Photos from Marchel Peterson Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro ABR
The Woodlands Water Taxi up close, notice it is air conditioned for those hot summer days.Located in: The Woodlands, TX
This is my second in a series of post for first time home buyers in Spring TX. Now that you are pre-approved for your home loan the next step is to start searching for your home. I have found that most buyers like to start looking at homes and familiarizing themselves with the areas online. Spring is a large area located in two different Counties (Harris County and Montgomery County) and three different school districts. Plus you also have the neighboring areas of Tomball, Magnolia and The Woodlands to consider. With this in mind you are going to want to start narrowing down the area where you want to live.
There are lots of websites that you can go to search for homes for sale but we are blessed in the Houston area to have an INCREDIBLE Public MLS site through the Houston Association of REALTORS® (HAR). We tend to take this site for granted but as I have blogged and met people across the United States I have realized how fortunate we are to have such an incredible public site. HAR has won many awards for this site and they are constantly improving it. You may search directly at www.HAR.com or if you are working with me to find your new Spring TX home you can click here to go in to the site. By going in under my name any questions that you have will be immediately directed to me.
In this busy age that we live in I have found Spring TX first time home buyers often want to be set up to have new listings sent to them automatically. It doesn't matter whether you are looking for a single family detached Spring TX home, a home on acreage, a town-home or even vacant land; this automated search can do the work for you. You will learn about listings new to the market even before most REALTORS®. You are notified of new listings within 24 hours of them going on the market. The listings for the most part have directions so you can also explore subdivisions to get an idea of where you want to be. Please click here for the automated form. I have tried to make this as specific as I can. I am able to put filters on your search and have learned all kinds of tricks to tweak your Spring Texas home search so we only pull up the specific type of home you are looking for.
* * * Please note: If you are already looking at homes or land with another REALTOR® and have signed a Buyers Representation Agreement with that REALTOR® please do not use this automated search. It would be a violation of the Code of Ethics for the National Association of REALTOR® for me to be assisting you in this circumstance. * * * If you have an agent and this is not set up for you just ask your REALTOR® to set it up.
You are probably wondering why I put the First time home buyer Spring TX website search as number 2 in 
my series and not number 1. I have found with today's ever changing mortgage environment that it is more important than ever to get pre-approved for your loan ahead of time; especially if you are a first time home buyer and are not familiar with the process. If you wait until you are ready to buy and you find some kind of a hiccup that needs to be worked on then it is too late and could cause you to have to wait longer to buy your first home. By getting pre-approved (as much as 6 months prior to buying your home) it gives you time to take corrective action. I also can't tell you how many first time home buyers I have worked with who were not searching in the correct price range and that can be very discouraging. Not to mention that by starting early you can start narrowing areas and decide what you want in a home.
This is a Spring TX first time home buyers series and as I add additional post I will add the links. Please feel free to visit my prior post.
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If you are buying or relocating to Spring Texas and need help from a professional REALTOR®, Marchel can be reached at Marchel@AgentwithResults.com or by phone at 832-721-8332.
If you would like information about Spring TX please visit my websites at www.AgentwithResults.com and at www.ResultsRealtytx.com. The AgentwithResults site is rich in Content about Spring and the surrounding areas of Tomball, The Woodlands and Magnolia. If you prefer pictures with your content then visit my ResultsRealtyTX site.
Want to find out about new Spring TX properties immediately as they come on the market, then click here to sign up for a free automatic notification of new listings.
Click the button to the left to search our local MLS.
Picture taken by Tarina Peterson all rights reserved.
I remember being a first time home buyer and the mystery that surrounded the transaction. This is the first post of a "Spring TX first time home buyer series". I hope this series will help to alleviate some of the home buying mystery.
The VERY FIRST step in the process is to get yourself pre-approved with a good lender. I'm not talking pre-qualified; I'm talking pre-approved. There is a difference between the two. In the days where anyone could get a loan this was not a big deal but those days are over.
What is a Pre-Qualification?
A prequalification is simply a meeting between a loan officer and a customer to determine what the mortgage needs of the customer are. Income and assets are not verified. The credit report may or may not be pulled. The information is not submitted to an underwriter. The lender does not receive enough information to make a credit decision.
What is a Pre-Approval?
Pre-approval includes a complete loan application. A credit report is pulled and asset and income are verified. The information is submitted to underwriters for "credit only" decision. Once you have been pre-approved your credit package can be used with any property. Final loan approval will be subject to the underwriter approving the property only. A pre-approval is normally good for 90 days. The borrower receives a written pre-approval letter. A true approval requires this income and asset documentation and credit reports are required on all loan types.
Being pre-approved in Spring TX gives you an edge when you start looking for your home. If you get in to the situation where there is more than one offer on a home it is often the person who is further along in the loan process who will get the home. I have even had the situation where the other offer was a little more but my seller preferred the person who had a true pre-approval.
