It’s the weekend and you have a whole list of household chores to do. Oh, we know you’d rather be golfing or playing tennis or watching TV, but keeping your home in good shape is important. Your home may be the biggest investment you will ever make. Taking good care of it with regular maintenance is necessary to maintain its value and ensure it will provide a comfortable, safe shelter for you and your family for a long time.
Here is a home maintenance quiz that will test your maintenance knowledge. While this quiz does not address every home maintenance project, it does provide helpful tips and reminders for chores you may have overlooked. Call us, email us or post your comments here. We'll answer your questions and discuss any concerns you have about maintaining your new home.
1. How often do forced-air furnace filters need to be changed?
At least every three months during the heating season.
2. What part of the faucet usually needs to be replaced when you have a water leak?
The washer.
3. Should you run hot or cold water through your garbage disposal?
Cold water.
4. How often should the moving parts of garage doors be oiled?
Every three months.
5. What tools can you use to unclog your drains?
A plunger and a plumber’s snake.
6. What tool can be used to unclog a toilet?
Coil spring-steel auger.
7. What faucet part needs to be cleaned every three to four months?
Aerator—the screen inside the end of the faucet.
8. What can you use for traction on icy sidewalks, steps and driveways? (not much of an issue in San Antonio!)
Cat litter or sand—never use salt because it damages the pavement.
9. Where should the fire in your fireplace be built?
On the andirons or grate, never on the fireplace floor.
10. What will prevent soot and add color to the fire in your fireplace?
Throw in a handful of salt.
11. Where should your firewood be stored?
Outside, away from your house and not directly on the ground.
12. What helps keep unpainted concrete floors easy to keep clean?
Concrete sealer.
13. What should you use to clean unpainted concrete floors?
A solution of 4 to 6 tablespoons of washing soda in a gallon of hot water. Mix scouring powder to the solution for tough jobs.
14. When can you clean hardwood floors with water?
When the floors have a polyurethane finish.
15. Do hardwood floors need to be waxed?
Hardwood floors that do not have a polyurethane finish probably will need to be waxed periodically. Use liquid or paste “spirit” wax.
16. What is the best polish for vinyl floors?
Water emulsion wax.
17. When is basement condensation at its maximum? (Again - not an issue so much here.)
In new homes because gallons of water went into the concrete of basement walls.
18. Why should noisy water pipes be fixed promptly?
The condition that causes noisy pipes may be accompanied by vibration that can cause fittings to loosen and leak.
19. Why should frozen pipes be thawed slowly?
Frozen pipes should be thawed slowly to prevent the formation of steam, which could cause the pipe to burst.
20. How often should your roof be inspected?
A qualified roofer should inspect your roof every three years.
21. What should be regularly checked on your security system?
The alarms and circuit breakers should be checked to make sure they are in working order and the sensors should be inspected one by one.
22. To ensure your safety, what household equipment uses batteries that must be checked regularly to make sure they are operable?
Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
23. What do you use to fill nail holes and cracks in plaster walls and gypsum wallboard?
Spackling.
24. What is the white powdery substance that develops on masonry walls?
Efflorescence sometimes appears on masonry walls. It is crystallized soluble salts that can be removed by scrubbing with water and a stiff brush.
25. At what temperature should your water heater be set?
120 degrees Fahrenheit
26. How often do skylights need to be inspected?
Skylights should be inspected each time your roof is inspected so leaks don’t develop from cracks and interruptions around its seals, caulking and flashings.
27. What is a simple solution you can use to wash extremely dirty exterior windows?
A solution of equal parts vinegar and water or 3 tablespoons of denatured alcohol per quart of warm water. Use a piece of crumpled newspaper to wash the glass to avoid lint left behind by papertowls.
28. What can you use to help a window slide easily?
Rub the channel with a piece of paraffin.
29. What should you look for when you inspect your siding yearly?
Determine if wood-sided homes need to be repainted; check to see if the caulking around the windows and doors has split and cracked, and replace the caulk; clean the mildew; trim shrubbery away so it does not touch the siding.
