February sales of single-family homes in Houston totaled 3,257, down 2.2 percent from February 2010. This follows January’s 7.8 percent (corrected) increase in single-family home sales—the first increase in seven months.

Broken out by segment, February sales of homes priced below $80,000 climbed 19.7 percent; sales of homes in the $80,000-$150,000 range dropped 16.0 percent; sales of homes between $150,000 and $250,000 declined 3.4 percent; sales of homes ranging from $250,000-$500,000 rose 10.7 percent; and sales of homes that make up the luxury market—priced from $500,000 and up—surged 28.4 percent.

Both the average and median prices of single-family homes achieved the highest levels ever for a February in Houston. The average price of single-family homes in February was $214,039, up 6.6 percent compared to one year earlier. At $151,900, the median sales price for single-family homes rose 3.9 percent versus February 2010. The national single-family median price reported by NAR is $159,400, illustrating the continued higher value and lower cost of living available to consumers in Houston.

HAR also breaks out the sales performance of existing single-family homes throughout the Houston market. In February 2011, existing home sales totaled 2,734, a 2.0 percent increase from February 2010. The average sales price rose 5.3 percent to $197,838 compared to last year and the median sales price of $139,700 increased 3.5 percent.

The number of townhouses and condominiums that sold in February slid 5.3 percent compared to one year earlier. In the greater Houston area, 306 units were sold last month versus 323 properties in February 2010.

The average price was flat at $158,795 from February 2010 to February 2011. The median price of a townhouse/condominium declined 7.8 percent to $118,000.

Demand for single-family home rentals soared 20.0 percent in February compared to one year earlier. Year-over-year townhouse/condominium rentals increased 15.9 percent.

Centrally located next to downtown and between three of the largest freeways in Houston, Midtown Houston is a great place for professionals and students. Midtown’s Official Website describes the area as a “pedestrian-oriented urban community uniquely positioned in the heart of the city.”

Life and Work in Midtown, Houston. Getting to and from work in Midtown is a breeze. The area hosts three Metro stations and includes the Metro Lightrail line on Main Street with three stops, so public transportation can be used rather than the resident’s own vehicle. However, easy access to every major freeway in Houston via SH 288, I-45, or US 59 make commuting almost anywhere easy. Midtown is a few minutes from Downtown Houston and the Medical Center, so jobs abound. Midtown also has the feel, look, and convenience of downtown Houston with a bit less traffic and more two way streets, so getting to work is simple. Professionals find Midtown appealing because of its central location and convenient access to major business centers such as these.

Housing Options in Midtown. Midtown is home to some of the most modern and convenient home sites in Houston. The majority of Midtown housing is made of apartments, townhomes, and condominiums. The aesthetics of Midtown homes vary greatly. Townhomes and condominiums are found in small and medium sized complexes, some made of classic brick, others of timeless stone, and many of modern stucco of all styles and colors. Homes often are built upward and laid in rows in Midtown, and they are made with space efficiency in mind.  A popular building style is to stack the home on top of a one or two car garage. Midtown is also known for its urban lofts, which are covered with industrial metal on the outside and feature matching metal finishes on the inside. These lofts look unique and most often are seen in red, gray, and blue.

Going to School? Live in Midtown! Midtown, Houston is just a few miles away from five major universities and colleges in Houston, with a total enrollment of over 50,000 students. These universities include the Houston Community College System, the University of Houston (Main Campus and Downtown locations), Texas Southern University, the University of St. Thomas, and professional schools such as the South Texas School of Law and the Houston branch of the University of Texas Medical Center. Midtown is great for full time students who need a place close to school and part time students who may work in the area. If a resident is looking to transition careers or move up in his or her current one, and needs a degree or certification, Midtown’s location provides convenient access to many college campuses.

