Stephen Fritz's (sfritz) Blog

Pre-qualification versus pre-approval   By Stephen Fritz, Realtor 832-483-1839 www.BuysellHoustonhomes.com www.longpointwoods.com Shopping for a home can be a much smoother process if you research the price range for which you qualify before getting your heart set on the home of your dreams. Ther...

Despite mortgage woes, sub-prime serves purpose  Despite mortgage woes, sub-prime serves purpose   High-risk home mortgages are facing national scrutiny due to the recent rise in sub-prime foreclosures, but a noted research economist with the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University is coming t...

Homeownership in Texas brings key tax advantages   By Stephen Fritz, Realtor 832-483-1839 www.BuysellHoustonhomes.com www.longpointwoods.com Homeownership offers a lot of tax advantages that just aren't an option if you're a renter. But, as with most good things, there are rules and guidelines to...

Texas homeowners protected by law   By Stephen Fritz, Realtor 832-483-1839 www.BuysellHoustonhomes.com www.longpointwoods.com Nationwide, predatory lending can be a real problem, not only in first mortgages but also home equity loans. When homeowners obtain home equity loans with bad terms, it ca...

Property taxes a worry for some retirees   By Stephen Fritz, Realtor 832-483-1839 www.BuysellHoustonhomes.com www.longpointwoods.com Much has been written about the substantial growth in property tax rates over the past 20 years. With the first large wave of baby boomers approaching age 65, some ...

Texans vote for tax relief for seniors, disabled   Voters overwhelmingly approved an amendment to the Texas constitution that will provide property-tax relief to homeowners 65 years and older and homeowners who are disabled. Proposition 1 passed easily, with almost 88% of those who cast ballots v...

Beware so-called "rescue loans"   By Stephen Fritz, Realtor 832-483-1839 www.BuysellHoustonhomes.com www.longpointwoods.com Convinced that home foreclosures will rise dramatically in the next two years, the chief economist for the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University warns that a new scam t...

Texas land still a good investment   By Stephen Fritz, Realtor 832-483-1839 www.BuysellHoustonhomes.com www.longpointwoods.com There's one area of real estate that's been a solid investment in recent years: land. Last year, the median price of an acre of Texas land reached $1,825. That's 23 perce...

Texas seeing rapid population growth   By Stephen Fritz, Realtor 832-483-1839 www.BuysellHoustonhomes.com www.longpointwoods.com Births, immigration and migration from other states are boosting the size of Texas cities and helped make Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston two of the country's fastest-gro...

Helpful Hints for Homeowners Experts describe homes of future   By Stephen Fritz, Realtor 832-483-1839 www.BuysellHoustonhomes.com www.longpointwoods.com New homes have changed dramatically over the past five decades. Small one-story bungalows with less than 1,000 square feet, two bedrooms and a...