Joey Condon
Realtor®
Read my blog below
Would You like Some Lemonade? Help Our Brazos Valley Kids!
May 16th, 2012 Categories: Kids, Family & Personal Stuff
Driving through the twin cities a couple weeks ago, Bryan and College Station, it was not unlikely that you ran upon a lemonade stand or two. These small makeshift stands littered the city and were stationed upon many street corners and in front of numerous bigger businesses. Star wars characters greeted some customers, while enthused young girls in yellow shirts and bows sold lemonade to others. There were kids who chose to blow bubbles to draw in his customers, while other kids opted for large booths with loud music to draw in attention. And of course, there was the always traditional modest sized lemonade stand and signs operated by some.
When kids were asked what they were going to do with the money they earned, some replied they were going to “spend it!” Others decided to give the money they raised to their church. The main point is that the children learned how to work for money and learned that they had the freedom to decide what they were going to do with the profit they earned. They were allowed to feel grown up and allowed a taste of the real world. This type of experience excites children and allows them the freedom to make decisions for themselves.
Sunday May 6 was Lemonade Day in 31 cities across America and Canada, including Bryan and College Station. When Lemonade Day first began, it included about 2,700 kids. Now, more than 120,000 kids across these 31 cities participate in the day. Lemonade Day was started as a program to give experience to children, teaching them entrepreneurship skills. Kids learn to plan, start, and operate a business through their experiences with Lemonade Day.
Kids were offered the chance to mark their lemonade stands on a map online that would be available to the community on Lemonade Day. The stand locations were given the opportunity to be published not only to the online map, but also to Facebook, Twitter, and via email.
The goal is to prepare children to be empowered future citizens. Upon registering, each child received a backpack that contained an Entrepreneur Workbook, teaching them 14 lessons that are a central part of Lemonade Day. They learned how to create budgets, how to set profit-making goals, how to serve customers, how to repay investors, and how to give back to the community. In addition to learning how to perform these skills, they also learned the value of the skills. The children are also taught how to set goals for themselves, how to problem solve, and how to gain self-esteem which will aid them in their future endeavors for success.
On Lemonade Day, children are allowed to keep all of the money that they make and are encouraged by adults to spend some of their money, save some of it, and share some of it with others less fortunate.
Lemonade Day teaches kids a very special and specific set of skills from financial literacy and economics, to college readiness and career, to life skills and personal development, and of course academics. The financial literacy and economics that the kids learn include subjects like capital equipment and consumables, supply and demand, credit, debt, gross and net income, marginal utility, return on investment and compound interest. To prepare kids for college, they are exposed to critical thinking and collaboration, interest in attending college, civic responsibility, customer service, teamwork and problem solving and presentation skills and design. Children also learn life skills and personal development such as leadership, the belief that attaining goals is within reach, personal productivity, self-direction and time management, social responsibility and charity, high order thinking and social skills and self confidence. The day also increases the kids’ academic capacities such as math calculations, reading and interpreting data, and oral and written communication.
Lemonade Day offers an online website for kids to register and sign up on. Lemonade Day sponsors and partners include many businesses and individuals in the area, including Dick and Linda Lester, Lenae Heubner, Atmos Energy, Double Dave’s Pizzaworks, James and Paula Lancaster, Research Valley, Len and Nancy Berry, Mathnasium, Caldwell Companies, AgniTEK, Wells Fargo, Research Valley Funds, Blue Baker, Documation, Copy Corner, Kroger, Ecolyse, Brazos Valley Small Business Development Center, College Station ISD, Bryan Broadcasting, The Eagle, Chamber of Commerce, Bryan ISD, Sideshow Creative, the City of College Station, KBTX Media, Brazos Monthly, KAMU, Mays Business School, AbouTown Press, KAGS, and the City of Bryan.
If you like to help out with and work with children, then you may want to consider becoming a volunteer for Lemonade Day. Volunteers are necessary to run Lemonade Day and are needed to stuff backpacks that are given out to the children to teach them entrepreneurship, spread the news about Lemonade Day by distributing materials to local schools and youth organizations, register youth to participate at special events going on in the community, and lastly you can help out by blogging, tweeting, or sharing information about Lemonade Day online or through Facebook!