Educating the kids in Midtown. Children and teens in Midtown Houston go to schools in the Houston Independent School District system. Students in elementary school are zoned to Blackshear, MacGregor Elementary School, or Gregory-Lincoln Education Center. Gregory-Lincoln also serves middle school students who live north of US 59 in Midtown. This area includes almost all the Midtown neighborhood, but students in Midtown living south of US 59 are zoned to Ryan Middle School. High schools in the area include Lamar High School, located in Upper Kirby, and Reagan High School, located in the Houston Heights. Parents must look into other neighborhoods to find private schools for their children in Midtown, but there are a few public alternatives to HISD in the neighborhood. Houston Community College’s Central Campus, in the heart of Midtown, hosts the Houston International Studies High School. The Contemporary Learning Center and the Houston CAN! Academy Main are public schools in Midtown that are not affiliated with HISD. The CAN! Academy is a charter school.

Community fun in Midtown. Relaxing and staying connected to friends and neighbors is easy in Midtown, Houston. The certified open-air Midtown Farmer’s Market happens on Saturday mornings and features free cooking classes, organic and locally grown coffee, freshly cut flowers, and more, all so close to home. Midtown’s Fannin Street is known for its pretty row of flower shops, located just a few minutes from Hermann Park. Other parks in the area include Midtown Park, funded by local corporations and businesses, Elizabeth Baldwin Park and Peggy’s Point Plaza Park, both funded by the City of Houston. The Baldwin Park is over a century old and features a Vietnamese Heritage Plaza. Another special feature of the community is The Ensemble Theater, the largest African-American theater company in the United States. Its studio is located in Midtown. Other close attractions include the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center and the Houston Fire Museum.

Nights in Midtown. Midtown is a great place to unwind. Its restaurants are some of the best in Houston and tend to be more affordable than similar ones in Downtown. McGonigel’s Mucky Duck is an Irish-style pub on Norfolk that often hosts live music and sports nights. A jazzy café on Taft Street, Gravitas is a quasi-Italian steakhouse restaurant and wine bar that features a happy hour that runs from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and has its own menu. Charivari, a European specialty cuisine restaurant on Bagby Street, is run by a Romanian man and his German wife, and hosts unique dishes. Also nearby is the Highland Village, where classics like Smith and Wollensky can be found. Of course, local almost fast food favorites like Beck’s Prime are everywhere. Midtown is also a great bar and club scene. Wine bars are common. Clubs such as the Continental Club on Main Street often host independent music acts. The Continental, like others, has an outdoor patio and pool tables as a retreat from the music. The Tasting Room on Gray Street is a hugely popular wine and beer bar in the area. These are just a few places to unwind in the area, and Midtown’s layout makes any attraction in the area close to your home.

Midtown Houston is a great neighborhood for modern and professional living. Click here to view pictures of housing sites and attractions in the area.

Inside the loop and bordered by I-10 and I-45, The Houston Heights (or simply “The Heights”) is a historic neighborhood with the simple charm of a small town and the attractions of a metropolitan center. This northwest-central Houston community looks like a small town nestled inside of a big city.

History of the Heights. Houston Heights is a very old, well known neighborhood. It was founded by millionaire Oscar Martin Carter in 1891.  His Omaha and South Texas Land Company established the neighborhood as a streetcar suburb of Houston for those who did not want to live in the huge city. Today, this popular area of Houston carries its original history and the history of the nation. The Houston Heights World War II Memorial is a popular attraction in the area. Harvard Elementary School, part of the HISD system, was opened in 1898 and still serves children. The Heights is a welcoming neighborhood. Its founder’s purpose, to provide residents with an escape from the city, is still maintained.

Homes in Houston Heights. People usually picture classic, cool, funky old houses with front porches and full-grown trees in the yards. Most homes in The Heights were built in the early 20^th century. In fact, the Houston Heights’ Official Website (created by the Houston Heights Association) features a tool which residents can use to research the history of their own homes. Many homes in The Heights are registered under Houston’s Historic Preservation Ordinance, which protects exterior styles of buildings which are valued as part of the city’s history.

