About Bell County, TX

While we were at the convention, our friends Kristin Moran & Sheila Moran mentioned Build A Sign, a company they blogged about previously & had a wonderful experience with. We made our way to the booth they had and took one of their cards so we could go to their website when we got home. While we were there Paula had a conversation with the representatives and found out they are giving away 20,000.00 banners & jumbo cards to support the troops. This is a wonderful gesture that means so much to us at Fort Hood. Our streets and neighborhoods are currently lined with banners like these welcoming loved ones home from Iraq. This sort of gesture is the reason I am so proud of our Country we live in and wanted to say thank you to Build A Sign for what they are doing. You can go to their website at http://www.buildasign.com/Troops to see these banners they are giving away. We ordered one and two other different banners for our building at a cheaper rate than our local companies! We are also very impressed with Build A Sign!

Another wonderful gesture is from a gas station my husband told me about. He told me last night that he never pays for his sodas when he goes to a certain gas station when he is in uniform and the worker thanks him every time for his service! This is where my husband chooses to buy his gas because of their appreciation for all that he does! My husband has served for 14 years and been to Iraq twice so I definately feel he deserves this and thank God every day for this great nation we live in that these small gestures are still taking place!

Moving to a military community can be a challenge, especially when "back home" is vastly different from your new assignment. Truth be told, it is almost ALWAYS vastly different, and making the adjustment can be difficult, at best. Because of that challenge, I'd like to share information about a couple of the wonderful destinations and activities of Central Texas, with the hope that you'll make a quick transition from "new arrival" to "we call Texas home"!

Have you ever been to a drive-in movie theater? Many of us recall the days when going to the drive-in was oh-so-much more than just "going to the movies". It was a chance to relax, visit with friends, be entertained, and maybe even build a few memories. I fondly recall the neighborhood teens packing into the El Camino belonging to the boy next door, and heading to one of the Killeen drive-ins. Years later, while stationed at Eglin AFB, FL, I was able to take my small son to a local drive-in, and just recently, my grandson learned to appreciate the joys of watching a movie under the stars.

Where am I going with this? To the drive-in, of course! Central Texas offers a choice of two theaters within easy driving distance. The "Central Texas Drive-In Theater", located at 4001 S. Fort Hood Street in Killeen, is approximately five miles from the Fort Hood main gate. It opened in 2005 in the same location as the old "440 Drive-In", which was open from 1969 to 1989. For more information about this theater and show times, please visit http://www.drive-ins.com/theater/txtkil2/heard=ge or call 254-616-6400. Our next drive-in choice is the "Last Drive-In Picture Show" in Gatesville, located at 2912 S. Highway 36. In addition to first run movies, this theater features a miniature golf course and a playground for entertainment before the movie begins. There's also an indoor theater, if outdoor viewing isn't for you. This drive-in has been open since 1950, and retains all the charm of yesteryear. The drive to get there may be a bit longer, but it's well worth the trip. Visit them at http://www.drive-ins.com/showing/txtlast for more information.

There are many other drive-ins in Texas, but these are our closest. So, pack up the kids and the lawn chairs, or make a pallet in the back of the truck and head out to enjoy a night at the movies. You may find there's nothing quite as enjoyable as popcorn and soda under a starlit night in Central Texas.

Welcome to Fort Hood.

Are you thinking about selling your home or are you selling your home by owner? Buyers are here and I need inventory.

My name is Richard W. Overall, Jr and I am a Realtor at Casa Realty in Killeen. Some might argue that the market is soft and there are no buyers out there, but the fact is that there are buyers. In the last 30 days, 221 houses have gone under contract in our market and 171 houses have sold. The fact that more houses have gone under contract than have sold indicates that the market is picking up, at least in the last 30 days. Of course we have had 4th ID coming back in the last couple weeks so that always helps.

I would like to talk to you about how I can help you sell your home. I use many marketing tools including my personal and company websites, an individual website for the property (for example: http://708stewartstreet.bestpricedhouse.com/), For Sale, For Rent magazine and website, Craigslist, and of course the Fort Hood area Association of Realtors multiple listing service.

