Eliminating or curtailing the mortgage interest deduction would have a disproportionate impact on younger, middle-class families, who would see their ability to become owners significantly diminished, with sober implications for their longer term financial prospects, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) told Congress today.
“How housing is treated in any future tax reform will shape the economy going forward,” Robert Dietz, an economist and assistant vice president for NAHB, testified during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on tax reform options to provide incentives for homeownership.
Most Americans consider homeownership to be their single best long-term investment and a primary source of wealth and financial security. According to the 2007 Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, the median net worth of a home owner is $234,600, compared to $5,100 for renters.
“We believe that any policy change that makes it harder to buy a home, or delays the purchase of the home until an older age, will have a significant long-term impact on household wealth accumulation and the make-up of the middle class as a whole,” said Dietz. Read the rest of this entry »
Spoken by Julie Q. Fuelling |
M/I Homes is the newest homebuilder to join the builder team at Firethorne, a 1,400-acre master-designed residential community located in Katy/Fulshear. The builder’s 60-foot lot model home will be constructed in the new Firethorne West Model Park. Firethorne is situated 10 and 15 miles west of the Texas Medical Center-West Campus and Houston’s Energy Corridor, respectively.
M/I Homes’ one- and two-story homes, available in brick, stone and stucco exterior elevations, will range from 2,000 to 3,400 square feet and priced from the $220,000s. The builder’s signature features include soaring windows, rotundas, structural and designer options and a 30-year transferable structural warranty.
“We hand-select each of our builders based upon their high standards for design, quality, customer satisfaction and reputation,” said Firethorne General Manager Wayne Meyer. Currently completing the Firethorne builder team are: Ashton Woods Homes, Coventry Homes, Highland Homes, Partners in Building, Perry Homes, Plantation Homes and David Weekley Homes.
Firethorne, located in the top-ranked Katy Independent School District and Lamar Consolidated Independent School District, features 150 acres devoted to parks and recreational amenities, a 12-acre lake with surrounding greenbelt, resort-style swim center, new competitive swim center, sports fields, hike/bike trails, parks and playgrounds, discovery-rich wildlife observation area and a natural bird habitat.
To tour Firethorne, visiting both new construction and resale homes, call me at 713-818-2404. I have sold Katy real estate for over 22 years and would be delighted to hear from you!
Spoken by Julie Q. Fuelling |
Article compliments of The National Association of Realtors, written by Joseph D’Agnese
Conduct a do-it-yourself home security check by walking around your house to assess what needs to be done to reduce the risk of a break-in.
1. Keep your home well-maintained on the outside
Burglars want an easy target. Stand on the street outside your house and ask yourself: Does my property look neglected, hidden, or uninhabited? A front door or walkway that’s obscured by shrubbery offers crooks the perfect cover they need while they break a door or window. To improve security, trim shrubs away from windows and widen front walks.
2. Install motion detector lights
All sides of your house should be well-lit with motion-activated lighting, not just the front. Simple motion-activated floodlights cost less than $50 each, and installing them is an easy DIY job if the wiring is already in place.
3. Store your valuables
Thieves want easy-to-grab electronics, cash, jewelry, and other valuables, though some are not Read the rest of this entry »
Spoken by Julie Q. Fuelling |
According to a NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® survey of 3,793 adults conducted by Harris Interactive, home owners and renters agree that home ownership benefits individuals and families, strengthens our communities, and is integral to our nation’s economy.
Among the findings of NAR’s “American Attitudes About Homeownership” survey:
- The vast majority of both home owners and renters say that owning a home is a smart decision over the long term. Even in today’s challenging economy, 95% of owners and 72% of renters believe that over a period of several years, it makes more sense to own a home.
- Home owners are much more likely to be satisfied with the quality of their family and community life than renters. While more than half of owners (56%) are “very” or “extremely” satisfied with the overall quality of their familylife, only about one-third (36%) of renters report the same levels of satisfaction. Also, 43% of home owners are “very” or “extremely” satisfied with their community life, compared with 30% of renters.
- An overwhelming majority of home owners are happy with their decision to own a home. A full 93% of owners surveyed would buy again. Read the rest of this entry »
Spoken by Julie Q. Fuelling |
Abbreviated Article Compliments of “Realtor Magazine”
Pricing a home competively from the beginning is very important. Your largest number of showings occur in the first two to three weeks. The multiple listing service and the Internet drives the majority of showings. That’s why real estate experts stress that it’s important that sellers set a competitive, realistic price from the start.
