Schertz Blog

EXTREME MAKEOVER HERE WE COME!

2012-01-18T08:52:00.000-08:00

Today is the day!!!! We are official volunteers for Extreme Makeover Home Edition! Yippeee!!! We are so excited to be able to give our time and service to help a wounded warrior right here in the San Antonio area...the family is so deserving and have sacrificed so much for OUR FREEDOM. We will be heading out to Floresville tonight from 8pm to 2am with our work gloves in tow..ready to help where we can. Although they are no longer taking volunteers...spectators are welcome. From what I understand, things are moving right along and the BIG reveal will be Saturday afternoon.

If you are interested in learning more about this deserving family...you can read about them on the Morgan's Wonderland website Morgan's Wonderland.

What an honor and a blessing this will be for all of the member's of The Claus Team! We are truly grateful for all of our military members and the risks they take to protect our freedom. We are also thankful for the families that stand behind them...often spending many days, weeks, and months without them...they can serve because they have you supporting them.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

We keep you posted on how it goes!!!!

Want to buy a home now or in the future....Read on!!

2012-01-03T12:32:00.000-08:00

Homeownership is part of the American dream. Are you ready to realize that dream NOW? Or are you ready to realize that dream...but not financially ready? Maybe you have owned a home before and want to buy a new one. Whatever your circumstance is, The Claus Team is here to help you realize your dreams.

On Tuesday, January 17th, The Claus Team will host a FREE....yes FREE....homebuyer seminar. We will have a local lender that we trust and respect present to give you TONS of valuable information on purchasing a home. This seminar is great for everyone...first time homebuyers, previous/current homeowners, etc. Even if you know you cannot purchase a home now due to bad credit, low income, or whatever your reason...you should come. There will be plenty of tips on how to get yourself into a position to purchase a home.

Of course, our Claus Team realtors will be present to answer questions about the housing market, explain the home buying process, and help you to decide if and when homebuying is a good choice for you!

So here are the details:

January 17th 2012

Schertz Public Library

Meeting Room 2

5:30-7:30

We would love to see you there! Send us a message or email if you have any questions!

LAYAWAY ANGELS!

2011-12-21T07:55:00.000-08:00

Wow, Christmas is only a few days away! We are all so busy finishing up at work, getting the last of the gifts, wrapping the presents, and preparing for the celebrations with friends and family. My heart has been touched this holiday season and reminded that it is soooooo much better to give than receive. What made me really think about that idea this year??? If you haven't already heard, there is a group of "Layaway Angels" spreading Christmas cheer across the nation. Who are these angels and exactly what are they doing?

If you look closely at the picture, you will see that anonymous individuals are visiting Kmarts and Walmarts around the county and paying off customers layaway accounts. Many of the people who put their Christmas gifts on layaway are unable to pay the account in time for Christmas. These "angels" have made it possible for those individuals to celebrate a very Merry Christmas.

What's even cooler is that these "Layaway Angels" have touch the lives of several families right here in South Texas. Last Friday at the Walmart in Boerne, several "layaway angels" walked into the store and asked how they could help. They ended up paying off over $1600 on layaway accounts...even better, all of the items paid were toys. It warms my heart to know that there are many families in the Boerne area now whose kids will enjoy possibly the best Christmas yet!

So, as we go into Christmas this weekend, take a minute to be thankful for what you have. If you know someone in need and you are in a position to help~think about doing it, it may just bring you the most joy!

If you are interested in hearing more about the Layaway Angels in Boerne, here is the link to the broadcast from KSAT 12 news.

Boerne Layaway Angels

If you have any good stories of how you have spread Christmas blessings or if you have been blessed...we would love to hear it!

Merry Christmas to all!

WE believe in Christmas!

2011-12-07T06:38:00.000-08:00

One of our favorite parts of Christmas is jumping in the car one evening and driving around to look at Christmas lights. It seems like every year people put up less outdoor decorations...but there is a family in Cibolo that shows the TRUE Christmas spirit! They go all out with decorations, Santa, Santa's mailbox, and more. They even have their own website and a facebook page.

I mean WOW!!!!! Isn't that awesome!

There website is actually http://www.webelieveinchristmas.com/

You can also go to their facebook page http://www.facebook.com/#!/WeBelieveInChristmas

204 Nandina Ct in Cibolo, TX 78108

They have fun for all. This year Santa is scheduled to make a few visits starting this Saturday Dec. 10th from 6:30-8:30. He will also be there on the 17th, 24th, and 25th at the same times.

Did your kiddo write a letter to Santa this year? Well they can send it off here!

Be sure to include a return address on your letter and Santa will send a letter to them! How COOL is that?

The best part of this is everything is FREE...you got it FREE...you can take your own pictures with Santa at no charge, actually they owners will even upload the pictures they take to Walgreens and you can order for there.

While enjoying the lights, Santa, and the spirit of Christmas...this family does not forget those who are less fortunate. They always have a box for donations of new unwrapped toys, new children’s clothes, gift cards and monetary donations on behalf of The Forgotten Child charity which assists children in foster care through CPS locally.

So, if you have a lot to be thankful for and you can spare a little drop by with a gift for a child in need!

WE WISH YOU ALL A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Festival of Angels~Schertz, TX

2011-11-29T11:41:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays Everyone! It's so hard to believe that Thanksgiving has already past and Christmas is quickly approaching! Here at the Claus Team...Christmas is our favorite time of year~which fits us well considering our team name! :) So, let's kick off the holiday season. This Friday December 2nd, the city of Schertz will begin its Festival of Angels.

What a great way to get into the holiday spirit. One thing that comes to mind when I think of Christmas is cold weather and snow....ha ha, except for here in south Texas. Well, Schertz has got it figured out! Bring the whole family out to sled down Mt. Schertz...of course it's not your typical mountain...but it's still lots of fun and will get you in the spirit! Check out these great images from previous years.

You also won't want to miss the awesome lighted night parade which kicks off at 6:30 pm! Begins at the Samuel Clemens High School Parking Lot and ends at Pickrell Park.

Other attractions will be Market Days (handmade crafts available for purchase) plus food/beverage vendors.

This is going to be a ton of fun for EVERYONE~all ages will enjoy getting in the holiday spirit!

Hope to see you there!

We LOVE our veterans! Come show your support Nov 5th!

2011-11-03T11:04:00.000-07:00

If you have ever lived in or near the Schertz/Cibolo/Universal City area...you know that the military is a HUGE part of our community! All of us here in the area, whether veterans or civilians, LOVE our military members. With Veteran's Day just around the corner, The Greater Randolph Area Veteran's Council will sponsor the 41st annual Veteran's Day Parade in Universal City this Saturday Nov 5th.

This parade is actually the oldest, continuous parade in the San Antonio area.

The route runs along Pat Booker Rd. and begins at 10:30 am. Bring the kiddos~there should be candy coming their way. This is a great opportunity to support the veterans in our community (I'm sure most of us have at least one relative or friend who is a veteran). So come out and enjoy a great parade!!!!

For more information visit The City of Universal City Website

Off we go....into the wild blue yonder!

2011-10-25T09:04:00.000-07:00

There's something about military planes that leave you awestruck! From the F-16's to the Blue Angels to the aerobatic air crafts....it's all exciting and fun to watch! So, this weekend is the opportunity for you to come out to Randolph Air Force Base and watch our military pilots "do their thing." There will be fun for the whole family + admission and parking are FREE! This Saturday and Sunday October 29th and 30th.

The featured flight will be the Navy's Blue Angels

Everyone will enjoy the fun and vigor of this great event!

They will also have food, children's inflatables, aircraft simulators, military recruiters, and tons of informational booths. Gates open at 9 am. More information (including the schedule of performances) is available at this link Randolph AFB Air Show 2011.

We hope you will be able to check out this AWESOME event! Not only will you have fun but you will be showing support and appreciation for our military! To all of you who are military,

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!

One final note: Don't forget the earplugs....it does get LOUD!

A Night of Denim and Diamonds!

2011-10-20T13:02:00.000-07:00

A little taste of Vegas!

This Saturday October 22nd at the Nights of Columbus Hall in Schertz, TX.

The Schertz Cibolo Universal City ISD Education Foundation was created in 2008. Since then they have hit the ground running! The purpose of the foundation is to provide additional support to students, teachers, schools, and programs. Each year teachers are awarded "Innovative Grants" to provide financial assistance for their innovative teaching ideas. The teachers/teams must apply for the grant and explain their ideas.

So, why the casino night?

Of course, this is a foundation that provides grants and therefore requires the support of donations from members of the community. The casino night is a fund raising event to benefit the Education Foundation allowing it to provide the grants for education!

For only $50 per person....did I mention this donation goes to a great cause...you will have an evening full of fun and entertainment. There will be dinner, a silent auction, and vegas style games. There will even be a chance to win a trip for 2 to.....drum roll......LAS VEGAS!

So put on your poker face and come join us for a fantastic evening.

For more information you can contact Jenny Hale at (210)-945-6095

Wait...WHAT?!

2011-10-03T10:44:00.000-07:00

When you decide to list your house for sale, one of the most crucial parts of the listing is the pictures. Here at The Claus Team, we know that when a buyer goes to view a home, it's not really their first viewing. It's normally their second or third, because they have already seen your house online! That's why taking great pictures is SO important, and why we dedicate so much time to getting perfect photos to showcase your homes best features.