And here's a link to the National Association of Home Builders email newsletter for potential and current homeowners. It's free -
www.magnetmail.net/actions/subscription_form_nahb_cenew.cfm
Monday, January 26, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Housing Stimulus to Turn Around American Economy
The national statistics are startling: more than half a million jobs were lost in November, with nearly 1.9 million jobs lost year-to-date. One of the hardest-hit segments is the housing industry and related businesses, where it is estimated that three million Americans have lost their jobs in the past few years.
Although San Antonio has not been hit as hard, we are still suffering consequences of the perception that we are in as dire straights as others around the country. An economic stimulus package currently being proposed to Congress could help reverse this trend and restore our country to financial stability. The centerpiece of the package focuses on the housing market, which accounts for 15 cents of every dollar spent in our country during a typical year.
"It cannot be stressed enough that Congress nneeds to act quickly to stem the tide of the housing crisis across American," said Becky Oliver, Executive Vice President of the Greater San Antonio Builders Association. "When the housing market is suffering, billions of dollars in wages and purchases are lost, negatively affecting almost every sector of the U.S. economy."
Fix Housing First, a coalition of more than 600 organizations led by the National Association of Home Builders, is urging Congress to take quick and decisive action to stimulate the housing market and stop the decline in home values, which will ultimately create more jobs and help lift the American economy.
According to the coalition, this can be done through a significant tax credit and implementation of an interest rate buydown for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages.
The Tax Credit
In July, President Bush signed into law the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 which authorized a $7,500 tax credit for qualified first-time home buyers purchasing homes on or after April 9, 2008 and before July 1, 2009. However, due to a wave of financial disruptions during September and October, the economy worsened, credit tightened, and the spillover to the general economy was deeper than previously anticipated. This means that a more roust economic stimulus package is necessary to get the economy moving again.
Specifically, a more significant credit is needed to enable families to buy homes and help straighten the economy of their local community and the nation. In the plan that the coalition is recommending, the credit amount would be substantially increased to 10 percent of the price of the home, up to $22,000. Unlike the current credit, it would not be limited to first-time buyers and the home owner would not be required to repay the credit.
The Mortgage Interest Buydown
The coalition is also recommending a mortgage interest rate buydown which will help get buyers back into the market and further stimulate the economy. Interest rates recommended by the coalition range from 3.99 to 2.99 percent for homes purchased by the end of December 2009.
The coalition also supports continued intensive efforts to prevent foreclosures and keep people in their homes.
The combination of these stimulus actions would increase demand for housing, help stabilize home values, reduce foreclosures, restore and save tens of thousands of jobs and turn the housing market and economy back in the right direction.
Fore more information about Fix Housing First, visit http://www.fixhousingfirst.com/
This article by Bridle Bit Corp. president and CEO Fred Elsner appeared in the San Antonio Express-News on Sunday, January 11, 2009, courtesy of the San Antonio Builders Association.
Although San Antonio has not been hit as hard, we are still suffering consequences of the perception that we are in as dire straights as others around the country. An economic stimulus package currently being proposed to Congress could help reverse this trend and restore our country to financial stability. The centerpiece of the package focuses on the housing market, which accounts for 15 cents of every dollar spent in our country during a typical year.
"It cannot be stressed enough that Congress nneeds to act quickly to stem the tide of the housing crisis across American," said Becky Oliver, Executive Vice President of the Greater San Antonio Builders Association. "When the housing market is suffering, billions of dollars in wages and purchases are lost, negatively affecting almost every sector of the U.S. economy."
Fix Housing First, a coalition of more than 600 organizations led by the National Association of Home Builders, is urging Congress to take quick and decisive action to stimulate the housing market and stop the decline in home values, which will ultimately create more jobs and help lift the American economy.
According to the coalition, this can be done through a significant tax credit and implementation of an interest rate buydown for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages.
The Tax Credit
In July, President Bush signed into law the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 which authorized a $7,500 tax credit for qualified first-time home buyers purchasing homes on or after April 9, 2008 and before July 1, 2009. However, due to a wave of financial disruptions during September and October, the economy worsened, credit tightened, and the spillover to the general economy was deeper than previously anticipated. This means that a more roust economic stimulus package is necessary to get the economy moving again.
