There's no question about it: nationwide foreclosures are up, particularly in Nevada, California, Arizona, Michigan, Florida and Colorado. Although we can be grateful that the Lone Star State is not currently near the top of this list, there are Texans facing foreclosure. No one buys a home with the intention of falling behind on payments and facing foreclosure proceedings, yet it happens. Even when the nationwide picture is much rosier than it is today, some homeowners find themselves in this unenviable position. Here are a few tips to avoid this scenario, and what to do if it occurs. Don't set yourself up for failure There are two main ways to lessen the likelihood of foreclosure before you're even in the house. First, don't put yourself in a situation where you won't be able to affo... 06/14/2009

Welcome to the most current Housing Trends eNewsletter. This eNewsletter is specially designed for you, with national and local housing information that you may find useful whether you're in the market for a home, thinking about selling your home, or just interested in homeowner issues in general.Please click on this link to view the JUN-2009 Housing Trends eNewsletter:http://jamespotenza.housingtrendsenewsletter.com?Newsletter_ID=227&Period_ID=174The Housing Trends eNewsletter contains the latest information from the National Association of REALTORS®, the U.S. Census Bureau, Realtor.org reports and other sources.It also includes press releases with charts and videos, key market indicators and real estate sales and price statistics, a video message by a nationally recognized economist, ... 06/12/2009

Pearland EMS OFFERS BABY-SITTER TRAINING CLASSES Pearland EMS is offering three sessions of BLAST! (Babysitter Lessons and Safety Training) classes this summer.  The 8-hour session is $20 per person. Session 1 - Saturday,   June 20 & June 27Session 2 - Sunday, July 19 & July 26Session 3 - Saturday,   Aug. 1 & Aug. 8 All classes will be held at the Public Works Training Room, located at 3501 E. Orange St. in Pearland from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Participants are required to sign up and pay prior to the first day of their desired session date, to ensure a spot. To sign up or for questions, call Raquel at 281-652-1956 BLAST! provides:.   Important training for potential babysitters and parents considering hiring a babysitter. Ideal for children ages 11 to 14 or parent/guardian(s) looking to hire a... 06/09/2009

Great time for Pearland First Time Homeowners. News from Maggie McFarland RE/MAX One in Pearland Texas. Below is information from National Association of Realtors. For more information contract Maggie McFarland at 281-412-2022First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit for Closing Will Move Market ... "A true housing recovery depends on buyers returning to the market and reducing inventory," said National Association of Realtors® President Charles McMillan, a broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Dallas-Fort Worth. ... Magge McFarland RE/MAX One 281-412-2022 More Pearland Real Estate Information Visit TheHomeSourceOnline 06/08/2009

THINKING ABOUT BUYING YOUR FIRST Pearland Home?   You've probably wondered many times if you can afford to buy a home. Did you know that continuing to make rental payments may be more expensive in the long-run? When you make rental payments, the money is gone forever. When you make mortgage payments, however, you build equity in your home. The longer you own your own home, the larger your equity becomes. Your home may also appreciate in value, usually at a rate faster than the rate of inflation. In addition, property taxes and mortgage interest paid on your personal residence are usually 100% tax deductible. There are numerous advantages to owning a home. Here are some things to consider when buying your first home. Obtain Your Credit Report   Get a copy of your credit report from the ... 06/08/2009

Looking at the Pearland TX real estate market snapshots, I see wee had a slight downturn in property values for the months of May.  But I also see we sold more real estate in Pearland TX last month than we have since Aug 2008.  So with that being said, I still feel buying real estate in Pearland is a smart buy.  Pearland real estate is still on the increase in value... We are still have a higher sales price than we had 2 years ago. As you can see from this next chart, the total number of home under contract is on a very steep incline and has surpassed pre-Ike numbers... This is just another key indicator of how strong real estate is in the Pearland TX area.  The Pearland area has more house under contract at the end of May 2009 than it has had in the past 2 years. Now I want to look at ... 06/08/2009

Pearland Home Staging Tip of the Week from Maggie McFarland of RE/MAX One.  Pearland Realtor with over 15 years of experience. The first thing you want to do is stand out at the street.  This is your buyer's first thing they see and the first impression of your home. Spend some time and make lots of notes.  When you are finished take your time and get the exterior ready for potential home buyers! Can you see the front door?  Is the front door clean? Can you see all of the windows?  Is the lawn well maintained and green?  Are flower beds free of weeds and bushes nicely trimmed?  Does the home need paint?  Is the roof clean? Is there wood trim on the house that needs to be replaced? These are all questions you need to ask yourself. Remember you want the buyer to want to come inside the ho... 06/07/2009

