Recent Blog Posts

If you are behind on a house in Waco, there are two completely different sales that can take it, and almost nobody realizes they now happen in two different places. One moved onto the internet. The other still happens on the courthouse steps on Washington Avenue, the way it has for a century.Knowing which one you are facing changes what your deadline is, where the notice will appear, and whether you can get the house back afterward.Two sales, two places, two clocksA tax sale happens when the taxing units foreclose over delinquent property taxes. A substitute trustee's sale happens when the lender forecloses under the deed of trust you signed at closing. They are separate processes with separate law behind them, and a house in trouble can be headed for both at once.In McLennan County the... 09/12/2026

Being an avid traveler, there are times I have no idea which direction I am going.   BUT, Google maps is wonderful.It is also nice when you have landmarks or other items to help you with the direction.   LIKE - the beautiful Rocky Mountains!  In Denver, as long as you can SEE the mountains, you know that is WEST. Here in Portugal, the sea is to the South, so I haven't lost my sense of direction here either.But, cannot say that for other cities, states, or countries!     09/12/2026

As real estate professionals, we know that helping clients find a home isn't just about square footage and floor plans, it’s about the community surrounding the property. A active town center, strong civic pride, and reliable local infrastructure are huge drivers for long-term home value and neighborhood satisfaction.Here is a quick look at how Berea, Kentucky continues to stand out as a fantastic place to live and invest: A Thriving Cultural Scene: The Berea Arts Council recently hosted its ‘Stepping Out for Art’ event, bringing artists and supporters together. Berea’s reputation as the Folk Art and Craft Capital of Kentucky continues to attract homebuyers who value creativity and small-town charm. Civic Pride & Roadway Improvements: Our Madison County Fiscal Court recently celebrated ... 09/12/2026

Relocating to Auburn University: Don’t Underestimate Jordan-Hare StadiumRelocating to Auburn University means learning something that can be difficult to appreciate until you’ve experienced it yourself: Jordan-Hare Stadium is enormous compared with the city surrounding it.Its official capacity is 88,043 people.On a football Saturday, Auburn Athletics describes a full Jordan-Hare Stadium as the equivalent of Alabama’s fifth-largest city.Think about that for a minute.An enormous concentration of people can gather in one stadium in the middle of Auburn.Then add everyone tailgating, working the game, visiting Downtown Auburn, eating in restaurants, walking around campus or simply coming to town without a ticket.That’s why I tell people relocating here:Don’t choose where you’re going to live... 09/12/2026

Most people on the coast assume a sale falls apart at the inspection. On a Corpus Christi house it more often falls apart later, at the insurance step, over a piece of paper nobody thought about until the buyer's lender asked for it.The paper is a windstorm certificate of compliance. If the house does not have one covering the work that has been done to it, the buyer may not be able to buy windstorm coverage, and if they cannot buy coverage, the lender is not going to fund. The house is fine. The contract is not.The step that kills coastal contracts is not the inspectionNueces County sits inside the area served by the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, which describes itself as "a residual insurer of last resort" created to "provide an adequate market for windstorm and hail insuranc... 09/12/2026

Just Listed: Rare Cedar Hammock Golf Home with Immediate Golf Privileges in Naples Finding a single-family home for sale in Cedar Hammock Golf & Country Club is not easy. In fact, only two single-family homes have been available for sale in Cedar Hammock during the past two years, making this new listing an especially rare opportunity for buyers searching for a Naples bundled golf community. We are excited to introduce 3602 Cedar Hammock Court, Naples, Florida, a spacious 4-bedroom, 3-bath Rutenberg pool home offering immediate golf privileges, an oversized .25-acre lot, a 3-car garage, and beautiful lake and golf course views overlooking the 10th hole at Cedar Hammock Golf & Country Club. Offered at $1,050,000, this home combines something increasingly difficult to find in Naples: a s... 09/12/2026

If you own a house in one of Frisco's public improvement districts and you are getting ready to sell, there is a notice Texas requires you to hand the buyer before the contract is binding. Skip it and the buyer can come after you for damages up to four years later.Most sellers in this position do not know the notice exists. A good number do not know what they still owe on the assessment either, and the City of Frisco has said as much in writing.Two different Frisco payments that both get called the PIDThe City of Frisco draws a distinction on its own public improvement district page that is worth getting straight before anything else. In the city's words: "The PID fee that you are paying the Home Owners Association is for the ongoing maintenance," while "The PID assessment is for the fi... 09/12/2026