Specifically, a more significant credit is needed to enable families to buy homes and help straighten the economy of their local community and the nation. In the plan that the coalition is recommending, the credit amount would be substantially increased to 10 percent of the price of the home, up to $22,000. Unlike the current credit, it would not be limited to first-time buyers and the home owner would not be required to repay the credit.
The Mortgage Interest Buydown
The coalition is also recommending a mortgage interest rate buydown which will help get buyers back into the market and further stimulate the economy. Interest rates recommended by the coalition range from 3.99 to 2.99 percent for homes purchased by the end of December 2009.
The coalition also supports continued intensive efforts to prevent foreclosures and keep people in their homes.
The combination of these stimulus actions would increase demand for housing, help stabilize home values, reduce foreclosures, restore and save tens of thousands of jobs and turn the housing market and economy back in the right direction.
Fore more information about Fix Housing First, visit http://www.fixhousingfirst.com/
This article by Bridle Bit Corp. president and CEO Fred Elsner appeared in the San Antonio Express-News on Sunday, January 11, 2009, courtesy of the San Antonio Builders Association.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Happy Holidays!
As 2008 draws to a close we can't help but think these are very interesting times. There's uncertainty, for sure, but when you really think about it, what in life is guaranteed? Sometimes it pays to be philosophical and realize that what goes up comes down and then goes up again...
Whether you're talking about the stock market, home prices or your mood, you've probably noticed that everything goes through changes and that's probably a good thing.
In the spirit of the Thanksgiving and holiday season, we want to say thank you to all of our clients, suppliers, and associates. Thank you, too, to all who visit our website with interest in investing in a new home. Thank you all for your business, your effort and great work, your friendship and your humor. We really appreciate it and look forward to serving you and working together in 2009 and beyond.
It's still a dynamic time to invest in a new home here in San Antonio. We found this article on mysa.com on November 26:
By Aïssatou Sidimé - Express-News
The Mortgage Bankers Association proclaimed San Antonio one of the top markets in the U.S. for home buyers, citing its high employment rate, population growth and better-than-average price appreciation as key factors.
San Antonio’s median home prices continued to perform better than all U.S. regions, dipping 1 percent in October from October last year, versus an 11.3 percent drop nationwide, according to data released Monday by the National Association of Realtors.
San Antonio is in the Southern region, which showed a 5.8 percent decline in median prices during the same period — the best regional performance in the nation.
“With 95 percent employment and people moving in, your glass is more than half full,” said David Kittle, chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association, which tracks mortgages made by nonbank lenders. “You are the benchmark for the rest of the country in lending and building.”
Kittle also praised Bexar County’s low tax rate, saying it continues to attract businesses that hire new employees who are looking for homes.
Population growth in Texas is expected to remain above 2 percent next year compared with a negative projected growth rate for the United States.
A large chunk of the projected Texas population growth will be in the Denton-San Antonio-Houston triangle, according to Texas A&M University’s Real Estate Center.
The San Antonio housing market also has benefited from historically stable growth that avoided the large run-up in prices in 2005 and 2006, and the subsequent steep price declines some areas in the U.S. are experiencing now.
As a result, increases in Bexar County foreclosure listings are substantially lower than the growth in foreclosures nationwide. Foreclosure auction postings in the county are up 22.7 percent for the year, according to data provided by RexReport.com, which tracks foreclosure postings.
Nationwide, foreclosure activity is up 45 percent, according to RealtyTrac, which tracks foreclosure filings, sales and home repossessions.
“Our foreclosures are up slightly this year but not enough to worry like the rest of the U.S.,” said Michael Moore, outgoing president of the Greater San Antonio Builders Association.
While lenders nationwide are reporting a tightening of credit, San Antonio lender Van Stewart reported widespread availability for borrowers with credit scores at least 580 and a history of paying debts.
“We’re busy in our office,” said Stewart, chief operating officer at SWBC Mortgage in San Antonio.
