About Conroe's Lake Conroe

I decided a few months ago that I wanted to pursue getting my broker's license. Thankfully with the Internet I was able to take all of my brokerage classes online. I then dedicated the last month to at home studying. Being able to spend a lot of time at home over the holidays, I was able to sneak off to quiet places in the house and study.

I wasn't sure what to expect with the exam as I felt that the Salesperson exam was relatively easy. Additionally, being a former high school Biology teacher, I put a ton of pressure on myself to do really well on the exam. I spent years teaching kids the secrets of test taking therefore I hoped to be able to use my own advice to my advantage.

All of that real estate terminology came flooding back as I dug into my old notes. You know, I practice real estate everyday but rarely do I use many of those terms that were drilled into my head during real estate school. I love a challenge though and just took each chapter and subject matter a day at a time.

After sending in all of my paperwork into the state for evaluation, I was cleared to take the exam whenever I was ready. I took a deep breath and went online and signed up for the exam right after Christmas. I was ready and frankly tired of taking the practice exams over and over.

I scheduled the test for the time slot right after lunch. This gave me time to get up and have a leisurely breakfast, get in some last minute review and leave home in plenty of time to arrive early. Everything was going according to schedule except for the unforeseen HOUSTON TRAFFIC! I left in plenty of time but alas, the freeway was nothing but a sea of red lights. Aarrrggg!!!

I patiently sat in the traffic reviewing terms like escheat, subrogation and accretion. The traffic finally broke and I made it to the test center with plenty of time to spare. I was greeted by the nicest folks at this center. A very friendly older gentleman and a bubbly young lady warmly greeted me and immediately put me at ease. Both were very encouraging wishing me luck as I ventured in to the computer area.

As I sat in front of that computer screen I felt my heart rate increase and had to say a small prayer and take a few deep breaths. I was ready! As I began the exam, the tricky questions began assaulting me. I had to stay focused to really read through each and every word making sure I didn't fall for any of the "test traps" that are so cleverly put in. Those questions really make you unsure of what you really thought you knew just moments before you began!

I got into a groove and felt myself relaxing as question after question was answered. I was feeling very confident with my answer choices and finally reached the end of the exam. Of course I went back over each and every question double checking my work. The END button was staring me in the face. Was I ready to press it? Did I need to check anything else? YES, I was ready and this was it.

I found myself holding my breath as I awaited the results. Bummer! The screen pops up with some end of exam survey questions. Oh my gosh are they trying to kill me? I race through the questions turning blue from lack of oxygen. Finally I clicked on the END button one more time and after what seemed an eternity, the results! PASS! Woo hoo! It was so hard for me not to stand up right there and do my happy dance! I refrained however until I got out into the main area.

The two folks working in the office were hi fiving me and giving me congrats. They also allowed me to do my happy dance! I am so glad it is over but more importantly I am glad that I set a goal and then saw it through to a positive outcome! I did feel that the broker's exam was much more challenging than the salesperson exam. Or maybe I am just older now. None the less, I am just one step away from officially being a broker - receiving the license in the mail!

If any of you out there are thinking of going for your broker's license I highly recommend doing it! Thank you for hanging in there with my long story but know that all of you out there can relate! Happy learning!

Lake Conroe Real Estate

I have been working with some clients now for over 6 months. They are first time home buyers and we have been looking and patiently waiting for the right house at the right time in the right price range to come on the market. Well we found that house about 2 weeks ago and it was a foreclosure that was on the market at 60% of its original list price 6 months ago. We submitted an offer on Dec 23^rd only to find out on Christmas Day that there were four other offers and we were asked to submit our highest and best offer.

We decided to submit at the list price but not over. I figured there were investors out there looking to scoop up this property because of its marked down price relative to its value in foreclosure and others that would be willing to offer above asking price. I will never know if we had the highest monetary offer but we did have the best offer, because when I presented my best case to the listing agent, we were awarded an accepted contract and offer on New Year's Eve!

I immediately called my clients about 7 o'clock and let them know the good news. From what I have been told, their daughter has already picked out a room and I think the parents are going to have to live up to getting her a dog they also promised!

God Bless America

Article by: Jay Mac Sanders

Lake Conroe Real Estate

My good friend and colleague Diane Lunceford has some awesome tips for staging your home effectively. In today's market, the two most important things that you can do to sell your home is to price the home right for the current market and the presentation of the home. Diane's advice is timely and effective. Here are her words of wisdom.

