I took a bit of a break. A blogging break that is. Some of it was due to blogger's block, but mainly I just needed a break to refresh. Waco, I invite you to e-mail me or post comments here with questions or ideas for future posts. That way I know what you want to read and learn about. Also, please know that as always, I am still available for all your Waco Real Estate needs and am exciting and happy to help anyone that needs and wants a professional to assist them. More than ever, I understand the challenges you may face when trying to buy a home or sell your home. Let me help. Together we can accomplish your real estate goals. Wendy Montoya, Realtor® Certified Internet e-PRO Professional Seller Representative Specialist (SRS) www.WendyMontoya.com www.WacoHomesSold.com Wendy@WendyMontoy... 10/03/2008

Well for anyone that is wondering, according to an article posted on CareerBuilder.com® by Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com editor, Waco ranks pretty high as far as Wage Growth is concerned.     First on the list is College Station with a 9.5 increase while Waco is reported with a 5.0 increase sitting at the 16th best.    Take a look at this article and see just one more reason why Waco is just getting better by the day. Better place to Work, Live and Play.    Wendy Montoya, Realtor® Certified Internet e-PRO Professional Seller Representative Specialist (SRS) www.WendyMontoya.com www.WacoHomesSold.com Wendy@WendyMontoya.com  Waco Real Estate Needs? Call WENDY!   525 N 4 3rd Waco, TX  76710 Cellular:   254-315-4906 **The information contained in my Blog Posts and Comments to my posts canno... 08/26/2008

I took some nice photos a couple of weeks back while at Cameron Park where my kids were playing Frisbee Golf. Even with the dry weather, these shots still show how pretty this Waco area really is. Also caught a beautiful sky shot as we were driving home towards China Spring. Hope you enjoy this display of Waco TX Beauty.     08/16/2008

I've decided to discontinue my monthly postings reflecting overviews of Waco Housing Markets.  My choice is due to my opinion of the lack of usefulness of such generalized data.  Generalization is OK, but I feel that more specific information is warranted in the type of market we are experiencing now. For a more accurate reflection of what's happening in Waco, one of the best things you can do is consult with a professional that experiences the market first hand every day.  Get specifics about the neighborhoods you plan to sell or buy in. Get up-to-date information that is reflective of what's happening TODAY, not yesterday. I will be glad to consult with you one-on-one if you need good market information. Simply call or e-mail me for more information.    Please Note:  My regular blog p... 08/03/2008

Sellers, should you? Or Sellers, why would you?   Flattery will get you everywhere. Or will it? I know you love your home. I know you think it's the best one on the block. I know you think it's worth more than those others on the market right now. But please...before you let your emotions get the best of you, logically consider the reality of where your home stacks up by learning about the market. Sure, go ahead and interview more than one agent. Listen to what they have to say. Ask tons of questions. But do NOT just list with the agent that tells you the highest list price for your home.  This will NOT get your home sold. Instead, it will most likely allow your home to sit on the market month after month while all the homes around you that are priced appropriately sell.   You have to l... 07/14/2008

As a person that loves to travel and has family in all parts of the country, I get and have had my fair share of air time. I've been through many different airports across the globe and I've found that certain airports just suit my tastes better than others. One of my favorites is Waco Regional Airport. Of course the location couldn't be better, but I find the convenience to be very desirable as well.  The price is also right when you consider the costs of gas and parking to drive to a larger airport. The latest news is that if you fly American Eagle, you will be flying on jets vs. turbo props in the not too far off future, so those of you that detest the smaller planes may really enjoy the newest forms of flight. In other news, a couple of terminal expansion projects are at or near com... 07/14/2008

   So what's going on with the China Spring area market since I last reported?  Let's take a look at the first half of this year and current inventory:   Current Inventory--China Spring Homes For Sale (within China Spring ISD)                              New - 5 Years 6-10 Years 11-20 Years 21 Plus Years Total   74 19 18 24   135               Price Ranges 105K -825K 33K-540K 59K-520K 30K-390K                                 China Spring Homes SOLD (within China Spring ISD) from 01/01/08 to 07/01/08                       37 9 8 15   69               Average Price 206K 204K 166K 196K                    Average Days On Market 141 123 139 101                    Average Sold Per Sq Ft. $88 $85 $75 $81     ****This report is for residential homes located within the China Spring ISD not incl... 07/01/2008

