Category: The Woodlands Villages

Jutta “Utah” Burden’s Market Update!

Jutta “Utah” Burden’s Market Update

Existing Home Sales Report

Existing-home sales increased in November and remained above the pace set last year, according to a recent report by the National Association of REALTORS (NAR). Existing-home sales, which include recently purchased single family, townhomes, condominiums, and co-ops were up 4 percent to a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.42 million units expected to sell in 2011. This represents a 12.2 percent increase over the pace set last year at this time.

Existing Home Sales By Region

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, sees more buyers taking action. “Sales reached the highest mark in 10 months and are 34 percent above the cyclical low point in mid-2010 – a genuine sustained sales recovery appears to be developing,” he said. “We’ve seen healthy gains in contract activity, so it looks like more people are realizing the great opportunity that exists in today’s market for buyers with long-term plans.”

Total housing inventory fell 5.8 percent in November to 2.58 million existing homes available for sale, representing an 7 month supply of homes at today’s current sales pace. Inventories have been gradually shrinking from their record levels of 4.04 million set in July 2007.

Another Mortgage Rate Decrease

Freddie Mac reported that mortgage rates fell to new record lows in November 2011. The average commitment rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped to 3.99 percent, down from 4.07 percent from October, and 4.30 percent offered one year ago. NAR president Moe Veissi explains that housing affordability has hit a new high. “With record low mortgage interest rates and bargain home prices, NAR’s housing affordability index shows that a median-income family can easily afford a median-priced home,” he said.

Contact us for our preferred list of local mortgage planners and take advantage of today’s low interest rates!

Five Winter Staging Tips

When selling your home in the winter, the art of staging the inside becomes more important.  Here are five simple tips that can help you sell your home shine even when the outside landscaping has faded:

  • Keep your house warm.  In the winter people tend to turn the thermostat down to save money, however a warmer house is more welcoming to a potential buyer.
  • Clear your walkways and driveways of any snow or ice.  Make it easy for buyers to get to your home.
  • Clean the windows and blinds.  Letting in the natural light can brighten up a room and cheer up the home.  This also brings attention to the windows and blinds so make sure they are clean even during winter.  Dirty windows will make the home seem as those it’s not well maintained.
  • Background music played softly can completely change the atmosphere making the home seem cozy and keep potential buyers around longer.  Stick with classical music which can appeal to anyone.
  • Leave the light on.  Before showing a home, make sure it’s well lit.  A well lit home is more inviting.  If you’re not home, consider setting up timers.

Following these simple tips can give your house that added boost in today’s competitive market. For information on selling in our local market, please feel free to call and ask for a computer analysis of our recent market activity. We would be more than happy answer any questions you might have!

Enchantment of The Woodlands Market Street

Enchantment of the Woodlands market street

The setting of all the modern cities is more or less as most of these cities are developed according to a plan and that is why it is always possible to find every part of these cities well managed and well organized. There is no doubt that the market and business establishments get enough attention in these cities as these market places work as the hearts of the city life.  All these cities are planned with special attention towards the placement of the market places. The city of Woodlands in Texas in the United States of America is another example of great planning that is proving to be boon for the proper development of the city. As per the noted facts, most of these developed cities from all over the world have well developed market places that are known for their extraordinary facilities and services.

The Woodlands market Street is an example of great planning of township. This street is the life line of the city as it plays a very important role in the life of every native of this city. If you ever visit to this city of Woodlands, then you must not forget to visit the Woodlands market street which is indeed the most attractive place in the entire city of Woodlands. This city street has separate areas for different types of business establishments. It is an important principle of modern planning of any city. Due to this well managed planning, it becomes easier for the people to find out the things that they are looking for as they are only required to know which area of the city market they are supposed to appear.

The Woodlands market street is wide and smooth and that helps ion the smooth flow of traffic on this extraordinary street.  The activity of the traffic authorities can be noticed all through this market street. These authorities work relentlessly and selflessly to make the most important street of the city to make it free from any traffic trouble. The flow of traffic remains closed during a certain part of the day as the business activities remain on the height during this part of the day. The Woodlands market street is probably the best example of well organized city life. This market street is like an important place of visit for the people who come to Woodlands on a personal or business trip set at the side walk cafe and visit with friends !! The Best Place to  call HOME

 

Investing in Real Estate

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, understands the ebb and flow. “Affordability conditions this year have been the most favorable on record dating back to 1970, but many buyers are being held back because banks are offering financing to only the most highly qualified borrowers, ignoring a large share of otherwise creditworthy buyers,” he said. “Those potential buyers represent the difference between an uneven recovery and a much more robust housing market that could stimulate additional economic activity and create jobs.”