Consider sweetening the deal. Sellers may be able to lure more buyers by offering some extra incentives such as leaving that top-of-the-line washer and dryer. Some items may be difficult to move like wall-mounted flat-screen TV’s. These perks may add a little extra Read the rest of this entry »
Spoken by Julie Q. Fuelling |
Gorgeous former Trendmaker one-story model with lots of upgrades has gone on the market in Grand Lakes at 6414 Dylan Springs. From the moment you enter, you’ll notice that crown molding and architectural details abound. There’s even a “secret” room for storage!
French doors lead into the study.You’ll find granite countertops in kitchen and master bath. The island kitchen is a cook’s delight with 42″ cabinet, a large pantry and gas cooking. The custom refrigerator has cabinet front; it stays with the house.
The rooms are over-sized rooms to accommodate large furniture. A wall of windows in family room looks out over the fully landscaped backyard. There’s a Rainbird sprinkler system throughout the yard. Custom draperies remain with the house.
You will be delighted with the air-conditioned extra room in garage. It’s currently being used as an exercise room; it has so many wonderful possibilities!
For a great photo slide show, see HAR.com, MLS # 78724054. For a private tour, call me at 713-818-2404! This home will be held open on Sunday, June 26, 1-4 p.m.
Spoken by Julie Q. Fuelling |
Last chance to register for KPC’s Unplugged Adventures: Let’s Go Fly a Kite! On Saturday, April 16, KPC will host kite enthusiasts at our Indiangrass Preserve from 1 PM – 3 PM. We’ll have an afternoon of flying kites in the clear skies of the windy prairie, plus an exclusive kite-making lesson with experts. We’ll be giving away free kites to the early birds. After the lesson you can take a short hike around our Indiangrass Preserve, where the Native Seed Nursery is in the full flush of spring. Feel free to bring a picnic lunch!
Date: Saturday, April 16 from 1 PM to 3 PM
Where: Indiangrass Preserve
Space extremely limited and registration is required. Email info@katyprairie.org or call 713.523.6135 for more details.
Wondering how to dress for trips to the prairie? Remember to always wear closed-toe shoes and long pants. A long-sleeved shirt and a hat are also recommended.
Spoken by Julie Q. Fuelling |
I love this photo and immediately thought it would be a great analogy for the recovering real estate market. Steadily and most assuredly the Katy real estate market is making great strides.
Certain areas of Katy, especially those houses south of I-10, are experiencing a very competitive market. In most sections of Cinco Ranch, it is not a buyers market.
Public perception seems to lag behind the current market movement. Sometimes a buyer has to lose several houses when they make low-ball offers before they enter into competitive negotiations.
To tour Katy homes and work with a Realtor who can assist you in selecting a home, navigate repairs and negotiations, call me at 713-818-2404. I have sold Katy real estate for over 21 years. Experience does count!
Spoken by Julie Q. Fuelling |
It’s been way too long since I posted to my blog. Business has been booming and I have been spending my time with sellers and buyers. I sure hope I haven’t lost any of my regular readers! Today’s post is about a new builder who has entered the Cinco Ranch market.
Katy’s reputation as the nation’s number one “most notable high-growth area” has attracted a major national homebuilder, Columbus, Ohio-based M/I Homes. This top national builder is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (MHO).
M/I Homes now has a model home under construction in Cinco Ranch. It plans to open the model in early April to showcase all-new floor plans and architectural designs created especially for the Houston market after extensive research with local homebuyers. Read the rest of this entry »
Spoken by Julie Q. Fuelling |
Beazer Homes, an Atlanta based builder, recently closed on 209 acres on FM 1463 for a development to be called Churchhill Farms. According to The Houston Chronicle, ”Named after the founder of Fulshear, Churchill Fulshear, Churchill Farms will have 550 lots, more than 40 acres of open space, a 10-acre lake and a community pool and clubhouse.” The first model homes are scheduled to open in January 2012.
The Cardiff family, one of Katy’s oldest families, retained this last tract of the old family homestead. The land was purchased by the Cardiff family in 1924 and recently sold to Beazer.
The Chronicle went on to say, “Homes will range from $150,000 to $250,000, depending on the lot sizes. The smaller lots are targeting single professionals working in the Energy Corridor in west Houston or medical professionals working in the hospitals along I-10. The larger lots will likely house move-ups.”
Beazer has announced that preliminary plans include 16 acres of retail and commercial development.
To tour Katy or Fulshear homes and work with a Realtor who can assist you in negotiations, call me at 713-818-2404. I have sold Katy real estate for over 21 years. Experience does count!
Spoken by Julie Q. Fuelling |
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