Marilyn Wiers Real Estate Blog

Why Choose an Internet Savvy Realtor?|Marilyn Wier 713-542-8451

When selling your home it might be beneficial to sell with a real estate agent who is internet savvy. Most home buyers start their search before even leaving their chair. It is more important than ever to make sure that your Realtor is internet savvy. It is important to know that a serious buyers first stop is the internet and if you are working with an agent who knows this important stat, you can bet that your home is getting the expose it needs.

There are many reasons as to why it is very important to sell your home with the help of an Internet savvy realtor.

1.      An internet savvy realtor will use the coverage power of Twitter. Often Realtors who use Twitter will send out short messages to other Realtor and buyers. Twitter is a great way to get the word out in a quick and efficient way.

2.      Let’s face it Facebook is EVERYWHERE! Realtors who use Facebook many times create pages known as “Fan” pages to help promote their listings. Here is my fan page. Take a look at some of my Facebook posts and after hit “like.” If you are about to sell your home you can see how an Internet savvy Realtor markets their listings.

3.      An Internet savvy Realtor will understand the power of SEO-rich content. Don’t worry if SEO is a foreign word to you, your Realtor will know all about its importance which will in turn help you sell your home faster. If you have your home on the market go to Google and type in your address. If your home comes up on many searches your Real Estate agent knows the importance of exposure on the internet. Take a look at one of my listings. Straight off Google search! Type your address in Active Rain and see if any blogs about your home have been written. Here's one I wrote for one of my listings.

If you want to reach more potential buyers make sure your agent is doing all the above. If not you could be missing a large audience. As a Real Estate agent working in the 21^st century I know the importance of Internet reach. Take a look at some of my social media and Internet sites.

I would love to help you sell your home! Give me a call today and I can prepare a marketing presentation fit for your property!  

Houston Housing Market on the Rise|Houston, TX|Marilyn Wier 713-542-8451

Houston is now seeing the upswing of the housing market! It will take some time but I am happy to say we as Houstonians are going to begin to see some great things happening in the home market!

Houston economist Ted C. Jones predicted at an economic forecast luncheon Tuesday that Houston will begin to see an incline in home prices.

 “We have the highest home prices in the history of Houston, Texas. The market is back,” Jones said. 

Jones said in the last 12 months, the inventory of homes for sale has gone down 24 percent. We have eaten through the inventory. “In the next 18 to 24 months home prices will go up significantly.”

We are finally starting to see strengths in the housing market since the downturn in 2008.

As apartment rental prices seem to be gradually inclining many will be in search for a home. People are starting to have confidence in the Houston housing market once again. Homes are becoming investments once again!

Jones predicts that the number of Houston area home sales will go up about 7.5 percent in 2012 and another 8 percent in 2013.

With this news we as Houstonians and those in surrounding cities can feel more at ease when thinking about buying a home. A home should be an investment of a lifetime and home values have finally began to incline. Supply and demand is evening out and homes aren’t as abundant as in years past.

So if you are in search of a home be confident that your investment will be well worth it in the end! Take a look at some of the homes that are up for sale in the Houston and surrounding areas. I would love to help you find your dream home! Give me a call today!

Information from: http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/05-08-12-expect-home-prices-to-jump-significantly-soon-economist-sees-a-boom-market-in-houston/

Galveston Pleasure Pier is set to open Memorial Day Weekend!!

What an exciting new place to enjoy the water breezes and lovely views Galveston Island has to offer. Pleasure Pier is a great tourist attraction and it will bring jobs and money to the island.  The goal is to make the pier a destination similar to Chicago's Navy Pier, the Santa Monica Pier and Coney Island's Luna Park.

It is a goal to make Pleasure Pier a well known tourist destination nationwide. It is located where the devastated Flagship (Impacted by Hurricane Ike) once sat jetting out across the Gulf of Mexico. The project is projected to cost $60 million and no corner will be cut!

