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Pearland’s Cute Sister: ALVIN, TX

Alvin is well-known for its cute, older, and less expensive homes, so it’s a bit of a secret that lately Alvin has been blowing up with builders like Castlerock moving in and creating beautiful new construction.  A quick look at the $250-$350k market offers ample opportunities for gorgeous modern architecture.  Everyone loves Pearland as a hot spot but if you have dreams about that small town feeling, country living, and like to get away from the daily hustle and bustle, a tour of Alvin may be a better bet for you.  Alvin allows you to enjoy that  country lifestyle but sill have access to great dining and other amenities.  I’ve always been a fan of the Mom and Pop type restaurants anyway, and Alvin has several as well as some of the more familiar chains.  Click here for the Alvin “good-eats list”.  Don’t let this country living pass you by; find out how our team would love to help you check out and get into some of the newest Alvin homes just coming onto the market!

Back to our Blog here.


Buyer Tips with our Realtor Heather:

 


Are you looking to buy your dream home in Alvin, Texas?

If you are a home buyer, our foremost goal is to provide you with exceptional customer service. Our goals are to help you purchase the right home, make sure you don’t miss out on any homes that meet your needs and make sure you don’t pay too much for your next home. Please utilize our Alvin real estate expertise to make your home search and buying experience as stress-free and rewarding as possible.

Click here for advanced search.


Relocation Information

Alvin is located within the Houston area. If you are thinking about relocating to Alvin, Texas we can help you find the perfect home and make your move as stress-free as possible. We offer valuable insight into the area to help you through your home buying experience. Contact Us at (713) 965-4561.


Looking for more information about Alvin, Texas?

Being from the area, you receive the benefits of learning about great neighborhoods, trends, and hot spots.

Explore Our Communities


I hope that you enjoyed this post!

Find More Valuable Information and Read Our Blog!

  • Boogie Ellis leads Memphis basketball to sixth straight win, sets up crucial game vs Houston
    on March 3, 2021 at 2:30 pm

    Memphis bulldozed South Florida 73-52 on Tuesday night in Tampa, setting up a Sunday showdown at Houston oozing with potential NCAA Tournament implications. The Tigers (15-6, 11-3 AAC) extended their ...

  • With high school football sidelined in D.C., some players headed to Houston for a little seven-on-seven
    on March 3, 2021 at 1:42 pm

    Even with many high school sports on hold, the recruiting cycle never slows. We will use this recruiting roundup to stay on top of local commitments, scholarship offers, news and updates on local ...

  • Here's where you still have to wear a mask in Houston
    on March 3, 2021 at 11:27 am

    Several Houston businesses will still require customers to wear masks even after Gov. Greg Abbott announced the end of Texas' mandate. Houstonians now have to be extra vigilant in wearing masks and ...

  • Say Her Name TX transports 330 cases of water from Virginia to Houston
    on March 3, 2021 at 9:55 am

    Shelly Baker wanted more for Black women — so she set out to make it happen. The idea of Say Her Name TX came to the 28-year-old activist in 2019 shortly after the death of Breonna Taylor. From there, ...

  • COVID update: Abbott removes mask mandate as Lake Houston area cases decrease
    on March 3, 2021 at 6:40 am

    As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations inch downward in the Lake Houston area, statewide restrictions and mandates have been lifted as well. On Tuesday, March 2, Gov. Greg Abbott announced a rollback ...

Directed Realty

  • Office: (281) 962-4082
  • Call/Text: (832) 559-0527
  • joe@directedrealty.com
  • 2526 Harlequin Ct League City, TX 77573

Posted in: Alvin, Blog, Real Estate Tagged: Affordable Homes, Alvin, Alvin Homes, Alvin Real Estate, Alvin Realtor, Home Buying, New Construction, New Homes

8 Good Reasons for Home Ownership

Pride in Owning: Most people buy homes to have control over where they live.  Although investment features are important, the psychological reasons for buying—the satisfaction of owning and the freedom from paying rent—are at least as important. In a recent National Association of Realtors (NAR) survey of 6,000 homeowners and 2,000 renters, 76% of owners and of renters considered pride of ownership an important reason for buying a home.

Dislike Paying Rent: Almost 7 in 10 home owners admit that their dislike of paying rent was an important factor in their decision to buy.  Although renting offers a lifestyle that’s nearly maintenance free, it offers you no equity, no tax benefits, and no protection against regular rent increases.  Writing a rent check is just like watching your hard-earned money slip away.

Good Investment: 76% of owners and 69% of renters said the investment aspect of ownership was important.

Tax Advantages: Property taxes and qualified home interest are deductible on Schedule A for itemized deduction.

Long-Term Appreciation: People consider home ownership a good investment because they view it as a long-term venture.  Historically, home prices have risen at relatively steady rates.  For example, existing home prices rose an average of 4% per year between 1980 and 1992.