Oh, that Freddie

2011-10-03T08:14:00.000-07:00

According to news out this week from Freddie Mac, recent numbers indicate that "...fixed mortgage rates have fallen to historic new lows for the fourth straight week and are likely to fall further." Rates for 30 year loans are down to 4.01%, the lowest since 1951, and rates for 15 year loans are down to an astonishing 3.28%, the lowest rate EVER for that loan. When you look at these numbers, and also take a look at the amazing deals to be had through other loan programs, such as FHA, VA, or Texas Veteran (currently at 3.57%!!!!), it's really quite flabbergasting!
Read more »

Feature Friday

2011-09-30T15:09:00.000-07:00

On September 30, 1868, the first volume of Little Women is published.

On September 30, 1927, Babe Ruth hits the 60th homer of the 1927 season.

On September 30, 1955, James Dean died in a car crash.

AND NOW, on September 30, 2011, it's FEATURE FRIDAY with The Claus Team. You're welcome for that history lesson!

Octo-Beer Feast

2011-09-27T10:39:00.000-07:00

One of the newest (and fastest moving) trends in the "food world" is the emergence of food trucks. That's right--eating food from a truck is suddenly very cool. If you think eating from a truck would involve hot dogs and other tired street fare, THINK AGAIN. Today's food trucks offer a wide variety of gourmet delicacies, environmentally conscious eats, and yes, even upgraded comfort food. You can find anything from grass-fed organic bison burgers to wild truffle risotto to all sorts of Asian fusion cuisine. There's also a smorgasbord of desserts to choose from--think homemade organic ice cream, gourmet cupcakes or traditional Afghan baklava. The options you can find at food trucks are seemingly endless.
Read more »

Thrift It With Your BEST SHOT

2011-09-26T07:32:00.000-07:00

Shopping at thrift stores, or "thrifting", has risen to an artform for some people. Some folks make it look downright easy to walk into the local Goodwill and walk out with a brand new Coach purse (tags still attached!), a positively adorable vintage cake stand, or a piece of art to hang over the fireplace that looks like it was custom made for THAT space.

HOWEVER, for many of us, it's just not that easy. We walk into a thrift store, and are immediately overwhelmed by the stink of mothballs and mildew AND amount of crap that's crammed into such a small space. It's enough to make anyone turn on their heels and head back out again. BUT WAIT! There are great treasures to be found in your local thrift store, and many of these treasures can be used to update and refresh your home. REALLY! Check out Apartment Therapy's guide to taking common thrift store finds and turning them into DIY projects.

Old dishes? You can use them to create a piece of clustered arwork on a boring wall!
Outdated sweaters and linens? Funky pieces of fabric can make great pillows or chair covers!
Ugly lamps? Give 'em a wipedown, a coat of spray paint and a new shade, and you just saved yourself some moola!

Check out the guide above, and hit your local thrift store this weekend, because updating your home is ALWAYS a good thing!

Feature Friday!

2011-09-23T08:54:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday! Today is officially the first day of autumn, the first full day of Schertz Festival, and last (but not least!), Feature Friday with The Claus Team! Here's how it works. Below is one of The Claus Team's featured listings. Take a look. See if you like it. See if it looks like something that someone ELSE would like. If you refer someone to The Claus Team that ends up purchasing the Feature Friday property, you get a $25 gift card to a restaurant of your choice!

See You at Schertz Fest!

2011-09-23T07:59:00.000-07:00

Looking for something fun to do with the family this weekend? Or how about something to do for a date night with your honey? Well...you're in luck! This weekend is the Annual Schertz Festival! Admission is FREE, and there are tons of activities that you can choose from!

Want to listen to some great live music? CHECK!
Want to take the kids to ride some carnival rides? CHECK!
Want to watch a BBQ throwdown?! CHECK!
Want to see the fireworks you DIDN'T get to see on the 4th of July? CHECK!

With beautiful weather in store for us this weekend (lows in the 70's...GASP!), this is the perfect way to end your week. Click HERE for more details, including the complete list of events!

Attention Military!

2011-09-19T07:51:00.000-07:00

Moving can be such a stressful thing for many people. It's exhausting, time consuming, and MONEY-DRAINING, and for folks in the military, it's something that must be done every few years (or less!). Sigh. In an effort to ease at least one of these burdens, many banks and mortgage companies offer move programs that involve some sort of cash at closing and/or assistance with locating a realtor.
Read more »

Feature Friday!

2011-09-16T08:10:00.000-07:00

It's finally Friday, and this week it's served up with a side of beautiful, glorious RAIN! AND, if you listen closely, you will hear all the trees and flowers collectively singing their own rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus. As you get ready for the upcoming weekend, and try to plan what to do with all your extra time now that you DON'T have to water your yard, let us remind you that it's FEATURE FRIDAY! Here's how it works. Below is one of The Claus Team's featured listings. Take a look. See if you like it. See if it looks like something that someone ELSE would like. If you refer someone to The Claus Team that ends up purchasing the Feature Friday property, you get a $25 gift card to a restaurant of your choice!

Hunger in San Antonio

2011-09-13T08:48:00.000-07:00

As you get ready to eat your tasty lunch today or begin to prepare your supper, chew on THIS fact...in San Antonio, ONE in every FOUR children and ONE in every FIVE adults lives in poverty. To go hungry is thankfully something that most of us will never deal with, but hunger is a very real problem that folks of all ages and backgrounds deal with daily. Here in San Antonio, the San Antonio Food Bank works to deal with this problem by partnering with local agencies such as soup kitchens, church food pantries, family crisis centers and and hospice programs, to provide healthy, FREE food to indivuduals that need it.

Organizing is Easy. No, really!

2011-09-12T07:23:00.000-07:00

You know that old saying, ~~Cleanliness~~ Organization is next to Godliness? Yeah, me either. But it should be it's own saying, right? Organizing and cleaning your home not only leads to happier occupants, but it's one of the best ways to ensure that it will be seen in the best possible light during showings if it's on the market. Think about your own experiences, even looking at houses to rent, when it comes to how you view a home. If you walk in and there is junk everywhere, laundry all over the floor, crafting materials covering the kitchen table...what do you think? Put simply, it makes a bad first impression. A tidy home conveys pride of ownership!
Read more »

Feature Friday

2011-09-09T13:44:00.000-07:00

It's finally Friday! Even though this has been a short week for most people because of the long Labor Day Weekend, Friday is still Friday, and Friday is ALWAYS a good thing! Also, don't forget that today is FEATURE FRIDAY for The Claus Team! Here's how it works. Below is one of The Claus Team's featured listings. Take a look. See if you like it. See if it looks like something that someone ELSE would like. If you refer someone to The Claus Team that ends up purchasing the Feature Friday property, you get a $25 gift card to a restaurant of your choice!

Today's property is 316 Mary Louise Drive near downtown San Antonio. This beautiful home

Can we do a rain dance?

2011-09-06T09:38:00.000-07:00

According to the US Drought Monitor, San Antonio is smack in the middle of what is considered an "Exceptional Drought." According to experts, since weather record-keeping first begain in the 1890's, the last ten months have been the driest EVER recorded in the state of Texas.
Read more »

Feature Friday!

2011-09-02T13:27:00.000-07:00

In the words of George Jones...

It's finally Friday, I'm free again,

I got my motor running for a WILD weekend.

It's finally Friday, I'm out of control,

Forget the working blues and let the GOOD TIMES roll!

2011-08-29T07:23:00.000-07:00

For those of you that haven't heard, there is a new website called Pinterest that is all the rage lately. If you are a creative person at all, you've probably heard of it. If you don't have a creative bone in your entire body, well then this site is for you! You're welcome!
Read more »

Feature Friday!

2011-08-26T08:45:00.000-07:00

It's finally FRIDAY! Among many wonderful things, this means that it's FEATURE FRIDAY! Here's how it works. Below is one of The Claus Team's featured listings. Take a look. See if you like it. See if it looks like something that someone ELSE would like. If you refer someone to The Claus Team that ends up purchasing the Feature Friday property, you get a $25 gift card to a restaurant of your choice!

RUN...don't walk....

2011-08-22T13:40:00.000-07:00

Are you a Veteran? Do you currently reside in TX? RUN...don't walk...to the telephone and give us a call. As a Texas Veteran, you are eligible to purchase a home using the Texas Veterans Land Board, which provides you with an absolutely unbeatable low rate loan with no money down. Today's rate is 3.74%. Interested in buying land? Maybe a piece of property to eventually build your dream home? The Texas Veterans Land Board has rates that are unbelievable for that, too.

These rates are HISTORICALLY, UNBELIEVABLY low. If you are even remotely considering purchasing a home or land, give us a call today!

Seventy Seven

2011-08-22T07:28:00.000-07:00

As you look through your typical Monday morning news, don't be surprised if you run across an article about Cibolo, TX, being a great place to live! That's right...CNN Money recently did a list of the top 100 places to live in the US. Their list took into account factors such as job opportunities (and the overall economy), quality schools, weather conditions, and recreational opportunities. Not surprisingly, Cibolo, Texas made the list at number 77!!!

Read more »

Feature Friday!

2011-08-19T14:32:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday! Hopefully everyone is headed out of work and getting ready for a weekend full of relaxation. For many of you, it's the last weekend with your kids before school starts! For The Claus Team, that means it's Feature Friday! Here's how it works. Below is one of The Claus Team's featured listings. Take a look. See if you like it. See if it looks like something that someone ELSE would like. If you refer someone to The Claus Team that ends up purchasing the Feature Friday property, you get a $25 gift card to a restaurant of your choice!

Today's featured property is 1640 Yucca Park in Schertz. It's a beautiful, traditional home with tons of room for the whole gang! Isn't the curb appeal great? It looks like home, right?

The inside is just as great as the outside, with a huge kitchen. You'll never want to eat out again, once this beauty is yours! There is tons of counter space, beautiful, warm cabinetry, and a great big window over the kitchen sink to make it bright and cheery!

