The Century Tree Reader http://thecenturytreereader.com Real Estate & Community Blog in Bryan, College Station, Caldwell, Navasota & More in TEXAS Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:24:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 en hourly 1 thecenturytreereader/vNRohttp://feedburner.google.com Vote for the Century Tree Reader NOW!!! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thecenturytreereader/vNRo/~3/RnkWrlCebAI/ http://susanhilton.com/2009/07/10/vote-for-the-century-tree-reader-now/#comments Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:23:19 +0000 Susan Hilton College Station Real Estate http://susanhilton.com/2009/07/10/vote-for-the-century-tree-reader-now/ Like what you are reading on The Century Tree Reader?

VOTE NOW!!!Badge - 2008 election

We need your help!  The Century Tree Reader has been nominated as the favorite Texas real estate blog. We need you to vote and tell them why it is the BEST

Cast your vote with and send your comments to Brian Pope’s email at   

B-pope@tamu.edu

 

Thanks!

Original Article below –

 

From: RECON-owner@recmail.recenter.tamu.edu [mailto:RECON-owner@recmail.recenter.tamu.edu] On Behalf Of Real Estate Center
Sent: Friday, July 10, 2009 1:35 PM
To: recon@recenter.tamu.edu
Subject: RECON July 10, 2009

 

RECON

Real Estate Center Online News

July 10, 2009

Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.

Material herein is published according to the fair-use doctrine of U.S. copyright laws related to non-profit, educational institutions. Items attributed to sources other than the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University should not be reprinted without permission of the original source.

VOTE FOR BEST BLOG

COLLEGE STATION (Real Estate Center) – Thanks to all of you who submitted your favorite Texas real estate blogs to us last month. Now for round two.

 

We’ve compiled 19 blogs and will publish them in five groups beginning today and over the next four issues. Your job: Check out each issue’s group of blogs and vote on the one you think is the most informative or useful, or the one that is simply the most entertaining. Be sure to let us know what swayed your decision.

 

The blogs that receive the most votes in their groups will face off against each other in the final round.

 

Here we go. First up:

Cast your vote with and send your comments to Associate Editor Bryan Pope.

Susan Hilton

Susan Hilton - Realtor & Sales Trainer for Century 21 Beal

Want to Search the Bryan/College Station Real Estate MLS? CLICK HERE!!!

979-764-2100

Selling a home in Bryan or College Station, Texas or other location in the Brazos Valley is heavily dependant on pricing your home properly and picking an agent that will create an “online market presence” for your home. As a home seller, you need to be aware that the market in Bryan College Station and many other Texas communities has changed over the last three and a half years. We are no longer in a strong seller’s market.

When selling a home in Bryan College Station, Tx, it pays to have a pro in your corner representing you.  It pays to hire a well educated, top professional at Century 21 Beal.

** 85% of all buyers are finding their homes on the Internet. Is your Bryan College Station home being advertised on the web? If you are with CENTURY 21 Beal it sure is!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

]]> http://susanhilton.com/2009/07/10/vote-for-the-century-tree-reader-now/feed/ http://susanhilton.com/2009/07/10/vote-for-the-century-tree-reader-now/ Where Is This Pendulum? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thecenturytreereader/vNRo/~3/fjaDF45hopo/ http://susanhilton.com/2009/07/10/where-is-this-pendulum/#comments Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:11:02 +0000 Susan Hilton College Station Real Estate http://susanhilton.com/2009/07/10/where-is-this-pendulum/ Click here to view the embedded video.

Do you know where this Pendulum is?

Call 979-764-2121 and enter the street number and you can HEAR information about that house. ANY PHONE - ANY TIME!

If a Bryan College Station home is available for sale in the MLS YOU CAN HEAR IT!  It doesn’t matter if Century 21 has it listed for sale or Coldwell Banker or Remax or ANYONE!

Susan Hilton

Susan Hilton - Realtor & Sales Trainer for Century 21 Beal

Want to Search the Bryan/College Station Real Estate MLS? CLICK HERE!!!