Auburn Football Game Day: Loudest Crowd or Biggest Upset?Auburn football game day can give you moments you remember for the rest of your life, so here’s today’s Auburn question:Would you rather experience the loudest crowd you’ve ever heard at Jordan-Hare Stadium — or witness the biggest Auburn upset you’ve ever seen?That’s a hard one.Because when Jordan-Hare gets loud, you don’t just hear it.You feel it.But there’s also nothing quite like watching Auburn win a game that people weren’t expecting Auburn to win.So which experience are you choosing? LOUDEST CROWDor BIGGEST UPSETIf you’re considering moving to Auburn, Alabama, this is another glimpse into why football Saturdays are such a distinctive part of living in a university town.Auburn Football Game Day Can Get LOUDYou can watch Aubu... 09/12/2026

Vista Weekly Market Update August 31st - September 6th, 2026 California Villas RECENTLY SOLD Promenade Circle | 3 bedrooms | 2.5 baths | 1350 sq. ft. | $439,000 Marlin Terrace RECENTLY SOLD Marlin Drive | 3 bedrooms | 2 baths | 1322 sq. ft. | $380,000 Vista Knolls RECENTLY SOLD Windy Lane | 1 bedrooms | 1 baths | 856 sq. ft. | $275,000 09/12/2026

Trivia question answers for Friday September 11, 20261. Which Christmas tune was the first song performed in space? Jingle Bells2. "The Jefferson's" was a spinoff of what show? All in the Family3. Who was the first President to deliver the inaugural addresss entirely from    memory? Franklin Pearce4. When did college basketball introduce the 3-point shot? 1987Trivia questions for Saturday September 12, 20261. What is the plural of "crisis"?2. What Greek god is the ruler of the underworld?3. What is the literal translation of the word "Utopia"?4. Who is the Roman goddess of love?Enjoy your day. 09/12/2026

This Week…Sea-sonal Dinner This week I returned to a dish I learned to make in classes at Williams-Sonoma in Reston, VA.  What I like about this dish is that it takes very little time to make, and it can be an appetizer or main dish.Seared sea scallops with tropical salsa sounds elegant but is also simple. If you have fresh pineapple and mango, that’s great, but it can also be made using frozen fruit. If you do, make sure they’re patted dry. Scallops can seem small, but it doesn’t take many to fill you up!!Seared Scallops with Tropical Salsa Salsa Ingredients:½ cup Diced pineapple½ cup Diced mango½ cup Diced cucumber½ cup Diced red pepper3 Tbs Chopped cilantro4 tsp Fresh lime juice1 jalapeño chili; seeded & mincedSalt and pepper to taste1 Pound sea scallops (about 16) *Sea scallops are ... 09/12/2026

Many people ask what an agent should be doing to market a property. This question often surfaces when a seller is trying to choose the right agent for the job. Many opinions are tossed around and at times it may look like posturing by agents trying to compete with others when discussing the issue at a listing appointment.However, one point - and probably the point every seller is looking to have explained is that the MOST effective marketing is always done with respect to targeting actual (qualified) buyers - not just "throwing your efforts out there like confetti" hoping that something will land on a prospect.I view a lot of print marketing to the general audience as such. Good, positive and focused marketing takes time, effort and money. You should not only be asking what your agent i... 09/12/2026

👣Val Vista Baseline Area in Mesa, AZ for 9-12-26☀️For ALL of Your East Valley AZ Real Estate Needs📞Call or 🙋‍♂Text Brian at 480-773-2370📨Email Brian💲REAL ESTATE Activity in the Val Vista Baseline Area💲The Val Vista Baseline Area in Mesa, AZ, is very well located.  Shopping, Schools, and Fine Dining are within Walking Distance, and there is quick access to the US 60 Freeway.  Arizona is known for having an abundance of golf courses since the weather allows for year-round play. There are definitely a lot of great courses to play near the Val Vista Baseline Area, so residents have plenty to choose from!  There is always something fun going on in the area. I live in the Val Vista Baseline Area myself, and I have always enjoyed how friendly the people are, the affordability of the homes, and... 09/12/2026

