One of my favorite things about living in Pearland is the diversity of our community and the numerous community events organized to bring all of us Pearland residents together! Pearland iFest promises to be a fantastic event to do just that! iFest is Pearland’s first International Festival and will be held on Saturday, September 21st from 11:00am-9:00pm at Independence Park (3919 Liberty Drive, Pearland 77581). You can find complete information on the Pearland iFest web-site. Tickets are available on-line or at the gate. Regular tickets are $10 per adult and $5 per child. The highlighted country this year is Germany. King’s Biergarten, a local German restaurant recently voted the Best German Restaurant in America will be involved in the festival as well. Come out and enjoy ... 09/10/2013

  According to http://houstonagentmagazine.com, Houston's new construction boom has placed us as one of the busiest areas in the U.S. for new construction. Residential construction is up 23 percent from last year and 45 percent overall since 2009! We are seeing this trend first hand in the booming suburban area of Pearland, Texas where residential construction is booming! Pearland subdivisions such as The Preserve at Highland Glen, Sedona Lakes, Village Grove Estates, Oakbrook Estates and more! If you are interested in taking a look at some of the new home home constructions in the fantastic Pearland area, then give me a call at 281-412-2022. I can help you navigate the ins & outs of a new construction home! 09/08/2013

Recycling Carts (96 gallon) and Curbside recycling are on the agenda for the City of Pearland City Council Workshop Monday September 9, 2013 at 6:30PM.  It is the second item on the agenda for the workshop.  If you are in favor of Pearland going to the big 96 gal carts, please let the city council and mayor know by emailing them at council@ci.pearland.tx.us.       09/08/2013

If not the MLS, then who? NAR??? Yea right! A public facing website by the MLS just makes since! Do you think a broker can compete or maybe a franchise will step up and risk millions of dollars to compete? I just do not see that happening. Even if a broker or a franchise did choose to spend millions, a year, to compete with Zillow, Trulia, it would not be a fair fight... Today, Zillow’s market cap was at 3.7 billion dollars. They have no rules to follow in regards to MLS rules and they are not a real estate company, they are an advertising company that just happens to sell ads to Realtors. Don’t get me wrong, I feel Zillow is a great company and has done a lot to make everyone better.  And to top it all off, only that broker would benefit from the eyeballs to that website if they did in... 09/03/2013

  My poor husband has been putting up with a lot lately. I work two jobs and am taking care of my home hospice dad once a week for 24-hours. So he has been so neglected that I decided to bake him a cake today.  This is an easy cake to make as you line the bottom of your cake pan with Cherry Comstock. On top of that layer you sprinkle a white or yellow cake mix and top off with two sticks of pure butter planks. Just as it is starting to brown you add pecans or walnuts and finish browning being careful not to burn your nuts. John is so excited I think he will be going to the store to buy some Blue Bell Old Fashion Vanilla Ice Cream to go on top! This is such an easy cake to make and it is a great treat to take as a closing gift on move in or move out day! If you are looking for a home cal... 08/31/2013

Here it is August again and September begins tomorrow. We Texans know that the heat will not start to let up until the last two days of October... if we are lucky. The public swimming pools are still crowded and they are rented out for the rest of the season. And just like the surrounding cities, the next best thing to do is to own your own home with a private in ground pool. Owning a home with a private pool allows you to experience the quite and private relaxation that a person sometimes needs at the pool side. My permiting friend told me that a pool can cost up to $50,000+; depending how much bling you want. Two years ago it cost $35,000 for a plain and simple pool. If you are in the process of looking for a resale home think about buying one with a pool. It is less expensive to buy ... 08/31/2013

What is for Lease in Pearland August 2013?   There are currently 57 homes in Pearland for lease. They are priced from $900.00 to $5,500; the number of bedrooms vary from two to 5, however a great many of them feature four bedrooms. The square footage starts at 1,392 with the largest one at 4,647-square feet. The homes for lease in Pearland all have at least one full bathroom, but some have up to four. These homes for lease are located throughout Pearland, in new and in beautifully established subdivisions. Pearland has many rental homes and there is always something to consider leasing in your budgeted price range. So if you are looking for a lease in Pearland, be sure to call me today! We have a lot to look at! 08/31/2013

