Continue reading »]]> This home has it all 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths exemplary schools, fine shopping & restaurants all w/in this community. This home is over 2300 & has a room for everyone. Island kitchen w/ breakfast nook, formal dining, fireplace in living room, downstairs master suite, 3 bedrooms up & a game room. Establish neighborhood w/mature trees, community parks and easy access to 281. Ceramic tile, dual vanities in both baths, vaulted ceilings, craftsman molding & chair rails. Covered deck for weekend BBQ’s. All for around $1,350 per mo. (approximate estimate, speak to lender for details)

Continue reading »]]> Summer Greetings! I’m sure by now I’m starting to sound like a broken record that says “San Antonio Market is Good”. Well is that such a bad song to hear as long as it’s true? It still is. Our August housing report has more good things to report.  While it’s true we are not breaking any records in our property value appreciation the name of the game in SA is steady wins the race. I like this graph from the National Association of Realtors that really outlines the steady trend we’ve followed all along.


San Antonio current average home price $152,400 compared to the US average of $171,560.
San Antonio first quarter 2011 value appreciation 2.8% compared to the US average of -2.9%

Foreclosures – San Antonio markets reported 1.11% foreclosure rate compared to the national average of 3.26%. The foreclosure inventory will likely continue for some time as many of the banks are slowing down foreclosure proceedings to balance their books, this is a trend we will likely see for a while. Foreclosures offer unique buying opportunities not otherwise found in “normal” market conditions. Affordable housing, loans that allow for rehabilitation construction as part of the purchase and of course our record low interest rates.

Now is a great time to buy – affordable rates mean more home for your dollar and fully assumable loans. My projection for the future here is that rates will eventually go up and when they do if you bought during a low interest time and have a fully assumable mortgage that adds incentive for a new buyer to purchase the home with the assumable low interest rate.

Now is the time to refinance – If you’re thinking of refinancing your home, now is an excellent time to lower your rate. Call or email me today for a referral on a great rate.

For more useful information about Texas housing trends click the link below or contact me directly at meghanrealtor@gmail.com or 210-232-3666 http://meghanrealtor.housingtrendsenewsletter.com

Continue reading »]]>

Veteran Grants

$5,000 Down Payment & Closing Costs Assistance Funds Available to Most DOD Personnel.

According to Realtor.org active duty personnel, veterans, retired members of the military, and employees of the U.S. Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security are eligible to apply for up to $5,000 in down payment and closing costs in the purchase of a first home. The national nonprofit Pentagon Federal Credit Union Foundation is offering the assistance through its Dream Makers program and says the grants can be applied to a mortgage from any financial institution. More information is at www. pentagonfoundation.org. Click on the “Dream Makers” link. Then contact me to go house hunting!

Continue reading »]]>

Welcome Home

Affordability is still the name of the game in San Antonio. Why do people love San Antonio so much? It’s a comfortable place to live point blank. It’s infrastructure makes in convenient to get to most any part of the city in a timely manor. The sunny days are long and frequent as are the sunny personalities of the San Antonio residents. The cost of living makes San Antonio an ideal place to call home. With fuel prices almost always well below national averages and median home prices at $148,500 compared to the US average of $157,933 we have it made here. Real estate remains a long-term investment: those who have owned for more than 3 years have seen the equity in their home grow.
Employment has held up and is on an upward trend. Unemployment has risen since the same period last year, but San Antonio’s labor market has been more resilient than the national average. Making local employment growth is strong compared to other markets. To learn more visit my housing trends

Continue reading »]]>

San Antonio

I can’t think of a day that’s gone by where someone asked me “how’s the market”? Sometimes it seems like they’re surprised to hear my answer but our market is very good. Just look at how San Antonio is doing compared to the the US average:

• Current Median Home Price (2010 Q4) San Antonio $153,900 vs. US $169,800

• 1-year (4-quarter) Appreciation (2010 Q4) San Antonio 7.0% vs. US -0.6%

• 3-year (12-quarter) Housing Equity Gain San Antonio San Antonio $2,200.00 vs. US -$37,767

