• Office: (281) 962-4082
    • Mobile: (832) 559-0527

Directed RealtyDirected Realty

Houston TX Real Estate

  • Menu
  • Home
  • Search
    • Advanced Search
    • My Account
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Online Reviews
  • Buyers
    • Mortgage Calculator
    • My Listing Manager
  • Sellers
    • FREE Home Valuation
    • Selling With Us
  • Communities
    • Clear Lake
    • Dickinson
    • Friendswood
    • Greater Hobby Area
    • Kemah
    • La Porte
    • League City
    • Pasadena
    • Pearland
    • Sagemont Area
    • Seabrook
    • Webster
  • Contact
  • Video Gallery
  • Blog

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!

  • James Harden greeted by mix of cheers and boos as Nets beat Rockets in star’s return to Houston
    on March 3, 2021 at 9:56 pm

    James Harden, Kyrie Irving and company were enough without Kevin Durant (hamstring) to power the Nets to a convincing 132-114 win over the Rockets in Harden’s first game back in Houston.

  • James Harden leads Nets past Rockets in Houston return | Charlotte Observer
    on March 3, 2021 at 9:21 pm

    James Harden had a triple-double with 29 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists in the first meeting with his former Houston teammates and the Brooklyn Nets won 132-114 on Wednesday night to hand the ...

  • Nets' James Harden has triple-double in return to Houston
    on March 3, 2021 at 8:17 pm

    Brooklyn Nets star guard James Harden posted a triple-double against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night in the first meeting against his former team.

  • James Harden records triple-double in return to Houston as Nets roll Rockets
    on March 3, 2021 at 7:49 pm

    James Harden scored 29 points, pulled down 10 rebounds and dished out 14 assists as the Nets handed the Rockets their 13th straight loss.

  • James Harden Has Triple-Double in Houston Return, Nets Roll
    on March 3, 2021 at 7:23 pm

    James Harden had a triple-double with 29 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists in the first meeting with his former Houston teammates and the Brooklyn Nets won 132-114 on Wednesday night to hand the ...

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

  • One year later: Pearland couple reflects on surviving COVID
    on March 3, 2021 at 1:09 pm

    Belinda and Ernest Galindo say they have a new appreciation for life after a scare with COVID-19 last March. Now, they're reflecting on the last year of their lives.

  • 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 ...


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

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

  • Actor Storm Reid loves cooking and conversation. So she made a show about it.
    on March 3, 2021 at 9:13 pm

    The teen actor may be known for her roles on "Euphoria" and "A Wrinkle in Time," but she's turning to her passion during the pandemic: food.

  • 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 ...

  • 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:

  • James Harden leads Nets past Rockets in Houston return | Charlotte Observer
    on March 3, 2021 at 9:21 pm

    James Harden had a triple-double with 29 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists in the first meeting with his former Houston teammates and the Brooklyn Nets won 132-114 on Wednesday night to hand the ...

  • Nets' James Harden has triple-double in return to Houston
    on March 3, 2021 at 8:17 pm

    Brooklyn Nets star guard James Harden posted a triple-double against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night in the first meeting against his former team.

  • James Harden records triple-double in return to Houston as Nets roll Rockets
    on March 3, 2021 at 7:49 pm

    James Harden scored 29 points, pulled down 10 rebounds and dished out 14 assists as the Nets handed the Rockets their 13th straight loss.

  • James Harden Has Triple-Double in Houston Return, Nets Roll
    on March 3, 2021 at 7:23 pm

    James Harden had a triple-double with 29 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists in the first meeting with his former Houston teammates and the Brooklyn Nets won 132-114 on Wednesday night to hand the ...

  • James Harden posts triple-double for Nets in return to Houston
    on March 3, 2021 at 6:26 pm

    James Harden recorded his eighth triple-double in his return to Houston, leading the visiting Brooklyn Nets to a 132-114 victory over the downtrodden Rockets on Wednesday at Toyota Center.