PS - Susan Hilton is Bryan College Station, Texas’ real estate specialist in foreclosure sales and real estate agent career building so if you need help – CALL! 979-219-3970
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Federal Fair Housing – Aggies Don’t Discriminate!
May 15th, 2012 Categories: Uncategorized
Federal Fair Housing is something that has been forgotten about by many because the act prohibiting discrimination in housing was passed many years ago; in 1968. However, discrimination in housing because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status and disabilities still exist today.
Housing and lending discrimination is something common that occurs when an individual attempts to buy or rent a home, but also when they try to buy homeowner’s insurance or a mortgage. Millions of complaints are still filed each year through nonprofit fair-housing agencies and other local and state agencies.
Housing discrimination isn’t always obvious, and is something that is still prevalent today in our society.
Sarah, a young mother, in Toledo, OH, was searching for a house where she and her daughter could live for a reasonable price. After searching for months, she found a two-bedroom condo that they could live in. When she called the rental office, her excitement grew as she listened to the description of it. However, this anticipation was quickly killed when she was informed that children were not allowed in the complex. Sarah, who worked for Toledo Fair Housing Center, knew that the “no kids” policy was illegal. After a testing investigation and discovered the rental company was illegally discriminating. Sarah filed a formal complaint and the rental company is negotiating a settlement.
Joseph had lived in his apartment in Takoma Park, Maryland, for over five years when the management was turned over to a new company. All of the tenants in the units were African American. Shortly after the turn-over, the new management evicted all tenants except for one who was allowed to live in a basement and was limited to building access from a side entrance to the apartment complex. Though the landlord claimed massive renovations, leading to increased rent, these renovations were completed within a week and new tenants moved into the building, none of whom were African American. Joseph’s local fair housing center Read the rest of this entry »
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Using HomePath to Purchase Foreclosed Real Estate
May 3rd, 2012 Categories: Uncategorized
There is no great wonder regarding the effects of the nation’s latest mortgage crisis both in Bryan College Station, Texas and the nation as a whole. Loans were left unpaid, and homes were abandoned as banks and the government foreclosed on them. The question is: what became of all those homes that various banks confiscated? With all the lost finances and the economic downturn, there has got to be a stockpile of these homes just waiting to enter the market at steal prices. Fortunately enough for Realtors and home-buyers, even those in the Brazos Valley, there is such a stockpile. And, through a new program instigated by the great mortgage giant Fannie Mae, these homes are now available for inspection and purchase online.
That’s right. As if the web wasn’t growing fast enough, now prospective home-buyers can evaluate and even place offers on homes via the world wide web (through a licensed Realtor, of course). But first, let’s consider Fannie Mae and how this program came to be.
Fannie Mae is in fact the largest lender throughout the United States. And the current exponential growth of their real estate ownership is primarily due to the incredible number of recent foreclosures. It is a reality of the market that when a bank forecloses on a house, businesses like Fannie Mae stoop in to relieve the Bank of their loss, while turning a small profit of their own in return. However, with the drastic quantity Read the rest of this entry »
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Sidewalks of Castlegate
May 3rd, 2012 Categories: Uncategorized
This might be one of the most overlooked amenities in the Castlegate Subdivision. If you, live there and have not utilized them, you are missing out. These sidewalks cover most of the neighborhood and provide a shortcut to Forest Ridge Elementary. Dogs, kids, and runners love them.
You have seen them, dogs and their owners. Dogs love the the sidewalks as they lead the way on their leashes. Most dog walkers have real doggy bags on their leashes. It is exciting to see and know that the sidewalks are clean of debris for everyone. The sidewalks are wide enough for dogs and their owners can walk and still give way to other pedestrians. If you have a beagle, like me, you know that having a wide sidewalk helps. I promise, my beagle Riley-Puppy, does not lift his nose from the ground the whole time we are on a walk. Sometimes I think he is hunting for a beagle that smells just like him. He will always leads the way around the 2.25 mile sidewalk straight to our front door.
Kids love the sidewalks because it leads them straight to Forest Ridge in the morning. It is thrilling to see all the parents that ride their bikes next to their kids every morning. Kids need sidewalks to ride bikes. Recently, I saw that the sidewalk was cleared of all the underbrush that was between the sidewalk, fence and Forest Ridge. This way kids can be seen. Thank you, city of College Station and Castlegate HOA!
