Pearland Real Estate Expert

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Pearland TX: 1406 Pineland Drive, *Just Reduced*

Price Reduced on 1406 Pineland Dr in Pine Hollow

Pine Hollow, Pearland TX  -  Announcing a price reduction on 1406 Pineland Dr, Pearland TX 77581. A 3,171 sq. ft., 2 bath, 4 bdrm 2 story. Now MLS® $195,000 - WOW - Priced Below Market.  This house is a gem.... And this is a best buy NEIGHBORHOOD... Prices are at an all time low.....  Buy low sell high... Call me at 713-581-4702 for an appointment today...

Property information

0 commentsDanny Frank • July 30 2009 10:26AM

Pearland TX: 2201 WASHINGTON IRVING DR - Open House

Please come and visit this fabulous house located at: 2201 Washington, Pearland TX 77584.  We are holding the house Open for public view on Saturday Aug 1, 2009 from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM.  All are welcome. Realtor's, bring your clients buy and show this fine house...

Whether you're interested in buying your first home, your next home, or just want to know more about home-ownership in general, I encourage you to check out a couple of great online resources: 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 . All of these sites offer tons of useful, real estate-related information geared specifically for Texans.

Danny Frank is a local Pearland TX Real Estate expert

0 commentsDanny Frank • July 29 2009 07:33AM

Pearland TX: Price Reduced on 2201 WASHINGTON IRVING DR

Sleepy Hollow, Pearland  -  Announcing a price reduction on 2201 WASHINGTON IRVING DR, a 3,535 sq. ft., 2 bath, 4 bdrm 2 story with "Mother-in-law quarters too". Now MLS® $245,000 - Just Reduced.

Incredible custom-built 2 story home on over-sized corner wooded lot in coveted area. Recently remodeled, new roof, energy friendly a/c & beautiful landscaping. Home features all oversized bedrooms up, with master down. The kitchen begs for a cooking enthusiast; the downstairs an entertainer s dream. Utility area is the size of some bedrooms with incredible storage, wonderful natural light and a craft area. Mother-in-law quarters over detached garage. Easy access to 45 & Btwy 8. MOVE IN READY.

Property information

 

0 commentsDanny Frank • July 25 2009 02:07PM

An offer they can’t refuse

You’ve searched for weeks and finally located the perfect house for you and your family. Unfortunately, your work isn’t over yet. You still have to convince the owner to sell it to you at a price you can afford.

Don’t despair, however. With a little research and an informed strategy, you can drastically improve your chances to move in to your dream home.

You have to start somewhere
Obviously, the amount you initially write into the contract has a great influence on whether the seller looks favorably on your offer. How do you come up with that figure? There are several factors to consider.

Determine how the home compares to similar properties in the area. The most reliable way to make this evaluation is to look at homes that sold recently in the same neighborhood. Texas Realtors are a great source for this information, as they have access to multiple listing service data that includes sales prices.

Is the home bigger or more updated than the average house on the street? A house with a remodeled kitchen, an extra 500 square feet or a new roof will fetch a higher price than the average house in that neighborhood.

It’s not just the money
Most sellers have a number in mind when perusing offers, but there are factors beyond price that influence how they view your proposal – factors that you can control.

  • Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Being pre-qualified is swell, but being pre-approved means that your lender has committed in writing to lending you a certain amount of money. That kind of commitment shows sellers that you’re serious about buying their home, and you can pay for it.
  • Be ready to pull the trigger. A seller may need to close quickly or remain in their home for an extended period of time. If you can meet his timeline, your offer gains strength.
  • Avoid contingencies, if possible. Maybe you can’t close the deal until your current home sells, but each special request negatively affects your chances. A seller presented with several offers will likely choose the one with the fewest strings attached.

It depends on the market
Until you get a response from the seller, you never know if your initial offer will be accepted. And if it’s not and the seller submits a counteroffer, the real work begins. Deciding how to respond to a counteroffer is one of the hardest parts of purchasing property.

If it’s a buyer’s market, you may have some leverage and can stand firm on your initial offer. On the other hand, a seller might be able to command his asking price – or even higher – in a seller’s market. Knowing what shape your market is in will help you figure out an appropriate response.

Also, consider how much you really want the home and how much you can spend. If your initial offer was a stretch for your budget and the counter didn’t reduce the price significantly, it may be time to move on. However, if you’re in love with the house and were simply looking for a better deal, it may be worth trying again.

Regardless of the seller’s response, don’t take it personally. Reaching an agreement on the price of the home is strictly a business negotiation, not a reflection of your appeal as a buyer.

Many things combine to make an attractive offer. Your Realtor can help you determine how to put together an offer that gives you the best chance of getting the home you want at terms that are favorable to you.

Whether you're interested in buying your first home, your next home, or just want to know more about home-ownership in general, I encourage you to check out a couple of great online resources: 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/. All of these sites offer tons of useful, real estate-related information geared specifically for Texans.

Danny Frank is a local Pearland TX Real Estate expert! You can see my entire blog at http://www.pearlandrealtyblog.com

My column was also published in the 19July09 edition of the Galveston County Daily News

 

2 commentsDanny Frank • July 20 2009 08:13AM

What to know about disclosure

There’s an old adage that what you don’t know won’t hurt you, but when it comes to buying real estate, that’s not the case. After all, wouldn’t you want to know if the dream house you’re buying had flooding problems in the past or has a defective roof?

