Round Rock Real Estate Blog

2306 Chi Chis Cove, Round Rock, TX 78664 - Round Rock Home for Sale!

Steve Homer (The HBH Group (Keller Williams affiliate)) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 07:33:27 -0700

This wonderful Lexington floorplan built by Morrison is loaded with $71,000 worth of upgrades (ask to see the list). Grand foyer with an overlook from the 2nd floor. The 4 living areas include a library (retreat area) with french doors and bookshelves and a living room with a gas fireplace downstairs plus a large office with built-ins and familyroom upstaris, 3 of the 4 large bedrooms upstairs have walk-in-closets. The oversized master bedroom with a bay window is downstairs. This is a must see!

204 Sarahs Lane and other lots in Cierra Springs, Liberty Hill, TX

Steve Homer (The HBH Group (Keller Williams affiliate)) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 13:05:49 -0700

> Lots and Lots of Liberty Hill lots! All these (8 in all) are one acre in size and ready to build on. Lovely hill country vistas in all directions. You can see for MILES! And at only $39,900 per lot, you could afford two - side-by-side to build your dream home. The owner is prestigious builder John D. Bowen of John D. Bowen construction. He has plans available to build here or simply purchase the lot and choose your builder or contract to build yourself! Anyway works for the owner! Call today for more indformation!

Detroit's Real Estate Decimation - Commercial Disaster

Steve Homer (The HBH Group (Keller Williams affiliate)) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 03:47:36 -0800

Michigan has been among the hardest hit of the states during the real estate and foreclosure crisis of past years. Once proud downtown buildings now stand in shambles as a testament to the bad decisions of days gone by. I felt that my readers would find these photos from Yves Marchand and Romain Meffre Photography interesting, and yet sad. This is the Farwell Bldg in Detroit: Dentist's Office in Broderick Tower: UA Theater in Detroit So all-in-all, most of the rest of the country is in great shape considering!

Homes for Sale in Round Rock Texas

Steve Homer (The HBH Group (Keller Williams affiliate)) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:47:06 -0800

Foreclosure Counts Confirmed in Williamson County

Steve Homer (The HBH Group (Keller Williams affiliate)) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 23:23:13 -0700

Our team ran stats against the foreclosure counts published last week here on the blog. They are real. Up to 306 properties from 209 in August. So we have confirmed the foreclosure counts for Williamson County and have also done some research around this issue. It would appear that the secondary market investors are calling in their chips on a broad scale. Many lenders are now being asked to foreclose on delinquent loans rather than seasoning them to protect property values. This would explain the sudden rise in foreclosures that we have noted. If you have considered selling, now may be the best time rather than waiting. If this trend of flooding the market with foreclosures here in Central Texas continues, we could start experiencing value losses. We have been able to weather the storm of the economic downturn nicely to this point, BUT that could change as well. If you are in the market to sell, or if you have tried to sell unsuccessfully recently, call us today and let us work out a marketing plan for you that will work! Like to know more? Call us at the The HBH Group Realty Team with Keller Williams Realty. You may learn more about us at our websites located at: http://www.TheHBHGroup.com/ and http://www.TheHBHGroup.biz/ or contact our offices at (512) 439-3772 or toll-free at (877) 268-1877. We teach a monthly property investment seminar in the Greater Austin area and YOU ARE INVITED to this FREE event. Simply call our offices to reserve you seats! Also ask about the investors club that we are forming in the North Austin markets currently - We would love to have you participate! Other articles on Property Investment: Looking for Property Management in Round Rock? Why You Should Buy Properties, Not Consumables Why Austin Texas Real Estate Investment Has a Great ROI How to Identify Great Investment Property in Texas Investment in Texas Can Help You Retire Early! It's Time to Invest in Real Estate, Conservatively! Free Real Estate Investing Training and Seminars - from The HBH Group Why Flipping Homes Can Carry Strong Liability Foreclosures are Always a Bargain! Yea, Right! Texas is a GREAT Place to Live and Invest! Round Rock Real Estate makes the News... The HBH Group - Specialists in Texas Real Estate Investing The Tale of the Foolish Real Estate Investor CLICK HERE to view our current Virtual Tours of properties on one of the team's web sites. Here are some other Buyer's Resources from Our Website: Seven steps to buying your home Deciding how much house you can afford Making your home wish list Opting for new home construction How can a real estate agent help me? 10 things you should ask a real estate agent Location, Location, Location Mortgage Calculator Contact us about buying your home And some seller's resources as well:Eight steps to selling your home How can a real estate agent help me sell my home Practicing good seller's etiquette How to price to sell and still make a profit Understanding the buyer Increasing your home's appeal Mortgage Calculator Contact us about selling a property The HBH Group/HBH Property Management101 E. Old Settlers Blvd., Suite 190Round Rock, TX 78664 To contact us:Phone: 512-439-3772 Toll-Free: 877-268-1877 Fax: 512-579-4248E-mail: info@TheHBHGroup.comWebsites: http://www.TheHBHGroup.com/ http://www.TheHBHGroup.biz/ Blogs: http://wcrestate.blogspot.com/http://www.RoundRockRealEstateBlog.com/

NAHB Housing Market Index Shows Promise for Recovery Now

Steve Homer (The HBH Group (Keller Williams affiliate)) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 23:07:53 -0700

NAHB Housing Market Index Shows Promise for Recovery Now According to the National Association of Home Builders, it would appears that our national housing market is recovering nicely. This index echoes almost exactly the business trends that my team and our office are seeing here in Texas. Since April-May of this year, the market has been strong. In fact, it appears as though my real estate team may have our best business month in 8 years in September of 2009. Take a look at the numbers from NAHB.

Housing Market Index (Seasonally Adjusted)
2008	2009
Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug
19	20	20	20	19	18	16	16	17	14	9	9	8	9	9	14	16	15	17	18

Housing Market Index Components(Seasonally Adjusted)
2008	2009
Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug
Single-Family Sales: Present
19	20	20	18	17	17	15	16	17	14	9	8	6	7	8	12	14	14	16	16
Single-Family Sales: Next 6 Months
28	27	26	30	28	27	23	24	28	19	18	16	17	15	15	24	27	26	26	30
Traffic of Prospective Buyers
14	19	19	19	18	16	12	13	14	11	7	7	8	11	9	13	13	13	13	16

