Shirley's San Antonio Real Estate Blog: October 2009

San Antonio homes for sale ~ Deerfield ~ 78248

San Antonio Homes ~ Deerfield ~ 78248

Deerfield is a well-established neighborhood located inside Loop 1604 off Huebner and Bitters.  Here you will find homes with mature trees with easy access to shopping, restaurants, entertainment, and great schools.  There is a community center in the neighborhood with a pool, tennis, and park.  Deerfield is convenient to the South Texas Medical Center, Stone Oak, Valero Energy, and USAA. 

There are currently 22 single family detached homes for sale in Deerfield.  To see any of these homes, give me a call at 210-414-0966.

 

        

 

 

                    

SRES DEswg w tag

As an SRES® designee, I have received additional education on such topics as tax laws, probate, estate planning, equity conversion strategies, and can offer you information on current market trends as well as valuable resources regarding real estate transactions.


2 comments • Shirley Parks, REALTOR® - SRES • October 28 2009 04:32PM

HVCC Update

Via Larry Bettag - Cherry Creek Mortgage:

HVCC Update.  The petition that has been going around seems to have finally made its way to congressional leaders.  The House Financial Services Committee has been receiving lots of noise as to the negative affects that this law is having on the consumer.  More importantly, the representatives are hearing the nightmare stories that have come along with it.  Stories include shoddy appraisers being allowed to "get back in the mix" even though companies have blacklisted them.  Appraisers from Illinois going to Milwaukee to appraise properties where they have no knowledge of the local markets.  Four bedroom homes being appraised as two bedroom homes, etc. 

It's ridiculous if you ask me.  Here's the petition as it came to me. 

If you haven't done so yet, please sign the petition below.  Here's the text as it was forwarded to me yesterday.  Just read the first sentence.  That's enough to peak your interest alone.   

We have HVCC on the ropes so we need your help more than ever!
 
On Wednesday, October 21st, the National Association of Mortgage Brokers used this petition hvccpetition.com to help convince the House Financial Services Committee to pass an amendment that will finally put an end the mess that HVCC has been making of the real estate and lending industries.  More than the 102,000 signatures on the petition, it was the pace at which the petition is growing and the HVCC horror stories signers included with their electronic signatures.  Now more than ever we need everyone to rally behind this cause to make absolutely certain it continues to gain the momentum necessary to make it through the House and Senate votes that are forthcoming.  Please, please, Please, sign this petition if you haven't done so already and more importantly, send it to everyone you know in any sector of the real estate and lending industry as well as to all the current, past and future clients in your database.  The new petition website makes it abundantly clear how all homeowners are losing equity and being harmed directly by HVCC as well as how it is blocking any chance at the real estate recovery our economy needs so desperately.  Everyone you send to hvccpetition.com will be indebted to you for looking out for their best interest.  We won the first of three battles which is more than anybody thought could happen and if we get serious and rally together now for one last massive push we should be able to put HVCC behind us forever.  Thank you for your time, effort and support.
 
Click here to see our interview with the president of NAMB  thinkbigworksmall.com/mypage/player/tbws/19036/-4592   
 
hvccpetition.com
 
 
Frank Garay and Brian Stevens
Co-Hosts of the TBWSDaily.com real estate news program  tbwsdaily.com
"Concerned advocates for a better real estate industry"

Larry Bettag - Regional Vice President, Midwest Region

Illinois FHA Specialist

630-417-7172

 Cherry Creek Mortgage Company - Saint Charles, Illinois 

               Equal Housing Logo

An Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee

 

        

 

 

                    

SRES DEswg w tag

As an SRES® designee, I have received additional education on such topics as tax laws, probate, estate planning, equity conversion strategies, and can offer you information on current market trends as well as valuable resources regarding real estate transactions.


5 comments • Shirley Parks, REALTOR® - SRES • October 27 2009 02:07PM

Halloween Costumes and Candy

Halloween Costumes and Candy ~ What kind of candy do you hand out?  Do you wear a costume?

Each year our neighborhood has lots of trick-or-treaters on Halloween night and I enjoy handing out candy almost as much as the kids enjoy getting it.  The scary masks my husband and I put on are always quickly removed since the little kids are easily frightened.  Maybe this year I will buy something friendlier to wear. 

I decided to hand out mini M&Ms this year since I end up treating myself to the mini Snickers bars that I traditionally hand out.  Actually, I also like M&Ms or any chocolate candy.

The most popular Halloween costumes this year are:

  • Michael Jackson
  • (Harry Potter) Gryffindor
  • The Vampire
  • Miley Cyrus
  • Star Trek
  • Zombie
  • GI Joe Ninja
  • Hermione Granger

(About.com)

  

I find this kind of hard to believe but who knows...

