Pearland Real Estate Expert

You might think the age of online real estate listings and virtual tours has rendered curb appeal less important than in days gone by. But you'd be mistaken. Sure, a potential buyer's first impression of your home might be of your kitchen or living room, displayed on her computer screen from the comfort of her own home. He or she can learn how many rooms your home has, whether the heat is electric or gas, when you last remodeled the kitchen, and all kinds of other particulars.

But guess what? At some point, that buyer will visit your home in person. And when he or she shows up and takes that first look, the impression your property makes at first blush can really influence the way a person sees the rest of your home - good or bad. What you want - the whole point of enhancing your home's curb appeal - is for that potential buyer to get excited about your house from the first glimpse.

The little things count

There's not much you can do about the architecture of your house. You can, though, take many steps to boost its drive-up appeal. For starters, keep the yard neat during the time your home is on the market. Don't let the grass get too long between each mowing, edge the walkways and driveway, rake leaves, pull weeds, and get rid of any clutter, junk, or toys.

If you've been using your garage for belongings other than your cars, now would be a good time to rent a storage unit or sell and give away items to make room for your vehicles.

What kind of impression do you think buyers take away from dead limbs or a six-foot-tall tree stump smack dab in the middle of the front yard? And don't think that the ivy growing over the dead tree will fool anyone. Fairly or not, a visitor will assume that if the yard and exterior are not well-taken-care-of, the interior must be neglected as well. (Not to mention the danger posed by dead limbs and trees.)

Make a grand entrance

When's the last time you painted your front door? A fresh coat of paint takes little time, is an easy do-it-yourself project, doesn't cost much, and makes a wonderful first impression. Don't ruin your hard work by leaving the crummy-looking or poorly functioning lock and doorknob. Likewise, you can easily spruce up the area right around the entrance. Put some pots or planters with seasonal flowers around the entrance and buy a new doormat. (You may want to change out the one with your name on it, as that makes it more difficult to imagine the home as anyone but yours.)

Take the next step

If your exterior paint or siding has seen better days, do what you can to improve it. That may mean a new paint job, patching some cracks, or replacing the fascia boards. Or it might just need a good power washing. Shine up the windows inside and out, get rid of any cobwebs hanging under the eaves, and clean out the gutters, too.

You can take other steps to enhance the first impression your home makes, like paying attention to outdoor lighting or creating an inviting sitting area on your front porch. Your Realtor can give you ideas that will increase the interest in your home and help you get the highest selling price.

For more information, I invite you to visit http://www.texasrealestate.com/ or http://www.har.com/ and for all of your Pearland TX and Northern Brazoria and Galveston County real estate needs, please visit my site at http://www.danfrankrealty.com.  Danny Frank is a local Pearland Real Estate expert.

This column was published in the 27April08 edition of the Galveston County Daily News.

Which emotion surges higher when buying a home: excitement or anxiety? Either or both can take significant hold during the home buying process. Imagining the possibilities of your new house can bring great joy, while the financial implications of making such a purchase create worries for most people. You can take steps to reduce the stress, though, and focus on the enjoyable aspects of buying a new home.

Get ready
Long before you start walking through properties, you can lay the groundwork for a good home buying experience. The sooner you start saving for a down payment the better. Having some money to put toward the purchase gives you more flexibility when it comes time to get a loan.

You'll want to check your credit report, too, to see if there are any mistakes or problems you can clear up prior to applying for a mortgage.

Speaking of mortgages, what do you know about all the options available to you? Learning about various types of loans and assistance programs will give you the knowledge to find the right loan for you - one that you will be able to afford for the life of the loan.

Finally, you'll put yourself in a strong position by getting pre-approved - not just pre-qualified - for a mortgage. And don't necessarily jump at a high loan amount just because someone says they will lend you that much. Take a hard look at your own finances and future plans to make sure you are living within your means.

What do you want?

Do you see yourself in a ranch-style home in the suburbs? A downtown loft apartment? A neighborhood where you can walk your kids to school? Take the time to figure out what features are most important to you. You will also find it helpful to decide if there are some items you desire but might be willing to look past if everything else falls into place. Once you can distinguish between the must-haves and the features that would be nice if you can get them, you'll have the ability to quickly make decisions about which properties to view and won't waste time on homes that ultimately won't make the cut.

Get someone on your side

Buying real estate is much more involved than most other transactions - even high-dollar purchase like automobiles and stocks. It can be a tremendous help to have a professional looking out for your best interests along the way. I'm sure it won't shock you that I recommend hiring a Realtor. Your Realtor can explain the entire process and all of its elements, help you negotiate, keep the transaction on track, and make sure you have the information you need to make good decisions.

Understand what goes into an offer

There's much more to making an offer on a home than deciding what price you're willing to pay. Before you even find the home of your dreams, learn as much as you can about what goes into an offer, what makes one offer more attractive than another, and what the possible responses are from a seller.