You may not know this, but the sidewalk changes in elevation more than you realize. You do not notice the hills in the car, but when you are running your legs will not miss them. These sidewalks are so much better than running on graded street. There is a half mile downhill, and you guessed it, a half mile uphill around the northeast sidewalk. There are flats, curves, wooden bridges and lots of turn offs that lead to other streets in the neighborhood. Read some of the shirts people are wearing while running. You will see several people with running event shirts while training on these sidewalks. 5K, 10K, ½ marathons and marathons shirts are running past you all the time.
Hopefully, if you have not utilized the sidewalk in Castlegate, you will now. Spring is among us so get out there and walk your dog, ask your kid if they want to be a bike rider today or go for a 10 K run.
Keep them clean and keep it classy.
Steve Santos “My REALTOR”
PS - I’m Steve Santos, I do what I say I will do, some times more just never less
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First Friday in Downtown Bryan Includes Arts Council & Great Restaurants
May 1st, 2012 Categories: Kids, Family & Personal Stuff
Soft music playing in the air, the buzz of the local people around you, artists on corners of the street, antique shops, modern art galleries, and family entertainment mix together on the first Friday of every month in downtown Bryan.
From 5-10 p.m. downtown Bryan offers First Friday, an event for the cities of Bryan and College Station and surrounding areas to join together and have an enjoyable evening. Whether your evening consists primarily of dining out and visiting with friends or bringing the kids along for a carriage ride and movie, the choice is yours.
Madden’s Casual Gourmet is a popular favorite spot for dinner. All of their food is made from scratch, including every soup and mayonnaise on the menu. Chef Madden is constantly seeking to widen the variety on his menu and challenging himself to find additional flavorful combinations for customers. Madden’s uses top quality products and their presentation of food is nothing short of artistic. The restaurant strives to provide only the freshest ingredients for their customers. Relationships with local producers and manufacturers, as well as a garden of their own, provide Madden’s with top quality food. Madden’s also hosts a movie night for families on First Friday. Movies such as Alice in Wonderland, Thumbelina and the Blind Side have been played in the past.
Wine bars and coffee houses are hotspots at any time in downtown Bryan but take on a certain quaintness on First Friday. The Village Downtown Read the rest of this entry »
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Recent Growth of Real Estate Sales in the Brazos Valley
April 17th, 2012 Categories: Uncategorized
The recession hurt our nation’s real estate industry. There’s no way around it but thankfully the Bryan College Station market has not been hurt anywhere near the rest of the country. Unpaid mortgage loans were a large cause of the recession, and echoes from the plummet of real estate values following this crash are still being felt nation-wide. So, perhaps an infrequently asked question in recent months: how have Real
Estate Agents been faring? The answer is, surprisingly — quite well. With the turn of the economy and the gradual climb of home sales, Real
Estate Agents are returning to the top. With Texas, and particular areas in the Brazos Valley, spearheading this recovery.
US News has rated Real Estate Agents as one of the best jobs of 2012, with high flexibility and a high employee satisfaction rate. And, if this isn’t surprising enough, the market for positions as a real estate agent is expected to grow at an unusually high rate of 12.2% over the next eight or so years. Luckily for up and coming employment seekers, obtaining a license has never been more simple. The only real requirements are a high school diploma, and a passing grade on a state administered written exam (although a college degree will assuredly help agents to move forward in their field). So we can be sure to see the expected growth in this industry over the next several years.
But how is all of this happening?
To begin with, the economy is recovering. In fact, recently revised employment data for Texas suggests that the State economy is undergoing
“a more solid economic recovery than before.” Unemployment rates in Texas are down to 7.2%, a full 2% decrease from the National average
just one year ago. And to top it all off, the annual growth rate of non-agricultural jobs in Texas increased 2.6% from last year (compared
with only a 1.6% increase across the nation). Texas’ economy is in good shape, and improving.
What myou can optimistically take this to mean is that the economy in Texas (and across the nation) is more stable than it was in the spring of
2011, when the first real signs of recovery started (ending in another brief market collapse). This only means good things for the real estate
industry: but, in laymen’s terms, it means there’s more money out there for people to buy homes. More money to buy homes means more homes sold. And more homes sold means more business for Real Estate Agents.