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: Broker, Brokerage, Real Estate, Real Estate Agent, Realtor

Beautiful New Crystal Lagoon in Lago Mar, Texas City


Notice: Trying to get property 'uid' of non-object in /home/customer/www/directedrealty.com/public_html/wp-content/plugins/idx-broker-platinum/idx/shortcodes/register-idx-shortcodes.php on line 207

Our team member Stephanie has been a resident of Lago Mar in Texas City since June 2018 and has witnessed first-hand the development phases of the beautiful new oasis being constructed in Lago Mar.  I also have family members living in the neighborhood and it has been exciting to check out the development regularly and watch quality builders come in and construct new homes while simultaneously developing the oasis.  The Lagoon will include actual white sand beaches, a “Float-opia” obstacle course, water activities, shopping, and other amenities… and residents of the subdivision have exclusive access to parts of it!  Per the following article, “The first phase of construction is expected to be complete by 2020.”  Our team specializes in this neighborhood and we’re excited to share our local knowledge with you; give us a call! (281) 962-4082

For more research articles about Lago Mar and the Lagoon, click here, here, and here.


A fun home walkthrough with Stephanie:


Be the FIRST to check out Lago Mar’s newest listings in Texas City!


Relocation Information

Texas 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


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: Real Estate, Texas City, Texas City Real Estate Tagged: Home Buying, Homes for Sale, Lago Mar, Texas City, TX City

Top 10 Breaking News Articles for Houston Real Estate

  • Walker & Dunlop Adds Multifamily Property Sales Team in Houston
    on March 3, 2021 at 5:31 am

    Walker & Dunlop, Inc. announced today that it has hired one of the top-producing property sales teams in Houston, Texas, adding a new market to the Walker & Dunlop Investment Sales (WDIS) platform.

  • Most Expensive Private Compound in Houston Hits Market for First Time
    on March 3, 2021 at 4:50 am

    The Icon Global Group announces, "an unprecedented, national and international marketing campaign for a luxury residential estate compound in Houston." The enormous, secluded, nine-acre Romanov Estate ...

  • Inside Dallas' booming real estate market, where West and East Coast transplants are bidding furiously over homes and paying all cash
    on March 3, 2021 at 2:46 am

    Realtors said Dallas homes field multiple offers within 24 hours of listing, with some going for $25,000 to $50,000 over appraisal.

  • Renovations finished to Allen Center in downtown Houston
    on March 2, 2021 at 12:30 pm

    Renovations to Two and Three Allen Center in downtown Houston have been completed. Owner Brookfield Properties said Tuesday it had finished the updates, which included new lobbies, bike storage and a ...

  • Realogy Announces Expansion of Real Estate Program RealSureSM to Atlanta
    on March 2, 2021 at 10:49 am

    Realogy Holdings Corp. (NYSE: RLGY), the largest full-service residential real estate services company in the United States, and Home Partners of America, a residential real estate investment and ...

  • SquareFoot Launches in Houston to Help Bring People Back to the Office
    on March 2, 2021 at 6:00 am

    SquareFoot ( a new kind of commercial real estate company, today announced its expansion into the Houston commercial real estate market, with its hiring ...

  • Austin's most expensive home, a 9-acre lakefront estate, just sold to an unknown buyer as tech workers rush to the Texas city
    on March 1, 2021 at 3:17 pm

    A 9-acre estate in Austin, Texas, last listed for $38.9 million just sold to an unknown buyer. The closing price is unknown, but the listing agent said it was the most expensive home sale in the city.

  • The road ahead: Trends to expect in industrial real estate in 2021
    on March 1, 2021 at 9:32 am

    Just as the world experienced profound changes 20 years ago after 9/11 (remember when we used to be able to walk our loved ones directly to their gate at the airport?), more changes will continue to ...

  • Crescent Real Estate's John Goff discusses luxury mixed-use project coming to Fort Worth
    on February 27, 2021 at 6:00 am

    "Fort Worth has been a great place to raise a family and grow businesses, and I want to give something great back to the city," said John Goff, chairman of Crescent Real Estate, during an interview ...