View Susan Hilton's LinkedIn profileView Susan Hilton’s profile

979-764-2100

Selling a home in Bryan or College Station, Texas or other location in the Brazos Valley is heavily dependant on pricing your home properly and picking an agent that will create an “online market presence” for your home. As a home seller, you need to be aware that the market in Bryan College Station and many other Texas communities has changed over the last three and a half years. We are no longer in a strong seller’s market.

When selling a home in Bryan College Station, Tx, it pays to have a pro in your corner representing you.  It pays to hire a well educated, top professional at Century 21 Beal.

** 85% of all buyers are finding their homes on the Internet. Is your Bryan College Station home being advertised on the web? If you are with CENTURY 21 Beal it sure is!

]]> http://susanhilton.com/2009/07/10/where-is-this-pendulum/feed/ http://susanhilton.com/2009/07/10/where-is-this-pendulum/ College Station Water - Where Does It Come From? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thecenturytreereader/vNRo/~3/h1o8QFNB1-k/ http://susanhilton.com/2009/07/03/college-station-water-where-does-it-come-from/#comments Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:36:59 +0000 Susan Hilton College Station Real Estate http://susanhilton.com/2009/07/03/college-station-water-where-does-it-come-from/ Do you ever wonder where the College Station water you drink comes from? glass-of-water

College Station’s water is ground water from deep wells in Simsboro Sand about 3,000 feet down.  The water is pumped from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer.

Is the water hot or cold when it comes up? Would you believe that the temperature for the water is 118 degrees Fahrenheit? The cooling towers at the Sandy Point Pump Station help reduce the temperature down to 85 degrees.

From the Sandy Point Pump Station the water travels about 13 miles to the Dowling Road Pump Station. At this Pump Station chlorine is added to disinfect and have fluoride added. The storage tanks at Dowling Road hold about 8 million gallons of water for College Station residents!

After the chlorine is added and the water is disinfected it goes to the to one of the 2 elevated storage tanks. These tanks provide us with the water pressure we want and need and for extra water in case of a fire.

Now you know where your drinking water came from.

Susan Hilton

Susan Hilton - Realtor & Sales Trainer for Century 21 Beal

Want to Search the Bryan/College Station Real Estate MLS? CLICK HERE!!!

View Susan Hilton's LinkedIn profileView Susan Hilton’s profile

979-764-2100

Selling a home in Bryan or College Station, Texas or other location in the Brazos Valley is heavily dependant on pricing your home properly and picking an agent that will create an “online market presence” for your home. As a home seller, you need to be aware that the market in Bryan College Station and many other Texas communities has changed over the last three and a half years. We are no longer in a strong seller’s market. 

 When selling a home in Bryan College Station, Tx, it pays to have a pro in your corner representing you.  It pays to hire a well educated, top professional at Century 21 Beal.

** 85% of all buyers are finding their homes on the Internet. Is your Bryan College Station home being advertised on the web? If you are with CENTURY 21 Beal  it sure is!

]]> http://susanhilton.com/2009/07/03/college-station-water-where-does-it-come-from/feed/ http://susanhilton.com/2009/07/03/college-station-water-where-does-it-come-from/ Hear About Any College Station Home on Your Phone NOW!!! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thecenturytreereader/vNRo/~3/NUmR0lWAxjE/ http://thecenturytreereader.com/2009/06/26/hear-about-any-college-station-home-on-your-phone-now/#comments Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:21:39 +0000 Susan Hilton College Station Real Estate http://thecenturytreereader.com/?p=2069

7410-6x24-i45-coro

 

Inquiring Minds Want to Know…

Have you ever been driving around a Bryan or College Station neighborhood and wanted to know how much a house is selling for but you didn’t want to “bother” the agent or they weren’t there when you called?

WE HAVE THE ANSWER!!!   

Call 979-764-2121 and enter the street number and you can HEAR information about that house.  ANY PHONE - ANY TIME!

If a Bryan College Station home is available for sale in the MLS YOU CAN HEAR IT!  It doesn’t matter if Century 21 has it listed for sale or Coldwell Banker or Remax or ANYONE!

