Join us at 31820 Sunland

Kimberly Howell Properties will be hosting an open house luncheon at 31820 Sunland in Fair Oaks Ranch on Thursday, June 6th from 11:30AM to 1:00PM. Join us for a bite to eat, some cold drinks, and a tour of this charming, Hill Country classic. With five bedrooms and over 4,500 square feet of living space, this home definitely has the space you need, plus it sits on over two acres with amazing landscaping. Take a stroll through the landscaping backyard and don’t miss the pond with gentle waterfall – the perfect place to have your morning coffee.

An interesting thing has been happening over the last few months. As more and more people flock to this site for San Antonio real estate information, more and more people are using our property search. Whether for rentals or homes for sale, our traffic is climbing and our search engine ranking keep growing. As the numbers of visitors climbs, the behavior of those visitors change. They stay longer, they read more, they search and register to look at more homes. It’s these details that have me smiling this morning.

The biggest change I notice is that more people are asking specific questions about specific properties. Instead of just setting up a search and looking through the properties, they are finding homes they are interested in and emailing us with their questions about the home.

Obviously, for us, this is a good thing. When visitors to our site are asking such specific questions, we are much more able to assist them. When our agents know which house a visitor likes and has been viewing, we’re already one step ahead and now we have some basic criteria to work off of. We know the visitor better than just a name and a phone number or email address.

I’ve also been seeing a lot more phone numbers entered into the registration details. We don’t require you to leave a phone number, but it does help. Although we work just as well with email, email can be tough at times – with spam filters and such, we never know for sure if you’re getting our emails, so if you don’t reply, we have no way of knowing how we can help you.

I’ve also noticed a lot of people filling out the “Referral” field that the registration screen has. This helps me personally with tracking and seeing what is and isn’t working for us in terms of marketing our website. Anytime you can give me a hint at how you found us is always appreciated.

So thanks and keep it coming, we’re loving watching the website grow and knowing that we can be here to help you find your next home.

image courtesy of boellstiftung

Once again the San Antonio Parade of Homes is here. For 2013, the Parade of Homes is focusing on green designs in Cibolo Canyons. As usual, the builders will be pulling out all the stops to try and showcase the future of green building techniques and design. Builders this year are Adam Wilson Homes, Burdick & Frank, Don Craighead Homes, Monticello Homes, Sitterle Homes, and River Oaks Homes. The Parade of Homes 2013 starts on May 18th and runs through the 27th. To order tickets and get gate times, visit the official Parade of Homes website.

Sadly, most of the homes are not listed on the MLS, so we are unable to show them to you, but two of them are; River Oaks Homes’ 3914 El Chamizal and Don Craighead Homes’ 3930 El Chamizal, I will add other Parade of Homes 2013 homes for sale as they become available on the MLS.

image courtesy of George M. Groutas

This week I needed to transfer the title of my car and register it in my name. Dreading the thought of heading to the Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector’s offices and waiting in the dismal, grey rooms filled with the most uncomfortable plastic chairs, I happened to notice that there were some alternatives. In Pennsylvania, where I grew up, we call these “Fast Tags” and they are there for the sole purpose of speeding up the process required to change title or register a vehicle. I didn’t know they existed. So, I checked out the nearest one to me, River City Auto Title. Not only was the office a little more pleasant than your typical government office, but the staff were super friendly and helpful. Best part? No wait time at all. I went from my to the front door to a chair in front of the woman helping me. The process took about two minutes (if that) and I walked out with my new registration sticker and paperwork for my auto title. Simple as that. What would have taken at least an hour at the Tax-Assessor-Collector, was as easy as could be. If you hate to wait as much as I do, I highly recommend you check them out.

image courtesy of lindsayshaver

As our website took off, I slowed down on the birthday posts as we had so many other posts to write that it became a little impossible to keep up with, but this birthday is different. Today is Lisha Spellman‘s birthday. For those unfamiliar with that name, Lisha is our office manager…but, she’s way more than that. She’s ten years younger than me, but has knowledge levels about fifty years beyond me. When I don’t know an answer, I go to her. She’s funny, hard-working, and maybe even a little crazy; but she’s definitely the glue that keeps this office together. Have a problem with a contract? Go to Lisha. Need some friendly advice? Go to Lisha. Don’t know what to eat for lunch? Go to Lisha. Need cool marketing pieces done and need them yesterday? Go to Lisha. While I do what I can to assist, she truly would take it all on herself if she had to…and wouldn’t even break a sweat doing it. She’s more than just a co-worker too, she’s our friend and part of our family. To put is simply, she’s awesome.