However, this prospect does not only suggest that the market for real estate is returning to its previous state. Instead, research shows that the
industry is growing, making room for thousands of new positions over the next few years.
So let’s rationalize for a moment.
Over the span of the recession, and the several months before, the market for selling houses did not slow. Only the market for buying houses came to an abrupt halt, as people began conserving cash and deciding it in their best interest to postpone home ownership (as well as the process of obtaining loans became more difficult). Neglecting the percentage of investors who took full advantage of the reduced home sales, most homes have remained on the market since, as more homes have joined the market over the past few years. And now, as the economy climbs back to stability, people looking once again to own homes have entered a vast market. This means extra business for Real Estate Agents. And as Texas’ economy is performing well above the national average, it is no wonder that the market for real estate agents has reached the Best Jobs list of 2012.
But, of course, homes are not the only aspect of real estate that agents thrive off of. Business real estate, as well, is a heavy factor of an agent’s success. And Texas, particularly the Brazos valley, is not short on business growth. For instance, College Station’s business district, Northgate, is experiencing a prime period of development as old business and real estate make way for new opportunities. New student housing complexes are leading the way, the first of which, called “The Stack,” being immediately followed up by a second new high-rise to be constructed just feet away. This second complex will be 18 stories tall, housing over 175 student apartments, as well as a grocery store in the
ground level and a 400 space parking garage. Construction for this new development should begin over the next few weeks, and marks only one aspect of a real estate explosion which is occurring all over the state.
In fact, evidence shows that all but four Texas Metropolitan areas have increased in the number of jobs available over the past year, and several of the lowest unemployment rates across the nation are in Texas cities. Exciting things are happening for the real estate industry,
especially in Texas: and real estate agents are (and will be) reaping the benefits. So when you are ready for a career in real estate…. CALL SUSAN HILTON!
PS - Susan Hilton is Bryan College Station,
Texas’ real estate specialist in foreclosure sales and real estate
agent career building so if you need help –
CALL! 979-219-3970
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TEXAS A&M Has Been Yarn Bombed!
April 13th, 2012 Categories: Uncategorized
“I had to tramp down a dirt road in Bryan, Texas. I remember always hugging and kissing her at the door and then pushing my way in to see what she was cooking for our Sunday lunch. I remember, the musty smell of mothballs hanging in the air mingling with the cherry pie on the kitchen table that I wasn’t allowed to touch until after I had eaten all of my meal. I also remember sitting on her rough brown couch impatiently trying to make it through crochet and knitting lessons. Many times when we would have lessons I would find myself blankly staring out the window at the bird feeder where the cardinals perched.”
Was this you????? Do you wish you had been paying attention during your knitting lessons? This March, on the Texas A&M campus, TAMU students with the help of the Visual Arts Committee, the Brazos Valley Knitters Guild, The Hook and Needle, and Magda Sayeg, dressed the light poles on Military Walk in a printed rainbow knit. These tube socks that were knitted around the poles are part of a nation-wide craze known as Yarn Bombing.
Textile art has gradually made its way onto the contemporary art scene. This new form of art is said to serve as a ground where textile production is neither solely for the female nor the male. Despite gender, race and age, this art speaks beautifully and carries a presence unlike any other art form.
Over the past few years, yarn bombing has become more and more prevalent; beginning with urban areas and moving throughout the rest of the country. It is practiced regularly in a few major cities in areas including Canada, the United States, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. And though this form of art is catching on, it is still not very widely known. Other names for the practice include knit bombing, guerilla knitting, yarn storming, and urban knitting.
Trees, sculptures, statues, phone booths, gates, handles, poles and any other object of reasonable size is at risk of being bombed by this craze. There are even cans of spray yarn (similar to spray paint), used to graffiti walls.
Magda Sayeg was a guest lecturer on the Texas A&M campus this year and the founder of Yarn Bombing. Her work has grown to include the knit-covered bus in Mexico City, her first solo exhibit in Rome at La Museo des Esposizione, covering the AC ductwork of Etsy.com’s headquarters located in Brooklyn, and she is finishing an installation at the Williamsburg Bridge working with the NYC Department of Transportation.
She has worked with companies worldwide, including Absolut Vodka, Madewell, Insight 51, Mini Cooper, and Smart Car. She has also participated in art shows at Milan’s Triennale Design Museum, Le M.U.R. in Paris, and the National Gallery of Australia.
