Some days just come with an aggravation factor.  This one is a gteat case in point.  Having forgotten to mail a birthday card to a very dear friend, I was on the internet looking for a free ecard.  When I found one i had used before, I pulled it up and procreeded with reckless abandon.  Suddenly the stuff on the scdeen did not look familiar.  At that point I noticed that the name of the e-card program was not the one I thought I was using.I called out for help.  Ralph is my computer guru, who handles all the high tech parts of  our business and my life in  general.He found that although I had only been wayward for a few minutes, there were 254 infected files as a result.Wow!  It then took three long proceedures to erase/remove all those from my computer.  Time and energy wasted not to m... 08/02/2011

Wouldn't it be lovely if all of us could work toward a common goal!  Not being #1, not one upsmanship, but seeing that everyone we have the opportunity to work with, felt they were the most important person we knew. That was the basic concept behind the first company I worked with.  There were ten agents and two owners.  Everyone helped everyone else , with the hope that each of us would reflect the best in everyone else.  We each had an area of the city that we were to learn the basics and all the inside stuff about.  We also had a working partner so even if we were out of the office and a client called with a concern or a need, it was handled.  It was handledthe way you would want yourfavorite client to be treated. When you wrote an offer on a property, your  working partner was to re... 08/01/2011

Ready To Build Or Buy In The Tomball Area?  Call me at 832-816-8066 or email me at liz.flint@hotmail.com and we can get started.   1. How much house can you build or buy? Our first step is to contact a lender.  I have two lenders who have competitive programs.  One of them has a First Time Home Buyer Program that has a smaller down payment than usual, and a great rate.  Below is a picture of my office, we are directly across from Lone Star College Tomball. 2.  If you decide to BUILD My in-house builder is Corin Custom Builders, LLC and the owner, Danny Hannon, would be happy to sit down with you and discuss the building process and even give you a bid on building your dream home.  Danny has been certified by the NAHB as a Certified Green Professional.  Just call me ahead of time, so I c... 07/31/2011

  My journey into the wonderful world of Real Estate started as the result of a house that would not sell.    It was a nice house and we had enjoyed living there, except for one issue.  That was its location.  Remember that is the most important thing to consider when choosing a house.   This one was located on a curve, on an exceptionally busy road.  We had not noticed the traffic when we fell in love with its rural feel.  It was not until we had lived there for several months that we noticed that the wonderful price that had allowed us to move into that neighborhood was due to the fact that it was located on what almost everyone in the area, except us, had known was “dead mans curve.”     Our wake up call to this fact was one night at about 11:30 when we heard a  screeching, followed ... 07/30/2011

While all these other things such as appraisal, inspection and loan processing are taking place, the Title Company, where the agent took your contract, is hard at work.  They are diligently searching through  the ownership records and all other records to be sure that the current property owner can convey clear title to the property you are interested in buying.  Any liens that are found will have to be cleared up before closing or at closing.  This is so that you can rest comfortably in your new home without worry that someone who did work on the house years earlier, or a past lender could show up and demand that you pay a balance that is due against the property.  The title company will issue a “Title Policy.”  This assures you that the title that is being passed to you is clear.  Thi... 07/25/2011

As you proceed through the loan process, your loan officer with order an appraisal.  The appraiser is selected by the lender and it is his/her job to make the lender feel secure about lending the amount of money you will need to purchase the property.  This is in case the mortgage company has to take the property back and sell it.  This is what will happen if you do not make the payments on your loan.   In the case of FHA or VA mortgages, the appraiser is also trained to look for specific things that could cause the house to run down quickly or cost you a lot in repairs in the first few years of the loan.  FHA and VA appraisers will often issue “requirements” that have to be met before the loan can be funded.  Some of the common requirements are:  reventing water heaters, removing tree ... 07/24/2011

Awesome Texas Custom Home Construction -- Corin Builders I am pleased to announce that I now represent Corin Builders.  TexStar Homes has been acquired by Corin Builders.  This Texstar model is called the Rockport.  Danny, the owner of Corin Builders is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a degree in Engineering.  He is able to construct this house or ones from plans you may find on the Internet.  As a custom builder Danny can construct your home to meet your needs.  He also is including some items that used to be considered upgrades for TexStar homes, such as granite counter tops in the kitchen -- and at a significant cost savings. Contact me today to set an appointment for a bid on plans or to tour our models in Tomball.  The model homes are located directly across from Lone Star ... 07/24/2011