I have gotten several buyers and sellers from Active Rain, and they usually find me by searching on the internet for something  specific about the areas I work in, or the neighborhoods I list and sell in most often.   But the most unusual way someone has found me on Active Rain occurred on a rainy day in Pearland.   My clients were meeting with family members at a restaurant to discuss the sale of their family home. They had not yet found a Realtor to represent them, and really didn't know how to go about finding one.   One of the family members tried to lighten up the mood by making a joke. He said, "Well, since it's raining cats and dogs outside, let's see if it's raining Realtors." He then proceeded to Google "raining Realtors in Pearland". Guess who showed up? Your's truly!   He ca... 08/29/2013

The strange thing about writing about this fantastic new Pearland restaurant, Killen's Barbecue, is that it isn't even open yet!  Hundreds of people have tasted this fantastic food and everyone is talking about it, but the restaurant is still under construction.  How can that be, you ask?  Well, Ronnie Killen is building a new restaurant at 3613 E. Broadway (central Pearland-near the Old Townsite) and is currently offering a taste of his fantastic food, by serving it every weekend to hundreds of people who line up at his outdoor, makeshift temporary restaurant. You'll have no trouble finding the spot which starts serving at 11am on Saturday and Sunday.  Just look for a hundred people lined up waiting to buy food at a pop up tent and you'll know you're in the right place!  There are picn... 08/28/2013

Pearland Texas Home Listings for 8/17/2013   As you may have already experienced Pearland Texas Home Listings are currently experiencing a sellers market. You as a buyer will need to move quickly to buy the home that you have selected within the Pearland Texas Home Listings. Just click on my Sussie Sutton Realtor Web Page so that you can log onto my MLS listings to find the home of your choice within the Pearland Texas Home Listings available. Just fill in the information blanks with what you are requiring in a new home and press search! If you are not currently working with an agent and would like assistance buying real estate in Pearland Texas please contact Sussie Sutton at 713-822-1655. I am most interested in helping you through this process. 08/17/2013

On days in which I am stressed, overwhelmed or just plain bored... I do what many people do... I eat. Even thou I can't do much eating these days... I still think about eating. Along with thinking about getting your clients a closing gift have we ever considered a nice casserole so they will have something to eat while in the process of moving in or out? I don't know about you but I think it is a good idea. Make it a picnic include a basket, plates, cutlery, a jug of tea, and your Pizza Casserole! Right now this Pizza Casserole looks very good. If you would like the recipe go to my Facebook page Sussie Sutton Says... and scroll until you find it. Moving In or Out a Pizza Casserole Picnic is a New Way to Go!       08/13/2013

Do you know what you're paying for every month? When you decide to buy a new home, a good first step is to determine how much mortgage you can afford. After talking to a mortgage broker or using a mortgage calculator, you may find a payment amount that falls well within your monthly budget. Keep in mind the mortgage payment is only one of the monthly expenses you are responsible for with a new house. So, what else are you paying for? Your monthly payment typically is made of four components: principal, interest, taxes, and insurance - often referred to as PITI. Principal. Principal is the amount you originally borrow. Early in your mortgage's term, your payments will be applied mostly to the loan's interest. As the loan progresses, you'll pay off more principal. Interest. Interest is mo... 08/13/2013

Keep Pearland Beautiful is hosting a summer contest in conjunction with Keep Texas Beautiful and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).  KPB applied for and received two DMWT trashcans from TxDOT. Each week, KPB will be placing one can at a location on the Westside and one can at a location on the Eastside of Pearland. If you find the can, take a photo of yourself throwing away a piece of trash. Then, like Keep Pearland Beautiful on Facebook and upload the photo to KPB's fan page. The participant(s) who find the most cans and upload the most photos will win a Casa Ole Fajita party for 6. In case of a tie there will be drawing of one winner.  One entry, per can, per week. There is one can at two separate locations per week for a maximum of two entries per week.  There will an ad... 08/04/2013