The rules have TOTALLY changed in the mortgage industry. The products that lenders had for first time home buyers in Spring TX last year, maybe even last week are no longer available to the consumer which makes getting pre-approved for your loan more important than ever. Once you even think that you might be interested in purchasing a home you should call a lender. Even if the news is not good by going through the process you will know what you need to start working on and you can make a game plan to get your credit in order.
The days of a real estate transaction being dependent upon the creativity of a loose lender are finished. Down payments are back again and FHA loans are sometimes the only game in town with VA loans being about the only 100% loan. With all of this in mind getting yourself pre-approved before you ever start looking is more important than ever.
I am also attaching some Do's and Don'ts you might consider putting in to action when you start thinking about purchasing a Spring TX home.
Do's
Don'ts
This is a Spring TX first time home buyers series and as I add additional post I will add the links. Please feel free to visit my prior post.
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If you are buying or relocating to Spring Texas and need help from a professional REALTOR®, Marchel can be reached at Marchel@AgentwithResults.com or by phone at 832-721-8332.
If you would like information about Spring TX please visit my websites at www.AgentwithResults.com and at www.ResultsRealtytx.com. The AgentwithResults site is rich in Content about Spring and the surrounding areas of Tomball, The Woodlands and Magnolia. If you prefer pictures with your content then visit my ResultsRealtyTX site.
Want to find out about new Spring TX properties immediately as they come on the market, then click here to sign up for a free automatic notification of new listings.
Pro Ink Printing is located to the east of Magnolia TX on FM 1488. They are conveniently located just to the west of FM 2978; close to The Woodlands.
Billy and Lisa Andersen own and operate Pro Ink Printing. They are a full line printing company. You name it they can print it. They print anything on paper letterhead, business cards, carbonless, etc, etc. They also print signs and banners. They have recently printed a number of 4X8 wood signs like you see at the side of the road. They do vinyl signs and banners. They can install or not it is up to the customer.
They also sell promotional products. They have two walls of products. I have included the picture 
from the smaller wall but they include cups, key rings, notebooks etc. etc. etc. The products also include screen printing and embroidery.
One of the things that set them apart is their graphic art department as they are able to do graphic art in house.
I used them to design and print my business cards a few years ago and I was a very satisfied customer. Lisa referred me to a reasonable photographer who let me choose the location of our photo shoot. I love water so chose the waterfalls in front of Wimbledon Falls.
Lisa then helped me to design the cards. I knew that I wanted a two sided card as I have so much information and I did not want it to look too busy. I always want something different to be set apart and Lisa came up with the idea of doing a mirror image so it almost looks like you are peering through the card. She put it on high quality business care stock and I LOVE Them!!
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If you are buying or relocating to Magnolia Texas and need help from a professional REALTOR®, Marchel can be reached at Marchel@AgentwithResults.com or by phone at 832-721-8332.
If you would like information about Tomball please visit my websites at http://agentwithresults.com/ and at http://www.resultsrealtytx.com/. The AgentwithResults site is rich in Content about the area. If you prefer pictures with your content then visit my ResultsRealtyTX site.
Want to find out about new Tomball TX properties immediately as they come on the market, then click here to sign up for a free automatic notification of new listings.
Click the button to the left to search our local MLS.
Tomball Rental Center and Tomball Party Rental are located off of State Hwy. Business 249 just to the south of Tomball.
The owners Bill and Virgie Kitchens along with their son Terry opened Tomball Rental Center in 1977. They started out with 300 pieces of equipment (mostly outdoor equipment). They have grown to where they now have over 10,000 pieces of equipment to rent. Through all this growth Tomball Rental Center has stayed a family owned business. Their son Greg and his wife Beverly joined them in 1978. Every adult member of the 
family has worked in the business at one time or another. They now have over 17 employees.
I'm not sure where they were located to being with but in 1984 they moved to their present location off of SH 249. That was when they added the Tomball Party Rental shop. As you can see from my pictures if you are planning a wedding or other special event Tomball Party Rental is the place to come to.
I have been in a Women's group with Virgie for years and when she introduces herself she lets us know that they can rent anything from a back hoe to a silver punch bowl. They can also rent EVERYTHING in between.
Their philosophy is to treat people as they would want to be treated. They place a high priority on customer satisfaction and it shows. We moved to Spring 12.5 years ago. We had built a new house and so of course needed all those things that go along with a new home. We quickly learned about Tomball Rental Center and have used them ever since. When my husband has something he needs to rent his first thought is Tomball rental. We have always received exceptional service from Tomball Rental Center.
If you would like more information please visit their website at Tomball Rental Center!
