Joey Condon
Realtor®
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Bryan College Station Real Estate Market Summary Jan – July 2010
August 12th, 2010 Categories: 1
2010 January – July
Bryan/College Station, Texas Real Estate
Market Statistics
Let’s start with the question… What do YOU think about the Bryan College Station real estate market? I’d really like to know. Checkout the charts below.
We are beginning to see that the market may not be holding for our community. I know we all like to think we live in the BCS/TAMU Bubble but the rest of the world is pushing on our bubble. Hopefully July was just a blip for the market but I don’t think so. Thankfully Century 21 Beal is still actively selling and we are still ahead of last year’s business – I almost feel sorry for the other agents in town.
We see that sellers who really want/need to sell are listening to us, pricing the property to get it sold and they are selling. Other sellers are trying to “get what the house is worth” or “get what the comps show” or “get what they need”. As much as I would like to say we have the power to control Read the rest of this entry »
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How scary is a Real Estate Contract?
June 14th, 2010 Categories: 1, Buying Real Estate, Real Estate Contracts
Real Estate contracts are full of legal terms that can be difficult to understand. Be sure to ask before you sign – any misunderstanding may be costly to you in the future.
I am here to help you with any real estate question you may have. Here are a few definitions that I think may be helpful when thinking about buying a home.
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Adjustable-rate Mortgage (ARM) – A mortgage that does not have a fixed interest rate. Based on market conditions, the rate can increase or decrease, affecting your payment.
- Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) – This fee protects the lender against a loss if a borrower defaults on the loan and is added to the monthly mortgage payment. PMI is usually required if the down payment is less than 20% of the purchase price. VA, FHA, VA Guarenteed loans fall into this catagory. Payments can be reduced sometimes by over $200 a month if you are able to put 20% down.
- Fixed-rate Loans – A mortgage that has a fixed interest rate throughout the life of the loan. Repayment terms are generally 15, 20, or 30 years. Payments stay the same unless refinancing is done.
- Escrow – Monies or documents held by a neutral third party before closing on a property. It can also be an account held by the lender, usually set up to pay for taxes and insurance on their investment.
- Loan Origination Fee – A fee charged be the lender for processing a loan. All lenders charge different amounts so it is always best to shop around, they will compete for your business.
- Points – These fees are paid to the lender for the loan, usually in relation to the interest rate. One point is equal to 1% of the principal amount of a mortgage loan. You can “buy down” your interest rate to lower your monthly payment.
- Lock-in - A written agreement setting a specific interest rate on a home loan. The lock-in is typically good for a specific time, usually 60 to 90 days.
- Offer – When one person proposes a contract to another; if the other person accepts the offer, a binding contract is formed.
When buying a house in College Station you always need to make sure you are making the right decision when filling out a contract or offer on a house. Buyer’s remorse is not something you want, I can make sure that doesn’t happen.
Call me with all your Real Estate Contract Questions!
Joey Condon, Realtor
Rock Solid Real Estate!
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Bryan/College Station Homeowner’s Insurance Tips
June 2nd, 2010 Categories: 1, Home Improvement & Design
The Insurance Information Institute warns against cutting your homeowner’s insurance during hard economic times. Being under-insured can cost you more in the event you have to make a claim.
Be wary of the following:
- Insuring a home for its real estate value rather than the cost of rebuilding.
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Selecting an insurance compnay by price alone.
- Dropping flood insurance if in an area wher it is not required by the lender, but ther is a chance of flooding.
- For renters, neglecting to purchase renter’s insurance.
In most situations, Homeowner’s Insurance is not an option, it’s mandatory. Most lenders require insurance to be provided by the owner, and if the owner fails to provide what the lender wants, they can provide coverage but at a premium price for the owner. Please avoid that at all cost, insurance is expensive enough.
What you can do to lower your insurance premium.
- Policy discounts – check with your agentInstall additional smoke alarms and fire supression systems
- Make sure your agent services your policy annually – they may find deductions that wer not there previously
- Take a higher deductable out just like you would do for your auto insurance
- Have a security company service your house with an alarms systems and break-in notification
Homeowners in Bryan and College Station take a moment, analyse your insurance needs and make the changes where needed.A standard policy covers the structure of the house, your personal belongings (with certain limitations), liability to others, and living expenses in the event your house is unlivable. Please contact your insurance agent and ask questions about what they offer, what discounts are out there that you may be able to take advantage of, and shop around!!! Bryan and College Station have a wealth of great insurance agents ready and willing to provide you with any and all the information you need to make an educated decision. Don’t take a chance on being under-insured or without insurance, the consequenses are enormous.
I am here to help every homeowner with all their real estate needs. Call me, I can help!!