  • Sold! D-FW led Texas in 2020 home purchases
    on February 25, 2021 at 9:55 am

    Dallas-Fort Worth topped Texas in 2020 home sales with a record number of properties changing hands. Sales of homes by D-FW Realtors rose by almost 9% ...

Click here for a quick list of Pearland homes.

Relocation Information

Pearland is located within the Houston area. If you are thinking about relocating to Pearland , 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.


Looking for more information about Pearland, 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!

Posted in: Houston Real Estate, News, Real Estate Tagged: Houston News, News Articles, News for Realtors

New Homes and Home Builders in Texas City


Notice: Trying to get property 'uid' of non-object in /home/customer/www/directedrealty.com/public_html/wp-content/plugins/idx-broker-platinum/idx/shortcodes/register-idx-shortcodes.php on line 207

I had a great time in Texas City checking out these new homes in the Marlow Lake subdivision made by GreenEco Builders.  I live in a DR Horton in Pearland, which I’m very fond of and my family loves but one thing stood out to me about these Texas City homes besides their professional quality and beauty: the fact that GreenEco has a 3rd party inspector coming in to review the construction process as the house is being built.  It is traditional for the city / jurisdiction to have their own inspectors stop through during different phases of the construction process to make sure the builder is complying with the city’s local building ordinance / standards / regulations and the builders are required to pull permits to get construction done.  However, I tend to look at the city’s standards as being barebone and ensuring minimal safety guidelines.  I’m not knocking that inspection – it’s important.  However, GreenEco Builders is the first builder that I’ve heard of that puts it into their regular process to have a 3rd party inspection done on each of their homes.  I was kind of blown away by that because when we bought our DR Horton, no one suggested to us to get a 3rd party inspection.  My wife, the brilliant sage that she is, did some research on buying a new build and insisted on getting the 3rd party inspector and I ended up being glad we did.  Not that we found any major issues with our DR Horton at all, but there were minor things that the construction crew did that needed corrections that were pointed out by our inspector that wouldn’t get tagged by a city inspector.  The typical consumer would probably not think to get an inspection on a new build but after having looked at many new builds around town, I’d always advise clients to look at that inspection as an insurance policy to protect yourself from the builder.  The takeaway for me was that with GreenEco, you didn’t have to because they make it apart of their process to include it.  Anyway, check out these pictures and give us a call at 281-962-4082 if we can help you look at some new builds in Texas City.  With 4 decades of real estate experience on our team, I know that we can add value to your home-buying process and take the heavy lifting off of your shoulders!  Give us a call! 713-965-4561

GreenEco Pictures:

Brand New Homes From Different Builders in Texas City Just Coming Onto Market:

 

Check us out on YouTube:

Relocation Information

Texas City is located within the Houston area. If you are thinking about relocating to Texas City, 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 Texas City, 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 Texas City, 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!

Directed Realty

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

Posted in: Real Estate, Texas City Tagged: Builder Homes, Home Builder, New Build, Real Estate, Realtor, Texas City, TX City

Successful Saver Tips For Buying A Home In League City, TX

Did you know that 69% of Americans have less than $1,000 in the bank? The list of things to spend money on is endless, from luxuries like eating out at restaurants and going on vacation, to necessities like household repairs and gas. There’s always something to spend that money on that feels more pressing than saving, which is why so many people struggle to put away the 20% of each paycheck that experts recommend as a baseline for healthy savings.

Here are a few things that successful savers do as part of an effective savings strategy:

They don’t leave savings for last. Too many people wait until they’ve budgeted out all their monthly spending, and then put the leftover into savings. But if you want to make saving a priority, it should be one of your first line items on your budget — up there with rent and utilities. This is often referred to as “paying yourself first.”

They automate their savings. Out of sight, out of mind! If you don’t even see the money before it’s in your savings account, you’ll have less temptation to spend it. Use recurring automated bank transfers or a saving software to set up rules for savings that happen whether you think about them or not.

