4 Costs You’ll Need to Be Prepared For When You Sell Your Home

It’s always better to be prepared for the costs ahead of you so you can budget properly. Selling your home is no exception. Though the point is to be able to make money before moving on to your next home, selling is itself quite an investment, and there may be costs that you weren’t aware of beforehand. Here are a few that you’ll want to keep in mind.

Repairs and Updates

Are your appliances outdated and, well, quirky? Do you need to make repairs to your home’s roof, electrical wiring, or flooring before you put it on the market? These repairs and updates will help increase your home’s value on the housing market, but the costs can rack up, so you’ll need to be prepared for them.

Landscaping

It’s not just the inside of your home that matters. Curb appeal is crucial when it comes to making a good first impression on prospective buyers. If you’ve neglected your lawn in the past few months, now is the time to invest in landscaping. Even if you typically do a good job of keeping the lawn mowed and raking up any leaves, landscaping can help to take your curb appeal to the next level.

Closing Costs

Closing on the home sale itself has costs, usually about 2-5% of the sale price of the home itself. Escrow fees are split between the buyer and seller, property taxes, and HOA fees may all come into play. In some cases, sellers might cover closing costs for the buyer if they desperately want to close on the sale. However, most sellers will refuse to do so and in most cases, your realtor will advise against it.

Realtor Commission and Attorney’s Fees

Once the sale is finalized, you’ll owe your realtor a percentage of the sale as commission. This percentage is typically agreed upon beforehand, so this isn’t a cost that’s likely to sneak up on you. It’s for this reason that some sellers consider skipping realtors altogether, but the realtor’s housing market and local expertise can be invaluable when it comes to selling your home. You may also hire a real estate attorney to help mediate the closing, and in this case, you’ll have to cover their attorney’s fees, as well.

Need help managing the costs and knowing what’s the best investment when it comes to selling your home? Talk to a College Station realtor today for more information on getting the most out of your home sale.

4 Tips to Make Staging A Success

Essentially, staging is fashioning it to look as though it’s no longer your home so potential buyers can start to see it as their home. It can be challenging to step back and look at your home from someone else’s perspective, but if you stage your home effectively, it will go a long way towards selling your home. Your realtor can help with tips for reaching a broader market or covering staging costs. Here are a few tips to make sure your staging is a hit and helps potential buyers fall in love with your home:

Start Outside

When people think of staging, they often think of the living room, entryway, or maybe the kitchen and dining area. But the first thing potential buyers will see is your curb, so you want to work on curb appeal first.

Keep your siding and walkways clean and neat, power washing if you need to. If you have a flowerbed, make sure it’s neatly trimmed and cared for. If not, consider planting a few flowers to stand out. Mow the lawn and repaint if your paint is starting to fade a bit. Add friendly, welcoming elements like potted plants or a welcome mat to your porch. Perhaps most importantly, take a look at your house numbers. Are they easy to read from the street? If not, fix that right away. Buyers need to be able to find your home in order to consider it.

Clean House

Before you give the interior of your home a makeover, you want to clean. Wipe down all surfaces, pick up any toys, put any dishes in the sink or dry rack back where they belong, and make sure every bed is made. And keep the house clean throughout the selling process. This is also a good time to remove any personal items like family photos or make any cosmetic repairs that you might have let slide while you lived in the house.

Opt for Lighter Colors

When you’re designing the room for yourself, it’s only your personal taste that matters. If you like deep burgundy walls or darker curtains, suit yourself. When staging, however, you have to think of the wider audience. Lighter colors typically go over more successfully because they help the room to look lighter, airier, even larger. If you have dark curtains, you especially want to make sure to replace them with lighter curtains to let in as much sunlight as possible.

Keep It Uncluttered

Every room in your home should have clear walkways for potential buyers as they tour, and it should feel spacious enough for them to move through comfortably. Removing personal elements like family photos and toys will go a long way. So will removing any unnecessary furniture. Your realtor may pay for new furniture to be brought in for staging and for old furniture to be removed. You may not need to go with a fully minimalist look, but the more space, the better. It will not only make buyers more comfortable but make your home appear more spacious.

Your best resource when staging your home is your realtor. Contact a College Station Realtor today to get started on the process of making your home ready for its new owners and making you ready for a successful sale.

How to Make Yard Work Easier

Few homeowners enjoy doing yard work. It can be tedious and, in the hottest days of summer, uncomfortable to say the least. And if you have to untangle your equipment every time, you may find yourself dreading yard work day. But it’s important to keep your curb in good shape, both while you live in your home and especially if you plan to sell at some point. Fortunately, we have a few tips to make yard work a little easier to manage.

Organize Your Shelves

Do you find yourself wasting time sifting through gardening tools, garage supplies, and old equipment you no longer use every time you go to do a little yard maintenance? Then you may need to start by organizing. Invest in some vertical shelves so you can see everything you need as soon as you step into the garage or shed. Next, separate tools based on their use: gardening tools here, car maintenance there, kids’ outdoor toys on their own shelf. You may want to use labels to make the organization even clearer. This will cut down on your time by precious minutes.

Utilize Modern Technology

Yard work has come a long way with modern tools and technology. No longer do you have to get on your knees with a spade and a bucket to pull weeds out of your garden. Now there are standing weeders that allow you to root out weeds effectively without so much as squatting. Raking and bagging leaves is much easier with open funnel bags. So if you’re looking for a way to make your yard work less tedious and stressful, maybe you simply need to look into more modern yard tools that can take much of the weight off yourself.