The floor plan has a great flow between rooms. This is perfect for you if you are an entertainer!

And finally, the large, lush backyard. The stone patio is just waiting to have a BBQ, and the yard is big enough for a swing set or trampoline!

For more information about this property, click HERE. If you are interested in this home, or know someone that may be, give us a call, at 210-566-6355. And remember, if you are looking for any OTHER kind of property, we can help you find your dream home! Call us today!

Back to School Time...It's Not Just for Kids!

2011-08-16T15:10:00.000-07:00

Where did the summer go? Here in this part of Texas, we are dangerously close to the kids heading back to school (and college!). If you listen closely, you can hear the collective sigh of relief from parents everywhere.
Read more »

Honey, you're snoring again....

2011-08-15T07:19:00.000-07:00

Imagine you are tired. Very, VERY tired. You go around the house and turn off all the lights, and get your coffee maker ready for the morning. Then you go into your bedroom. You take a long, hot bath, then turn down all the lights. You slip between your cool sheets and kiss your husband good night. Just as your head melts into your pillow and you start to drift off into the delicious bliss of a perfect nights sleep, suddenly you are RUDELY awaken by an obnoxious, indiscernible noise. What could it be?!
Read more »

Feature Friday!

2011-08-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

Thank goodness...Friday is finally here! And you know what that means, right?! FEATURE FRIDAY! Here's how it works. Below is one The Claus Team's featured listings. Take a look. See if you like it. See if it looks like something that someone ELSE would like. If you refer someone to The Claus Team that ends up purchasing the Feature Friday property, you get a $25 gift card to a restaurant of your choice!

Beforetoday's listing is featured, there is a question that needs to be asked. Are you constantly overheated? Do you feel like your skin is on fire every single time you step outside? Are you tired of the SWEAT SHEEN that covers your body when you walk to your car? Yuck, yuck, YUCK. Well, take a look at this stunner, because it might be just what you are waiting for. It's beautiful on the outside...

But it's THIS that really makes this house special!

Can't you just imagine cooling off in these sparkling, blue waters? While everyone else is sweating both indoors AND out, you can be floating in your own backyard paradise--chilled drink in one hand, ANOTHER chilled drink in the other!

The inside of this home features a large, cheerful kitchen with TONS of sunlight!

The open floor plan allows you to stand in your kitchen and see into your gorgeous living room, also full of sunlight, with a beautiful fireplace and great ceiling fan to bring the breeze indoors!

If you are interested in this home, click HERE for more pictures and information. If you are interested in finding another home, don't forget that we can help you find your very own version of a backyard paradise...whatever that may be. Call us today! 210-566-6635.

History in the Making

2011-08-10T08:15:00.000-07:00

Turn on CNN or Fox News, and you're sure to be tuning into some debate or another regarding the current economic situation. The state of things right now has people feeling a little EDGY, to say the least. It's no wonder, either. The S&P recently downgraded the US credit rating, and everywhere you look, it seems a finger is being pointed somewhere else.
Read more »

Potatoes--Good for More than Mashing

2011-08-09T07:52:00.000-07:00

As it turns out, potatoes are TRULY an all purpose veggie. Food-wise, potatoes are versatile, healthy, hearty and delicious. You can make 'em mashed, fried, boiled or baked. You can top them with cheese, meat, sour cream, or even (if you have the sweet variety) sugar and cinnamon. They can be served as a breakfast food, a dinner side dish, or even as the STAR of the show as a main course at supper.

Read more »

In Local News...

2011-08-08T07:26:00.000-07:00

Living in a "good school district" has always been a driving force for people interested in buying a home, and it will likely continue to be as long as people have kids! Everyone wants their children to receive a top notch education, and rightly so. For this reason, we are proud to offer our sincerest CONGRATULATIONS to the SCUCISD!!!

Read more »

The Hardest Job in the Military

2011-08-05T09:45:00.000-07:00

For many years, military commissaries had the following slogan written on their brown paper bags: "Military spouse--the hardest job in the military." Everyone agrees that being ANY kind of spouse is difficult--marriage is hard work! That being said, military spouses have some extra challenges that just plain go with the job.
Read more »

More Money than Brains?

2011-08-01T13:23:00.000-07:00

There are many things that make south Texas a great place to live, including the friendly people, abundant rodeos, beautiful sunshine all year long, and most importantly...the cheesy goodness of our enchiladas.
Read more »

Feature Friday!

2011-07-29T13:36:00.000-07:00

We're starting a new thing here at The Claus Team--Feature Friday! Every Friday, we will feature a one of our great listings on this blog.
Read more »

The Power of (Spray) Paint

2011-07-28T08:06:00.000-07:00

You've probably heard it a million times on those HGTV design shows, but it really is true...paint is the cheapest and fastest way to transform your home decor.
Read more »

Summer Time in the City

2011-07-26T15:01:00.000-07:00

In William Shakespeare's Sonnet 18, he says:

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate.

Reading this might actually make you laugh. Summertime is in full swing here in central Texas. You can see it everywhere you look
Read more »

Samuel Clemens High School

2011-04-13T07:07:00.000-07:00

Samuel Clemens High School has been named one of the Top 10 Best High Schools in the greater San Antonio area by Children at Risk, a Houston-based nonprofit research and advocacy group.

In addition to being named to the Top 10 Best list, Clemens was also named to the Top 10 Most Improved ... A link to the full story is below.

http://childrenatrisk.org/research/school-rankings/san-antonio/

Why use The Claus Team when purchasing a NEW BUILD!

2010-08-26T09:40:00.001-07:00

There are some smooth talking sales representatives for the new home builders! However, as a Realtor it is our duty to keep you informed and that is exactly what this article is about. Here is why The Claus Team should represent you and NOT the builders sales person:
Read more »

March housing newsletter

2010-03-18T10:50:00.001-07:00

Hi there everyone! I hope you are all warming up a little and enjoying the arrival of spring. I have a great new enewsletter that you may enjoy! Check it out!

Happy Spring!

Please click on this link to view the MARCH-2010 Newsletter Housing Trends eNewsletter:
http://TheClausTeam.housingtrendsenewsletter.com?Newsletter_ID=246&Period_ID=183

Snowfest in South Texas

2010-02-09T09:33:00.000-08:00

How exciting, if you have kids you may want to check this out. On Saturday Feb 13 from 5-8, Universal City is having a FREE, yes FREE, snowfest. Here is the link....check it out.

www.ucsnowfest.com

New and Extended Tax Credit

2009-12-17T09:40:00.000-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS HOME BUYERS! The government is planning to extend the $8000 tax credit.....YEA! They have also introduced a new option for current owners-a $6500 tax credit for those who sell their home and purchase another. If you know someone looking to purchase a home in the San Antonio area please let them know about The Claus Team!

Don't miss out on $8000

2009-09-15T11:35:00.001-07:00

Time is quickly running out. Yes, they may extend the program but why leave it to chance? If you are a first time homebuyer and are ready to purchase a home, now is the time to do it. You must close on your home before December 1st 2009. Don't miss out on $8000 you could have had!

First annual SCUCISD education foundation golf tournament!

2009-03-12T11:48:00.000-07:00

First ever Schertz Cibolo Universal City ISD Education Foundation golf tournament is set for March 27, 2009. All proceeds go to the teachers and students of Schertz Cibolo Universal City ISD. This great event will be at the Olympia Hills Golf Club. It will be limited to the first 144 golfers so don't delay!!!!

Here is a list of the days events:

11:30 am Registration opens
12-12:45 pm Lunch and pratice time
1:00 pm Start Time on Tees (Scramble Shotgun Start)
5:30 pm Awards and Prize Drawings with Tournament Dinner

This is a great opportunity to help the members of the community. If you are interested in participating you can email the foundation for a registration form and pricing details at:
events@scucisdfoundation.org

If you don't get a chance to participate, check out our blog later for an update!

Why NOW is the time to buy a home!

2009-03-10T10:08:00.000-07:00

All that we hear every day is how bad the economy and the housing market is. This is true but there are some positives out there that we must look at. The housing market is by far a buyer's market right now. What does that mean for the public. NOW is a great time to buy a home. There are lots of homes out there to choose from. The biggest plus is that interest rates are LOW. If you can qualify for a loan why wouldn't you want to buy? Here is my thought. If you look back on history...interest rates have been low before but what happens after the economy recovers? The interest rates will go back up. It is a fact, interest rates WILL go back up. If your a first time homebuyer, you even have the $8000 tax credit on your side. If you are even considering making a purchase this year, give The Claus Team a call and let us help you make the right choice.

Military relocation-Randolph~Ft. Sam~Lackland~BAMC!

2009-02-27T10:49:00.000-08:00

Are you military and relocating to San Antonio? Ft. Sam Houston, Randolph AFB, Lackland, BAMC?

The Claus Team is here for you. We have been working with military members for over 18 years. Our team members have been military spouses, children, or just worked with many military families. We understand the stressfulness and craziness that can come with a move. Our knowledge and experience with the PCS process gives us the ability to make sure your move goes smoothly.

We would love the opportunity to speak with you about how we can help you and why we are your best choice. If you are thinking of using the USAA program, give us a call first-we have a military program too. Our advantage is again, our military affiliations.

We do offer free relocation packages as well. Send us an email or give us a call and we will be happy to get one into the mail today.

We have the information you need:

Buy vs Rent
Information for first time home buyers tax credit 2009
Local schools
Churches
Area preschools
Up to date statistics on the housing market
Local youth sports
and much more

We were also the #1 Keller Williams Team in San Antonio for 2008.

We would love to hear from you! 210-566-6474 or 1-888-88-CLAUS
http://www.theclausteam.com/

Talk to you soon!