The pier will be packed with restaurants, rides, shops, games, live music and entertainment. rides will include a 36-foot diameter, double-decker carousel and a 100-foot tall Ferris Wheel, and for the more adventurous, a steel roller coaster with a 100-foot vertical climb, 200-foot tall swing recognized as the highest ride in Texas and classic bumper cars for adults and children.

Developers are adding a 500 space parking lot across the street. The city is also working on adding a shuttle system for hotels and motels along the island.

The costs for the Please Pier activities are as followed:

• Pier Pass: $10 for adults (48" and up) and $8 (48" and under); ride tickets sold separately
• All Day Ride Pass: $25.99 for adults and $19.99 for children
• Family Four Pack: $84.99, which include two adult and two children all-day ride passes
• Individual Ride Tickets: Tickets start at $3.50 per ride

As always if you are interested in buying or selling real estate give me a call today! If you are looking to relocate to the area, Pleasure Pier is one more reason to come to the Southeast side!

Mother's Day Gift Ideas|Mother's Day 2012|Marilyn Wier 713-542-8451

Mother's Day is just around the corner and if you are looking for some cute ideas for Mom I have run across a few that may be just that perfect homemade gifts.

First off who doesn't LOVE flowers! Well if you want to get mom those special flowers but want to do it in a unique way instead of just purchasing them online, why not go to your local florist and create your own personal Mother's Day bouquet. Find out what Mom’s favorite color and flower are and run with it. Don’t worry if you aren’t the craftiest person, she will love your thoughtfulness and the love that you put into it.

Lets face it moms deserve a little relaxation in their lives so what better way to treat them then with a relaxing bath set. Get a basket and fill it with soaps, candles, face masks, pedicure sets, bubbles, and maybe a bottle of wine and a glass.

Create a mom picture collage. Get a canvas and decorate it with pictures and wording. Again you don’t have to be crafty to create a work of art for that mom in your life. If you have children this is a wonderful thing for the kiddos to help you with.

Write mom a poem! Yes a poem, like back in your school days. This poem doesn’t have to rhyme, just speak from your heart. Words can pierce a person’s soul and what better way to tell her you love and appreciate her than with a poem straight from your heart. Here is a cute idea for the kids to make for mom. It’s a poem with fingerprints spread throughout.  

Make that special mom in your life a Mother’s Day breakfast in bed. If mom gets up early well then be sure to get up even earlier. Make some of her favorite or check out some of these breakfast ideas. But why stop at breakfast, make here lunch and dinner as well.  

Mom’s really enjoy time with their children so make Mother’s Day a day devoted to spending around mom. You don’t have to go anywhere extravagant but do offer to spend the day with her. Maybe you can get to that yard work that she hasn’t had time to get to. Do the laundry for her, clean, just make it a day of relaxation for mom.

Make this Mother’s Day special after all they mom’s deserve it! There are plenty of wonderful ideas online that are inexpensive and that will leave lasting impressions.

As always if you are in search of a home or would like to sell your home, give me a call today!!

TEXAS HOUSING MARKET PICKING UP

AUSTIN (Texas Association of Realtors) – The Texas real estate market gained positive momentum in first quarter 2012, according to the Texas Association of Realtors’ latest Texas Quarterly Housing Report, which was issued this week.

For January through March 2012, the volume of single-family home sales in Texas was 45,502, 12 percent more than the same quarter in 2011. The median price for Texas homes during the quarter was $147,100, up 2.7 percent more than a year ago.

Months inventory was at six months. Experts say a 6.5-month inventory represents a balanced market.

Real Estate Center Research Economist Dr. Jim Gaines said he believes several factors are driving the strong performance of the first quarter, including continued job growth in Texas and some increased access to credit for homebuyers.

Most of all, Gaines said there's beginning to be a shift in Texans’ attitudes toward real estate. Essentially, buyers and sellers have higher expectations for the market, so they’re beginning to take action, and the state is starting to feel the impact.

