Keep your home safe while squeezing in your last minute vacations..

                                                    


It's almost back to school time here in Houston and many of you are squeezing in your last minute vacations. Be smart, nothing could be worse to returning to a home that's been broken into!

Over the last few days, I've seen a ton of posts from my "friends" about their upcoming vacations. Things like: "2 days to Florida...can't wait", "Entire family headed to the airport---1 week of fun in the sun".

Remember, your posts are not as private as you think and telling the whole world that your home will be empty is an invitation for trouble. In the spirit of security, we wanted to share a few tips to make sure your home is safe and secure.


1. Make Sure All Doors and Windows Are Locked. - Yes, I realize this is pretty obvious, but you'd be surprised how many people rush out the door without checking every single entrance to their home. Some locks stick, especially in older homes, so be sure to check everything before leaving.

2. Cancel Your Newspaper. - Nothing screams vacant home better than newspapers piling up in your driveway.

3. Keep Lights On With A Timer. - My grandparents always used timers and I thought they were silly, but actually make a lot of sense if your home is empty.

4. Tell Your Neighbors. -Whether living in a house or apartment let your neighbors ( provided that you like and trust them of course ) know of your plans so they can be on the lookout for any suspicious activity.

5. Have A Friend Check On Your Home- Having someone stop by to make sure things are ok is a smart idea. I actually have a friend who has someone pull into and out of his garage when there is a snowfall (obviously not here in Houston), so that anyone driving by will see the new tracks, giving the appearance that someone is home. A little paranoid perhaps, but not a bad idea.

Oh, and a another suggestion, please don't post while you are actually on vacation, because this is just as bad. Share the pictures of you on the beach after you get home.

Enjoy your vacation, just be smart.
Visit us at www.davidthelocator.com

Looking for a home? Selling your home? Here are some great tips!

Are you looking for a home? Selling your home? We can help you! 

Marisol Quijano- Moore                      David J. Moore, ABR, GRI  

You know you should clean everything and get rid of clutter. But aside from that, how do you broaden the appeal of your house? In an economy where some homes are just not selling, it's critical that you get your home in tip-top seller shape! Here are some great tips to help you do that...

Here are a few tips:
---Walk through the house and prioritize things that, if changed, would increase the value of your home. For example, repainting a child's bubble-gum pink bedroom may attract more buyers than something not as apparent, such as replacing an old dishwasher.
---You can direct a potential buyer's eye away from something negative or toward something positive. Use artwork or a room's own features, such as a fireplace, to capture a buyers attention. However, there is a fine line. You want buyers to be able to appreciate the room and not just focus on the items in the room.
---Remove any furniture that tightens spaces. If a couch or chair makes you turn your body as you walk by or just makes a passage look small, get rid of it. Everybody wants more space.
---Rid the house of personal effects, and don't forget simple things like magnets on the refrigerator. Small distractions to the buyers' eyes will disturb their thinking, preventing them from picturing the house as their own. And while you want the rooms to look well-decorated and spacious, avoid turning the house into a perfect home. Try to balance the brand-new look with some of its lived-in warmth.
---Potential buyers often feel uncomfortable in bedrooms and bathrooms because they are, by definition, personal and private places. To counter this reaction, make bedrooms and bathrooms look like a model home (toss the lived-in feel out the bathroom window). Clear off all surfaces of the bathroom---remove even simple things like toothpaste and soap. Put out nice, fresh towels instead. The goal is to make these rooms comfortable for buyers. When they're comfortable, they'll linger and picture themselves in the house.
---Consider hiring a professional to improve your home's visual appeal. The fee charged by a "stager" can be worth it if the changes bring a quicker offer or a higher sales price.

Please visit our website at www.davidthelocator.com for all of your real estate news and needs. To contact us call 281-326-HOME. We are a full service real estate and apartment locating company in Houston, we have been relocating clients for over 13 years in the Houston Metropolitan area, have lived in Houston for 45 years and we care about where you live!

Have a great day!
Marisol

Now that S&P has downgraded the United States from a AAA to AA+... what will this mean if you're buying a home?

Now that S&P has downgraded the United States from a AAA to AA+, there will be ramifications for all of us. For now cash is king so you will want to start using cash instead of credit wherever possible.

Interest rates are sure to go up for home and credit card purchases. If you are currently in the process of looking for a home, I would try to lock in a rate with your lender ASAP, especially if you just put a house under contract but have not locked in yet. Timing is critical now and the window is small if you want to benefit from the historically low interest rate environment we have enjoyed for the past decade. The party is over for now !