First time homebuyers tax credit!

2009-02-26T08:39:00.000-08:00

First time home buyers take a look! This is a great plan that has been passed by law. Give us a call if you would like to know more about this great credit or if you are considering making your first purchase. We can help!

The Claus Team 210-566-6474 or 1-888-88-CLAUS
www.theclausteam.com

Homebuyer Tax Credit – The bill provides for a $8,000 tax credit that would be available to first-time home buyers for the purchase of a principal residence on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009. The credit does not require repayment. Most of the mechanics of the credit will be the same as under the 2008 rules: the credit will be claimed on a tax return to reduce the purchaser's income tax liability. If any credit amount remains unused, then the unused amount will be refunded as a check to the purchaser.

Frequently asked questions

FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER TAX CREDIT
In 2008, Congress enacted a $7500 tax credit designed to be an incentive for first-time homebuyers to purchase a home. The credit was designed as a mechanism to decrease the over-supply of homes for sale. For 2009, Congress has increased the credit to $8000 and made several additional improvements. This revised $8000 tax credit applies to purchases on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009. Tax Credits -- The Basics

1. What’s this new homebuyer tax incentive for 2009?

The 2008 $7500, repayable credit is increased to $8000 and the repayment feature is eliminated for 2009 purchasers. Any home that is purchased for $80,000 or more qualifies for the full $8000 amount. If the house costs less than $80,000, the credit will be 10% of the cost. Thus, if an individual purchased a home for $75,000, the credit would be $7500. It is available for the purchase of a principal residence on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009.

2. Who is eligible?

Only first-time homebuyers are eligible. A person is considered a first-time buyer if he/she has not had any ownership interest in a home in the three years previous to the day of the 2009 purchase.

3. How does a tax credit work?

Every dollar of a tax credit reduces income taxes by a dollar. Credits are claimed on an individual’s income tax return. Thus, a qualified purchaser would figure out all the income items and exemptions and make all the calculations required to figure out his/her total tax due. Then, once the total tax owed has been computed, tax credits are applied to reduce the total tax bill. So, if before taking any credits on a tax return a person has total tax liability of $9500, an $8000 credit would wipe out all but $1500 of the tax due. ($9,500 - $8000 = $1500)

4. So what happens if the purchaser is eligible for an $8000 credit but their entire income tax liability for the year is only $6000?

This tax credit is what’s called “refundable” credit. Thus, if the eligible purchaser’s total tax liability was $6000, the IRS would send the purchaser a check for $2000. The refundable amount is the difference
between $8000 credit amount and the amount of tax liability. ($8000 - $6000 = $2000) Most taxpayers determine their tax liability by referring to tables that the IRS prepares each year.

5. How does withholding affect my tax credit and my refund?

A few examples are provided at the end of this document. There are several steps in this calculation, but most income tax software programs are equipped to make that determination.

6. Is there an income restriction?

Yes. The income restriction is based on the tax filing status the purchaser claims when filing his/her income tax return. Individuals filing Form 1040 as Single (or Head of Household) are eligible for the credit if their income is no more than $75,000. Married couples who file a Joint return may have income of no more than $150,000.

7. How is my “income” determined?

For most individuals, income is defined and calculated in the same manner as their Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) on their 1040 income tax return. AGI includes items like wages, salaries, interest and dividends, pension and retirement earnings, rental income and a host of other elements. AGI is the final number that appears on the bottom line of the front page of an IRS Form 1040.

8. What if I worked abroad for part of the year?

Some individuals have earned income and/or receive housing allowances while working outside the US. Their income will be adjusted to reflect those items to measure Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI). Their eligibility for the credit will be based on their MAGI.

9. Do individuals with incomes higher than the $75,000 or $150,000 limits lose all the benefit of the credit?

Not always. The credit phases-out between $75,000 - $95,000 for singles and $150,000 - $170,000 for married filing joint. The closer a buyer comes to the maximum phase-out amount, the smaller the credit will be. The law provides a formula to gradually withdraw the credit. Thus, the credit will disappear after an individual’s income reaches $95,000 (single return) or $170,000 (joint return). For example, if a married couple had income of $165,000, their credit would be reduced by 75% as shown: Couple’s income $165,000 Income limit 150,000 Excess income $15,000 The excess income amount ($15,000 in this example) is used to form a fraction. The numerator of the fraction is the excess income amount ($15,000). The denominator is $20,000 (specified by the statute).
In this example, the disallowed portion of the credit is 75% of $8000, or $6000 ($15,000/$20,000 = 75% x $8000 = $6000) Stated another way, only 25% of the credit amount would be allowed. In this example, the allowable credit would be $2000 (25% x $8000 = $2000)

10. What’s the definition of “principal residence?”

Generally, a principal residence is the home where an individual spends most of his/her time (generally defined as more than 50%). It is also defined as “owner-occupied” housing. The term includes single-family detached housing, condos or co-ops, townhouses or any similar type of new or existing dwelling. Even some houseboats or manufactured homes count as principal residences.

11. Are there restrictions on the location of the property?

Yes. The home must be located in the United States. Property located outside the US is not eligible for the credit.

12. Are there restrictions related to the financing for the mortgage on the property?

In 2009, most financing arrangements are acceptable and will not affect eligibility for the credit. Congress eliminated the financing restriction that applied in 2008. (In 2008, purchasers were ineligible for the $7500 credit if the financing was obtained by means of mortgage revenue bonds.) Now, mortgage-revenue bond financing will not disqualify an otherwise-eligible purchaser. (Mortgage revenue bonds are tax-exempt bonds issued by a state housing agency. Proceeds from the bonds must be used for below market loans to qualified buyers.)

13. Do I have to repay the 2009 tax credit?

NO. There is no repayment for 2009 tax credits.

14. Do 2008 purchasers still have to repay their tax credit?

YES. The $7500 credit in 2008 was more like an interest-free loan. All eligible purchasers who claimed the 2008 credit will still be required to repay it over 15 years, starting with their 2010 tax return. Some Practical Questions

15. How do I apply for the credit?

There is no pre-purchase authorization, application or similar approval process. All eligible purchasers simply claim the credit on their IRS Form 1040 tax return. The credit will be reflected on a new Form 5405 that will be attached to the 1040. Form 5405 can be found at www.irs.gov.

16. So I can’t use the credit amount as part of my downpayment?

No. Congress tried hard to devise a mechanism that would make the funds available for closing costs, but found that pre-funding would require cumbersome processes that would, in effect, bring the IRS into the purchase and settlement phase of the transaction.

17. So there’s no way to get any cash flow benefits before I file my tax return?

Yes, there is. Any first-time homebuyers who believe they are eligible for all or part of the credit can modify their income tax withholding (through their employers) or adjust their quarterly estimated tax payments. Individuals subject to income tax withholding would get an IRS Form W-4 from their employer, follow the instructions on the schedules provided and give the completed Form W-4 back to the employer. In many cases their withholding would decrease and their take-home pay would increase. Those who make estimated tax payments would make similar adjustments. Some “Real World” Examples

18. What if I purchase later this year but can’t get to settlement before December 1?

The credit is available for purchases before December 1, 2009. A home is considered as “purchased” when all events have occurred that transfer the title from the seller to the new purchaser. Thus, closings must occur before December 1, 2009 for purchases to be eligible for the credit.

19. I haven’t even filed my 2008 tax return yet. If I buy in 2009, do I have to wait until next year to get the benefit of the credit?

You’ll have a helpful choice that might speed up the process. Eligible homebuyers who make their purchase between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009 can treat the purchase as if it had occurred on December 31, 2008. Thus, they can claim the credit on their 2008 tax return that is due on April 15, 2009. They actually have three filing options.
If they purchase between January 1, 2009 and April 15, 2009, they can claim the $8000 credit on the 2008 return due on April 15.
They can extend their 2008 income-tax filing until as late as October 15, 2009. (The IRS grants automatic extensions, but the taxpayer must file for the extension. See www.irs.gov for instructions on how to obtain an extension.)
If they have filed their 2008 return before they purchase the home, they may file an amended 2008 tax return on Form 1040X. (Form 1040X is available at www.irs.gov)

Of course, 2009 purchasers will always have the option of claiming the credit for the 2009 purchase on their 2009 return. Their 2009 tax return is due on April 15, 2010.

20. I purchased my home in early 2009 before the stimulus bill was enacted. I claimed a $7500 tax credit on my 2008 return as prior law had permitted. Am I restricted to just a $7500 credit?

No, you would qualify for the $8000 credit. Eligible purchasers who have already claimed the $7500 credit on a 2008 return for a 2009 purchase may file an amended return (IRS Form 1040X) for the 2008 tax year. This amended return will enable them to obtain the additional $500 credit amount.

21. If I claim my 2009 $8000 credit on my 2008 tax return, will I have to repay the credit just as the 2008 credits are repaid?

No. Congress anticipated this confusion and has made specific provision so that there would be no repayment of 2009 credits that are claimed on 2008 returns.

22. I made an eligible purchase of a principal residence in May 2008 and claimed the $7500 credit on my 2008 tax return. My brother, who has never owned a home, wishes to purchase a partial interest in the home this spring and move in. Will he qualify for the $8000 credit, as well?

No. Any purchase of a principal residence (or interest in a principal residence) from a related party such as a sibling, parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle is ineligible for the tax credit. Since you and your brother are related in this way, he cannot qualify for the credit on any portion of the home that he purchases from you, even if he is a first-time homebuyer.

23. I live in the District of Columbia. If I qualify as a first-time homebuyer, can I use both the $5000 DC credit and the $8000 credit?

