DavidTheLocator: Children's Museum of Houston - 5 Days Left Of Fun!...

DavidTheLocator: Children's Museum of Houston - 5 Days Left Of Fun!...: 5 Days left of trick-or-treating, costume wearing and hair-raising fun! Giant spiders, creepy critters, flying ghosts and wicked bats welcom...

Children's Museum of Houston - 5 Days Left Of Fun!

5 Days left of trick-or-treating, costume wearing and hair-raising fun! Giant spiders, creepy critters, flying ghosts and wicked bats welcome you to a spellbinding adventure as the Children’s Museum of Houston magically morphs into the Happy Halloween Mansion, Oct. 18 – 31. Wander through the Mansion’s hallways in search of goblin goodies, terrifying trinkets and more! View Halloween photos! (Museum is closed on Mondays, Oct. 17 and 24. We're open on Monday, Oct. 31 from 4-8 pm for the Halloween Spooktacular.) Safe fun:) Enjoy!

DavidTheLocator: Tired of Searching for a Place to Live? Search No ...

DavidTheLocator: Tired of Searching for a Place to Live? Search No ...: Tired of searching for a place to live? Finding a Houston home or Houston Apartment that is ideal for your needs ...

Tired of Searching for a Place to Live? Search No More! Let David Moore Search For You!

                     

Tired of searching for a place to live? Finding a Houston home or Houston Apartment that is ideal for your needs may take you a lot of time and money, not to mention stress. Hi, my name is David J. Moore,ABR.GRI. I have lived in the Houston area for over 45 years and my team and I at DavidTheLocator specialize in re-locations in Houston and its suburbs. 

We are unique in that we are full service Real Estate and Apartment Locating company.Whether you have just moved to Houston or you are just looking for a new house or apartment, we will help you find the place that you will truly love and be comfortable with. We will provide you with the best Houston Apartments for you needs so with us at DavidTheLocator you are very well cared for. Be cautious when looking for a place to live via the internet as many post what's called "bait ads" that really don't exist or have already been leased just to get your business. We are about honesty and integrity. We would never recommend a place that we know to be unsafe and that we would not personally send our own family members to. We are experts in the Apartment Locating business and we know which apartments are well taken care of not just cosmetically but most importantly by the management company....the people that in the end will be taking care of your needs. With us you will have the place that you want in no time because we have lots of experience in helping people find the apartment (or house) that is right for them.

At DavidTheLocator you will definitely get the personalized service that you require. Paying the rent that you can afford is very important so we make sure that we find you a place in the right price range. We offer you advice that you can use to get the home that is right for you. You don't have to do a thing... we do all of the work for you. We will personalize a list of apartments from our own database, call for specials and availabilities and schedule a time for you to visit them. Best of all (I know you won't believe this) our service is completely FREE... no strings attached because we get credit from wherever YOU choose to live. I know there are a lot of "rebate" offers out there...some legit...some not, we will match any rebate offered to you as well.  

So first of all... visit our website at www.davidthelocator.com and get to know us and please call us direct at 281-326-HOME at any time. Here are some questions for you to think about...

1) Where in Houston do you prefer to live -- North, South, East or West?

2) How many bedrooms do you require(min) and bathrooms(min)/ how many occupants ?

3) Must you have washer/dryer connections in the apartment or are laundry facilities at the property sufficient ? 

4) Are you a first time renter?  A co-signer may be required.  Do you have anyone that would co-sign for you? How is your credit and how much rental history do you have ? 

5) Have you ever broken a lease or been evicted or do you owe an apartment complex or any utility company any money ?

6) Do you have any felonies? (Sorry, I have to ask - but I am aware of some complexes that will consider each case.) 

7) Do you have any pets? If so, what breed and weight?

8) When can you set aside time to actually view properties with the intention of putting down a  deposit to hold it for a later move in date ? We are available to personally escort you if you would like. 

9) When is your scheduled move date?

10) Please include a preferred price range and maximum price range.

11) Is there anything else you might want or need that would be helpful ?

12) Please include your daytime and evening contact phone numbers so we can contact you.

We look forward to hearing from you! Remember...moving is stressful enough...let US do the hard part for you! 

