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Inside Real Estate:
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Eclectic Design - Page 3 Local Real Estate News - Page 5
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Making an Offer on a Home - Page 5 WTHBA Featured Floorplan - Page 7
etc. It is now a great redone home with a great owner with a lot of vision and imagination and currently in a great equity position.
Where did you grow up? I was born in Rome, Italy and later lived in Copenhagen, Denmark in my early years. We moved to Plainview and then to Lubbock in my high school years, and I have been here ever since, attending Lubbock Christian and Texas Tech.
What tips do you have for someone looking to buy or sell a home? I tell most of my customers that there is no such thing as a “perfect house.” What is right for one person may not be right for the next one. If you are a buyer, try to look at a house to see the good parts of it, not just what’s wrong with it. Most everything can be changed to your liking and price overcomes all objections. As a seller, you can’t please everyone, so try to make your home as saleable to the general public as you can.
How long have you worked in real estate? I bought my first rent house at age of 19, did some new residential construction, and also “flipped” some houses as a sideline to my regular jobs. I did my own thing as an investor for a while. In 1987, I became a fully licensed Realtor and then, a Real Estate Broker, in 1989. And before that? Before officially becoming a Realtor, I was a high school teacher and coach at Lubbock Christian High School, for about nine years. I left there to start Lubbock Driving School. I sold that business and got into construction as
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CRS, GRI
Westmark Realtors 806-789-6959 (mobile), 806-794-6000 (office) tpaden@westmarkrealtors.com
What do you like most about the Lubbock area? We, here in Lubbock, don’t have forest, beaches or mountains, but we do have the prettiest sunsets and the best people for neighbors.
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a residential builder. I then became a commercial graphic artist with Waddington and Associates, as the assistant art director. Why should someone choose you as their real estate agent? My experience in many areas of real estate, as well as my coaching style, can help clients make their own good decisions about their home. I can show you what your advantages are and how you can achieve your goals. What is your specialty? My specialty is residential sales but over the last 25 years, I have done a little bit of everything in this business, including new construction, property management, and investments. I was a part owner in a mortgage company for a while. That’s what makes real estate such an interesting career for me. There are so many different ways to help people in this business that you can’t get bored. What are the most gratifying and most challenging aspects of what you do? I think of myself as a “Real Estate Coach” not a salesman. My satisfaction comes when my client feels like
Tim Paden, WestMark Realtors
a winner in his real estate transaction. What is the most unique property you’ve sold? I helped a buyer purchase a home that was for many years known as “the Prison Man’s House.” It was an ur-
Photo by Misty Setzler
ban legend that stood in Lubbock for many years, about an alleged murder and an ex-convict that lived there. It was, of course, totally untrue, but because of the myth, the house became a vacant, run down, eyesore that eventually became home to drug parties,
What do you see in the future for real estate sales? The economist and real estate specialist tell us that we will be up 5 to 10 percent this year in Texas. We have fantastic interest rates right now and our local economy is doing good. I think pent up demand is up and our sales and prices will gradually come up also. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working? My family gives me my greatest pleasure, especially being “Grandude” to five grandkids. I also love sports, and I am a “car guy” with a bunch of future projects waiting for me.
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Eclectic Design
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Trends that breathe new life into your room (ARA) – The newest interior design trends are invoking a playful vibe into rooms by mixing and matching different styles for an eclectic, fun look. According to “ELLE Decor,” home decorating is shifting toward a more theatrical and eclectic decorating style highlighting richer colors, layers of textures and patterns and a fusion of time periods, styles and atmosphere. Homeowners who want to express their own unique style can blend a mix of traditional and contemporary elements, says Erinn Valencich, L.A.-based designer and blogger for HGTV’s Design Happens. Whether it’s neutral colors with a bold chair
or a formal fireplace with art deco accessories, homeowners can create a space that is both comfortable and dynamic. “Attractive eclecticism can help make your home space a truly accurate reflection of your individuality,” says Valencich. “Combining shapes, styles and colors makes a very original statement.” Set a Good Foundation Eclectic style can include a variety of periods and styles and is connected through the use of color, texture, shape and finish. With such a bevy of decor options, an eclectic room can easily turn chaotic. That’s why Valencich recommends starting with a
This type of attractively played out eclecticism can help make your room truly an accurate reflection of the uniqueness of your individuality.
