Texas REALTOR®vs. real estate licensee Holding a real estate agent’s or real estate broker’s license does not make someone a REALTOR®. Here in Texas, membership in the National Association of REALTORS®, the Texas Association of REALTORS®, and one of 89 local associations or boards entitles real estate licensees to use the term “REALTOR®” on their business cards and in their marketing materials. Hiring a Texas REALTOR®means you’ve retained someone who is committed [...]

No one buys a home hoping to get behind on payments and have the bank foreclose on it. Here are a few tips to avoid this problem altogether, and what to do if it does occur. Don’t set yourself up for failure There are two main ways to avoid foreclosure: Don’t put yourself in a situation where you won’t be able to afford your mortgage. Know how much you can really afford before you start [...]

Owning your own home may be more realistic than you think. Knowledge is power, particularly if you are striving to afford your first home. The homebuying process has many myths, though. For instance, you don’t have to put 20% down, you don’t have to have perfect credit, and you don’t have to accept a high interest rate or junk fees. With a personal loan, lenders typically don’t look at any information about [...]

The Federal Bureau of Investigation reports that 2.1 million burglaries were committed in 2004. Not all of these situations involved forced entry; many were the result of unlocked doors and windows. Once you close that loophole, though, how can you determine if one house is more vulnerable than another? Well, a residence surrounded by a 15-foot electric fence and patrolled by guard dogs might be a giveaway, but here are [...]

A $200,000 home costs more than a $185,000 home, right? Well, yes and no. Assuming the same type of financing for both homes, the $200,000 home does cost more initially. But many factors contribute to the overall long-term cost of a house. Additionally, if you own an all-electric or hybrid car, home charging is the most convenient and economical option for charging. Discover all you need to get going in this [...]