Source: NAHB/Wells Fargo, Builders' Economic Council (BEC) Monthly Surveys The housing market is moving again and 2010 may be a STRONG year! Now is the time to buy if you have been waiting. Market pricing may start to move up in coming months as demand grows, so if you are on the fence - Get off! We should start searching for your new home today! Call us at the The HBH Group Realty Team with Keller Williams Realty. You may learn more about us at our websites located at: http://www.TheHBHGroup.com/ and http://www.TheHBHGroup.biz/ or contact our offices at (512) 439-3772 or toll-free at (877) 268-1877. Join us in the Williamson County Real Estate Investors Association meetings held monthly in this area. YOU ARE INVITED to this FREE event. Simply call our offices to reserve your seats! We would love to have you participate! Other articles on Property Investment: Looking for Property Management in Round Rock? Why You Should Buy Properties, Not Consumables Why Austin Texas Real Estate Investment Has a Great ROI How to Identify Great Investment Property in Texas Investment in Texas Can Help You Retire Early! It's Time to Invest in Real Estate, Conservatively! Free Real Estate Investing Training and Seminars - from The HBH Group Why Flipping Homes Can Carry Strong Liability Foreclosures are Always a Bargain! Yea, Right! Texas is a GREAT Place to Live and Invest! Round Rock Real Estate makes the News... The HBH Group - Specialists in Texas Real Estate Investing The Tale of the Foolish Real Estate Investor CLICK HERE to view our current Virtual Tours of properties on one of the team's web sites. Here are some other Buyer's Resources from Our Website: Seven steps to buying your home Deciding how much house you can afford Making your home wish list Opting for new home construction How can a real estate agent help me? 10 things you should ask a real estate agent Location, Location, Location Mortgage Calculator Contact us about buying your home And some seller's resources as well:Eight steps to selling your home How can a real estate agent help me sell my home Practicing good seller's etiquette How to price to sell and still make a profit Understanding the buyer Increasing your home's appeal Mortgage Calculator Contact us about selling a property The HBH Group/HBH Property Management101 E. Old Settlers Blvd., Suite 190Round Rock, TX 78664 To contact us:Phone: 512-439-3772 Toll-Free: 877-268-1877 Fax: 512-579-4248E-mail: info@TheHBHGroup.comWebsites: http://www.TheHBHGroup.com/ http://www.TheHBHGroup.biz/ Blogs: http://wcrestate.blogspot.com/http://www.RoundRockRealEstateBlog.com/

Call Congress! Extend the home buyer tax credit in Round Rock and around Texas!

Steve Homer (The HBH Group (Keller Williams affiliate)) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 22:49:27 -0700

The clock is ticking on the first-time home buyer tax credit, which expires on December 1, 2009. However, more time is needed to continue to stimulate housing, which will play a big role in fixing the national economy. If Congress acts to extend the tax credit program, it would spur 383,000 additional home sales, including 80,000 housing starts down the road as additional sales help deplete the inventory of unsold homes. This stimulus will create nearly 350,000 jobs over the coming year. That's good for the economy and good for America. How You Can Help Call your members of Congress today toll-free at 866-924-6242 and tell them to: Extend the deadline for the $8,000 home buyer tax credit through November 30, 2010; and Make it available to all home buyers. Thank you for your help in letting Congress know that to restore America, we must revive housing.

HBH Group Austin Area Listings

Steve Homer (The HBH Group (Keller Williams affiliate)) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 11:22:39 -0700

Foreclosure Homes For Sale in Round Rock - Up 46% in Sept 09

Steve Homer (The HBH Group (Keller Williams affiliate)) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 11:18:01 -0700

It would appear that the lenders have now been cleared to foreclose at will on late paying mortgage customers. Based on recent activities within the area, and short sales that our office is currently working, homes that we were told were not going to the county foreclosure sale for months yet, have been placed on the list for September. I ran numbers yesterday and we are up 46% in foreclosure count from August of 2009. The impact of this practice if continued, could be disastrous on property values. Our market has been fairly strong since the spring here with the buyers very active and properly priced properties moving in 30-60 days. We are encouraging our sellers that have been on the fence to list now rather than wait to hopefully beat any downturn in values that may be ahead resulting from increased forclosure activity. If you are considering selling, call us sooner rather than later. In recent months, our listings have been selling quickly and at 99%+ of list price. Like to know more? Call us at the The HBH Group Realty Team with Keller Williams Realty. You may learn more about us at our websites located at: http://www.TheHBHGroup.com/ and http://www.TheHBHGroup.biz/ or contact our offices at (512) 439-3772 or toll-free at (877) 268-1877. We teach a monthly property investment seminar in the Greater Austin area and YOU ARE INVITED to this FREE event. Simply call our offices to reserve you seats! Also ask about the investors club that we are forming in the North Austin markets currently - We would love to have you participate! Other articles on Property Investment: Looking for Property Management in Round Rock? Why You Should Buy Properties, Not Consumables Why Austin Texas Real Estate Investment Has a Great ROI How to Identify Great Investment Property in Texas Investment in Texas Can Help You Retire Early! It's Time to Invest in Real Estate, Conservatively! Free Real Estate Investing Training and Seminars - from The HBH Group Why Flipping Homes Can Carry Strong Liability Foreclosures are Always a Bargain! Yea, Right! Texas is a GREAT Place to Live and Invest! Round Rock Real Estate makes the News... The HBH Group - Specialists in Texas Real Estate Investing The Tale of the Foolish Real Estate Investor CLICK HERE to view our current Virtual Tours of properties on one of the team's web sites. Here are some other Buyer's Resources from Our Website: Seven steps to buying your home Deciding how much house you can afford Making your home wish list Opting for new home construction How can a real estate agent help me? 10 things you should ask a real estate agent Location, Location, Location Mortgage Calculator Contact us about buying your home And some seller's resources as well:Eight steps to selling your home How can a real estate agent help me sell my home Practicing good seller's etiquette How to price to sell and still make a profit Understanding the buyer Increasing your home's appeal Mortgage Calculator Contact us about selling a property The HBH Group/HBH Property Management101 E. Old Settlers Blvd., Suite 190Round Rock, TX 78664 To contact us:Phone: 512-439-3772 Toll-Free: 877-268-1877 Fax: 512-579-4248E-mail: info@TheHBHGroup.comWebsites: http://www.TheHBHGroup.com/ http://www.TheHBHGroup.biz/ Blogs: http://wcrestate.blogspot.com/http://www.RoundRockRealEstateBlog.com/

$8,000 tax credit helps first time home buyers in Round Rock and all over Texas

Steve Homer (The HBH Group (Keller Williams affiliate)) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 02:38:15 -0700