Some lenders have fallen by the wayside, but, Stewart said, he’s been able to fill the void by placing more borrowers into mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration. About 35 percent of his new loans are FHA-insured so far this year versus 3 percent in 2007.
“The thing that has changed about underwriting is that we have gone back to underwriting that is not just about getting people into homes but about keeping them in houses for 10, 15 years,” he said.
Whether you're talking about the stock market, home prices or your mood, you've probably noticed that everything goes through changes and that's probably a good thing.
In the spirit of the Thanksgiving and holiday season, we want to say thank you to all of our clients, suppliers, and associates. Thank you, too, to all who visit our website with interest in investing in a new home. Thank you all for your business, your effort and great work, your friendship and your humor. We really appreciate it and look forward to serving you and working together in 2009 and beyond.
It's still a dynamic time to invest in a new home here in San Antonio. We found this article on mysa.com on November 26:
By Aïssatou Sidimé - Express-News
The Mortgage Bankers Association proclaimed San Antonio one of the top markets in the U.S. for home buyers, citing its high employment rate, population growth and better-than-average price appreciation as key factors.
San Antonio’s median home prices continued to perform better than all U.S. regions, dipping 1 percent in October from October last year, versus an 11.3 percent drop nationwide, according to data released Monday by the National Association of Realtors.
San Antonio is in the Southern region, which showed a 5.8 percent decline in median prices during the same period — the best regional performance in the nation.
“With 95 percent employment and people moving in, your glass is more than half full,” said David Kittle, chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association, which tracks mortgages made by nonbank lenders. “You are the benchmark for the rest of the country in lending and building.”
Kittle also praised Bexar County’s low tax rate, saying it continues to attract businesses that hire new employees who are looking for homes.
Population growth in Texas is expected to remain above 2 percent next year compared with a negative projected growth rate for the United States.
A large chunk of the projected Texas population growth will be in the Denton-San Antonio-Houston triangle, according to Texas A&M University’s Real Estate Center.
The San Antonio housing market also has benefited from historically stable growth that avoided the large run-up in prices in 2005 and 2006, and the subsequent steep price declines some areas in the U.S. are experiencing now.
As a result, increases in Bexar County foreclosure listings are substantially lower than the growth in foreclosures nationwide. Foreclosure auction postings in the county are up 22.7 percent for the year, according to data provided by RexReport.com, which tracks foreclosure postings.
Nationwide, foreclosure activity is up 45 percent, according to RealtyTrac, which tracks foreclosure filings, sales and home repossessions.
“Our foreclosures are up slightly this year but not enough to worry like the rest of the U.S.,” said Michael Moore, outgoing president of the Greater San Antonio Builders Association.
While lenders nationwide are reporting a tightening of credit, San Antonio lender Van Stewart reported widespread availability for borrowers with credit scores at least 580 and a history of paying debts.
“We’re busy in our office,” said Stewart, chief operating officer at SWBC Mortgage in San Antonio.
Some lenders have fallen by the wayside, but, Stewart said, he’s been able to fill the void by placing more borrowers into mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration. About 35 percent of his new loans are FHA-insured so far this year versus 3 percent in 2007.
“The thing that has changed about underwriting is that we have gone back to underwriting that is not just about getting people into homes but about keeping them in houses for 10, 15 years,” he said.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Hmmm...
Since the last time we posted, our nation has elected a new president and the issues facing him, and us, are much more complex.
We feel fortunate to be here in San Antonio where we are somewhat insulated from the problems in the other parts of the country and at the same time we recognize that we have our challenges, too. We are all in this together.
But fear is a funny thing -- in a way it feeds on itself and amplifies what is undesirable, often blinding us to what is good, what's working well, and to our basic security. We think, and feel deeply, that to remain optimistic and to remember every day to notice and give thanks for all that we have -- and there is so much that we have -- is helpful not only to ourselves, but to everyone else.
If you are considering buying or building a home, we hope you will remember to appreciate the opportunity you have at this time, to pursue your dream and to keep these things in mind:
- the economy will turn around
-home values in San Antonio are holding their own and rising in many cases
-at the first of the year, interest rates, too, are likely to rise -- investing now is a wise move.