Wings Over Houston Airshow Starts Tomorrow- October 15, 2011

                                                                         

The Wings Over Houston Airshow starts tomorrow, October 15-16, 2011.  As I was driving to my office today I could see the airplanes practicing above and as I sit here writing this I can hear them as well. This is a fun and exciting event for your whole family and if you have never been to it, you ought to try it out. The airshow is at Ellington Field and parking is CRAZY so you want to get there very early OR drive your car to a nearby spot and then ride your bike the rest of the way... I'm serious! Each year my wife and I do exactly that! We put our bikes in the car, drive as close as possible to Ellington Field and then peddle away. It's extremely easy and totally hassle-free. The weather in Houston has been fantastic lately so this weekend should be a great day to be outside enjoying the show. For complete details visit their website at:  http://wingsoverhouston.com/index.htm

Enjoy the show!
David J. Moore ABR, GRI
Marisol Quijano-Moore

Moving to Houston? Here are some places to explore...

Moving to Houston? My name is David Moore, ABR, GRI also known as DavidTheLocator, I am a Houston Realtor and Houston Apartment Locator. I am a professional that has been in this business almost 14 years and my primary goal is your satisfaction as my team and I help you search for your next Houston home.  Houston is a vibrant city with various and eclectic places to go and things to do, explore Houston via these quick links below:


Please visit our website at www.DavidTheLocator.com or call us direct with any questions you may have at 281-326-HOME. We are a full service (Please see our excellent ratings) Houston Real Estate company and we offer a FREE Houston Apartment Locating service... no strings attached! Moving doesn't have to be stressful, let us do the hunting for you! We look forward to helping you!

Arboretum

Discovery Green

Downtown

Golf

Hermann Park

Light Rail

Memorial Park

Minute Maid Park

Municipal Art

NASA

Reliant Stadium

Sam Houston Park

San Jacinto Monument

Shopping

Toyota Center

Tunnel System

Why Use an ABR®: REALTORS® Experienced in Buyer Representation

Why use an ABR: Realtors experienced in buyer representation? Buying a Houston home is no small matter. Besides being the largest financial transaction you may ever undertake, it’s probably also the most complex. There are many good reasons to work with a qualified real estate professional—especially a trained professional who has earned the Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) designation, representing best-in-class buyer services.

When you look for an ABR® before you look for a home, you’ll be served, not sold. Your interests become their interests. And you’ll be working with someone who has gone the extra mile by completing specialized training in delivering the best in buyer-representation services. Plus, a REALTOR® who has an ABR® Designation also has an established track record, with proven experience in representing the concerns of home buyers.


The ABR® Designation is awarded through the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council, or REBAC, which was founded in 1988 to promote superior buyer-representation skills and services. REBAC is an affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). 


I am confident that you will be satisfied with my services, I am here to assist you every step of the way! Call us at 281-326-HOME and please visit us at www.davidthelocator.com.

How to Fight a Low Appraisal- Houston, Texas.

How to fight a low appraisal in Houston, Texas.                     

What do you do when the appraisal on the Houston dream home you want to buy comes in below the price in the offer the buyer has accepted-even as much as 10 to 20 percent below?


Chances are that raising the cash for your down payment and closing cost has tapped you out. Finding thousands more to make up the difference between the appraised value and the contracted amount is out of the question.


You're not the only buyer who has hit the low appraisal snag. This past June and July, 16 percent of real estate pros reported a cancelation in a sale, mostly due to a large number of low appraisals.


However, you don't have to walk away. In fact, some real estate professionals and economists say that low-ball appraisals are pushing values down home values and undermining the housing recovery.


How to fight back a low appraisal. You have options and chances are you can find a way to make the deal work without increasing your down payment.


Houston appraisals are largely based on prices recently paid for comparable local properties. Over the past decade, finding "comps" that accurately reflect values has been a challenge as values rose quickly during the boom and fell just as fast during the bust Discounts paid for foreclosures and short sales have created a dual price structure between "normal" and distress sales.


Finally, when pricing offers today many Houston home buyers rely popular online valuation tools, called AVMs or automated valuation models, instead of a comparable market analysis from a real estate professional. AVMs give fast property value estimates but they often differ greatly from appraised values because they are determined by algorithms using available local price data, not actual inspections of the property. During this time of record low home values, it's no wonder that more and more appraisals are coming in below prices that buyers and sellers have agreed on.


It may seem ironic that buyers would want the homes they want to buy to appraise for as much or more than they are willing to pay. Remember, the purpose of the appraisal is not to help you get a better price, but to protect your lender should, heaven forbid, you default. The lender wants assurance that your home will be worth enough to recoup their investment.


Even if you have a great job, sterling credit, an adequate down payment and money in the bank, you lender will still want a conservative appraisal. In light of losses they have taken on the millions of foreclosures in recent years and the tough times many banks have had on Wall Street, lenders are taking no chances these days. They are more interested in protecting themselves from a loss than they are in making you a loan.


Here are five steps you can take to save your Houston dream home.