A campaign to extend and expand the housing tax credit officially got underway on Capitol Hill last month. Bills have now been introduced in both the Senate and the House to open up the credit, to all buyers, keep it on the books through next year, and get rid of the current income limitations. On the House side, two Texas congressional representatives - one a Democrat, the other a Republican - have filed bills calling for a broadening of the first-time buyer credit to cover all home purchasers in the coming year, whether they already own houses or not. Democratic Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson of Dallas wants to extend the November 30 expiration date for the credit through the end of 2010. Her bill would also remove the income limits of the current program, which start phasing down the amount of the credit at $75,000 for singles and $150,000 for married couples. Johnson's Republican colleague from the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, Kenny Marchant, also introduced a bill that would open up the credit to all buyers, without income limits, but only through June of next year. But Congressman Marchant's bill adds a whole new element to the mix - a $3,000 tax credit for people who refinance their home loans. Why? Marchant says the idea is to encourage more people to "take advantage of (today's) low mortgage rates," or to use the money to build equity in their homes "if they're a little underwater." In the Senate, Georgia Republican Johnny Isakson introduced a bill last week that would nearly double the maximum credit to $15,000, open to anyone who buys a house, regardless of income. Isakson, who's a former realty company executive, has pushed for a $15,000 credit before - most recently during debate over the national economic stimulus package last February. Congress didn't buy it. Meanwhile, the influential "Business Roundtable" lobby group, which represents some of the largest corporations in the country, urged Congress last week to broaden the credit to $15,000 -- along the lines suggested by Isakson. So with the big push for a larger and longer tax credit getting underway, should potential home buyers assume these efforts are going to be successful and worth postponing a purchase? Probably not. None of the bills is likely to get much attention from the tax committees in the House or Senate until the Fall - maybe a month or two before the November 30 expiration date for the first-time buyer credit. Although a short-term extension of the $8,000 credit is a distinct possibility, opening up the program to all buyers will be an uphill battle. Written by Kenneth R. Harney

18 Timberline DR, Round Rock, TX 78665 For Sale! Home and Shop on 1 acre...

Steve Homer (The HBH Group (Keller Williams affiliate)) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 11:27:34 -0700

Nicely updated home in east Round Rock, located on over an acre of land. Close to all shopping and schools, this home features a lovely decorators touch of colors and design that will make it a joy to live in and entertain friends and family. The kitchen is updated and features a HUGE built-in GE Monogram refrigerator. The kitchen and dining area feature updated fixtures, countertops and flooring. Located in a quiet neighborhood with a huge shop in the back yard that the current owner runs an automotive repair shop out of. This property is PERFECT for a contractor or professional that runs a business out of shop space.

Things to See and Do in Texas - March 2009 edition

Steve Homer (The HBH Group (Keller Williams affiliate)) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 02:39:53 -0700

