Real Estate LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
SATURDAY DECEMBER 10, 2011
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Inside Real Estate:
Local Real Estate News - Page 5 Fall Tour of Homes - Page 5
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On The Web:
Local Real Estate News - Page 6 Improving Housing Markets - Page 6
SuzAnne Scott
Where did you grow up? I was a preacher’s kid, so we moved a lot. For the most part, I grew up in Post, TX and Clovis, NM. Why do you live in the Lubbock area? What do you like most about it? The majority of my family lives in the area. West Texas simply feels like home. I love everything about it, from the cotton fields to the gorgeous sunsets. I don’t even mind the smell of the feed lots. I’m definitely a West Texas girl at heart! What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working? Not working? I’m not familiar with that phrase. My husband and I have a 2, 3 and 5 year old. If I’m not showing houses, writing contracts, hosting an open house, etc., then I’m cooking supper, wiping runny noses or changing a diaper. I have a busy life, but wouldn’t change it for the world. I’m blessed to have a full-time career that allows me the flexibility to still be a mom! How long have you worked in real estate? I’ve been a Realtor for nearly five years. Before real estate, I was a teacher.
number. A home is one of the largest investments most people will ever make – you need to be confident that your agent is on top of things and always has your best interest at heart.
I taught high school science and was the Varsity Cheerleading Coach for six years. That was a rewarding experience and made me much of who I am today.
What do you see in the future for real estate sales? We’re so fortunate to be in Lubbock, because we’ve been able to maintain a stable market, in comparison to many other cities. We don’t experience the highs of the market, neither do we go through the lows. I feel that our values over the next couple of years will be fairly consistent with where we’re at today.
What is your specialty? My specialty is residential real estate, however commercial has always interested me and someday I may look in that direction. What are the most gratifying and the most challenging aspects of what you do? The most gratifying aspect of my job is so much more than simply selling a home. It’s about building a rapport with my clients. I love that I get invited to kids’ birthday parties or the family barbecue. At the end of the day, it’s about gaining my clients’ trust and respect. The most challenging aspect of what I do is being able to educate and set a realistic expectation for my clients. What tips do you have for someone looking to buy or sell a home? My advice for those looking to buy or sell is to do your homework when choosing an agent. An agent with a proven record of success is
SuzAnne Scott, Greg Garrett/Real Living Realtors Photo by Misty Setzler
important. With that being said, choose an agent who has the time and ability to work with you and cater to your individual needs. No one wants to feel like they’re the “next number in line.” When selling, it’s also important to choose an agent who uses
current methods to market and sell your home. The “same old bag of tricks” that worked 10 years ago, doesn’t necessarily work today. There has to be a strategic and calculated marketing plan, which consists of more than simply assigning an MLS
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Realtor Revealed Greg Garrett/Real Living Realtors 806-438-9074 suzannejscott@yahoo.com
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Why should someone choose you as their real estate agent? As a Realtor, my job goes far beyond the actual sales transaction. I want my clients to think of me as someone who can help them with all of their needs throughout the process. I want to simplify things and make sure they have access to a reliable lender, good insurance company, a trustworthy roofer, a moving company, etc. Whatever the situation calls for, I want them to think of me and trust that I will handle the task at hand. Buying or selling a home can be a complex process and anything I can do to shorten the “to-do” list or make things easier, that’s my job.
