Stephanie Edwards-Musa, Realtor ® Spring/Woodlands, TX Real Estate

I don't know how many of you were able to attend The Woodlands Going Green Series last Monday, but I have to say that it was probably the most educational speaking event that I have attended in a very long time.

The whole hour revolved around the Farmers Market that is in the Grogan's Mill Shopping Center every Saturday- Seasonally of course. We also had the opportunity to listen to some of the amazing Business Owners that have products there.

Out of all of this has sparked a new series for the Living Green in The Woodlands community-

Buy Green-Buy Local: Local Green Businesses that you need to know about.

Two of these are Nativa Soaps and Marcello with Nourish. Marcello is an amazing guy that makes Bread with Natural and Organic products-none of those ingredients that you can't pronounce. In the mean time if Saturday rolls around, go check it out.

For dinner tonight I am fixing a Free Range Chicken that I bought there Saturday along with Homegrown veggies!

The ASES Solar Tour hosted by the Houston Renewable Energy Group was held last Saturday and was a Blast!  Although we are still waiting on a complete head count, I heard one location had as many as 180 people show up!  With over 20 projects on the tour this year, I know the total number of attendees will be amazing!

The tour hosted everything from Solar Attic fans to Virginia Point which is a LEED home under construction that has 140 Solar Panels on it.  This home creates more power than I use in my home every year! 

The project that sticks out in my mind as being really interesting is the one on Waugh Dr.  It is 2 sales offices that are made from shipping containers.  I had the opportunity to speak with Joe Meppelink of MetaLab while I was on the tour and what a fascinating guy.  You can bet that an interview with him will be coming shortly.  The 2 shipping containers are run off of 10 solar panels- All of which sustained Hurricane Ike without a scratch. 

We then had a Solar Social at Discovery Green Downtown from 4-6 where Whole Foods and other vendors were there handing out educational literature and freebies.  Thank you to all of the vendors that showed up!  There was also live music that kept of hopping. 

I so look forward to the tour next year!  Every year it gets better and better!  If you missed the tour, there are some pictures below.  If you would like to see what projects were on the tour and learn a little more about them, click here.

A special Thanks goes out to Land Tejas for having Discovery at Spring Trails and Lakes of Williams Ranch on the tour so that we can learn how Developers play a role in future sustainablility!

The Woodlands is Gorgeous!  There are tons of Trees, Shopping, YMCA's, hike and bike trails, swimming pools, you name it- It's here.  You get the Backyard for the kids and pets, about any style home you could imagine and it is all spread across a very, very broad price range.

It is not uncommon that I get questions from Potential Home Buyers wanting to know what their options are to buy in The Woodlands under $150,000.  Buyers still want the splendor of the Trees, a Backyard to Entertain or have pets, a Floorplan with Flexibility, Big Kitchen, Fireplace...there are many reasons but still wanting a lower price range. 

Although there are several options available in different locations throughout the Community.  The two main ones being Single Family-Free Standing homes and Townhomes. 

The majority of the Single Family homes available in The Woodlands are over $200,000 which can be out of the question for many people.  Let's take a look at what is available today- Single Family Vs. Townhomes under $200,000.

You can see that the the inventory of homes available tend to be opposite.  There are more townhomes available in the lower price ranges and vice versa.

So what are the benefits of buying a Townhome in The Woodlands and why would you want to?

One reason is that the majority of the Townhomes in The Woodlands have two Homeowner's Association Fees, the second one being about $100 a month, give or take.  However, this usually includes your Homeowners Insurance, Exterior Maintenance and sometimes even yard maintenance, cable, water, etc.  So let's break it down.

If you buy a home about $120,000 you will likely pay $800 a year + in Homeowner's Insurance ($80 to $120/month).  The additional HOA covers:

• Property Insurance- All you will need is Contents Coverage
  
• Exterior Maintenance such as siding, roofs, exterior paint- You get new paint and roofs when you need it
  
• Sometimes your yard maintenance
• Sometimes your cable, water and other utilities

It all depends on which unit you are looking at.  This could actually save You, the homeowner, quite a bit of money and time. 

Another benefit is that you still get a yard, but it is minimal maintenance.  You still have a great floorplan for entertaining, and it's in your price range.  If you travel or work a lot, Townhomes may be the perfect option for you.  The price you want and you still get it all. 

For a list of townhomes available in YOUR price range just send me an email Steph@TurningHoustonGreen.com for call me 281-635-9444.

Here's another look at what you can get in the Townhomes here:

The Woodlands Green is proud to offer a new Lecture series on how to Go Green!  It all starts Monday October 20th where the discussion will be about the local Farmers Market and locally produced fruits and vegetables.

In November. Michael Strong with Greenhaus Builders and Kathleen Reardon of RD Architecture will talk about green homes.  All lectures start at 7 pm at the Shenandoah City Hall Complex. 

For a little more information about the events I have some below.  Don't forget to mark you Calendars!

It's like a game so you better show up ready to play, but the game is about Convenience and Perceived value right now.

It's true. The climate of the Real Estate Industry is different right now. It is a tad more difficult to get a mortgage for some people which means the Pool of available and QUALIFIED Buyers is smaller right now. When you go out to look at properties it is almost like walking through a 'Sea of Sameness'. Even though the homes may have different floorplans, different locations, different prices - They are all the same in one way or another. There are minimal updates like tile flooring, granite countertops, updated appliances...

All of these are used as marketing tactics by Home Sellers and Agents to add a 'Perceived Value'. It's about making the home different, in MLS.

But when it gets down to the Nitty Gritty for Home Buyers, the homes are all the same. In the end the homes are Listed for more money than a home that needs a little more work. The updated home may have some carpet that needs changed, need a little bit of cleaning, walls loaded with wallpaper or paint that needs touched up. In other words, it will need some work also.

So let's look at this from the Buyer's Perspective. Let's say that this home with Granite Countertops and 'Newer' appliances is priced almost $20,000 MORE than a home with a New Roof, New Air Conditioner but otherwise needs paint and new appliances inside.

By pricing your home $20,000 more than this other home, you are essentially asking a potential Homebuyer to pay approximately $180-$200 MORE a month over the term of a 30 Year Mortgage. Is it worth it? Would it be worth it to you?

Should the home sell for more? Most likely Yes. But here is how to do it. Be Competitive.

Let's take a look at Imperial Oaks as an example in the Price Range for $100,000 to $150,000:

• The Average Days on Market for Active Properties for Sale right now is 125 Days
• The Average Days on Market for Sold Properties since Sept. 1, 2008 is 36 Days

That is a Difference of about 3 Months. A difference to a Home Seller of as much as $5000 including Mortgage Payments, Taxes and Insurance, Utility Bills, etc. This my friends, is your competition. You can't just show up to the Game and expect to Score anymore.

So get your agent involved early. Ask for their help in knowing the competition and get your game plan together. Change out worn flooring, put some fresh paint on the walls and even dust in those places that often get forgotten about- like ceiling fans. Here is a list to help get your home in showing condition.

Homes ARE selling. Values have not changed Dramatically here, but the game is a little tougher. If I can help you to get in selling your home, let me know. It's about having the right team.