Use a Garden Cart

Rather than going back and forth for garden supplies, why not keep them all in a handy garden cart that you can take with you? You can find a garden cart with two or four wheels and a handle for easy transportation. Place all your gardening equipment inside, as well as new bulbs or plants that need to be relocated. When you’re finished, simply wheel it back inside your garage or shed near your shelves.

Dress the Part

Everyone knows that it’s important to dress practically when doing yard work. Your clothes should be comfortable, something that’s easy to wash and that you’re not precious about. But that doesn’t mean you have to put on your ugliest outfit. Wearing clothes that make you feel good can go a long way when it comes to changing your attitude. A favorite t-shirt or most comfortable pair of jeans may even make you look forward to doing yard work.

When you find your dream home, you want to make sure that it stays your dream home, both inside and out. Yard work may not be the most fun task, but it can be worth it for the neat finished product. Still looking for your dream home? Contact a College Station realtor today to help you find what you need within your budget.

July Activities and Events in Bryan-College Station

Summer is in full swing in Bryan-College Station, and that means summer athletics, days at the pool, and summer festivals. With the sun shining brightly and exciting holidays like the 4th of July coming up, it’s a great time to get outdoors and enjoy your new community. Looking for something to do? Here are a few July activities and events in Bryan College Station that we’re looking forward to:

4th of July Events

Fireworks! Barbeque! Live music and waving American flags! 4th of July is an exciting time in Bryan-College Station and there are several events that you can enjoy here. At the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum on Texas A&M campus, there’s the “I Love America” celebration full of food truck vendors, rides and bounce houses for kids, and of course a grand fireworks show at the end of the night. If you’re an early riser, there’s also a 4th of July parade on Foxfire Drive beginning at 9am. At Century Square, you’ll find live music performances, or if you’re looking for something more traditional, you can head over to the Old Fashioned 4th of July in Heritage Park.

Music and Entertainment Events

Summer is the perfect time of year to enjoy an outdoor music event late into the night, and Bryan-College Station has plenty to offer. At Lake Walk Park in Bryan, there’s the Eats & Beats series, including food trucks for refreshments and musical performances from acts like David Michael George and Hayden Haddock. First Friday in Downtown Bryan also offers live music in addition to the late hours for several downtown restaurants and shops. Looking for something indoors? Check out Singer/Songwriter Night for local, budding musicians at The Village Cafe every Thursday in Bryan. Looking for something that will entertain the kids? Check out Free Film Friday at the Queen House in Bryan.

Sports Events

Football may be a few months away, but you can enjoy summer sports in the meantime. In the heat of July, swim competitions are understandably the most prominent sporting events. In the Texas A&M Natatorium on July 12th, you can enjoy the 2019 Northwest Circuit Invitational and a week later, you can come back for the 2019 US Masters Swimming South Central Zone Championships. When the swimming competitions put you in the mood to go swimming yourself, you can check out any of these places to go swimming in Bryan-College Station. From July 20-27 at the Brazos Valley Expo, you can also catch the Texas 4-H Horse Show.

If you’re new to Bryan-College Station, July is the perfect time to get out and experience all that the community has to offer. Still looking for your new home in Bryan-College Station? Talk to a College Station realtor today to find your dream home and expertise on getting the best value for it. And keep an eye on our blog to learn about more events that Bryan-College Station has coming up throughout the year.

Places to Go Swimming in Bryan-College Station With the Kids This Summer

Summer is here, and the kids are out of school. It can be a blessing as well as a challenge. It’s a great opportunity to spend quality time in your new home and community with your family, but you also want to make sure that your kids stay entertained so that they’re not going stircrazy at home. Swimming is a perfect summer activity that the whole family can enjoy, both at a pool or at a lake surrounded by beautiful natural scenery. Bryan-College Station has several options to choose from, but here are a few of our favorites:

Lake Bryan

Lake Bryan is surrounded by a 125-acre park, so if you’re looking for a calm day to enjoy the flora and fauna of nature, this is the perfect place to go for a swim. It’s perfect for the whole family. Kids can go swimming or play on the beach, and adults who want to can take a boat out or jetski for something a little more exciting. You can even enjoy RV camping here with a reservation, so you can make a few days of fun in the sun and the water out of it. Of course, if you live locally, you can take a day trip whenever the weather and your summer schedule permits. You can also grab a meal at the Lakeside Icehouse nearby.

Bryan Aquatic Center

But if you’re looking for something a little more controlled and structured, check out Bryan Aquatic Center. The pool is heated year round so even in winter, you can still visit this spot, but it’s busiest in summer of course. There’s something for everyone here: an Olympic-sized pool, a massive swirling water slide, a kiddie pool, lap swimming, and two diving boards. It’s a popular spot during the summer, so this is also a great place for your kids to make friends — and maybe you’ll even be able to make friends with other parents yourself.

Adamson Lagoon

Can’t afford a tropical vacation this year? Stop by the tropical-themed Adamson Lagoon Pool, a mini-water park that might just have everything you need to cool down. Here you’ll find another Olympic-sized pool, water slides, “lily pads” and rafts for kids to play on, and a baby pool for the littlest ones. As a water park, they’re also fully equipped with a bathhouse where you can change and shower as well as concession stands to keep you refreshed.

Cindy Hallaran Pool

This College Station pool is smaller than the others, but an excellent option for new swimmers. 25 yards in length, this pool has a gentle decline of depth that, at the deepest, is just 4 feet. However, there’s a water slide, poolside amenities, and they even include a “Doggie Day” in August, where you can take even the furry members of your family to check out the pool.

