Featured Stories
Developers Starting Construction in Houston’s Strong Apartment Market Houston Real Estate Buying Opportunities of a Lifetime? Tread Lightly The Benefits of Selling with an Internet Savvy Realtor Interview with Houston Real Estate Legend – Ralph Bivins No Instant Fix Coming for the Housing Market Real Estate Taxes and Mortgage Escrows
 
Developers Starting Construction in Houston’s Strong Apartment Market

Developers Starting Construction in Houston’s Strong Apartment Market

The Houston apartment market, driven by positive job growth, is one of the most impressive multi-family markets in the nation. Occupancy is rising. Rents are up. And new construction is moving ahead at a tempered pace that is unlikely to result in extreme overbuilding. “Things are all good right now,” says Stacy Hunt, executive director [...]

Houston Real Estate Buying Opportunities of a Lifetime? Tread Lightly…

Houston Real Estate Buying Opportunities of a Lifetime? Tread Lightly…

Nationwide, average home prices are down 33 percent since the 2006 peak. However, home prices have remained stable or actually increased in the Houston real estate market over the past year.

The Benefits of Selling with an Internet Savvy Realtor

The Benefits of Selling with an Internet Savvy Realtor

Because the majority of home buyers are “armchair” buyers, meaning that they surf the Internet to perform their home search, it is more important than ever to make sure your realtor is Internet savvy.

Interview with Houston Real Estate Legend – Ralph Bivins

Interview with Houston Real Estate Legend – Ralph Bivins

With 27 years' experience under his belt and numerous awards to his name, it's safe to say Ralph Bivins knows real estate.

No Instant Fix Coming for the Housing Market

No Instant Fix Coming for the Housing Market

The nation’s housing market has pulled out of the deepest pits. But it’s going to take more time for a full recovery to arrive and the market is going to go through more pain before it happens.

Real Estate Taxes and Mortgage Escrows – Pay Now or Pay Later

Real Estate Taxes and Mortgage Escrows – Pay Now or Pay Later

One important decisions homebuyers need to make is whether or not to have an escrow account for real estate taxes and home insurance. If you have an option, it is worth at least considering whether or not you should escrow.

Featured Articles

Developers Starting Construction in Houston’s Strong Apartment Market

Developers Starting Construction in Houston’s Strong Apartment Market

21 September 2011

The Houston apartment market, driven by positive job growth, is one of the most impressive multi-family markets in the nation. Occupancy is rising. Rents are up. And new construction is moving ahead at a tempered pace that is unlikely to result in extreme overbuilding. “Things are all good right now,” says Stacy Hunt, executive director [...]

Read the full story

Posted in Apartments, Featured, Multi-Family HousingComments Off

Houston Real Estate Buying Opportunities of a Lifetime? Tread Lightly…

Houston Real Estate Buying Opportunities of a Lifetime? Tread Lightly…

08 August 2011

Nationwide, average home prices are down 33 percent since the 2006 peak. However, home prices have remained stable or actually increased in the Houston real estate market over the past year.

Read the full story

Posted in Featured, Housing Market, ResidentialComments Off

The Benefits of Selling with an Internet Savvy Realtor

The Benefits of Selling with an Internet Savvy Realtor

03 August 2011

Because the majority of home buyers are “armchair” buyers, meaning that they surf the Internet to perform their home search, it is more important than ever to make sure your realtor is Internet savvy.

Read the full story

Posted in Featured, Seller AdviceComments Off

Interview with Houston Real Estate Legend – Ralph Bivins

Interview with Houston Real Estate Legend – Ralph Bivins

20 July 2011

With 27 years' experience under his belt and numerous awards to his name, it's safe to say Ralph Bivins knows real estate.

Read the full story

Posted in Featured, Houston Legends7 Comments

No Instant Fix Coming for the Housing Market

No Instant Fix Coming for the Housing Market

01 July 2011

The nation’s housing market has pulled out of the deepest pits. But it’s going to take more time for a full recovery to arrive and the market is going to go through more pain before it happens.

Read the full story

Posted in Featured, Foreclosure, Housing MarketComments Off

Real Estate Taxes and Mortgage Escrows – Pay Now or Pay Later

Real Estate Taxes and Mortgage Escrows – Pay Now or Pay Later

30 June 2011

One important decisions homebuyers need to make is whether or not to have an escrow account for real estate taxes and home insurance. If you have an option, it is worth at least considering whether or not you should escrow.