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Local Real Estate News – Lubbock Association of Realtors
Ring in the holidays with real estate
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BY Joe L. Murfee, III, President Lubbock Association of REALTORS®
The holiday season is a busy time for most people. No one has time for anything because “this time of year is crazy,” right? That doesn’t mean the real estate market shuts down. In fact, the period from Thanksgiving through New Year’s can be a great time to buy or sell a house, especially with interest MURFEE rates remaining low. Why You Should Buy There are typically fewer buyers in the market during the holiday season than other times. Fewer buyers mean less competition, which could give you more time
to make an offer or consider your options. Home inspectors, appraisers, title companies, and anyone else involved in the home buying process may have less business and, therefore, may have more time to work on your transaction. And, many movers charge less in the winter than during the peak seasons of spring and summer. Some sellers avoid listing their properties at this time of year, so it’s possible that the property you find will have a motivated seller. The house may be on the market during the holidays because it’s been for sale longer than the owner expected, or the seller may not be able to wait until the spring, which could result in a better deal for you. Why You Should Sell You won’t find many casual buyers during the holiday season. A couple who views your home on December 23 likely
Local Builder News
WTHBA hosts 2011 Fall Tour of Homes The West Texas Home Builders Association (WTHBA) is proud to host this year’s Fall Tour of Homes. The tour, which began last weekend wraps up this Sunday, Dec. 11. Admission is free but there are opportunities at each home to donate to Lubbock Homes for Heroes, the charity established this year by the WTHBA to build homes in our area for deserving men and women who serve our country, state and city and were injured in the line of duty. There are 23 homes on this year’s tour located all over town, but primarily in Southwest Lubbock. A map of the locations was printed in last Saturday’s Avalanche-Journal for your convenience and copies are available at each home. Visit LubbockFallTourofHomes.com to see front elevations, descriptions and print out your own map. The website also serves as a mobile app, so you can navigate the tour with ease using Google maps technology on your smart phone or iPad.
The homes feature some of Lubbock’s finest builders with prices from $200,000-$600,000. Open for touring from 1-5 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday, there is something for everyone at this year’s Fall Tour of Homes! Chair of the 2011 Fall Tour of Homes, local builder Jordan Wheatley, said, “We are very excited to host this year’s Fall Tour of Homes. There are a wide variety of homes and floor plans spanning several great local communities in every price range. Many of them also feature the newest technology and appliances for your home. Whether you are in the market to buy a home now, think you might be in the near future, or just want to take a break from the busyness of the holidays and do something relaxing and free in December, this year’s tour is for you!” Lubbock’s Fall Tour of Homes is sponsored by Atmos Energy, Southwest Bank and Title One.
isn’t doing so to pass the time. With less inventory this time of year, it will make the ones on the market stand out more. Combine fewer homes on the market with mostly serious buyers, and that sets you up for a closed transaction. With so many consumers using the Internet for part of their home search, it’s no longer a big deal if it’s cold and raining outside when your home is on the market. Buyers can locate your listing from the warmth of their living room and schedule a showing on a more pleasant day. Built-in Staging Ideas Sellers sometimes struggle with how to decorate their homes to appeal to consumers. Well, during the holiday season, you don’t have to think too long to come up with a theme. A tasteful display of holiday decorations can show off your home at its best, so you might rethink
putting ten thousand blinking lights on the roof with blow-up Santas and motorized reindeer in the yard. Talk to an Expert If you’re planning to buy or sell your home this holiday season, sit down with a Lubbock Realtor. Sellers can discuss holiday marketing, pricing, and decorating ideas, while buyers can learn how to take advantage of low interest rates during this special time of year. With the right guidance and a desire to buy or sell property, you and your family could end up with a great gift this holiday season – a successful real estate transaction. For more information on buying or selling property in Lubbock, I invite you to visit LubbockRealtors.com and TexasRealEstate.com. Regards, Joe L. Murfee, III
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20 cities join list of improving markets index
