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Inside Real Estate:
Local Real Estate News - Page 5 Design a Home Office - Page 5
On The Web:
WTHBA Featured Floorplan - Page 7 Builder Confidence - Page 7
GRI, ABR, CHMS
Coldwell Banker, Rick Canup Realtors 806-441-8797 sbrown@coldwellbanker.com Where did you grow up? I grew up around the Brownfield area where I farmed for 22 years before moving to Lubbock. Why do you live in the Lubbock area? What do you like most about it? I like the size of Lubbock; it has the things of a large city, but still has the feel of small town America. The city was designed to be able to get around with ease and simplicity. Also, the market always remains very steady because of the diversity of the area. How long have you worked in real estate? I have been in real estate for 14 years, all with Coldwell Banker. What is your specialty? I specialize mainly in Residential, but I do enjoy working with Farm & Ranch because of my background. I enjoy working with first-time home buyers and past clients and friends. It is always a pleasure to be able to help those folks again when they are moving
appreciates drastically, but has generally increased 2 to 3 percent, except for the years of the mortgage crisis and at that time really was just flat, not really losing any ground. Also, along with the low interest rates, it is a great time to buy or sell in Lubbock.
up or just ready to purchase again. What designations do you have and what does that mean for the people you work with? GRI, ABR, CHMS. The GRI designation stands for Graduate REALTOR Institute. I am better able to serve and protect my increasingly sophisticated clients because of my understanding of new technology laws and procedures. The ABR designation is from education in the area of being able to focus on my buyer needs. The CHMS designation comes after education in specializing help for Sellers in strategies of making their home more marketable. What is the most gratifying aspect of what you do? One of the most gratifying times is when I have helped that first-time home buyer and walking them step by step through the process and the excitement on their faces when that home becomes their own. Also, when that past client buyer gets ready
Why should someone choose you as their real estate agent? With my background in farming, I know how to work hard to accomplish the goal of either buying or selling. I have the 14 years of experience of dealing with all the different things that might arise and a team at Coldwell Banker that is always there to work together to get your home sold. My goal is to make every aspect in buying and selling as smooth and quickly as possible.
Steve Brown, Coldwell Banker, Rick Canup Realtors Photo by Misty Setzler
to sell later, and they come back to me to help them sell either to move out-of-town or move up. It is always gratifying when that friendship and trust has been established between us.
What do you see in the future for real estate sales? I see that the Lubbock market will continue to be strong. Our market has never been a market that
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What local organizations and charities are you involved in? I am involved in Trinity Church where I serve as a Deacon and sing on the Praise and Worship team and Chorale. I also sing with the Gospel Quartet, “4-Heavens Sake,� as their bass. I enjoy being with my family, especially the grandchildren.
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Local Real Estate News – Lubbock Association of Realtors
Five things to avoid in a real estate transaction SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 2012 A5
BY Debora Perez Ruiz, President Lubbock Association of REALTORS®
You’ve heard that everything is negotiable when it comes to real estate. Price, closing date, who pays for new carpet in the bedrooms, whether the patio furniture comes with the house… any of these can be part of the deal. Ruiz Just remember that whether you think negotiating in a real estate transaction is exciting or terrifying, you won’t get the things you don’t ask for. If there is something special you want, speak up. Your Lubbock Realtor is an expert at hashing
out contracts so both parties are content. Whatever your opinion of the process of reaching consensus may be, here are five mistakes to avoid when negotiating a deal. Forgetting That it’s Not About You Too many people let emotion dictate their negotiations. Don’t get angry when a buyer presents a low offer for your home. He’s not insulting you, and he doesn’t think your house is a poorly maintained shack. The buyer needs to start the negotiation somewhere. He may be testing the waters to see how low you’ll go. Or his negotiation tactics could have been formed in a country where negotiating is handled differently. Whatever the case, if you see the offer as an insult and choose not to counter, you may be cutting off the
process that would have resulted in a sale. On the buying side, don’t get bent out of shape if a seller rejects your offer or counters with his original asking price. You may have determined that you presented a very fair price for the house. Good for you. Try again or move on. It’s not personal. Putting Yourself Second Keeping emotions out of a deal also means maintaining a business relationship and not feeling sorry for the other side. If the seller rejects your fair offer based on “needing more money for my retirement fund,” ask for a reason that’s relevant to the property sale. On the other hand, if a buyer says they can’t afford your asking price, but you believe you’re asking fair market value, stick to your guns. Maybe yours just isn’t the house for them.