good foundation, the floors. “I like to design a room from the ground up,” she says. “A new floor is a great place to start for a fresh look and feel; floors not only ground the room, but they provide the design foundation.” “A good strategy when designing an eclectic room is to start with a neutral colored floor to help tie all the elements together,” says Valencich. “Grey toned floors are the latest design trend and they open up the possibilities for a wide range of decorating styles and color palettes.” A neutral color floor isn’t “blah” or unattractive, adds Valencich. A floor like QuickStep’s new Reclaime flooring in Heathered Oak serves as a pleasing canvas to create your eclectic room design, while also adding an attractive level of style and artistry to a room. This floor gives the same visuals and charm of a hardwood floor constructed from reclaimed, vintage wood which adds depth and personality to the room. Another advantage to a neutral color floor is that as your room decor changes through the years, your floor will transition nicely. “The great thing about spaces decorated in an eclectic style is they can easily be changed depending on mood, inspiration and budget,” she says. “That’s why it’s important to have flooring that is versatile enough to adapt to your changing style. Design Principles An eclectic room doesn’t have to be a hodgepodge or random assortment of items. “Have a planned and deliberate design,” says Valencich. “Eclectic rooms benefit from the same principles of design seen with other styles.” • Balance. “Edit your collection to create harmony and focal points,” she says. “Practice moderation with your pieces.” • Harmony and unity. “Group objects that work well together,” she adds. “For example, use dif-
An eclectic room should start with a good foundation. Floors such as Quick-Step’s Reclaime flooring in Heathered Oak serve as a pleasing canvas on which to create your eclectic room design.
ferent chairs around your dining table, but paint them the same color to unify the look.” • Scale and proportion. “A mix of small, medium and large pieces helps balance out a room and keeps it from looking cluttered,” she says. Valencich says to keep the design principles in mind while mixing unexpected pieces to create a gorgeous effect. • Create a tidy grid of art to balance out weathered pieces and graphic patterns. • Use nature to help create your eclectic look. Airy flower arrangements atop a dark, antique
table give a balance of dark and light colors. • Play with textures in your room. From an old frame with the paint peeling to nubby rugs to silky pillows, textures keep the room interesting and inviting. • Let your personality shine through with what you love. Do you have a collection of seashells or other trinkets? Use those pieces in an everyday nook. “As you create your own eclectic look, remember to be adventurous and a little daring,” says Valencich. “The most unexpected pairings can make the most refreshing looks.”
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Local Real Estate News – Lubbock Association of Realtors
How to make your offer more attractive… without increasing it BY Debora Perez Ruiz, President Lubbock Association of REALTORS®
Before you submit an offer on your dream home, get pre-approved or pre-qualified for a mortgage loan. Either one can make your offer more attractive to the seller, but they mean different things.
Ruiz
What are Your Qualifications? To get pre-qualified for a mortgage loan, you provide a lender your approximate income, current debts and any important details from your credit history. The lender will then use these details to determine how much you may be eligible to borrow. You may receive a Conditional Qualification Letter from the lender, which determines your likelihood of getting a home loan. However, it’s important to know that all information submitted during pre-qualification is subject to verification when your actual loan application is submitted. There is no guarantee that you will receive a home loan until your financial situation is actually verified. Seeking Approval Being pre-approved for a loan typically means that the lender has gone one step further and verified your financial situation. When you get pre-approved, you will complete a mortgage loan application and may have to pay an application fee. Your lender will commit in writing to fund your loan, but only after an extensive examination of your financial situation and pending a successful appraisal of the home and a few other conditions. But I Haven’t Found a House Yet Being pre-approved for a mortgage loan doesn’t mean you are borrowing the
money or that you are obligated to. It just means the lender must stand behind his written commitment to fund the specified amount unless something changes with your situation. Think about how attractive your offer will be to the seller if you submit it with a letter pre-approving you for the loan. Can the Lender Change His Mind? Some situations could cause a lender to withdraw from funding a loan even after a pre-approval letter is issued. If your credit situation changes between the time when the pre-approval letter is issued and the loan’s funding, then the lender could change the interest rate or even deny the loan application. So, while you’re buying a house, it’s important not to apply for credit cards or other loans that could change your credit situation. Avoid Surprises in Your Credit The best way to check out what a lender is going to see in your credit history is to get a copy of your credit report. This document lists your financial history, including total debt and whether you pay your bills on time. Regularly checking your credit report is the best way to spot identity theft, credit report errors or other blemishes that could affect your ability to buy a home. By law you are entitled to one free credit report every year from each of the three credit-reporting bureaus— Experian, Equifax and Transunion. Visit AnnualCreditReport.com to find out how to get your free reports. By taking steps to secure your finances, you increase your ability to get pre-approved for a home loan. And this will put you one step closer to being in the home you dream about for you and your family. For more information about buying and selling property in Lubbock, I encourage you to visit LubbockRealtors.com and TexasRealEstate.com.
