Wendy Montoya, Associate Broker REALTOR® Waco, TX Real Estate, 254-315-4906

2 great events are happening this summer in Waco if you and the kids love movies and just a good time:

The first is a FREE movie held in "The Square" of Downtown Waco where Family Movies are shown outdoors every third Thursday. Activities begin at 7 pm with movies beginning at sundown. Next movie shown on July 17^th is "Happy Feet" and August 21^st will be "Rudy". This is a great event for the entire family with face painters and concessions on hand for a great family night out. Please visit http://www.wacowedoarts.com/events/movies.php for further information.

The second is Dive-In Movie night at Waco Water Park held on the first and third Mondays at dark around 8:30 pm. The Waco Water Park has reduced admissions for the event and you can enjoy the movie either sitting outside or enjoying the cool pool water. What another great way to spend some quality family time. Visit http://www.waco-texas.com/city_depts/parks/aquatics.htm for more information or call 254-750-7900.

Edited to add: Just read that the upcoming movie at the Water Park is "Jaws". Not sure if everyone would consider that family friendly or not. Make sure you call for more information before attending if this is a concern.

Both affordable and fun, how can you go wrong with either of these great movie nights in Waco? I don't think you can.

I am noticing something here recently. More and more, the market seems to be leaning in the favor of Buyers. It's a bit harder to get buyers for homes and a bit easier for buyers to get better pricing on homes.

I am not talking about the technical statistics so much as what I am seeing in the field. Yes, statistics do tend to line up with actually happenings, but they don't always tell the whole story. Statistics can be viewed and analyzed a number of ways, but actually hands-on experience is what I find tells the best story.

Let me give you my opinion on what's taking place that is helping to cause our situation:

1. More and more, buyers are having difficulty qualifying for mortgage loans. Standards are getting stricter and in some cases, even people that are pre-qualified or pre-approved in advance are getting turned down well into the home purchase process. I am not a loan officer nor am I a loan expert; this is just my personal take on things. Please consult with a loan specialist for detailed mortgage information.
2. Another thing that I believe is impacting Waco along with the rest of the US is the constant media negativity on the housing market. Every market really is different, but it's hard to understand how we are doing OK in Waco while other markets struggle terribly. The psychological impact of constant generalized reporting weighs heavily even on those people who reside in areas that are not affected negatively by the housing market problems. I urge everyone, no matter where you live to ask a real estate professional specifically about your market and even more specifically about your neighborhood before participating in any real estate transaction. The truth may be far different from reality.
3. In addition, our US economy is having a sobering impact on just about everything. If you are having trouble affording the basics, how in the world are you able to afford the purchase of a home? People are hurting. It's hard to keep afloat. Many are losing their homes, even in the Waco area.

One thing I must caution you about is thinking automatically that you can get a great deal on any home. That's just not a correct assumption. Some areas are simply more popular and are still selling well. Some homes are already priced where they should be in this type of market. Please understand that knowledge about the market is essential. I have no idea how you can make a good informed decision without it.

So there you have it. My professional opinion only. You can agree or disagree with me, it's just my take and I cannot guarantee that my take is correct. I am just telling you like I see it. So use this information and any comments on this post or any of my posts at your own risk.

I've written about China Spring TX in several of my Blog Posts, but what I would like to address are a few misconceptions about the area that I hear quite a bit.

Misconception 1 - Maybe not so much a misconception but mispronunciation. The city is named China Spring, not China Springs. No "s" involved. As I've heard and read, there is only ONE Spring in China Spring.

Misconception 2-it's too far to drive from China Spring to Waco. This is a good one. Since what is commonly called "China Spring" (living areas within the China Spring Independent School District) consists of the Unincorporated City of China Spring and portions of Waco and other areas as well, I am not sure how it's too far from Waco.

But let me elaborate even more. Sure, there are some pretty rural areas where it may take a few more minutes to drive to "town". I think this is what people mean when they say it's too far. Going to "town" or rather the main part of the City of Waco where shopping and other amenities are more abundant.

First of all, from the only stop light in "China Spring", it's only approximately 10 miles to I-35 which might get you to Baylor University in about 15 minutes. Of course if you are headed the other direction via Highway 6, you can get to the Richland Mall in only about 20 minutes after a short 15 mile drive. My point is that everything is NOT that far away. You can get nearly anywhere in "town" in about 20 minutes or less.

If you work at Pilgrim's Pride or L-3 or somewhere in that area, the commute is minus the drive of I-35. What a great plus!

Misconception 3-it's too expensive to buy a home in China Spring. Well that really depends on what you think expensive is. Yes, there are fewer homes on the market in the China Spring area marketed at lower prices than some areas, but there are affordable homes for sale. Like any area, you can't expect to get a castle for a bargain basement price. You have to be reasonable in your search.

Misconception 4-there is nothing in China Spring. Again, it's all in perception. Depends on what you want. China Spring is a growing area where businesses are filling in the empty spaces at a pretty brisk pace. Plenty of places to eat out, a medical and dental facility, banks and so on. However,one think that China Spring does not have as of yet is a Grocery store.

Basically, China Spring is a great Waco Community in which to live. I live here and love it. You should give it a try too.

The Award Winning China Spring Electric Blues Dance Team is holding their Annual Business Profile Sponsorship Drive through July 7^th, 2008 for the upcoming 2008-2009 School Year.

This is a wonderful opportunity to get involved in the China Spring Community as well as gaining exposure for your business and helping the dancers through the season.

As a sponsor, you will be recognized in numerous ways including football games (announced and in programs), dance event announcements, name on T-shirts and banners, and Appreciation Plaques to display at your business. Several other items are offered depending on your level of sponsorship. See full details here.

For more information and to participate, download the Electric Blues Business Profile Sponsorship Drive package here. Or contact me for more details.

According to the Real Estate Center at Texas A & M University Website, Home Sales are up in Waco. Yes UP. Over 9 months of Inventory and Prices down a bit. See the stats from previous months and years and understand what it might take to get your home sold today. As always, pricing is key and a bit of patience does not hurt. The best news is that homes are selling as I've said so many times before.

If you are a buyer, it's great to know that there are plenty of homes on the market and pricing has eased slightly overall in an already affordable market. Great time to buy.

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