Clear Lake City Neighborhoods | Clear Lake City, TX | Mairlyn Wier 713-542-8451

Clear Lake Cityis located in southeast Harris County and it is the second largest master-planned community in Houston. James Marion West created the first substantial development in the land. He made his home around the shores of Clear Lake and Clear Creek. After much protesting by grass-roots residents, parts of Clear Lake were annexed by the city of Houston in 1977.

Clear Lake City ranges from Houston to Pasadena. The community was named Clear Lake City for Clear Lake which lies along Clear Creek and empties into Galveston Bay.

Whether you are in search of a new home, a home on the water, golf course or with-in a great school district (Clear Creek ISD) Clear Lake City is just the spot for you and your family!

Below is list of some of the wonderful communities with-in Clear Lake City. Take a look and you will see why Clear Lake City has so  much to offer!

If you are interested in more information about any of the above Clear Lake City Neighborhoods, Give me a call today!

	Bay Oaks Homes For Sale

	Bay Forest Home Search

	Bay Glen Home Search

	Bay Pointe Home Search

	Pine Brook Home Seach

	Middlebrook Home Search

	University Green Home Search

	Brook Forest Home Search

	Brookwood Home Search

	Camino South Home Search

	Pipers Meadow Home Search

Sterling Knoll Home Search

218 Sutherland, League City, TX|Westover Park, 77573|Marilyn Wier 713-542-8451

Why not call Westover Park your home?

Westover Park is a master planned community located in League City, TX. The community is conveniently located just miles from I-45 and Bay Area Blvd. Home prices range from the $150’s to the $350’s.

Residents enjoy the newly completed recreational center including three swimming pools, a pool house, a multipurpose sports field, playground, lake, and park. With all the community amenities you will always have something to do while living in Westover Park!

Westover Park is located just 3 miles from I-45 and a short drive from NASA, Kemah Boardwalk and Galveston Bay. Located in the middle between Galveston and Houston you can pick where the night will take you and never be too far away from home.

Westover Park features homes built by some of Houston’s best known builders.

Perry Homes has been designing and building homes for Texas families for the past 42 years and looks forward to being the home builder families can trust for many years in the future.  Perry Homes is the featured builder in Section 11A in Westover Park.

Highland Homes was built on a solid foundation of core values, and was founded in 1985 by a brother and sister team and remains a family owned company today. Highland Homes quickly grew to become one of the leading single-family homebuilders in the United States by dedicating ourselves to and providing the best possible quality and home buying experience. Section 10 in Westover Park features Highland Homes as well as Mertiage Homes.

Mertiage Home Builders believe in being more than just the next green builder; they believe in going above and beyond the norm to build the most energy-efficient homes in the country — saving you up to 80%, or $3,000 annually, on utility costs.

Students who live within Westover Park attend Clear Creek ISD. Clear Creek ISD .  The Clear Creek Independent School District is home to explorers and adventurers! Nestled along the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston and the boating waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Clear Creek ISD proudly serves the educational growth of more than 39,000 students and continues to be one of the most desirable places to raise a family in the Greater Houston area. Clear Creek ISD is the 29th largest school district in Texas, out of 1,031 districts.

If you are interested in moving to Westover Park, I have the perfect property for you! Take a look! 218 Sutherland, League City, TX

Welcome to this lovely home located in Westover Park. With 4 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms you will have plenty of room for family and guests. The formal dining room is the perfect spot for dinner parties. The study is tucked away giving you extra quiet space. The formal living room is perfect to relax in. The spacious family room has a wall of windows, a fireplace and is wired for surround sound. The island kitchen features stilestone countertops, an  undermount sink, a breakfast bar and a large walk-in pantry. Tile floors in  entry, family room, kitchen, breakfast area and baths. Retreat to the master bedroom featuring trey ceilings and a sitting area. Relax in the master bath whirlpool tub. The master also has dual vanities and a separate shower. Upstairs you will find the secondary bedrooms and the game room. The game room is the perfect spot for gatherings. Two of the secondary bedrooms share a Jack and Jill bathroom. There is also another bathroom located upstairs for guests. Outside you will find a paved patio great for outdoor parties. The extra long driveway makes for easy parking. Call for an appointment today!