Housing inventory dropped 1.7 percent to 3.65 million existing homes available, representing a 9.4-month supply at today’s current rate of sale.

Investing in Real Estate

Today’s low interest rates and stabilized home prices have created some great investment opportunities!  Investing in real estate has unique advantages over other types of investments:

  • Interest in mortgage loans are tax-deductable.  Investors can lower their tax liability while increasing their equity.
  • Renters pay down your mortgage loan.  Investors reap the benefits of rental income, which offsets your mortgage cost and build equity.
  • Real Estate values increase over the long term.  Real Estate is limited and will always be in demand. 
  • 1031 exchanges are available to defer taxable income when you are ready to sell.

Many investors are taking advantage of these great market conditions. Have questions? Give us a call. We are happy to help!

Home Warranties

New Homes come with warranties to protect the buyer in case of the unexpected.  But what about existing homes?  Fortunately, there are a number of companies today who offer warranties on existing homes.  Sellers can now offer their buyers a level of assurance that was previously reserved for new construction, and buyers can buy with confidence!

If you are in the market to buy or sell, ask us about the advantages of a home warranty.  You might be surprised at how much protection is offered for a very reasonable fee.

 

Should You Buy a Home for Sale in the Woodlands?

Should You Buy a Home for Sale in the Woodlands? 

Are you ready to invest in a new home, but don’t know whether you should build a house or buy a home for sale in the Woodlands? Well, it really isn’t surprising if you can’t make up your mind right now. After all, the economy has taken a turn for the worse within the last few years, with unpaid mortgage payments, foreclosed properties and lenders being forced into foreclosure left and right. 

However, it is now high time for you to consider buying a home for sale in the Woodlands. Since buying a home is a serious matter, though, you will still need to weigh the advantages and disadvantages first. Remember: you shouldn’t invest your money on anything unless you are 100% sure it is actually worth it. 

If you need help making up your mind or choosing the perfect home for sale in the Woodlands for you, then you can simply get some advice from a professional. A lot of lenders and real estate agents will be happy to help you make your decision on this. If you’d prefer, you can also do some research on your own instead. Just go online and look for trends in the residential real estate, or look for any available foreclosed lots or properties in the area. You can also look for articles about building a new house and about houses for sale in the Woodlands, in general. 

If you end up deciding to buy a home, make sure you bring a knowledgeable sales agent with you to inspect the houses that you like before making your decision and signing any documents. Also, make sure you only keep track of up to five houses at a time. If you look at more than that, then you will just have a harder time deciding which one to buy and live in. 

Aside from that, you should also keep an eye out for things in the houses that you might need to repair later on. If you’re lucky, you might get to haggle with the owner, or at least pinpoint something in your buying agreement that will get you a better deal in the end. 

Regardless of whether you choose to build a house or buy a home for sale in the Woodlands, you need to remember that houses will always come with imperfections, though. So, no matter where you choose to live, just be glad that you have your family with you, and you will always have a happy home.

Why is it Best to Buy and Sell Homes in Spring?

Why is it Best to Buy and Sell Homes in Spring?

A lot of people are unaware that there are good seasons to buy and sell homes in. Spring happens to be the best of them as it is the season of change and warm weather. Believe it – people tend to buy or sell homes in spring the most due to various reasons.

For one, people have a lot of more time to waste during the spring months compared to other busier seasons. Plus, the weather tends to be warmer, making it more convenient to move around in search of homes. Buyers would also prefer to move during spring break before school starts up again and this is probably one of the bigger reasons why families move to new homes in spring.

The weather aside, people usually get tax returns in the spring, as well, making home down payments much easier to deal with compared to other months. In fact, house sales in general remain steady in the spring and drop during the busier months of the year.

If you are a buyer, you are sure to have a much wider variety to choose from during the spring, though the competition will be much higher, as well. This conversely translates to sellers keeping to their original asking prices compared to the months where the market isn’t in such high demand. Additionally, if you want to find a mortgage, you will probably find much better deals if you apply in the off-peak seasons, too.