Sorry all to post this late, but there is still a good bit of March left, so check out the list! I will be more timely in April! By the way, THANKS to Alamo Title for supplying this list! 01 ABILENE Silver Spur Gun & Blade Show, (806) 253-1322 01 AUSTIN Zilker Park Kite Festival, (512) 448-5483, www.zilkerkitefestival.com 01 ODESSA Camp Marfa: Big Painters, (432) 552-3288 01 WINDTHORST Homemade German Sausage Meal, (940) 423-6444 02 DRIFTWOOD An Evening in the Vineyard, (512) 858-1506, www.theburkecenter.org 02 HUNTSVILLE Gen. Sam Houston's Birthday & Texas Independence Day Celebration, (936) 294-1832, www.samhouston.memorial.museum 02 ODESSA Texas Independence Day Brown Bag Lunch & Lecture Series, (432) 363-7737 02 ABILENE Christian University Theatre Festival, (325) 670-1405 04 KERRVILLE Texas Heritage Coffeehouse, (830) 792-1945, www.texasheritagemusic.org 05 GLEN ROSE [5-7] PRCA Rodeo, (254) 897-4509 06 TEXARKANA [6-7] Miller-Bowie Quilt Show, (903) 276-9898 06 LAMPASAS Needle Art & Quilt Show, (512) 556-2224, www.lampasaschamber.org 07 BONHAM Rainwater Harvesting Seminar, (903) 583-7453 07 COLUMBUS German Society State Convention, (979) 733-0964 07 FLATONIA Czhilispiel Practice Cook-Off, (361) 856-3920 07 GONZALES Texas Independence Relay, (830) 672-6532, www.texasindependencerelay.com 07 KEMPNER Barbecue & Auction, (512) 932-3993 07 ROUND ROCK Daffodil Festival, (512) 762-5594, www.rrdaffodilcapitaltx.us 07 WAXAHACHIE Lifestyles: The Home & Family Expo, (972) 937-2390, www.waxahachiechamber.com 07 ABILENE [7-8] Big Country Home & Garden Show, (325) 698-4232 07 BURTON [7-8] Hwy. 290 Trade Days & Barrett's Barbecue, 1-888-693-1243 07 CENTER Republic of Texas Celebration, (936) 598-3682, www.shelbycountychamber.com 07 DECATUR [7-8] Wise County Home & Lawn Show, (940) 627-6070 07 KERRVILLE [7-8] Hill Country Home Show, (830) 895-5424 07 ODESSA [7-8] Briar Patch Trade Days, (432) 272-1177 07 ROCKDALE Tejas Art & Book Festival, (512) 446-2030, www.rockdalechamber.com 10 NEDERLAND [10-15] Heritage Festival, (409) 724-2269 12 ABILENE Art Walk, (325) 677-8389 12 COTULLA [12-15] LaSalle County Fair & Wild Hog Cook-Off, (830) 879-2852, www.wildhogcookoff.com 13 LONGVIEW Antique Quilt Exhibit, (903) 753-5840 13 BUNA [13-14] Redbud Festival, (409) 994-5586 13 SWEETWATER [13-15] Rattlesnake Round-up, (325) 235-5488 13 BLANCO [13-15] Riverside Market Days, (830) 385-6100, www.riversidemarketdays.com 14 ABILENE Downtown Dayz, (325) 672-9696 14 BEAUMONT DOG-tober Fest, (409) 838-2202, www.beaumontmainstreet.com 14 BUFFALO GAP Chautauqua Learning Series, (325) 572-3365 14 ANDERSON Stagecoach Days, (936) 878-2214, www.birthplaceoftexas.com 14 ELGIN Art Walk, (512) 281-5724 14 CAT SPRING [14-15] Antiques Show, (979) 865-5618 14 FORT WORTH [14-15] Dolly Johnson Antique Show, (254) 622-2858 14 LA GRANGE [14-15] Best Little Cowboy Gathering in Texas, (979) 968-5756, www.bestlittlecowboygathering.org 15 BUFFALO GAP Vintage Base Ball Exhibition Game, (325) 572-3365 15 BUFFALO GAP Military Appreciation Day, (325) 572-3365 15 DRIPPING SPRINGS Brittany Tuck Memorial Benefit, (512) 858-0504 15 JEFFERSON Saint Patrick's Irish Stew Cook-Off, (903) 665-2672, www.jefferson-texas.com 20 GATESVILLE Jamboree, (254) 547-6834 20 MERIDIAN [20-21] Bosque County Chuckwagon Cook-Off & John A. Lomax Music Festival, (254) 435-6113, http://bbq.htcomp.net 20 ROUND TOP [20-21] Herbal Forum, (979) 249-3129, www.festivalhill.org 20 LOCKHART [20-21] Tolbert Texas State Chili Cook-Off, (512) 398-2818, www.lockhartchamber.com 20 MAGNOLIA [20-22] Magnolia Music Festival, (281) 356-2266, www.magnoliamusicfest.com 20 PLANO [20-22] Heart of Texas Arts & Craft Show, (903) 217-8081 20 SMITHVILLE [20-22] Thunder on the Colorado Biker Rally, (512) 237-2313, www.thunderonthecolorado.com 21 KILGORE Oil Classic Horseshoe Tournament, (903) 984-2718, www.kilgorechamber.com 21 LAKEHILLS United Methodist Church Annual Fish Fry & Auction, (830) 751-2404 21 PALESTINE Yesterday's Country, (903) 724-2556 21 PORT ARTHUR Taste of Gumbo, (409) 984-6292 21 SAN ANTONIO Spurs & CASA "Speak Out for Kids" 5K Run/Walk, (210) 225-7070, www.casa-satx.org 21 CYPRESS MILL [21-22] Bunkhouse Gallery Fine Art & Jewelry Show, (830) 825-3465, www.wenmohsranch.com 21 GRUENE [21-22] Old Gruene Market Days, (830) 832-1721, www.gruenemarketdays.com 21 WOODVILLE [21-22] Festival of the Arts, 1-800-323-0389, www.heritage-village.org 23 ROUND TOP [23-27] Windsor Chair-Making Workshop, (979) 249-4119, www.thegalleryatroundtop.com 24 ODESSA Culinary Canvas, (432) 580-6333 25 ABILENE Annual Business Expo, (325) 677-7241 26 JACKSONVILLE [26-28] Cherokee County Junior Livestock Show, (903) 574-5495, www.cherokeecountyexpo.org 26 AUSTIN [26-28] Texas State Historical Association 113th Meeting, (940) 369-5200, www.tshaonline.org 26 DENTON [26-29] Texas Storytelling Festival, (940) 382-7014, www.tejasstorytelling.com 27 LOCKHART [27-28] Rites of Spring, (512) 398-2818, www.lockhartchamber.com 27 HUNTSVILLE [27-3/4] Walker County Fair & Rodeo, (936) 291-8763 27 VICTORIA [27-28] Quilts, Quilts, Quilts Act IV, (361) 578-0673, www.quiltguildvictoria.org 27 WOODVILLE [27-28] Western Weekend, (409) 283-2632, www.tylercountydogwoodfestival.org 27 CORPUS CHRISTI [27-29] Festival of the Arts, (361) 826-3413, www.ccfestivalarts.org 27 TOMBALL [27-29] German Heritage Festival, (281) 379-6844 28 BONHAM Fannin County Master Gardeners Lawn & Home Expo, (903) 583-7453, http://grovesite.com/mg/fcmg 28 GORDONVILLE Big Mineral Crappie Gig, (903) 523-4287 28 JOHNSON CITY Texas Men's State Chili Cook-Off & Barbecue, (512) 567-2835, www.johnsoncitytexaschamber.com 28 KERRVILLE Kerr County Market Days, (830) 792-4655, www.kerrmarketdays.org 28 PEARSALL Pioneer Day, (830) 334-4181 28 PORT ARTHUR Multi-Cultural Exposition, (409) 983-8152 28 RED OAK American Cancer Society Benefit Concert, (972) 571-2933 28 STONEWALL LBJ 100 Bicycle Ride, (830) 868-7128, www.lbj100bicycletour.org 28 TIOGA Western Trade Days, (940) 390-7886 28 ABILENE [28-29] Texas Gun & Knife Show, (830) 285-0575 28 DENISON [28-29] Spring Fine Art Tour, (903) 465-1551, www.smalltownbigart.com 28 LIVINGSTON [28-29] Garden Glories Quilt Show, (936) 563-4580, www.lpqgtexas.org 28 MCKINNEY [28-29] Lone Star Vintage Tractor Show, (972) 542-9457, www.northtexashistorycenter.org 28 SABINAL [28-29] Wild Hog Festival, (830) 988-2709 28 WASHINGTON [28-29] True Texas Women, (936) 878-2213, www.birthplaceoftexas.com 29 COLLEGE STATION Spring Bridal Show, (979) 209-2167, www.ido-ido.org 29 LULING Celebration of Life & Music, (830) 875-3214, ext. 4, www.celebratetom.com 29 SPICEWOOD Community Library Annual BBQ & Auction, (830) 693-7892 30 HAMILTON Spring Fling, (254) 386-3919 31 ODESSA Ebony Fashion Fair, (432) 560-5300 31 ROUND TOP [31-4/4] Marburger Farm Antique Show, 1-800-999-2148 APRIL 01 ROUND TOP [1-4] Spring Antiques Fair, (512) 237-4747, www.roundtoptexasantiques.com 04 LULING Roughneck Chili & Barbecue Cook-Off and Oil City Car Show, (830) 875-3214 ext.4 17 BURTON [17-19] Cotton Gin Festival, (979) 289-3378, www.cottonginmuseum.org 18 CHAPPELL HILL [18-19] Official Bluebonnet Festival of Texas, (979) 836-6033, www.chappellhillmuseum.org Like to know more? Call us at the The HBH Group Realty Team with Keller Williams Realty. You may learn more about us at our websites located at: http://www.TheHBHGroup.com/ and http://www.TheHBHGroup.biz/ or contact our offices at (512) 439-3772 or toll-free at (877) 268-1877. We teach a monthly property investment seminar in the Greater Austin area and YOU ARE INVITED to this FREE event. Simply call our offices to reserve you seats! Also ask about the investors club that we are forming in the North Austin markets currently - We would love to have you participate! Other articles on Property Investment: Looking for Property Management in Round Rock? Why You Should Buy Properties, Not Consumables Why Austin Texas Real Estate Investment Has a Great ROI How to Identify Great Investment Property in Texas Investment in Texas Can Help You Retire Early! It's Time to Invest in Real Estate, Conservatively! Free Real Estate Investing Training and Seminars - from The HBH Group Why Flipping Homes Can Carry Strong Liability Foreclosures are Always a Bargain! Yea, Right! Texas is a GREAT Place to Live and Invest! Round Rock Real Estate makes the News... The HBH Group - Specialists in Texas Real Estate Investing The Tale of the Foolish Real Estate Investor CLICK HERE to view our current Virtual Tours of properties on one of the team's web sites. Here are some other Buyer's Resources from Our Website: Seven steps to buying your home Deciding how much house you can afford Making your home wish list Opting for new home construction How can a real estate agent help me? 10 things you should ask a real estate agent Location, Location, Location Mortgage Calculator Contact us about buying your home And some seller's resources as well:Eight steps to selling your home How can a real estate agent help me sell my home Practicing good seller's etiquette How to price to sell and still make a profit Understanding the buyer Increasing your home's appeal Mortgage Calculator Contact us about selling a property The HBH Group/HBH Property Management101 E. Old Settlers Blvd., Suite 190Round Rock, TX 78664 To contact us:Phone: 512-439-3772 Toll-Free: 877-268-1877 Fax: 512-579-4248E-mail: info@TheHBHGroup.comWebsites: http://www.TheHBHGroup.com/ http://www.TheHBHGroup.biz/ Blogs: http://wcrestate.blogspot.com/http://www.RoundRockRealEstateBlog.com/

I would like to interview Mr. Bernanke because I am scared!!!