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If you are buying or relocating to Tomball Texas and need help from a professional REALTOR®, Marchel can be reached at Marchel@AgentwithResults.com or by phone at 832-721-8332.
If you would like information about Tomball please visit my websites at http://agentwithresults.com and at http://www.resultsrealtytx.com/. The AgentwithResults site is rich in Content about the area. If you prefer pictures with your content then visit my ResultsRealtyTX site.
Want to find out about new Tomball TX properties immediately as they come on the market, then click here to sign up for a free automatic notification of new listings.
Click the button to the left to search our local MLS.
Ace hardware opened in The Woodlands this last fall and I can't tell you how excited we were for them to open. You are probably wondering why anyone would get excited about a hardware store opening.
We have lived in the most northern area of Harris County for over 12 years now and for the most part love it. One of the only drawbacks has been not having conveniences. I have always said that we are 20 minutes from everything but not close to anything. A trip to the hardware story could easily take an hour or longer round trip. You can imagine our excitement when we saw an Ace opening up just 5 minutes north of us in The Woodlands.
We are fairly constant patrons but I did not realize it was a franchise until I thought about writing this post and asked if it was okay for me to take pictures. In doing so I found out the owners Dennie and Christine Rowland live just a little south of us here in Harris County. Their story could be our story except they took action. We were forever saying someone needs to open a hardware store up here. Dennie thought the same thing and after one of those treks to the big hardware store he came home in frustration and got on the computer to check out putting in a hardware store. I'm not sure how long ago he started the process but about 8 months ago they opened up.
They did a wonderful job with the store; it is like a mini Lowe's or Home Depot. They carry almost everything you fi
nd in a big store; they just don't have as many. For example my husband put in our sprinkler system several years ago and now maintains it. He has been able to get parts he needs for maintenance without having to make the long trek to the big stores.
As you can see from the pictures it is much more than just a hardware store. I love the fact that I can stop in for a quick gift. They have some wonderful decorator items. They also have some wonderful spices. They have 4 full shelves of spices, soups, jams, jellies, salsas etc. etc. We love John Henry's Grilling spices and sauces and yes they carry them. We had to drive 20 minutes to get them prior to Ace Hardware opening. So this is just one more reason we are glad they opened.
I have stopped in several times to have keys made. I have made them for my own house and also for listings. I have heard that they re-key but I don't know that for sure.
They have a paint department selling Benjamin Moore paint and I noticed that they sell small samples. I don't know about you but I have wasted so much money buying a gallon of paint only to find out that I don't like the color. These sample paint sizes are WONDERFUL.
I understand business has been good and I for one am thrilled as I love having the convenience of a hardware store just up the street.
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If you are buying or relocating to Spring Texas or The Woodlands TX and need help from a professional REALTOR®, Marchel can be reached at Marchel@AgentwithResults.com or by phone at 832-721-8332.
If you would like information about Spring or The Woodlands please visit my websites at www.AgentwithResults.com and at www.ResultsRealtytx.com. The AgentwithResults site is rich in Content about Spring and The Woodlands. If you prefer pictures with your content then visit my ResultsRealtyTX site.
Want to find out about new Spring or The Woodlands TX properties immediately as they come on the market, then click here to sign up for a free automatic notification of new listings.
Marchel Peterson broker/owner Results Realty specializing in residential real estate, homes, properties and acreage in Spring, Tomball, Magnolia and the Woodlands Texas.
Welcome to my profile the gateway to information about the Spring TX area and the surrounding areas of Tomball, Magnolia, and The Woodlands. Where you can learn about single family homes, homes with acreage, horse property, town homes or vacant land and an entire MLS Search that is updated daily. My slogan "COMMUNICATION FOR RESULTS", is not only my business philosophy, it is a commitment to provide you with exemplary personalized service beyond your expectations. My job is to listen, hear and understand your needs. A quality of business conduct that often seems forgotten in our fast paced, highly automated society.
As your REALTOR®, it is my job to understand your needs and respond to them promptly, professionally and with integrity. It is my pledge to provide you with sound real estate advice, helping you to understand the wisdom of the decisions you make. I have surrounded myself with excellent consumer service focused professioanls which include mortgage lenders, home inspectors, title companies, appraisers and insurance companies.
Whether you are looking for a single family home, a home with acreage, horse property, a town home, or vacant land, my Automated Real Estate Search can find it for you. Click here to learn about new listings even before most REALTORS!
Spring Texas real estate is plentiful with new custom homes, new builder homes, and resale homes available. Housing Prices Range from $70,000 to over $1,000,000. Homes on land are getting a little harder to find but there are still some properties available where you can get small acreage sites with a home. Spring is an easy commute in to Houston. It is also very assessible to all the amenities of The Woodlands..
