Richmond Texas Real Estate Market Trend July 2022 compare to July 2017 Five (5) years ago!   Click here on link below to view Houses / Homes For Sale in CITY today!www.ftbendhomesearch.com  Click here on link below to discover your House / Home's Market Value!www.ftbendhomesearch.com    09/05/2022

Tips for Adding Your First A/CThe weather is heating up, and so is your house. In many areas, this summer may be yet another record-breaker, and the thought of adding an air conditioner to your climate control system has probably crossed your mind more than once. But how do you get started with such an undertaking? What should you keep in mind as you shop for a system?Your FIrst Air Conditioner: You Have Options Before you even start to look around at systems, it’s important to understand your options. Until recently, the most popular home system was a unit that integrated with your central heating system. These air conditioners use an outside condenser to cool fluid that moves through a copper tubing system, and move it back into an air handler, so the air passing over the copper coils... 07/20/2022

Housing Experts Say This Isn't a BubbleWith so much talk about an economic slowdown, some people are asking if the housing market is heading for a crash like the one in 2008. To really understand what’s happening with real estate today, it’s important to lean on the experts for reliable information.Here’s why economists and industry experts say the housing market is not a bubble ready to pop.Today Is Nothing Like 2008The 2008 housing crash is still fresh in the minds of many homebuyers and sellers. But todays market is different. Odeta Kushi, Deputy Chief Economist at First American, says:“This is not the same market of 2008. . . . It’s no secret the housing market played a central role in the Great Recession, but this market is just fundamentally different in so many ways.”Natalie Camp... 07/18/2022

Installing a Pool? Tell Your Insurance!Swimming pools can be a lot of fun. They give you a way to cool off during the summer, have fun with friends and family, and even get some low-impact exercise that feels more like play than work. Unfortunately, they can also be a hazard if you aren’t careful around them. As a result, your homeowner’s insurance company is going to want to know about that pool, since it creates a new point of liability.If your home already had a pool when you bought it, your insurance company would have wanted to know about it when you first took out the policy. If you’re installing a new pool, you’re still going to have to tell them, and they’ll adjust your rate accordingly. Let’s take a look at pools and insurance to give you a better idea of how your insurance com... 07/17/2022

Is Homeownership Still the American Dream?Defining the American dream is personal, and no one individual will have the same definition as another. But the feelings it brings about success, freedom, and a sense of prosperity are universal. Thats why, for many people, homeownership remains a key part of the American dream. Your home is your stake in the community, a strong financial investment, and an achievement to be proud of.A recent survey from Bankrate asked respondents to rank achievements as indicators of financial success, and the responses prove that owning a home is still important to so many Americans today (see graph below):As the graph shows, homeownership ranks above other significant milestones, including retirement, having a successful career, and earning a college degree.... 07/15/2022

How Your Equity Can Grow over TimeIt's true that record levels of home price appreciation have spurred significant equity gains for homeowners over the past few years. As Diana Olick, Real Estate Correspondent at CNBC,says:The stunning jump in home values over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic has given U.S. homeowners record amounts of housing wealth.Thats great for your homes value over the last couple of years, but what if you've lived in your home for longer than that? You may be wondering how much equity you truly have.The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has done a study to calculate the typical equity gains over longer spans of time. The data they compiled could be enough to motivate you to move. Just remember, to find out how much equity you have in your specific home, y... 07/14/2022

Do Plants Help Sell a Home?When you’re looking to sell your house, there are a lot of little things that you can do to increase the likelihood that some prospective buyer is going to make an offer. Many of the tips you’ll find to improve your home’s appeal focus on things inside the house, ranging from paint colors to furniture and a variety of other little tweaks. There is something else that you can do to improve the appeal of your home that’s often overlooked, though: add some plants.A lot of people don’t put much thought into the plants around their home when prepping for a sale, and this can be a big missed opportunity. From fixing up your lawn and garden to adding splashes of greenery indoors, there are several ways that you can leverage plants to help sell your home when the time... 07/10/2022

Two Reasons Why Todays Housing Market Isn't a BubbleYou may be reading headlines and hearing talk about a potential housing bubble or a crash, but its important to understand that the data and expert opinions tell a different story. A recent survey from Pulsenomics asked over one hundred housing market experts and real estate economists if they believe the housing market is in a bubble. The results indicate most experts don't think that's the case (see graph below):As the graph shows, a strong majority (60%) said the real estate market is not currently in a bubble. In the same survey, experts give the following reasons why this isn't like 2008: The recent growth in home prices is because of demographics and low inventory Credit risks are low because underwriting and lending standards ar... 07/08/2022

Choosing a Studio ShedThe idea of the “she-shed” has come and gone, and left behind a whole new understanding of how sheds can be used to add extra space to a property that could stand more room to move. With the rise of work-at-home jobs, a home that’s already stuffed full of life can be made even more useful for work or play with the addition of a studio shed.What’s a Studio Shed? A studio shed is just that: a shed that offers workspace that’s just as safe, secure, and dry as any indoor room in your home. People use them for a range of applications, from arts and crafts spaces to outdoor reading rooms, and even work-from-home spaces. After all, there’s nothing as satisfying as closing the door on your work and walking away from it for the night. It sure beats staring at piles of work ... 07/07/2022

New to Gardening? Tips for Success!Having a garden is a great way to enjoy the outdoors while also getting some delicious fresh-grown fruits and vegetables for your meals. The thing is, if you’ve never maintained a garden before then you might not realize just how much work goes into it as well. You need to consider the type of soil you have, the amount of sunlight your plants receive, how often different plants need water… you even have to think about what sort of things to plant and when to plant them! For newcomers to gardening, it can be pretty overwhelming.That doesn’t mean that it’s not worth doing, of course. You just need to be sure to garden smarter, not harder. A lot of work goes into a successful garden, and a decent portion of that work involves figuring out how to maintain ... 06/26/2022