No; double dipping is not allowed. You would be eligible for only the $8000 credit. This will be an advantage because of the higher credit amount, plus the eligibility requirements for the $8000 credit are somewhat more easily satisfied than the DC credit.

24. I know there is no repayment requirement for the $8000 credit. Will I ever have to repay any of the credit back to the government?

One situation does require a recapture payment back to the government. If you claim the credit but then sell the property within 3 years of the date of purchase, you are required to pay back the full amount of any credit, including any refund you received from it. A few exceptions apply. (See below, #24). Note that this same 3-year recapture rule applies, as well, to the $7500 credit available for 2008. This provision is designed as an anti-flipping rule.

25. What if I die or get divorced or my property is ruined in a natural disaster within the 3 years?

The repayment rules are eased for many circumstances. If the homeowner who used the credit dies within the first three years of ownership, there is no recapture. Special rules make adjustments for people who sell homes as part of a divorce settlement, as well. Similarly, adjustments are made in the case of a home that is part of an involuntary conversion (property is destroyed in a natural disaster or subject to condemnation by eminent domain by an authorized agency) within the first three years.

26. I have a home under construction. Am I eligible for the credit?

Yes, so long as you actually occupy the home before December 1, 2009. WITHHOLDING EXAMPLES: Note: The impact of estimated tax payments would be the same. Situation 1: Sally plans her withholding so that her withholding is as close as possible to what she anticipates as her income tax liability for the year. When she fills out her 1040, her liability is $6000. She has had $6000 withheld from her paycheck. She also qualifies for the $8000 homebuyer credit. Result: Sally’s withholding satisfies her tax liability and reduces it to zero. She will receive a refund of the full $8000. Situation 2: Nick and Nora file a joint return. Nick is self-employed and makes estimated payments; Nora has taxes withheld from her salary. When they compute their taxes, their combined withholding and estimated tax payments are $11,000. Their income tax liability is $9800. They also qualified as first-time homebuyers and are eligible for the $8000 refundable tax credit. Result: Ordinarily, their combined estimated tax payments and withholding would make them eligible for a refund of $1200 ($11,000 - $9800 = $1200). Because they are eligible for the refundable tax credit as well, they will receive a refund of $9200 ($1200 income tax refund + $8000 refundable tax credit = $9200) Situation 3: Cesar and LuzMaria both have income taxes withheld from their salaries and file a joint return. When they file their income tax return, their combined withholding is $5000. However, their total tax liability is $7200, generating an additional income tax liability of $2200 ($7200 - $5000). They also qualify for the $8000 first-time homebuyer tax credit. Result: Cesar and LuzMaria have been under-withheld by $2200. Ordinarily, they would be required to pay the additional $2200 they owe (plus any applicable interest and penalties). Because they are eligible for the refundable homebuyer tax credit, the credit will cover the $2200 additional liability. In addition, they will receive an income tax refund of $5800 ($8000 - $2200 = $5800). If they owed penalties and/or interest, that amount would reduce the refund.

All information was obtained from the National Association of Realtors website.
www.realtor.org

There is a Sale on Money!!!

2008-10-14T07:04:00.000-07:00

There is a Sale on Money!!!

We are having a mortgage crisis, but the news for the San Antonio area is not that bleak. The current bail out should be working to your advantage and if you ever wanted to buy a home you should be looking now.

Home values are down. Yes you’re hearing it all over the place so it must be true. The value of a home is our area in generally down 2-6% not close to the national average of 14%, but down non the less.

Interest rates are at a historical low. Since July of 1973 till 1981 fixed rates have been between 8.5% and 18%. In 2001, they dropped to 7%and even dropped to 5.5%. Texas Vet rates were lower than that. Today’s rates are hovering around 6.5% for most loan programs. Will the rates go lower than that and should you wait until the rate hits rock bottom? I can’t be sure; my crystal ball is cloudy on that. What I can guarantee is that the Rate will go up!!! Not sure when not sue how much, but I’m sure up. Could they go down, yep! But good luck with calculating that, because that is LUCK.

It’s a Buyers Market. Did you ever wonder why people don’t buy in a buyers market? More people buy in a sellers market. Sellers get multiple offers and buyers drive the price up. You should buy in a buyers market, Homes are on SALE.

The Value of a home will increase. You hear it over and over again that real estate is a local market. The market value of any home historically goes up. In this area inventory shrinks when home starts decrease. The population of the area is projected to go up in the near future. That means recovery in the market.

Are you military, or prior military? Some special financing may be available to you. Did you live on Post or Base at your previous assignment? You’re scared to invest in a future that may not include staying here in the San Antonio or Surrounding areas. I get that, but don’t you owe it to yourself or your family to see what’s going on in this market. I can tell you it is kind of exciting. We live in one of the most stable real estate areas in the country.

Mortgage Relief for some!

2008-10-09T09:19:00.000-07:00

Mortgage Relief Arrives for Borrowers on Brink
IndyMac Offers Loan Relief Program, Lowering Interest Rates
By DAVID MUIROct. 8, 2008
Across this country, borrowers on the brink are finally getting some help from an unlikely source: mortgage lenders.
Mortage rates fell this week, saving homebuyers thousands.
Nearly one in six homeowners owes more on their mortgages than their home is worth, according to new numbers released by the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday.
Diane Smith, a Los Angeles mother of two adopted children with special needs, spent months in fear when she was told by her lender that her home would be auctioned.
"I've been terrified for six months," Smith said.
Two years ago, Smith re-financed her mortgage, hoping to use the extra money to fix the roof and the kitchen. Then her adjustable interest rate spiked just as the value of her home plummeted.
Smith couldn't afford the payments and, in this housing market, was unable to sell. And then this week, she received a phone call from an unlikely source: her bank, Indymac.
Indymac, which was taken over by the Federal Depositors' Insurance Corporation in July, decided to reduce the interest rate on her mortgage, from 7 percent to 4.8 percent, generating a savings of $1,749 a month.
"I thought, I could buy running shoes for my kids again," Smith said with pride. "And I could afford to buy milk for my kids again, because for the last five or six months I've had to borrow money to buy milk for my kids."
In August, FDIC officials began to deal with the 60,000 mortgages passed due that were held by Indymac. The lender launched a loan modification program, offering new terms and lower rates to more than 3,000 borrowers that have signed on to the program.
Amid intensifying political pressure that lenders are not doing enough to prevent foreclosure, a growing number of mortgage services are easing interest rates -- six times more often than just a year ago, according to Credit Suisse.
The $700 billion federal rescue plan encourages banks to adopt plans like IndyMac's, offering new terms for loan payments on those facing foreclosure.
For those banks and lenders, the loss incurred on the interest they're collecting is, for now, less costly than the effort it might take to sell a foreclosed home at a reduced price.
"In some cases, the length of the loan will increase, it depends on the circumstance," said John Bovenzi, CEO at Indymac. "This idea is to make the loan more affordable for the borrower so they can sustain payments and stay in their home."

The rate of foreclosures doubled from June of last year, according to RealtyTrac, an online market of foreclosure prosperities. The increase in foreclosure signals the growing number of homeowners who are struggling to make payments on their homes.

Bailout???