Steve Homer (The HBH Group (Keller Williams affiliate)) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 02:05:40 -0700

Wonderful post by Jeff Belonger... Readers: Be informed, not scared! Knowing what's ahead can yield opportunity! Mr. Ben Bernanke is considered the 4th most powerful man in the world in the banking sector and can at times operate independent of the President of the United States. Not sure if you watched the 60 minutes interview of Ben Bernanke. I was impressed because he seems down to earth, humble, and caring about Main Street USA. - Mr. Bernanke grew up in Dillon, a small town in South Carolina. He remembers the culture of Dillon and applies it to his decisions. In the interview, they talked about his childhood home that was bought by another family, which is now in foreclosure. You could see that something of this magnitude has struck 'home' with him and he wants to do something about it. As we know, when it comes to the media, no matter if it's news print, television, the radio, or online, the story in many cases seems to tell only one side of the issue and certain people and certain groups control what is discussed. This control was evident in the interview and I am not the only one that thinks this way. I called my parents last night and they both watched the video. My dad has been successful in business and has a good grasp of business and macro economics. He flat out told me that he didn't like the interview because it didn't tell him much and felt that important details were lacking. My mom thought there was too much fluff and that Bernanke seemed insincere (could see it in his eyes). And if you read the comments from the video, there were 4 or 5 others that felt the same. 60 minutes video - interview with Ben Bernanke - So why am I scared after listening to the interview? After more than 16 years in the mortgage industry, having a very good understanding on how mortgages work and our current market situations. After talking to a few financial experts, my fears were confirmed. Mr. Bernanke made this statement. "You don't get a sustained economic recovery as long as the financial system is in crisis." - I agree with this statement, but we need plans and to make this happen. We also need the political will to do the right thing. Bernanke goes on to say that he feels the recession will end this year and that we will have a recovery by next year. Is this to boost consumer confidence? Hey everyone, I am all for positive thinking and positive information. But I am also a strong believer in the truth, no matter if it hurts or not. I just think Mr. Bernanke skated around several questions with answers that were very vague and weak. If the credit crisis was the most important issue then it should have been addressed first. Instead there was some money thrown at the problem and then came the stimulus and the bloated budget. Now there is nothing left (short of printing presses) to fix the real problem. Some say it could take a Trillion to stabilize the credit market. He also made statements such as : He stated that we were very close to a financial meltdown. (personally I think we are still on the brink of meltdown. My recovery prediction would be sometime in 2011. But I guess we have to define recovery, which Mr. Bernanke didn’t provide.) Bernanke was asked why we were so close to a financial meltdown? Bernanke stated that we didn't regulate enough. How about this one. Shouldn't we have people watching over those that regulate? I have been screaming about regulating in regards to mortgages when it came to such things as : good faith estimates, APR's, and false advertising of interest rates and fees since 1994. We knew about this back then. Many were living it large, living it fat, all the way up to 2006, until the shit hit the fan. Our lack of regulations hit us square in the face, yet we found other excuses to place the blame on. Here is what I think about Government Intervention and regulations. Bernanke stated that the Federal Reserve has pledged 1 Trillion dollars in spending which has supported : -- money market funds -- mortgages -- auto loans -- small business loans -- student loans, etc, etc This commitment has doubled the size of the Fed's balance sheet. He was then asked if this is tax payer's money. He said, no, it isn't. He went on to describe that banks have accounts with the Fed just as we have accounts with the banks. This method is akin to printing money, which the Federal Reserve is printing by the ton. Listen to the video on this part, about using computers to mark up the size of the accounts. The “black hole” was created when the government preempted the decisions a free market system – who wins and who loses. Near the end of the interview, Mr. Bernanke was asked what would be one of the first signs of a recovery. He stated, "A large bank will be successful when it is able to raise private equity." This is so true in business, but how long will this take? Do many banks just feel that they can rely on the government to bail them out? Because Mr. Bernanke did make a statement that he will not let any banks fail. Hhhhhmmmm Conclusion: Mr. Bernanke did say that a lot of mistakes were made. Well, that's good to admit, but I think we already knew this. He was then asked what could be done to also help in the recovery. --Banks need to make loans, to find a way, and "to have a reasonable sense of humility." Wow, how daunting and daring is that statement. So as a bank, I should suck it up, and make it work, not knowing if I will be compensated if the borrower fails? Isn't that how the foreclosure mess started? Didn't the Clinton administration strong arm Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, telling them to make more loans affordable, by lowering credit scores and raising loan-to-values. The biggest issue at the time was 100% financing, which is not for everyone and to push stated loans at such high LTV's, loan-to values. --Reviewing banks practices. Okay, shouldn't this have been done in the beginning? And he went on to say, "to toughen regulations". hhhhmmmm - How tough? Tough enough to where people can't even get a simple loan? Wait, I thought he said for banks to make loans, to find a way. Mr. Bernanke, my question to you is, which is it. I don't think we can have our cake and eat it too. That took place from 2003 to 2005 and look at us now. I am starving because not only I can't have my cake, but it's not there to be eaten. Food for thought? How about slight change and dumping some money into the economy. And then letting the market work itself out... ??? - FHA Loans - USDA Loans - VA Loans - - Energy Efficient Mortgages - - Conventional Loans - 203 k loans - - Mortgages - Experience & Knowledge at its BEST !!! _________________________________________________________________________________________ For more information on FHA loans, please go to this link. The FHA Expert For more information about the 2008-2009 Tax Credit for First Time Homebuyers : 2008 Tax Credit For important mortgage insight to watch for, please read : Consumers need to be aware of these Red Flags !!!! Copyright © 2009 by Jeff Belonger

Wallpaper Removal Really Does Make a Difference

Steve Homer (The HBH Group (Keller Williams affiliate)) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 01:41:36 -0700