Spring Texas covers a large geographic area located along I-45, about 20 miles north of Houston. Most of Spring is in unincorporated Northwest Harris County but part of Spring extends in to unincorporated Montgomery County. Spring" does not have official boundaries since it is not incorporated; there is not an actual town of Spring. The area is close enough to Houston to be able to enjoy the amenities but far enough away to still feel like you are in the country. It is very accessible to the amenities of the Woodlands
The Spring area covers three different school districts. To the east of I-45 in Harris county you will find Spring ISD. To the west of I-45 also in Harris county is Klein ISD and to the north in Montgomery county is Conroe ISD.
Golf is big around the Spring area with many golf course communities such as Augusta Pines, Gleannloch Farms
, Windrose and Northampton to name a few. They all offer exceptional amenities with a variety of lakes, walking paths, aquatic centers, equestrian complexes and community centers.
The area was settled by German immigrants in 1840. The Wunsche family settled in the area and began farming the land. The area had a tremendous growth after the railroad was built through the town in 1871. The town served as a railroad center in the early 1900's. You can visit the Spring Texas Historical Museum to find out a more complete history of the area.
Old Town Spring is a restored railroad village of the early 1900s with some 150 shops featuring antiques, arts, crafts, clothing, and restaurants. It is open Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun. noon- 5 p.m. I-45 at Spring Cypress Road, Exit 70A, and one mile east.
The area is booming with many new shopping facilities opening up. A new Wal-mart has been built at the corner of 2920 and Kuykendahl which has made shopping much more accessible for the rural areas of Spring.
Tomball Texas is located approximately 28 miles northwest of Houston along State Highway 249. Unlike most of Northwest Harris County which is unincorporated the city of Tomball is an actual town. The City of Tomball has a local government, city ordinances, public works, city council, community center. The City's slogan is the hometown with a heart and with the warm friendly people they truly are.
With a rich history; the town has been around for over 90 years. It was first a railroad town and then became an oil town. The town was named after State Senator Thomas Henry Ball in 1907. Thomas Ball helped the town get established as a railroad center. Dramatic changes happened back in 1933 when oil hit. A 100-foot gusher totally changed the area attracting hundreds of new people to the community. The city made a deal with Humble Oil and Gas allowing them to drill in the city. As part of the agreement the residents had free oil and gas for 50 years. The town was featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not as being the only city with free gas and water and no cemetery.
Magnolia Texas is located about 45 minutes to an hour from the city. If you are looking for a home on land close to the city this is the place to go. Magnolia TX Real estate is booming with country subdivisions popping up all over the place. All you have to do to enjoy the landscape is look around you will find beautiful forest, rolling hills and much more. The town in the last few years has experienced phenomenal growth.
Horses and Magnolia TX goes together. This is the area where you can find horse property and still be able to commute to the city. The town has several stores that stock feed, supplies, tack, clothing and more. It is not hard to find veterinary services in and around the Magnolia area. If you don't have a horse, no problem, there are plenty of horses for sale around Magnolia. Typically the country subdivisions will allow one horse per acre.
The town of Magnolia is actually very small as you enter the city there is a sign that says population 1,111. Now the market area of Magnolia is HUGE. It extends from FM 2978 to the East of the town of Magnolia clear over to Roberts Cemetery Road on the west side of Magnolia
The Woodlands located along I-45, about 25 miles north of Houston in Montgomery county. The newest village is being built in Harris County just to the south. It is one of the original master planned communities in the nation. From its inception in 1974, the Woodlands have continued its concept of blending nature with today's modern conveniences. This creates a lifestyle unequalled almost anywhere in America. The Woodlands is nestled in 27,000 acres of towering pines, oaks, dogwoods and other assorted vegetation. You sometimes feel like you have to search through the trees to find anything but that is the ambiance of the Woodlands.
Community service organizations organize resident programs such as The Woodlands Watch and they also provide resident forums for community involvement. Some of the community events that are organized include a Fourth of July parade, the First NightTM New Year's Eve celebration, National Night Out, art shows, flea markets, Earth Day, and dozens of other neighbor-to
-neighbor events. The developer is always looking for ways to better the Woodlands, such as giving Free trees away on Arbor Day. Free seeds are made available at the wildflower festival through the Lion's Club. Some other events in the village centers include Pumpkinmania and Halloween costume contests, a Winter Festival, and an annual Heart Walk.
The Woodlands newest village The Village of Creekside Park has their grand opening in October of 2007. Creekside Village is being built on 3,492 acres and they are planning for 7,100 residences. There will be a mixture of single family homes, age qulified homes (55 and over), multi family residences and custom and estate homes in the gated community of Carlton Woods Creekside. Rob Fleming Park will be opening in the first phase. The park is named for Texas Parks and Wildlife Naturalist and artist Rob Fleming. The park has playgrounds, picnic areas, tree lined promenades and will be surrounded by wildflowers.
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