Don't let up after your offer is accepted

Not every transaction successfully progresses from an accepted offer to a closed deal. However, if you stay on top of the many tasks required after both parties sign on the dotted line, you give yourself the best chance of making it to the closing table and getting the keys to your new home.

On the other hand, you may not want the keys to some properties. To make sure you don't wind up in a home you regret owning, get the home professionally inspected and make sure there are no problems with the title or survey. And don't put any of this off until the last minute. If something undesirable does show up, you may still want - and be able - to work things out.

Buying a home should be an exciting time in your life. If you plan well and work with people who are looking out for your best interests, you can minimize the pressures involved and enjoy the process of purchasing a new place to call your own.

For more information, I invite you to visit http://www.texasrealestate.com/ or http://www.har.com/ and for all of your Pearland TX and Northern Brazoria and Galveston County real estate needs, please visit my site at http://www.danfrankrealty.com/.  Danny Frank is a local Pearland Real Estate expert.

This column was published in the 20April08 edition of the Galveston County Daily News.

I have found a great sorce for Pearland TX news... It is a blog by ROBERT STANTON of the Houston Chronicle.  Robert is a reporter for the Chronicle and covers our area... PLease visit his blog at http://www.chron.com/neighborhoods/pearland/ .  This is a great way for you to keep up with ALL of the local news about Pearland TX and athe surrounding areas.

For all of your Pearland TX real estate needs, please visit http://www.danfrankrealty.com/ , a local Pearland real estate expert.

The Lakes at Country Place, Pearland TX, real estate market condition is trending downward, but is still above the average selling price from this time last year.  Property values have increased from this time last year by about 11% on average.  The Lakes at Country Place is a gated community and is a great place to live and to own investment property.  If you work in downtown Houston or the Texas Medical Center, The Lakes of Country Place would be a great choice.

You will have to be patient when selling real estate in The Lake of Country Place.  As you can see, the average day on market, how long it takes to sell, is a bit long.  But if you price your house right, it should sell a bit faster than those that are priced to high.  On good thing about selling real estate in The Lakes of Country Place, you don't have much competition.  So get with your Realtor® and set the price for your home so it will sell faster than your competition.

As you can see, real estate in The Lakes at Country Place is a good buy.  Call me, Danny Frank, at 713-569-8102 to buy or sell your home in The Lakes at Country Place, Pearland TX.  Please visit my site at http://www.danfrankrealty.com/ for all of your Pearland TX real estate needs.  I am a local Pearland real estate expert...

6202 Silver Dr in Silver Shadows is Sold!

Silver Shadows, Pearland, TX  -  The single story at 6202 Silver Dr, Pearland TX has been sold.

Danny Frank of Keller Willilams has SOLD another house.  Do you have real estate in Pearland TX you need to sell? Call me and I will get it SOLD for you fast... Put a SOLD sign on your house instead of a for sale sign with my help.  Call me at 713-569-8102 or visit my site at http://www.danfrankrealty.com/

Property information

Real estate in Pearland TX, Shadow Creek Ranch is doing ok.  As you can see by the charts below, the trends are all going in the wrong direction.  The Shadow Creek Ranch neighborhood in Pearland is one of the slower areas of Pearland in regards to selling real estate...  The Shadow Creek Ranch area of Pearland is in its final build out stages and the new home builders are giving homeowners a run for their money.

The days on market, how long it takes to sell a house, have decreased a bit, the time is still above the average time for the area.

As you can see, real estate in Shadow Creek Ranch is a good buy and there are a lot of bargains to have.  Call me, Danny Frank, at 713-569-8102 to buy or sell your home in Silverlake.  Please visit my site at http://www.danfrankrealty.com/ for all of your Pearland TX real estate needs.  I am a local Pearland real estate expert...

Real estate in Pearland TX, Silverlake is doing very well.  As you can see by the charts below, the trends are all going in the right direction.  The Silverlake neighborhood in Pearland is a great place to own a home or an investment property.  The Silverlake area of Pearland is a very hot area for real estate.  A few of the MUD districts have gone away and this has lowered taxes in some of the neighborhood inside of Silverlake.

Although the days on market, how long it takes to sell a house, have increased a bit, the time is still within the average time for the Silverlake real estate area.

As you can see, real estate in Silverlake is a good buy.  Call me, Danny Frank, at 713-569-8102 to buy or sell your home in Silverlake.  Please visit my site at http://www.danfrankrealty.com/ for all of your Pearland TX real estate needs.  I am a local Pearland real estate expert...

Real Estate in Towne Lake Estates, Pearland TX is doing very good.  The average price of a home in Towne Lake Estates had increased by $61000.00 from this time last year.  Towne Lake Estates in Pearland is a great place to own a home.  The trends are all going in the right direction.