Culture in The Heights. The Heights Neighborhood Library, located at 1302 Heights Boulevard, is a stately and old fashioned building that is part of the Houston Public Library system. The building is often referred to as a “voodoo museum” because of its unique architectural design. The Heights features local sources of artistic enrichment and entertainment, such as the renowned Opera in the Heights.  The Heights has the highest concentration of professional artists in the state of Texas and a large number of small, local galleries and museums.*  Since The Heights is only a few miles from downtown Houston, large attractions such as the Toyota Center, Wortham and Alley Theaters, Minute Maid Park, and more are just a short drive away. Eclectic museums in the area include the ArtCar Museum and the Museum of Printing History. The Menil Collection (and park), the Holocaust Museum, and the Contemporary Art Museum of Houston are only a few minutes further.

The Heights Community. The Heights has much visual appeal because of its mature trees and open, green spaces. There are multiple parks and recreation centers in the Heights, including bike and hike trails, indoor gymnasiums, weight rooms, pools, basketball and other sports courts, and much more. Parks and community centers include Love Park and Community Center, Milroy Park and Community Center, and the Heights Boulevard Park, each featuring different sports, exercise, and community meeting facilities. Many of the public facilities in The Heights, such as parts of Milroy Park, are gated or indoors for comfort and safety.

Events and Attractions in The Heights. The Heights maintains its community with events, such as the 5^th Annual Heights Bicycle Rally and Scavenger Hunt, which will take place in October, 2010. The Heights also hosts Fun Runs, which are kid-friendly and offer prizes. Community events and attractions are great places for people of all ages to have fun. Family businesses have been an influential part of the community events for a century. For example, The Heights Boulevard is home to a widely known shopping center featuring authentic restaurants such as Phil’s Texas Barbeque, Pink’s Pizza, and Waldo’s Coffee House. Centers with these local restaurants and mom-and-pop stores and boutiques have periodic weekend shopping events that are family friendly and a great way to support local businesses and build community.

Entertainment. The Heights is a great place to unwind after work and on weekends. Multiple community programs recur weekly, monthly, and annually and give residents much to look forward to. Lights in the Heights is an annual festival in which residents decorate their homes for the holidays and walk the streets, enjoying refreshments and chatting with neighbors. Mistletoe Madness is a similar holiday themed shopping exposition in the community. The Houston Heights Holiday Home Tour goes hand in hand with these traditions. With affordable tickets (under $20), patrons can tour decorated historical homes and buildings in their own neighborhood. The Heights 1^st Saturday happens on the first Saturday of every month. It is a day of shopping, food, and art and free transit via the Heights’ public shuttle. Another shopping and entertainment option is the periodic White Linen Night in The Heights, which features a night of shopping, food, drinking, live music, art, galleries, and much more.

Education. The Heights is served by a few public schools in HISD. Reagan High School and Waltrip High School serve teenagers in The Heights. The public middle schools in the area are Hamilton Middle School and Hogg Middle school. A few of the many elementary schools include Field, Harvard, Love, Crockett, Sinclaire, and the Helms Community Learning Center. Parents also have the choice of two public charter schools, the Houston Heights Learning Academy and the Houston Heights High School. Private schools serve multiple grade levels and include The New School in The Heights (K-9), the Immanuel Lutheran Church and School (K-8), and the Houston Outdoor Learning Academy (6-12). Parents have ample public and private school choices in the Houston Heights.

Nightlife in The Heights. In addition to the attractions within The Heights community, the neighborhood is not far from the Galleria and other shopping centers, and only four miles from Downtown Houston. The Heights recently had a nightlife boom, and White Oak and Washington Streets feature cool bars and pubs not far from home. Attractions here Porch Swing pub, the Big Star Bar, Jimmie’s Ice House, the Shady Tavern, and the Boom Boom Room. Some of the best restaurants include the Glass Wall, Heights Hickory Hollow, Berryhill Baja Grill, and many more, all with excellent ratings by Houston’s local magazines. With all of its attractions, new and old, The Heights is one of the most popular spots to unwind on weekend nights.