Looking for a dream home in Bryan-College Station close to places where you can take the family swimming? Talk to a College Station realtor today about the perfect place for your moving wish list.

Summer Activities in College Station

Summer is a great time of year for College Station. With sunny weather, friendly surroundings, and plenty of activities to choose from, you’d almost have to try to find yourself bored here. But if you’re new to town, you might be wondering where to get started enjoying the summer this year. Talk to your College Station realtor about summer activities happening near your new home, or check out our list of favorite things to do in College Station this summer:

Visit Lake Bryan

Lake Bryan Park showcases, of course, the beautiful Lake Bryan, but is also described on their website as “an outdoor recreation oasis in the heart of Aggieland.” If it’s a peaceful summer getaway you want, this is the place to go. Open seven days a week, you can come here to sit by the pier or relax on the shore as the sun goes down, or you can venture into the water yourself, whether swimming or fishing. There’s also the Lakeside Icehouse serving food and refreshments so you can stay at the lake for as long as you like without going hungry. They even have live music performances, particularly during the summer.

Go Skating

Everyone loves the summer heat, but when it gets to be too much, you might look for a way to cool off. That’s why Spirit Ice Arena is here for you, even in the middle of summer. It’s a good place to take the kids while they’re out of school, or take yourself and friends when you’re nostalgic for winter. You can also take a special someone — or someone who might become a special someone — to Date Night, where they offer two-for-one admission every Thursday. It might not be a conventional summer activity, but it could be a breath of fresh air to make your summer more fun.

Check Out Some Live Music

What summer is complete without a few free concerts in the park? In College Station, that event is Starlight Music Series, an annual summer concert series so named because guests can spread out on a picnic blanket under the stars while they listen to the music acts that perform there. Still to come this year on June 8 is Grammy nominated Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers, as well as guest Mi’chel Rose and Zydeco Players. This event usually takes place in May and early June, but it’s worth checking out every year if you have the chance.

Start the Aggieland Football Season

This event, fittingly, will signal the end of summer, but the first game will start before fall sets in. Aggieland football is a big draw to Bryan-College Station, and there are some die-hard fans in the city. So in September, head to Kyle Field where you can catch the first football game of the year and get excited for the rest of the season. This year, the first game versus Clemson will be on their turf, but the second game, against Lamar, will be on Kyle Field, the perfect place to cheer on the team.

Still looking for your perfect home in College Station as summer comes on? Don’t put it all on yourself. Contact a College Station realtor today to help you find the home of your dreams so you can start to enjoy all that College Station summers have to offer.

Getting Your Porch, Deck, and Patio Ready for Summer

Summer is the perfect time of year to entertain at your home, both indoors and outdoors. When you have a great porch, deck, or patio, you can carry the parties and family gatherings further. But are your outdoor entertainment spaces ready for summer the way that your indoor space is? You want to make sure they’re in good shape and that they look great, too, before inviting guests over to start the summer festivities. Here are a few ways to ensure that your porch, deck, and patio are ready for the summer.

Take Care of the Landscape

It’s not just the material of the porch, deck, or patio itself. It’s the surroundings. Is your lawn unkempt and full of weeds? Or are there too many bare dirt spots due to rambunctious pets? Take some time to trim bushes, mow the lawn, and do a little landscaping so that the view surrounding your deck, porch, or patio looks as nice as the rest of your home. You might even consider some upgrades, like planting a flower garden or installing a water fixture.

Make Any Repairs

Next, take a look at your porch, deck, and patio themselves. Are there any repairs that need to be made? Especially in the case of porches and decks, make sure the flooring is strong and that boards don’t need to be replaced anywhere. If you have a porch swing, make sure it’s secure. Deck or patio furniture? Check that they’re still in good shape. Even simple cosmetic changes such as repainting or staining can make a big difference as you settle into summer.

Add Some Decoration

It’s not enough for your outdoor entertainment to just be in shape. Now add some decorations to draw the eye and make the space more interesting. This may mean a few potted plants to enhance the natural scenery, or adding more furniture to give it some extra comfort. Wind chimes can have a pretty effect, or maybe you want to add a small table to the space so you can enjoy drinks with friends or play a game of cards. Porches, decks, and patios are typically pretty colorless on their own, so your decorations should add a sense of color and aesthetic to the place.

Give Some Shade

This may not be a problem for your porch, which is usually covered under an eave of the home, but if you have a deck or a patio, you may benefit from adding an awning to protect guests — and yourself — from the severe heat and sunlight that often comes with College Station. You can also install a gazebo or pergola to offer partial shade as well as style for hot summer days. These features will not only protect you and your guests from harsh sunlight and heat but can ensure that stormy days won’t slow you down.

Still looking for that perfect home where you can entertain this summer? Talk to a College Station realtor about available homes in the area, especially those with porches, decks, or patios.

4 Ways to Get Involved in Your New Community

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Moving to a new place can be an exciting time, with so many new experiences before you. But it can also be intimidating, especially if you don’t know anyone in your new community. Taking the first step to meet people or to become more actively involved in your community is often met with no small amount of nerves, but just because it’s daunting doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Here are a few ways to become more involved in your community, and possibly make connections along the way.

Introduce Yourself to Neighbors

This may feel a little old-fashioned in the digital age, but it’s still effective. Once you’ve moved in, go around and say hi to your neighbors. You can introduce yourself and tell them a little bit about your story — how you came to live in the area and what you do. Make sure not to be self-centered in your conversation. Ask them about themselves, as well. Don’t feel comfortable going door-to-door to introduce yourself to your neighbors? Consider using social networks like Meetup to find groups for people who are new in town.