Leverage Investment: People borrow a great deal to buy a home, yet they receive the full benefits of price appreciation.  In the long run, investments in homes greatly outpace inflation.

Source of Savings: Home ownership always has and continues to comprise the single largest source of savings for American households. Homeowners build equity and can borrow against it.

Sacrifices Are Worth It: Almost 7 in 10 renters in the NAR home-ownership survey said they planned to buy a home in the future.  More than three-quarters of these people said they were willing to sacrifice to do that.

 


Check out some of the beautiful new listings just hitting the market in Pearland!


Local News

  • Greyhound Grad Named Berry Miller Junior High’s Teacher of the Year
    on March 3, 2021 at 12:41 pm

    Denise Haeber Hahn, who graduated from Eastern New Mexico University with a double major in radio/TV production and journalism in 1992, was recently named Teacher of the Year at Berry Miller Junior ...

  • City of Pearland adjust water bills to aid customers hurt by winter storm
    on March 3, 2021 at 2:47 am

    The city of Pearland is adjusting water bills for the period including the recent winter “We’re making some accommodations (because) we recognize the impact on people,” said City Manager Clay Pearson.

  • Pearland City Council decides how to charge residents for water usage during winter storm
    on March 2, 2021 at 12:52 pm

    Pearland City Council voted on how to bill residents for the water used during the 2021 freeze at its March 1 meeting.

  • Pearland ISD rodeo art to get virtual gallery
    on March 1, 2021 at 2:00 pm

    The day before the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo was canceled last year, Marissa Devivar went to the Hayloft Gallery at NRG Center to take a picture standing next to her artwork submitted for the ...

  • Baseball: Red-hot Pearland blazes to 6-0 start
    on March 1, 2021 at 12:53 pm

    The Pearland baseball coach won’t get too excited about victories or overly upset with defeats. One week into the 2021 baseball season, he hasn’t had any experience with the latter Pearland couldn’t ...


I hope that you enjoyed this post!

Find More Valuable Information and Read Our Blog!

Directed Realty

  • Office: (281) 962-4082
  • Call/Text: (832) 559-0527
  • joe@directedrealty.com
  • 2526 Harlequin Ct League City, TX 77573

Posted in: Blog, Real Estate Tagged: Home Buying, Homes for Sale, New Homes, Real Estate

LA PORTE: BATTLESHIP TEXAS!

Recent news has come out that this national treasure, THE BATTLESHIP TEXAS, will be removed from La Porte soon and there are no indications of when or if it will be coming back.  The ship as of this writing is over 104 years old.  It was renovated into  a pretty neat museum.  We went and checked it out yesterday and it’s a great time for kids and interesting for war history buffs as well.

A few pictures of our visit:

Other relevant links-

Navy Times article click here.

Houston Chronicle article here.

Click for Battleship Texas website here.

Back to the Blog here.

Tim LaBorde is a Realtor and regularly contributing editor for our I Spy Realty Team out of League City.  Find out more about our professional Realtor team here.

Tim LaBorde


What does a typical beautiful home in La Porte look like? Click here.


Are you looking to buy your dream home in La Porte, Texas?

If you are a home buyer, our foremost goal is to provide you with exceptional customer service. Our goals are to help you purchase the right home, make sure you don’t miss out on any homes that meet your needs and make sure you don’t pay too much for your next home. Please utilize our Pearland real estate expertise to make your home search and buying experience as stress-free and rewarding as possible.

Learn more about our team here.


Relocation Information

La Porte is located within the Houston area. If you are thinking about relocating to La Porte, Texas we can help you find the perfect home and make your move as stress-free as possible. We offer valuable insight into the area to help you through your home buying experience. Contact Us at (281) 962-4082.


Are you thinking about buying or selling in La Porte, Texas?

We are local experts and are here to help guide you through your home buying or selling experience.

Connect with Us Today!


Looking for more information about La Porte, Texas?

Being from the area, you receive the benefits of learning about great neighborhoods, trends, and hot spots.

Explore Our Communities


I hope that you enjoyed this post!

Find More Valuable Information and Read Our Blog!

Houston News:

  • Boogie Ellis leads Memphis basketball to sixth straight win, sets up crucial game vs Houston
    on March 3, 2021 at 2:30 pm

    Memphis bulldozed South Florida 73-52 on Tuesday night in Tampa, setting up a Sunday showdown at Houston oozing with potential NCAA Tournament implications. The Tigers (15-6, 11-3 AAC) extended their ...

  • With high school football sidelined in D.C., some players headed to Houston for a little seven-on-seven
    on March 3, 2021 at 1:42 pm

    Even with many high school sports on hold, the recruiting cycle never slows. We will use this recruiting roundup to stay on top of local commitments, scholarship offers, news and updates on local ...

