3102 P1/2 Historic Home for Sale, close to Galveston beach

Built in 1895, this 1900 Storm Survivor has been fully restored and is priced to sell. This historic home features beautifully refinished hardwood floors, notable
woodwork, moldings and fixtures. Wrap around porch and full, corner lot. Full bath on each level gives master bedroom option on 1st or 2nd story. Lots of
storage under the house, detached 2 car garage with alley access, and great curb appeal.

1718 M1/2 Lost Bayou Historic District

2005 winner of Landmark Commission's residential renovation award! Completely restored Storm Survivor, built in 1879. Double gallery porches, huge detached garage with workshop, fenced yard and New Orleans style courtyard. Parlor, dining room, butler's pantry space, huge family room and sunroom. 1 1/2 baths and wet bar 1st floor + 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths upstairs with master suite on west wing with dressing room, claw foot tub and separate tiled shower. Very nicely landscaped.

Galveston Real Estate is strong

I am afraid I haven't been able to add anything to my blog lately, but it is for a great reason - the Galveston real estate market is going strong! I had 4 contracts in title just last week and there more happening each day. Buyers, now is still a great time to buy - especially with the fantastic weather we've been having here on the Island! Interest rates are low as well, and real estate in Galveston is still a good investment!

Galveston market January 21-February 22, 2008 - data taken from GAR MLS

Can I close without a title company?

I had a call at the office this afternoon from a woman asking about the closing process in general. Specifically, she was wondering if she had to close at a title company since she is not in the same vicinity of the property where the deal is taking place.

The answer is no, you do not have to close at a title company. You can close at your Realtor's office, an attorney's desk, at a title company, at the house in question, or even from your own home. The title company can send you all the closing documents either electronically by email or through the mail, usually using FedEx or another over-nighting company to expedite the process. (And, of course, the paperwork will be coming from a title company because we all know how important title insurance is when purchasing a home, right?!)

You can then print them off and bring them to you to the cosing site or complete the paperwork right where you are. BUT, don't forget that many of those papers will need to be notarized (your large branch bank usually has an associate who is also a notary right on site and they generally waive any fees if you are an account holder there - Bank of America is pretty good for this...) so you'll eventually have to bring them to wherever a notary is before you can send the docs back to the title company.

The major benefit of closing at the title company, though, is the fact that you get to sit down with your closer and if you have any questions (which is completely normal - there is a TON of paperwork and it can be quite daunting if you aren't into reading lengthy legal-sounding jargon on a regular basis!), he/she is right there at your side to answer anything. Also, having your Realtor on hand just to double check that everything is right on the HUD (aka closing sheet) and you aren't paying $3500 for a survey rather than $350 is a good idea....

If you are lucky enough to find a good escrow officer at any title company, I have some advice if you plan on buying/selling more property in that same area: stay with that agent! Follow that agent to a new company if they move, but once you find someone who does a good job for you in the title business, stick with 'em - a good one of these will save you many stressful days for sure!

Galveston real estate market update MLS report Dec-Jan21 2008

Homes are selling - it is still a great time to buy, though!

Commuting to Houston...

...is NO fun. Each time I find myself driving into Houston for anything other than an Astros game or, (in the good ol' days) Six Flags, I find that I have a tendency to mass produce the beginnings of many tiny ulcers in the pit of my stomach and lose just a little bit of hair during the white-knuckle gripping ride of terror to and from the area so far north of my causeway... known as Houston. Seriously, how do people pass on the right, going 78 mph, while on their cell, with the tallest bucket of Starbucks in hand, and NOT look like they just saw the ghost of Christmas future?

Well, this time I have to say it was worth it. I just completed my last core class (that's an official count of 900 hours, folks, or in other words, 5.6 months straight (if I did it straight, which I didn't but you get the idea) of 40-hour work weeks of pure real estate goodness) before the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) says I can take (and pass, thank you) the Texas Real Estate Broker License exam. Don't be fooled - I am still a glutton for real estate classes and will continue the painful commutes any time there is an intriguing course offered within a 40 mile radius. However, from here on in, I'll be attending as a BROKER. Yup, that's right. BROKER.

Maybe having this title will help me avoid the question I so truly hate fielding: "How old are you?!" Which, to me, really means "you look far too young to know what you're doing - how can I trust you to market my HOUSE?!?! Maybe you can dog-sit while we're out of town, young lady?"

Well, for the record, yes, I realize I look young. But young does NOT mean unqualified. Young does NOT mean uneducated. And young certainly does NOT mean un-capable (I know, I know - it's incapable, but go with me here). I can professionally and properly market your house - quite well; in fact - have been doing it for years now. I can be trusted to work hard and diligently with this thing that I know and respect is of so much importance to you. And, yes, I probably can dog-sit while you're out of town too, but that's just really neither here nor there, now is it?

Signing off as a soon to be BROKER,
Merry Christmas everyone!