Get Outside!

Have you noticed?  It's beautiful outside!  After a seeming eternity of cold, dreary weather we Houstonians can now enjoy a time when it is nice outside before the bugs and humidity decide to join us.  So how are you maximizing this weather?

When the weather warms up, it doesn't take much to get me out into the garden.  This weekend we ransacked a local nursey and improvement store to stock up on flowers and veggies. Judging by the parking lot, we are not alone in the this quest.  Having already planted peas and onions, I have added zucchini, three varieties of tomatoes, squash, basil, bell pepper and some herbs to my collection.  Using a system called Square Foot Gardening, my wonderful hubby built me these two boxes last year.

Don't have a garden?  Use outdoor pots to grow veggies or herbs in.  At Home Depot we found plants already started for you already bearing their crop - won't that impress your friends!

So no excuses - get out there and garden!

Middlebrook Open House and Price Reduction - Act now!

The time to act is now! Price just reduced to $162,900 for this updated and open 4 bedroom, 2119 sq foot home in Clear Lake's Middlebrook subdivision. Located on a quiet street and feeding to exemplary CCISD schools, this home is perfect for your family! 16239 Brookford Drive. Open House Sunday, March 28th from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. or call to make an appointment today!http://www.16239brookforddrive.com/

Will Delays lead to Regret?

I usually like to write my own blogs, but I came across this article I felt was important to share - now really is the time to buy.  Give me a call and I can help you on your way

3 Reasons Why Those Who Don’t Buy Now Might Regret It Later

RISMEDIA, March 24, 2010—Buying a home is one of the biggest decisions an individual can make. So it’s understandable that one considering a home purchase may take their time to avoid rushing into such a large financial commitment. However, several factors might leave prospective home buyers who don’t purchase a property now wishing they had taken action sooner.

“Current market conditions have created a perfect storm of sorts that has made it an ideal time to purchase for first-time and trade-up buyers alike,” said James M. Weichert, president and founder of Weichert, Realtors. “Those who have the means and the desire to buy now but don’t, aren’t likely to see such a great opportunity again anytime soon.”

Specifically, Weichert offered three reasons why those who aren’t under contract to purchase a new home by April 30, 2010 might regret it.

1. They won’t receive a sizeable amount of money from Uncle Sam. For the past two years, the federal government has offered a home buyer tax credit to help stimulate the economy. But that financial incentive is set to expire soon. First-time buyers who aren’t under contract to purchase a home by April 30, 2010 will leave the $8,000 that is available to them through the tax credit on the table. Meanwhile, repeat buyers will miss out on the opportunity to collect up to $6,500 from the government.

2. They might not lock-in on the historically-low interest rates.
Thanks to measures taken by the Federal Reserve including the purchasing of mortgage-backed securities, interest rates have remained historically-low for several years. With the economy beginning to show signs of recovery, it is widely believed that the government will soon put an end to these stimulus efforts.

If that happens, many economists believe we will begin to see a sharp increase in interest rates which could result in a much higher monthly payment for those who wait. For example, an interest rate increase of 1% on a 30-year fixed mortgage of $300,000 could cost a buyer $188 more a month or $67,000 more over the span of the entire loan.

3. They might miss out on record home price affordability.
Home price affordability is at its most optimal level in decades. As a result, those who wait to buy will likely pay more for the home they purchase than what that same home would cost right now. In fact, home prices have already begun to rise slightly in some markets. Instead of getting a better bargain, waiting to buy a home might net buyers a higher purchase price, less appreciation and less house for their buck.

“There is no time to waste for anyone who wants to take advantage of this great buying opportunity. Particularly for those who have a home to sell first,” added Weichert. “If you are prone to saying ‘what if’ and wondering what could have been, you will thank yourself down the road for buying now.”

For more information, visit http://www.weichert.com/

Housing From Houston to Haiti

As a Realtor, I am always talking to people about homes.  Whether it is buying or selling, there is an emotional attachment to this piece of property like no other. But what if your home is destroyed?

