URGENT!!
Dont let the media spook you!!
You do not have to have 20% down to obtain a home loan, we are financing people with a minimum of 3% down and even 0% down on special programs and areas.
Right now is the perfect time to buy a home, it is the largest investment you and your family will make. If you do not own a home or are interested in moving to a new one please call us.
We can find a program that will best suit your needs.
by:
Silver Oak Mortgage
Lisa Warren
Branch Manager
751 E Southlake Blvd Ste 100
Southlake, TX 76092
office 817-410-2518
fax 817-410-2519
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Real Estate Update
Five Key Areas to Pay Attention to When Buying a Home
By Carla L. Davis
Looking for a new home can be exciting and frustrating. You can help alleviate the frustration by paying close attention to five key areas of the homes you're considering buying; it may save you money in the long run.
Don Walker is an inspector and owner of Ace Home Inspections. He says there are five areas in homes that he frequently reports problems with. They are electrical, foundation, plumbing, the attic, and landscaping.
Electrical: Walker says sometimes homeowners assume with newer homes that all will work just fine but that's often not the case. "I inspected a brand new house—four years old but the electrical was all done incorrectly," says Walker.
Having a complete home inspection will help to rule out any problems and point out any areas of concern. However, even as you're browsing homes, buyers can start to make note of the key areas that Walker mentioned, such as the foundation.
Foundation: Walker says a four-year-old home he inspected recently was already showing trouble signs which could result in a costly repair project. "It was a model home. What the homeowners did was plant trees for shade to make it look really nice, but they planted the wrong trees and they're going to crack the foundation and it's going to cut the property value down by $50,000," says Walker.
Walker says in the case of that home, the trees were causing micro-fractures in the tile in various locations of the home. "As you walk through the house, 21 feet in and 30 feet deep, there's just too much root invasion and it's going to ruin their tile," explains Walker. He says some tell-tale signs with this home were the minor cracks in the foundation that were causing a lifting and separation of the foundation. Also, the windows were not opening and closing properly, "which means the foundation is moving."
However, just because you see cracks doesn't mean there is a foundation problem. "Most people don't understand that there are natural cracks in a house. That's why when we do an inspection report we have to look at it and say 'Okay, this is a typical crack and this one is an untypical crack,'" says Walker. He says some cracks may lead to other problems while others won't.
Plumbing: Walker says another big area of concern is the plumbing. It's an area that you can't always spot as easily but it can create expensive repairs if plumbing issues go either undetected or are not properly fixed. "Mold forms underneath sinks when people have a leak and they fix the pipe but they don't take care of the mold," says Walker. Things like caulking the sink can help prevent mold. "That's my number one thing I always find—bad sinks," says Walker.
He says that when you look at the sink, look behind it and most of the time you will discover a little crack. "What happens is, when you wash dishes or you wash your hands in the bathroom or the kitchen, the water gets in that crack and seeps down. Once the water gets behind the cabinet it's in a perfect position to create mold," says Walker. The dampness, humidity, and lack of light can turn that area beneath the sink into a mold-breeding ground.
Attic: "You can tell everything about the house by the attic," says Walker. He says other areas of the home can be covered up if a repair had occurred. For instance, if there was a leak and it damaged a wall, with the right contractors and repairs it can be made to look like new and, hopefully, function like new. But Walker says the attic is sort of the eyes to the soul of the home. "In the attic you can tell where all the damage has been," says Walker. "If you're in a 20-year-old house and you see that the insulation is brand new, you know that there was a water leak because it had to be replaced," says Walker. He adds, "You can tell if the roof is good because you can look right at the wood."
Landscaping: "There should not be moisture or plants next to your house," says Walker. He says there should be a 12 inch barrier between the landscape and the house. Walker says otherwise you run the risk of having the foundation crack and affect the home. What happens is, as the landscape that is too close to the home is watered, the foundation and soil expand. Then, when no watering occurs, the foundation dries up and shrinks and this can cause it to crack.
Remember, knowledge is power, so learning about the home before you close the deal on it will keep you from making a mistake that may cost you extra out-of-pocket money later.
Copyright 2008 Realty Times
All Rights Reserved.
By Carla L. Davis
Looking for a new home can be exciting and frustrating. You can help alleviate the frustration by paying close attention to five key areas of the homes you're considering buying; it may save you money in the long run.
Don Walker is an inspector and owner of Ace Home Inspections. He says there are five areas in homes that he frequently reports problems with. They are electrical, foundation, plumbing, the attic, and landscaping.
Electrical: Walker says sometimes homeowners assume with newer homes that all will work just fine but that's often not the case. "I inspected a brand new house—four years old but the electrical was all done incorrectly," says Walker.