How Homeownership Can Help Shield You from InflationIf you're following along with the news today, you've likely heard about rising inflation. You're also likely feeling the impact in your day-to-day life as prices go up for gas, groceries, and more. These rising consumer costs can put a pinch on your wallet and make you re-evaluate any big purchases you have planned to ensure they're still worthwhile.If you've been thinking about purchasing a home this year, you're probably wondering if you should continue down that path or if it makes more sense to wait. While the answer depends on your situation, here's how homeownership can help you combat the rising costs that come with inflation.Homeownership Offers Stability and SecurityInvestopedia explains that during a period of high inflation... 05/05/2022

Should I Skip a Home Inspection?When buying a new home, there’s a lot more that goes into the process than just signing some forms and picking up the keys. One of the big steps that you’ll typically take is getting a home inspection to identify any potential issues with the property. While this is common, most of the time it’s not actually required; while lenders will generally insist on an appraisal of the home, this isn’t a full inspection. So does that mean you can skip getting an actual home inspection as a part of the home-buying process?Technically, yes. Unless you live in an area where home inspections are legally required, you don’t have to get a home inspection before purchase. Should you skip a home inspection? Absolutely not. Having your home inspected serves a much greater p... 05/01/2022

Give Your Curb Appeal a Boost Before You Sell Some Highlights If you're thinking about selling your house this season, focusing on a few quick and easy updates outside can help your home look its best. 78% of real estate agents polled say poor landscaping affects property values. As a seller, that means your yard could impact your bottom line. When getting your house ready to sell, lets connect to discuss what you should do to make sure your house shows well and catches the eyes of more potential buyers.     04/30/2022

Why Pre-Approval Is an Important Step for Todays HomebuyersBeing intentional and competitive are musts when buying a home this season. Thats why pre-approval is so important today. Pre-approval from a lender is the only way to know your true price range and how much money you can borrow for your loan. Peter Warden, Editor of The Mortgage Reports, explains:The lender will check out your personal finances and issue you a letter confirming the amount you're eligible to borrow. This not only gives you a firm budget for house hunting, but also lets sellers know you're qualified to make an offer.Why does that matter so much today? There are many more buyers looking for homes today than there are homes available for sale, and that's creating some serious competition. According to the National ... 04/27/2022

Myths About Todays Housing Market Some Highlights If you're planning to buy or sell a home today, its important to be aware of common misconceptions. Whether its timing your purchase as a buyer based on home prices and mortgage rates or knowing what to upgrade or repair before listing your house as a seller, it takes a professional to guide you through those decisions. Lets connect so you have an expert to help separate fact from fiction in todays housing market.     04/23/2022

Using Your Tax Refund To Achieve Your Homeownership Goals This YearIf you're buying or selling a home this year, you're likely saving up for a variety of expenses. For buyers, that might include things like your down payment and closing costs. And for sellers, you're probably working on a bit of spring cleaning and maintenance to spruce up your house before you list it.Either way, any money you get back from your taxes can help you achieve your goals. Using a tax refund is a common tactic for buyers and sellers. SmartAsset estimates the average American will receive a 2,897 tax refund this year. The map below provides a more detailed estimate by state:If youre getting a refund this year, here are a few tips to help with your home purchase or sale this season.How Buyers Can Use Their Tax... 04/22/2022

Why a Real Estate Professional Is Key When Selling Your HouseWith todays real estate market moving as fast as it is, working with a real estate professional is more essential than ever. They have the skills, experience, and expertise it takes to navigate the highly detailed and involved process of selling a home. That may be why the percentage of people who list their houses on their own, known as a FSBO or For Sale By Owner, has reached its lowest point since 1985 (see graph below): Here are five reasons why selling with a real estate professional makes more sense, even in todays hot market: 1. They Know What Buyers Want To SeeBefore you decide which projects and repairs to take on, connect with a real estate professional. They have first-hand experience with todays buyers, what they e... 04/21/2022

Where Are Mortgage Rates Headed?There's never been a truer statement regarding forecasting mortgage rates than the one offered last year by Mark Fleming, Chief Economist at First American:You know, the fallacy of economic forecasting is: Don’t ever try and forecast interest rates and or, more specifically, if you’re a real estate economist mortgage rates, because you will always invariably be wrong.Coming into this year, most experts projected mortgage rates would gradually increase and end 2022 in the high three-percent range. Its only April, and rates have already blown past those numbers. Freddie Mac announced last week that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is already at 4.72%.Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at realtor.com, tweeted on March 31:Continuing on the recent trajectory, would... 04/19/2022

Wood Isn’t Your Only Option: Building Materials Outside the BoxWhether you’re adding a shed to your property, expanding with a new room, or building an entire house, the cost of lumber is likely going to affect your plans. Though not quite as high as it peaked early in the pandemic, buying lumber in any quantity still isn’t exactly what one would call a cheap endeavor. There may be a bright side to all of this, however; the high cost of lumber is highlighting the fact that there are actually a few alternatives to wood out there that you might not have thought of.This doesn’t mean that you can completely avoid the use of wood in every project, of course. Some projects work better with alternative materials than others. Still, the fact that there are options out there other than just usin... 04/17/2022

What Is Multigenerational Housing?Some Highlights If you have additional loved ones coming to live with you but don't have enough space, it may be time to consider a larger, multigenerational home. Some key benefits of multigenerational living include a combined homebuying budget, shared caregiving duties, enhanced relationships, and more. These benefits might be why more people are choosing to live in multigenerational homes today. Lets connect so you can find a house that meets your changing needs and has plenty of space for you and your loved ones.      04/16/2022