The Woodlands TX real estate inventory of listings in February 2015 is up 197% compared to same period last year. January 2015 written contracts in The Woodlands is down 22% from same period last year. Months of inventory is defined by the National Association of Realtors as current inventory divided by the average number of monthly sales for the previous 12 months. An inventory above six is defined as a buyer’s market; a number below 6 is defined as a seller’s market. Six months is defined as a balanced market. The Woodlands February 2015 real estate months of inventory is 2.5 months. Days on market is defined as number of days from list date to contract date. This category always lags one month since it is based on contract activity. The 44.5 days for the month of January 2015 indica... 02/10/2015

Financing Alden Bridge Woodlands Homes for Sale | What you need to know Buying a new home can be a daunting experience. First-time home buyers are often overwhelmed with new concepts such as financing, credit requirements, fees and costs. Home ownership requires a financial investment as well as a time investment. With these tips, we can help ease your home buying frustrations. Contact The Rock Star Group at (281) 960-1900 to learn more about financing Alden Bridge Woodlands homes for sale. Build a strong credit historyThe most important step in the home purchasing process is building a strong credit history. Knowing your credit background is such as important as finding the perfect home. The strength of your credit history allows you to secure favorable financing rates or qualify for i... 02/06/2015

Selling your home can be the experience of a lifetime, especially if you are selling through Rick Raanes of The Rock Star Group in The Woodlands, TX. There is a nearly overwhelming checklist of things to do before being able to show your Alden Bridge Woodlands Home for Sale, but you have made it through and are ready to throw on the finishing touches for your big open house. One of the biggest things to consider when selling your house and adding the final touches is the smell. The smell that greets potential buyers when they first enter your home can have a detrimental effect on whether or not they become buyers. If your home smells fresh and breezy, it can give buyers the impression of cleanliness and fresh air. Likewise, a home that smells of yesterday’s trash can give buyers a nega... 02/05/2015

Conventional 30 year Mortgage: 3.875% Credit score:740 LTV:80% Loan Amount:$200k APR: 4.19% FHA 30 year:3.875% Credit Score:680 LTV:96.5% loan amount:$200k APR:5.07% Conventional 15 year:3.125% Credit score:740 LTV:80% Loan Amount:$200k APR:3.32%   Rates are Subject to Change Call me today if you are thinking of refinancing or buying a home, for the best mortgage rate possible. 02/04/2015

Best Chinese Restaurants in The Woodlands, Texas The master-planned community of The Woodlands, a part of the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metropolitan area, is a celebrated township of both the state of Texas and the US. While its history may not be well-known to all who enjoy the fine dining establishments, but another celebrated aspect of the US is its history of Chinese cuisine. If you wish to move to The Woodlands, contact The Rock Star Group at (281) 960-1900. Since the California Gold Rush, when immigrant Chinese workers brought their home country’s cuisine from overseas, America has been celebrating and developing its own unique type of Chinese food. The Woodlands is home to some of the best Chinese restaurants in Texas, the top 10 of which are: 1. Atsumi Asian Kitchen & Sus... 02/03/2015

Selling an Alden Bridge Woodlands Homes for Sale with Tenants In most cases, when the landlords want to list their Alden Bridge Woodlands homes for sale, there are tenants. The new buyer will be their new boss. When you want to sell your house with tenants in Alden Bridge Woodlands homes for sale, there are some ways you can use to so as to find a reputable buyer. You have to be careful not to be conned as there are many cases where landlords land on the wrong agents. Below are some of the ways on how to sell a house with tenants in woodlands: If you are interested in selling your Alden Bridge Woodlands homes for sale with tenants, contact The Rock Star Group at (281) 960-1900. Make Use of a Real Estate AgentThis is the best option for most of the landlords. These are the people who are... 01/30/2015

The Rock Star Group Of Keller William Realty The Woodlands Receives Numerous Award Recognitions At Award Ceremony The Rock Star Group is thrilled to have been awarded several real estate awards based on their hard work and dedication to those with real estate needs in The Woodlands, Texas. Last week The Rock Star Group of Keller Williams Realty The Woodlands received many awards based on their real estate work in 2014. This real estate team is thrilled with what they have accomplished in 2014 and the new clients they were able to meet and help with real estate transactions throughout the year. The Rock Star Group was awarded the “#1 Team in Closed GCI” Award, as well as “#4 Team for Closed Units,” “#5 Team for Listing Units,” and “#6 Team Listings by Volume” from their Keller Williams R... 01/30/2015

