713 Market Update, Houston is booming!

I have very fond memories of Garden Oaks, it was the birthplace of my two sons. On Saturday mornings we would sneak out in the backyard and go for a morning swim in our birthday suits and freeze our butts off. Friends and family barbq’s were happening all of the time. I was a Sunday School teacher at Baptist Temple in the youth department and there were kids swimming all of the time. And yes we did have mixed swimming, as they called it. Im not that old! But I do remember my grandmother who lived in the Heights saying on many occasions, your Grandpaw and I moved OUT to Garden Oaks. I guess because it was further from downtown than the Heights. In my childhood I remember going to Sears on N Shepherd with my Dad and you could get 25 cents worth of candy and that was a lot, but we couldn’t tell my Mom. My first home was in Garden Oaks and I think it was $20,000ish, and it sold ten years later for $65,000ish.

713 MARKET UPDATE

Buyer FAQ’s

  • Don’t spend more on a house than you can afford! It can be tempting to try and push the needle, especially when competition is high, but being patient will be better for your finances in the long run

  • Get pre-approved for a loan so you have a better sense of what you can afford. That’ll help you better understand what’s within your budget and where to start your home search. Some seller will not even look at your offer unless it is accompanied by a pre-approval letter

  • Right now, it’s a great time to sell! However, the economy, inventory, areas and price point will drive the best time for buying and selling. These can all change quickly and go in opposite directions. A strong economy equates to a lot of purchasing and low inventory equates to a great time to sell if properties are not sitting on the market for too long. Central areas such as the inner loop

  • The 20% rule for down payments is definitely a myth! Some loans have a down payment of less than 5% and you can even ask for a seller contribution to help offset your buyers closing costs. All financial advice is predicated on your credit. Give me a call or send me an email, so we can talk about your options!

  • The services to the buyer are free! When a real estate agent represents you in purchasing a property, he or she earns a commission from the seller only if there is an executed contract.