"Today's home seller needs a competitive edge to make their home rise above the rest. Home staging is "marketing" a home to appeal to buyers and is accomplished by rearranging, removing, and refreshing the homeowner's existing furnishings and accents.

Diane Lunceford, the owner of HOME STAGED-HOME SOLD believes that if you are going to spend time preparing and advertising a home to sell, make sure those dollars are well invested. Staging is a very calculated and proven system that creates a positive, high impact impression. Typical home buyers will make a decision about your home in the first 15 seconds upon entering. Make those seconds count!

How you decorate your home to live in and how you decorate it to sell are two very different things. Decorating implies adding and personalizing while staging is about paring away personal decorations. Buyers need to be able to visualize themselves in a home without the distraction of other's personal items.

Presentation begins at the curb and moves through the entire home. Diane can help assist you with this somewhat daunting task. She has been helping local realtors, home sellers, builders and investors in the Lake Conroe and Woodlands area with enthusiasm and prides herself with helping each seller with their specific needs.

Diane can help with the rental of furniture, providing trendy accessories and accents. Her dedication to make each home appeal to the widest clientele makes her services a valuable asset to any seller.

Staging is crucial to the photos taken of your home being the most effective on the Internet. Over 85% of potential buyers will preview a home on the Internet. Great pictures of your home are essential and staging can help you achieve the best possible pictures.

Diane can be reached at 713-582-1882 or you can view her website at: www.homestaged-homesold.com

Lake Conroe Real Estate

What an incredible year! In a word - rollercoaster! I have to say that has been one wild ride for most of us in business. The real estate business has experienced some of the most challenging times of my career.

Now, that is not to say all has been bad. Thankfully here in Montgomery county, our real estate market has certainly felt the pinch of an ever changing economic market, but we have not completely stopped like many other areas. In fact, our team has continued to sell and close homes and properties all year long.

So, what do I foresee in real estate based on 2009? As I say to many of our clients, "I certainly don't have a crystal ball." What I can say is that what goes down, will come back up. Basic economics teaches us this simple principal. My prediction is that the first quarter of 09 will continue to be a little slow with each following quarter slowly increasing. My hopes are that by this time next year things will have healed a bit, the new administration will be in full throttle and folks will be wanting to get back to business.

One of the most positive indicators for Montgomery County are the businesses that are moving here and considering moving here. There is a lot of interest in Montgomery County. Our strong job market, great home values, and excellent schools are some things that many CEO's are looking at when deciding where to locate or relocate their businesses.

Another strong indicator of what we can foresee in the future is the fact that interest rates are really low right now. Couple the low interest rates with the great housing prices out there and voila, a great recipe for local economic recovery.

If those of us in Montgomery County can hang in there through this slow time, I do believe that we will see things begin to improve soon. We all need to continue to support local businesses, shop locally and give back to our community.

I am looking forward to the future with positive anticipation of a steady increase in sales. I do feel that the challenges that we have all faced and continue to face this year have make me stronger, wiser and much tougher. I am ready for saying goodbye to 08 and truly look forward to making the very best out of the new year that is upon us very soon!

Wishing you all a very prosperous New Year!

Lake Conroe Real Estate

Christmas shopping through rose colored glasses. Well, I had a wonderful experience yesterday - Christmas Shopping! The day started with the gas tank on empty. My hubby is so sweet. He knows that I love to stand out in the cold and fill my gas tank. Isn't he just darling? Next came breakfast. I love breakfast - it is my favorite meal to eat out. No messy kitchen, no dirty dishes. What a treat!! Well, I guess the people pushing ahead in line were hungrier than me. When I finally got my seat, breakfast was great, never mind the coffee spilled all over my table and the cold toast. Next on my list was the actual business of Christmas Shopping. At the first store everything went very well, actually even better than I expected. The fight over the last $19.99 cashmere sweater was a mere blip on the radar. Store #2, the toddler screaming was so sweet, you know they do need to exercise those vocal cords. Finally the last stop, the dreaded home improvement store! What do I know about hammers, screwdrivers, drills and saws? Nothing, that's not my field of expertise, I'm not sure what is, but I know what isn't. The cute little man at the store was not at all talking down to me. I'm sure he was just teasing when he said any fool could recognize a monkey wrench. Shopping completed I started the trip home. How nice of people to salute me (one fingered) when I accidentally cut them off. The horns honking reminded me of a Christmas Carol. I arrived home with lots of packages and Christmas spirit, but I think next year I will shop on-line.

Article by: Carol Hawkins