2008-10-01T06:56:00.001-07:00

RISMEDIA, Oct. 1, 2008-(MCT/RISMedia)-The nation’s economy was put on hold Monday, and no one’s sure what happens next. Late yesterday, however members of the House of Representatives tried to assure Americans that legislation would be written swiftly.
On Monday, the U.S. House rejected by a narrow margin a $700-billion bailout of financial markets, a startling defeat that triggered a taste of the financial chaos the plan was meant to halt: It sent the Dow Jones Industrial Average into a 778-point tailspin. Yesterday the market bounced back with the Dow adding 485 points at this writing.
“We are extremely disappointed that the U.S. House of Representatives failed to pass the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008,” said C.A.R. President William E. Brown Monday. “The tenuous health of the financial system called for a swift yet thoughtful bipartisan response by our elected representatives.”
In the wake of the financial bloodletting, leaders of both parties, opponents of the plan and Bush administration officials restarted talks today and promised to craft an alternative as soon as possible. On a day that should have been spent as vacation, Democrats kept Capitol Hill abuzz as they discussed the direction that should be taken the day after Paulson’s $700-billion bailout was rejected.
“If we don’t act, and fast, a lot of people are going to lose their jobs,” said Rep. Judd Gregg, R-N.H.
U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR-04), an outspoken critic of the Bush/Paulson bailout, along with Rep. Kaptur (OH-09), Rep. Scott (VA-03), Rep. Cummings (MD-07), Rep. Doggett (TX-25), Rep. Holt (NJ-12), Rep. Edwards (MD-04) and Rep. Hirono held a press conference yesterday afternoon to discuss what should be done to help bail out both Wall Street and Main Street.
“We have to get to the root of the problem and create a bailout plan that doesn’t put our taxpayers at risk,” said DeFazio.
DeFazio believes that the Paulson/Bush proposal is based on a flawed premise: if the American taxpayers spend $700 billion to buy Wall Street’s toxic assets - a plan pundits are calling “trash for cash” - it will create liquidity in our financial markets and will somehow trickle-down to Main Street.
“Now is the time for Congress to act, and renew its efforts to craft legislation amenable to both political parties that will calm the financial markets, address liquidity issues and begin to restore confidence in our financial system. Americans deserve nothing less,” Brown said. “C.A.R. wants to be certain that … housing’s critical role is recognized in whatever legislation ultimately is proposed. We will continue to closely monitor the situation as it develops.”
While Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn. said Monday, “This is the most serious economic crisis in decades, if not ever.” Rep. Doggett (TX-25), countered, “the $700 billion bailout plan was fueled by fear and hinged by haste. We want to address this problem but do so in a serious way.”
DeFazio’s plan is not in any way based on the Paulson/Bush plan. “Instead of throwing taxpayer dollars at the program and crossing our fingers that the plan work, the measure will direct the Administration to take five simple steps, suggested by noted economist and former head of the FDIC, William Isaac, to re- regulate the markets and move America towards a healthy financial future,” he added.
Paulson, the architect of the rejected plan, had warned that failure to act swiftly and decisively would cause banks to stop lending and markets to collapse. Monday proved to be one of the worst days that the markets have seen, however the the Dow rebounded Tuesday, easing fears slightly.
By a vote of 228-205 that scrambled party lines, a group of House Republicans opposed to a massive government injection into markets combined to block the proposal with Democrats who said the bill did not do enough for everyday Americans. In the final tally, 140 Democrats and 65 Republicans voted in support, while 95 Democrats and 133 Republicans voted against it.
The failure unnerved investors, triggering a 777.68-point drop in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, its largest daily retreat ever. Markets had already been under pressure after the banking arm of Wachovia Corp. was taken over by Citigroup in a deal brokered by federal banking regulators to guarantee $270 billion in loans. That followed the government takeover of Washington Mutual last week, the largest bank failure in U.S. history. Both banks were undone by mortgage debts.
Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke had persuaded leaders of both parties during the past week that a clog of bad mortgages and exotic real-estate investments was shutting down the lending system among banks that keeps money circulating through the economy.
“Protecting Main Street by keeping people in their homes will not only benefit individual families, but also will help stabilize the housing market, which greatly impacts the overall U.S. economy,” said National Association of Realtors(R) President Richard F. Gaylord in a statement. “Across the country, Realtors(R) see and feel the loss of confidence experienced by both buyers and sellers in the real estate market and they know firsthand that buyers are finding it harder to get mortgages.”
Experts had also warned that although much of the damage had been confined to financial firms, the whirl of doubt eventually would catch people and businesses seeking loans for making payrolls, buying vehicles or paying for college.
“A sharp rise in unemployment and severe hardship for many ordinary Americans would result from the deteriorating liquidity crisis. In addition, interest rates for those who are able to get a mortgage or credit will be more costly. This legislation, if implemented, would quickly restore liquidity to the mortgage market, which would stabilize the housing market and protect homeowners,” said Gaylord.
Doug Elmendorf, an economist at the Brookings Institution who has worked for the Federal Reserve, said if a deal isn’t reached for some weeks, the probability of a “long and deep recession” is “substantially higher.”
The latest compromise included changes pushed by House Republicans, including an option for an insurance program instead of a $700-billion purchase of bad debts, but several said it was still too much intervention.
“The problems that we are experiencing today won’t be solved by the legislation that was defeated yesterday,” added Rep. Edwards (MD-04). “We are looking to work with leadership to create a bailout plan that will ultimately create stability within the marketplace,” she added.
Democratic opponents gave several other specific criticisms of the bill Monday. Although it limits some executive pay, those limits don’t apply to companies that might benefit from the bailout but avoid selling debts to the treasury. Several lawmakers said the bill did little for the majority of mortgage holders whose debts have been chopped into small pieces and sold to several investors.
Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, who was one of the leaders in the opposition, said substantial changes would need to be made for the bailout to win many votes among his colleagues.
“Ultimately some part of the full faith and credit of the government would have to be behind it, but Wall Street ought to be paying for it,” he said.
But Dodd said the basics would have to remain for the plan to get banks lending again. “We will not leave here until we get the job done,” he said.
“There will not be an economic recovery without a housing recovery, and we hope the Congress will move as expediently as possible to resolve their differences,” said Gaylord. “We commend the House members that today voted for this unprecedented legislation. NAR will continue to advocate this legislation, which will benefit Main Street by restoring market liquidity to the financial markets.”
Copyright © 2008, Detroit Free PressDistributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

Texas Ranked Top economy in nation by CNBC

2008-07-16T12:57:00.000-07:00

Check out this great article from the San Antonio Business Journal! More good news for those of us in Texas!

Thursday, July 10, 2008
Texas ranked top economy in nation by CNBC
San Antonio Business Journal - by Yvonne Freckmann

CNBC Inc. ranked Texas as the best all-around state economy and the No. 1 state to do business in America in 2008.
Texas boasts over half of the nation's new jobs created in the past 12 months, and has added over 1.2 million net new jobs in the past five years, more than any other state.
With a population of 23.9 million and a Gross State Product of $37,793 (per capita), Texas has experienced a growth rate of 4.1 percent and an unemployment rate of 4.3 percent.
Compared to last year, Texas improved in rank slightly or remained the same in the categories of cost of doing business; economy; education; quality of life, technology and innovation; transportation; cost of living; business friendliness and access to capital, according to CNBC's study.
Texas' workforce ranking lowered from rank 7 to rank 12 this year. Major industries for the state include oil and natural gas, banking, steel, insurance and tourism.
Gov. Rick Perry touted the CNBC report as proof that Texas is a great place to do business. The governor's office notes that Texas has more Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 company headquarters than any other state in the nation.
Perry cites the TexasOne Program, which the governor describes as the "door opener" to recruit companies to Texas; the Texas Enterprise Fund, the nation's largest and most successful "deal closing" fund; and the Emerging Technology Fund as having played a significant role in Texas' economic and job growth.
CNBC Inc. is an Englewood Cliffs, N.J.-based business cable news network. It is a unit of NBC Universal Cable.

2008 MSN real estate best bargain markets

2008-07-15T10:41:00.001-07:00

Good news for those of you thinking about moving to the San Antonio area.

http://realestate.msn.com/Buying/Article2.aspx?cp-documentid=3863709

San Antonio #2 on list of "recession proof cities!

2008-05-21T09:53:00.000-07:00

Posted in the San Antonio express news! This is great new for those of us who already live here and those of you who may want to move here! Take a look at this article and see why San Antonio is the place to be!

S.A. is no. 2 on list of 'recession-proof' cities
Web Posted: 05/06/2008 09:17 PM CDT
By William Pack
San Antonio is one of the nation's top recession-proof cities, Forbes.com reports in an analysis of economic growth in the nation's 50 largest metro areas.
The Forbes.com study ranks San Antonio second only to Oklahoma City in its ability to withstand recessionary pressures. The study, released April 29, examined unemployment data and job growth through February, along with changes in median home prices and results from a national study on how foreclosures will affect cities.
The report said San Antonio “boasts solid unemployment numbers as well as rising home prices,” with median prices jumping nearly 8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2007.
“Its industries are growing, and it can't hurt that the new AT&T was formed when San Antonio-based SBC Communications swallowed the former AT&T Corp. and BellSouth,” the study says.
Oklahoma City led the pack with “one of the country's strongest housing markets and solid growth in agriculture, energy and manufacturing,” Forbes editors say.
But Texas dominates the report, with Austin, Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth all finishing in the top 10. Austin came in one spot behind San Antonio.
The report says all the Texas cities benefited “from historically lower home prices, which have been affordable to a large segment of the population.”
The study was no real surprise to area economists, who praise the diversity and dependability of the economy.
“It's almost a textbook example of a diversified city,” said Trinity University economics Professor Jorge Gonzalez. “This has been the story of San Antonio for the last 20 years. We don't have the booms or the busts.”
Keith Phillips, senior economist with the San Antonio office of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, said it's not just the diversity of the local economy, it's the stability of the key economic parts — the military, the hospitality sector and health care — that has made San Antonio strong.
The availability of land in San Antonio has been a key factor in keeping home prices affordable, Phillips said.
“We can have volatility in the number of units and not have volatility in prices,” he said.
Mayor Phil Hardberger said he is pleased that the economy has produced jobs for just about everyone looking for work. San Antonio may not be immune from the turmoil in the national economy, but Hardberger said he believes it will stay in better shape than the nation as a whole.

New elementary school boundaries for Schertz Cibolo UC ISD

2008-04-02T13:43:00.000-07:00

SCUCISD Board approves new Elementary Attendance Zones for 2008-2009 School YearThe SCUCISD Board of Trustees approved the new elementary attendance boundaries for the 2008-2009 school year, during a special called board meeting held at 6 p.m. on March 25, 2008. With the opening of John A. Sippel Elementary School, the district’s seventh elementary school, the distract was tasked with redrawing the boundaries with the help of 21-member committee.

Visit this link to see if you will be affected.

http://www.scuc.txed.net/Departments/PublicInfoWeb/features

Current Mortgage Rates

2008-03-03T15:00:00.000-08:00

Conventional

30 Yr Fixed

5.750% 1 + 1

6.000% 0 + 1

6.125% 0 + .5

6.250% 0 + 0

15 Yr Fixed

5.125% 2 + 1

5.250% 1 + 1

5.500% 0 + 1

5.750% 0 + 0

JUMBO 30 YR

7.000% 0 + 1

7.250% 0 + 0

VA ARM

5.25% 1 + 0

3/1 ARM

FHA/VA 30 YR

5.750% 0 + 1

6.000% 0 + 0

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TX VET RATE: ENTRY DATE PRIOR TO 1977 = 4.46%

And Have Not Been Discharged More Than 30 Yrs.

ENTRY DATE AFTER 1976 = 5.44%

-------------------------------------------------------------------

*6.875% 30 Yr Fixed with NO Mortgage Closing Cost

-------------------------------------------------------------------

95% Using Bank Statements as Verification of Income

-------------------------------------------------------------------

RATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.

This information is intended for use by real estate professionals only. Above rates are for loans above $100,000. Call for quote for loans below.

*Certain Restriction Apply, Based on credit score of 680
Thank you to Steve Brown of First Continental Mortgage for the update.