Questions? Ideas?

Call me! 

Susan Hilton

979-764-2100

]]> http://thecenturytreereader.com/2009/06/26/hear-about-any-college-station-home-on-your-phone-now/feed/ http://thecenturytreereader.com/2009/06/26/hear-about-any-college-station-home-on-your-phone-now/ iPhone 3.0 is here and better than Ever!!! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thecenturytreereader/vNRo/~3/Jiu9rr8moa8/ http://buyaggieland.com/2009/06/23/iphone-30-is-here-and-better-than-ever/#comments Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:21:45 +0000 Jeff Leatherwood http://buyaggieland.com/2009/06/23/iphone-30-is-here-and-better-than-ever/ Apple relaesed the new iPhone 3GS last week and with it came the new 3.0 software!  While I have not yet drank the 3GS “Kool-Aid”, I have upgraded to the 3.0 operting system and its awesome!

In Summary the changes are as follows:

MMS Spotlight Search

Cut, Copy & Paste

Quickly and easily cut, copy, and paste text from application to application. Select entire blocks of web text with a tap. Copy and paste images from the web, too.

Landscape Keyboard

Want more room to type? Rotate iPhone to landscape to use a larger keyboard in Mail, Messages, Notes, and Safari.

MMS

Send MMS messages and include photos, audio, and contact info.2 Even tap to snap a picture right inside Messages.MMS support from AT&T coming in late summer.

Spotlight Search

Find what you’re looking for across your iPhone, all from one place. Spotlight searches all of your contacts, email, calendars, and notes, as well as everything in your iPod.

voice memo

Voice Memos

Capture a memo, a meeting, or any audio recording on the go. Voice Memos works with the built-in iPhone microphone or with the mic on your headset.

Calendar

Improved Calendar

Create meetings via Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync and subscribe to calendars with new CalDAV support.

itunes store

Buy Movies, TV Shows, and Audiobooks

Download movies, TV shows, music videos, and audiobooks from the iTunes Store on your iPhone.3

Stocks

Enhanced Stocks App

Get more at-a-glance information and view charts in landscape.

Safari

Safari Improvements

Enjoy faster performance, autofill user names and passwords, and more.

Internet Tethering

Internet Tethering

Share your Internet connection with your laptop with Internet tethering via Bluetooth or USB.44. Tethering is not currently offered in the U.S. and some other countries. See your carrier for availability.

Stereo Bluetooth

Stereo Bluetooth

Connect compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones, car kits, or other accessories.

Auto Wi-Fi Login

Automatic Wi-Fi Login

Log in to a Wi-Fi hotspot and iPhone automatically logs you in when you connect again.

Sync Notes

Sync Notes

Never leave a note behind. Now you can sync all the notes you write on your iPhone back to your Mac or PC.

Parental Controls

Parental Controls

Decide what music, videos, and apps your kids can access.

iTunes Store

iTunes Store Account

Create and log in to one or more iTunes Store accounts directly from your iPhone.5

Parental Controls

YouTube Login

Log in to your YouTube account to save and sync bookmarks and rate favorites.

Shake to Shuffle

Shake to Shuffle

Give iPhone a shake and it shuffles to a different song in your music library.

Shake to Shuffle

New Languages

iPhone supports 30 languages and more than 40 keyboard layouts.

Mobile Me

MobileMe Find My iPhone and Remote Wipe

Find your iPhone if you lose it and protect your privacy with Remote Wipe.

Latest Maps

Run the Latest Apps

Run the next generation of iPhone apps, like peer-to-peer games1 and more.

 

The iPhone is a great tool for any Real Estate Proffesional!!! 