Readers: If you had anydoubt before about the way wallpaper makes a home look dated, this should help you remove that doubt - GET RID OF IT to sell in this market! Steve You've no doubt heard it before, but it always bears repeating... Remove wallpaper prior to putting your house on the market. I recently did a Walk & Talk Consultation for some sellers who had their house on the market for a very long time, 175 days. Overall, their house was in pretty good shape. They had decluttered and maintained it well. I suggested a few additional decor items, repositioned some furniture, etc. Unfortunately, their previous agent told them it was okay to leave up the wallpaper that was in the diining room and entry (sorry no before photo of that space). Why would an agent say that in this market? During my consultation, I insisted it would be worth their effort to have the paper removed. After their listing expired, they re-listed with one of my favorite agents, Robin Hurst of The Hurst Team at Keller Williams. The result is fantastic and the house went under contract after only 6 days on the market. Proof that condition and proper pricing usually brings a sale! _______________________________________ Judy Heinrich Home Staging, LLC, providing quality, professional home staging services to the greater Richmond, VA area. For more information, please call 804-271-2604 or visit my website at www.judyheinrich.com

441 Whitewater DR, Whitewater Springs, Bertram, TX - Lot for sale

Steve Homer (The HBH Group (Keller Williams affiliate)) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:42:13 -0800

Lovely home site on top of a hill overlooking Balcones Canyonlands. Seller has plans for a home that they will sell with the lot.

FREE Williamson County Foreclosure Lists at my website!

Steve Homer (The HBH Group (Keller Williams affiliate)) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 05:08:25 -0800

We post a new foreclosure list for all Williamson County properties in foreclosure on a regular basis. CLICK HERE to download a copy for yourself. If you need assistance with foreclosures, HUD's, Owner Financed properties or any other sort of real estate investment, please call our offices at (512) 439-3772.

Investors Property Caravan - Sat. Jan. 31st - 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. - Round Rock, Pflugerville & Hutto

Steve Homer (The HBH Group (Keller Williams affiliate)) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 04:37:40 -0800

Want to see some of the best discounted properties available in the market today? Join the Williamson County Real Estate Investors Association this Saturday at 1:00 p.m. for a 3 hour caravan around Round Rock, Pflugerville and Hutto. We have a collection of 10 properties to go see... This could open your eyes to the inventory available in the local area. There are some fantastic deals out there right now for: wholesalers, re-habbers, long-term hold investors, and just about anyone wanting to invest in real estate. We welcome to join our caravan and see 10 properties this Saturday. Call our offices at (512) 439-3772 to RSVP so we will hold the caravan for you until you get there Saturday. Other recent articles on Property Investment: Looking for Property Management in Round Rock? Investment in Texas Can Help You Retire Early! It's Time to Invest in Real Estate, Conservatively! Why Flipping Homes Can Carry Strong Liability Foreclosures are Always a Bargain! Yea, Right! Texas is a GREAT Place to Live and Invest! Round Rock Real Estate makes the News... The Tale of the Foolish Real Estate Investor Here are some other Buyer's Resources from Our Website: Seven steps to buying your home Deciding how much house you can afford Making your home wish list Opting for new home construction How can a real estate agent help me? 10 things you should ask a real estate agent Location, Location, Location Mortgage Calculator Contact us about buying your home And some seller's resources as well:Eight steps to selling your home How can a real estate agent help me sell my home Practicing good seller's etiquette How to price to sell and still make a profit Understanding the buyer Increasing your home's appeal Mortgage Calculator Contact us about selling a property The HBH Group/HBH Property Management101 E. Old Settlers Blvd., Suite 190Round Rock, TX 78664 To contact us:Phone: 512-439-3772Toll-Free: 877-268-1877Fax: 512-579-4248E-mail: info@TheHBHGroup.comWebsites: http://www.TheHBHGroup.com/ http://www.TheHBHGroup.biz/ Blogs: http://wcrestate.blogspot.com/http://www.activerain.com/blogs/stevehomer

SELLERS: Get More Money By Staging Your Home

Steve Homer (The HBH Group (Keller Williams affiliate)) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 06:11:59 -0700

To my Readers: Matt makes some great suggestions for preparing your home to sell. We advise our sellers in the same manner plus we offer $150 at closing towards the time of having a professional stager come in and make your home look it's absolute best. Thinking of selling? Call us today! We've all seen those television shows where someone comes in, moves a couple pieces of furniture around, and suddenly the seller's home is worth thousands more. Well, it's not as easy as it may look on TV. There are, however, certain things you can do to stage your home that will bring a better return. Here are 10 easy changes you can make to bring in higher offers from potential home buyers. Clear out your closets and any clutter. Consider holding a yard sale, or better yet, donate your unwanted household goods to charity. Pack up extra toys, linens, small kitchen appliances and the like and store them offsite, or in the garage. Be sure your trees are trimmed, shrubs are pruned and the lawn is mowed and watered regularly. Turn on sprinklers for a few minutes about 30 minutes before a showing or open house. It will make the lawn and driveway sparkle! Refrain from cooking anything that leaves a distinctive odor (fish, garlic, cabbage) and from introducing any other unappealing odors into the home. Think about having a professional service clean the home, including windows and carpets. Set the dining room table with attractive linens, dishes and stemware. As trite as it may sound, serve cookies and coffee; people will linger in the home longer. Arrange some fresh flowers throughout your home and have a fire in the fireplace in fall and winter. Add extra lighting in dark rooms or corners, and turn on the lights when the home is shown. Remove stacks of magazines, ashtrays, sports trophies, family photographs and other distractions. Even though a lot of these may be common sense, it pays to be reminded. These few simple things can make a huge difference when a potential buyer tries to justify the price of your home. Matt Kombrink has been working in his family-owned real estate business since 1997. Specializing in Geneva, St Charles and Batavia Illinois residential real estate his team stays on top of the latest trends while maintaining superior customer. Learn more about his team at www.kombrink.com

When the going gets tough the investors buy.

Steve Homer (The HBH Group (Keller Williams affiliate)) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 06:00:37 -0700