Click here to view more photographs of the historic Houston Heights!

*National Geographic, March 30, 2010

With an area of 2.0 square miles and a population a little over 14,000, West University is a gorgeous little city in Houston’s Harris County, Texas. Surrounded by the city of Bellaire and metropolitan Houston, West University is its own city, but it has a tightly knit neighborhood feeling.

The Place and the People. West University Place was founded in 1917 by Ben Cooper, a Tennessee governor. Its name originates from its proximity to Rice University, which borders the city. About 70% of the families in West U. are married couples living together, and 43% of all households in the city have children under the age of 18 living with them*. Only 1.7% of the total population of West University is at or below the poverty line. In fact, West University Place is the 8^th wealthiest area by per capita income in the state of Texas, with an average family income of almost $160,000. The city consistently maintains its affluent reputation.

Housing. When people think of West University, they typically imagine homes ranging from 1950’s bungalows and cottages to stately Georgian homes, with spacious streets lined by mature trees. In this affluent area, the average price for single family home sales was $909,846 in 2009 – the 2^nd highest price in metropolitan Houston.  After changes liberalized development rules that in 1992, a building boom occurred and construction of new custom built homes is sprinkled in beside the older traditional homes. A result of this development change has been an increase in families and younger couples moving into the neighborhood. Despite the recent building bubble, about half of the homes in the city were built before 1950. Many people who move into the area choose to retain the historic atmosphere; restoration of older homes is common in some neighborhoods, such as Pemberton, located south of University Drive. Lot sizes range from about 5,000 to 15,000 square feet and homes range from one to three stories.

Work from West U. Despite its quiet, residential location, West University Place is centrally located in the heart of Houston and has easy access to major freeways and business centers, not to mention optional scenic neighborhood commute. The city is served by six Metro bus lines. The average travel time to work from a resident’s home in West University is lower than the Houston and Harris county average; about ¾ of the residents spend less than 30 minutes commuting one way. Approximately 5% of adults in West University, higher than the average for Houston and Harris County, work from home.

Safe and Secure Living. Community involvement in civics and safety is regular in this small city. On the same day that the city of Bellaire, Texas passed a ban on texting while driving, West University Place voted to do the same. In addition, anyone speaking on a mobile phone near West U. Elementary School during school hours receives a $500 fine from the city. West University Place has its own police station, fire department, and municipal building, which are funded by West University Place, not the city of Houston. The West U. Fire Department and Police Department are centrally located at 3800 University Blvd. and 3814 University Blvd., respectively. The city has extremely low crime rates (especially low rates for those affected by violent crimes) in comparison with the rest of the city of Houston and Harris County.

Education. West University Place lies within the bounds of the Houston Independent School District. West University Elementary School and The Rice School (k-8) serve most children in the neighborhood. In addition, a few pre-school options are available, such as Beehive (a branch of West U. Elementary) and the Gabriela Mistral Early Childhood Center. As long as a student is eligible to utilize HISD’s preschool services, parents may choose any preschool in the city of West University. Parents can also choose for their children either Pershing Middle School or Pin Oak Middle School (a National Blue Ribbon School since 2008). Lamar High School, which offers Advanced Placement classes and an IB (International Baccalaureate) Degree Programme, is the public high school in HISD serving West University teens. Parents also have the choice of a number of private schools, both religiously affiliated and not. Private schools include The Post Oak School (k-8), St. Mark’s Episcopal School (k-8), St. John’s School, Episcopal High School, and the School of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. Houston Community College or the University of Houston are public institutions near West University that residents may attend, and Rice University, a secular but private school, borders the city.