Exceeding Your Limits What’s the lowest price you’ll accept for your home? What concessions, if any, will you make? Answer these questions before you put your home on the market and revisit them if your home isn’t seeing the activity you hoped for. And for buyers, what’s the absolute most you can afford? How close are you willing to come to that number? Whether you’re buying or selling, be sure to share this info with your Lubbock Realtor so he or she knows your priorities. Meeting in the Middle Splitting the difference doesn’t mean that both parties get a fair deal. If a buyer offered $70,000 for your $100,000 home, you countered with $90,000, and the buyer offered to split the difference at $80,000, would you feel like you both won? Whether
you’re buying or selling, don’t allow an extreme offer to affect your counter. Losing Sight of the Goal Are you willing to jeopardize the sale of your house because the buyer wants the entryway mirror to convey? As a buyer, how will your monthly payments really be affected if the seller won’t drop the price another $5,000? Sometimes you have to take a step back to make sure you’re not overemphasizing one detail that is standing between you and your objective. Your Lubbock Realtor can help you analyze the current market and identify an appropriate buying or selling strategy for you. For more helpful tips on selling or purchasing a home, I invite you to go online and visit LubbockRealtors.com and TexasRealEstate.com.
Designing your home office for maximum comfort, productivity
A stylish, yet functional home office is a great asset in any home. In an office, countertops make great work surfaces, while cabinets can solve storage needs.
(ARA) – There’s no doubt that we’re a connected society – and connected like never before through email, social networks, video conference technology, instant messaging, smart phones, the list goes on. While this influx in connectivity has made it easier to do business, it has also blurred the lines between work and home life, resulting with many of us working in our homes at least a few hours each week. If your kitchen countertop has become your go-to place for paying bills, responding to emails and conducting business, it may be time to consider adding a dedicated office space in your home. Whether you telecommute for work or just need a work space to organize personal documents and files, a wellthought home office can help you stay productive, efficient and organized. Before beginning the design process for an office space, think through how the space will be used and ask yourself these questions: • What activities will take place in the space? • Who will be utilizing this area? • What are the storage needs?
Local Real Estate News CENTURY 21, John Walton Realtors welcomes two new agents CENTURY 21, John Walton REALTORS is pleased to announce Jessica Albares and Josh Putman have joined the firm as sales associates. Jessica and Josh are highly trained agents that will specialize in residential property sales in the Lubbock area. “We are thrilled to have Jessica and Josh join our team,” said John Walton. “It’s an exciting time to be with the CENTURY 21 System as we increase our market presence in Lubbock.” Mr. Walton added, “We believe training supports growth and professional excel-
lence in the real estate industry. Performance-based training is necessary to assure that the CENTURY 21 associates maintain their competitive edge and offer the best services possible to their clients.” Mrs. Albares and Mr. Putman are eager to assist all clients with their selling and buying needs. The real estate market in Lubbock is very much alive and well. CENTURY 21, John Walton REALTORS, a full service real estate brokerage company specializing in residential properties, is located at 4718 S. Loop 289 in Lubbock.