Volunteer

We’ve discussed volunteering before in 4 Places to Volunteer in Bryan-College Station. Volunteering is a way to be a part of something good and to give back to the community, but it’s also a way to meet people and become more involved in your community. Find a cause that you’re passionate about, whether it’s child illiteracy or poverty or homelessness. From there you can find a place to volunteer in your community, and in doing so you may learn of other opportunities that interest you.

Take a Class

Another way to find your people in your new community is to take a class based on your interest. If you’re crafty, you can take a painting or a pottery class. If you’re interested in cooking, take a cooking class. Why not celebrate your home in a new place by trying something new, like learning to play a musical instrument or starting yoga? It’s up to you, but in choosing something that interests you, you’ll be able to find others that have something in common with you.

Start a Group

Struggling to find something that strikes your interest in the classes and groups available in your city? Why not start a group? It can be a gaming group or a creative writing group or a group for new parents to swap advice. It may be slow-going at first, without a built in community, but you can promote your group through social media or put up flyers in relevant stores or coffee shops. Even if you start with a small group, that’s still the beginning of getting involved in your community.

Getting involved in your community can be the best part of your adventure in your new home. But it starts, of course, with finding your dream home. For that, contact a College Station realtor today to help you find your dream home in the neighborhood of your dreams.

Are You Ready For Your Open House

Open houses aren’t for every home seller, but if you have the right location and a housing market that works in your favor, it can be a great advantage when it comes to selling your house. Talk to a College Station realtor about whether or not an open house is the right choice for your listing. If so, however, it’s not a process you want to rush. How can you be sure that you’re ready for your open house? Follow these tips before you start to promote the big day.

Is Your Home Upgraded?

Before you even start listing your home, you should make sure you’ve repaired everything that needs to be repaired and made upgrades that will give you an edge in the market. Swap out your outdated kitchen and bathroom appliances for more modern ones. Invest in energy efficient windows and doors. Is your exterior paint fading? Time to repaint for a fresh look. Keep your lawn in trim shape and maybe add a few attractive features to boost your curb appeal.

Have You Staged Your Home?

Staging is an important step whether you plan open house or private viewings. It can also be a painful process for homeowners. Essentially, you have to remove the personal elements that made your house your own from view so that prospective buyers can see it not as your home but, hopefully, as their future home. Photos, toys and trinkets, and anything personal to your family should be removed. You may also have to rearrange your furniture to create a layout that appeals to more people, and may even need to remove some of your furniture for the time. If you have pets, you’ll want to keep them with friends or at a kennel for the day, and make sure to clean up any dander. Your realtor can help you determine what needs to stay and go when staging your home.

Have You Picked the Best Time?

Timing is everything when it comes to planning your open house. If potential buyers have to even consider taking time off work to view your house, there’s a good chance they’ll decide to skip it. The timing should be convenient to the most potential buyers. Sunday afternoon for about 2-4 hours is usually the most popular time. You also want to keep an eye on the weather. If it’s rainy or there’s some other adverse weather, you might have a smaller showing than you’d like. Better to have to reschedule for a fairer weather day than to stick to the original date and expect potential buyers to brave cold or stormy weather.

Once your house is staged and upgraded and the date is set, time to start printing out flyers with pictures of your house, posting social media events, and spreading the news. Of course, your realtor will be your best resource when it comes to marketing your open house and the listing in general. Talk to a College Station realtor today to get ready for your open house.

The Best Remodeling Projects That Add Value to Your Home

Thinking of making updates to your home before you put it on the housing market? Or maybe you’ve just bought your dream house and you want to put your own stamp on your home. Even if you’ve just moved in, you want to start thinking about things like home value so that you know you can get your money’s worth from your new home. These remodeling projects will not only make your home more comfortable to live in, but will help to optimize your home value.

Bathroom

An outdated bathroom can be a turn-off when viewing a home. It makes a clean space feel dirty, whether it’s simply old tiles or it lacks some of the most recent conveniences. On the other hand, a modern, updated bathroom feels sleek and clean, making an exciting impression on prospective buyers that justifies a boost in value. You can simply update existing features with newer versions, or add extra storage, better shower heads or upgraded faucets.

Landscape

Not all remodeling projects have to take place inside. Taking care of the scenery around your house is a critical part of boosting your curb appeal and thus, your home value. If your front lawn is too overgrown, time to trim those bushes to improve your view from the front window and start to mow the lawn regularly. Does your backyard look a little bare? Start planting a garden, whether it’s a traditional flowerbed or a more eco-friendly succulent garden. You can organize the landscape by creating a serene walkway or, if you feel like adding a water feature like a man made pool or a fountain.

Kitchen

Does your kitchen leave something to be desired? Maybe you need to add more lighting or update your countertops. Maybe you need more child-safe storage or more compact storage to leave a little more open space in the kitchen. A modern kitchen, like a modern bathroom, is an impressive draw to homebuyers and can make your home much more enjoyable and comfortable. You may also be able to make small changes that make a big difference, such as sanding and repainting your cabinets rather than buying new cabinets or changing the backsplash rather than repainting the entire wall.

Door and Window Replacement

This is a fairly small remodeling project, but makes a big difference. Your windows and doors not only add style and function to your home, but they have a strong impact on your home’s insulation and energy efficiency. If your windows and doors let in too much air, they can cause drafts and spikes in your heating and cooling. Consider replacing wood windows and doors, which require heavy maintenance, with more durable, energy efficient options like fiberglass. Fiberglass and steel entry doors, especially, are seeing a boost in home value.