If you are looking to buy or sell or if you have a friend or family member in search of a Realtor, give me a call today! I'd love to help!

Texas Music Festival & Village Fair|League City, TX Walter Hall Park| Marilyn Wier 713-542-8451

The League City Lions Club is holding its annual Texas Music Festival, Village Fair and BBQ cook-off on May 11^th, 12th &13^th at Walter Hall Park in League City, TX.

Gates open Friday 4pm-12am. Saturday 9 am to 1am and Sunday (FREE) 10am-6pm. Tickets are $15 per adult and free for children 12 and under. Sunday admittance is FREE!!!

This year not only can you enjoy a fun filled day of BBQ, Music, and carnival attractions but the Lions Club has added an obstacle course, cross fit challenge, volleyball tournament, a karaoke contest and much more!

The Texas Music Festival is a family friendly event with things to do for the entire family. Children can enjoy the kids zone with over 30 carnival rides! Merry go round and ferris wheel are just a few of the fun rides offered at the festival.

Each day of the Festival is filled with many events and music throughout the day. The Lions Club is pleased to announce that Easton Corbin is coming to League City! His performance will start at 11:00pm on Saturday. Several bands will be featured throughout the day as well.

On Saturday the BBQ cook-off begins. This event is not open to the public but if you are interested in participation click on this link to sign up. See if you have what it takes to take home the gold!

Sunday is filled with outdoor fun in the sun! There is a Volleyball Tournament, a Karaoke Contest, and an Extreme Obstacle Race/Cross Fit Challenge. If interested in participating in any of these events please go to: http://www.lcvillagefair.com/

Check in begins at 10:45 AM and Competition starts at 11:45 AM,SUNDAY for the Karaoke Contest . On Sunday entry to the Texas Music Festival is FREE so be sure to bring out your family and friends and have them help cheer you on! Winner receives airfare/hotel accommodations for American Idol Season 12 auditions!

The Volleyball Tournament will be held on Sunday as well. To register for the Volleyball Tournament please click on this link!

Also new to the Festival is the Safari Run. If you are familiar with “MUD” obstacle course and enjoy them this challenge is perfect for you! Be sure to read, sign and print the waiver and return it at the time of registration. To save 56% be sure to go to: Safari Run League City Deal and register today!

Money collected from ticket sales, sponsorships, vendor booth fees, BBQ Cook-Off entry fees, Golf Tournament entry fees, and our Safari Run entry fees benefit local charities!

So if you are looking for something fun to do with the whole family or if you are looking for a great reason for family and friends to come see what League City is all about, make plans to attend the Texas Music Festival!

Hope to see you there and as always if you are interested in buying or selling a home give me a call!

Will Your Home Hold It's Resale Value?|League City, TX |Marilyn Wier 713-542-8451

I ran across this wonderful story from Lowe's Daily Real Estate News. The information about resale and the importance of taking into consideration the resale value of your new purchase is valuable when searching for a new home.

Signs a home will hold its resale value

Buying at a low price does have a downside

By: Dian Hymer
Inman News®

When purchasing a home many home buyers do not think about how saleable the home will be if they decide to move out years after a purchase. Home buyers have a long list of must haves but taking into consideration the resale of the home is a good idea.

Generally, buyers deal indirectly with resale value. They want a home they can buy at market value or less. They want to buy a home that will retain its value. They want to buy a home that will suit their needs. They want to buy a home they can make their own.

A listing that's priced low to sell fast may be one that will have good resale value only if you use this marketing strategy. The low price may offset an incurable defect, such as a location on a busy street.