  • Here's where you still have to wear a mask in Houston
    on March 3, 2021 at 11:27 am

    Several Houston businesses will still require customers to wear masks even after Gov. Greg Abbott announced the end of Texas' mandate. Houstonians now have to be extra vigilant in wearing masks and ...

  • Say Her Name TX transports 330 cases of water from Virginia to Houston
    on March 3, 2021 at 9:55 am

    Shelly Baker wanted more for Black women — so she set out to make it happen. The idea of Say Her Name TX came to the 28-year-old activist in 2019 shortly after the death of Breonna Taylor. From there, ...

  • COVID update: Abbott removes mask mandate as Lake Houston area cases decrease
    on March 3, 2021 at 6:40 am

    As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations inch downward in the Lake Houston area, statewide restrictions and mandates have been lifted as well. On Tuesday, March 2, Gov. Greg Abbott announced a rollback ...

Directed Realty

  • Office: (281) 962-4082
  • Call/Text: (832) 559-0527
  • joe@directedrealty.com
  • 2526 Harlequin Ct League City, TX 77573

Posted in: Blog, La Porte, News Tagged: La Porte, La Porte News, News Articles, News Flash, News Headlines

Houston Texans Football

Houston Texans Headlines!

Amazing Highlights –

  • Texans Draft: Alabama WR Waddle Keen On Houston 'Homecoming'
    on March 3, 2021 at 3:59 pm

    Alabama wideout Jaylen Waddle may currently be out of reach for Houston, but the self-proclaimed Texans fan would welcome the opportunity to return home.

  • McClain: Watson 'would be willing to lose millions of dollars' to sit out games
    on March 3, 2021 at 3:47 pm

    Houston Chronicle writer John McClain discusses Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson's position on a trade.

  • Texans Keep David Johnson: The Right Move?
    on March 3, 2021 at 3:10 pm

    The Texans and Johnson agreed to terms on a restructured deal for the 2021 season. Johnson will now play on a one-year deal worth up to $6 million with $4.25 million guaranteed. Is this move one the ...

  • How Three Texans Feel About the State's Controversial Reopening
    on March 3, 2021 at 12:09 pm

    “It feels like we’re being abandoned, again, by leadership that refuses to do the bare minimum to protect the people who live here,” says one Texas resident.

  • Cardinals DE J.J. Watt says he wants Texans QB Deshaun Watson ‘to be happy’
    on March 3, 2021 at 10:54 am

    New Arizona Cardinals DE J.J. Watt says all he wants for former teammate, Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson, is happiness.

Click here for more breaking news about the Houston Texans.

 

Click here for the newest YouTube videos about the Houston Texans.

 

Back to our Blog here.

Directed Realty

  • Office: (281) 962-4082
  • Call/Text: (832) 559-0527
  • joe@directedrealty.com
  • 2526 Harlequin Ct League City, TX 77573

Posted in: Blog, Football, Houston Texans, News Tagged: Football, Houston Texans, Texans

4 QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE HIRING AN INTERIOR DESIGNER

Our favorite lender Jerry Tomlinson with Supreme Lending had some great tips he wanted to share with our clients looking at homes in League City, Pearland, and our surrounding areas.  If you are looking to buy or sell a home in Southeast Houston give us a call at 281-962-4082; we are excited to help you find a perfect home for your family!

Now, on to Jerry! –

Whether you’re styling a new room, renovating an existing one, or simply hoping to bring some fresh style to your home, putting together an aesthetically pleasing space can be a challenge. That’s when some people will start to consider hiring a professional to help them out. If you’re looking at working with an interior designer, here are four questions to ask yourself first to make sure it’s the right decision for you.

What’s your style? Do you want a Scandinavian style? Industrial? Shabby chic? Mid-century modern? Your interior designer can provide guidance if you’re not sure what kind of look you’re going for, but knowing what styles you like and dislike can offer some important guidelines to make sure you end up with a finished product you’re happy with. Here are 10 interior design style quizzes to help you narrow down what you like!

What do you need help with? You can do it yourself or you can hire a full-service interior designer who will handle every step from concept to execution, but most people need something in between. Each designer has their strengths and specialties, so it’s important to know what skills you’ll need before choosing the designer. Check out these questions before you hire a designer to make sure they are the best fit for you and your project.

Are you ready to give input? It might sound appealing to hand off a room or a home to a designer and then come back to a finished space, but in actuality, you will be answering a lot of questions and making a lot of decisions. If you aren’t ready to be decisive, it might be better to DIY your decor, so you have as much time as you need to experiment.

What’s your budget? Interior designers, like most professionals, can tailor their offering to your budget — as long as you know what it is. Make sure you’re prepared with a number or range, because many designers ask for the amount in a lump sum. Need some tips on how to determine your budget? Here’s a guide that will walk you through how to maximize your decorating budget, and tips on how to stick to it.

