The future looks bright for Waco, TX. Along with continued growth, our beautiful city is facing some wonderful changes. Downtown Waco is being revitalized and now we may have the treasure of a National Park in the works.On September 13th, Waco Tribune reported that the mammoth bones site along the Bosque River meets the National Park Service criteria.  This is no small deal. Apparently, Waco is the only known place with type of collection of mammoth remains.I am very excited to see this city blossom and am especially impressed that we may very well have a very popular National Park right in our back yard in the not so far off future.  I am in awe of not only the potential here, but the unbelievable history that our city has to share. Waco is truly a wonderful place to live and visit and... 09/16/2007

Had to post this a day early this time around. Did not think I could get to it tomorrow and didn't want anyone to miss out on the latest Waco residential snapshot. So here you have it. The number of homes sold again decreased slightly from last year. While median prices slightly increased from last year. However, prices did decrease a bit from last month. Similar to the same trend last year.What is interesting and noteworthy is that the market time increased a touch from last year, but actually decreased about as much from last month. By these figures, it appears that all the price adjustments may be having a positive affect on quicker home sales.Waco Home Sellers, continue to be very careful about PRICING. Pay very close attention to what is actually selling and at what price. Do not m... 08/31/2007

Wacoans and Texans alike, don't forget to get your Back to School Shopping done this weekend, August 17th -August 19th. While crowds may be greater than usual, it's a great time to save a few bucks on all of those items needed for school. I heard one store salesperson tell me it was best to shop on Friday, but I have no idea if that is a good tip or not. I just shop when I have the time! Not everything is on the Tax-Free list and there are some monetary limitations, but I did hear they added backpacks to the list this year. So have a great weekend and don't forget to SHOP!News Story on Texas Tax-Free Holidayhttp://www.kxxv.com/Global/story.asp?S=6884173  UPDATE 8/15/07--For a list of Tax-Free Items follow this link http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/taxpubs/tx98_490/tx98_490.html Wen... 08/14/2007

Waco a Texas city of around 120,000, is unusual in that it, unlike most cities its size, has areas that are referred to much like many larger cities. These aren't official government neighborhoods, but rather common names given by the residents and city neighborhood maps and parks.Waco is first divided into three "sides": the North Side, the South Side, and the East Side. Each side is then broken up into different sectors, or neighborhoods. Many sectors have their own history, culture, and even slang and accents.North SideThe North Side of Waco is actually west when looking at a map. This area started out as pasture and farmland when Waco was founded in 1849, but it was quickly developed starting in the 1920's. It was unharmed by the 1953 Tornado, but has, like the other two sides, fall... 08/10/2007

1. Art Center Waco 2.Waco Water Park 3.Mayborn Museum 4.Dr. Pepper Museum 5.Texas Ranger Hall of Fame 6.Waco Zoo 7.Got to Bead - Hewitt, TX 8.Eat at Momma Baris' II 9.Brazos River Horse shoes, fishing, boating 10.Ice House - Live Entertainment on Fridays, & Saturdays. 08/10/2007

Hey Wacoans, did you know that the Waco Tribune has an ongoing Talent Contest?  Seems they are trying to find the hidden and maybe not so hidden talent among us.Check out the Waco Tribune for information on how to submit your talent to "Waco's Got Talent" and how to judge and rate that talent.Looks like they will be taping this Saturday, August 11th at Texas Bar-B-Que Ville on 13267 China Spring Road. So head out and show Waco what you've got! Wendy Montoya, Realtor®Seller Representative Specialist (SRS)Certified e-PRO Internet Professionalwww.WendyMontoya.comCentury 21® Towne AdamsWaco Real Estate 08/08/2007

As I continuously educate and update myself on our Waco area market, it occurred to me that maybe not everyone trying to sell a home is aware of all the current challenges facing them in the sale of their homes. Especially with Buyers facing increasing difficulties in establishing home loans.I started putting a monthly Waco Residential Snapshot up here on AR on the first of each month, but there is really more meat to the market than that.The first thing you need to be very aware of in our area is that things are changing steadily and in many cases more quickly than you might imagine. More homes are coming on the market, market time is increasing, and prices are decreasing.According to our "Market Monitor" on the Waco MLS*,here are some overall stats about all property on our MLS:      ... 08/08/2007

Established in 1971, The Real Estate Center is devoted to Real Estate Research. The wealth and quality of information is abundant and is a must stop for anyone needing more Texas Real Estate Information. Topics such as Gas and Oil lease Negotiation Tips, obtaining a Texas Real Estate License, and Market Reports are only a few of seemingly unlimited pieces of information available. Visit the Online Site to find out more.Click here to take a look at the 2007 Home Sales Outlook     Wendy Montoya, Realtor®, e-PRO, SRSwww.WendyMontoya.com254-315-4906  YOUR Waco Realtor® at Work for YOU!A proud Century 21® Towne Adams Real Estate Professional!Waco TX Real Estate 08/06/2007