Having a complete home inspection will help to rule out any problems and point out any areas of concern. However, even as you're browsing homes, buyers can start to make note of the key areas that Walker mentioned, such as the foundation.
Foundation: Walker says a four-year-old home he inspected recently was already showing trouble signs which could result in a costly repair project. "It was a model home. What the homeowners did was plant trees for shade to make it look really nice, but they planted the wrong trees and they're going to crack the foundation and it's going to cut the property value down by $50,000," says Walker.
Walker says in the case of that home, the trees were causing micro-fractures in the tile in various locations of the home. "As you walk through the house, 21 feet in and 30 feet deep, there's just too much root invasion and it's going to ruin their tile," explains Walker. He says some tell-tale signs with this home were the minor cracks in the foundation that were causing a lifting and separation of the foundation. Also, the windows were not opening and closing properly, "which means the foundation is moving."
However, just because you see cracks doesn't mean there is a foundation problem. "Most people don't understand that there are natural cracks in a house. That's why when we do an inspection report we have to look at it and say 'Okay, this is a typical crack and this one is an untypical crack,'" says Walker. He says some cracks may lead to other problems while others won't.
Plumbing: Walker says another big area of concern is the plumbing. It's an area that you can't always spot as easily but it can create expensive repairs if plumbing issues go either undetected or are not properly fixed. "Mold forms underneath sinks when people have a leak and they fix the pipe but they don't take care of the mold," says Walker. Things like caulking the sink can help prevent mold. "That's my number one thing I always find—bad sinks," says Walker.
He says that when you look at the sink, look behind it and most of the time you will discover a little crack. "What happens is, when you wash dishes or you wash your hands in the bathroom or the kitchen, the water gets in that crack and seeps down. Once the water gets behind the cabinet it's in a perfect position to create mold," says Walker. The dampness, humidity, and lack of light can turn that area beneath the sink into a mold-breeding ground.
Attic: "You can tell everything about the house by the attic," says Walker. He says other areas of the home can be covered up if a repair had occurred. For instance, if there was a leak and it damaged a wall, with the right contractors and repairs it can be made to look like new and, hopefully, function like new. But Walker says the attic is sort of the eyes to the soul of the home. "In the attic you can tell where all the damage has been," says Walker. "If you're in a 20-year-old house and you see that the insulation is brand new, you know that there was a water leak because it had to be replaced," says Walker. He adds, "You can tell if the roof is good because you can look right at the wood."
Landscaping: "There should not be moisture or plants next to your house," says Walker. He says there should be a 12 inch barrier between the landscape and the house. Walker says otherwise you run the risk of having the foundation crack and affect the home. What happens is, as the landscape that is too close to the home is watered, the foundation and soil expand. Then, when no watering occurs, the foundation dries up and shrinks and this can cause it to crack.
Remember, knowledge is power, so learning about the home before you close the deal on it will keep you from making a mistake that may cost you extra out-of-pocket money later.
Copyright 2008 Realty Times
All Rights Reserved.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
What's At Stake?
What's At Stake?
Pass the Emergency Economic Stability Act
A SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSED ECONOMIC STABILIZATION ACT
Click here:
http://takeaction.realtoractioncenter.com/campaign/eesa/explanation
Pass the Emergency Economic Stability Act
A SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSED ECONOMIC STABILIZATION ACT
Click here:
http://takeaction.realtoractioncenter.com/campaign/eesa/explanation
Southlake Carroll is keeping it in perspective
11:32 AM CDT on Tuesday, September 30, 2008
A month into the season, some football teams have played five games and most have played at least four. But Southlake Carroll is 3-0 with two games canceled in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike.
Well, at least the Dragons aren't getting worn down.
"We're going to use it as a positive," coach Hal Wasson said.
Wasson has the right perspective. The scheduling woes Carroll has faced are nothing compared to what Houston-area schools have dealt with since Ike made landfall Sept. 13. Bellaire, which Carroll was to play on Sept. 12, and Galena Park North Shore, which Carroll had expected to play last Friday, didn't reopen until Monday.
"A football game isn't even a pebble of sand compared to what's happened to them," Wasson said.
Still, it's been a strange few weeks for the Carroll staff. In addition to preparing plans for two games that were never played, coaches were on the phone trying to find a team to play. That's how Carroll set up this Friday's home game against Katy Cinco Ranch, a Houston-area school that also had two games canceled.
MIKE STONE / Special to DMN
Southlake Carroll's Robert Miller (left) and Lincoln Schick converge on Mesquite's Darien McNealy on Sept. 19, the last time Carroll played a game.