The photo is of her office today. The fine folks at The IMG Studio decorated her office with images of 1983, the year Lisha was born and the rest of the world was listening to Kajagoogoo. So thank you Lisha for all you do…and thank you Kajagoogoo for being the soundtrack of my day.

We’re proud to announce that we have launched www.gardensatgreystone.com, a new neighborhood website focusing on McNair Custom Homes’ The Gardens at Greystone. This website will serve as a source of information about the community, the homes, and the local area for those interested in this neighborhood of forty three Tusan-style garden homes. We are excited to list these homes and showcase them for McNair Custom Homes and hope you’ll take a few moments to check out this new site.

Last night, on the 2600 block of Grayson Street in San Antonio, a local off-duty Bexar County Sheriff’s Deputy was shot as he entered a home with his REALTOR® wife. Details are still not fully clear, but it appears the couple were viewing the home, when the homeowner heard someone in the house and grabbed their gun. The Sheriff’s Deputy was shot, but is said to be in stable condition. Certainly not the home showing everyone had hoped for.

REALTOR® Safety

As agents, we should remember to be cautious when entering any home, whether occupied or vacant. A good rule of thumb is to a) always use CSS (Centralized Showing Service) to sschedule showings, b) knock or ring the bell (even if the property is listed as vacant), c) announce yourself as you enter, and d) be on the lookout for an signs of occupancy (running water in showers is often a good one to listen for). We all have stories about entering a home where someone didn’t expect us and these steps will never guarantee your safety, but they will help.

Seller Safety

Make sure you give your agent current contact info, so that the showing service we use to set up appointments knows how best to get a hold of you. There are several different types of notifications that your agent can require from CSS: go and show (no contact needed), courtesy (a call will be placed to you, but if no one answers, CSS will just leave a message), and appointment required (CSS must speak with the owner before granting approval). Even with these protections in place, the system does fail from time to time. Stay alert, but also be aware that it is possible that someone might enter your home unannounced. If this happens, explain to the agent that you weren’t notified properly (depending on how your showings were set up by your agent) and ask them to call CSS to confirm the showing with you (so you’re not letting a stranger into your home). You should also call your REALTOR® to make sure the info CSS has on file is up to date and correct.

We’re happy, as it sounds like this could have ended much worse, although it is sad to see someone did get shot. We hope we won’t be hearing any more news like this as the selling season picks up and the chances for these sorts of situations increases and we wish the best for the Sheriff’s Deputy in his recovery.

image courtesy of Drummer Photo Experience

special thanks to KSAT News for reporting on this story

Kimberly Howell Properties is happy to announce our partnership with McNair Custom Homes for The Gardens at Greystone community. This neighborhood rests against the bluffs of Greystone Country Estates along Blanco Road, just north of 1604 and has several floorplans to choose from. In addition to the lots, there are several inventory homes available for immediate purchase. McNair Custom Homes can build one of their floorplans or work with you to design and build the perfect garden home for your needs. In the coming days, we will be launching a special neighborhood website to help you see more detailed information about the homes and the local area that surrounds this luxury gated neighborhood.

Join Kimberly Howell Properties tomorrow, May 2nd from 11:30AM-1:30PM, at 923 Foxton in The Forest at Stone Oak. This open house luncheon will be an excellent time for you to peruse this former Mann model home. Whether it’s indoor luxury and upgrades or an outdoor oasis with inground pool and spa, you’re certain to find what you’ve been looking for in this home. So stop on by and visit us, bring your buyers, and let’s get this home sold!

The big question.