Even when looking at the average days on market, the time it takes a house to sell, the trend in Towne Lake Estates is moving in the right direction.

As you can see, real estate in Towne Lake Estes is a good buy.  Call me, Danny Frank, at 713-569-8102 to buy or sell your home in Towne Lake Estates.  Please visit my site at http://www.danfrankrealty.com/ for all of your Pearland TX real estate needs.  I am a local Pearland real estate expert...

The West Oaks Village neighborhood in Pearland TX is doing ok.  As you can see by the charts and graphs below West Oaks Village is starting to trend downward.  But that is ok.  If you look at the years past, you can see West Oaks Village in Pearland Texas is still selling at what it was last year at this same time.  In looking forward, the next few months should start to trend upward.  West Oaks Village is still a great buy for real estate.  If you are a buyer of real estate, then you will have some great values in West Oaks Village.  For someone selling real estate in West Oaks Village, Pearland TX, you can see it will not take long to sell your home and if you price your home correctly, you will get close to asking price.

And looking at the Average Days on Market, how long it takes to sell a house, you can see the trend is moving in the right direction.

For all of your Pearland TX real estate needs, please visit http://www.danfrankrealty.com , a local Pearland real estate expert.

The price trend for all of Pearland TX real estate is holdings it's own.  As you can see by the charts below, we are having a slight trend down from the month before.  But as you look at the data, you can see the Pearland TX Real Estate average home price is above last year's price.  So with that said, Pearland Texas is a great place to buy or sell a home.

For all of your Pearland TX real estate needs, please visit http://www.danfrankrealty.com/, the local Pearland real estate expert.

Want to decrease your chances of ending up embroiled in a lawsuit when you buy or sell property? Then don't rely on verbal agreements.

Real estate deals are usually some of the most complicated, expensive transactions in people's lives. Yet, time and again, misunderstandings occur. Buyers think sellers promised to make certain repairs. Sellers assert that the buyers agreed to let them stay in the home after closing. It doesn't matter if you're outlining your relationship with an agent, making an offer on a home, negotiating repairs, or some other key task. Get it in writing.

Show good form

The easiest way to obtain a written record of an agreement in a real estate deal is to fill in the blanks of a form specifically created for your type of transaction. This form, when filled out properly, provides a clear statement of everyone's intentions and responsibilities. Such contracts, forms and addenda exist for many types of real estate transaction, and you can access forms for common activities related to real estate from the Texas Real Estate Commission's Web site, www.trec.state.tx.us.

As public records, these forms are available to anyone who wishes to view them. However, you shouldn't use these documents unless you know what you're doing. Filling out the forms incorrectly can put you at risk of losing money or creating an unenforceable contract; a mistake on just one blank can put a deal worth thousands of dollars in jeopardy.

An improperly used form could end up as unenforceable as a verbal agreement, so make sure your written agreements are prepared by someone trained to handle real estate transactions.

Just for you

While the Texas Real Estate Commission puts out forms that cover some real estate transactions, the Commission has some holes in its forms library-no listing or buyer-representation agreements, property management contracts, forms for commercial property, or residential leases.

Many of these types of forms are created by attorneys and associations. For example, Realtors-those real estate agents and brokers who choose to join the Realtor association and abide by a professional Code of Ethics-regularly use the approximately 30 forms promulgated by the Texas Real Estate Commission. However, Realtors have almost 100 additional forms at their disposal for every type of real estate situation imaginable. These additional forms are available only to members of the Texas Association of Realtors® and Houston Association of Realtors®.

For example, Realtors have at their disposal forms that:

• Detail what items convey with the sale of a property
• Specify whether a buyer walked through the property and accepted its condition prior to closing
• State any contingencies (such as the sale of one property being contingent on the buyer selling his existing home) or provide notices to remove or waive contingencies

More forms, more protection

So, Realtors have more forms. What's the big deal?

Well, when you work with a Realtor, you benefit from access to all those forms. You can put in writing all the details of your transaction exactly as you want them on a form specifically created for your type of deal. That means that your intentions and responsibilities are clearly stated for the record.

Many of the Texas Association of Realtors® forms are also translated in Spanish. Even though these forms aren't legally binding, they provide a way for consumers more comfortable speaking and reading Spanish to better understand what they're agreeing to.

If you want to avoid surprises, hassles, misunderstandings and lawsuits, get it in writing. Your Realtor has the form designed for your transaction and the expertise to fill it out correctly. For more information, visit http://www.texasrealestate.com/ or http://www.har.com/ and for all of your Pearland TX and Northern Brazoria and Galveston County real estate needs, please visit my site at http://www.danfrankrealty.com/.  Danny Frank is a local Pearland Real Estate expert.

This column was published in the 30March08 edition of the Galveston County Daily News.