Kearney & Associates, Realtors welcomes Joe Humphreys to agency Kearney & Associates, REALTORS welcomes a new agent, Joe Humphreys, to the agency. Joe was raised in West Texas on West Texas values. After graduating from Levelland High School, he enlisted in the US Navy. After his service, he has returned to West Texas because of the people here. “You won’t find friendlier people anywhere in the world,” Joe says. Humphreys “Not only are they friendly, but they are hard working and honest. That’s what I bring to the table for my clients, honesty and hard work. “I was raised to put God first, then family and then country, work hard and
treat people the way you would want to be treated,” he adds. “I work hard for my clients and go above and beyond what they expect. Why? Because they are putting a very large investment of theirs in my care.” As a Realtor, Joe helps people invest in real estate. You might be a first time home buyer or you may have bought and sold several homes. You may be looking to sell your home or be an investor – Joe will do the very best to take care of your real estate needs. “I’ve been a Realtor since January 1, 2010 and have been a multi-million dollar producer. I believe my success is due to the fact that I build trust and honesty with my clients and work hard to take care of their real estate needs,” Joe says. “If I can help you with your real estate needs give me a call. I’m Joe Humphreys and I’m with Kearney and Associates, REALTORS.”
Did you know? – Integrating both landscape architecture and spatial planning with environmental science, ecoscaping is meant to help homeowners create a sustainable and eco-friendly landscape design. Homeowners can embrace ecoscaping by removing or refusing to plant invasive plants that are difficult to control because they are from different ecosystems and can threaten local wildlife and existing plants. Instead of choosing exotic plants that aren’t native to the area, choose native plants that are accustomed to the local climate.
• What time of day will you be doing most of your work? • Where in your home will you set up the office? • What type of connectivity/technology will be necessary? Once you have a handle on your needs, you’re ready to start the planning and design process. Here are a few important things to consider when you’re setting up a home office: Flexible and functional – A home office should be comfortable, but not too casual that it lacks structure and function at the expense of productivity. Whether you opt for a desk or a table, be sure to evaluate how much work surface is needed before you make the purchase. Consider how much space your computer and phone equipment, wires and cords, files and paperwork and of-
fice supplies will occupy. All of these things can quickly swallow space you might need to work comfortably. After you’ve selected the furniture, it’s wise to invest in a high-quality ergonomic chair that can help promote your overall well-being. Orderly and organized – It’s easy to let a home office become overrun with paperwork, mail, bills, etc. Giving thought to smart storage solutions from the get-go will help minimize stress in the long run. The good news is you don’t have to settle for commerciallooking metal file cabinets to store everything. Cabinets have long been used to create stylish, orderly kitchens and baths, and can do the same for a home office. Affordable cabinetry options can provide smart storage and have the ability to blend in with the decor of
the rest of the home. Check out some online design and planning resources at www. qualitycabinets.com. Light and lively – Good lighting is essential. While overhead light is helpful, your desk and work spaces should also feature a few task lights for reading, writing and computer work. Adding a decorative table lamp can help maintain a homier feel. The amount and type of lighting really depends on when you’ll be doing the bulk of your work and can vary drastically throughout the day. Installing light dimmer switches and adding window treatments can keep light at optimum levels. Painting a splash of color on the walls, adding colorful textiles or artwork reflective of your personality will make the space feel lively and inspiring.
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Featured Floorplan – Jim Elliott Construction, Inc.
4508 102nd Street – T Lakeridge Estates
his Featured Home built by Jim Elliott Construction, Inc. was featured in the 2010 Parade of Homes. The home is located at 4508 102nd Street in the Lakeridge Estates addition and Cooper I.S.D. The Featured Home is sponsored by the West Texas Home Builders Association in cooperation with the Lubbock Avalanche Journal. This amazingly beautiful home includes four bedrooms, three bathrooms, two living areas, three-car garage, and a basement. Other amenities include a study, outdoor kitchen with a fireplace, wet bar, and a butler’s pantry. The home has approximately 4,750 square feet of living space and is priced at $669,950. The exterior is a detailed combination of brick and cast stone. The yard and flower beds are fully landscaped and include three huge oak trees. The interior contains rich wood floors, luxurious carpeting, beautiful stone, and amazing draperies. When entering through the front door, you will notice the grand foyer. To the immediate right is the study and to the left is the formal dining. The stairway leads you to the upstairs living area, two bedrooms and a bathroom. As you go on into the house you will
Ninety-nine housing markets seen as improving The tally of housing markets showing measurable improvement reached 99 in March, according to the National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI), released March 15. Currently 33 states (including the District of Columbia) are represented by at least one market on the list. The index identifies metropolitan areas that have shown improvement from their respective troughs in housing permits, employment and house prices for Rutenberg at least six consecutive months. The 99 markets on the March IMI represent a net gain of one from February, with 31 metros being added and 30 markets slipping from the list, due primarily to incremental softening in house prices. Notable new entrants on the IMI in March include Orlando, Fla.; Rochester, N.Y.; Columbus, Ohio; and Austin and San Antonio, Texas. Meanwhile, Anchorage; Iowa City; Washington, D.C.; and Jackson, Miss. all returned to the list as a result of recent revisions in their employment data.