Pearland Real Estate mortgage rate information from Maggie McFarland - RE/MAX One -Pearland Realtor. Freddie Mac Reports Increased Mortgage Rates For Second Week ... Move.com Trends real estate blog covers topics such as home ownership, neighborhoods, home technologies, and celebrity homes. Mortgage Rates Climb in Response to Recent Rise in Bond Yields ... "30-year fixed-rate mortgage rates caught up to the recent rise in long-term bond yields this week to reach a 25-week high," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist." And the slowdown in the housing market has ... Loan Programs for Pearland Home Buyers 30-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgage The 30-year fixed is one of the most popular loans. Many people like the fixed interest rate and lower monthly payments. But since... 06/07/2009

Pearland Real Estate information from Maggie McFarland - RE/MAX One. Pearland Texas full time Realtor. For the latest Pearland Real Estate information visit TheHomeSourceOnline.comPEDC Touts Pearland's Success and Opportunity at Annual Broker Day ... Green construction and progress were the themes of the Pearland Economic Development Corporation (PEDC) annual Broker/Developer Day Event. Area real estate professionals and community leaders toured the city by bus to see first-hand why ... Maggie McFarland RE/MAX One 281-412-2022 http://www.TheHomeSourceOnline.com email Maggie at pearlandhometeam.com 06/07/2009

Pearland Texas Real Estate market shows to be a strong market in May 2009! Houston Association of Realtors reported 127 homes sold in the month of May.  The even better news is there are 226 pending sales as of June 2, 2009.      Number of Properties sold in Pearland Texas: 127 ( Average Sales Price / Average SqFt ) : ( 188406 / 2408 ) = $ 78.24 ( Average Adjusted Sales Price / Average SqFt ) : ( 185837 / 2408 ) = $ 77.17   Thinking about buying or selling Pearland Texas Real Estate Contact Maggie McFarland - RE/MAX One - 281-412-2022 Visit Maggie McFarland on the Internet at TheHomeSourceOnline.com 06/02/2009

Shadow Creek Ranch in Pearland showed strong home sales for May 2009. There were 20 reported sales through Houston Association of Realtors.  Right now Shadow Creek Ranch has 43 pending sales.  It is an exciting time in Real Estate, especially in Shadow Creek Ranch in Pearland.   Number of Properties: 20 SOLD in Shadow Creek Ranch in May 2009 ( Average Sales Price / Average SqFt ) : ( 216586 / 2636 ) = $ 82.16 ( Average Adjusted Sales Price / Average SqFt ) : ( 213108 / 2636 ) = $ 80.85   Contact Maggie McFarland to buy or sale property in Shadow Creek Ranch in Pearland Maggie McFarland - RE/MAX One - 281-412-2022 Visit Maggie McFarland on the Internet at TheHomeSourceOnline.com 06/02/2009

Homes are selling in Silverlake. May 2009 there were 21 reported resale homes through Houston Association of Realtors.  Currently there are 30 Pending sales waiting to go to closing.  Silverlake in Pearland continues to prove the Master Plan Community is a great place to own a home.    Number of Properties: 21 SOLD and Closed in May 2009 for Silverlake in Pearland ( Average Sales Price / Average SqFt ) : ( 212004 / 2629 ) = $ 80.64 ( Average Adjusted Sales Price / Average SqFt ) : ( 208475 / 2629 ) = $ 79.30   Thinking about buying or selling a home in Silverlake in Pearland Contact Maggie McFarland - RE/MAX One at 281-412-2022 Visit Maggie McFarland on the web at TheHomeSourceOnline 06/02/2009

SELL YOUR Pearland HOME FOR MORE Sell Your Pearland Home for More first idea from Maggie McFarland: Creating the "WOW! Factor" Before potential Pearland buyers start arriving with their checklists in hand, know this: Their decision to buy will be based primarily upon emotional considerations. Your informedefforts can elicit the emotional "buying" responses you want. Creating the "WOW! Factor" of a glowing presentation, as outlined below, will encourage the buyer's attention, intrigue and desire. Eliciting these emotional states will be your primary job as a seller. The simple procedures outlined below can help turn heads and create the desire to purchase. Sell Your Pearland Home for More second  idea from Maggie McFarland: Start With A GREAT First Impression First impressions are the m... 06/01/2009