To my Readers: I have been saying that it is time to invest... And it is... Here is confirmation from another colleague that confirms that fact! If you are ready to make some money, call us! SMART INVESTMENTS. When the going gets tough the investors buy.Have you read Rich Dad's series written by Robert Kiyosaki? It's amazing and profitable. What I can find by his teachings is that they are governed by YOUR states' mandates. He and his wife Kim are great. They are a success story from the heavens. They are people that you want to aspire to be like. They teach you how they became rich. I am not one of their REPRESENTATIVES. I just read it. It' worthy. It will teach you. I am simply a voluntary student. My husband pushed the books on me. Now I'm glad. Get it. Use it. Believe it and don't be afraid. And, here's the dig. When the economy is down is when the "okay" get richer. My husband and I are "okay." We are not rich as we work for every penny brought into this household. But, let me give you an example of what you can look for. Country Club Community: This is one the richest aspire to and the "not so rich" do without to be in...well, I'm not going to do without. That is... I won't do without the important things. Food, clothing, energy, gas, medical and good credit. Remember you can't do just about anything in this market today without GOOD credit. If you have good credit and look for the good deals you'll find them. We have just gone to one of the most affluent neighborhoods in East Texas and we found a foreclosure. No one wanted to deal with it. When you have $350,000.00 to spend for a house in Texas you at least want to move into a move-in ready home. Now, this may not sound like much for the West Coast. But, you Californians...what you spend a million for there, I can sell you here for $300,000.00 today! No exaggeration. Think of new comparables. Our area is just as weak or strong as you want to call yours. A million dollar house here is in the top 1% of all of Texas homes sold. Our homes are not less than what you have but we are with a different cap rate and economic level. Today I placed an offer on a 3,300.03 square foot home on the golf course at an affluent Texas neighborhood and (Lord willing) will receive an acceptance for about .50 cents on the dollar. It's a fixer upper. Our bank (with good credit) will allow us to purchase (with written contract), and place $30,000 to $40,000 thousand into the remodel. We are really using the bank's money. It looks like we're using it on paper. We will begin with an appraisal for the existing building and the purchase price compared to the retail. In comes the appraisal...for the "as is" at $200,000.00.. Say they give us $30,000.00 for the remodel. The same house after the remodel will appraise for $350,000.00. You then have $120,000.00 in equity. The banks in Texas can loan 70% of the total retail (appraised) value and that comes to $87,750.00. If you subtract the $87,750,00 from the balance of $245,000.00. Our total balance is $157,250.00. This is the equity in the house at the point and day of the financing! Your total of 15% down then is equivalent to $30,000.00. If you take $30,000.00 from the equity (appraised) value of $157,250.00 you end up with $127,000.00 in instant equity. Your 15% will have been credited as "down" and we will have a new home. Not to mention we will be living in one of the most affluent neighborhoods in East Texas....now, that's what I call "investing". I thank you for listening. Later in the rain~Deb Click Wyatt Hunter to subscribe...great grandbaby , Huh?____>>> Wyatt Hunter Yeager Slaughter

Early Voting - Locations and Times in Williamson County

Steve Homer (The HBH Group (Keller Williams affiliate)) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 05:54:36 -0700

As a community service, we publish this early voting information for the Nov. 4th, 2008 elections in Williamson County. Early voting • April 28-May 6 7 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays and Saturday Noon-6 p.m. Sunday WILLIAMSON COUNTY Williamson County Inner Loop Annex 301 SE Inner Loop • Georgetown McConico Building 301 W. Bagdad St. • Round Rock Round Rock Higher Education Center 1555 University Blvd. • Round Rock • 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.- 4:30 Friday • 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturday Closed Sunday Clay Madsen Recreation Center 1600 Gattis School Road • Round Rock Brushy Creek Community Center 16318 Great Oaks Drive • Round Rock Round Rock ISD Performing Arts Center 5800 McNeil Drive • Austin • Closed Sunday The HBH Group is an expert real estate team with extensive experience in Internet marketing, staging and creative financing. Call us today for a no obligation visit to see how we can help you sell your home in this more difficult market! Our real estate team is connected to: Buyers and sellers of commercial and residential real estate. Investors in both the above classes of real estate. Property acquisution, leasing and management services for investors of commercial and residential real estate. Business brokerage to help you find and acquire a local business. We would love to assist you as you invest in Texas and the greater Austin area. Call us to find all we can offer you and to ask for a FREE information package! This information is brought to you as a public service of the The HBH Group Realty Team with Keller Williams Realty. You can learn more about us at our websites located at: http://www.TheHBHGroup.com/ and http://www.TheHBHGroup.biz/ or contact our offices at (512) 439-3772 or toll-free at (877) 268-1877. We teach a monthly real estate investment seminar in the Greater Austin area and YOU ARE INVITED to this FREE event. Simply call our offices to reserve you seats! Also ask about the investors club that we are forming in the North Austin markets currently - We would love to have you participate! Here are some other Buyer's Resources from Our Website: Seven steps to buying your home Deciding how much house you can afford Making your home wish list Opting for new home construction How can a real estate agent help me? 10 things you should ask a real estate agent Location, Location, Location Mortgage Calculator Contact us about buying your home And some seller's resources as well:Eight steps to selling your home How can a real estate agent help me sell my home Practicing good seller's etiquette How to price to sell and still make a profit Understanding the buyer Increasing your home's appeal Mortgage Calculator Contact us about selling a property The HBH Group/HBH Property Management101 E. Old Settlers Blvd., Suite 190Roundrock, TX 78664 To contact us:Phone: 512-439-3772Toll-Free: 877-268-1877Fax: 512-579-4248E-mail: info@TheHBHGroup.comWebsites: http://www.TheHBHGroup.com/ http://www.TheHBHGroup.biz/ Blogs: http://RoundRockRealEstateBlog.info/http://www.RoundRockRealEstateBlog.com/

Round Rock ISD 2008 Bond Election - What are the facts?

Steve Homer (The HBH Group (Keller Williams affiliate)) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 05:31:35 -0700