“In March, 68 metros retained their status as improving housing markets, while 31 new markets joined the list and 33 states had at least one entry on it,” said NAHB Chairman Barry Rutenberg. “Meanwhile, 10 states now have four or more metros on the improving markets list, with Texas’s 12 entries topping all others. The point is that economic conditions have been consistently strengthening in a diverse array of individual markets nationwide.” “After five consecutive months of solid gains, the March IMI held virtually flat this month at just under 100 metros, while showing a significant amount of transition in terms of markets represented on the list,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. “This is consistent with NAHB’s projections for a gradual but patchy recovery in which some month-to-month softening is likely, particularly in places where the measurable gains have been very small. The bottom line is that roughly one quarter of all U.S.
metropolitan areas are showing signs that their housing markets have turned the corner, which is a very positive development.” “With nearly 100 metros showing consistent improvement in local economic and housing conditions, more consumers are feeling confident enough to take advantage of the buyer’s market this spring,” said Kurt Pfotenhauer, vice chairman of First American Title Insurance Company. The IMI is designed to track housing 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 the top improving Metropolitan Statistical Areas. The three indicators that are analyzed 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 complete list of all 99 metropolitan areas currently on the IMI is available at: www.nahb.org/imi.
notice the beautiful kitchen that is open concept with the living area. The craftsmanship in the kitchen is absolutely beautiful, from the custom cabinets to detailed stonework. One can immediately see why it was voted “Best Kitchen” in the 2010 Parade of Homes. The living space has a large gas fireplace, large windows that look out to the outdoor living areas, and a 20-foot cathedral ceiling. The beautiful 20-foot stone fireplace is the centerpiece of the room. The basement is off the living area and contains a theater room with full surround sound and projector screen – great for fun and entertainment with the family. The isolated master suite contains a reading area, a special ceiling, a huge shower with double heads, and large closet with ample storage. The outdoor living has two sitting areas, a grill and a fireplace. The outdoor living area is perfect for entertaining friends or just sitting outside enjoying the beautiful West Texas summer evenings. This luxury home is a must see and can be viewed at open house on Saturday and Sunday 2-4 p.m. or by appointment. Feel free to call the builder Jim Elliott at 806789-1686
Builder confidence unchanged in March Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes was flat in March from a revised level of 28 on the National Association of Home Builders/ Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). This means that following five consecutive months of gains, the HMI is now holding at its highest level since June of 2007. “While builders are still very cautious at this time, there is a sense that many local housing markets have started to move in the right direction and that prospects for future sales are improving,” said Barry Rutenberg, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). “This is demonstrated by the fact that the HMI component measuring builder expectations continued climbing for a sixth straight month in March, to its highest level in more than four years.” Derived from a monthly survey that NAHB has been conducting for more than 20 years, the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index gauges builder perceptions of current home sales and sales expectations for the next six months as “good,” “fair” or “poor.” The survey asks builders to rate traffic of prospective buyers as “high to very high,” “average” or “low to very low.” Scores are then used to calculate a seasonally adjusted index where any number over 50 indicates that more builders view conditions as good than poor. In March, the HMI gained five points to 25 in the Northeast, two points to 32 in the Midwest and two points to 27 in the South, but fell 10 points in the West following a 22-point gain in the previous month.
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