Joey Condon, Realtor
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Family Fun on the Texas A&M Campus in College Station
March 31st, 2010 Categories: 1
Saturdays have always been a day of rest, relaxing, and recovering. But it’s also a perfect together to grab the little ones and have a nice family outing. How about visiting a vet or having fun with science? Texas A&M has you covered. On Saturday, March 27, both the Vet School and the Mitchell Institute for Fundamental Physics & Astronomy are opening their doors.
The Vet Open House will start at 9:00 Saturday Morning and is absolutely free to everybody. You can start off with tours through the small and large animal Read the rest of this entry »
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It’s the Big Event in Aggieland!
March 31st, 2010 Categories: 1
Not everyone is a fan of spring cleaning. That is unless you’re an Aggie. While some are dreading the idea of a daylong cleaning session, Aggie Organizations across campus are gearing up for the “biggest” event of the year: The Big Event. The Big Event is the largest, one day, student run service project in the nation. All students, whether with an organization or a group of buddies, gather together to serve residents from the Bryan/ College Station community as a thank you.
For many Aggies the Bryan/College Station area has become a second home and are more than willing to offer a hand (multiple hands) to helping out the locals. Projects usually just consist of doing chores around the house such as raking, mowing, picking up trash, but can get as intense Read the rest of this entry »
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Bryan College Station Parks and Nature Trails
March 31st, 2010 Categories: 1
A great thing about Bryan/College Station is that the sister cities’ governance actively tries to preserve as much of natural setting as it can. They’re both developing fairly rapidly, which is great for residents and business owners. What’s even better for residents is that the cities highly value some of the features it began with, like the beautiful trees and the wonderful landscape.
Some of the nature reserves in the Bryan/College Station area are not very well known, even among residents– like the Texas A&M Horticulture gardens. Off South College Road, is a small street called Hensel; here you’ll find Read the rest of this entry »
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First Fridays
March 31st, 2010 Categories: 1
Having a sense of community is a really healthy experience. If it’s getting to know a neighbor, or even meeting neighbors you didn’t know existed, it’s comforting to know there are tons friendly, loving people within earshot. Often times we’re so concerned with our families and our own issues, which is hardly a fault, but some people are more social than they contain in their own houses. For all social butterflies, Downtown Bryan supports the sense of community by having monthly First Fridays.
On the first Friday of every month, the city of Bryan becomes more open and festive. Restaurants stay open later and musicians set up on the street curbs, serenading strangers– once a month the city reveals its neighborly culture.
Regardless of what type of person you are, outgoing or Read the rest of this entry »
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Upside Down Housing Market?!?!?!?
March 16th, 2010 Categories: 1
Have you ever wondered if the market you live in is upside down or not? Well, here in Bryan/College Station, we are definitely not upside down!!
Thousands and thousands of people across the U.S. currently have an upside down mortgage. You are “upside down”, and have negative equity if the value of your home is less than what you owe on your mortgage. Bryan homes and College Station homes are appreciating every year, and we were not hit as hard as some markets when considering sales price and volume of homes sold. Our market has shown a 2% increase in home sold so far this year and property values are holding strong. Housing Stats click here!
What does that mean to buyers and sellers? Well, buyers can feel secure that the property they are purchasing is holding value and as the U.S. Housing Market recovers, their property will likely increase in value even more. Sellers can expect to be able to get a higher sales price for their home in a market that is gaining rather than a market that is declining.
Call me, Joey Condon, for a professional Buyer Orientation, or to interview me to sell your home or investment property.
For a quick way to search for property click below!!
www.bcsrocksolidrealestate.com
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The Many Hats of Village Cafe in Downtown Bryan, Tx
March 9th, 2010 Categories: 1
Village Cafe Downtown Bryan Tx
Downtown Bryan is home to some of the most beautiful historic buildings in the Bryan College Station area. Quality restaurants, community theatre, antique stores and many more contribute to Downtown Bryan’s fun environment. Located on an unassuming corner of W. 26th street sits the Village Cafe, a comfortable space that wears many different hats, depending on the hour.
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The Quality of the CSISD (College Station Independent School District) School Board
March 7th, 2010 Categories: 1
Often times it’s difficult to tell whether or not a school, or a school district is “good” or “bad.” Everyone hopes that their child will realize her/his full intellect, but in some schools, a number of students fade into the background and don’t learn as much as they could.
When moving to a new area, there are a huge amount of things to consider besides which school district is the best for your child, so it’s easy to overlook which school is right. However, it’s not a very good idea to leave it to fate, as some schools sadly do not perform as well as others; on the other hand, it can be difficult to determine which is which.
There are a number of ways to decide; for instance you could look at Read the rest of this entry »
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