They’re aggressive with their debt. When it comes to saving money, bad debt is your worst enemy! Truly effective savers prioritize paying off debts so that their income can start going into their pockets again. The Debt Snowball Method is one popular strategy for paying off debt quickly. (Also, if you are in the process of, or interested in, obtaining home financing we’re here to talk to you about debt repayment strategies.)

They spend less than they earn. This one sounds obvious, but many people don’t follow this shockingly simple rule. This can be achieved by spending less, earning more, or some combination of the two. Either way, there’s no way to save if you’re spending more than you earn each month.

More than anything else, the key to beefing up a savings account is simply creating a plan and sticking to it. If you take the time to work out a budget, set goals, and create systems, you’ll start seeing bigger numbers in no time.

Click here for a fresh list of League City homes! 713-965-4561

 

Relocation Information

League City is located within the Houston area. If you are thinking about relocating to League City, 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 League City, 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!

Local News:

  • James Harden greeted by mix of cheers and boos as Nets beat Rockets in star’s return to Houston
    on March 3, 2021 at 9:56 pm

    James Harden, Kyrie Irving and company were enough without Kevin Durant (hamstring) to power the Nets to a convincing 132-114 win over the Rockets in Harden’s first game back in Houston.

  • James Harden leads Nets past Rockets in Houston return | Charlotte Observer
    on March 3, 2021 at 9:21 pm

    James Harden had a triple-double with 29 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists in the first meeting with his former Houston teammates and the Brooklyn Nets won 132-114 on Wednesday night to hand the ...

  • Nets' James Harden has triple-double in return to Houston
    on March 3, 2021 at 8:17 pm

    Brooklyn Nets star guard James Harden posted a triple-double against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night in the first meeting against his former team.

  • James Harden records triple-double in return to Houston as Nets roll Rockets
    on March 3, 2021 at 7:49 pm

    James Harden scored 29 points, pulled down 10 rebounds and dished out 14 assists as the Nets handed the Rockets their 13th straight loss.

  • James Harden Has Triple-Double in Houston Return, Nets Roll
    on March 3, 2021 at 7:23 pm

    James Harden had a triple-double with 29 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists in the first meeting with his former Houston teammates and the Brooklyn Nets won 132-114 on Wednesday night to hand the ...

Directed Realty

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

Posted in: League City, Real Estate Tagged: Home Buying, Homes for Sale, League City, League City Homes, Real Estate, 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:

  • One year later: Pearland couple reflects on surviving COVID
    on March 3, 2021 at 1:09 pm

    Belinda and Ernest Galindo say they have a new appreciation for life after a scare with COVID-19 last March. Now, they're reflecting on the last year of their lives.

  • 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 ...

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

Confessions of a Closet Diva


Notice: Trying to get property 'uid' of non-object in /home/customer/www/directedrealty.com/public_html/wp-content/plugins/idx-broker-platinum/idx/shortcodes/register-idx-shortcodes.php on line 207
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!


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

Posts navigation

  • 1
  • 2
  • Next Page »

Explore Communities

  • Clear Lake
  • Dickinson
  • Friendswood
  • Greater Hobby
  • Kemah
  • La Porte
  • League City
  • Pasadena
  • Pearland
  • Sagemont Area
  • Seabrook
  • Webster

From Our Blog

Alvin Homes

Pearland’s Cute Sister: ALVIN, TX

March 3, 2021 By Tim LaBorde Leave a Comment

Alvin is well-known for its cute, older, and less expensive homes, so it's a bit … Continue reading...

8 Good Reasons for Home Ownership

March 1, 2021 By Tim LaBorde 2 Comments

Pride in Owning: Most people buy homes to have control over where they live.  … Continue reading...

Directed Realty

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

© 2021 Directed Realty | All Rights Reserved

Agent Reputation – Real Estate Website Design

Privacy Policy | Sitemap