About Huntsville's Elkins Lake

SOLD! 907 Cherry Hills in Elkins Lake!

Today we closed on this lovely home at 907 Cherry Hills Drive in beautiful Elkins Lake. This was one of those closings that required patience. It took 2 months to get this done.

The mortgage process can be very challenging. This is why I am pleased when my buyers select someone that I know and trust.

Susan Bryant at The Mortgage Corner is my mortgage broker of choice. 98% of her closings close ON TIME or early! The best thing is.... there are very few surprises and very little drama. (936) 594-2496 (Ask for Susan OR Courtney!)

Fortunately, my sellers were in a position that they could wait... and things worked out for both parties. We had happy buyers and happy sellers!

So... If you are thinking about buying or selling a home in Elkins Lake, give me a call. I’m Joni Staples and I would love to go to work for you! (936) 650-9017

SOLD! 907 Cherry Hills in Elkins Lake!

TX: Walker County: Huntsville: Elkins Lake:

It’s Puppy Time!

Ahhh….I love the morning! It’s very peaceful . And I just love when it’s so quiet that you can hear the appliances hum.

I love to put on a pot of strong coffee and get the newspaper out of the driveway (my dogs are too “high maintenance” to fetch the paper). Then, I read the Sunday paper, do a sudoku puzzle, check the Walgreen’s ad to see if my brand of make-up is on sale this week.

Then……It’s “Puppy Time!”

“Puppy Time” is a phrase my husband coined. “Puppy Time” is a “Love-fest” of kissing and belly rubbing, playing and getting fingers and toes bitten by sharp puppy teeth. We LOVE “Puppy Time.”

So, now that “Puppy Time” has officially commenced, the puppinos are now “helping me” to read the Sunday paper by carrying various sections of said paper to different parts of the house.

Then, to their delight, they eagerly “prepare” the paper for “composting” by tearing into small pieces.

So, as you can imagine, the newspaper reading is not going well. What to do?????

Then, “eureka,” I have a great idea……….time for a “Puppino Stroll!” They will be in a contained spaceand we can all get some fresh air.

But, what will they wear??????? Well, it is that time of year that red suits with black belts with goldbuckles are all the rage. And ,what could be prettier on a little princess at this time of year than a red dress trimmed in white--complete with a white ribbon sash.

It was indeed time for the Puppino Stroller!

So, equipped with my iPhone and iPad, a blanket for each baby, plenty of puppino toys and a diet coke for mommy, we headed for the fishing dock.

Now, among the MANY things I LOVE about Elkins Lake (the subdivision where I live)—

· I LOVE the main lake

· the fishing dock

· walking across the dam

· watching for a Bald Eagle sighting

· or even spying the resident alligator.

If you’ve read my blogs, you already know how much I love “porch settin’ and a rockin.’” In Elkins Lake.

If you want to read more specifics about Elkins Lake, check out Here it is----Elkins Lake!

Now, I add to the list of things I LOVE about Elkins Lake: “Puppy Time Strolls! I can’t wait to take the puppinos to the new Elkins Lake walking trail around the lake at sunset. They will love it!

You know, this is a beautiful time of year

in many ways. It’s a time to reflect, a time to enjoy your family. My puppinos are my children. I love them very much.

So, here’s to lots of Sunday Morning, Tuesday Evening, Thursday twilight “Puppy Time Strolls.”

Because at our house, the best times are “Puppy Time!”

PRICE REDUCED $8,000 on 907 Cherry Hills Drive!

Missionaries packing up and moving to the Phillipines to share the Gospel! Now you can get this fabulous home in beautiful Elkins Lake for only $99,000! WHAT A DEAL!

Call TODAY and we can show you TODAY!

If you are wondering what Elkins Lake has to offer, take a look at these photos and then call (936) 650-9017 and schedule your showing appointment TODAY!

PRICE REDUCED $8,000 on 907 Cherry Hills Drive!

Lately I have been receiving ads from different vendors that want to pay me referral fees for standard maintenance on my client's homes. I got a call and an email from a roofer today. I get these calls from my presence on AR and I love it. This just made me nervous. Have maintenance companies been offering you money for referrals? This is a practice I have never taken part in and I do not plan to do so in the future. It seems to me as if they will simply charge the client a bit higher price to give me the fee. Nope. Not going to do it. Recently we had a terrible hail storm in Huntsville Texas and Elkins Lake where I do have a listing.

A man called me today and explained he had been on the roof of my client and with the right insurance they would be able to have their roof replaced. They definitely had hail damage. Their insurance company would pay for the replacement and I should convince them to have it replaced. Cool I thought. This always will help the home to sell and this is one in the flood plain that is really giving me a tough time. I told him I would visit with them over the weekend and see if they will go for it. They will have no out of pocket and a new roof. This is hard to pass up.

But, then I went to my email and he offered me a $200.00 referral fee for helping to get him set up for the replacement. My stomach turned upside down. I have never and I will never take a fee such as this one! It just does not feel right or legal. In fact, a thank you fee to REALTORS is a maximum of $50.00 by TAR and NAR AND RESPA.

I have held to that requirement in all my years of Real Estate and I will continue to do so.

I was going to recommend my client to look at having their roof replaced anyway. I think what I will do is to set it up with him thinking I will take the referral and in the end I will have him deduct this from my client's bill.

Think I should?

I don't want the money. I am just doing my job the best I know how. I am not a money monger.