View largerMore photos Photo store It's been frustrating, Wasson said, and not just since Ike's arrival. In February, the UIL's realignment moved Carroll from an eight-team district to the six-team 6-5A. Each of the teams in 6-5A had previously been in an eight-team district, so they needed two more nondistrict games than expected.
Most of those games were set up in the first hour after alignments were revealed in a room crowded with area coaches. Lewisville coach Steve Gaddis, whose team moved into District 6-5A, said it felt like he was on the stock market floor after the realignment was unveiled.
"When it came across the screen that our district had gone to six teams, it took a few seconds to register that 'I've got to have two more games,'" Gaddis said. "Then the scramble was on."
Many of the teams in 6-5A were able to schedule nondistrict games with the six-team 11-5A, which includes Mesquite schools and DeSoto. But it was still very difficult, said Coppell coach Bob Shipley. And he wasn't surprised that district rival Carroll had the most difficult time.
"When you're Southlake, you have trouble finding anyone to play you anyway," Shipley said, "and to have to find two more games, they were probably panicking."
Wasson wasn't panicking, but he spent a lot of time on the phones. He called schools in Oklahoma and Louisiana, but they didn't have schedules that matched up. Fortunately, some Houston-area schools had openings, and unfortunately, Hurricane Ike wreaked havoc.
"It's kind of wild to be trying to schedule games during your season," Wasson said. "But it's just an inconvenience for us, and the people down south are the ones who have the real issues, and our hearts and prayers are with them."
Katy Cinco Ranch (4-0) at Southlake Carroll (3-0), 7 p.m. Friday (KKGM-AM 1630)
http://www.hsgametime.com/dfw/sharedcontent/dws/content/topstories/stories/093008dnspowixon.19d843e.html
A month into the season, some football teams have played five games and most have played at least four. But Southlake Carroll is 3-0 with two games canceled in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike.
Well, at least the Dragons aren't getting worn down.
"We're going to use it as a positive," coach Hal Wasson said.
Wasson has the right perspective. The scheduling woes Carroll has faced are nothing compared to what Houston-area schools have dealt with since Ike made landfall Sept. 13. Bellaire, which Carroll was to play on Sept. 12, and Galena Park North Shore, which Carroll had expected to play last Friday, didn't reopen until Monday.
"A football game isn't even a pebble of sand compared to what's happened to them," Wasson said.
Still, it's been a strange few weeks for the Carroll staff. In addition to preparing plans for two games that were never played, coaches were on the phone trying to find a team to play. That's how Carroll set up this Friday's home game against Katy Cinco Ranch, a Houston-area school that also had two games canceled.
MIKE STONE / Special to DMN
Southlake Carroll's Robert Miller (left) and Lincoln Schick converge on Mesquite's Darien McNealy on Sept. 19, the last time Carroll played a game.
View largerMore photos Photo store It's been frustrating, Wasson said, and not just since Ike's arrival. In February, the UIL's realignment moved Carroll from an eight-team district to the six-team 6-5A. Each of the teams in 6-5A had previously been in an eight-team district, so they needed two more nondistrict games than expected.
Most of those games were set up in the first hour after alignments were revealed in a room crowded with area coaches. Lewisville coach Steve Gaddis, whose team moved into District 6-5A, said it felt like he was on the stock market floor after the realignment was unveiled.
"When it came across the screen that our district had gone to six teams, it took a few seconds to register that 'I've got to have two more games,'" Gaddis said. "Then the scramble was on."
Many of the teams in 6-5A were able to schedule nondistrict games with the six-team 11-5A, which includes Mesquite schools and DeSoto. But it was still very difficult, said Coppell coach Bob Shipley. And he wasn't surprised that district rival Carroll had the most difficult time.
"When you're Southlake, you have trouble finding anyone to play you anyway," Shipley said, "and to have to find two more games, they were probably panicking."
Wasson wasn't panicking, but he spent a lot of time on the phones. He called schools in Oklahoma and Louisiana, but they didn't have schedules that matched up. Fortunately, some Houston-area schools had openings, and unfortunately, Hurricane Ike wreaked havoc.
"It's kind of wild to be trying to schedule games during your season," Wasson said. "But it's just an inconvenience for us, and the people down south are the ones who have the real issues, and our hearts and prayers are with them."
Katy Cinco Ranch (4-0) at Southlake Carroll (3-0), 7 p.m. Friday (KKGM-AM 1630)
http://www.hsgametime.com/dfw/sharedcontent/dws/content/topstories/stories/093008dnspowixon.19d843e.html
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