If you’ve answered all these questions, you probably have a good idea not just of whether or not you should hire an interior designer, but of what sort of designer you should be looking for. No matter which direction you take, best of luck putting together a home or room with a look you love!

Are you interested in financing a home purchase, or refinancing for home improvements? Please text, email, or call us. We’re here to help!

Financing a home purchase, or refinancing for a lower rate or improvements? Please text, email, or call us. Have a great day!

Jerry L. Tomlinson
Senior Loan Officer
NMLS# 188931

14841 N. Dallas Pkwy Suite 250
Dallas, TX 75254

Office: 972-447-5748
Mobile: 972-922-3742

Back to the Blog here.


A fun home walkthrough with Stephanie in League City:

More Organizing Tips with Stephanie:

Thinking about selling your home and want a free home listing consultation with Stephanie and The I Spy Realty Team?  Call our office to make an appointment: (281) 962-4082.

Interior Design in the Headlines

  • See How This Designer Turned a Rarely Used Room Into a Functional Home Office, on a Budget
    on March 3, 2021 at 3:09 pm

    Bletzer transformed their guest bedroom into a super functional home office, and every little design trick he used to do it. According to Bletzer, the decision to make changes to their guest room ...

  • An interior designer shares 10 of the best home-decor items to get at Costco this month
    on March 3, 2021 at 3:06 pm

    From decorative indoor and outdoor planters to lamps, here are all the home products a design expert would buy at the wholesale store this March.

  • Interior Designers Share Their Favorite Instagram Accounts
    on March 2, 2021 at 12:33 pm

    While Instagram is teeming with pretty photos, it's the profiles of interior designers that are particularly eye-catching. Bold colors, beautiful art, expert use of textures—their feeds ooze ...

  • 5 work-from-home interior design trends on the rise
    on March 1, 2021 at 12:09 am

    Interior design is central to luxury real estate—it takes a home from concept to comfort. And design, like every other facet of society, was transformed by the pandemic. While the office remains at ...

  • How to Add Texture to Every Room in Your Home, According to Interior Designer Mikel Welch
    on February 28, 2021 at 1:33 pm

    Interior designer Mikel Welch thinks in terms of material harmony. Just a touch of texture—via textiles—can transform a room from too sleek to cozy or from stuffy to welcoming, all while keeping the ...


Relocation Information

Texas City and La Marque are located within the Houston area. If you are thinking about relocating, we can help you find the perfect home and make your move as stress-free as possible. We offer valuable insight into the area to help you through your home buying experience. Contact Us at (281) 962-4082.


Are you thinking about buying or selling?

We are local experts and are here to help guide you through your home buying or selling experience.

Connect with Us Today!


Looking for more information?

Being from the area, you receive the benefits of learning about great neighborhoods, trends and hot spots.

Explore Our Communities


I hope that you enjoyed this post!

Find More Valuable Information and Read Our Blog!

Directed Realty

  • Office: (281) 962-4082
  • Call/Text: (832) 559-0527
  • joe@directedrealty.com
  • 2526 Harlequin Ct League City, TX 77573

Posted in: Blog, La Marque, League City, Pearland, Texas City Tagged: La Marque Real Estate, League City Real Estate, Pearland Homes, Texas City

Credit Score Repair and Tips for Home Buyers

A credit repairman can be a home buyer’s best friend and saving grace.  As professional full-time Realtors on The I Spy Realty Team, we see our clients lean on credit repair all the time.  Let’s face it; credit scores can be confusing.  It’s a very common (and incorrect!) assumption for clients to think that there is just no way that they will ever be a homeowner due to low/no credit.  The first piece of advice that a Realtor should give a client who’s unsure about their financial situation is to reach out to a preferred lender if they don’t already have one.  A good lender can easily tell you where you stand with credit and how it can affect your ability to purchase as well as the cost of your monthly payments.  If your lender tells you that your credit does need to be improved to be able to buy a home, speak with a credit repair company that has a great reputation.  We reached out to our friend, Justin Mirche with Creative Credit Solutions, for some great info about credit repair.

He was kind enough to share a few insights with this guest blog contribution… (Thanks Creative Credit Solutions!)

Ways To Raise Your Credit Score From 500 to 700

A poor credit score can not only be a hurdle, but it can also be damaging to your goals and plans, particularly when applying for a mortgage or buying a new car. FICO credit scores range generally from 300-850. As we’re all aware the higher your score is, the less of a risk you are to lenders and hence the better interest rate you’ll receive.

If your credit score below 620, you’ve probably run into financial difficulties and are ready to get back on track. Late payments, charge-offs and collections all play into low credit scores. However, the good news is, no matter where you are score-wise there are always steps you can take for improvement.

So, what do you do to get started? Let’s take a look at some ways you can begin to move your credit score in your favor.