Read the full story

Posted in Featured, Mortgages, Property Taxes, ResidentialComments Off

Interview with Houston Real Estate Legend – Martha Turner

Interview with Houston Real Estate Legend – Martha Turner

26 June 2011

Martha Turner Properties is ranked by Houston Business Journal as the second largest realty brokerage in Houston. The firm has 215 agents, 70 administrative employees and five offices with and plans to open another office in Sugar Land.

Read the full story

Posted in Commercial, Featured, Houston LegendsComments Off

Two Gardeners, Exterminators and Little Ol’ Non-Confrontational Me

Two Gardeners, Exterminators and Little Ol’ Non-Confrontational Me

03 June 2011

I have two gardeners and no backbone. Every week, I’ve tried to get up the nerve to let him go. Every week, I fail. It’s seriously giving me major anxiety.

Read the full story

Posted in Allison's Corner, Featured, Home Life - Lifestyle, Landscaping11 Comments

Ask George & Chuck

Ask George and Chuck September 18, 2011

02 October 2011

Question (TX): A builder has asked me if he can use my property to lean ladders onto another townhouse he is building. He can use scaffolding but apparently that would cost him more money. He has stated that he will provide me a written document that he will assume all liability for any damages to [...]

Read the full story

Posted in Ask George and ChuckComments Off

Real Estate News

Mortgage delinquencies move lower in January

Mortgage delinquencies move lower in January

11 March 2013

A new report suggests that many of today's homeowners are doing better with their mortgage expenses.According to Lender Processing Services, the total U.S. loan delinquency rate fell to 7 percent in January, down from...

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Posted in NewsComments Off

Inventory levels down but bound to rise, expert says

Inventory levels down but bound to rise, expert says

08 March 2013

While property inventory has been in low territory for awhile, housing experts are confident that the number of houses listed as for sale will make a comeback in the not-too-distant future.According to real esta...

Read the full story

Posted in NewsComments Off

Real Estate News | Real Estate Newsfeed 2013-03-07 04:41:52

Real Estate News | Real Estate Newsfeed 2013-03-07 04:41:52

07 March 2013

Immigrants who live in Texas may soon have a lot of influence on how active the home buying market is not only in the Lone Star State, but the entire country.According to a recent report issued by the Research Instit...

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Posted in NewsComments Off

Location major factor for prospective homebuyers

Location major factor for prospective homebuyers

06 March 2013

When it comes to deciding where to buy a house, a key selling point is its proximity to the office or workplace in general, a new study indicates.According to a recent biennial survey conducted by the National Associ...

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Posted in NewsComments Off

Real Estate News | Real Estate Newsfeed 2013-03-05 04:55:42

Real Estate News | Real Estate Newsfeed 2013-03-05 04:55:42

05 March 2013

The people who may have seemed like children and students a short time ago are today and tomorrow's homeowners, a new study points out.According to a recent study conducted by the Bipartisan Policy Center, between now...

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Posted in NewsComments Off

Report links foreclosures with crime rate

Report links foreclosures with crime rate

04 March 2013

A new study suggests that foreclosures may be associated with the prevalence of crime in a given metropolitan area.The study - "Do Foreclosures Cause Crime?" - was conducted by researchers from the Furman Center...

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Posted in NewsComments Off

Three of four regions see higher pending home sales in January

Three of four regions see higher pending home sales in January

01 March 2013

In almost every U.S. region in January, the number of contracts prospective homeowners signed increased from last year, including the South.According to the National Association of Realtors, nationwide pend...

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Posted in NewsComments Off

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Houston Real Estate Observer Contributors


Mark W. Martin, Editor
Realtor & Broker
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Ralph Bivins, Journalist
Realty News Report
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Ken Brand, Sales Manager
Prudential Gary Greene
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Allison Zapata, Writer
Insights from an Outsider
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Kim Kyle Morgan
Freelance Journalist
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Sarah Nichols
Freelance Journalist
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Jim Mulholland, Realtor
Cy-Fair Real Estate
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Cindy Bryant, RESA-PRO
Redesign, Etc.
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George Stephens, CRB
Ask George & Chuck
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Charles J. Jacobus, J.D.
Ask George & Chuck
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The News Staff
US, Texas & Houston News
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Guest Contributors
Real Estate Professionals
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