During off-peak seasons, sellers will more likely negotiate when it comes to price because not a lot of offers will be present then. So, although your choices of homes might not be huge, they still won’t be completely limited. A lot of homes will still be for sale this season.

As an extra tip: if you have plans of buying a brand new home and selling your home, you need to make sure you sell yours as early as possible, so you can alleviate some stress from selling your house because of financial pressure and time constraints. After all, you will now want to pay for two mortgages at the same time, right?

Now, the greatest season to buy and sell homes might still be relative to personal circumstances and preferences, though. So find out what would work best for you first, so you can put the seasons to your advantage and look into homes in spring if it caters to your needs.

The Value of a Competitive Market Analysis

The Value of a Competitive Market Analysis

As we enter the Spring housing market, sellers have a tremendous opportunity to reach a wide audience of potential buyers.

It is important that sellers consult with a knowledgeable professional at the start of the spring market. Each buyer is looking for a home with the best combination of price, location, condition, and amenities. Ask your agent to compile a new CMA with the most recent market statistics available. Pay special attention to pending and closed sales in the last 60-90 days, and review market trends for homes in your price range and area. Statistics tell us that pricing your home competitively from the beginning will lead to a faster sale, and net you more money in the long run.

Jutta “Utah” Burden Keller Williams The Woodlands

Keller Williams Realty The Woodlands TX announces Jutta “Utah”Burden as an Associate Broker she completed her state exam on June 8, 2010

Jutta “Utah” Burden a mega agent at Keller Williams since 1998 earned her broker license on June 8, 2010;

Jutta ” Utah” Burden

Quote startRedefining Real EstateQuote end

Spring, TX (PRWEB) June 20, 2010

You might not remember when The Woodlands was considered “country,” but when Jutta (pronounced Utah) Burden moved with her husband to the area over 30 years ago, that’s exactly what it resembled. “I couldn’t believe he was moving me out there,” she said, laughing.

But change is exactly what motivates Jutta. She moved to America from Germany in 1966 and left behind her homeland and family. Fully embracing her new home, she went on to run a successful travel agency in The Woodlands, with three area locations.

Twelve years ago she parlayed her love of The Woodlands–its homes, families, amenities, shopping–into a second successful career as a real estate agent. Today, as a broker associate of Keller Williams, she has taken the extra step to learn as much as she can about the industry. “I wanted to be the best, to distinguish myself in this business, so I could best serve my clients,” she said. “My business is centered on service, service, service.”

Jutta holds many achievements and designations, including prestigious membership in The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing. “But I’m just as happy selling first-time homeowners their houses as I am selling a multi-million dollar property,” Jutta said.

If you’re looking for that perfect home to call your own, your first call should be to Jutta. She’s not just a sales agent, but a broker associate with industry knowledge to best serve you.

Listings in The Woodlands Texas                 What is your Market Value ?

Luxury Homes in the Woodlands

Are Luxury Homes in the Woodlands for You? 

Luxury homes in the Woodlands are very expensive and usually owned by prominent people in a society or people of higher rank. A luxury home’s characteristics varies among different countries, though. It all depends on the place’s marketing status and the location’s property values.  

The classification of a luxury home takes the surrounding homes’ presence into account, as well as the waterfronts, views, amenities, commercialization, the place’s peacefulness, and architectural or historical significance. The better a home’s location is, the more it is classified as having greater value. Because luxury houses are now spreading, the market for luxury homes in the Woodlands is booming.  

Usually, luxury properties start in the lower millions and then start to go up from there. However, buyers of luxury homes in the Woodlands are usually not very concerned with prices. They tend to focus more on the house’s location and quality instead. They also typically recognize a home as the best personal investment and because of this, they try to choose a home that’s best for them.  

It is the dream of many people to own a home near the sea. However, if you decide to purchase a luxury home located by the sea, it is important that you anticipate all of the possible consequences. In order to do so, remember these crucial factors before deciding to look at luxury home ads.

 Sea water, of course, is salty. Combine that with the stormy or windy environment of the sea, and it can prove to be very harmful to houses as well as to cars. So owning a house located right next to the sea will require effort due to frequent car and house cleaning activities. Because of this, it would be important to keep your house and car clean in order to remove the salty substances present in the air. Even without windy or stormy weather, though, the salt in the sea air is still enough to cause some erosion on cars and houses.  