Understanding How FICO is Determined

35% of your credit score is your payment history, 30% is credit utilization, 15% is length of credit history, 10% is new credit and 10% is credit mix.

With this model in mind, one of the first and most obvious things you can do to help boost your credit score is ensuring you are making all of your payments on time. Setting up automatic payments can really help you accomplish this. Because this is such a major factor of your credit score, you want to do whatever you can not to have any late payments.

Late Payments, Charge-Offs, Collections, Foreclosures, Bankruptcy and Judgements

While there is no quick magical way to get these marks off of your credit profile, the most effective way to start is by contracting Creative Credit Solutions to work on your behalf.  The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) mandates that everything on your credit reports must be 100% accurate, completely verifiable, and timely or it must be deleted.

Keep Your Credit Utilization Ratio Low

When you’re in the rebuilding process with your credit, you want to be sure to take note of your credit utilization ratio. Your ratio is determined by your total credit card balances divided by your total credit limit. Keeping your utilization below 29.99% makes you a more attractive borrower and gives creditors the comfort in knowing that you’re not high risk. Think about it, someone who has lots of money they COULD spend but CHOOSE not to spend is quite obviously lower risk and lower risk = higher credit score!

Length of Credit

This can be a difficult one because you can only have history for as long as you’ve had it and there’s no way for you to extend that time frame. You can however, add yourself as an authorized user to someone else’s seasoned account if you have that option available. The best accounts for consideration are long term ones, with low balances where timely payments have been made.

Another option is to request that an existing long-term utility account under your name that is in good standing begin reporting to on your credit.

Paying Down Existing Debt

This one may seem obvious, but getting your debt paid down is certainly a good move when trying to raise your credit score.

Diversify Your Debt

If all of your credit is coming from store cards, that doesn’t reflect well on your credit report. It’s best that you have a good mix of credit which can include credit cards, installment loans, retail accounts and a mortgage.

Create A Budget…And Stick To It

Although it’s probably not on your top ten list of fun things to do, let’s be honest, more than likely it’s not on your top twenty either, creating a budget is a vital tool in rebuilding your credit. You have to know your numbers so you can plan as you move toward your financial goals. Budgets also help you actively contribute to savings accounts and emergency funds, which assist in not having sudden financial downturns in the future such as repairs and medical expenses.

For more info about Creative Credit Solutions, you can connect with Justin Mirche here: 972-603-6776

Or the Creative Credit Solutions website here: https://www.creativecreditsolutions.net/index.php


Check out some of the beautiful new listings just hitting the market in League City!


Relocation Information

League City is located within the Houston area. If you are thinking about relocating, we can help you find the perfect home and make your move as stress-free as possible. We offer valuable insight into the area to help you through your home buying experience. Contact Us at (281) 962-4082.


Are you thinking about buying or selling?

We are local experts and are here to help guide you through your home buying or selling experience.

Connect with Us Today!


Looking for more information?

Being from the area, you receive the benefits of learning about great neighborhoods, trends and hot spots.

Explore Our Communities

Today’s Top Stories

  • Original 'Real World' cast come together in preview of 1st episode of reboot
    on March 3, 2021 at 2:48 pm

    Are you ready to stop being polite and start getting real with the original cast of "The Real World"? Paramount+ released the first few minutes of the premiere episode of the upcoming reboot "The Real ...

  • Kelly Marie Tran opens up about returning to Hollywood after facing online trolls
    on March 3, 2021 at 2:13 pm

    Kelly Marie Tran is opening up about about her decision to return to Hollywood after facing years of intense online bullying. The 32-year-old actor, who voices the heroine Raya in Disney's animated ...

  • David Schwimmer offers 'Friends' reunion update, plus who won't be hosting
    on March 3, 2021 at 1:41 pm

    There are things we know about the upcoming "Friends" reunion on HBO Max, and things we don't know about it. Mainly, what we do know is that it is definitely happening. Phoebe — that is, Lisa Kudrow — ...

  • The internet is loving Olivia Colman's reaction to losing at the Golden Globes
    on February 28, 2021 at 6:57 pm

    Emma Corrin won the Golden Globe for playing Princess Diana in "The Crown," and her co-star did a happy dance in celebration.

  • Jonah Hill shares message for 'kids who don't take their shirt off at the pool'
    on February 27, 2021 at 1:56 pm

    The actor says his childhood insecurities were “exacerbated” by years of public mockery, and he doesn’t want kids to endure the same fate.


I hope that you enjoyed this post!

Find More Valuable Information and Read Our Blog!

