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Vast Majority of Americans Aspire to Become Homeowners
For centuries, owning your own home has been something to aspire to in America. And according to this year’s Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers from the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, that hasn’t changed. According to NAR’s data, the vast majority of non-owners in the US (81 percent) want to own a home in the […]
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Diamond Beach Featured Condo Video
Diamond Beach Resort Condominiums in Galveston are the ultimate pandemic stress-buster! Lazy river, private theater, game room, fitness center, lounge, spa…the list of amenities goes on. And this fabulous condo on the 6th floor has the kind of gorgeous views that will melt your troubles away. Book your private viewing today!
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Dispelling Refinancing Myths
“Refinancing” is a scary word for many people, but that shouldn’t be the case for you. For many homeowners, refinancing can not only lower your monthly payments and help with your monthly budget, but it can save you thousands of dollars in the long run. YOU’RE NOT TOO LATE. With the recent drop in rates […]
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5 Negotiating Tactics That Kill Deals
Negotiation is a subtle art in real estate, but skilled negotiators can usually find some common ground that satisfies all parties. On the other hand, using the wrong negotiation tactics can sink a deal pretty quickly. Here are some negotiation tactics buyers (and real estate professionals) should avoid. Lowball offers: Going far below market value […]
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How To “Try On” A Neighborhood Before Buying A Home There
With many purchases, you get the opportunity to “try before you buy.” You can go to the store and try on clothes before you update your wardrobe. You can go to the dealership and take a test drive before you commit to purchasing a car. And while you can’t try a house on for size […]
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Happy Father’s Day
For all the dads out there, wishing you a day of joy with your children. To those missing their dads and the dads missing their children, our hearts are with you.
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Flip Flop Fun
There’s no place like the beach. There’s no place like the beach. There’s no place like the beach. ?️ ?
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Create An Evacuation Plan For Your Pets
An evacuation plan is a necessity for every home, especially if you live in an area where fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding, and other disasters are a possibility. Many homeowners create evacuation plans for their homes and practice them with their kids, but far fewer have considered one for their pets. Take these steps to add […]
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National Donut Day
Show your support of our local Salvation Army and celebrate the Donut Lassies of WWII!
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Hurricane 411
We’ve got a system cooking in the Gulf, and there is no better time to prepare for what may be an active season than right now. Know your zone and plan your evacuation route now with these resources from The Daily News Hurricane Preparedness Guide available here https://buff.ly/3eIfQtP. #HurricanePrep #Galveston
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Hurricane Intensity Primer
Do you know the difference between a watch and a warning? Do you know what kind of damage to expect from the different storm categories? This hurricane intensity primer is courtesy of The Daily News Hurricane Preparedness Guide available now at https://resources.galvnews.com/sections/hurricane/2020/#page=1 #HurricanePrep #Galveston
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Anatomy Of A Hurricane
June 1st was the official start of the hurricane season, and we already have storms brewing. Here is an interesting graphic on the anatomy of a hurricane from The Daily News Hurricane Preparedness Guide, available now at https://resources.galvnews.com/sections/hurricane/2020/#page=1. #HurricanePrep #Galveston
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2020 Hurricane Season Starts Today
Hurricane season starts today. Prepare now, and let’s all hope for a storm-free year! ?
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Murphy’s Law of Real Estate
That’s working Murphy’s Law to your advantage!
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Friday Star Wars Fun
In celebration of Star Wars’ 43rd anniversary on Monday. #FridayFun
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What’s A Seller Disclosure?
Did you know the statement of property condition required in most residential sales benefits both buyer and seller? Read on for more about this important document.
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Happy Armed Forces Day
Saluting our Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, and Navy!
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Friday Garage Fun
Forget the garage. I want a better look at that Mustang! ?? ? #FridayFun
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The Military Influence On Texas Housing Markets
In honor of Saturday’s Armed Forces Day celebration, here’s a report by the Real Estate Center at TAMU examining the influence the military has on our Texas housing markets. https://buff.ly/2w7fH2f
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Thank You Supporters of Galveston County
Big shout out to these generous supporters! Without community support, our Galveston County Salvation Army will be forced to close its doors. Thank you for recognizing how vital this organization is to our community! #NationalSalvationArmyWeek
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Donations Needed For Galveston County
While most of us were safely quarantined in our homes, our Galveston County Salvation Army provided over 4,600 meals and over 1,200 nights of lodging to those in need in April. Your donations to the Family Store are greatly needed. Please consider donating your unwanted items.