While the market has been heating up and interest rates have remained low, many people are asking the question; “Am I ready to buy a house?” Buying a home is (obviously) a big decision in anyone’s life and certainly not to be taken lightly. The question is important not just for first time home buyers, but move-up buyers as well. Is now the right time? Have I prepared sufficiently? Is the home of my dreams out there waiting for me? Can we sell this house and buy a new one? So many questions. Hopefully, the following thoughts will help you prepare and decide whether you are ready to buy a house or not.

Ask yourself these questions.

Money, money, money. – The biggest questions, hands down, in determining if you are ready to buy a house are the questions of money. Buying a house takes money. There is no other way. Whether you pay cash or get a loan, you will still need money to buy a home, but there’s more to it than just what you spend at the closing table.

Down payment and closing costs are the big chunks of money you’re going to spend before you even get the keys to your new house. Whether you choose an FHA, VA, or conventional loan, you’re still going to need some cash. Even after you’ve considered the down payment, there are also closing costs. These range from the cost of getting the loan (lender’s fees) to the actual cost of the closing (title companies don’t work for free). Once a home is located and decided on, a much more detailed analysis of closing costs can be done and you can see the numbers and decide if you’re ready to buy this house.

Am I (credit) worthy? – Ahhh, the dreaded credit score. No one likes them. I’ve had people with excellent credit tell me their scores were terrible and I’ve had people with poor credit tell me their scores were amazing. There’s a lot of confusion surrounding credit scores. Your best bet? Sit down with a qualified, local lender (not an online source like LendingTree). They will review your basic finances, run a credit report, and if they can pre-approve you, they will give you a price range you can afford and estimates of what your monthly payment will be.

Many buyers I speak with are worried about visiting multiple lenders as they don’t want their credit score to go down (each credit inquiry in your file negatively impacts your score). In the case of home and car loans, as long as the queries are based in a short amount of time, you do not get penalized for multiple inquiries. You can review your credit report (but not your score) prior to visiting with a lender by visiting AnnualCreditReport. This site (unlike many others) is absolutely free. You can use it every year to keep track of what’s in your credit file. My suggestion is to take one report from one of the credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) once every four months. By rotating who you take the report from, you’ll be able to view your info three times each year. Knowing what’s in your credit report can help you know what needs fixed in advance.

Rent vs. buy. – One of the easiest things you can do if you’re renting and have begun to think about whether or not you’re ready to buy a house is to take a look at your current rent. First, when does your lease expire? If you just signed a new two year extension on your lease, you might want to stay put for awhile. A lease is a legal contract and breaking your lease often has negative monetary consequences. If you’re a few months away from the end of your lease, you might want to start thinking about it. The better you can time the switch, the less problem you will have when you tell our landlord you’re moving.

How much do you pay a month in rent? Do you scrape together each month’s rent by looking under the sofa cushions? Or do you pay it and still have money to save? If your budget is tight with your current rent, the goal of buying a house should be to pay less than you currently do. If the money is good and you’re actually able to save money each month, you might want to think of targeting that area as a monthly payment. Your lender will help you see the difference between rental and home ownership (there are advantages to owning a primary residence such as mortgage interest deductions).

Are you mentally (and financially) prepared for the challenge? – Ask any homeowner about their first home (or their current home) and they will tell you the same thing – “expect the unexpected.” This is why lenders push for “cash reserves” as part of their agreement to loan you the money to buy your house. Other homeowners will tell you of all the things they never thought of before buying a house. Although owning a home can be a lot of fun, it can also be frustrating at times – when your water heater blows in the middle of the night, when your sink or toilet backs up, when the appliances pass their useful life span and simply die on you – no matter what it is, there will be more costs associated with owning a home then you plan out. Being prepared is always a good thing.

“Now is a great time to buy.” – You’ve probably heard this phrase before. I think sometimes we as REALTORS® try to shove this down everyone’s throats, even though the true questions is “Is now a good time to buy for me?” Although there are many excellent factors affecting the potential for a buyer to purchase a home right now, the simple fact remains, that you have to be comfortable with the purchase. Buying a home that you can’t afford or doesn’t suit your needs solves nothing. It will only hurt in the long run if you buy when you’re not ready.

image courtesy of jamuraa