Directed Realty

  • Office: (281) 962-4082
  • Call/Text: (832) 559-0527
  • joe@directedrealty.com
  • 2526 Harlequin Ct League City, TX 77573

Posted in: Blog, League City, Real Estate Tagged: Affordable Homes, Home Buying, League City Credit Repair, League City Real Estate, League City Realtor

Successful Real Estate Agents in League City, TX

League City Realtor

Are you getting your real estate license and interested in becoming a great agent?  Our brokerage is in League City which is about 30 minutes southeast from Houston.  We are always looking to create more success for our agents and many times there are either misconceptions or a lack of knowledge on how to get the ball rolling properly to become a great agent for your clients.  Here are a few tips to ensuring success and longevity as a real estate agent that will allow you to serve your clients better:

Take the time to find the right brokerage for YOU.

A quick online search shows there are over twenty five thousand Realtors in the Houston market.  Granted, many of them are not very active but that’s still a lot of people no matter how you cut it.  In economic terms, the barrier to entry into the profession is low, meaning it’s not terribly difficult to get a license.  With that many Realtors in the market, there are so many different types of brokerages to choose from and they are not created equally.  Spend the time to make sure that the brokerage you are joining is the right fit for you in terms of personality/vibe, support, location, fees, and teams versus lone wolf agents.

a) Personality and Vibe – Do you feel comfortable with the tempo of the office and how do you feel about your coworkers? When you are not with clients, you will be spending the majority of your time around your broker and fellow agents.  There are plenty of brokerage options out where you don’t have to feel trapped in a toxic work environment.  Your broker helps to set the tone for the office vibe by bringing on agents that are a good match with work ethic, ethics, and personality matching.  If you’re surrounded by too many “Negative Nancy” types, seek greener pastures.

b) Support – Are you getting the right amount of hand-holding and coaching for your experience level?  If you are light on experience, a good mentor in the office can make or break you and you should also ensure that the leadership has a friendly and supportive attitude, i.e. they are happy to help and engaged in your success.

c) Location – When you join an office, you want to make sure that they are reasonably close to you to cut down on commute.  Houston is spread out geographically and a long commute can be a drag on both your happiness and productivity.

d) Fees – Beyond the HAR and TREC fees that all Realtors pay to keep their license active and compliant, I’m referring to the different types of fees that vary and are broker-specific like 1) Training Fees and 2) “Desk” Fees you will owe the broker for your office space.  These fees vary wildly between brokerages and you want to know what charges you’re going to get hit with before you ever earn your first dollar in commissions and there can be recurring fees that you may be responsible every single month whether you’re a producing agent or not.  You’ll want to compare those fees on every brokerage you look at joining.  If you’re being charged an arm and a leg up front for training and desk fees, how likely is it that your broker cares whether you’re successful or not when they’ve already collected a lot of money off of you?  If you’re just getting your license, that may be the most important paragraph you’ll ever read.  Take note!

e) Teams Versus the Lone Wolf Agent – Many agents enjoy the collaborative approach to working within teams.  You receive more assistance with the deals you’re working on and can also enjoy not having to feel like you’re trying to figure out everything on your own.  A real estate agent is a small business owner and responsible for accounting, compliance, fiduciary responsibility to clients, transaction coordination, supplies, marketing, lead generation, and on and on.  It is easier to be a part of a team that can assist you with the different aspects of the transactions and business instead of being overwhelmed and feeling responsible for everything.  As the old saying goes, “Many hands make light work.”  The lone wolf real estate agent will generally not be prepared for all the different types of skills required for the business that a team can fulfill much more easily and the lone wolf will usually fail and quit because of that which explains why the majority of real estate agents in any market do not last more than 3 years on average!

If you take the time to assess these items on the front-end before you join a brokerage, it can help increase your probability of success dramatically.   If I can help make an introduction for you to interview our outstanding real estate team, give us a call!

713-965-4561 Tim LaBorde

Local New Construction: Click Here.

Houston News:

  • Boogie Ellis leads Memphis basketball to sixth straight win, sets up crucial game vs Houston
    on March 3, 2021 at 2:30 pm

    Memphis bulldozed South Florida 73-52 on Tuesday night in Tampa, setting up a Sunday showdown at Houston oozing with potential NCAA Tournament implications. The Tigers (15-6, 11-3 AAC) extended their ...

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Directed Realty

  • Office: (281) 962-4082
  • Call/Text: (832) 559-0527
  • joe@directedrealty.com
  • 2526 Harlequin Ct League City, TX 77573

Posted in: Blog, League City, Real Estate Tagged: Broker, Brokerage, Real Estate, Real Estate Agent, Realtor

Your House Didn’t Sell…Now What? Still Want to SELL?

expired home

By now you have heard several reasons why it didn’t sell from everybody in town.  They are saying it is everything from location to price, the condition or the market, or even the Agent you selected.

While they may be right, they may also be way off base.  What if the real reason why it didn’t sell was how it was marketed to buyers?

Don’t be discouraged, this can be a challenging market and selling a home in the Houston area is quite competitive. If your listing has expired and you still want results, before you put your home back on the market, take a step back and review your situation.