There's nothing wrong with buying a home on a busy street as long as (1) you buy it at a price that reflects the location issue; (2) it suits your long-term needs; and (3) you understand that you will probably have to discount the price accordingly when you sell, depending on the market at the time.

In a hot seller's market, buyers are desperate to buy. They often overpay, and they are more likely to overlook defects that they would shun in a sour market.

Resale value has become a bigger issue since the housing recession began five years ago. Buyers are more cautious in their home buying decisions. They don't want to buy just any home; they don't want to make a mistake and end up wanting to move in a slow market in which they might lose money.

The homes that hold their resale value well are the ones that appeal to a broad cross section of buyers; offer a good floor plan that works for different lifestyles; have a good amount of space but are not enormous and expensive to maintain; and exhibit a pride of ownership. They should also be in good condition.

Location is also a critical element of resale value. There are market niches that are always in demand, in both hot and soft markets. Homes close to public transit systems like the Metrorail in Houston. Homes with easy access to major highways are in demand as well.

That's not to say that every listing in these areas sells quickly. To sell, it needs to be priced right for the market.

It's easier to recognize a home with good resale value in the current market than it was in the bubble market of 2005 and 2006 when virtually all homes sold in many areas. In a soft market, the homes that sell within 30 to 60 days are either good homes or good deals.

Ideally, you want to buy a home that has good resale value. Not one that's just a good deal. There's no urgency to buy now in many areas, although it would be nice to take advantage of record-low interest rates. But you shouldn't buy a home that won't work for you long term just to lock in a great interest rate.

Even though there are a lot of homes for sale on the market, in many areas there is a not a surplus of quality inventory on the market. One reason for the lack of quality homes on the market is that many sellers are waiting for a better time to sell. Another reason is that homes with good resale value don't tend to change hands that often.

Take a look at my listings! You may just find your dream home!

I hope you found this information useful. If you are interested in buying, selling or finding out the value of your home, please give me a call. I'd love to hear from you!

2372 University Green, Houston TX 77058|Clear Lake City|Marilyn Wier 713-542-8451

University Green located in the Clear Lake Area and is close to nearby entertainment, restaurants, University of Houston Clear Lake as well as shopping. The residents of  University Green in University Green enjoy a contemporary lifestyle with patio homes and townhomes. It is a community with values and a wave of the future.

University Green has many amenities that are suitable for the whole family. With its close location to The University of Clear Lake, University Green makes commuting easy! You are never too far from entertainment and restaurants. Space Center Houston  is located just a few miles away. Dining is within just a short drive. Kemah Boardwalk is a short driveaway and you will always find fun and entertainment waiting!

Enjoy a nice game of tennis or relax at the neighborhood pool. University Green has it all. Walking trails, parks, neighborhood pool, and tennis courts.

If you have to commute to work, University’s Green proximity to I-45 and NASA Road 1 is an easy commute. If you work at NASA your home is so close you may come home for lunch!

Take a look at this immaculate listing in University Green!Welcome home to the immaculate 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom town home located in beautiful University Green. This town home is unique with 2 master bedrooms. The family room features large windows and a cozy fireplace. The kitchen is light and bright with a window looking onto the courtyard. The dining/breakfast area is just off the kitchen with built-ins and cabinets for extra storage. The downstairs master features high ceilings, a ceiling fan, exposed beams, double paned French doors leading to the courtyard and a relaxing master bath. The bath features dual sinks and tile floors. Upstairs you will find an updated guest bathroom featuring updated  dual sinks, updated mirror, and tile floors. The upstairs master bedroom has been remodeled with crown molding, neutral wall colors, a large walk in closet with built-in drawers, and crown molding. HVAC replaced 2005. Appliances replaced 2004. Two patios both light and bright. Two doors to the garage. Neighborhood pool, park and tennis courts close by. Call for an appointment today!

If you are looking to buy or sell give me a call today! I can help!