Want to learn more how to get the most out of your dream home — or out of listing your home on the College Station housing market? Contact an expert College Station realtor today to help you through the process.

How to Know When It’s Time to Sell Your Home

It can be hard to know when you’re ready to sell your home. Maybe you’re eager to move and find a change of scenery. On the other hand, maybe you’ve lived in your home for years or decades and it’s hard to objectively tell when it’s the right time to let go. However, timing when it comes to selling your home is as important as timing in buying a home. If the housing market is wrong when you list your home, it may be on the market for months. If your finances aren’t ready, you could easily find yourself overwhelmed. Here are a few ways to know that it’s time to sell your home.

You Have Positive Equity

Don’t even consider selling your home without first figuring out how much equity you have. Equity is your home value less the amount of money that you owe on the home. In a housing crisis, many homeowners have negative equity, which means that paying off their mortgage would cost more than they would be able to get for the home. This is obviously not ideal unless you’re simply desperate to move. Ask a real estate agent to come up with an estimate for your home’s market value and compare that with the amount you still owe on your mortgage. Are you in the black? Then you’re probably safe to sell your home.

You’re Prepared For Obstacles

Everyone would love their home sale to go off without a hitch. They find the right real estate agent, list their home, and find the perfect buyer who makes a fair offer almost right away. However, it’s most likely that you’ll run into one problem or another when trying to sell your home. Maybe you struggle to find the right buyer. Maybe you need to make major renovations before you can list the home. Or maybe you receive an offer that seems perfect right away or multiple offers at the same time, but you want to ensure that you don’t rush into things. Do you know how you’ll respond to these obstacles? Discuss with your realtor common problems that might come up when selling your home and how to approach them.

You’re Emotionally Ready

Your feelings do matter when it comes to selling your home. After all, selling can be a stressful process, as well as a draining one. Your home is full of memories, and sometimes it can be hard to let go of those memories, even when you have to. Take some time to make sure you’re emotionally ready to let go of the home. If you live there with your family, sit everyone down and discuss the move so that you can know how everyone feels. You can discuss where to go in the next chapter of your life together, and you may find yourself excited about what comes next. Selling your home may not ever be easy, but you can be sure that you’re ready to move on before you do.

So is it the right time to sell your home? Talk to a College Station realtor today about how to ensure you’re ready and the steps to take to ensure a successful sale. How to Know When It’s Time to Sell Your Home

Best Places to Bike in Bryan-College Station

May is National Bike Month, as well as a beautiful, mild time of year for avid cyclists to break out their bicycles and and explore the community of Bryan-College Station from a new perspective. If you’re new to town, this is a great way for you to get to know your surroundings. Consider biking to work, or biking to the A&M campus if you’re a student, to save money on gas and lower your carbon footprint. Even if you’ve lived here for years, however, there may still be recreational bike trails that you haven’t tried out yet. Here are a few of our favorites.

Parks Loop

For a brisk bike ride that allows you to take in the beauty of College Station, try the Parks Loop. This route is only 6 miles, all told, but it takes you through various parks throughout College Station. It starts with Bee Creek Park, offering views of the eponymous creek, as well as smooth walking and biking paths and pavilions and greenery where you can rest. From there, you’ll head to Central Park, riding past the ponds and fountains that make this park stand out. Next, you’ll bike through Wolf Creek Park, a lakeside park perfect for camping or hiking various nature trails. On your way back to Bee Creek Park, you’ll also pass the Texas A&M Golf Club with beautifully kept greenery of its own.

Texas A&M

Whether you’re a student, a professor, or simply a local, you may have been taken by the beauty of the Texas A&M campus at some point or another. The 5,200 acres is full of classic architectural styles, beautifully old trees, and famed sports centers. Riding your bike around campus is a great way to get from one class to another easily while still taking in the scenery. However, even on the weekend, a loop around campus can be an invigorating and enjoyable workout. Even if you’re no longer a student, the size and scenery of the campus can offer a terrific guide when it comes to deciding where to bike on a sunny May morning.

Lake Bryan East Loop

This singletrack loop is an excellent option for more athletic cyclists. Scale hills and wild natural paths and get away from the day-to-day city life with the rugged Lake Bryan East Loop. However, because this is a pretty popular trail, you also don’t have to be a cycling expert to take it on. The paths are carefully maintained and well-loved, making it a good intermediate challenge. It contains twelve trails in total, from the twisty Octopus trail to Peaceful Woods. You can even bring a dog with you to run alongside your bike, as long as they’re kept on a leash.

Bryan-College Station is an excellent place to live for bike lovers, both during National Bike Month and throughout the year. Talk to a College Station realtor today about finding your dream home in the area and get started cycling.

3 Reasons to Buy Your First Home This Year

Everyone aspires to own their own home someday, but most of us don’t move out of our parents’ home and into our first purchased house immediately. Apartments tend to be a more common starter home, or rented houses. Renting has downsides — as the months or years go on, you could be paying more for a rental property than you would for a purchased house. But because the initial down payment to buy a home is so much more than monthly rent, many millennials and young professionals put off buying their first home until the right time.

If you’re looking for the right time, 2019 may very well be it. According to the 2018 Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends, millennials actually led the way in terms of home purchases in recent years, despite the stereotype of millennials not buying homes. Here are a few reasons why it’s never been a better time to buy your first home.

More Homes On the Market

Last year, and even in the beginning of this year, there was a fear throughout much of the country of a “housing bubble,” in which the demand for housing far exceeds the supply, causing prices to shoot upwards. However, more and more homes are becoming available in 2019, so you have a better chance of finding your dream home without a long, stressful house hunt or bidding wars. As more houses become available, there’s also a chance that the market will swing in favor of buyers again. Since housing market trends can be rather fickle, it’s best to jump on this when you have a chance.