For all of your College Station Real Estate Needs Please call Jeff Leatherwood at 979-255-2788 email Leatherwood @Century21.com or just visit www.BuyAggieland.com

]]> http://buyaggieland.com/2009/06/23/iphone-30-is-here-and-better-than-ever/feed/ http://buyaggieland.com/2009/06/23/iphone-30-is-here-and-better-than-ever/ Electric Lawn Mowers - Green but Grievous http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thecenturytreereader/vNRo/~3/bgvJVW71y9k/ http://thecenturytreereader.com/2009/06/01/electric-lawn-mowers-green-but-grievous/#comments Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:50:40 +0000 Cindy Seaton http://thecenturytreereader.com/?p=2060
Green Lawn Mower

Green Lawn Mower

BRYAN, TX — The Texas Municipal Power Agency encourages homeowners to use electric lawn mowers rather than gas to promote cleaner air.  They are offering vouchers worth $150 toward the purchase of an electric-powered machine, corded or cordless.

You’re thinking, I gotta push this reel mower or work my way around power cords?  That’s a big sacrifice for clean air.  Well, Black and Decker does have a handy 24V battery mower but it will only cut up to 1/3 of an acre at a time.  Then there’s a solar powered cordless from Solaris - that sounds neat.

Either way, you only have until August to pick up a voucher, or until they run out.  Sears associates will hand them out to customers with a current driver’s license or your BTU bill.  For more information on these and other rebate programs offered by the local utility company, call or email…

Happy Gardening,

Cindy Seaton, REALTOR

P.S.  Check back next week for my commentary on community chickens!

]]> http://thecenturytreereader.com/2009/06/01/electric-lawn-mowers-green-but-grievous/feed/ http://thecenturytreereader.com/2009/06/01/electric-lawn-mowers-green-but-grievous/ Places to Eat http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thecenturytreereader/vNRo/~3/pBVXxRxK7iM/ http://intranet.thecenturytreereader.com/2009/05/24/places-to-eat/#comments Sun, 24 May 2009 11:14:31 +0000 Cindy Seaton http://intranet.thecenturytreereader.com/2009/05/24/places-to-eat/ BRYAN, TX — Now that the university students are out for the summer,

Shish Ka Bob

Shish Ka Bob

you can

try new restaurants around town without waiting in a line ;)  Actually, I can’t give them a hard time - the students are the reason why our local economy is so insulated from the extremes shown in the national news stories.

Back to the menu…There is one place in town that you need to visit, tucked away at 110 Dominik near Texas Avenue in College Station.

It is Shiraz Shish-ka-Bob, an Iranian restaurant with various ka-bobs with rice and vegetables, humus, and flat bread. The owners finished-out a former photo store/donut store very nicely.  It sits near Blue Baker and Gumby’s Pizza.

The restaurant is named for the city Shiraz in southwestern Iran known for poetry and arts. We’ve been several times - my favorite ka-bob is the lamb.  In the Aggieland of chicken fingers and BBQ, Shiraz is divine.  The sodas and regular beverages sit near the cash register, but I recommend asking for their hot tea.  It is dark and wonderful - don’t know the name.  But I am learning Arabic.  Oops that’s another story for another time.

And, if you are ever in need of Egyptian food,

email me and I will direct you to an enthusiastic Arab woman with amazing stories and authentic North African fare.

Happy Memorial Day,

Cindy Seaton, REALTOR

]]> http://intranet.thecenturytreereader.com/2009/05/24/places-to-eat/feed/ http://intranet.thecenturytreereader.com/2009/05/24/places-to-eat/ Death and Taxes http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thecenturytreereader/vNRo/~3/UDxCz7RcfH4/ http://buyaggieland.com/2009/05/20/death-and-taxes/#comments Wed, 20 May 2009 20:56:37 +0000 Jeff Leatherwood http://buyaggieland.com/2009/05/19/death-and-taxes/ Click here to view the embedded video. ]]> http://buyaggieland.com/2009/05/20/death-and-taxes/feed/ http://buyaggieland.com/2009/05/20/death-and-taxes/ Biggest Real Estate News Of The Year!!! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thecenturytreereader/vNRo/~3/h8kocMjyq4g/ http://buyaggieland.com/2009/05/14/biggest-real-estate-news-of-the-year/#comments Thu, 14 May 2009 15:16:47 +0000 Jeff Leatherwood http://buyaggieland.com/2009/05/14/biggest-real-estate-news-of-the-year/ HUD secretary,  Shaun Donovan, announced HUD approval of using the $8,000 first time homebuyer’s tax credit to apply toward a down payment!!!  This is huge news!