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Smith of RE/MAX Lubbock earns Short Sale Specialist Certification RE/MAX Lubbock is proud to announce that Leslie Smith has received her Certified Short Sale Specialist Certification as well as the Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource Certification. With these certifications, she joins a group of the most successful and highly-respected individual professionals in real estate. Completion of the Short Sale Specialist involves more than 20 Smith hours of course work, completion of a training workbook, and a passing score on the certification test. “I’m excited to have one of our associates earning these certifications,” explains Nancy Rawls, manager of RE/MAX Lubbock. “Knowledge is power and I believe this training really sets our people apart when it comes to assisting our customers.” Prior to joining RE/MAX Lubbock, Leslie started a distinguished career in education in 1997. At the end of her ca-
reer in 2005 she was Head Volleyball and JV Basketball coach in Plainview. Leslie shifted her career from public education to real estate by getting her real estate license in 2007 and has furthered her real estate career by earning the designation of GRI (Graduate, REALTOR Institute). She is also a member of NAR (National Association of REALTORS) and TAR (Texas Association of REALTORS), and LAR (Lubbock Association of REALTORS). “Leslie is ready and experienced to assist anyone who is facing troubled times, past due on their home mortgage, and ready for guidance, assistance, and answers when facing foreclosure. Leslie can eagerly assist other clients with their existing home, purchase, sell, or investments in real estate. Education and the highest integrity can help your biggest investment in life go as smoothly as possible.” For local real estate information, call Leslie Smith at (806) 441-3352 or stop by RE/MAX Lubbock at 4703 S Loop 289 Lubbock, TX 79424. View her website at www.shortsalelubbock.com.
Existing-home sales decline in March but inventory down, prices stabilizing Existing-home sales were down in March but continue to outpace year-ago levels, while inventory tightened and home prices are showing further signs of stabilizing, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Total existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include singlefamily homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, declined 2.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.48 million in March from an upwardly revised 4.60 million in February, but are 5.2 percent above the 4.26 million-unit pace in March 2011. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said the recovery is in the process of settling into a higher level of home sales. “The recovery is happening though not at a breakout pace, but we have seen nine consecutive months of year-over-year sales increases,” he said. “Existing-home sales are moving up and down in a fairly narrow range that is well above the level of activity during the first half of last year. With job growth, low interest rates, bargain home prices and an improving economy, the pent-up demand is coming to market and we expect housing to be notably better this year.” Total housing inventory at the end of
March declined 1.3 percent to 2.37 million existing homes available for sale, which represents a 6.3-month supply2 at the current sales pace, the same as in February. Listed inventory is 21.8 percent below a year ago and well below the record of 4.04 million in July 2007. The national median existing-home price3 for all housing types was $163,800 in March, up 2.5 percent from March 2011. Distressed homes – foreclosures and short sales sold at deep discounts – accounted for 29 percent of March sales, compared with 34 percent in February and 40 percent in March 2011. Foreclosures typically sold for an average 19 percent below market price in March, while short sales were discounted 16 percent. NAR President Moe Veissi said buyer traffic is up. “Our members are reporting an increase in foot traffic from a year ago, but more importantly, home shoppers are more serious about finding the right home and making an offer,” he said. “Stabilizing home prices and historically favorable affordability conditions are giving buyers more confidence, and Realtors® have become more optimistic since the beginning of the year from the positive shift in buyer patterns.”
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Featured Floorplan – Anderson Fine Homes
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6106 90th Street – The Trails at Regal Park “Maison de Campagne”
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nderson Fine Homes invites you to visit this week’s Featured Home, sponsored by the West Texas Home Builders Association in cooperation with the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. This spacious custom designed home located in the new and admired upcoming neighborhood, The Trails, boasts approximately 2,612 square feet, consisting of four bedrooms, three full baths, an oversized two-car garage plus a detached car garage. The exterior of the home has a beautifully landscaped yard plus an ideal outdoor kitchen and fireplace for entertaining a gathering of friends or simply relaxing with family. Upon entering the home you will find the open and spacious floor plan striking, evidence that this home was built to cater to a lifestyle desiring the utmost comfort and tranquility. You will find that spaces are luxurious yet thoughtfully planned. The delightful gourmet kitchen with stained maple cabinets, solid surface countertops and professional grade appliances is sure to please any chef in the family. The open plan is completed with a cozy round dining nook with a dome ceiling. Interior finishes and colors are warm and inviting and include hand-scraped wood floors, wood beams, and stone fireplace. Additional amenities of this home include a concrete block storm shelter, energy efficient spray foam insulation and pre-wiring for data and security. Designed to develop relationships that last, The Trails community is one that stands apart. Each home in this development has oneof-a-kind architectural curb appeal and charming character. Unique features of this neighborhood include hundreds of trees lining the parks and streets, as well as shaded walking trails, a stone pavilion, wood trellises and streaming water in Lubbock’s only public Wi-Fi park. Mitchell Anderson, Vice President of ADC, Inc. and Anderson Fine Homes, and his team provide every customer with the unsurpassed experience, service, and quality they were founded upon. Mark G. Anderson, AIA, President, has been building custom homes in Lubbock and the greater West Texas for over 30 years and has dependable knowledge in design and the construction industry. Mark or Mitchell Anderson would be delighted to visit with you concerning any custom home design or construction needs that you may have. Contact them today at (806) 793–3317 or at www.andersonfinehomes.com.
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