Sellers Are More Open to Lower Bids

Again, in the past couple of years, this wouldn’t have been true. In a housing bubble, buyers are lucky to get the house they want by offering the asking price. There was often a chance of entering a bidding war and having to offer something higher. Now, as we move back into a buyer’s market, sellers are more open to lower bids, especially if the alternative is that their house stays on the market for a month or longer.

Mortgage Rates Are In Decline

Mortgage interest rates can be a daunting prospect for first time home buyers. After all, why not just pay rent if you’re going to be paying mortgage for what seems to be forever? However, towards the end of 2018, mortgage interest rates began to drop. 2019 started the year with an average 30 year fixed mortgage rate as low as 4.45%. Much like the housing market, mortgage rates can change quickly, so applying for a mortgage while rates are still low is a good thing to take advantage of.

Buying a house for the first time can be an exciting process, as well as an involved one. To make sure you’re prepared to enter the house hunt and find the house of your dreams, reach out to an expert College Station realtor.

3 Reasons Your Home Isn’t Selling

Home sellers are often so anxious to close on the house so they can continue with their move that any amount of time on the market can feel like too long. However, if your home has been listed for longer than 30 days and you still haven’t found a buyer, there could be an actual problem with your listing. Whether it’s the house or the list price, it’s something you’ll want to take care of as soon as possible. The longer your house is on the market, the harder time you’ll have finding interested buyers. Can’t put your finger on why your home isn’t selling? Here are a few common reasons.

Your Online Listing

As we move further and further into the age of social media, online listings that are easy to find are essential to selling your home. A 2017 survey by the National Association of Realtors® found that 44% of buyers look at online properties first to narrow down their list. Additionally, your listing photos should be high quality. 89% relied on listing photos. If your listing photos don’t grab the attention of buyers from the moment they find your listing online, they may never bother to see your house in person.

Your List Price

Can’t find anything wrong with the staging of your home? Maybe you’re scratching your head because you’ve made all the necessary upgrades and repairs and your curb appeal is neat and eye-grabbing, but your house still won’t sell. If you can’t find anything wrong with the property itself, chances are your list price is too high. Talk to your realtor about what’s realistic for your property and lower it accordingly. If you don’t think the price needs to be lowered, consider changing your marketing strategy to attract buyers who will see the value in the home.

The Time of Year

There are no strict seasons when it comes to buying and selling homes. You can choose to list your home at any time of year, and there will be people who choose to move at any time of year. However, there are times when it will be easier to sell your home than others. In College Station, late spring/early summer is the time when people are most likely to move, especially for family homes. It allows kids in school to finish out the year in one place and start the year fresh in the next place. College students at Texas A&M will also be more likely to move around that time. You’ll have the best luck selling your home when you plan it according to market trends throughout the year.

Selling your home can be a tricky process, with so many variables that are important to your success. It helps to have a professional on your side to guide you through the process and negotiate with your best interests in mind. Contact your experienced College Station realtor today for more information about how to get your home off the market sooner.

How to Save For Your Upcoming Move

There’s no question that moving is expensive. Between buying a new house, paying for the movers, and any new furniture or appliances, and potential HOA fees, there’s almost no way to move without having to budget and save first. Keep in mind you will have a mortgage loan to help with the costs, as well as profits from the sale of your previous home if you currently own a home, but that ultimately won’t mean that you shouldn’t plan your budget months or even a year in advance.

Put 20% Aside for Your Down Payment

Consider your budget for your new home, taking into account that you will almost certainly be applying for a mortgage loan. In most cases, you’ll pay somewhere between 10 and 20% for your down payment, so for the sake of being prepared, it’s best to set aside about 20%. This can also help you get an idea of what your budget is for the house overall. A good rule of thumb is to pay no more than 25% of your monthly take home pay for your down payment. Calculate that number times 5 (if 20%) or 10 (if 10%) and you’ll have a realistic budget for your house.

Consider The Costs Beyond the House

The biggest expense when moving will, of course, be buying the house. However, you’ll have to budget for much more than the down payment of the house. Consider the cost of the moving company, packing supplies, HOA fees, home insurance, and any other fees that might occur. If you’re moving long distance, you should even budget for the cost of the gas for your own car as you drive from one location to the other. Keep in mind, too, that movers are often tipped, and you’ll want to take the gratuity into consideration as well.

Start Looking for Savings

Of course, there are ways to save money on your move. Ask if there are any empty boxes at work that you can use for packing, or check with local stores that often have used boxes piled up in storage. If your budget is a little too tight for a moving company, find friends who will help you move or consider renting a van. Need new furniture? Consider looking at thrift stores or discount furniture stores rather than name brands. Set out a clear idea of the things you want in your new home and the things you absolutely need so your realtor can help you find something that fits your needs and your budget.

Get Pre-Qualified and Pre-Approved

Time to search for mortgage loans? Many homeowners get pre-approved before they make an offer on a house, but not pre-approved. Pre-qualification tells you the kind of loans you’re eligible for and might have a rough idea of the kind of support that loan will offer. Pre-approval offers a much clearer picture. Pre-approval also instills confidence in the seller, so when you do put in an offer on your dream home, it will look that much better.

Worried about staying on budget for your upcoming move? Work with a College Station realtor. They can help you search for a new home with your budget in mind and support you during the offer process to get the best deal for you.