I would not be writing this if I did not believe I could sell your home. If you would just like to discuss the market conditions, I would be happy to talk to you about that without any obligation. I believe that once we have a chance to talk, you will know that I am the person who will sell your home. If you have any questions or if there is anything I can do to help, please feel free to call me.

Richard W. Overall, Jr
254-394-6637

Casa Realty
254-526-5000

Okay, on the Gratefulness front:

(if you don't know by now, I firmly believe that we, as Americans, have SO much to be grateful for, and can find good in almost anything because things HAPPEN FOR A REASON)

PROBLEM: My sweet daughter, Amanda (one of the kindest, most beautiful souls God ever put on the planet, not that I'm biased) was diagnosed with PNEUMONIA this week.

WHY I'M GRATEFUL: We have phenomenal health care in this great country! We took our sweet baby girl to Scott and White and she got antibiotics and other medication, and after one more day recovering--she's already back at school (a little TOO soon for her liking, hah!) and feeling good again! Whoo-hoo!

PROBLEM: Our well system at our home collapsed (I wrote about this when it happened a few months ago, but this month is when the entire hairy ordeal was concluded), and the cost to us was right at $18,000 at the same time we were opening a new real estate office, and the "financial crisis" in our country happened--with the media scaring folks into NOT buying homes. A perfect financial storm for our dear family...

WHY I'M GRATEFUL: As we were re-shuffling finances, ready to write this unexpected, enormous check, our insurance company calls out of the blue and offers to pay for almost all of the destroyed well--after denying our claim after pondering it for nearly 3 months!

PROBLEM: The media in this country scaring the be-jeebers out of most everyone preparing to purchase a home! In November and December, it was as if someone turned off a faucet to our (quite special) real estate business...again, right as we opened our new and improved office at somewhat significant cost to us.

WHY I'M GRATEFUL: The fantastic real estate values in this market, coupled with super low interest rates (yes, NBC, CBS, and ABC...the Mortgage Companies ARE loaning money, you nitwits!), our Beloved Soldiers returning (welcome back!), and quite a bit of hard work on our part--turned into a great January and a FANTASTIC start to February. There has never been a better time to get a home in Central Texas, literally.

Try this little exercise: whenever you have a problem, look for ways in which you can be grateful for it. Think about it, if you can learn to be grateful EVEN FOR YOUR PROBLEMS, then you have it made in life.

Oh, one more thing...my precious dog, Chupis (pronounced Chew-pees, as in 2 of her favorite activities...), short for Chupacabra (the mythical goat-eating Mexican monster) had a run-in with a SKUNK last night. We've done the baking soda, vinegar, peroxide, Dawn odor-eliminating formula, warm water bath treatment for her--but our house still stinks to high heaven this morning...I'm still working on being grateful for this little incident!

Hello, Central Texas homebuyers. I am Richard Overall, a REALTOR in the Fort Hood area and "I am your OVERALL long-term real estate resource in Central Texas." I primarily work in the Fort Hood/Killeen/Harker Heights areas.

In order that I may better serve you, please tell me what are looking for in a home. Please include bedrooms, bathrooms, area, price and any other information you would like us to consider when creating your property search. With this information, I will personally set up a saved search for you in our local multiple listing service. You will be notified by email of all properties that meet your requirements as soon as they come on the market and/or when they have a price change. This search will include all listings in this market, not just listings with our company. There is no charge for Buyer Representation with Casa Realty. Please feel free to call me with any questions or concerns.

I am not a high-pressure salesperson. If you are interested in being set up on this free service, please email me back or call me with the requested information. If you would prefer to pass on this offer, that's OK, too. As I said, there is no cost or obligation, but this will give you some insight into the central Texas housing market. Thank you again for your interest and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Richard W. Overall, Jr REALTOR

Sales Manager

254-394-6637 cell

Casa Real Estate

1201 South WS Young Dr., suite F

Killeen, TX 76543

254-526-5000 office

888-526-2410 fax

www.OverallRealtor.com