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Number of improving housing markets continues to expand The number of improving housing markets continued to expand for a fourth consecutive month in December, rising from 30 to 41 on the latest National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI), released Dec. 6. The December list featured 20 new additions, including several major markets such as Washington, D.C.; San Jose, Calif.; and Toledo, Ohio. Meanwhile, nine smaller markets dropped off the list, primarily due to softer house prices. The index identifies met-
ropolitan areas that have shown improvement from their respective troughs in housing permits, employment and house prices for at least six consecutive months. New entrants to the list in December include the following: Ann Arbor, MI Athens, GA Boulder, CO Burlington, VT Canton, OH Charleston, WV Danville, VA Fort Wayne, IN Grand Forks, ND Jackson, MS
Local Real Estate News Coldwell Banker hires new residential sales associate Larry Leivas has joined Coldwell Banker Rick Canup, Realtors as a new sales associate. Leivas has been a resident of Lubbock most all of his life and has more than 15 years experience in the real estate industry as a builder. Leivas is excited to be a part of the Coldwell Banker team. He understands what people want and expect in a Realtor and in the transaction of a home. “Larry is a great asset to our team,” says Deron Tucker, Executive Vice President for Coldwell Banker. “He has experience working and helping people, and he has the tenacity to get Leivas the job done.” “I am excited to join Coldwell Banker Rick Canup, Realtors!” says Leivas. “My philosophy is simple... listen and give people the service and expertise they need, so they can get where they need to be. The process of buying or selling can be frustrating and stressful. I want to help make the purchase or sale of a home the smoothest and easiest people have ever experienced.” Coldwell Banker Rick Canup, Realtors, located at 4924 S. Loop 289, can be reached by calling 806-793-0677. Coldwell Banker Rick Canup, Realtors has been an affiliate of Coldwell Banker for more than 27 years. For more information, visit cbLubbock.com.
Kingsport, TN Laredo, TX Lincoln, NE Muncie, IN Muskegon, MI San Jose, CA Scranton, PA Toledo, OH Washington, DC Winchester, VA “The increases we continue to see in the number and geographic diversity of improving metros are quite encouraging, and evidence of the fact that all housing markets are dependent on uniquely local factors,” said NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen, a home builder from Reno, Nev. He noted that as of December, a total of 21 states and the District of Columbia are represented on the improving markets list – up from 14 states represented in November. “The December IMI results are very much in keeping with the latest government housing data and our own builder surveys, which have shown modest signs of improvement in certain individual markets
where employment is gaining and distressed properties are not as numerous,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. “These gradual improvements are now becoming evident not just in small, energyproducing metros that have previously dominated the IMI, but also in several larger markets and areas with more diverse economies.” The nine markets that dropped off the IMI in December include Alexandria, La.; Fairbanks, Alaska; Hinesville, Ga.; Houma, La.; Jonesboro, Ark.; Lima, Ohio; Pine Bluff, Ark.; Sumter, S.C. and Waco, Tex. All but two of these metros fell from the list due to softening house prices. The exceptions to the rule were Jonesboro and Waco, where declines were registered in employment and singlefamily housing permits, respectively. The total list of improving housing markets in December, as defined by the IMI, includes the following
41 entries (listed alphabetically by state): Anchorage, AK San Jose, CA Boulder, CO Fort Collins, CO Washington, DC Athens, GA Davenport, IA Waterloo, IA Kankakee, IL Fort Wayne, IN Muncie, IN Monroe, LA New Orleans, LA Ann Arbor, MI Muskegon, MI Jackson, MS Fayetteville, NC Winston-Salem, NC Bismarck, ND Grand Forks, ND Lincoln, NE Canton, OH Toledo, OH Pittsburgh, PA Scranton, PA Williamsport, PA Kingsport, TN Amarillo, TX Corpus Christi, TX Laredo, TX McAllen, TX Midland, TX Odessa, TX
Sherman, TX Tyler, TX Danville, VA Winchester, VA Burlington, VT Charleston, WV Casper, WY Cheyenne, WY The IMI is designed to track markets throughout the country that are showing signs of improving economic health. The index measures three sets of independent monthly data to get a mark on improving Metropolitan Statistical Areas. The three indicators are employment growth from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, house price appreciation from Freddie Mac, and single-family housing permit growth from the U.S. Census Bureau. NAHB uses the latest available data from these sources to generate a list of improving markets. A metro area must see improvement in all three areas for at least six months following their respective troughs to be included on the improving markets list.
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