SanAntonioTXblog

Huge improvements and upgrades in the last 2 years!

 Over 1,224 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 1 bath.  Minutes to Lackland AFB. Well-maintained home with lots of recent improvements & upgrades. New carpet, laminate flooring, interior paint, countertops, gas water heater, gas stove & refrigerator in 2008. New dishwasher installed 2009. All energy-star appliances & low-flow commode to help you save on utility bills. Upgraded light fixtures & ceiling fans. Faux wood blinds. Lots of storage space. Huge 32x19 covered back patio. Big, shaded backyard with mature trees & 22x10 out building w/ electric. Click here to see your virtual tour

So much for so little - come see the serious improvements!

6403 Ridge Creek - 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 2 car garage, approx. .25 acres Click here to see the virtual tour Come and see all the recent improvements to this great home on a huge corner lot! NEW interior paint, wood laminate flooring throughout, ceiling fans & light fixtures in 4/09. Spacious, open floorplan features gameroom w/ wet bar & 1/2 bath, bonus room w/ outside access, large master suite w/ 2 closets, lots of storage, wood-burning fireplace w/ gas starter. Gas cooking, heating & water heater. Huge yard with mature trees, covered patio, two decks & storage shed. Great investor potential!

Priced well under 2007 Sales Price

4310 Gentle Grove - 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 2 car garage, approx. 1,712sf Click here to see the virtual tour Located on a quiet cul-de-sac street in a great neighborhood, this gently lived-in home features two living areas, ceramic tile in all the right places, 9' ceilings, upgraded fixtures, island kitchen w/ walk-in pantry, breakfast bar, smooth top range & built-in microwave. Neutral interior paint March 08. Northside ISD schools. Close to bases, Northwest Vista College, shopping & entertainment.

More home for the price!

9438 Victory Row - 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 car garage, approx. 1,751sf Click here to see the virtual tour Rare one- story w/ mature trees, larger than avg. lot on a cul-de-sac, more than expected sq.ft. Only 1 way in/out of this small neighborhood just inside 1604 & Braun close to everything. Open floor plan offers great living area 2 eating areas & nice sized bedrooms. Kitchen has walk-in pantry, plenty of counter space & island. A/C replaced in 5/08, programmable thermostat, ceiling fans & low flow commodes help w/ utilities. Plumbed for H20 softner.

Energy Star's Tax-Free Purchases & Money Saving Appliances - Did you know?

 Click here for full article San Antonio Express-News article– Homeowners, developers, landlords and anyone else wishing to buy energy efficient appliances will be able to purchase them tax-free Memorial Day weekend across Texas.

May 23 through 25, taxes will be deducted from Energy Star–qualified appliances. This will include air conditioners under $6,000, washing machines, ceiling fans, dehumidifiers, dishwashers, light bulbs, programmable thermostats and refrigerators priced under $2,000.

The Energy Star label, developed by the Environmental Protection Agency, appears on appliances that use less energy or water than the industry standard to operate.

There is no limit on the number of Energy Star appliances that can be purchased tax-free.

Additionally, San Antonio Water System customers who purchase the highest efficiency washing machines, known as Tier 3, can also qualify for a $100 rebate on their water bill.

$8,000 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit highlights we can all understand

The tax credit is for first-time home buyers only.

The tax credit does not have to be repaid.

The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000.

The credit is available for homes purchased on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009.

Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with in-comes up to $150,000 qualify for the full tax credit.

For a full explanation with your Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) answered by my personal lender, click here now  or just call me!

Newsweek's ranked a few San Antonio area schools in their list of 1,300 top U.S. high schools for 2008

Schools can be an important part of selecting the location of your next home or in someone choosing to buy yours over someone elses.  I just read a Newsweek article online titled "The Top of the Class - The complete list of the 1,300 top U.S. high schools" for 2008 - here is a link to those in San Antonio Newsweek's The Top of the Class - San Antonio .  Mine's there, is yours?

Get the real estate info you need almost instantly!

I've been working on how to communicate more effectively and efficiently with my current clients and potential customers. Take a look at the top right of this web blog - we've now added the ability to instant message us from this blog for a faster response from my team or you can send an instant message directly to ScottJRealtor from AOL or Yahoo or MSN to my phone or text my Sprint cell number of 2103649434. We are committed to being available during all business hours and replies to you requests are handled as soon as possible.

Jeff Hamilton, President United Lending LLC has a few words to say about me

Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac (F&F) - and us taxpayers

Everyone, and their brother, has heard the news that Fannie & Freddie have been placed “conservatorship”. Like it or not, the government agreed to pump billions of dollars into Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and assume responsibility for trillions of dollars of their debt, while handing control of the companies to federal regulators and eliminating stockholder equity. Why? Everyone is hoping that it restores confidence in the mortgage markets. The seizure of F&F will cost taxpayers billions of dollars! What has it done already? * Ginnie Mae securities (backed by FHA & VA loans) are better by .75 in price * Fannie Mae securities are better by over 1 point in price * Treasury prices are worse by .75 in price. * The spread between conforming mortgage-backed securities and Treasury securities has dropped dramatically! For example, the 5-yr Treasury Note is worse in price by almost a point, but a 6% mortgage is better by .75 in price. * Fannie’s trading desk suspended operations, temporarily, but is now back in business. * The US Government announced that they will make a market in trading MBS securities. * The stock markets around the world are rallying on the news. * F&F must cease lobbying efforts. * Debt interest is expected to be paid. * Shareholder dividends are expected to cease. * Future F&F losses would be covered by the US Government, and in turn, the taxpayer. * The Treasury will both lend to F&F. * FHFA will gain management control of the two companies and the Treasury will acquire $1 billion in preferred shares in each company. * Many small banks had capital tied up in the preferred shares of Fannie and Freddie, depending on the dividends for reliable income, and the value of those shares to meet the capital levels required by regulators. Apparently either gone or under consideration. Bottom line, the government’s takeover should take out higher rates due to the risk that have been associated with Fannie and Freddie. Hopefully, we should all see more volume in new home sales and refinances. Talk to a lender you trust to see how it affects you personally. I've asked one of my preferred lenders, Jeff Hamilton President of United Lending, whom I trust to start sharing info via my blog so you should see articles appearing often related to the financing side of owning a home. Personally, I'm doing my homework before going to the polls in November!

New Home/Remodeling County Inspection Program began 9/1/08

Many buyers don't know they should use a REALTOR on the purchase of their new home, below is a prime example of why they should work with someone who stays up to date on the latest requirements. My services are paid by the home builder not the buyer (the price doesn't go up for using a REALTOR, it may even go down). I know we have several subdivisions nearby where this new law will apply, if you have any questions, click on the links provided within the article or just call me. New Home/Remodeling County Inspection Program Law Takes Effect September 1, 2008 for Inspections designed to catch problems before homebuyers move in House Bill 1038, passed by the 2007 Legislature, created a County Inspection program for all homes built or remodeled if the work was performed in unincorporated areas or in cities that do not offer municipal inspections. In anticipation of the program’s Monday start date, the Texas Residential Construction Commission has been designing the program rules and signing up fee inspectors. The three new inspections include a foundation inspection before concrete is poured, a framing and mechanical systems assessment before wallboard is installed and a final inspection upon completion. The inspections must be performed by a fee inspector that is either a licensed engineer, a registered architect, a professional Texas Real Estate Commission inspector or a third party inspector certified by the Texas Residential Construction Commission. To access a list of builders/remodelers that have already registered with the commission, click here For more information about the county inspections program visit the commission’s website or contact them at 877-651-8722 (TRCC).