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National Salvation Army Week
It’s #National Salvation Army Week! While many activities planned for spring and summer are on hold, our local branch remains a beacon of light for many. It is only with your support that their work can continue. Much has been accomplished, and there is much left to do.
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Happy Mother’s Day
“No language can express the power and beauty and heroism of a mother’s love.” —Edwin Chapin
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Virtually Hug a Teacher Today
It’s Teacher Appreciation Week. Show your favorite teacher some love this week! ?
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Instantly Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal With These Simple Strategies
When you’re selling your home, you only get a chance to make a first impression on buyers once—which is why curb appeal is so important. If your home doesn’t look good from the outside, you’re not going to draw buyers inside—and, as a result, it’s going to be harder to sell your home. Upping your […]
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Happy Earth Day
It’s the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Let’s show our planet a little love today! ?
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What’s The Point of Mortgage Points?
Here are some questions for you to consider when deciding whether or not to buy down the interest rate on your loan.
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3 Things That Have Changed in Real Estate Since the Pandemic (and 3 Things That Haven’t)
The global COVID-19 pandemic has affected life across the globe. Strict social distancing measures, school closures, and, in many locales, a ban on all non-essential businesses have turned people’s lives upside down and thrust us into a surreal existence where we’re spending nearly all of our time at home. From a real estate perspective, it […]
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The 7 Most-Needed Repair Tips Every Homeowner Should Know
Save yourself a little money by learning how to perform these small repairs you’ll likely encounter at some point. The 7 Most-Needed Repair Tips Every Homeowner Should Know
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Give Your Walls A New Look While Isolating
With everything going on with the coronavirus pandemic, it’s looking like many Americans are about to be spending a lot more time at home. You’re also going to be spending more time looking at your walls, and you might decide they need a fresh coat of paint. Grabbing some cans of paint, paint brushes, and […]
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City of Galveston Coronavirus Tips
City of Galveston do’s and don’ts to keep in mind as you enjoy this holiday weekend. #coronavirus
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Help For Mortgage Holders During The Coronavirus Pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic is causing uncertainty across the nation, and for many that includes financial uncertainty. Luckily, there are options for homeowners impacted by the coronavirus. In a recent statement, Mark Calabria, Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (which regulates Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the 11 Federal Home Loan Banks) called attention to […]
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2020 Census
It’s time to be counted! Many of the benefits provided to our state and local communities are tied to the information provided by the census, performed every 10 years. Submit your census today!
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Happy April Fools Day
Ever wondered about the history of April Fool’s Day? Watch for pranks today! ?
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5 Home Gadgets To Help Ease Your Germ Fears
We’ve all become a lot more sensitive to germs and being cautious about what we touch—even in our own homes. Try as you may, it can often feel impossible to keep your home clean and germ-free for long. If you’re someone who flinches at the very thought of bacteria-laden surfaces inhabiting your abode, you may […]
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Friday Preparedness Fun
Hang in there! We’ll get through this eventually. ? #FridayFun
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Easy (And Affordable!) Staging Tips To Up Your Bedroom’s Appeal
The way you stage your home can go a long way in helping it to sell. Potential buyers need to be able to picture themselves at home in your property—and that’s especially true of the bedroom, where they’ll be spending a large chunk of time relaxing (and, of course, sleeping!). But staging can be expensive. […]
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Realtor Homeschooling Fun
This one is dedicated to all the Realtor parents out there! ??✏️ #FridayFun
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What To Consider Before Buying A Vacation Home
There is even more to consider before buying your first vacation home. I’m a certified Resort and Second Home Property Specialist specializing in the Galveston market. Let’s talk about all the thing you should consider before taking the plunge!
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5 Criteria For Pricing A Home
When you put your home up for sale, one of the best ways to determine the asking price is to look at comparable sales. There’s rarely a perfect apples-to-apples comparison, so a pricing decision often relies on comparisons to several recent sales in the area. Here are five criteria to look for in a sales […]
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Make Your Home a Model Home
With the spring selling season upon us, you may be considering some tweaks before selling. Want to make your home look like a model home? Here are some of the top showroom trends from Builder Magazine.
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It’s Leap Day
Do you know the history behind Leap Year? Here’s a brief explanation of this every-four-year phenomenon.
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Friday Referral Fun
Oh, and you can add Canada, United Kingdom and Australia to the list too!