We were treated to a challenge recently.  We were asked to list the house of a special person in our lives.  To be trusted with this is both a challenge and a privilege, but it comes with extra amounts of stress!   The house belongs to the Rector of our church.  It is lovely and only four years old but since the church moved to its present location about 3 years ago, the house is further away now than desired.  Since our Rector is constantly on call and very diligent in his duties, he is almost always at the church.  This means that every extra minute should ideally be spent with his wife.  As things are now, lots of those extra minutes are consumed in travel time to and from the church.  The solution is obviously for them to move closer.   They have found their dream house and we now h... 07/22/2011

How productive do you want to be?  It seems that the more you have to do, the more you do get done!  On lazy days without a to do list, very little gets done.  On days with hectic time schedules even with the stress factor, when the sun sets a whole lot of things can be crossed off the to do list! To do lists have been a part of our days for many years.  They are a way to effectively manage all the details that are a part of even the simple transactions. They help us prioritize the have to's and do the rather nots.  Why I even attempt to do without lists is beyond me.  I think it may be something to do with not wanting to submit to the control the lists represent.  It may also be a reluctance to admit that I cannot remember all that needs to be done without assistance Days when we have ... 07/21/2011

Tomball Texas Homes for Sale.  Stop on by my office at 30310 Tomball Parkway and pick up a FREE list of Homes for Sale in the Tomball Texas area.  I can also help with leases, new builds and remodeling. My office is directly across the street from Lone Star College Tomball.  This model home is called the Austin II model.  It is 2016 square feet down stairs and has a game room up that is 17' x 31', and is loaded with upgrades.  This model also serves as our office. This model is called the Rockport.  It is 2849 square feet with the master down and three bedrooms up with a gameroom.  The exterior is white Austin Limestone and hardy plank.  This awesome house in Tomball is 1708 square feet, 3 bedroom, 2 bath, and has lots of upgrades.  They include tile, wood laminate flooring, black grani... 07/21/2011

  Are you ready for some GOOD NEWS?  If not do not read on.  We have researched our notes about the last real recession the Houston Area experienced back in the '80s especially out here around Tomball TX.  We believe that things are not as bad as the media would have us think.  We know because we sold Real Estate to make a living back then too.  Things are not nearly as bad as the 1980s.  All may not be peachy, but…  consider the following!   You will be O.K.! (Unless you just quit trying.)  The interest rate in the 80’s recession was 17-21%,  653 banks failed then.. and to date we have not lost that many… The interest rate today is about 5%. The truth is:  This is still the most affordable market in about 20 years!   Think about it!  Everyone has to live somewhere… There is still a mar... 07/19/2011

FREE List of Tomball Homes for Sale.  Send your email address to liz.flint@hotmail.com for a free list of Tomball Homes for sale.  To help me send you the homes that best match what you are looking for, also include your requirements for: number of bedrooms number of baths minimum square feet how much land  free standing or mobile home This is my office in Tomball.  I am directly across from Lone Star College -- Tomball.  Our physical address is 30310 Tomball Parkway, Tomball, TX  77375.  Feel free to stop by anytime, and just ask for me, Liz Flint.  I'll pull listings for you right away.  07/18/2011

  V is for VERY Community Oriented. Tomball has a lot of special events to encourage community interaction. There is a Farmers Market on Saturdays once a month. One of the favorite events is “Tomball Night.” This is a night for merchants to showcase their wares and shine with super values. There are Holiday Parades and most years there are Fireworks Displays that can be viewed from many downtown areas.             W is for Wildlife. There are so many native animals who live in and around the forested areas. Deer are seen frequently. They seem to spend a lot of time grazing on the sides of roads and crossing roads. People do not seem to bother them at all. We also see racoons, possums, armadillos, and an occasional skunk as they pay visits to various parts of the city and county.        ... 07/18/2011