Why Use FHA?

2008-02-27T14:02:00.000-08:00

See For Yourself!

Comparison provided by Steve Brown, First Continental Mortgage
Rates valid for 2-26-08. Rates are subject to change without notice. This information is intended for real estate professionals only.

How's the weather today?

2008-02-05T13:44:00.000-08:00

The real estate market is like the weather...different in EVERY city EVERY day! Yes that's right...real estate markets cannot be summed up into one and that is exactly what the media is doing. The market in San Antonio is definitely different than the market in San Diego. Lucky for us the "weather" in San Antonio is not as cloudy as other areas of our nation. With an average sales price of $172,000 the San Antonio market is very affordable. Not only that, INTEREST RATES ARE LOWER THAN THEY HAVE BEEN IN 40 YEARS! Wow!! So my question is why not buy today? Statistically the market will improve and house values will go up again. Think about it, do we buy stock when it is high or low? Low! The real estate market should be looked at in the same manner. Buy now while prices are low. If you plan to hold on to that home for a while, you are likely to see a profit in the future. So, don't let the negativity of the media scare you away, now is a GREAT time to buy a home! The weather today is SUNNY!

Jeanine

Activity Has Finally Started To Pick Up Again

2007-12-18T10:35:00.000-08:00

Interestingly enough, buyers are finally starting to take action. The number of loan applications taken in the first weeks of December is up 22% compared to the preceding two weeks here in San Antonio. Some of that increase can be attributed to the “last deals of the year” for builder close outs, but hopefully it is an indication that buyers are starting to take notice of the increased inventory and lower rates.
Financially speaking, inflation concerns headline the news these days. The Fed wants to fight off a recession (predicted as a 50/50 chance by former chair Alan Greenspan) with additional rate cuts but in so doing, risks pushing inflation even higher. The Fed, in its 3rd consecutive meeting, lowered interest rates last week to 4.25%. The last time this happen was in 2001. This Friday, the Personal Consumption Report comes out giving the best read on inflation. If CORE PCE remains under 2%, further rate cuts are likely. A reading above 2% could spell trouble.

Joshua Sigman
Senior Loan Officer
Legacy Mutual Mortgage

Have We Hit The Bottom?

2007-12-12T08:20:00.000-08:00

As a mortgage banker here in San Antonio, I have been inundated with questions from prospective home buyers regarding whether or not we have “hit the bottom.” I find this question very amusing. It seems to me that everyone is trying to time the market, letting that govern there decision on whether or not to wait longer or buy now. Most people who have a financial background know that is very difficult, if not impossible, to time the exact point at which a market slump makes a turn around for the better. For that reason, I have always tried to lead my clients to base decisions on what they know is happening right now, and how it compares to history.

So my answer is simple. Right now, we know that employment growth is excellent in San Antonio. Right now, we know that there is more inventory on the market than there has been in the last three years. Right now, we know that interest rates are at a 26 month low. Right now, we know that it is a buyers market! If we are not at the bottom, we are close enough. Those who pull the trigger on buying a new home in the next month or so will beat the inevitable flood of buyers that will hit the market by the beginning of the 2nd quarter of 2008.

Joshua Sigman
Senior Loan Officer
Legacy Mutual Mortgage

Can I afford to buy a Home? Yes the American Dream!!

2007-10-22T11:04:00.000-07:00

Isn’t it interesting that just a few short years ago the interest rates were at 7% and 8% and people were still looking at buyer a home being the American Dream. During the past few months the interest rates have been sometimes below 6% and people are on the fence about buying a home. Did the American dream go away? Has the military somehow discouraged people from buying? All you folks that have VA benefits out there you still have those benefits!! In the past few years, folks have gotten away from looking into or realizing that those VA and FHA loans are out there and very easy to get.

In the past the Schertz/ Cibolo area had some builders, but not an abundance, and all were production builders. Now, you can build a home with more of your own specifications, much like a custom home. You can even build a custom home in the nearby areas. The preowned market is sometime your best value, if the seller is realistic about the “market” in the area. Some of the preowned homes have upgrades, such as blinds, ceiling fans, landscaping, and ceramic tile to name a few.
Find an area specialist! You don’t have to rely on your own knowledge about a “market”. And the national media has no idea what is happening in our area. They can only report generalizations. A buyer agent is a wealth of information on the area and the financing options out there. Use those benefits the government backed loan programs. These loans were created for people to afford the American Dream and now is a great time to buy a home. Yes you can afford to buy a home and don’t let anyone tell you can not use a government program just because they don’t know how or don’t want to take the few extra steps it takes to get that financing.

Gimmicks - continued...

2007-09-17T07:54:00.001-07:00

Last week I blogged about gimmicks in real estate. I specifically spoke about the whole "guaranteed" home selling tactic. I received some good comments from folks. One person in particular encouraged me to take off the sugar coating and to just call it what it is - lying, deception! This person had some strong and accurate remarks about all the nuances of the "guarantee" program.

Well, a very interesting thing happened later that day. Please keep in mind that I wrote that blog because this topic was on my mind for no other reason than I do not see a value in the gimmick approach to getting listings. I see that it is effective, but not of value.

Anyway, I stopped by our main office in order to show a fellow worker around who had never seen the 22,000 sf building that was just finished. It's gorgeous. She and I passed the Assistant Team Leaders office during our tour. I was very surprised to see 2 agents sitting in the ATL's office who work for an agent here in San Antonio that adores gimmicks, among other unorthodox and questionable methods of marketing. The 2 agents also saw me. We exchanged pleasantries for a moment and then parted ways. These 2 agents were on a tour of our company and its new building. Hmm!

Of course my curiosity was sparked. Wouldn't yours be? At this point I called a friend who I knew would know exactly what is going on. I was informed that this "mega" agent had offered the 90 day guarantee, exchanged some e-mail correspondence about doing so, lapsed on the 90 days, and renegged on the, um, "guarantee(?)." The client got an attorney and is now suing. To make a long story short, this agent is in a great deal of trouble. The other agents within his group see this and are jumping ship. I don't blame them.

I found it ironic that less than 6 hours after I wrote the blog about this particular methodology I was given a real life example of what can happen. Now, am I saying that this is the norm? No! I can't prove that. I am merely pointing out irony.

Again, what would happen to the real estate industry were we to get back to the basics of sales, marketing, and client service? It's a question worth consideration, in my opinion.

Dustin...

Freedom Walk

2007-09-14T06:49:00.000-07:00

No one will ever forget the date - 9/11. The date is spoken of, not as a date anymore, but as an event - a tragedy - that will forever live on the minds of Americans, indeed, the world, from now on. And our country pulled together as they never have before. Since that time the country has continued to pull together. It hasn't stopped. Our support of each other, and our countries troops, has been consistent.

There is an organization that gives absolutely unbelievable amounts of support to the troops and their families. They put together events, keep everyone updated on what is happening across the country (and world), solicit financial (and otherwise) support for the families of our soldiers who have passed from this earth or are overseas, and do many, many other things that go unnoticed by a great many people. The organization is called Operation Home Front. Please go to their website to see what you may be able to do.

Jeanine Claus, of The Claus Team, has been a consistent supporter of this organization. One of the events that Operation Home Front does, the Freedom Walk, just took place. Jeanine was there on the front line doing a 2.5 mile walk in support, and as a reminder.

What an awesome event! It was held at Brackenridge Park, in San Antonio, Texas. It was like half of the city showed up to show their loyalty, love, and honor. Incredible!

Let's not forget about our troops, whether local or abroad. Support them. Remember them. And remember their families. There's always something that we can do to help. It may seem trivial to you, but it may be lifechanging for them.

Dustin...

Real Estate Gimmicks

2007-09-13T08:16:00.000-07:00

Caveat - This is a hot and debated topic amongst real estate agents. It is not my desire to stir up strife. I desire nothing more than an honest look at things. Thus, we have this blog.

Have you ever seen an Internet ad, a billboard, or heard a commercial on the TV or radio that resembles this:

We Will Sell Your Home in 90 Days - GUARANTEED

Or We Will Buy It

Or, maybe it looked/sounded something like this:

YOUR HOME SOLD

GUARANTEED

or I WILL BUY IT MYSELF AT AN ACCEPTABLE PRICE

This method of getting listings is extremely popular. It was made popular by a very well known motivational speaker and business coach. I personally know quite a few real estate agents who employ this method of advertising/marketing. Some agents swear by it, while others feel it is dishonest and gimmicky.

Feelings, ultimately, do not matter. What matters is the fine print involved...AND the statistics of success.

Ok, so what is the fine print involved? I mean, isn't the phrase "acceptable price" extremely ambiguous. Acceptable to whom? The truth is that the "acceptable price" will be determined by the real estate agent, it will be based upon an appraisal done by an appraiser chosen by the agent, and it will be a price that is below market value. If you do not agree to the "acceptable price" then you do not qualify for the guaranteed program. Now, if you are a seller, would you be comfortable with this? I would not.

But this isn't all, in most cases. There are more stipulations to the guaranteed program, in most cases, that must be met in order to qualify. For instance, in most cases, you must agree to purchase your next home with this particular agent, you must purchase a home listed by the agent guaranteeing your home sale, and the home that you are selling must be listed below the average top sale in the area in order to guarantee a qualified buyer. Wow!