Basically now all we need is lenders to implement this into loan programs.

Basically its going to work thru short term bridge loans so that the lender gives you $8,000 to close on a house and at the first of next year they get your $8,000 tax return… 

Obviously, this is the “Condensed Version” Call or Email me for details!  www. BuyAggieland.com Leatherwood@Century21.com or call 979.255.2788 Thanks, Jeffrey Leatherwood, Broker College Station Texas Real Estate.

]]> http://buyaggieland.com/2009/05/14/biggest-real-estate-news-of-the-year/feed/ http://buyaggieland.com/2009/05/14/biggest-real-estate-news-of-the-year/ Bryan College Station Electricity, Utilities, Telephone, License http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thecenturytreereader/vNRo/~3/-hKnHYhjSYc/ http://susanhilton.com/2009/05/12/bryan-college-station-electricity-utilities-telephone-license/#comments Tue, 12 May 2009 11:44:28 +0000 Susan Hilton College Station Real Estate http://susanhilton.com/2009/05/12/bryan-college-station-electricity-utilities-telephone-license/

Moving to Bryan College Station and need HELP?  How about information about who to call for electricity, gas, phone, water and on and on and on. Bookmark this page and when you are “in need” you’ll know who to call (Not Ghostbusters!).

Electricity

Bryan Texas Utilities (BTU)

979-821-5700 or 877-363-7448

www.btutilities.com

 

College Station Utilities

979-764-3535 or 800-849-6623

www.cstx.gov/indexaspx?page=2004

 

Natural Gas

Atmos Energy

1-888-322-8667

www.atmosenergy.com

 

Telephone

 Verizon

Residential 979-846-1271

Business 1-800-483-5400

 

Embarq (Navasota)

800-788-3500

 

Water

 

College Station Utilities

979-764-3535 or 800-849-6623

www.cstx.gov/indexaspx?page=2004

 

Bryan Texas Utilities (BTU)

979-821-5700 or 877-363-7448

www.btutilities.com

 

Wellborn Special Utility District

979-690-9799

www.wellbornsud.com

 

Cable Service

 

Suddenlink

4114 East 29th Street-Bryan

979-846-2229

www.suddenlink.com

 

Drivers License

 

Newcomers have 30 days after establishing residency to apply for a Texas driver’s license.  Applicants (18 and older) will be required to  provide proof of identity, social security number, Texas vehicle registration and proof of liability insurance on all vehicles owned.  Applicants must complete required forms and pay required fee. With a valid, out-of-state driver’s license, only an eye exam or specialist is required.

 Driver’s License Office

1003 North Earl Rudder Freeway

979-776-3100

www.texasonline.com

 

Tags/Registration

 Newcomers have 30 days after establishing residency to purchase Texas license tags.  To purchase license tags you will need to have your vehicle inspected.  You will need to have your car registered before applying for a Texas driver’s license.

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles handles vehicle tags.  Offices are Open Mon-Fri from 8 am-5 pm.

 979-361-4473

300 East William J. Bryan Pkwy

www.txdps.state.tx.us

 

 Bryan Administrative Offices

300 South Texas Ave.

979-209-5000

www.bryantx.gov

 College Station City Hall

1101 Texas Ave.

979-764-3509

www.cstx.gov

 

Voter Registration

300 East William J. Bryan Pkwy

Bryan, TX 77803

979-361-4470

 

Taxes

Brazos County Tax Office

979-361-4470

  

Bryan-College Station Convention & Visitors Bureau

715 University Dr E-College Station

www.visitaggieland.com

 

Bryan-College Station Chamber of Commerce

4001 East 29th Street, Ste. 175-Bryan

979-260-5200

www.bcschamber.org

 Real Estate - Homes for Sale in Bryan & College Station

979-764-2100

http://century21bcs.com

http://susanhilton.com

 

 

 

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