It’s time to stop wondering why it didn’t sell and figure out how to get it sold.

What is the biggest challenge you have selling your home now?  Finding a buyer, right?

It should be obvious that finding an ideal buyer will be a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack.

It will take more than just the traditional, passive marketing. It’s not enough to stick a sign in the yard, blast the listing to a bunch of real estate websites, and hope for a buyer to show up.

Where should you begin?  If you want to sell your house, start by making a commitment to do what it takes to market your house to get it sold.

With the right marketing system, the home sale you want is still well within reach.

Yes, your home still needs to be priced correctly, be clean and be in good condition.  It must also be readily accessible to other agents…but that is not enough.

More than 93% of buyers are searching the internet to research and buy their homes. The significance of powerful internet technologies to market your home is very important. Outlined below is my extensive and exciting Real Estate Internet Marketing System which can be implemented to give your property the utmost exposure!

Here are some ideas you can use to market your home to sell it:

First, set up a Single Property Website that includes a Virtual Tour.

A Single Property Website is a separate website that is completely dedicated to the online marketing of your property. It is a full, multi-page website that includes a virtual tour and photo gallery of your property along with all the property information including map, schools, Walk Score, and weather. A printable flyer, documents, and a mortgage calculator must also available.

You will also need a Virtual Tour.  This is not just a slow, panoramic view of each room, but a tour with upbeat music, and slides interacting and giving information.  Ideally, this will be not just 1 video, but several different videos (10 or more) featuring different angles and different rooms. You need to make sure all videos are listed on Youtube with the correct SEO tags to ensure your videos get listed on page 1 of Google etc.  Other videos should be included to pique their interest in your area such as community attractions showing what is going on around town, neighborhood reviews spotlighting places of interest, and developing some backlinking.

Next, you will need a Listing Flyer with designs to promote your property and entice buyers to schedule showings.

In addition to the above, you should also blog about your home, vlog it, and occasionally do a podcast and get your home up on slideshare.

Another important tool you must use is Social Networking.

Social Networking is the latest real estate marketing trend with the ability to connect and communicate with others in a fast and efficient manner. Your property can be posted on virtually any social networking site including Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, LinkedIn, Instagram and hundreds more for free!  A summary of paid ads on these platforms (PPC with targeting) is covered in more detail below.

Facebook and Instagram are probably the most important here.  You will need a fan page for your home.  In addition, you will need to promote ads on your house and do several dark posts targeting different crowds and areas.  In order to get the most bang for your buck, you will need to be sure to utilize the custom audience and retargeting features.

Other options include Craigslist Ads and ActiveRain Blog.

A professional and attractive Craigslist Ad for your property will allow you to generate buyer leads. Property can also be posted on ActiveRain, the largest community of Real Estate Professionals, giving it exposure to a massive audience of buyer real estate agents.

Don’t neglect to set up a Lead Management and Showing Feedback System.

The lead management system will help you to track and maintain communication with prospective buyers. Text Messages and Emails need to be sent out immediately for the fastest response time to potential buyers.  You must send out information on a continual basis to the potential buyers so they will stay engaged and interested in your property or they will move on to another.

The showing feedback system will help you obtain and compile crucial feedback from property showings for instant analysis.  This will be key in continued targeted marketing.

Yet another beneficial marketing tool will be a pay-per-click online ad that will bring in more leads, as well as using Real Bird, Listing Book, Barter Town and e-properties.  Your property needs to be syndicated to every real estate listing service available – several hundred.

You need High Impact Marketing so your home will be seen by nearly every potential buyer in the market.

Those were several online marketing ideas.  Don’t forget about a more traditional avenue though: there is plenty of helpful information online about how to run an effective open house.  You need to make a plan for the proper creation and placement of marketing signs and test for the optimal times to be able to drive the most lead traffic to your property.  Then you also want to spend some time learning how to qualify your buyer, as you’ll have random strangers driving by and then coming in to look through your home.  As an agent, I’d always suggest keeping safety in mind and having someone with you if you decide to go that route.  The safety of our agents is always a top priority for us and we discuss best practices regularly in our office due to article like this: https://kdvr.com/2019/08/07/denver-real-estate-agent-survives-attack-by-man-during-open-house/

You can do it yourself by using my tips listed above or you can call me – Tim LaBorde – at 713-965-4561.  Send me an email at Tim@DirectedRealty.com…

… and I would be happy to discuss how I can get your home SOLD with a plan like this plus even more.  To find out why your home didn’t sell and to get moving toward the goal of selling your home, give me a call AND start packing!

What others are saying:

“Tim has a strong character and work ethic.  He can make deals happen.  I know he takes great care of his clients.” – Emil R.

“You are the best sales person, I’ve interacted with others but I see you are definitely committed to your clients.” – Claire N.

“Tim’s thoughtfulness and integrity has been impeccable.” – Leah C.