Do you need to sell your China Spring Home, or are you thinking about selling your China Spring Home?   Would you like the assistance of a Real Estate Professional that resides in the China Spring area? As your neighbor, I take personal pride and have special interest in the China Spring area. I love our community and am easily able to convey that feeling to those looking in the area to buy. What better way to help get a home sold than letting someone assist that has genuine enthusiasm for a location?   Enthusiasm about the area is an added bonus to traditional marketing methods that is immeasurable. But it could just make THE difference in helping to get your home sold. If you would like a local neighborhood agent to help you with the sale of your home, give me a call. I am glad to sit... 07/01/2008

It's July already. Wow, time really is flying right by. Summer is in full force with wonderful sunny Texas weather. But how is the housing market faring in this heated bliss?  Well not too bad at all. Inventory is actually down a bit from May. Home sales are a little down, but median price is up slightly. Average time on market looks a bit better than last month as well. If you compare to last year at the same time, the differences are a little more dramatic. The amount of units sold is the most notable difference. All in all, you can't deny that fact that our Waco market is still strong despite Nationwide housing troubles. We are fortunate that we are keeping housing values pretty good in this area when some other parts of the country are suffering terribly. If you need to sell, put it... 06/30/2008

Through my many years of relocating from one place to the next, I can tell you my top 2 concerns about my new location as a mother of school-aged children. 1.   Quality of Public School System 2.   Safety at home, in school, and all around I believe these are every parent's concerns when relocating their family to a new location. The fear of the unknown is very difficult to manage, and it's such a challenge to find out information about a new place. You don't want to make a mistake that would negatively affect your family. It's challenging to say the least. So I am going to let you in on a few relocation tips that helped me and my family along the way. Even during our move here to Waco in 2004. I've gotten so good at researching new places that I would feel comfortable moving just about... 06/28/2008

Sellers, should you? Or Sellers, why would you?   There is a simple answer to this. Do NOT take offense to ANY offer. I know it's tempting to get aggravated or angry when someone brings a very unreasonable offer on your home. But don't. It's counterproductive to your home selling goal. An offer is at least one thing...a starting point. A place to begin serious discussion on getting your home sold. You never know what the buyer is thinking or if he/she is just misinformed. You have no idea how badly they want your home. You have no idea what their situation is at all. So do yourself a favor. Do not get offended and counter offer with something reasonable that will work for you. When they realize they are not going to get your home for the lowball price, they may back out. But, they may a... 06/28/2008

  Sellers, should you? Or Sellers, why would you?   I hear this a lot. "Buyers can make any offer they want to, I want to price high for negotiation room". Or something similar.  So what's the problem here? The biggest problem is that if you overprice, you may never get anyone to look at your home. No one will make an offer on something they will never see and never take seriously as a prospective purchase. Do not overprice for negotiation room, this just does NOT work. In fact it works against you. Price it right to start, so you can get the most interest in your home right when you place it on the market. Homes that are priced right usually sell quickly, but overpriced homes will sit on the market forever. And possibly never sell at all. Overpricing is a dangerous method of trying to ... 06/28/2008

Sellers, should you? Or Sellers, why would you? Well, I hate to see any seller have to do just that. But Sellers MUST evaluate their options carefully. Especially in a market that is geared more towards Buyers where Buyers have many choices in homes. Sometimes it is more cost effective to bring money to the table than to let your home sit on the market month after month before selling, or possibly never selling at all. Of course you SHOULD not under sell and try to get the most for your home, but Ask yourself this: "Will it cost me more to hold on to my home, than it will cost for me to pay something at the closing table?" You should be able to answer this easily by adding up your recurring expenses for your home and figure what it will cost you to continue holding on to your home. If y... 06/28/2008

Trying to sell your home by yourself (FSBO) or did you have your home listed only to "expire" off the MLS unsold?   How about a change of pace... No Sale?  How about SOLD?   Sure, there are no guarantees, but there are great ways to enhance your chance of sale significantly. Proper pricing and positioning are key. You must be honest with yourself and you must be educated and up-to-date on the market. How in the world can you possibly give your home the best chance of sale without this? You can't.   I understand your goal. It's to get your home sold. I understand that you may be frustrated or tired of the whole process. I understand that you may have many questions about the local market. I understand.   I love to find the correct price point for a home. I love to analyze and demystify t... 06/22/2008

