A short sale is a transaction in which the lender, or lenders, agree to accept less than the mortgage amount owed by the current homeowner.
Recently, I earned the nationally recognized Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource certification. The National Association of REALTORS® offers the SFR certification to REALTORS® who want to help both buyers and sellers navigate these complicated transactions, as demand for professional expertise with distressed sales grows.
REALTORS® who have earned the SFR certification know how to help sellers maneuver the complexities of short sales as well as help buyers pursue short sale and foreclosure opportunities.
“As leading advocates for homeownership, REALTORS® believe that any family that loses its Read the rest of this entry »
Spoken by Julie Q. Fuelling |
New-home sales in west Houston’s Cinco Ranch community are up 8% for the first nine months of 2009, compared to the same period in 2008.
A total of 697 new homes were sold in Cinco Ranch during the first three quarters of 2009. That compares to 643 new homes sold during the same time last year in the 7,600-acre master-planned community.
Relocation sales have remained strong in Cinco Ranch, accounting for one in three new-home sales in the community so far this year, according to Heather Gould, marketing director for Newland Communities.
“Now in its 19th year of development, Cinco Ranch has built up strong brand equity and awareness among home buyers and Realtors, which has fueled Read the rest of this entry »
Spoken by Julie Q. Fuelling |
It’s no secret that the northside of Katy Freeway has taken a beating in the real estate market over the last two years. Dominated by foreclosures and short sales, a pre-foreclosure property, prices have plummeted while inventory has soared. Thankfully, statistics are starting to show movement towards some level of recovery.
Let’s look at the last six months of statistics. Below, see pricing. While, it does not show a truly positive change, it is moving upward from its recent low. Today, the average price is approximately $122,000.
Another dominant factor is days on the market, see below. How long does it take a home to sell? What is the average? As plotted below, the average days on the market in 77449 is 155. This is a decline from July’s high of 160. Some of these quicker sales represent foreclosures and short sales that do not remain on the market for long but conventional sales are doing better, too.
What’s the current status of inventory? Increasing or decreasing? Decreasing is far better for sellers. Guess what! The number of houses on the market in 77449 is going down. For a more detailed explanation of how inventory affects the market, read my earlier article on absorption rates. See the details of the inventory decline below.
To obtain detailed data on Zip Code 77450, see OnlyKaty.com.
For information about Katy area homes, you can search the entire Houston MLS from this blog. For questions or to tour any area homes, contact me directly at 713-818-2404. I have specialized in Katy real estate for over 20 years. Experience does count!
Spoken by Julie Q. Fuelling |
A new Houston homebuilding company is looking to the city’s past for inspiration, starting out with a new series of designs influenced by homes in historic Houston neighborhoods such as West University and the Heights.
Now building in Park Place at Cinco Ranch, a neo-traditional styled neighborhood in the 7,600-acre west Houston community, J. Kyle Homes has been started by Jason Hammonds, who is serving as president of the new homebuilding company.
J. Kyle Homes has started construction of its Cinco Ranch model home, with plans to open the model in November. J. Kyle is now Read the rest of this entry »
Spoken by Julie Q. Fuelling |
Zip Code 77450 is a very tough one to analyze. There is an extremely wide-range of home values; houses are appraised below $100,000 all the way to over a million. Unlike other Katy Zip Codes, when looking at 77450 statistics, I must reject “average” pricing. Due to the huge variance, the data is skewed.
77450 Days on Market June Market Report
However, Days on the Market is relevant if we keep in mind that the highest priced homes are fewer in number and usually slower to sell. Less people can afford to purchase in the highest-end price range.
High-end home sellers find that competition is tough. This buyer has a real choice, due to other extremely prestigious areas of Houston such as the Memorial Villages. While Katy schools are the greatest motivator for home purchases in our area, those who can afford million-dollar-plus homes can also afford private schools. Many chose to live closer to downtown Houston.