Recreation. West University Place has its own Recreation Center, which was converted from a Houston YMCA. In 2008, the city received a grant of almost $9 million to build a new recreation center. In addition, pools are being added to some of West University’s parks, which include Colonial Park, Whitt Johnson Park, Judson Park, Friends Park (formerly Rice Pocket Park), Huffington Park, and more. The closest movie theater to the city is the Edwards Cinema 24 Grand Palace in Upper Kirby, and there is one bar in the city, called the Marquis II. The city is less than twenty minutes from the Galleria, but the closest shopping center is the Rice Village, a cute outdoor mall with ample restaurants, salons, boutiques, large retail chains, cafes and pubs, office buildings, drug stores, and even grocery stores.

The Community. The city is full of little quirks, such as the names of its street signs – almost all of them are allusions to famous colleges, universities, authors, and poets. Residents like to keep connected; besides the information in the Houston Chronicle, residents can subscribe to the West University Examiner and Village News, which cover news and are distributed locally. A free magazine advertising local services and businesses, featuring people in the community, announcing events, and more is the West University Buzz. The magazine is mailed to residents and costs nothing. Established in 1949, the West University Little League team is now the largest in the United States. It features a Challenger Division, which helps physically and/or mentally disabled children participate in the games and form its own team. The Harris County Public Library system has a branch in West University. The American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity International, and other non-profit and charitable organizations have local chapters for West University Place. There are also multiple organizations to keep the city as green as possible.

Click here to visit the community’s website and see what’s going on in West University Place.

Click here to view more photos of the neighborhood and its homes.

*Demographic data from the 2000 United States Census.

Just a few minutes outside of the loop and near major freeways and metropolitan centers, Meyerland is a great place to start a career or a family in Houston, Texas. The neighborhood’s homes have a cozy, spacious feel without separation from the advantages and conveniences of living in one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States.

Meyerland houses one of the more mature, stable populations in Houston. Many of the residents in Meyerland have owned their homes for years, even decades.  In comparison with other areas in Houston, the ranch-style houses in Meyerland tend to feel spacious and quite often boast huge front and back yards, great for entertaining, landscaping, and raising children. Two-car garages and are relatively standard, and driveways are almost never cramped.  The majority of homes are one story, but add-ons are very common, with many Meyerland residents’ families growing, or many residents aiming to increase the value and functionality of their homes. Typical in Houston, frequent showers and a long warm season keep plants and gardens lush. Most homes have mature, shady trees, pretty patios, wooden fences, and ample space for improvements and alterations of the owners’ choice in their yards. Other conveniences and features in Meyerland include large trash days, donation centers, volunteer services, neighborhood police patrols and civilian watch programs, and recycling programs.

Meyerland has a host of Houston’s conveniences, many within walking or biking distance – a rare plus in the big city. Multiple HEB’s, Targets, Walmart’s, Randalls’, Kroger’s, Home Depots’, Lowe’s, and drug stores such as 24-hour Walgreens and CVS’s are scattered about, so residents will always have access to anything they might need. Restaurants and hang out spots on Richmond and Westheimer are easy to access from Meyerland. The area has access to major freeways such as the 610 loop, Highway 59, 288, the Sam Houston Tollway, West park Tollway, and more. Thousands of Houston’s businesses and firms are located in the Galleria area, on the 610 loop, inside the loop, on major freeways and in residential areas near Meyerland. Also nearby are the Medical Center, major corporations, and universities. The Meyerland neighborhood is a convenient, affordable place to live for anyone looking to continue or begin his or her career in a city with a booming job market. It even hosts an array of office buildings with affordable leasing options for those looking to start their own business or move locations in or to Houston.