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Questions To Ask Before A Home Inspection
You know you need to have a home inspection prior to purchase. Do you know the basics of hiring for one? Read on for tips on what you should know before the inspection starts.
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5 Money-Saving Green Upgrades
Going green is great for the environment, but that’s not the only benefit. When you make green upgrades in your home, it can also lead to some major savings. Solar panels: The upfront cost is big, but the long-term savings are huge. Solar panels will cost several thousand dollars to install, but ongoing maintenance costs […]
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2020 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Lineup
The performers for the 2020 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo have been announced. Giddy up! ?
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The Mortgage Challenges of First Time Buyers
No one enjoys going through the mortgage process, but first time buyers seem to have more challenges with the lending process. Shop around and be sure you are looking at more than just fees when choosing a lender.
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Common Seller Mistakes
There’s more to selling a property than just putting a For Sale sign in the yard. Read on for some common seller mistakes to avoid, and get your property sold!
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Top Flooring Trends For 2020
A new year is officially upon us—and with a new year comes new design trends. If you’re thinking about selling your home, it’s important to keep your finger on the pulse of what’s trending in the interior design space and what buyers are looking for—and that includes flooring. In a recent article from realtor.com, design […]
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2020 Year Of The Rat
The Chinese New Year starts today, and it’s the Year of the Rat. In Chinese culture, rats are representative of wealth and surplus. Wishing you a wealth of good fortune this year! ?
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Chrysler Building Seeks New Owners
The Chrysler Building is on the block. Will the Abu Dhabi government fund that owns a 90% stake in the building get back the $800 million they paid in 2008? Stay tuned.
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2020 Galveston Restaurant Week and Museum Day
Not one, but two great events happening this weekend! Galveston Museum Day is Saturday and Sunday and features free or discounted admission at many of Galveston’s museums and historical homes. Restaurant Week starts Saturday and runs through Feb. 9th. You have two weeks to sample special menus at over 30 different restaurants. Bon appetit! ?️
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the day of service that celebrates the Civil Rights leader’s life and legacy. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. Visit The Corporation for National and Community Service […]
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Top DIY Advice
So what advice would all these DIY warriors give to the rest of us, according to the Clovered.com report? 1. Work inside your skill set; 2. Buy the proper tools; and 3. Plan, plan, plan. Wishing you much success on your projects this year!
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Friday DIY Fun
Selling your home is definitely one of those DIY projects better left to professionals! (The woman on the right was not harmed during the photo shoot.) #fridayfun
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Top DIY Injuries
It’s easy to see that the biggest mistakes, in our review of common DIY mistakes homeowners make from Clovered.com, are injuries. Cutting oneself, hitting oneself with a hammer and tripping are the top three. It’s dangerous in DIYland! Be careful!
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Cost of DIY Mistakes
So how much did it cost to fix the mistakes DIY homeowners made? This graphic from https://clovered.com/most-costly-home-improvement-mistakes/ indicates the median amount was around $137. And starting the project without the necessary tools or supplies seemed to be the No. 1 money mistake.
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Is It Worth The Work?
We are continuing with our look at DIY projects and the mistakes homeowners sometimes make from Clovered.com. One mistake DIYers seem to make is not considering whether the project is worth tackling alone. In some cases, it would seem to be. Check out the full report here.
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Who Is Tackling DIY Projects And Why
We’re going DIY this week looking at a report from Clovered.com on homeowner’s most costly home improvement mistakes. Up first, who is more apt to tackle the DIY and why.
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2019 Texas Luxury Home Sales Report
The 2019 Luxury Home Sales Report, published by the Texas Association of Realtors is out. View the full report here.
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Friday Fun Fact – Monopoly Edition
It’s the 85th anniversary of the Monopoly game this year. If you’re looking for a local spin on this classic pastime, head over to Walmart and pick up Galvestonopoly.
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What Matters To Home Buyers
With more buyers moving back to the cities, it’s no surprise that urban amenities would top their wish lists.
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File Your 2020 Homestead Exemption
It’s that time of year again. Get the homestead application and other application forms here.
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Friday Fun Fact – Red Doors
Red doors have also been a sign to weary travelers that they had arrived at a place to rest. So whether it’s a mortgage-free home or a home with a big welcome mat, here’s hoping there’s a red door in your future this coming year. #FridayFunFact
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12 Things You Should Know About Real Estate
Starting the New Year off with twelve things you should know about real estate.
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Cynthia Wander
409.789.7613