1. Get the seller to lower the price. By far, this is the easiest solution, especially if your appraisal comes in less than 10 percent of the contract price. Obviously, a lower price is a great idea for the buyer, but why would a seller go along? In July, 2011 the average home in America took about 88 days to sell. Demand is soft and time is money. Your seller, particularly if they are selling to buy another home, could be in a real bind if you are forced to back out and they have to put the house on the market again. After all, there is no guarantee that if you walk away, the seller won't receive a low or even lower appraisal from the next buyer's lender. Today, many buyers are offering incentives to sellers, such as payment of some or all closing costs. Lowering the price might be a cheaper option for the seller in order to get the deal done on time. Sometimes a bird in the hand is best.


2. Ask the seller to offer to carry a second mortgage for the difference. This solution doesn't cost the seller anything but the buyer incurs greater debt. If the buyer really wants the home but cannot come up with the difference in cash, making payments or a lump sum payment at a later date to the seller is an option. After the escrow closes, sellers often retain the right to discount the second mortgage, sell it for less than face value to an investor.


3. Do your research and dispute the appraisal. Is the contract sales price a fair assessment of the property value based on a well-prepared comparable market analysis (CMA) from your real estate agent as opposed to an online AVM? Was the appraisal done by an appraisal management company that may have used a less than expert or out-of-town appraiser?


Disputing the appraisal may sound a little aggressive but you might be the victim of a poorly prepared appraisal. Do some research first and go to war if you have the ammunition.


You have the right to get a copy of the appraisal from your lender and to find out who did it. What is the appraiser's reputation? Have any complaints been filed with your state appraisal licensing agency? Where is the appraiser based? Did they perform an appraisal in a housing market that they may not know well? Did the appraiser have adequate information about the subject property. If your appraisal was conducted by an out-of-town appraiser unfamiliar with your market, you have every right to demand an new appraisal.


What comparables did they use? Ask your agent and the seller's agent to put together a list of recent comparable sales that justify the agreed-to sales price. Submit that list to the underwriter and ask for a review of the appraisal. Also, ask the agents to call the listing agents of pending sales to try to find out the actual sales price of those properties. Listing agents do not have to disclose the sales price, but many are happy to help out because they could find themselves in the same situation. Pending sales are more current and are not closed, so the original appraiser would not have access to them.


The key to a successful dispute is data. You will need as much data you can get to back up your dispute.


4. Ask the lender for a new appraisal. Should you find that you have a good case that the appraisal wasn't fair or accurate, ask your lender for a new appraisal, which you may be charged for.


Another strategy is to get two additional, unbiased appraisals and use the average of all three to arrive at a fair price. This is a risky strategy, in light of the fact that another appraisal might not come in higher than your first; it might even be lower if values have fallen.


Depending on how convincing your argument is, your lender has the ability to override the appraisal estimate, which is unlikely, or to order a new appraisal, which is more likely. If a new appraisal is ordered, talk with your agent about somehow splitting the cost with the seller. Perhaps the listing agent and selling agent will split the fee so the buyer does not have to incur additional costs associated with the transaction. Appraisals cost around $400 or so.


5. Get your own, independent appraisal. If you order your own appraisal and your loan is an FHA loan, ask the lender for a list of approved appraisers. Usually the bank will review your appraisal and ask the previous appraiser if they agree or disagree with the newly submitted one.


If the first appraiser disputes your appraisal, the bank may request a third appraisal done by another appraiser, or they may just reject your appraisal.


However, if the first appraiser agrees with the disputes you present, they may adjust their original appraisal and you may get a better price.


If these tactics fail and you cannot make up the shortfall in the appraised value, you may find yourself moving on. If so, be sure that you were protected by a contingency clause in the sales contract, stating that the transaction can be terminated if the home doesn't appraise at, or above, the sales price.

Please take a moment to visit our website at www.davidthelocator.com and never hesitate to call 281-326-HOME should you have any questions. We are here to assist you. 

David J. Moore ABR, GRI

Marisol Quijano-Moore

Here Are Some Really Cool, Easy To Make & Inexpensive "Glow In The Dark Seasonal Decor" For Your Holidays!

Yes, I'm a Houston realtor not an interior decorator but I do see lots of neat things while showing houses! You can give your home a very festive and spooky (or not so spooky) glow without worrying about any flames or worse...fires! These easy & inexpensive decors are a great way to spend more fun time with your kids and family while displaying glowing decor for fall entertainment! (Or get creative and use year round)

Tin Punch Lanterns:

Repurpose simple coffee or soup cans to create darling tin punch lanterns to line a walkway or decorate your home.