The earthquake seems so long ago, but the people of Haiti will continue to struggle for years to come.  Hundreds of thousands of homes were destroyed.  One local effort to help in a tangible way is Homes For Haiti a project through C.O.R.E. Alliance.  The goal is to build and provide temporary housing for families in Haiti. They are being built Ikea style for easy shipment (though it will take more than an allen wrench to build these) Some local news stations have been sending out crews to show the efforts in progress

http://www.khou.com/news/local/CORE-Alliance-on-mission-to-build-homes-for-Haiti-88841237.html
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=7316220

Though I was unable to join them, my family recently spent a Saturday helping to build these homes.  It takes no skill, just a willing heart.  You must be at least 12 years old to help.  If you can't physically help, donations are welcome to defray the costs of materials and shipping.

Contact C.O.R.E. Alliance for more information.

Really, what Are you Waiting For?!

So you're asking yourself "Is now a good time to buy or can I wait a while to see what the market does?" This article provides the obvious answer to that question:

Source: Money Magazine, Beth Braverman (03/02/2010)
"Buyers Who Wait May Lose a Lot
Potential home buyers who delay have a lot to lose.


First-time home buyer and move-up tax credits worth $8,000 and $6,500, respectively, expire April 30. Buyers who qualify get a dollar-for-dollar reduction in taxes or a cash payment if they don’t pay enough taxes to cover the credit.

Other factors that should spur buyers:

Low mortgage rates. If the Federal Reserve stops buying mortgage-backed securities at the end of March, 30-year rates will almost certainly rise to more than 6 percent.

Rising prices.About 30 percent of markets are already experiencing price increases. Prices are falling in 12 percent of markets, says Fiserv (but that only helps if you want to live there)."

So call me already! 713.817.5710

March is Marching on

I’d say welcome to March – but I feel like April is almost upon us! Regardless here is March’s newsletter http://karensherrill.housingtrendsenewsletter.com/

March always brings a bit of “madness” to our household....birthdays the beginning of Spring baseball, and other sports. It also means it is time for me to get out into my garden to plant. As I type this I can hear my husband out mowing the lawn into submission – what a beautiful day it is today!

March also means that NEXT MONTH the homebuyers tax credit ends. If you know someone who is looking to buy for the first-time, or currently owns their home (living in it a consecutive 5 of the last 8 years) you can qualify for a tax credit too of up to $6500! The catch is you need to be under contract on another home by April 30, 2010. I can say from my own personal experience that the market is warming up; people are buying and selling. I know I have a couple of great listings ready to come on the market in Middlebrook – I can give you the inside scoop. Let me know if I can help you!

March has also been an monumental month as I have further expanded into cyber sphere – become a fan of Karen Sherrill Realtor on Facebook. You can also follow me on Twitter – Karen Sherrill RE. This is a great way to see current blog posts or information.

Finally – don’t forget that Daylight Savings Time is upon us THIS SUNDAY! (has it always been in the middle of the month?) Remember to change those clocks.....and loose that sleep (sigh)

What Are you Waiting For?!

I know, I know, you have heard a lot about the Home buyer's Tax Credit blah, blah, blah. You may even be mulling over the thought in your head about taking advantage of it. If so, I would ask "what are you doing about it NOW!"

While I am not a hurry up and rush kind of a gal, it is important to remind everyone that the Tax Credit REQUIRES that you be under contract on a home by April 30, 2010 - that is just next month. If you want to be under contract, this means you should probably start lining up financing and beginning your search soon. Especially in the First Time Home buyer's market, I am seeing homes that are priced to sell - selling quickly.

If you are an existing homeowner and want to take advantage of the $6500 Tax Credit, you may want to sell and have your existing home under contract before you look. This is not a requirement of the Tax Credit. It states that you must have lived in your current home as your principal residence a consecutive 5 of the last 8 years. The home you purchase must then become your primary home of residence.

A good, and detailed resource is an IRS publication , you may also want to contact your accountant for specifics. You can also check out my Tax Credit Section in my website for other resources and links.

So what are you waiting for? Give me a call today at 713.817.5710 or email me Karen@KarenSherrill-homes.com and I can set you up with a personalized website to help you in your search for a new home!