2 great events are happening this summer in Waco if you and the kids love movies and just a good time:  The first is a FREE movie held in "The Square" of Downtown Waco where Family Movies are shown outdoors every third Thursday. Activities begin at 7 pm with movies beginning at sundown.  Next movie shown on July 17th is "Happy Feet" and August 21st will be "Rudy". This is a great event for the entire family with face painters and concessions on hand for a great family night out. Please visit http://www.wacowedoarts.com/events/movies.php for further information. The second is Dive-In Movie night at Waco Water Park held on the first and third Mondays at dark around 8:30 pm. The Waco Water Park has reduced admissions for the event and you can enjoy the movie either sitting outside or enjoy... 06/20/2008

I am noticing something here recently. More and more, the market seems to be leaning in the favor of Buyers.  It's a bit harder to get buyers for homes and a bit easier for buyers to get better pricing on homes. I am not talking about the technical statistics so much as what I am seeing in the field. Yes, statistics do tend to line up with actually happenings, but they don't always tell the whole story. Statistics can be viewed and analyzed a number of ways, but actually hands-on experience is what I find tells the best story. Let me give you my opinion on what's taking place that is helping to cause our situation: More and more, buyers are having difficulty qualifying for mortgage loans. Standards are getting stricter and in some cases, even people that are pre-qualified or pre-approve... 06/20/2008

I've written about China Spring TX in several of my Blog Posts, but what I would like to address are a few misconceptions about the area that I hear quite a bit. Misconception 1 - Maybe not so much a misconception but mispronunciation. The city is named China Spring, not China Springs. No "s" involved. As I've heard and read, there is only ONE Spring in China Spring. Misconception 2-it's too far to drive from China Spring to Waco. This is a good one. Since what is commonly called "China Spring" (living areas within the China Spring Independent School District) consists of the Unincorporated City of China Spring and portions of Waco and other areas as well, I am not sure how it's too far from Waco. But let me elaborate even more. Sure, there are some pretty rural areas where it may take ... 06/19/2008

The Award Winning China Spring Electric Blues Dance Team is holding their Annual Business Profile Sponsorship Drive through July 7th, 2008 for the upcoming 2008-2009 School Year. This is a wonderful opportunity to get involved in the China Spring Community as well as gaining exposure for your business and helping the dancers through the season. As a sponsor, you will be recognized in numerous ways including football games (announced and in programs), dance event announcements, name on T-shirts and banners, and Appreciation Plaques to display at your business.  Several other items are offered depending on your level of sponsorship. See full details here. For more information and to participate, download the Electric Blues Business Profile Sponsorship Drive package here.  Or contact me fo... 06/16/2008

You got that right, FREE. And this is for your older teens that may be looking for something great to do this summer. There are many things in Waco for your children to do, but finding something for this age group seems a bit more challenging. So don't miss this. Lunch is even FREE according to the flyer I received. What a great opportunity for our up and coming leaders. "Sponsored by: Texas Workforce Commission and Texas State Technical College" Visit Texas State Technical College Waco Website for more information. 06/05/2008

Single Family Homes Sold in 76643 Zip Code  Years 2006-2008    Jan 1, 2008 - Present Total Sold:  88 Prices ranging  65-270K Median Price:  135,125 Average Price: 142,333 Average Days on Market: 131   Jan 1, 2007 - June 4, 2007 Total Sold:  96 Prices ranging  77,380-355K Median Price:  135,000 Average Price: 142,297 Average Days on Market: 116   Jan 1, 2006 - June 4, 2006 Total Sold:  104 Prices ranging  72-272,500K Median Price:  138,250 Average Price: 143,836 Average Days on Market: 112   Does not include duplexes, condos, manufactured homes, or farm and ranch. Statistics taken directly from Waco MLS. Homes that are not listed in the MLS including some new homes are not considered.   **This information was obtained from Waco MLS on June 4th, 2008 and is believed to be accurate, but ca... 06/04/2008