-when you are looking at new home prices and "deals", keep in mind that many of the ones out there are possible because the seller has raised prices to pay for what appears to be a super deal, i.e. buyer incentives. Do your homework, and look at the square foot price of the home -- arrived at by dividing the price of the home by the number of square feet. Then, look closely at construction, amenities and upgrades and consider if the deal really is over the top.
If you have questions, please give us a call and we'll help you in any way we can to acquire a great home you will value and take pride in for years to come. In the meantime, keep noticing what's working well -- and if you get a chance, let us know what you find!
We feel fortunate to be here in San Antonio where we are somewhat insulated from the problems in the other parts of the country and at the same time we recognize that we have our challenges, too. We are all in this together.
But fear is a funny thing -- in a way it feeds on itself and amplifies what is undesirable, often blinding us to what is good, what's working well, and to our basic security. We think, and feel deeply, that to remain optimistic and to remember every day to notice and give thanks for all that we have -- and there is so much that we have -- is helpful not only to ourselves, but to everyone else.
If you are considering buying or building a home, we hope you will remember to appreciate the opportunity you have at this time, to pursue your dream and to keep these things in mind:
- the economy will turn around
-home values in San Antonio are holding their own and rising in many cases
-at the first of the year, interest rates, too, are likely to rise -- investing now is a wise move.
-when you are looking at new home prices and "deals", keep in mind that many of the ones out there are possible because the seller has raised prices to pay for what appears to be a super deal, i.e. buyer incentives. Do your homework, and look at the square foot price of the home -- arrived at by dividing the price of the home by the number of square feet. Then, look closely at construction, amenities and upgrades and consider if the deal really is over the top.
If you have questions, please give us a call and we'll help you in any way we can to acquire a great home you will value and take pride in for years to come. In the meantime, keep noticing what's working well -- and if you get a chance, let us know what you find!
Friday, September 12, 2008
And now, a word about the media and the housing market...
Every day the bombardment of news and information touches all of us and influences how we think, how we feel, and what we do on so many levels that it's impossible to name them all. Most of us probably underestimate the power of the media in shaping what goes down in the markets and even at the dinner table.
The most important thing to remember about the media, especially the news media, whether it's newspapers, cable news, network news, radio talk shows -- whatever -- the focus is always negative. Never do these outlets talk about the upside of an event that they report as "news".
And there are upsides to everything in life. For example, the current rearrangement of financial institutions on Wall Street, at the very least, can be seen as a culling, or pruning that will in the long run strengthen and realign financial practices. It takes a little research perhaps to find, but there are certainly many more positives that will come out of this time.
The power to choose...
We all have a choice to react to headlines and stories, or to stop and think about the context of the news and also look for the upside and advantages in any situation. Not only that, it is helpful to remember that every day, all over the world, in every moment, a lot of people are are doing something kind, loving, wonderful for someone else. The majority of people are doing an honest day's work, taking care of their businesses, their families, having fun, enjoying life. Every day in every moment a lot of people are thinking good thoughts. This is much more prevalent than the bleak, shocking stories that are streamed over and over again on news stations to snag viewers.
We did not, as a nation, reach the unprecedented level of prosperity that we now enjoy by focusing on bad, sensationalized news 24/7, caving to the negative emotions and fears it creates, living in fear of bleak tomorrows. No...we have traditionally kept our eyes focused on a bright future, have found the upside and capitalized on it, planned for it and continued to be cheerful (an adjective many in other parts of the world use to describe Americans) and led the way into ever more prosperity.
Of course our forefathers and mothers were not inundated by the print and electronic media as we are. But we definitely have a choice: to choose how (and how much) we will view the events of the day as they are presented to us. We may notice that the less "news" we absorb and unthinkingly accept as truth, the better we feel, the more energy we have. As we choose to feel good more of the time and see "news" for what it is, we may notice improvements in all areas of our lives as we take care of business responsibly and apply our energy to making our best dreams reality.
Professionals weigh in...
