El Paso, TX

This weekend we were invited to one of my son's friend birthday party at Bob-O's. There is a place, that even as a grown up can act like a kid and get away with it.

They have attractions for just about any age there. There is Laser Odyssey, batting cages, 18 Hole miniature golf course, Bumper boat, miniature go-karts, Go-karts, and of course a full array of arcades.

Bob-O's is located on 3851 Constitution off Sunland Park Dr, which is the west side of El Paso. This a cool place to get away with the kids and do something different. Here are some photos.

This the arcade area, many popular games as some of the all time favorites.

Here are the bumper boats and the go-karts ready to take off.

Some areas of the miniature golf course.

One of my favorites is the air hockey tables and of course the prizes.

They have weekly and daily specials one can check online.

~ Life is Good, Have fUN.

The second positive one year change occurred in December 2008 for El Paso. There was a .28 percent increase in sales over December 2007.



There was a 20.78 percent average monthly drop in 2008. The two-year drop was even worse with an average drop of 31.73 percent from 2006. El Paso experienced over 19 percent drops in comparative two year sales every month in 2008. There was a 34.59 percent decrease in December 2008 from homesales in December 2006.


To read more stats go to our El Paso Real Estate Blog stats provided by El Paso Real Estate Quest

A big El Paso thanks to everyone that actually reads all the blogs and about staying positive in our strange market.

I think if we all post positive remarks maybe the national news will eventually catch up and stop reporting all negative. Each area is regional just like the weather.

I had a client the other day that made a really low offer on a home because he said that his area was really a bargain basement and so should ours. When I asked him what the temperature was where he was he said minus 17 and our temps were about 70. I asked him if he could now understand and it made alot more since to him.

So lets stat POSITIVE.

Patti in El Paso

Hi to everyone who reads this and my goal this year is to stay positive and not let the media get me down. El Paso, TX real estate is in a good place and I know that 2009 will be a great year. It already has started very well and we have many people under contract.

While there are still alot of homes on the market, there are less homes now than there were a few months ago and we are not hit with lots of foreclosures. The new medical school is going to open in August 09 and doctors, researchers, etc are already coming in to town to see if El Paso is a fit for them.

I have been working with many military soldiers(God bless them all for serving our great country) and it is wonderful to see them so excited about buying their first home and knowing that they were able to get into a home with hardly any money out of their pockets.

So let's all stay positive-from the words of Laws of Attraction-image yourself as a magnet and anything that you think or say will stick to you. So stay positive and have only positive thoughts and you will be amazed what good things happen in your life.

Just believe and it will happen.

One of my favorite TV shows on HGTV is "My House is Worth What?". In this show there are three separate homeowners all over the country. Many of these families have done some major renovating and remodeling and want to know if their time and efforts were worth the money. As I was watching this show I started thinking...many homeowners put TONS of money into their home thinking that they'll be able to recapture all of it once they decide to sell.

As I go to several listing appointments I need to remind these homeowners that the value of their home IS NOT:

•· How much money they have put into the house;

•· How much the neighbor down the street sold his/her house for;

•· What some website said your house is worth (my favorite J );

•· What you need to net in order to buy another house;

•· What the Tax Assessor's Office says your house is worth;

•· And sadly, neither is sentimental value.

So how do we derive "Market Value"? The first thing that is done is to check the "comps" or the comparable properties that have sold within the last six months (or even up to a year if there are not enough comps). From the comps, choose houses that are within 20% of the same square footage, either smaller or larger. This will give you an idea, or range, of what the price per square footage is.

This gives you a baseline. Of course, adjustments must be made if your house has an unbelievable view that the Comp properties DO NOT have; if your house is the only one with a swimming pool, and you have upgraded your house by putting in hardwood floors and granite counter tops.

So what adjustments should be done? This is what I was given by an appraisal.

•1. View lots can range from $0-$40,000 depending upon the type of view and also the location of the property.

•2. Lot size range from $.25 per square foot - $1.50 per square foot. This could also depend upon location.

•3. Age adjustments are usually given for houses that differentiate by 5 years or more. This could be from ¼% to 1% per year.

•4. Upgrades done to a house such as hardwood flooring, granite counter tops, upgraded lighting and plumbing fixtures, clay tile roofing, wood shutters, etc can range from $1000-$6000.

•5. Swimming pools range from $0 - $15,000 (but not more!).

•6. Fireplaces $500 - $2000

•7. Bathrooms $2000 - $5000

•8. Garages from $1000 - $3000 per garage

•9. Surround Sound $500 - $1500