the possibilities of problems that may arise. Our helpful staff will give you a personal tour of the area, a list of available properties, comparables and advice you will need to make the "right" decision here on Lake Livingston. We can represent you so the transaction will progress smoothly, efficiently and you will be educated all along the way.

If you are considering the purchase of an existing home on Lake Livingston or you want to know what is available for building (or holding) purposes, do not hesitate to contact us.

We are your Lake Livingston Waterfront Specialists!

So, is waterfront land a good investment? You bet it is. Just do it right. Call us today.

and Proud of it!