She has begun experimenting with new techniques and additions to her artwork, such as using lighting with her knitted material. She has joined forces with the integrated media company 1stAveMachine as a director. This position will push her to new varieties of experimentation and collaboration.
Are you wanting to learn how to knit? Checkout our own LOCAL YARN KNIT SHOP in Bryan College Station! Checkout The Hook and Needle! If they can teach me to knit they can teach YOU!
PS - Susan Hilton is Bryan College Station, Texas’ real estate specialist in foreclosure sales and real estate agent career building so if you need help – CALL! 979-219-3970
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“90% of millionaires became so through owning real estate.” – Andrew Carnegie
April 12th, 2012 Categories: Uncategorized
Are you tired of the poor returns or losses that traditional investments have provided over the last few years ? Maybe it is time to explore some of the benefits offered by investing in real estate in Bryan College Station. In this blog, I will discuss real estate returns vs. traditional investment returns, tax advantages and the control you can have over your financial future but please know I am “just a Realtor” and not your investment broker.
Returns: Real Estate vs. Stocks, Bonds and Mutual Funds.
- a.) Stocks: Only 40% of stocks pay a dividend and in the 10 years starting in 2000 the stocks in the S&P 500 paid an average dividend of 1.82%. During that same time, those same stocks have seen a 30% decrease in equity.
- b.) Bonds: During the 10 year period starting in 2000 bonds have yielded an average of 4.46% according to figures released by the Federal Reserve. Bonds returns are fixed by the interest rate and do not appreciate in value and can fail.
- c.) Mutual Funds: Often under perform the general market, does not pay dividends and you hand control of your money over to someone else.
- d.) Real Estate: In the 10 year span beginning, in 2000, real estate has increased in equity by 30.14%. This does not include appreciation in value, cash flow or the tax advantages that come with investing in real estate. Investment property allows you to be in control of your own money as opposed to the other investment vehicles.
Tax Benefits: What other investment allows you to make money, and the IRS allows you to keep more of it due to generous tax deductions ? Some of those expenses Read the rest of this entry »
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The Barracks Townhomes Best Student Housing in Aggieland
April 4th, 2012 Categories: Uncategorized
The Barracks at Rock Prairie Townhomes is located at 3302 General Parkway near the intersection of Rock Prairie road and Wellborn road in College Station. They offer townhomes for sale or for lease. Varying townhomes are available, beginning at 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and ranging to 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms townhomes. The location is very convenient and right off of Wellborn road which allows for direct access to campus. It also offers a unique college-community feeling due to all of the townhomes being located in the same area.
The townhomes are also located near the new HEB Towerpointe shopping center that just opened off of Highway 40. This shopping center is quickly expanding and already offers sandwich shops, sushi shops, fast-food, banks, hair salons and so much more.
Some of the quality parts of the townhomes include the three texture exterior finish which includes stone, brick and hardy and the entire exterior except for the roof is maintained by the homeowners association. The roof has a 30-year warranty. Nine foot ceilings and crown molding can be found throughout the townhomes and add to the open spacious feeling of the homes. Granite countertops, sleek custom kitchen cabinetry and a stone eating bar complete the kitchens. Kitchens also come with full appliances and stainless steel appliances are available. Stained concrete floors in the living, kitchen and bathrooms allow for easy clean-up and carpeted bedrooms invite a cozy atmosphere. Granite vanities are in every bathroom. Light fixtures, ceiling fans, and kitchen hardware is oil rubbed bronze hardware. Digital a/c thermostats are in each home, with two zoned thermostats in the two-story homes. Read the rest of this entry »
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Creek Meadows – From the Inside Out
April 3rd, 2012 Categories: Uncategorized
Creek Meadows is a neighborhood in South College Station where you feel like you are living in the country with the benefits of being in a nice friendly neighborhood. When my husband, Matt and I were trying to figure out where we wanted to live four years ago we looked everywhere. New neighborhoods were being developed and all with different amenities. We looked for about a month and finally decided we wanted to live in Creek Meadows. It has three pools, playground, basketball court, walking trails, small gym and some ponds. We knew we liked the area, we just didn’t know we would fall in love
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