Of course, you may always consult with me if you have any questions concerning the real estate market. We are here to serve you !

David J. Moore ABR, GRI
Realtor & Relocation Consultant
www.davidthelocator.com

Mortgage applications rise 7.1%

Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011, 6:34 am

                                                                                                

The number of mortgage applications filed in the United States increased 7.1% last week as mortgage rates fell across the board, an industry trade group said Wednesday.

The Mortgage Bankers Association's market composite index – a measure of the nation's mortgage loan application volume – rose 7.1% on a seasonally adjusted basis and 7% on an unadjusted basis over the previous week.

Meanwhile, the refinance index grew 7.8%, while the seasonally adjusted purchase index rose 5.1% from a week ago.

"Treasury rates plummeted more than 20 basis points last week as all eyes were focused on the debt ceiling negotiations in Washington, and economic data depicted much slower than anticipated economic growth," said Michael Fratantoni, MBA's vice president of research and economics. "Mortgage rates fell, with the rate on 15-year mortgages reaching a new low in our survey. Refinance application volume increased, but even though 30-year mortgage rates are back below 4.5 percent, the refinance index is still almost 30 percent below last year's level."

Borrowers in the most recent week remained constrained by negative equity and a weak job market, leading to a purchase index that the MBA defines as "weak by historical standards."

The four-week moving averages for the seasonally adjusted market index and the seasonally adjusted purchase index are up 2.8% and 4.2%, respectively, while the four-week moving average on the purchase index declined a slight 0.4%.

The share of application activity tied to refinancing grew to 70.1%, up from 69.6% a week earlier.  The adjustable-rate mortgage's share of filing activity increased to 6.6% from 6.1%.

In addition, the 30-year, FRM remained well under 5% at 4.45%, down from 4.47% a week earlier, while the 15-year, FRM decreased to 3.52%, down from 3.67%, making it the lowest 15-year mortgage rate on record at the MBA.

.

Reminder...The height of the hurricane season in Texas is August and September....what you need to make sure you are prepared.

 Hurricane season runs from June 1-November 30 in the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico. The height of the season is August and September, because that's when the ocean and gulf water temperature is highest. There's no way of knowing how many storms there will be each year. The National Hurricane Center can make predictions, but it's really just an educated guess. Some are bad, some aren't AS bad. Every one is different. Make sure you are prepared, you will not have time and their might not be enough supplies left should you wait until the last minute. We all hope and pray that it won't happen, we still remember Hurricane Ike, but we just don't know. Better to be safe than sorry.


(1) Stock up on non-perishable foods, drinking water,batteries, diapers & formula for infants & pet food for animals.

(2) Know your evacuation route, where you would go & how you would get there.

(3) If you're disabled or have transportation problems, see "IMPORTANT" infoformation below.

(4) Create an emergency communication list in case you are separated from family & friends. Include home, work, school & cell numbers & exchange lists with family, friends & neighbors. Also, designate a contact person who lives outside the area for everyone to reach in case of evacuation.

(5) Keep cash on hand. Banks may close & ATMs may be inoperable during a storm.

(6) Make sure you have enough prescription medications to outlast a storm & it's aftermath. Refill your first-aid kit.

(7) Decide where to take pets, boats & travel trailers if you can not take them with you.

(8) Pets are not allowed in many public shelters. Keep a list of "pet-friendly" places---hotels/motels, friends, boarding places or vets---and phone #'s.

(9) Check all battery operated equipment. Emergency cooking facilities & lights will be essential if utilities are interrupted.

(10) Charge up or check camera batteries. You may ned to take photos of storm damage.

(11) Take inventory of your valuables & home. Make a videotape, take photos or keep a written log.

(12) Double-check your insurance coverage for:
(A) Hurricane coverage---if you want it, you need to get it now because you can not get it once a storm enters the gulf. 
(B) Flood insurance---If your insurance company doesn't offer it, the federal government does, but it will not go into effect until 30 days after you've paid for it.

IMPORTANT: If you have special needs:
If you are physically or mentally disabled, dependent on special medical equipment, have transportation needs or are faced with some other circumstance that will make hurricane evacuation difficult, you can pre-register with the City of Houston's Office of Emergency Management. Registration is free and voluntary & wil enable emergency providers to reach those who need help. To pre-register, log on to: http//mycity.houston.txgov/oemtar/ 
and fill out the form or call 211 from anywhere in the state of Texas.


We hope this was helpful! Remember...be prepared! Feel free to pass this on to your family and friends.
David
www.davidthelocator.com