Still, if marketed correctly, the highest end listings will sell. Statistics prove this and sales are consistent.
The above graph represents the last six month’s data for Days on the Market. While at first glance, it appears to represent a negative shift, if you look closely you will see that the time from listing-to-contract is stabilizing. The extreme upward spike has leveled out. The great influx of spring and summer homes contribute to a longer sales period.
As far as how long a house takes to sell, an extreme contrast exists between houses that are priced aggressively and over-priced property. Houses priced at market value sell relatively quickly. At this time of year, many sellers try to-push-the-envelope with respect to pricing.
Another factor is how the home shows. A clean, neat and uncluttered home sells far more quickly. To accomplish this important edge in selling, professional staging has grown in importance. In almost all cases, it easily pays for itself.
Six months ago there was a glut of property on the market as represented by the above chart, Inventory for 77450. By mid-March, a significant number of houses were off the market. Some sold and others were taken off. Numbers rose again with the traditional influx of spring and summer houses. Inventory has stabilized in the last 45 days. There are approximately 357 homes on the market.
For information about Katy area homes, you can search the entire Houston MLS from this blog. For questions or to tour any area homes, contact me directly at 713-818-2404. I offer financial incentives to my sellers/buyers. I have specialized in Katy real estate for over 20 years. Experience does count!
Spoken by Julie Q. 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 Q. Fuelling |
Katy resident Sandee Horton, my dear friend and Senior Sales Consultant for David Weekley Homes in Firethorne, was named Top Sales Consultant of the Year in Houston for David Weekley Homes for the second consecutive year!
“Sandee Horton does a top-notch job at Firethorne and we are very proud she has earned this city-wide David Weekley Homes award for the second year in a row,” said Firethorne Marketing Director Janet Burkett.
Firethorne is a 1,400-acre master-designed community in the west Read the rest of this entry »
Spoken by Julie Q. Fuelling |
I’m very excited to be adding a special, ongoing feature entitled “Market Reports” to FuellingKaty.com. I will be bringing my readers the most up-to-date scientific data pertaining to real estate in our area; the reports will be posted each week and analyze zip codes 77450 and 77494 in-depth. (See samples below.)
You will find this data on my new “live” page, How’s the Market?. For far more detailed data, you can subscribe to my free weekly market report. The subscription link is found on the How’s the Market page.
For information about Katy area homes, you can search the entire Houston MLS from this blog. For questions or to tour any area homes, contact me directly at 713-818-2404.I have specialized in Katy real estate for over 20 years. Experience does count!
Spoken by Julie Q. Fuelling |
Want an extra $8,000? If you’re a first-time homebuyer, you’re in for a nice gift.
Last fall, the Federal Government introduced a financial incentive to prospective first-time homebuyers, an income tax credit of up to $7,500. The rules were simple: You must have been a first-time homebuyer, (as defined by not owning a home in the previous three years), and you met certain income restrictions.
The new $8,000 tax credit is available to those who buy between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009. It’s not a deduction, it’s an actual credit. Unlike Read the rest of this entry »
Spoken by Julie Q. Fuelling |
How to choose a Katy neighborhood? The choices are almost overwhelming. There are older neighborhoods with lovely established landscaping. Should you purchase a resale house? A house that needs updating or a recently built resale?
Another wonderful choice is new construction. There are exciting new developments where you can choose a new home picking the exact amenities that fit your family’s wants and needs.
Let’s say you’ve decided on new construction. Now where? Again, the choices are many and varied. To keep your head from spinning, I’ve been featuring a series of articles that highlight new developments in the Katy area. This is Part Three of my Firethorne articles. (To see earlier Firethorne articles, click Part One and Part Two.) As you might have gathered, I love Firethorne and believe strongly in its value. Read the rest of this entry »
Spoken by Julie Q. Fuelling |
Copyright © 2007 The Katy Texas Blog That Never Runs Dry