Rice Military/Washington Corridor

Rice Military/Washington Corridor

The Rice Military/Washington Corridor area of Houston is marked by its incredible convenience to a multitude of establishments.  Bordered by I-10 on the north and  Memorial Drive on the south, Rice Military stretches from Washington Ave/Westcott St on the west to Shepherd on the east. East of Shepherd, stretching to Sawyer Street, lies the Washington Ave corridor.  Together, this stretch of Houston offers extensive dining, nightlife and shopping options in a highly walkable neighborhood.  And with easy access to both Memorial Park and downtown Houston, Rice Military/Washington Corridor offers residents the convince of a quick commute and world-class park system in just a few short minutes.  

Oak Forest East Area

Oak Forest East Area

Oak Forest was established in 1947 by Oak Forest Realty Corporation, owned by Frank Sharp, a developer who would later establish Sharpstown. Oak Forest Realty Corporation built houses only in Section 1 (Golf Dr to Oak Forest Dr, and Du Barry Ln to W 43rd St). Sharp would later develop the neighborhood for 17 additional sections by building streets and installing utility lines, but left the home construction to other contractors.  As you might expect, the majority of the original Oak Forest area construction is dominated by traditional ranch style homes.

 

Deleting the Survey Exception

Deleting the Survey Exception

HERE'S A HOME BUYING RIDDLE FOR YOU: WHEN IS DELETING REALLY ADDING?  

The answer: when you delete the survey exception on a Texas Title insurance policy. 

What?!?!? Don't worry. You're not the only one who is confused.  As with so much of the specific language in in the updated versions of Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) Contracts, it can be hard to understand the implications of industry jargon if you are unfamiliar.  Let's start by defining a few key terms:

Budgeting for a New Home

Budgeting for a New Home

If you've recently started the search for a new home you know how easy it is to jump on a search site like HAR.com and narrow results by price.  And while searching may seem simple, budgeting for a new home is waaayyy more complicated. The purchase price of a home is not the only cos - it's only the start.  

So how are you suppose to figure out how much house you can afford? You'll need to look at two primary factors: cash on hand and monthly budget. Let's dive into the numbers:

Mediation Q&A

Mediation Q&A

In 2014 the Texas Real Estate Commission made some significant changes to its contracts. Now, if a contract-related issue can't be solved through informal discussion, you must go through mediation before anyone files a lawsuit.  Okay, your avoiding attorneys and courts.  That sounds okay on the surface, but what about the particulars.  Here are some commonly asked questions and answers, courtesy of the Texas Association of Realtors

Let's Get Real: Buying a Home in Today's Market

Let's Get Real: Buying a Home in Today's Market

Addicted to HGTV? You're not alone. But buying a home in a reality show and buying a home in real life are two very different things. So if you're entering the home buying process with ideas of seeing three great options, narrowing it down to one and then - voila! - being happily moved in.... well, let's just say you've got another thing coming.  

Smoke 'em if you got 'em. Unless the landlord says "no way!"

My application to rent a house was denied because I’m a smoker. Doesn’t that violate fair-housing laws?

Not so much. If the landlord consistently says "no way" to smokers, he can refuse to lease to you. Federal fair-housing laws are not, surprisingly, to protect your right to burn carcinogens wherever you please. They're about making it illegal to deny people housing base of their race, color, sex, national origin, religion, handicap or familial status. 

Want to know more about fair housing laws? Check this out.

Life's not fair. But real estate is. Mostly.

Life's not fair. But real estate is. Mostly.

When it comes to fair-housing laws, you can pretty much rest assured that discrimination doesn't serve as an obstacle to your housing choices. Specifically, fair housing laws prohibit someone  from discriminating against you in the sale, rental or financing of housing based on your race, color, national origin, religion, sex, handicap or familiar status.