On Nov. 4th, Round Rock residents will be asked to vote for or against $293.9 Million in additional bond funding in the form of two propositions. These are: Proposition One - Cost: $156.6 million Proposition one would cover issues arising from district growth. Three new elementary schools in the Stone Oak, Paloma Lake and Parmer corridor areas Purchase of 15 new school buses Purchase of five additional land sites for a future high school, an alternative high school, a middle school and two elementary school sites Technology to refresh, replace, upgrade and support existing computers, network infrastructure upgrades and replacement of existing central computer systems A transportation facility on the west side of the district, allowing the current facility on the McNeil High School campus to be repurposed Proposition Two - Cost: $137.4 million Proposition two would fund renovations, improvements and additions to existing facilities. Phase two of master plan additions and renovations at Round Rock High School and Westwood High School Safety and security improvements to entrances at secondary and selected elementary schools Science room additions at Chisholm Trail Middle School Fine arts addition at Deerpark Middle School Removal of remaining carpeted elementary school gym floors and gym additions at Ridgeview and Cedar Valley middle schools Weight room additions at Stony Point High School, McNeil High School and Cedar Valley Middle School District-wide infrastructure projects including plumbing, electrical, air conditioning/heating, roofing, flooring and fire alarm systems Purchase of 15 new school buses Purchase of digital data projectors for all classrooms that do not yet have them The impact on the taxpayer may be calculated at the RRISD website. PLease note this information and be prepared as you vote in the upcoming election. Sources: RRISD and ImpactNews.com The HBH Group is an expert real estate team with extensive experience in Internet marketing, staging and creative financing. Call us today for a no obligation visit to see how we can help you sell your home in this more difficult market! Our real estate team is connected to: Buyers and sellers of commercial and residential real estate. Investors in both the above classes of real estate. Property acquisution, leasing and management services for investors of commercial and residential real estate. Business brokerage to help you find and acquire a local business. We would love to assist you as you invest in Texas and the greater Austin area. Call us to find all we can offer you and to ask for a FREE information package! This information is brought to you as a public service of the The HBH Group Realty Team with Keller Williams Realty. You can learn more about us at our websites located at: http://www.TheHBHGroup.com/ and http://www.TheHBHGroup.biz/ or contact our offices at (512) 439-3772 or toll-free at (877) 268-1877. We teach a monthly real estate investment seminar in the Greater Austin area and YOU ARE INVITED to this FREE event. Simply call our offices to reserve you seats! Also ask about the investors club that we are forming in the North Austin markets currently - We would love to have you participate! Here are some other Buyer's Resources from Our Website: Seven steps to buying your home Deciding how much house you can afford Making your home wish list Opting for new home construction How can a real estate agent help me? 10 things you should ask a real estate agent Location, Location, Location Mortgage Calculator Contact us about buying your home And some seller's resources as well:Eight steps to selling your home How can a real estate agent help me sell my home Practicing good seller's etiquette How to price to sell and still make a profit Understanding the buyer Increasing your home's appeal Mortgage Calculator Contact us about selling a property The HBH Group/HBH Property Management101 E. Old Settlers Blvd., Suite 190Roundrock, TX 78664 To contact us:Phone: 512-439-3772Toll-Free: 877-268-1877Fax: 512-579-4248E-mail: info@TheHBHGroup.comWebsites: http://www.TheHBHGroup.com/ http://www.TheHBHGroup.biz/ Blogs: http://RoundRockRealEstateBlog.info/http://www.RoundRockRealEstateBlog.com/

A stimulus package I could live with

Steve Homer (The HBH Group (Keller Williams affiliate)) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 06:00:49 -0700

To my readers: I do like this idea of an economic stimulus package... Whoops too late - we helped the banks out, not the taxpayers!If you take the estimated 310 million people in the United States (Wikipedia says it was 305 million in 2005), and figure that the number of households is about 112 million (the US Census projects househols to increase from 103 million in 2000 to be 115 million by 2010), then you take the $700,000,000,000 ($700 billion) that Congress voted to give away and instead gave a one-time stimulus check of $500,000 to every household in America (regardless of household size), you'd only spend $560 billion - a 20% savings. If you gave $500,000 to married couples and $250,000 to single households, you'd save even more. Now that's a stimulus package!! That would fight foreclosures. That would pay for college educations and medical bills. That would let people start businesses. If you want to stimulate the economy, why not put the money in at the bottom and let it filter its way thoughout the system rather than keep it at the top? As long as Congress wants to spend money, why not let them do it this way? ---- For more information on my coaching services or sales tips visit my website stevehoffacker.com or my blog homesalesinsights.com.

What is Going on With These Interest Rates? I'll Tell You!

Steve Homer (The HBH Group (Keller Williams affiliate)) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 05:35:50 -0700

To my readers: This is an interesting read on reasons why mortgage rates are back on the rise again. Happy Reading!For the past couple weeks, interest rates have been headed in the wrong direction....up! While there are a few things that play a part of it, I place the blame on.......... Click here to get the whole sad story in a way you can explain it. Scott Your Indiana lender for life!

Structure the deal so Everyone WINS!

Steve Homer (The HBH Group (Keller Williams affiliate)) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 02:52:05 -0700

To my readers: This is exactly The HBH Group's philosophy - Always create a win-win deal for all parties. We regularly present these types of positive options (and many more) to our buyers, sellers AND our investors. Call us today to get more creative ideas on YOUR SIDE! Thanks for reading! Real estate purchases have benefited from this simple little tool. When a buyer's budget is tight, but they have found the home of their dreams, how can I help get a deal put together with as little "out-of-pocket" as possible? Simple; seller concessions! These days, almost every home is on sale. A wise buyer will offer a lower than list price and almost certainly get a discount of some sort, but wait. Why not offer a less discounted offer and include seller concessions? Here's how it works; Let's say a home is listed for $200k and the seller will accept $180k. Why not pay $192k and accept 6% of the purchase price in seller concessions? This gives the buyer almost $12,000 to use toward a homeowners insurance policy, escrows, taxes payable at closing or any other closing costs in a FHA loan. Sure you are borrowing more, but less "out-of-pocket" costs at closing can make or break a lot of real estate transactions. Need a SMART mortgage broker in Florida? Call Randall 863-229-1235

The Twitter Search Cheat Sheet

Steve Homer (The HBH Group (Keller Williams affiliate)) — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 00:40:57 -0700

To My Readers: As a novice, just learning Twitter and all it's features, this was a VERY INFORMATIVE article that I wanted to pass along to you! SteveIt’s so easy to write posts about Twitter. Why? There’s just so much material out there that people just don’t realize. From the API’s like my personal fav (Twhirl) to things like today’s topic; Using the Twitter Search Function. Wait. You did know they have a search function - right? http://search.twitter.com Did you also know Google has a Twitter Search? * Actually it’s a Steve Rubel coop project but it does show up on G searches. Trust me - you’ll like the twitter search better! Back to Twitter Search. You can search for most any term (as in your name, or twitter name) Search for a hashtag But then there is a plethora of other search functions you might not know about. Consider this your Search Cheat Sheet (copied directly from a hard to find page on twitter) Search Operators You can type these search operators directly into the search box. (Alternatively, you can use the advanced search form to automatically construct your query.) Operator Finds tweets… twitter search containing both “twitter” and “search”. This is the default operator. “happy hour“ containing the exact phrase “happy hour”. obama OR hillary containing either “obama” or “hillary” (or both). beer -root containing “beer” but not “root”. #haiku containing the hashtag “haiku”. from:alexiskold sent from person “alexiskold”. to:techcrunch sent to person “techcrunch”. @mashable referencing person “mashable”. “happy hour” near:“san francisco” containing the exact phrase “happy hour” and sent near “san francisco”. near:NYC within:15mi sent within 15 miles of “NYC”. superhero since:2008-05-01 containing “superhero” and sent since date “2008-05-01″ (year-month-day). ftw until:2008-05-03 containing “ftw” and sent up to date “2008-05-03″. movie -scary :) containing “movie”, but not “scary”, and with a positive attitude. flight :( containing “flight” and with a negative attitude. traffic ? containing “traffic” and asking a question. hilarious filter:links containing “hilarious” and linking to URLs. So there you have it. Now you can search Twitter more effectively. Now go Twsearching! Are you following me on Twitter? @MikeMueller Related articles by Zemanta Do More with Twitter !! Summize Expands Twitter’s TinyURL’s