Meyerland’s homes are zoned to some of Houston’s best public elementary, middle, and high schools. Lamar, Bellaire, and Westbury are all choices for Meyerland high school students, all offering advanced programs and an array of sports and extracurricular activities. Houston public middle schools close to Meyerland include Pin Oak, Pershing, T. H. Rogers, Lanier, and many more. Elementary schools include Kolter, Herod, Lovett, and more, many of them offering gifted and talented programs, day care services, and early start programs. If parents would rather their children attend private school, there are also many options in the area, both religious and secular. In addition to primary schools, many universities surround Meyerland. Many of the Houston Community College campuses are less than a half hour’s driving distance. Also fairly close by are the University of Houston, Rice University, Texas Southern University, and professional centers, such as law schools, medical schools, and graduate and business schools. Meyerland is a quiet, convenient, and affordable area for anyone to continue his or her education, or for Houston parents to educate their children in public school.

Recreation and cultural development are always nearby and affordable in Meyerland. The Braes Bayou runs along Braeswood and has one of Houston’s long, scenic, safe bicycle and running trails. There is a 24-Hour Fitness in Meyerland Plaza, plus a number of smaller, more local gyms in the area. There are countless synagogues, churches, and public parks in the area. The Jewish Community Center, which offers its fun and competitively priced recreation services to people of all faiths and backgrounds and is just minutes away, hosts Olympic-quality pools, fitness centers, summer camps, clubs, religious services, performances, classes, and so much more. Many of the universities and public schools in the area open performances, religious activities, and more to the general public for very competitive prices, offering Meyerland residents access to fun events and the chance to support local students in Houston. There are also Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian, Korean, and more of Houston’s ethnic centers very close to the Meyerland area.

Some of the nation’s best shopping is just a few miles away if you live in the Meyerland area. Shopping in the Galleria is close and conveniently accessible by residential streets, saving the hassle of freeway traffic. Another hugely popular shopping center is the less crowded outdoor mall, Meyerland Plaza. The Plaza has discount stores, restaurants, doctors’ offices, a Target, Best Buy, Borders Books, and much more, and it is a few minutes’ drive from the any home in the neighborhood – not to mention its vast number of parking spaces. More shopping options include Baybrook Mall, Gulf Gate shopping center, Memorial City Mall, Uptown Park, the River Oaks Plaza, the Rice Village, and many more, all easily accessible by freeways or residential streets. For anyone looking to purchase a home in Houston, Meyerland is an established area definitely worth serious consideration. Located close to the loop and all of the city’s convenient, fun, functional centers, Meyerland has been the right choice for people looking for a great place to settle down in Houston. Meyerland’s great location within the city and mature, homey feel make it a great balance for home buyers who are looking for a well rounded neighborhood in Houston.

Click here to view more homes and attractions in the Meyerland neighborhood of Houston, Texas.

With the topic of home foreclosures a nightly news topic, more and more buyers are looking specifically to buy a foreclosure. While the Houston market has not been hit as strongly as much of the rest of the country by foreclosures, there are still many great opportunities for the savvy shopper to buy bargain priced foreclosures. Note I specified the “savvy shopper”. While foreclosure homes can be a great buy, buyers need to be equipped with an understanding of how to best seize the opportunity and more importantly how to close the deal. So I will give you a mini crash course I call…

THE HOUSTON FORECLOSURE HUNTING GUIDE

1. PREPARING FOR THE HUNT:

The great “foreclosure deal” is an elusive prey because it is highly sought after. If you are looking for a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, in a nice area of Houston or the suburbs, for $10,000 under market price… you better believe many other buyers are looking for the same thing.  For that reason when a great foreclosure comes on the market , it won’t last long. So, you better be prepared to pounce when it does. That means doing the proper leg work ahead of time.

First, choose an experienced realtor who can guide you on your quest and advise you through all of the steps. Make sure you use someone who has experience CLOSING deals on foreclosure properties, not just making offers. Without a knowledgeable adviser you may spin your wheels for months making offers on foreclosures and never sealing the deal.