Taking on House Painting DIY

You’ve closed on your dream house, and it’s now yours to do with as you will. But even the perfect house for your family might need a fresh coat of paint. You can hire professional painters to do the job, but many homeowners opt to take on house painting themselves in order to save money on the cost of labor. Fortunately, house painting is a DIY project you can take on fairly easily. There are, of course, missteps that can be made, as well as tips that can make things a little easier.

Paint Before or After Moving In?

Some homeowners prefer to paint before they move in. This gives the paint time to dry and clears the overpowering smell from the house before your family actually starts to live there. However, some interior design professionals warn against this, as you want to be sure that your paint color goes with the colors of your furniture and home decor. If you know how you’re going to fill a room, you may be able to take pictures of your furniture and decor with you when picking out your paint color. This is a choice that has advantages and disadvantages on both sides, so it’s really up to you.

Paint On Dry Weather Days

Yes, this still applies when talking about interior house painting. On humid days, that humidity can get into your home and cause paint to drip or dry more slowly than you’d like. If you can’t get around painting on a humid day, you may want to use a dehumidifier to make sure that it affects your interior walls as little as possible. On the bright side, slow drying paint due to humidity will give you an opportunity to fix any mistakes you may have made or spots you may have missed. But ideally, a dry day is best for painting.

Take Your Time With Prep

Most people know that you can’t simply paint a new coat of paint over the old paint and consider the job done. First, you have to apply primer for a more neutral coat that won’t interfere with the new color you’ve chosen. But before you apply primer, you also have to prep the walls. Are there any spots with cracks or peeling paint? Sand the walls first to smooth out these areas, and rinse to clean it before applying primer. If you don’t take care of the issues with the current paint job first, those same peeling and cracking spots will appear on your new paint job. This is also a good time to start taping the boundaries of your wall so you know where not to paint.

Pour Paint Cans Into One Large Bucket

Even when you buy several cans of the same color, the vibrancy of that color might be a little different from can to can. Many homeowners start with one can of paint only to find when they open the next can and begin to paint that the color on their wall doesn’t quite match. You can get around this problem by pouring all the cans of paint you bought into a bucket — 5 gallons is usually a safe size — and mixing the content. From there, you can paint with a consistent color.

One of the best things about home ownership is that you have the ability to make the house your own, truly turning it into your dream home. But to find the right house in the first place, contact a College Station realtor today.

What to Expect on Closing Day

Closing day is often an exciting and long-awaited day for both buyers and sellers. It can also be stressful. Both the buyers and sellers want everything to go right, and have invested time, energy, and money into this moment: transferring the house from one hand to another. In that tension, they may find themselves wondering what exactly to expect.

Of course, it’s different for buyers and sellers. There’s a different list of things to do beforehand and on the day itself.

Who Is Present at Closing

Obviously, the main characters in this are the buyer and seller, but these are not the only people who will be present on closing day. Both the buyer and seller’s real estate agents may be present (and the seller’s certainly will be), as well as a closing agent who works for the mortgage lender. If the closing agent is not an attorney, the lender will also have an attorney present. A representative from the title company and the lender will also be there for the big day. Closing will typically happen in the office of the title company representative.

Buyers

For buyers, closing day is the moment that your dream home actually becomes, well, yours. By now you’ve already applied for and been approved for a mortgage loan. You’ll want to read the closing disclosure from your lender, which outlines the terms of the loan as well as closing costs. You should have this at least three days before closing. Other than that, you’ll want to do a final walkthrough of the property and to have a home inspection and pest inspection done. Your lender should cover the pest inspection (and if so, it will show in your closing costs) and sometimes the seller will cover the home inspection.

When the closing day finally comes, you’ll need to bring a cashier’s check to cover closing costs and any necessary type of identification. Your state ID or passport will be a must, but more may be required so make sure to check beforehand. Other than that, you’ll need to sign legal documents transferring the house to you.

Sellers

For sellers, there may be less to do. You’re letting go of this house, so much of the burden falls on the buyer who is taking it on. However, you will need to pay off any outstanding loans as well as make any repairs that were promised in the sale. You may cover the home inspection as a show of good faith. Basically, you’re tying off any loose ends and settling anything unfinished with the house before you move on. You’ll also need to be out of the house so that the buyer can be ready to move in. It may not even be mandatory for you to attend the closing as the seller, although many do, and in some cases it is preferable. This is something you can discuss with your real estate agent.

Have any more questions about what you can expect on closing day? Contact your College Station Realtor today for more information.

Spring Home Maintenance Tips

Spring is finally here, and with it comes spring cleaning. If this is a new home in College Station for you, you may still feel motivated and even excited to get it into shape for the year. If you’ve lived there for a few years, you may need a bit of a push. Spring cleaning is perhaps most important for homeowners who plan to sell their home in the coming year, making sure that it’s in peak condition before you put it on the market.

But no matter what your reasons, there’s plenty of work ahead and never a better time. Here are a few tips for spring home maintenance.

Check the Roof

Winter can be a hard time for your roof, with brittle cold and winter storms. From the ground, look up and see if you notice any missing or broken shingles or tiles. You can also keep an eye out for dark spots on the roof, as this may be a sign of water damage or roof rot. You can also examine your roof from the inside. Go to your attic in the middle of the day and look up. If you notice light breaking through the ceiling, that’s a sign that you have issues with leaks.

If you need any repairs or a more thorough inspection, contact a roofer. This can also be a good time to clean out your roof gutters, which may have become full of debris over the course of the winter.

And the Air Conditioning

Before you turn on your AC for the warmer weather, make sure everything’s running smoothly there. Check and replace your air filters if need be and clean any debris off your AC unit. This may also be a good time to order preventative maintenance or an HVAC inspection. While you’re at it, you may want to check your water heater for any leaks or weak spots.