    Now that you've signed all the paperwork and your loan is approved, it's time to move in.  But wait!  Before you put your feet up, there are a few things that you will need in order to make your new house a home.   Locks   Regardless of whether you purchase a newly constructed home or one that was formerly owned by someone else, it's important that you have the locks changed.  Everyone from REALTORS® and contractors to friends and family of the former owner may have a key, which is why getting new locks should be at the top of your list.   Furnishings   You can't hang your hat without a hatrack, so don't forget to add some necessary furnishings.  Some homes may include appliances and possibly even some furniture, but most homeowners prefer to decorate their house themselves.  After... 07/28/2013

  When you think of your ideal home, do you envision a detached, single-family house with a big lawn? Many people associate this image with homeownership, but the best fit for you might be a historic townhome on a tree-lined street or a top-floor penthouse overlooking a city skyline. Whatever you imagine, choosing the right property depends on your situation and goals. Your REALTOR® can help you find a home that fits your needs and help you understand what is involved in purchasing and owning property. Here are two types of property that your REALTOR® might suggest to you: Condos You enjoy many of the same benefits from owning a condo as you do a single-family home. You can deduct your mortgage interest and property taxes from your federal income taxes if you itemize, and you increase p... 07/27/2013

Fellow REALTOR®, A critical Call for Action regarding federal income tax reform will end very soon. To those of you who have already responded to the Call for Action, I sincerely thank you. I ask that you please spread the word among your REALTOR® friends and colleagues. To those who have not yet responded to the Call for Action, please act now. U.S. Senators are considering sweeping tax changes, and every current  exemption, deduction, or credit in the tax code is on the line. That means the mortgage interest deduction, the deduction for state and local taxes, and the capital gains exclusion of the sale of a primary residence may all disappear. These crucial tax benefits are among a wide range of tax provisions that affect residential, investment, and commercial real estate. Houston RE... 07/25/2013

Oakbrook Estates Pearland Homes for Sale    Oakbrook Estates is a fairly new subdivision. Currently there are at least 800 residents with a new section currently under construction. Located on Dixie Farm Road and a mile from Highway 35 this subdivision is near FM 518/ Broadway and Pearland Parkway. Work in the Med Center or downtown Houston? No problem this subdivision is a 20 minute drive. Baybrook Mall is nearby as well. Pearland's Independent School District is an exemplary star rated school. Additionally, there is a campus for the University of Houston and Alvin Community College. There are currently 4 homes in Oakbrook Estates Pearland for sale. They are priced from $184,900 to $222,675. They all have four bedrooms, except for one which has three. The square footage starts at 2,128... 07/22/2013

I recently received a call from a gentleman wanting to see the model home at new subdivision. After he introduced him self he said the magic words, "I saw and read what you wrote about North Pointe Trails and that house you sold there" The post he is speaking about was written a few months back. This is the first time that I know for sure that my post came from Google when he typed in the subdivisions name. I was so excited to have verbal proof! ACTIVE RAIN POSTING DOES WORK! He works rather far away and we made an appointment to meet at a later date to visit the model there and other new residential subdivisions.     07/20/2013

  Always dreamed of renovating a home exactly to your specifications, or have you found an older house that is structurally sound but needs a lot of work inside?  Perhaps the price is right and you can't resist all that house you can get for your money.  Whatever the reason, buying a fixer-upper can be both an exciting and rewarding purchase or a financial and time consuming disaster, depending on whether you are prepared for what you have gotten yourself into.  So what should you know before buying a home that requires a little or a lot of tender loving care?   The Benefits   The benefits of purchasing a fixer-upper are obvious.  The price is usually right, and if the seller wants a quick sale because of decreased interest in the home, you may be able to negotiate a really great price.... 07/17/2013

Beautiful home with tropical swimming pool in Shadow Creek Ranch! OverviewMapsPhotosMarket Stats $395,000 Single Family Home Main Features 5 Bedrooms3 Bathrooms1 Partial BathroomInterior: 4,040 sqftLot: 16,370 sqft Location 11501 Island Breeze StreetPearland, TX 77584USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below: Maggie McFarland RE/MAX Pearland - Maggie McFarland(281) 412-2022PearlandHomeTeam@aol.comhttp://www.thehomesourceonline.com   Listed by: Maggie McFarland Our recent listings Spacious home in Shadow CreekWaterfront home in Shadow Creek RanchWaterfront home in Gated CommunitySpacious Home in Wood CreekBeautiful Waterfront Home Subscribe to our listing feed Nearby properties for sale 07/14/2013