Second, you will want to get together all of the paperwork that the bank will be asking for when you make an offer. That includes a STRONG pre-approval letter by an experienced, licensed loan officer. Choosing a good loan officer is also a critical factor in your success because he or she will be able to advise you on what financial pitfalls to anticipate. Your paperwork will also include proof of funds showing that you have enough money to cover your down payment and closing costs. This can be a bank statement or letter of funds from the bank. Both your pre-approval letter and proof of funds should be kept up to date, no later than 30 days.

2. STALKING THE PREY….FINDING POTENTIAL BARGAINS

This is the fun and easy part. Work with your realtor to make sure exactly what type of property you are looking for. You will want to give some consideration to what are the most important features to you, the same way you would when buyer an owner occupied home. For a foreclosure home you will also want to consider how much and what kind of work are you willing to do to fix up the property? The majority of foreclosures are sold AS-IS, meaning the bank is not willing to make ANY repairs. Once you have a clear understanding of what you are looking for, I often recommend letting the realtor review all of the properties to weed out the duds (and there will be many). Then they can take you to look in person at only the properties that meet your criteria.

THIS NEXT TIP IS ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL FACTORS WHEN STALKING THE PREY! If you want to get the “good deal” then you must be committed to going to look at properties as soon as they come on the market and possibly even making offers on properties before seeing them. If your dream house comes on the market at a great price, but you can’t see it TODAY…. someone else will, and you will lose out!

3. CAPTURING THE DEAL

The tip I gave in the last section about going to view properties right away is so critical to capturing the deal, because you want to be able to make an offer before anyone else. Only if you are the sole offer, will you have any chance at negotiating on the price. If you put in an offer and the bank already has multiple offers, you end up in effect trying to outbid other buyers, not negotiating with the bank.

Also important to capturing the deal is having evaluating the property you try to buy. I have come across many buyers who approach the Seller (bank) with a “kick them while their down” attitude. They falsely assume that the bank is under duress and will sell their properties for pennies. This I am sad to say happens much more often on late night infomercials, than does in real life. In the real world many banks price their properties to sell. That means the home may very likely already be discounted several thousand to ten of thousands of dollar from the retail price. That is not to say you can’t negotiate the price down any further, you often can. I am saying though that in purchasing a foreclosure, the same as with any financial transaction, it is important that you know the actual value of what you are buying. Your realtor will be able to help you determine the value of the house.

Once you have sealed the deal, and have a purchase contract negotiated with the selling bank, for the most part as the buyer you can kick up your feet and relax. This is when your loan officer and realtor will kick in to high gear and work on taking care of all the details needed to prepare the transaction for closing.

Have comments or want to share your personal experience of buying a foreclosure? Post them below, we love to hear from you! Have questions or need help looking for your own foreclosure deal? Drop us a line or give us a jingle… we are here to help!

Local Dancers at Houston International Festival

I went to the International Festival today. Every year Houston has an international festival downtown with a different theme. This year’s theme was Caribbean. I love reggae music and jerk chicken. So the decision to go was a no-brainer.

Tickets were $17 each for adults at the entry, and $3 for kids. They also have special packages for groups of tickets online at their website.  Sundays are free for kids.

The Caribbean things I saw today included different pan drum groups and a  local African dance troupe. I also got my fill of jerk chicken. The chicken plate I ate was good, although I didn’t find the jerk to be very authentic.

Houston has such a strongly mixed ethnic identity, which seem to transfer to any event put on here , this festival included. I saw many different hispanic entertainers including Strictly Street Salsa Dancers, Tejano dancers, Mexican Foklorico dancers, and a band playing salsas and cumbias. Urban Gypsy, lead by the accomplished Sahira also gave a great bellydance performance. Although none of these entertainers seemed to me to fit the Caribbean theme… they were entertaining nonetheless and a great reminder of the spice that makes Houston the place I love!

I you want an excuse to enjoy this beautiful weather we are having, be entertained by a wide range of music and dance performances I would recommend you give the Internation Festival a try!