It can feel like a great time to sell when you hear that buyers are out there looking.But here's something sellers need to remember:Buyers have choices.A buyer may look at several properties before deciding which one deserves an offer.That means getting people through the door is only the beginning.Price matters. Presentation matters. And how your property compares to the competition matters.Two homes can be in the same community and look similar on paper—but one can attract strong interest while the other sits.Why?Sometimes it's the price.Sometimes it's the condition.Sometimes buyers simply don't see enough reason to choose one over the other.In today's market, getting attention is important. Getting buyers to act is what matters.That starts with making sure your property gives them a ... 09/12/2026

When I'm showing homes in The Villages, I'll sometimes ask buyers how they see themselves using the lanai. Morning coffee? Dinner outside? Sitting out there in the evening with a drink?The direction the lanai faces can make a difference. A west-facing lanai can give you some great sunsets, and some buyers really want that. The tradeoff is summer. That late afternoon sun coming straight at the lanai can make dinner outside a little warm.I've always liked north and south-facing lanais. Ours faces south, but we also have a paver patio on the east side of the house. By evening, the house gives us shade over there, so we'll eat outside or just sit there while the sun is setting over the house.I've shown homes where buyers loved everything about the house but weren't crazy about the way the l... 09/12/2026

After reflecting for about 12 hours on the Patriots' loss, I have to say I place the blame squarely on Coach Vrabel. With two preseason games under his belt, he had ample opportunity to get the offense ready for Week 1, yet he chose not to play a single offensive starter in any of those games. That turned Week 1 into nothing more than a meaningless tune-up. As for Drake Maye, who’s probably asking for a $70 million yearly contract—he threw three interceptions in the fourth quarter, one of which was on Dobbs, but the last two were on Maye and Vrabel. Especially frustrating was the final pick with 29 seconds left; you NEVER throw that ball—just throw it away! It was reminiscent of that infamous Seahawks pick in the Super Bowl. Overall, just a disappointing performance all around. Done ran... 09/12/2026

Selling your home with an agent helps you price it correctly, market it effectively, and avoid costly mistakes. And because an agent understands local market trends, they can position your home competitively to attract serious buyers while maximizing your return. If you're considering selling, send me a message to chat through your options. #realestate #realestateagent #financehub #buying #selling 09/12/2026

RECIPE: Classic Southern Pimento CheeseThe Little Bowl That Belongs at Every GatheringI’m hosting my bookclub on Tuesday and searching for recipes that I will create for the gathering. This one will be front and center as it is always a hit!Some recipes simply do not need reinvention. They merely need good ingredients and someone willing to grate the cheese! Pimento cheese is one of those familiar Southern favorites that always seems right at home—on a Saturday snack board, tucked into a sandwich, spooned onto a burger or enjoyed straight from the bowl with a crisp cracker.This version has the creamy texture we love with enough freshly grated sharp cheddar to give it real personality! A little Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder and smoked paprika add flavor without taking it too far fr... 09/12/2026

Ocean Beach Weekly Market Update August 31st - September 6th, 2026 Park Point Loma NEWLY LISTED Caminito Seguro | 3 bedrooms | 2.5 baths | 1831 sq. ft. | $999,999 RECENTLY SOLD Caminito Espejo | 3 bedrooms | 2.5 baths | 1516 sq. ft. | $529,000 Caminito Estero | 4 bedrooms | 2.5 baths | 1636 sq. ft. | $575,000 Sea Colony NEWLY LISTED Voltaire Street | 1 bedrooms | 1 baths | 876 sq. ft. | $529,000 RECENTLY SOLD Caminito Pescado | 2 bedrooms | 1.5 baths | 1074 sq. ft. | $749,000 Voltaire | 2 bedrooms | 2.5 baths | 1332 sq. ft. | $569,900 Temecula Heights NEWLY LISTED Temecula Street | 1 bedrooms | 1 baths | 536 sq. ft. | $485,000 09/12/2026

Frontera Sauvignon Blanc Wine or Black Box Sauvignon Blanc WineI asked ChatGPT to write an article comparing Frontera Sauvignon Blanc wine with Black Box Sauvignon Blanc wine. "Which is a better choice for serving to guests?" The reason for the comparison is that we were servied the Frontera wine at a local happy hour session and liked it. However, we normally purchase the Black Box wine for home use. Which would you select? Black Box Sauvignon Blanc is the clear winner for hosting guests. While both brands source grapes from Chile and deliver crisp, citrus-forward profiles, Black Box edges out Frontera in flavor balance, presentation convenience, and practical party value. Head-to-Head Comparison Feature Frontera Sauvignon Blanc Black Box Sauvignon Blanc Packaging Options Traditional 7... 09/12/2026