According to The Washington Post, “Two Dallas-area congressmen - one a Democrat, the other a Republican - have introduced bills that not only would broaden the reach of the current housing tax credits to almost everybody, but would keep the program going until either mid-2010 or the end of that year.”
The current credit program expires on the last day of November 2009. H.R. Bill 2619, sponsored by Republican Kenny Marchant, would expand the current $8,000 federal tax credit to all homebuyers–not just first-time buyers. The bill would also extend the federal program through June 2010.
“The bill would also create an unprecedented $3,000 credit to help offset Read the rest of this entry »
Spoken by Julie Fuelling |
For the 20 years I’ve sold Katy real estate, I’ve always thought that what draws home buyers to Katy are our exemplary schools. This is what keeps our property values high even when faced with a national real estate crises.
Now, Newsweek Magazine, yes– that national weekly has ranked four Katy high schools among the best in the nation!
This is phenomenal! Four of our local high schools ranked in the top 1500, equating to top 6%, of the approximately 27,000 public high schools in the nation. Not only is this a terrific accomplishment for each campus but it reflects the outstanding standards of the Katy Independent School District.
Seven Lakes High, (pictured above), garnered the highest ranking coming in at #403. Cinco Ranch High came in at #458. Taylor High was #1,067 and Katy High came in at #1,458.
Each year, Newsweek Magazine ranks public schools based on the number of students who take Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or Cambridge tests divided by the number of graduating seniors. According to Newsweek Magazine researchers, to make the list each school must have an index of at least 1.000; this means the school has as many tests as graduates.
For a detailed explanation on how the rankings were calculated, read the article in full.
Spoken by Julie Fuelling |
National Survey from National Association of Realtors: 74% of homebuyers want central air conditionining.
Katy Survey: Anybody who doesn’t want central air conditioning is a serious nut job. Rest of the National Survey:
- Garage, at least two spaces: 57%
- Walk-in closet in master bedroom: 53%
- Backyard play area: 50%
- Cable/Satellite/TV-ready: 46%
- High-speed Internet access: 40%
- Separate shower enclosure in master bathroom: 36%
- Patio: 36%
- Fencing 36%
- Less than 10 years old: 33%
Sounds like the nation wants to live in Katy! How many of these features do you have?
Spoken by Julie Fuelling |
For 2008, Cinco Ranch was the No. 1 community for new-home sales in Houston and Texas, ranking second nationwide, according to a study released by RCLCO, a leading independent real estate advisory firm which has compiled the annual list since 1994.
With 775 new-home sales in 2008, Cinco Ranch was one of only three communities on the RCLCO list to report positive sales gains for 2008 over 2007. Despite the economic downturn, new-home sales in this 7,600-acre community, a development of Newland Communities, increased 7 percent in Read the rest of this entry »
Spoken by Julie Fuelling |
Many Katy Realtors still do not understand the process of a Short Sale even though there are many such properties in Katy. What does it take to get a get a Short Sale written and closed? Acquaint yourself with the basics by reading this article and call me at 713-818-2404; I am an expert in the field of Short Sales!
Let’s start at the beginning, what is a “Short Sale”. A Short Sale is where the net proceeds from the sale of a property are less than what is owed to mortgage companies and other lienholders. The seller receives no funds from the sale and all lienholders must agree to the transaction.
The seller’s best interest is served by having any sale approved by the mortgage company. Although the seller’s credit is adversely affected, Read the rest of this entry »
Spoken by Julie Fuelling |
South of I-10: I often get asked which of the two zip codes in south Katy is doing better in this real estate market. The truth is both zip codes are performing very much the same.
For more specific answers, let’s look at some detailed statistics prepared today with the very latest data. The black line represents zip code 77450 and the orange line represents 77494.
Median Price in 77450: This week, the median single-family home price in Katy 77450 is $226,500. This week prices in this zip code remained relatively flat. However, the recent trends have us pulling back from the market’s high points.
Keep an eye on the Market Action Index (see below) for a leading indicator of the duration of this downward trend. The Market Action Index answers the question, “How is the market?” It measures the current rate of Read the rest of this entry »
Spoken by Julie Fuelling |
Seriously, if your online MLS home photos even resemble these, it’s time to get a new Realtor! With nearly 20 years in the business, I’m still shocked by some agents’ idea of marketing.
The monthly “Bad MLS Photos” column is my absolute favorite to write, hope you enjoy it, too. Stay tuned for my May offerings; I promise they’ll be painfully awful!
Spoken by Julie Fuelling |
by Danielle Hale, Research Economist
- Headline CPI is the measure of inflation based on the Consumer Price Index most often discussed in the media because it is what most consumers actually feel in their pocket books—the changes in the prices of all goods. Headline CPI is used to adjust Treasury Inflation Protected Securities and individual income tax parameters.
- Core CPI is a measure of inflation also based on the Consumer Price Index and reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It is called “Core” inflation, because it excludes volatile food and energy prices, which tend to swing in response to economic rather than monetary shocks. It tends to be used by monetary policy makers.
- Looking at data from the late 1990s through the present, we see that headline inflation is more varied and is frequently but not always higher than core inflation.
- Core inflation, has remained in the 1 to 3 percent range (denoted by green brackets).
- Whether the Fed is intentional about it or not, core CPI has tracked a 2 percent target fairly closely in the last decade. Even in recent months, when talk of inflation and deflation is grabbing headlines, Core CPI has remained at 1.7 to 1.8 percent on a year-over-year basis—well within the range it has maintained for the last 10 years.Copyright National Association of Realtors, Reprinted with permission
Spoken by Julie Fuelling |
About today’s real estate market:
Courtesy of federalhousingtaxcredit.com
It seems like every time we turn on the evening news or read a newspaper headline, the bad news deepens our fear and concerns about the economy. With the news media in full throttle, using terms like “meltdown” and “crises”, it’s easy to see why you might lack confidence in buying and selling a home.
We have to remind ourselves that the media reports negative news, not positive. Their key objective is to pull in an audience and advertisers, not to make you feel good about yourself. They announce the unemployment rate rising despite the fact that millions of people are still working, making money, eating at restaurants and even buying and selling homes.
Are we really spinning out of control? Let’s look at the facts remembering that Katy is far ahead in financial recovery than other parts of the nation. The following data in based on national averages:
PathFinder Energy Servies, Inc., a Houston based company, has announced it has begun work on their new corporate location in Katy. The 34-acre site is located near the northwest corner of Colonial Parkway and the Grand Parkway on the north side of I-10. The site is adjacent to the 800,000 square-foot 99-Cents-Only warehouse.
This influx of PathFinder employees to the Katy area will be a boon to Katy real estate particularly to homes on the market.
According to The Houston Chronicle, “The firm anticipates spending more than $20 million on the technology center. Plans are to build a two-story facility and Read the rest of this entry »
Spoken by Julie Fuelling |
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