N Natural beauty is all around. It is a wonderful way to soothe your senses! Just a quick drive down one of the winding roads through the forested areas will help you put new priority on time with nature!               O is for the various varieties of Oaks. Some of these ancient trees will take your breath away with their stately beauty. They are another reminder of the magnificence of the creation. They are also all over the area spreading their arms in thru sheltering manor.             P is for the area parks. There are many parks, Ulrich, Spring Creek, and several others. They are in wonderful settings all around the area. Some are for sports, and some for just quiet moments. Quiet moments are just found more in the Tomball area. The pace is just not as fast. This fact will annoy y... 07/17/2011

  When the price and terms are agreed upon, the earnest money check and a copy of the purchase agreement are usually taken to a neutral party.  This is often a title company, who researches the title of the property to be sure that there are no liens filed against it that would cloud your ownership.  Hopefully you have already found a lender you want to work with prior to finding the home of your dreams.  In providing the information necessary to pre-qualify for the loan,  you speed along the transaction.  A letter of pre-approval is pretty much required these days.  It needs to accompany your offer to purchase so that the seller will be confident that you are really able to buy the house.   Selecting your loan officer is an important thing as you will be in touch with them a lot for th... 07/16/2011

  When you call a Real Estate company, you probably want to know the address of a property you saw advertised so you can just drive by.  The Realtor who answers your call wants to help you find the property that best suits your needs.  He or she has a knowledge of the area and what is available in various price ranges.  They also have up to the minute technology at their fingertips to help you make the most of your shopping time.   The search for property should be fun!  You are likely shopping for your biggest asset, and you are planning to spend a lot of money.  There are a lot of properties to choose from, and you should see enough of them to be sure you are getting just what you want.  Even in the present down market, there are a lot of folks who want to sell for one reason or anoth... 07/16/2011

  In the interest of developing more confident Homebuyers, we are going to attempt to describe, in regular English, what happens during an average Real Estate transaction, from start to finish.  This will be based upon the fifty plus years of combined experience between me and my husband Ralph.  We hope that you will enjoy the experience and have a greater comfort level in making your purchase as a result of reading this.  Please call us or your Realtor if you have questions about any part of the process.   Part 1 will run right through the entire transaction .  Then the subsequent chapters will deal with specific parts of the transaction in detail.      Part 1   If you have ever considered buying Real Estate, you will recall certain things people have told you;  that the most important... 07/15/2011

A Bearded Dragon Walked Into My Office Today! It was so cute.  Her name is Tigger.  She belongs to the daughter of my in-house lender. Here is a close up of Tigger.  Can you see her claws and scales?  She likes to be petted. This shot shows Tigger's spines.  According to her owner, she changes to a dark color if she is mad or upset.  Bearded dragons can be purchased at Pet's Mart for about $42.  They are originally from Australia. Tigger went on a sleepover recently with one of her friends, so the paint helped the owner take the correct bearded dragon home. 07/15/2011

Homes For Sale in Tomball Texas .  Email me today at liz.flint@hotmail.com for a free list of homes for sale in Tomball, Texas .  The more specific you are in terms of your criteria, the closer I can get to sending you  your dream home . Or stop by my office and ask for me, Liz Flint ,  and I would be happy to pull up listings that meet your criteria.  And by the way, if you have not already talked to a lender to find out what your price point is, I have a lender in my office and another one in Tomball. My office address is: at 30310 Tomball Parkway, Tomball, TX  77375     We are directly across from Lone Star College Tomball.  If you wish, you can call ahead to make an appointment.  I look forward to hearing from you soon. 07/14/2011

Two days later while I was attempting to eat some hot soup, to soothe my still ailing throat, the evictee came to the office, walked down the hall and into my office.  She proceeded to tell me that I was wrong about the situation and she should not have to move.  She argued with me and finally told me the parties were not loud and if they were it was because her door was the thinnest one in the complex.  Not only was I not feeling well in the first place, but when she finished her tirade, my soup was cold too.   She did assure me that she would get out and I should not pursue the court thing.The next day I received a call from the Electric Co..  They had turned off the electricity in unit #4 due to no payment.  I thought about the fact that we would soon have frozen pipes and told them ... 07/14/2011