Recently journalists and real estate professionals from around the country weighed in on the effects of the media on the housing market. To what extent does reporting on market conditions influence buyers? The consensus was that the news definitely helps shape behavior. Here are excerpts from the comments, which are in the current issue of Ideas, a magazine published by the National Association of Home Builders (http://www.nahb.org/):
From Tim Kane, president of MBK Homes in Irvine, CA:
"I think that the most astute economist will tell you that public perception is a large component of how economics works. And the press is a large factor in the formulation of public opinion...We're in a chicken and egg situation. Yes, the market declined. Yes, the media reported it. The fact that the media reported it did indeed cause the market to decline further. At a certain point, the market is going to reach equilibrium and stabilize and then the new story will be that the market is turning around. And I think that the stories that the market is turning around and that real estate prices are increasing helped fuel the last real estate boom as much as the stories that the market was declining have fueled this .... (Note: real estate values in San Antonio continue to increase.)
From Dorothy Tayloe, broker, Daniel Homes/Ingram & Associates, Birmingham, AL:
The media's impact is enormous in regard to virtually everything. Obviously, the situation in home sales is no different. Real estate markets are local, and when the national media brings you the doom and gloom, nobody bothers to say here in good old Birmingham, Alabama, that our market is still very good...Journalists didn't create the bad market, that's for sure. But again, real estate markets are very local. And I think they should be covered as such.
From Lauren B. Cooper, Reporter, Birmingham Business Journal, Birmingham, ALA
Every real estate market is different. They're all local. But to hear the national news all lumped together as not very good news can be very discouraging to many people on a local level, so I think that contributed to the slow down.
From Andrew Star, Executive Managing Director, Cantor Real Estate, White Plains, NY
A lot of people are saying that the media has created this problem and if the media would just put out some positive stories, this would all go away..I don't hold those beliefs. We got where we are in the real estate market because we weren't paying attention to the fundamentals of the assets and the transactions themselves...That being said, when all you hear out there is the bad news, and we don't talk about some of the positives in the marketplace, then it does become somewhat self-fulfilling.
What do you think? We'd love to have your comments and know to what extent you are influenced by what you see and read in the news about housing and real estate now.
Feel free to comment here or email us at bridlebit@gmail.com
The most important thing to remember about the media, especially the news media, whether it's newspapers, cable news, network news, radio talk shows -- whatever -- the focus is always negative. Never do these outlets talk about the upside of an event that they report as "news".
And there are upsides to everything in life. For example, the current rearrangement of financial institutions on Wall Street, at the very least, can be seen as a culling, or pruning that will in the long run strengthen and realign financial practices. It takes a little research perhaps to find, but there are certainly many more positives that will come out of this time.
The power to choose...
We all have a choice to react to headlines and stories, or to stop and think about the context of the news and also look for the upside and advantages in any situation. Not only that, it is helpful to remember that every day, all over the world, in every moment, a lot of people are are doing something kind, loving, wonderful for someone else. The majority of people are doing an honest day's work, taking care of their businesses, their families, having fun, enjoying life. Every day in every moment a lot of people are thinking good thoughts. This is much more prevalent than the bleak, shocking stories that are streamed over and over again on news stations to snag viewers.
We did not, as a nation, reach the unprecedented level of prosperity that we now enjoy by focusing on bad, sensationalized news 24/7, caving to the negative emotions and fears it creates, living in fear of bleak tomorrows. No...we have traditionally kept our eyes focused on a bright future, have found the upside and capitalized on it, planned for it and continued to be cheerful (an adjective many in other parts of the world use to describe Americans) and led the way into ever more prosperity.
Of course our forefathers and mothers were not inundated by the print and electronic media as we are. But we definitely have a choice: to choose how (and how much) we will view the events of the day as they are presented to us. We may notice that the less "news" we absorb and unthinkingly accept as truth, the better we feel, the more energy we have. As we choose to feel good more of the time and see "news" for what it is, we may notice improvements in all areas of our lives as we take care of business responsibly and apply our energy to making our best dreams reality.
Professionals weigh in...