The Woodlands real estate overall average inventory of listings in January 2015 is up 70% compared to same period last year. December 2015 written contracts in The Woodlands is down 10% from same period last year. Months of inventory is defined by the National Association of Realtors as current inventory divided by the average number of monthly sales for the previous 12 months. A months of inventory above six is defined as a buyer’s market; a number below 6 is defined as a seller’s market. Six months is defined as a balanced market. The Woodlands January 2015 real estate months of inventory is 2.5 months. Days on market is defined as number of days from list date to contract date. This category always lags one month since it is based on contract activity. The 53.5 days for the month of... 01/27/2015

Interior Improvement | Listing Alden Bridge Woodlands Homes for SaleSelling your home in The Woodlands, TX is much easier when the home is ‘staged’ for the sale. Home staging involves preparing the home, both interior and exterior, for showing by improving its appearance. Although it is no secret that The Woodlands offers immaculate homes and superb living, selling a home quickly is dependent upon its appearance. A seller who has taken the time to create an inviting home is the seller who will be able to enhance their experience and ensure that the home is off of the market in no time. Taking a bit of extra time to properly stage the home with the right lighting techniques will attract more interest in the home,  A seller who has taken the time to create an inviting home is the seller w... 01/23/2015

Valentine's Day Events in The WoodlandsForget the flowers and candy, make Valentine’s Day in The Woodlands area of Texas an event of your own. Some couples have traditions, but it is okay to break them and do something different. Get out and experience some of the events and special dining opportunities offered and make this Valentine’s Day a memorable one. There are events for couples, singles and kids available in The Woodlands so that everyone has something special to take part in. Take a Water CruiseRomance on the Water is an event offered on The Woodlands Waterway Cruisers. The evening includes a sunset cruise down the waterway and a multicourse meal. Along with a 2-hour cruise from 5:30 until 7:30 in the evening, each couple receives a bottle of wine on-the-house to enjoy with the... 01/22/2015

Creekside Forest Elementary School is and outstanding school in Creekside park in the Woodlands. For more information on the school and the neighborhood, click here. 01/21/2015

Just wrote a new blog post, click here to go to my blog.   01/21/2015

In Top Agent Magazine’s Texas issue, Rick Raanes is featured on the front page of the magazine issue. This edition of Top Agent Magazine also includes an interview with The Woodlands real estate agent Rick Raanes. The Rock Star Group is thrilled to have Rick Raanes, The Woodlands real estate agent, featured on the front page of Top Agent and an interview included in the magazine’s January issue. The Rock Star Group is hoping to reach more people who need real estate help in The Woodlands area through this magazine issue. In the edition of Top Agent Magazine, Rick Raanes discusses the transition he made from owning an automotive company to becoming a real estate agent. Rick changed careers so that he would have a more flexible schedule and be able to spend more time with his family. Rick... 01/20/2015

Real estate is not an exact science as we all know.  We can run the numbers, market the home superbly, present a beautiful listing and for whatever reason, it doesn't sell as quickly as we would like.  Many times it is simply that the right buyer has yet to come along.   Recently I listed a beautiful Georgian-inspired home on a t 34,000 s.f. lot on the golf course here in The Woodlands.  The home was decorated beautifully and is a very traditional type floor plan.  Gorgeous inside and out!  Alas, no good offers.  A lot of lookers, some really low-ball offers yet no offers that had any substance to them.  (i.e., the old lease-to-purchase with half the paperwork missing, the low-ball offer with a very poorly completed contract, etc.) More on this topic in another post!   My client is one... 01/10/2015