Owning luxury homes in the Woodlands comes with the responsibility of high upkeep and maintenance. Therefore, if you are able to afford a luxury home but cannot afford to maintain it, then you should put your dreams of purchasing a home on hold. After all, without the proper maintenance, your beautiful luxury home will wear out.  

Luxury homes in the Woodlands are not for everyone and are mostly for people who can afford to buy and maintain them. If you’re a rich or famous person who has the money to afford it, then it’s probably the right time to search for the perfect luxury house that suits you perfectly.

Finding Your Home’s Best Selling Price

Statistics show that the best opportunity to sell your home is often within the first few weeks of putting it on the market. This can be good news, or bad, depending on your motivation. Some homes sell right away, while others sit on the market for months without a single offer.

To maximize your selling opportunity, it is important that your home be priced right. What is the right price? Many factors will determine your home’s best asking price. Our current real estate market has a lot to do with it. Using sound judgment, research, and experience, a good agent can help you determine the right price for your home. They will help you evaluate your location, the recent sold data, current market trends, and your home’s special features that set it apart from the competition.

Image: What Ever Home Seller Should Know

“What’s wrong with pricing my home a little high?” Price your home too high and most buyers won’t even bother looking at it. Over priced homes tend to sell the competition first. This scares away many qualified buyers simply because they can go elsewhere and get more house for the money. As the house sits on the market, people will shy away from it thinking there must be something wrong with the home.

Should I under-price my home? Price it too low and you could lose thousands of dollars. There are times when you will attract multiple bidders making multiple offers, but this is only recommended when you need a faster-than-average sale.

In most circumstances, pricing your home correctly from the very beginning will net you the best results in both time and money. To find out your home’s perfect selling price, contact us for a No Obligation Market Analysis. We will take the guesswork out the entire process and suggest an accurate market price for your home. It has never been easier

The Woodlands Area Real Estate

The Woodlands Area Real Estate

The Woodlands area has experienced phenomenal growth in the last three decades. Just slightly over thirty years ago, this area was sparsely populated and had just a fraction of the buildings that you find today. In this thirty year period, the population in the Woodlands has grown by about ten times and so has the real estate. While the phenomenal growth is good for business, it also complicates matters for investors in real estate who might not know where to search in such a vibrant and dynamic community.

The Woodlands is a planned community located in Houston, TX. In the whole of metropolitan Houston, no other planned community has anything close to what the Woodlands has to offer in terms of real estate. For the person looking for a home to buy, this area has homes in all manner of styles so that even the most discerning potential homeowner will find a home that is just right. In addition, the price ranges vary substantially depending on a home’s location and the amenities nearby.

What will not disappoint the new homeowner in the Woodlands is the advanced level of amenities in the commercial town. There are quality shopping outlets and trendy restaurants as well as a host of recreation venues. The Woodlands is also home to excellent schools and the parent who brings a family here will be assured of getting a quality school for the young ones.

The Woodlands has ten villages each of which has the amenities fit for a small town. Getting a house, either to buy or rent in any of the ten villages requires the help of a seasoned real estate agent, a person who not only lives and works in the Woodlands but one who has also been present in the area for a long time and has seen the area grow to what it is today.

The village of Grogan’s Mill is the oldest in the group of 10 Woodlands villages and, apart from its proud history, is a well-developed community that provides adequate shopping, dining and recreation facilities for its residents. Creekside Park Village is set beside Lake Paloma and has a Nature Reserve where a myriad of recreation activities such as biking, kayaking and mountain watching keep visitors and residents entertained. The village of Alden Bridge has a population of slightly over twenty thousand and has well developed amenities to keep the new homeowner fully entertained. The village is home to a number of private and public schools, a Village Medical Center and a nearby hospital.

In the Woodlands, one community that seems to stand out is the Carlton Woods community which is a more affluent community when compared to the rest of the villages. The community has a huge park in its neighborhood in addition to many high-end amenities and facilities.

For a community that has so much to offer, the Woodlands is a real attraction to many homeowners. To obtain expert advice on the Woodlands area real estate, it would be a prudent idea to obtain the services of a seasoned realtor-broker.