Huntsville TX Real Estate, Lake Conroe Real Estate with Mari Montgomery

Elkins Lake Snapshot:

Market Snapshot 3rd Quarter 2009:

Avg Sales Price per square foot: $84.58

Average square feet: 2210

Newer Properties; Built 2000-2009

Avg Sales Price per square foot: $101.35

Average square feet: 2178

Here's the most important part.

1 Homeowners Association Fee: ALL THE GOLF YOU CAN PLAY--no green fees

You read this right. So, say you live in Houston (about an hour away)--buy a weekend place in Elkins Lake--great home values--play golf until you drop. I'd say that makes a pretty good weekend get-away.

Check out www.ElkinsLakePropertySearch.com Call Mari at ET Property Search--and you'll be teeing off in no time. BTW, I love it so much, I live here!

The Tax Credit for 1st time homebuyers has been extended and "expanded" to include current homeowners interested in selling to move up, downsize or anysize but less than 800K. Details below. If you are ready to buy, sell, or both, please give me a call. If you haven't been to my website in a while, there have been a number of changes. Check it out www.ETPropertySearch.com

So much has happened this year. I have had the honor of helping 33 families with the purchase or sale of their home. Thanks for telling your friends. I LOVE Real Estate. If you are ready, or maybe just thinking about making a move, just give me a call and explore the possibilities.

The bill was signed by President Obama on Nov 6, 2009.

Ah...the wonders of working in a home office. Coffee, made at home, tea with fresh rosemary and mint and the view from my porch just outside my office. It sure is pretty!

There are so many "perks" to working from a home office. This, along with the commute time, is one of the best perks.

Have you taken time to appreciate beauty today? It feeds my soul. I was reminded this past weekend that it is so important to take the time for yourself every now and then. Sometimes we just need to "breathe." Ahhhhhh.....Real Estate is alright!

The Red River Rivalry--What a Game!

I really try to not get political--and believe me--in this area of Texas--Football is definitely political. No one, however can dispute how hard each side fought--Oklahoma and Texas. The Texas coach-Mack Brown, is always so gracious and supportive of his kids. He always seems to remember just that--they are kids. (Goddness knows they look younger to me every year!) I think Mack Brown is a class act.

Texas A&M is not only political in this area---it's a religion. Our house is dark red A&M brick, selected by the couple who built it as A&M Brick. There are so many A&M red cars around here too.

College sports is such a wonderful expression of competition and teach our young people discipline, empower them with a sense of accomplishment and teach them innumerable life lessons. I know there may be arguments to the contrary, but no one can dispute that when young people are involved in an activity that they enjoy, helps them to grow, and provides a support system, sometimes absent at home, is a positive thing.

I have served as an Assistant Professor of Music and as a High School Choral Director. It always amazed me how hard kids would be willing to work toward a goal when they were "bought in" and really believed in what they were doing. It's a beautiful thing to see that light in a young person's eye. It was an honor. I still miss my kids and hope they are always in love with music and go forward with all the lessons that music, competition and old fashioned hard work provided.

Home Buying 101--Definitely get the home inspection. Sure, you--the buyer--pay for the home Inspection, but that makes total sense so that you are the party who chooses your inspector. The price of Inspections vary with the size of the house, whether or not it has a pool, a septic system, etc. The price also varies with the market area.

In the Lake Conroe, Huntsville, Lake Livingston, TX market areas, inspections start at about $250.00. Again, depending on the size of the home and amenities, the price fluctuates. Be sure you have at least 2-3 or more Inspectors from which to choose. Call them, ask questions. No question is too small or inconsequential. Within 48 hours, you should have in your possession a written inspection report.

Here are some questions to ask from HUD.gov: Click here for the full document

Be sure your inspector is licensed with the proper licensing entity--in Texas it is TREC (Texas Real Estate Commission) and be sure the inspector comes highly recommended. Ask your Realtor. Your Buyers Representative--Your Realtor-- is committed to you having a positive home buying experience. And on this note, be sure your agent is a Realtor. A Realtor is different from a real estate agent in that a Realtor is held to a Code of Ethics which ensures that your agent is accountable to the Local, State and National Aassociation of Realtors.

Back to the Inspection. The house may look great-but you want to see what is not obvious--latent defects. "Latent defects" are those defects you cannot necessarily see. So, do the right thing: For Your Protection--Get a Home Inspection. They did! And these doctors look pretty happy