Of all the individuals I have had the pleasure of serving with, I found Tim to be among the most competent and professional. Tim was also very good at creating solutions to problems. – Chris M.



Tim LaBorde

713-965-4561

Local News:

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Posted in: Blog, Expired Listings, Real Estate Tagged: Expired Listings, Pearland Homes, Real Estate, Real Estate Agent, Realtor

Confessions of a Closet Diva


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Stephanie Slater, also known as the “Organized Closet Diva”, has the magic touch when it comes to decluttering and organizing. She is highly experienced and can tackle just about any space in need of TLC. She believes that decluttering your physical surroundings can help improve your day to day life, whether that is mentally or emotionally. We all need a little help at times and getting started is the hardest part. Here are some tips and advice about organizing and decluttering your home.

Here are some of Stephanie’s Top 5 organizing tips:

1. Organizing isn’t about perfection – the misconception that being organized means everything is perfect is a joke. Nobody is perfect and when you are living life and taking things day by day, things end up out of order.
2. “A place for everything, everything in its place.” – having a system or designated area for your belongings will help you avoid the pile up of clutter.
3. “Rome wasn’t built in a day” – when getting started it can feel overwhelming. Too many things to do at once… Instead, make a list of areas that you want to declutter. Prioritize that list and start with the most important. Don’t worry about any other areas of your home until you complete that first task, and so on and so forth. Before you know it, your to-do list will be done. If you are having trouble making a list, you can Pinterest or Google “home organizing lists” to give you an outline.
4. When organizing your belongings ask yourself, “Do I use this?” and “Do I need this?” if the answer is no, it’s either an item that can be sold, donated, or trashed. The sold/donate/trash items need to removed asap so have boxes and trash bags ready, if not it will just become clutter again.
5. Have fun with it! Make it a weekend family project, invite friends over and have a pizza/organizing party, get creative to make the process fun! Nobody has ever said they regret organizing and decluttering their home. Getting started is the hardest part, once you do that you will be on a roll!

Stephanie’s Before and After Examples:


A fun home walkthrough with Stephanie in League City:

More Organizing Tips with Stephanie:

Thinking about selling your home and want a free home listing consultation with Stephanie and The I Spy Realty Team?  Call our office to make an appointment: (281) 962-4082.

Check out some of these beautiful new listings in Texas City and La Marque!


Relocation Information

Texas City and La Marque are located within the Houston area. If you are thinking about relocating, we can help you find the perfect home and make your move as stress-free as possible. We offer valuable insight into the area to help you through your home buying experience. Contact Us at (281) 962-4082.


Are you thinking about buying or selling?

We are local experts and are here to help guide you through your home buying or selling experience.

Connect with Us Today!


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I hope that you enjoyed this post!

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Directed Realty

  • Office: (281) 962-4082
  • Call/Text: (832) 559-0527
  • joe@directedrealty.com
  • 2526 Harlequin Ct League City, TX 77573

Posted in: Blog, La Marque, Real Estate, Texas City Tagged: Houston Real Estate, La Marque Real Estate, League City Real Estate, Realtor, Texas City Real Estate

Have you Koala-fied for Home Hunting with Heather yet?!

Minimize your home-buying headaches and get Koala-fied with Realtor Heather Chromcak as our resident East Houston Buyer’s Agent breaks down some common questions and concerns our buyer clients run into regularly!

Heather’s Top Tips for Buyers:

A Few More Koala-fying Buyer Tips from Heather:

Tip#1, Tip#2, Tip#3, Tip#4, Tip#5

Heather-Chromchak-Koala-fied


Heather’s Hot List: The newest $250-$350k Pasadena homes just coming onto the market!

Click HERE to change your search criteria.


Relocation Information

Pasadena is located within the Houston area. If you are thinking about relocating, we can help you find the perfect home and make your move as stress-free as possible. We offer valuable insight into the area to help you through your home buying experience. Contact Us at (281) 962-4082.


Are you thinking about buying or selling?

We are local Pasadena experts and are here to help guide you through your home buying or selling experience.

Connect with Us Today!


Looking for more information?

Being from the area, you receive the benefits of learning about great neighborhoods, trends and hot spots.

Explore Our Communities


I hope that you enjoyed this post!

Find More Valuable Information and Read Our Blog!

Directed Realty

  • Office: (281) 962-4082
  • Call/Text: (832) 559-0527
  • joe@directedrealty.com
  • 2526 Harlequin Ct League City, TX 77573

 

Posted in: Blog, Pasadena, Real Estate Tagged: Affordable Homes, Buy a House, Home Buying, Homes for Sale, Pasadena, Real Estate, Realtor

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Directed Realty

  • Office: (281) 962-4082
  • Call/Text: (832) 559-0527
  • joe@directedrealty.com
  • 2526 Harlequin Ct League City, TX 77573

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