Stats show that most of our mortgages are government back loans. In San Antonio the maximum loan amount for an FHA loan is $332,500. With an average sales price at $153,900 that means there are a lot of great opportunities to be had for as little as 3.5% down payment. As a community we also value our military and their families. If you know someone that could benefit from more information about their entitled benefits with respect to mortgages and housing I’m just a phone call away 210-232-3666 or email me at meghanrealtor@gmail.com

Continue reading »]]>

Parkwood community offers excellent schools, optional amenities, mature trees, great neighbors and is located near Bandera Rd. & inside loop 1604. This move in ready home has bedrooms as big as Texas, it’s 2,372 sq. has 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, formal living & dining, family room, game room, eat in island kitchen and several walk in closets. This. Pulte home was built in 2001. Original owners have meticulously maintained the property and it shows. Instant privacy with no back neighbors the landscaping is effortlessly beautiful & exterior hardi plank siding (4sides masonry) was recently painted. There’s also new flooring in the master bath, a new built in microwave and has been pre-inspected before putting it on the market. Ask your Realtor to schedule a showing today. No Realtor? I’m here to help. Click on listing details for more information & photos.

Continue reading »]]> The state of Texas offers wonderful benefits to their veterans that only 5 other states offer.The Veterans Land Board offers the best state veterans benefits in America, and at virtually no cost to Texas taxpayers. Created by the Legislature in 1946, the VLB funds low-interest home loans of up to $325,000, as well as land loans up to $80,000 and $25,000 home improvement loans. There are also programs available for disabled veterans to make modifications to their homes to better serve their needs.

Veterans of Texas are also entitled to:

Special Low – Interest Loans for home, land & and home improvment projects. All of which they can use simotaniously if they qualify. They are also entitled to Clean, caring and affordable long term care for themselves and their spouses with 7 locations across Texas.Texas state veterans also have benefits in veteran cemeteries for them and their spouse.

For more information call me 210-232-3666  or visit beproudtexas.com or call 1-800-252-VETS (8387)

Have you thanked a veteran for their service today?

Continue reading »]]> Recently I received an email which I’ve re-posted below that doesn’t tell the whole story. The email states that people who sell their home after 2013 will be subject to a 3.8% tax. While it is true that there is a tax that will be imposed on real estate sales in 2013 it’s important to note the following. The parties that will be taxed on the sale of a home in after 2013 only applies to those with incomes over $200,000 a year ($250,000 for married couples filing jointly) will be subject to it. And even for those who have such incomes, the tax still won’t apply to the first $250,000 on profits from the sale of a personal residence — or to the first $500,000 in the case of a married couple selling their home. So if you don’t make more than that annually and you don’t turn a profit of more then $250,000 (single) $500,000 (married couples) then you don’t need to worry about the tax.

Re-posted Email:

Did you know that if you sell your house after 2012 you will pay a 3.8% sales tax on it? That’s $3,800 on a $100,000 home etc. When did this happen? It’s in the health care bill. Just thought you should know.

SALES TAX TO GO INTO EFFECT 2013 (Part of HC Bill)

REAL ESTATE SALES TAX

So, this is “change you can believe in”?

Under the new health care bill – did you know that all real estate transactions will be subject to a 3.8% Sales Tax?  The bulk of these new taxes don’t kick in until 2013 If you sell your $400,000 home, there will be a $15,200 tax. This bill is set to screw the retiring generation who often downsize their homes. Does this stuff make your November and 2012 vote more important?

Oh, you weren’t aware this was in the Obamacare Bill? Guess what, you aren’t alone. There are more than a few members of Congress that aren’t aware of it either

http://www.gop.gov/blog/10/04/08/obamacare-flatlines-obamacare-taxes-home

Why am I sending you this?  The same reason I hope you forward this to every single person in your address book because you can make a difference