Buy Now! Buy Fast!!

All housing reports clearly indicate that Texas is a “seller’s market”.  Make no mistake – it is.  Inventory is low.  If you want to sell, the time is now.  Interest rates are low and buyers are looking for anything to take advantage of historically low...

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Tax Time

At this stage in the game, owning a home will still provide you with substantial tax savings.  Many Americans have filed their taxes with still many waiting until the last minute.  Homeowners should know that there is more available than just the deduction of the...

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Futuristic Household

A George Jetson - like kitchen may not be as far off as you may think. There are several revolutionary household appliance technologies out there that are right on the brink of viability - futuristic gadgets that include a refrigerator that uses bright green gel...

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Green Codes and Savings

The Building Energy Efficient Codes Network engages Congress and other elected officials, industry leaders, code officials, and the media in support of set energy code targets for homes and commercial buildings. The broad-based coalition also advocates adequate resources for the adoption and enforcement of energy...

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Closing the Pricing Gap

The American Securitization Forum has detailed possible ways regulators could merge mortgage-backed securities offered by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in order to close the pricing gap between the two. The market discounts Freddie securities on the belief these bonds prepay faster because of differences in...

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Create a Backyard Vacation

One of the nicest things about the state of Texas is the amount of time that can be spend outside.  Texas does not have the extreme cold weather and snow that exists in other parts of the United States, so spending time in the backyard...

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Do I Rent or Do I Buy?

There is uncertainty in the housing market and there is no doubt that obtaining a loan can be tedious and elusive to some.  There are pros and cons to renting a place just as there are pros and cons to owning a home. Renting has...

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Early Mortgage Payoff

What is the wisdom advanced by paying your mortgage principal early?  There are many reasons why people pay off a mortgage early. They may want to be debt-free, for example. They may want the house paid off before retirement. From a strictly financial point of view,...

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New Tools for Gardening and More

Spring is around the corner.  Garden centers are buzzing.  While some areas of the country are still shoveling snow, Texas homeowners are hitting the garden centers and planning for spring arrivals. Garden hoses and sprinklers will be coming out of storage. It is a good...

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Business Loves Houston

Even first-time visitors here can tell that Houston is growing rapidly. Construction cranes overhang office and apartment sites all along the Katy Freeway, a stretch of Interstate 10 that connects a string of booming submarkets west of the 610 Loop. This expanse includes the Westchase...

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