Change the Batteries in Your Smoke Detectors

It’s no secret how important smoke detectors are to the safety of your home. But just because you have smoke detectors installed doesn’t mean you should take for granted that they’ll always work. This spring, test your smoke detectors to make sure that they all still work and change batteries to make sure that they’ll continue to work throughout the year. If you’re short on smoke detectors, now is the time to add them. There should be at least one on every floor of your home.

Spruce Up the Lawn

Now that nature is beginning to return to life, it’s time to return your attention to your outdoor space. If you have any walkways, pave over cracks and make sure the path is smooth and clear. Ensure that your lawn mower and other lawn upkeep materials are all ready for use. Take a look at nearby trees. If you notice any that are rotting or dead, remove them, as well as trimming limbs to any overreaching trees.

Part of living in your dream home is the work you put in to ensure that it stays your dream home. But if you’re still on the first step of searching for your home in College Station, contact an expert College Station realtor today.

4 Best Coffee Shops in College Station

We as a nation love coffee. Many of us need it in the morning to wake up, as well as to make it through a long day of work. In a city like College Station, which centers around the Texas A&M student life as well as the lives of families and professionals, there are certainly a number of places where you can get coffee. But even without the caffeine, there’s just something about the ambiance of a local coffee shop. It’s a nice, calming place to sit and slow down for a bit, to have a first date or chat with a friend. Here are a few of the best in College Station:

1541 Pastries & Coffee

Coffee shops are beloved by artists and creatives, and 1541 Pastries & Coffee is the perfect place for a coffee lover with an artistic bent. You can have latte art done in any design you want, from a heart or a flower to the face of a cat or an elephant. There are a number of delicious sweets here to pair with the coffee, and you can find sandwiches and turnovers as well if you want to stop in for a quick lunch.

Harvest Coffee Bar

Downtown Bryan is known for its charming, quirky atmosphere, so it’s no surprise that you can find a charming, cozy coffee shop right there on Main Street. With ambient lighting and an earthy interior, Harvest Coffee Bar is a great place to sit for a while and sip your coffee slowly. You may bring your laptop and try to get some work done or simply pack a favorite book.

Gogh Gogh Coffee Company

The punny name of this coffee shop implies a love of art and that is what you’ll find here. There’s even a mural of Van Gogh’s famous “Cafe Terrace at Night” along one of the back walls as well as other Van Gogh inspired wall art. However, the main art displays come from local artists. In addition to coffee, you can find wine and beer here, as well as donuts from Babe’s Doughnut and Coffee Shop.

Babe’s Doughnut and Coffee Shop

Babe’s is more than simply a coffee shop (and even more than a coffee and doughnut shop). They also have a breakfast and brunch menu, with offerings ranging from an egg, bacon, and cheese croissant to a full country fried steak biscuit with sausage gravy. They have a creative offering of donuts, including a lemon meringue donut, a donut inspired by an old fashioned, and even rainbow donuts for St. Patrick’s day. And of course, there are muffins and the coffee and tea itself is delectable.

So next time you’re craving coffee, skip Starbucks and check out one of these local coffee shops instead. They’re just a few of the elements to the community of College Station that make it a great place to live. Talk to your College Station realtor today (maybe over coffee) about finding the home of your dreams right here.

3 Ways to Save on Closing Costs

When it comes to buying a home, you want to find the best value. Your realtor can help you come up with the best offer for the home of your dreams and negotiate for you with the seller. But even if you get the home for less than list price, you’ll still have to deal with closing costs.

These costs typically come from your mortgage lender — origination fees, application fees, credit report, title insurance, pest inspection, attorney and settlement fees, and so on. In fact, closing costs usually add up to somewhere between 2 and 5% of the purchase price of the home. But there are ways to save on closing costs.

Compare Lenders

Not all mortgage lenders are offering the same thing. When searching for a mortgage loan you should look not just for the lender who can offer the best loan, but the lender who offers the lowest closing costs. When you get a quote for the loan they can offer, ask for a quote of their services. This is not the only thing to take into consideration when searching for a mortgage loan, of course. It may be that the lender with the lowest closing costs also offers the least when it comes to your mortgage loan. But it’s something that should be taken into consideration and can help reduce the blow when it comes to closing costs.

Negotiate

Don’t be afraid to negotiate with your lender one you have quotes for the loan and their services. One of the most important things you’ll need to do is request a Closing Disclosure form, which lays out all of your closing costs. This will allow you to see what is and isn’t necessary, such as redundant or unclear costs, and to ask the lender to drop those costs. You should also compare this with your loan estimate in case there are any inconsistencies. Your realtor may be able to advise you on this and help you find the best ground on which to negotiate with the lender.

You can also negotiate with the seller. If they really want to sell their home, you may be able to talk them into lowering the list price or covering some of the closing costs. This allows them to close on the house sooner while removing some of the strain of closing costs from you.

Ask About a “No Closing Costs” Option

This isn’t for everyone, but it may be worth considering. Some lenders will offer a “no closing costs” mortgage. Of course, that doesn’t mean that the closing costs simply disappear. Rather, they’re added into your mortgage loan. So you’ll have a bigger mortgage to pay off, but you’ll also have more time to pay for those closing costs, rather than having to pay everything upfront. Again, your realtor may be able to advise you as to whether this is the best option for you.

Need help saving money on your closing costs? Talk to your College Station realtor about the best way to ensure closing goes over smoothly both in process and in terms of money.