A couple months ago when President Obama announced his housing recovery plans, he talked in terms of "responsible" home owners who need help to stay in their primary residence.  He did not want to help "speculators who took risky bets on a rising market and bought homes not to live in but to sell." His intent was admirable, as homeownership is a valued cornerstone of the American way.  To imply that all other property owners were "speculators" and to make that a dirty word was unduly harsh.  In a country where most people start out renting and where some people happily rent all their lives, investment in rental property is an honorable tradition - and a necessity.  Since few people buy investment property as a charitable enterprise, buying a property at a low price, rehabbing it, and ho... 05/28/2009

  Lakes of Highland Glen, continues to be a wonderful place to own a home in Pearland, Texas.           Lakes of Highland Glen is a 550 acre master planned community.  This community in Pearland offers beautiful lakes with towering fountains, stone tower entries, community recreational centers with swimming pool, and lush landscaping entries on Pearland Parkway.         Lakes of Highland Glen, has new homes and resale homes.  The new homes are priced from the $170's to 300's. There are three builders to choose from, Beazer Homes, Newmark Homes and Plantation Homes.  The current resale homes are priced from $169,900 to $589,000. The average square footage of the resale homes on the market is 3203. Currently there are eight resale pending sales in Lakes of Highland Glen.  The average pen... 05/28/2009

    After many months City of Pearland will move back into City Hall starting today May, 26, 2009. The move is scheduled to take a couple of days.   Pearland City Hall is located at 3519 Liberty Drive in Pearland. Pearland City Hall was damaged during Hurricane Ike.  Ike made its final landfall east of Galveston, Texas on September 13, 2008. The City of Pearland has stated that all services for the City of Pearland will not be interrupted during the move back into City Hall. For further information on the move. To get more City of Pealrand information visit http://www.cityofpearland.com.   Visit Pearland Realtor Maggie McFarland @ TheHomeSourceOnline   Maggie McFarland - RE/MAX One 281-412-2022 05/26/2009

Pearland homeowners it is a great time of year to sell your home.  Take advantage of the free home market analysis from your Pearland Real Estate Agent. Pearland Homeowners Sell Your Home Information!! If you're planning to sell your Pearland home in the next few months, this FREE service is designed to help establish your Pearland home current market value. Simply choose FREE Market Analysis and fill out the requested information. Maggie McFarland will use comparable Pearland sold listings to help you calculate the fair market value of your home. Pearland Home Owners Visit Maggie McFarland - Pearland Real Estate Agent on the web at TheHomeSourceOnline.com Maggie McFarland - RE/MAX One 281-412-2022   05/25/2009

TOP reason to use a Pearland REALTOR® is a Pearland REALTOR® knows the local Pearland market area. The neighborhoods, Pearland ISD, market values and local Pearland Realtors® have buyers that are actively searching for homes in Pearland. 1. YourPearland REALTOR® can help you determine your buying power 2. Your Pearland REALTOR® has many resources to assist you in your home search. 3. YourPearland REALTOR® can assist you in the selection process by providing objective information about each property. 4. YourPearland REALTOR® can help you negotiate. 5. YourPearland REALTOR® provides due diligence during the evaluation of the property. 6. YourPearland REALTOR® can help you in understanding different financing options and in identifying qualified lenders. 7. YourParland REALTOR® can guide y... 05/25/2009

The Pearland TX real estate market continues to shine very bright. Looking at the trends over the last 2 years, you can see the Pearland TX housing market is doing better than ever. In April 2007 the average sales price was at an all time high of $192000 and in April 2008 the average sales price jumped to $203000 and in April 2009, Pearland is setting new records with an average sales price of $210000. So the average sales price in Pearland TX is up $18000 in the last 3 years... And I for one say that is great. Now I will say the Pearland TX real estate market has slowed in volume. So what does that mean? It means that not as many houses are selling or for Sale. Pearland only has about 3.9 months of inventory to sell at this time and is what is driving up the price. Before Ike hit our a... 05/22/2009

Bay Area Pet Adoptions is a limited admission nonprofit group dedicated to the lives of the homeless companion animals that it accepts.  Its facilities can accommodate a group that would help with weeding and mowing the shelter grounds.  For more information, call Volunteer Houston Bay Area at 281-282-6035 or visit www.volunteerhouston.org. www.StagingSmartNSold.com provides Pearland home staging expertise to market a house for increased buyer appeal.  The owner is also a volunteer in the Houston Bay Area. 05/21/2009