From the www.hersheys.com website:  "To help trick-or-treaters map their routes this Halloween, Hershey conducted a national survey to find out which houses were handing out their favorite Hershey treats. Following are some "tricks" to increase the odds of receiving desired "treats":

  • Houses with black shutters are 77 percent more likely to hand out Kit Kat Wafer Bars and trick-or-treaters have a 37 percent greater chance of scaring up a Kit Kat Wafer Bar from a ranch house.
  • Reese's Peanut Butter Cup lovers should forego ranch houses and opt instead to ring the bell of two-story houses where they'll have a 26 percent greater chance of receiving the perfect combination of chocolate and peanut butter.
  • Knock on brown doors if seeking Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bars. Trick-or-treaters have a 32 percent greater chance of receiving a Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar from homes with brown doors."

Check Out ClipartJungle.com for free clipart!

        

 

 

                    

SRES DEswg w tag

As an SRES® designee, I have received additional education on such topics as tax laws, probate, estate planning, equity conversion strategies, and can offer you information on current market trends as well as valuable resources regarding real estate transactions.


5 comments • Shirley Parks, REALTOR® - SRES • October 27 2009 10:44AM

Extending the First Time Home Buyers Credit for Military Families

Via Cindy Jones-Northern Virginia Real Estate & Military Relocation Services (RE/MAX Allegiance #1 RE/MAX Company in the World):

Extending the First Time Tax Credit for Military FamiliesThe US House of Representatives overwhelming voted to extend the first time home buyers credit for an additional 12 months to anyone in the military who has served overseas for three months in 2009.  In a vote of 416 to zero the bill now has to go the US Senate and the President for final approval.

This extension could give up to 350,000 military families currently deployed overseas unitl November 2010 to take advantage of the current tax credit.  In addition the IRS "recapture" rules will be waived for any service member who is deployed and must sell or rent their home. 

Known as the Service Members Home Owners Tax Act this bill also contains the provision to waive the income tax liability currently in the expanded Department of Defense Homeowners Assistance Program.  

The next step for this bill (HR 3590) is for the Senate Finance Committee to review the bill and hopefully move it to a vote in the full Senate.

This seems to be one time that the US Congress, Senate and President should be able to agree.  Extending the tax credit for our military is the right thing to do no matter what your political beliefs.

        

 

 

                    

SRES DEswg w tag

As an SRES® designee, I have received additional education on such topics as tax laws, probate, estate planning, equity conversion strategies, and can offer you information on current market trends as well as valuable resources regarding real estate transactions.


7 comments • Shirley Parks, REALTOR® - SRES • October 13 2009 11:38AM

Is this the future of mortgage closings?

Paperless home mortgage closings have arrived.  Is this the future of closings?

Alamo Premier Mortgage Group is the first San Antonio lender to offer 100% paperless home mortgage closings.

Using the eClose system, loan documents can be reviewed online and signed using a digital pad.  The system is designed to streamline the closing process and reduce the amount of time spent at the title company.  

The process is simple.  The parties to the transaction receive an email copy of all the documents, and the attorney's office that prepared the documents calls and goes over the numbers to make sure the information is what was expected.  Alamo Premier Mortgage says "the process takes less than 10 minutes versus 90 minutes under the old title company closing." With eClose the loan can be closed at the mortgage company or a notary can go to your home or place of employment. This is especially convenient for transactions that involve buyers or sellers who may be living in a different area of the country. 

Is this the future of mortgage closings?  

 

graphic: Alamo Premier Mortgage

 

 

        

 

 

                    

SRES DEswg w tag

As an SRES® designee, I have received additional education on such topics as tax laws, probate, estate planning, equity conversion strategies, and can offer you information on current market trends as well as valuable resources regarding real estate transactions.


14 comments • Shirley Parks, REALTOR® - SRES • October 10 2009 12:26PM

The Shape of Texas ~ Listen & Learn

The Shape of Texas ~ Listen and Learn

The Shape of Texas is a radio program that is broadcast through NPR-affiliated stations.  It provides vividly descriptive information about contemporary and historical architecture and places in our state which defines the culture and heritage of Texas. The program seeks to lead listeners to look at our "built environment" with a "fresh and knowing eye."  I listened to several of the tracks today and learned a lot that I previously didn't know, adding to my appreciation of my home state.

The online archive includes mp3 audio of Volumes 1 thru 467 as well as photographs for selected episodes. To listen to episodes click here, Episode Index, for a list of The Shape of Texas tracks.  Enjoy!

www.texasarchitect.org

 

 

 

        

 

 

                    

SRES DEswg w tag

As an SRES® designee, I have received additional education on such topics as tax laws, probate, estate planning, equity conversion strategies, and can offer you information on current market trends as well as valuable resources regarding real estate transactions.


10 comments • Shirley Parks, REALTOR® - SRES • October 06 2009 03:23PM