Recently journalists and real estate professionals from around the country weighed in on the effects of the media on the housing market. To what extent does reporting on market conditions influence buyers? The consensus was that the news definitely helps shape behavior. Here are excerpts from the comments, which are in the current issue of Ideas, a magazine published by the National Association of Home Builders (http://www.nahb.org/):
From Tim Kane, president of MBK Homes in Irvine, CA:
"I think that the most astute economist will tell you that public perception is a large component of how economics works. And the press is a large factor in the formulation of public opinion...We're in a chicken and egg situation. Yes, the market declined. Yes, the media reported it. The fact that the media reported it did indeed cause the market to decline further. At a certain point, the market is going to reach equilibrium and stabilize and then the new story will be that the market is turning around. And I think that the stories that the market is turning around and that real estate prices are increasing helped fuel the last real estate boom as much as the stories that the market was declining have fueled this .... (Note: real estate values in San Antonio continue to increase.)
From Dorothy Tayloe, broker, Daniel Homes/Ingram & Associates, Birmingham, AL:
The media's impact is enormous in regard to virtually everything. Obviously, the situation in home sales is no different. Real estate markets are local, and when the national media brings you the doom and gloom, nobody bothers to say here in good old Birmingham, Alabama, that our market is still very good...Journalists didn't create the bad market, that's for sure. But again, real estate markets are very local. And I think they should be covered as such.
From Lauren B. Cooper, Reporter, Birmingham Business Journal, Birmingham, ALA
Every real estate market is different. They're all local. But to hear the national news all lumped together as not very good news can be very discouraging to many people on a local level, so I think that contributed to the slow down.
From Andrew Star, Executive Managing Director, Cantor Real Estate, White Plains, NY
A lot of people are saying that the media has created this problem and if the media would just put out some positive stories, this would all go away..I don't hold those beliefs. We got where we are in the real estate market because we weren't paying attention to the fundamentals of the assets and the transactions themselves...That being said, when all you hear out there is the bad news, and we don't talk about some of the positives in the marketplace, then it does become somewhat self-fulfilling.
What do you think? We'd love to have your comments and know to what extent you are influenced by what you see and read in the news about housing and real estate now.
Feel free to comment here or email us at bridlebit@gmail.com
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Come Join the Parade
Today is September 3 and we're in the middle of the 2008 Parade of Homes at Cibolo Canyons. The homes in this year's Parade are remarkable for lots of reasons -- for their beauty, fine design, size, location, the people who designed and built them, and all the people whose companies made the products that go into these fine houses.
Significantly, this is the first year that the Parade is green from the ground up -- green means that building practices and materials ensure minimal environmental impact. Green building has health benefits for home owners, too. For more information about green building, visit www.buildsanantoniogreen.org
And, come visit us at the Parade. Say hello to Fred, Russell, Jesse, Rose and Terry. We would love to meet you. You can find directions to the Parade, times and more information at www.sabuilders.org
Significantly, this is the first year that the Parade is green from the ground up -- green means that building practices and materials ensure minimal environmental impact. Green building has health benefits for home owners, too. For more information about green building, visit www.buildsanantoniogreen.org
And, come visit us at the Parade. Say hello to Fred, Russell, Jesse, Rose and Terry. We would love to meet you. You can find directions to the Parade, times and more information at www.sabuilders.org
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
An Invitation to Visit Us at Royal Ridge
This weekend we're having the grand opening of our garden homes at Royal Ridge. These are beautiful homes priced under $200,000 in a great neighborhood that is set to experience a renaissance within the next few years. Because of businesses like Rackspace, the international IT firm that's made San Antonio its home and is located in the area, and because of the expansion of our military bases, the future looks truly great for homeowners in northeast San Antonio.
Now is a fabulous time to invest in one of our homes in Royal Ridge. Please visit us this weekend, or any time, and see for yourself why these homes are so popular. We have three ready to move into and a few more lots that we'll finish this year.
Looking forward to seeing you soon!
Now is a fabulous time to invest in one of our homes in Royal Ridge. Please visit us this weekend, or any time, and see for yourself why these homes are so popular. We have three ready to move into and a few more lots that we'll finish this year.
Looking forward to seeing you soon!
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