That’s why full disclosure – a seller’s obligation to disclose facts about properties for sale (such as conditions like occurrence of past floods or structural problems) – is critical when it comes to buying or selling a home. If you’re selling, buyers need to know material facts about your home – that is, anything that could materially affect the sale price or influence a buyer's decision to buy it. And, if you’re buying, as a concerned consumer with a big financial commitment at stake, you want to make an informed decision about what you’re buying.

The National Association of Realtors reports that the major causes of post-sale disputes and lawsuits center around defects and disclosure. But most disputes can be avoided if proper disclosures are made. That’s why most states, including Texas, require some type of formal seller disclosure.

What’s on a disclosure form?
A disclosure form is a notice certain sellers are required to give potential buyers on or before the effective date of a real estate contract for sale, covering in reasonable detail the seller’s awareness of any defects in the property before the sale.

For example, if you’ve had a termite problem in the past, that’s something that prospective buyers should know. Or, if the roof has a leak, buyers need to know that, too.

Attention sellers
Intentionally withholding information about a property when you sell can have serious legal consequences. Talk to your Realtor and attorney and make sure you understand your disclosure responsibilities. You don’t want to inadvertently leave something out and have to deal with expense, hassles and possible legal consequences later. Also, if you’ve had previous inspections done in the last few years, make
that information available to the buyer.

Disclosure also applies to federal laws. For example, those selling homes built before 1978 must disclose any known lead-based paint problems.

Don't be afraid to disclose information about your property. Disclosure laws were created to protect buyers, but they also protect sellers. If all the information about a property is revealed up front, you're less likely to be involved in disputes after the sale. 

Attention buyers…
If you’re a buyer looking for a home, look closely at the disclosure notice provided by the seller. If any items concern you, ask questions and investigate. But there are other steps you can take to protect yourself and your financial interests, too. For starters, make sure you hire an inspector. For a few hundred dollars, you get a professional to look into all the systems and components and report to you where deficiencies or potential problems exist … clearly a worthwhile investment.

When you have specific concerns, or when the inspector suggests it, you may also want to hire specialists to look at certain things, such as a structural engineer to examine a potential foundation problem. Yes, you will have to pay for these professionals, but you’ll want to know if there are expensive repairs in a property’s future before it becomes your property. To find a reputable inspector, ask for recommendations from friends, family, co-workers or your Realtor, and make sure your inspector is properly licensed.

For everyone’s protection
Disclosure is a necessary facet of the real estate transaction, helping to protect both buyers and sellers and ensuring lots of smiles on closing day. If you have questions a
bout disclosure, ask your Realtor for advice. Realtors are a wealth of information on this subject.

Whether you're interested in buying your first home, your next home, or just want to know more about home-ownership in general, I encourage you to check out a couple of great online resources: 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/. All of these sites offer tons of useful, real estate-related information geared specifically for Texans.

Danny Frank is a local Pearland TX Real Estate expert! You can see my entire blog at http://www.pearlandrealtyblog.com

My column was also published in the 12July09 edition of the Galveston County Daily News

1 commentDanny Frank • July 15 2009 07:34AM

Yesterday was a Historic day for Texans

Governor Rick Perry signs two very important pieces of legislation into law on Thursday, July 9 at 9:30 a.m. in HAR’s Training Room.  State Senator Tommy Williams and State Representative John Otto, are the authors of the bills that where signed into law.

House Bill 8 and House Bill 3613 where signed into law by Governor Rick Perry. Realtors® were instrumental in helping pass these appraisal reform measures. Consumers can expect to see updated appraisal methods and better oversight of appraisal districts, more enforcement authority over appraisal districts to ensure that uniform standard appraisal practices are being used. Consumers will also find alternatives to lawsuits when appealing a ruling by an appraisal review board. Also, a residence homestead to be appraised as a residence will be done so accordingly and not on the basis of the “highest and best use” appraisal standard.

 

Gov Rick Perry Signing bill

 

Whether you're interested in buying your first home, your next home, or just want to know more about home-ownership in general, I encourage you to check out a couple of great online resources: 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/. All of these sites offer tons of useful, real estate-related information geared specifically for Texans.

Danny Frank is a local Pearland TX Real Estate expert! You can see my entire blog at http://www.pearlandrealtyblog.com

 

 

1 commentDanny Frank • July 10 2009 11:08AM

Pearland TX: 3418 Woodbine Place, Silverlake 77584 Reduced

Flowers bloom 365 days a year, including azaleas that wrap the house like River Oaks. Top-of-the-line alarm system was installed. The master bed/bath had major upgrades, including new tile, faucets, and a glass shower frame. Invisible tinting was installed on all windows facing the sun which reduce heat intake by 30%. New water heaters and a new roof were installed. The lovely oak floor and front doors were refinished. Great neighbors. Walking distance to schools and close to golf course.

Priced at only $269,999.00 The house is is move in ready shape... Call or Text me at 713-581-4702 for more info on this house.

Click Here for more info on your next home.

 

1 commentDanny Frank • July 06 2009 03:48PM