Cottage Grove |Alden Bridge Woodlands Homes for Sale Cottage Grove is a neighborhood located in the Alden Bridge Village. The Alden Bridge Village is located in The Woodlands. The Village of Alden Bridge was established in 1994. Alden Bridge is one of the largest communities within The Woodlands. The zip code for this neighborhood is 77381. Cottage Grove features beautiful, traditional single-family homes. Most of the homes have 2-4 car attached garages. Homes are in the $196,000 - $252,000 price range. This neighborhood has several cul-de-sacs that are sought after because of the added privacy. Cottage Grove homes are one or two-story homes. Lawns are well maintained and landscaped. There are plenty of trees that offer shade and beauty to the neighborhood. Many homes in this neighborho... 01/08/2015

Cottage Green |Alden Bridge Woodlands Homes for Sale Cottage Green is a neighborhood located in the Alden Bridge Village. The Alden Bridge Village is located in The Woodlands. The Village of Alden Bridge was established in 1994. Alden Bridge is one of the largest communities within The Woodlands. The zip code for this neighborhood is 77382. Cottage Green features beautiful, traditional single-family homes. Most of the homes have 2-3 car detached garages or a mix of attached and detached garages. Homes are in the $244,000 - $355,000 price range. Residents in this neighborhood take pride in their homes and their yards. You’ll find that most yards are beautifully landscaped. Residents enjoy being close to the Cottage Green Park. This park has play areas for younger and older children. Ther... 01/08/2015

Alden Bridge Woodlands Homes for Sale | Financing OptionsMany families looking for their next home in Texas consider the master-planned community of The Woodlands, and it's no wonder. It's conveniently located about a half hour north of Houston, which is close enough for an easy commute and far enough for a serene atmosphere in which to raise a family. The Woodlands is made up of several villages of homes, and Alden Bridge is among the largest. Before you start looking for Alden Bridge Woodlands homes for sale, learn a little more about this area and your financing options for your new house. Alden BridgeLocated on the northern edge of The Woodlands, the Village of Alden Bridge is one of the biggest and newest areas. Not only are there plenty of Alden Bridge Woodlands homes for sale for... 01/08/2015

  Things to do in The Woodlands, Texas | Romantic date night ideas in The Woodlands for Valentines DayWhen romance is swirling around in The Woodlands, Texas,  you’re fortunate enough to be in the perfect place to get caught up in all the love. With no shortage of top-notch venues, there are countless options for celebrating your relationship. There’s no need for you to scramble for lovely activities to make your special someone swoon because it's all here at your fingertips! Here are eight romantic date night ideas in The Woodlands that you can use to kick that loving feeling into overdrive. If you are interested in moving to The Woodlands, Texas, contact The Rock Star Group at (281) 960-1900. The Woodlands Resort and Conference CenterThis expansive resort on has everything a couple ne... 01/08/2015

Rick Raanes of The Rock Star Group has just listed another home in The Woodlands, Texas. The Rock Star Group is thrilled to be able to help another Woodlands resident sell their home. This home in The Woodlands for sale is located on West Montfair Boulevard in the zip code region of 77382. This home has been listed on January 2nd for $369,000; this home is priced at $160 per square foot. The Rock Star in real estate, Rick Raanes, expects this model home to have a quick sale. The home in The Woodlands for sale by The Rock Star Group was built in 2007. This home measures at 2,310 square feet with a lot size of 5,626 square feet. This home has 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. This home has a 2 car detached garage.This home for sale in The Woodlands has a pool in the backyard. This home is loc... 01/08/2015

  118 West Montfair Blvd The Woodlands  3 Bedroom 2.5 Bath         The Rock Star Group Rick Raanes 281-960-1900   118 West Montfair Blvd The Woodlands, TX 77382 Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms : 3 ( 2 full, 1 half ) List Price: $369,000   Living Area Approx : 2310    Contact the listing agent Rick Raanes with The Rock Star Group, at 281-960-1900 or email at rick@rickraanes.com to get more information or to schedule a showing or to find out more about 118 West Montfair Blvd.   Former David Weekley Model! 118 West Montfair Blvd has a Private Study w/built ins & formal Dining Room w/custom carpentry. Beautiful kitchen w/granite/large island/upgraded cabinets & breakfast bar in Kitchen. Master has dbl sinks & custom walk-in closet. Game Room, 2 bedrooms & full bath on 2nd floor. Covered front & back... 01/07/2015