Start by thoroughly cleaning and drying your cans. Fill each can with water and freeze overnight to prevent the surface from bending or denting when it’s time to punch your design.

Next, choose a festive tin punch template and print it out. Wrap the paper template around the can and secure with masking tape. Using a hammer and large nail, punch holes into the can following along the pattern on the template. The space between each hole is up to you. Remove the template once your design is complete. You can leave your tin punch lanterns silver or give them a coat of acrylic or spray paint in festive colors like orange, black or white.

Use battery-powered tea lights helps keep your seasonal creation fire-hazard free! This type of tea lights can be found at craft or party stores and online. For a larger can, use a few extra lights to get the desired effect.

Twinkle Light Gourds:
Create a glowing display indoors or out using gourds and white twinkle lights. They offer an elegant alternative to the classic jack ‘o lantern and can be used to decorate beyond Halloween.

Start with a dried gourd (available at farms, craft stores and online) and use a 1 1/2” core drill bit to cut a hole near the bottom of gourd where the lights can be inserted. Next, use a 1/4” drill bit to create randomly spaced holes or uniform patterns all over your gourd. Finally, feed in the strand of lights through the larger hole in the back, plug it in and watch your gourd glow!


If you have any other creative ideas please share them below. We would love to try them as well!
Have fun & enjoy!
281-326-HOME
David J. Moore ABR,GRI
Marisol Quijano-Moore
www.davidthelocator.com

Apartments on the fast track in Houston! Are you ready to move? Now is the time!

Are you looking for an apartment or know anyone that is in the Houston Metropolitan area? Well, there's great news ahead!
                                                                   

The multifamily development market in Houston is on the fast track as builders rush to create apartment units for a growing population of renters.

The areas that are most attractive for new development are the Galleria, Inner Loop, Katy and The Woodlands. 

Apartment occupancy and rental rates are strong thanks to a variety of factors.

People who can’t get financing or can’t afford the down payment to buy a single-family house are staying in multifamily units longer.

A total of 18 new apartment complexes with 3,690 units are under construction as of June. There are an additional 4,411 units in 23 properties that have begun leasing but are not quite finished yet.

That does not include another 49 projects with more than 13,000 units proposed for construction.

An overwhelming majority of the new construction is Class A ­— which are the nicest apartments with upgraded finishes and amenities.

There are 96,073 units in 360 Class A properties in metropolitan Houston, which is a large area from Galveston to Conroe and Baytown to Katy.

So if you're in the market to buy, sell, lease a house or an apartment the time here in Houston is great to do that! Let us help you. Our team is experienced and we care about where you live. Our Apartment Locating services are absolutely free! We will find the apartment that best fits your needs, look for all specials and guide you every step of the way! Don't let moving stress you out... you just pack and we'll do the rest for you!

Visit us at www.davidthelocator.com or call us at 281-326-HOME. We look forward to hearing from you! 

David J. Moore ABR,GRI

4 Things You Can Do to Lower Your Insurance Premium!

                               

Talk to your agent about these ways to save money and protect your car.

Do you want to lower your auto insurance premiums right now? Of course you do! These hints can help you save.

1. Be a good driver. The best way to keep rates low—and even get them lowered—is to avoid any tickets for moving violations. Demonstrate responsibility by taking an approved defensive-driving class, which can lead to a discount on your insurance premium. Drivers may pay as little as $20 a course. Ask your insurance agent if they provide a defensive driver discount for mature drivers, and/or an Accident Free discount to all drivers ages 21 or older with at least five years of driving experience and no accidents or major violations in past five years. At least one driver on most policies benefits from this discount.

2. Make adjustments for older vehicles. Depreciation is inevitable for automobiles. As a result, you may not need the same coverage for an older ride as you would for a new one.  If you have a vehicle that's older than five years, talk to your agent about whether you need to invest in the entire suite of coverage.

3. Invest in safety. Do you deliberately buy vehicles that are ranked lowest on the “most stolen” list? Do you spend more for added safety features? All of this can result in lowered premiums. Highlight all the safety advantages your vehicle offers for your insurance agent. This includes air bags, anti-lock brakes, rear-view cameras and more.

4. Adjust your insurance package. If you can afford to spend a couple hundred dollars to repair damage from a minor accident, consider raising your deductible to $1,000 and purchasing Deductible Savings features like Vanishing Deductible and Total Loss Deductible Waiver. Also, if you have homeowners and life insurance scattered among different companies, look to move everything to the same company to take advantage of bundled discounts. 


Feel free to call us for a list of trusted agents we have used in the past or visit us at www.DavidTheLocator.com!

David J. Moore, ABR. GRI