If you are a potential seller then you may be saying, "Um, yeah right!" If you are an agent who employs these methods then you may be saying, "Who cares about all of that. It works!" Does it? Let's look at some stats:

Agent 1 who uses the guaranteed program had 181 solds in one year, 183 listings expired (this means that the home did not sale), and 159 listings cancelled (the agent was fired). This is a success rate of 34.6%
Agent 2 who uses the guaranteed program had 132 listings sold in one year, 112 listings expired, and 225 listings cancelled. This is a success rate of 28.1%
Agent 3 who does not use the guaranteed program had less than 20 solds in one year, less than 5 listings expired, and less than 5 listings cancelled. This is a success rate of over 72%

So, does this methodology work? It depends on how you define work. If you define work as such: Work. adj; a methodology of marketing for listings that gets a real estate agent more listings than the average agent who does not employ this methodology, then yes, this system works. But if you define work as such: Work. adj; a methodology of marketing for listings that gets a real estate agent more listings than the average agent who does not employ this methodology AND has been proven to be more effective in getting listings SOLD for near or at market value, then no, this does not work.

I'll use Jeanine Claus as a real life example. Jeanine Claus is the owner and lead agent of The Claus Team of Keller Williams Realty. In 2006 Jeanine took approximately 101 listings. She had 15 sellers expire. There were 5 withdrawn listings. There were 81 solds. This is a sucess rate of 80.19%. She does not use the methodology described above. Her method of getting listings is niche marketing with a brand that is so well recognized that she gets stopped at the grocery store and is asked, "Are you the santa hat lady?" Her brand is everywhere - and I mean, everywhere!

There are a few other groups within the real estate world that I could name (but won't) who do not use the method spoken of within this blog and they do extreeeemely well. In fact, one of the top groups at Keller Williams who sold over 35 Million last year do not use any such methods of getting listings other than niche marketing and referrals based upon good, strong, proven business. Does this mean that another agent within the same company who uses the "guaranteed" method will not be as successful as far as volume is concerned? Of course not! But again, it depends upon how you define "success," and for whom?

Many agents who approve of the "guaranteed" method feel that the agents who disapprove of the "guaranteed" method are - 1. Not keeping up with the times, 2. Scared to put their money where there mouth is, or 3. Aren't technically savvy enough. All 3 of these presuppositions are subjective and extremely general. Novelty does not equal correctness. Disapproval of a trend does not equal fear. A refusal to follow a trend does not equal a lack of knowledge. It could just be that many agents feel that the "guaranteed" method does a disservice to the client, ultimately.

At the end of the day there are going to be agents who do whatever they want to do. You can't teach integrity, regardless of methodology. You can't teach authenticity. Someone is either going to watch out for the clients best interest, or they are not. I know this though - real estate agents do not need to nurture a "car salesman" persona. We already have a bad enough name because there are so many dishonest and ignorant agents out there. We all know that any John Doe can run out and get a license. It behooves us to do what we can to cultivate a persona of sincere professionalism.

Dustin...

Relocating to Schertz

2007-09-11T10:57:00.000-07:00

It seems as though the city of Schertz is gaining a lot of attention. I wrote last week about how Congressman Henry Cuellar is about to recognize Schertz, Texas as one of the greatest places to live in the US. And for those of you who haven't seen the CNNMoney article on Schertz, it was voted #40 on the top 100 places to live.

It is true, Schertz is gorgeous. It is a community. It is a small home town kind of a place, and yet it is 5 minutes from San Antonio, 10 minutes from New Braunfels, and about 50 minutes from Austin. You are close to everything but you get to have that sense of seclusion from hussle and bussle. It's really unique.

So, what do you if you are possibly relocating to Schertz and you want info? Call us. 210-566-6355. Or you can visit us at our website, The Claus Team. We can send you a relocation package out the same day that we talk to you.

Dustin...

Schertz Recognized in Congress

2007-09-06T14:03:00.000-07:00

Here is the full story:

Congressman Henry Cuellar To Recognize Schertz in Congress

During a visit to the City of Schertz, United States Congressman Henry Cuellar presented City Manager Don Taylor, Mayor Pro Tem David Scagliola, and Schertz Chamber of Commerce President Frances Rushing with a copy of a speech he intends to read into the Congressional Record on September 5, 2007 that recognizes the city as one of the top places to live in the U.S.A.

Cuellar, who represents the 28th District of Texas which extends from Guadalupe County in Central Texas to Hidalgo County in the Rio Grande Valley, presented the speech at a reception organized by the Schertz Chamber of Commerce and commended city, community, and business leaders for being actively involved in planning for the future. “I'm honored to represent Schertz,” said Cuellar “When you think about what Schertz has accomplished by being named #1 in Texas by Money Magazine, it's truly special.”

In July, the City of Schertz was selected by CNNMoney.com as one of the best places to live in the nation. Schertz ranked #40 out of 100 cities nationwide and #1 in the State of Texas. According to Money, Schertz and the other cities on the list offer the best combination of economic opportunities, good schools, safe streets, things to do, and a real sense of community.

State Representative Edmund Kuempel also chimed in and congratulated the city for being #1 in Texas. “Money has missed the boat over the past thirty years. I always new that Schertz and all the communities in Guadalupe County were the best place to live.” Kuempel has represented Schertz in the Texas House of Representatives since 1983. “It's the pride and determination of the people of Schertz that made this happen.”

Also in attendance were Schertz Assistant City Manager John Bierschwale, SCUCISD Superintendent Dr. Belinda Putska, and Randolph Metrocom Chamber of Commerce President John Williams.

(Source - http://www.schertz.com/News.asp)

More pictures can be found here - Google Picasa

Here is a copy of the speech - Speech

Teaser - continued!

2007-09-06T06:39:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I mentioned that our MLS feed, sometimes referred to as an IDX (Internet Data Exchange) pull, will give you listings that are currently on the market. I mentioned that the currently part was a teaser. I said that because when I used the word "teaser" I assumed that many of you would have said to yourself, "Self, so is he insinuating that on other websites where we search for homes we are seeing homes that are not currently on the market?" The answer to this question would be, Yes, that is what I am insinuating!

Let me lay a small foundation before I continue. Not every search engine has what is called a "lag time" (a delay in updating properties from Active on the market, to under contract or sold). The majority of the websites run by real estate agents, well, the smart ones at least, will have a live MLS feed, or IDX pull. They have to! If an agent does not have an MLS feed on their website then they are really serving no purpose on the web. A potential buyer does not do a Google search for "homes for sale in Schertz," get the results, click on an agents website, and then hope to see a picture of the real estate agent with their poodle, husband, and 3 kids. A buyer could care less about these things.

Potential buyers also do not care that an agent has won every award under the sun within the real estate community. Yes, integrity, effectiveness, consistency, and a proven track record is important, but it's penultimate to what a buyer really wants when they are looking for a home on the Internet - a live feed to the MLS!

Ok, so a good agent will have an MLS feed on their website. That live feed will have no lag time. But here is a truth - most buyers go to Realtor.Com, Homes.Com, Trulia.Com, or one of the Yahoo/Aol real estate search engines to find a home. Why? Because when you do a search for real estate these are the guys that pop up first because of their SEO (search engine optimization). They have people on staff who do nothing but make sure that they are first on the list in a search. And agents pay a lot of money to these vendors to be a part of their websites, so that when you go to Realtor.Com the paying agent will have their home inventory on the website with all sorts of bells and whistles. See example here --

But here is the issue with most of these vendors, if not all of them - the homes that you are seeing as "on the market" may not actually be on the market anymore! That's a big deal. It's a very big deal, in fact.

Imagine this scenario...you go to Google, you type in a search for "Schertz real estate," and a list of results pops up. One of the first results will be The Claus Team's personal website. However, the second result will be Homes.Com. And let's say that you have the common misperception that going to the agents website will be a waste of your time, and so you opt for the second choice site; you click on their site, put in the criteria of home that you are looking for, scroll through a myriad of homes, and then decide on a handful. After some careful consideration you narrow the homes down to 2 or 3 that you really have your heart set on. You then make a phone call to the agent about the home. The agent says, "Well, Mr./Mrs. Buyer, that home is actually already under contract and about to close." Your immediate reaction is, "Well then why in the heck was it even on the website if it wasn't available!?" Lag time!

It's a very sad, but all too often true and unfortunate reality that happens. You see, these second party vendors do not pull their information directly and immediately from the MLS. There is a lag time between what is on their website as content vs. what is truly an available property. The lag time is typically 3-5 days. Scary, huh? And the whole situation could have been avoided by going to The Claus Team's website, doing a search for homes that are currently on the market, and having a world class agent take you for a private viewing of the home at your convenience.

Does it make more sense now, the whole "currently" teaser? I guess I could have made this whole blog much shorter by saying, "Make your home search super, super easy by visiting our website at www.theclausteam.com and search the entire MLS for free!" But this was more fun.

Dustin...

Greetings and Salutations...

2007-09-05T10:52:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our blog! We are The Claus Team of Keller Williams Realty. Yes, we have now entered the cyber world of blogging. I, Dustin Curlee, will typically be the one authoring these blogs, although Jeanine Claus may be writing something from time to time. We hope to give you pertinent information regarding the real estate market in the Schertz, Cibolo, and surrounding areas (San Antonio, Boerne, Bulverde, etc), as well as any general information that rolls from my fingertips.

I did want to let everyone know about the links to the left of this post. One of the really awesome links that we have that might be of particular interest to many people, is the MLS Search link. If you don't know what MLS stands for, it is the Multiple Listing Service. This link will give you the ability to search the entire South Texas area for homes that are currently (Teaser - I'll explain the "currently" remark tomorrow) on the market.

Please feel free to comment on any of our blog entries, or the site in general. I'm sure that our blog site will be a work in progress. The Internet does seem to move at a lightning pace! Also, you can e-mail us (clausrlty@aol.com) with a topic that you'd like discussed. I'm really good at research, which means that I go to Google.Com and type in basic information, then hit return. :)

Until tomorrow...