Want great information on Texas Real Estate? Visit TexasRealEstate.com where you will find a wealth of Real Estate information.TexasRealEstate.com is geared towards Texas Real Estate consumers and offers Real Estate information specific to Texas and Texans while being an informative place to find Real Estate Information in general.This site is well set-up and written in both English and Spanish, very easy to read and navigate. I recommend this site to both consumers and Realtors® alike. It is well worth the time to learn about some of the most important Real Estate Issues at a site that is so easily accessible and loaded with such valuable information. Wendy Montoya, Realtor®, e-PRO, SRSwww.WendyMontoya.com254-315-4906  YOUR Waco Realtor® at Work for YOU!A proud Century 21® Towne Adams ... 08/04/2007

There is a slight increase of Waco residential listings this month with increased time on market. Number of homes sold again decreased from last year. While median prices are increased from last year, they have slightly dropped from last month.  The slight decrease in price from last month seems to reflect the continuing trend of price adjustments. While our market appears to remain somewhat stable, Waco Home Sellers should be very careful about PRICING. Although the trends are subtle at this point, there is an obvious recent shift in sold prices and market length that should not be ignored.Waco Home Buyers, you have more homes to choose from, be careful about overpaying but do make appropriate offers.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------... 08/01/2007

I bet you are wondering how much you can get for your Waco Home and how fast it will sell. Well that will depend greatly on where your home is located, what condition your home is in, and what type of demand exists for your type of home.Here in the Waco and Greater Waco areas, there are a large variety of factors that will influence the sale of your home.  Here are some of the more common things I find:SCHOOLS-one of the most common requirements I get from buyers is that they must purchase a home in a certain school district. While each need and desire is different, most buyers are very targeted in their search if they have school aged children.  If you have the perfect home for this type of buyer and it is not in their target school district, this buyer will most likely not buy or even... 07/26/2007

So since it is summer, I figured it would be a great time to do some up close and personal research on some of the best things to do in Waco. I already wrote about my FAVORITE, the Dr. Pepper Museum and the close second, Cameron Park Zoo. But how in the world do you get cool around this place when Lake Waco is not an option due to our overabundance of rain and flooded lake levels? Yep, you got it, Waco Water Park. If you have not been there, it's time to give it a try. And if you are new to Waco, don't wait to visit, you will truly enjoy!Opening at noon during the weekdays, 10 AM on Saturday and 1 PM on Sunday, I would suggest that you get there when it opens before it gets crowded to grab yourself a space in a shady spot for when the sun gets to be too much. Two big waters slides, a la... 07/20/2007

So you are thinking of selling your home and you are trying to decide whether to sell it yourself, use your best friend or family member Realtor®, or hire a Realtor® that sells a lot of homes in your area.You have a tough choice to make, but do yourself a favor and base your decision on your needs, not the feeling of personal obligations, or faulty misperceptions.  Ask yourself some important questions, so you can make a decision that works for you. Here are a few that you might think about, but add your own to help you make a well thought out and intelligent decision.SELLING YOUR HOME YOURSELF•1.       Do I really have the time to invest? •2.       Do I know the market well enough to price your home appropriately?•3.       Am I willing to allow just anyone into my home?•4.       Do I h... 07/14/2007

According to the Friday, July 13, 2007 issue of Waco Tribune-Herald, you may be able to get some help if you are facing forclosure on your Waco home.  "Program helps Wacoans avoid foreclosure" by Pamela Bond explains the nonprofit program that could help those within certain income limits save their home. If you need more information on some of the local Homeowner assistance programs, visit NeighborWorks Waco®, a local nonprofit corporation designed to help our local "neighborhoods through homeownership". 07/13/2007

If you just purchased a home in the Waco, TX area, you may be wondering where and how to file for Homestead Exemption. Here is a bit of online information that should assist you with the process. According to the Mclennan County Appraisal District Application For Residential Homestead Exemption for 2007 Form, you can file an "exemption on one property in a tax year".  You may "file the application between January 1 and no later than April 30". "To qualify for homestead exemptions, you must own and reside in your home on January 1 of the tax year."You can find the appropriate downloadable State and County applications and more detailed information on exemptions online at the McLennan County Appraisal District Web Site.  The applications have directions on how to complete, for easier unde... 07/11/2007

If you are ready to put your Waco home on the market or trying to sell your Waco Home on your own, you probably know that marketing your home for the most exposure is very important. You may have a lot of ideas about marketing your home, but do you have a strong plan for Online Marketing? Yards signs are pretty much a given along with property flyers and some forms of advertisement, but the avenue of Online Exposure cannot be overlooked or forgotten.So how do you take your marketing plan further to give your property the most exposure possible? The latest statistics indicate that more approximately 80% of people first begin their home search ONLINE. If your home is not Online you are missing out on the widest form of exposure, not just local, but worldwide! If listing with a Waco Realto... 07/08/2007

 You've heard the Waco Weather News, just be careful and be aware, but please don't stop from coming to Waco. Much of Texas has had record breaking amounts of rain. Waco is included as well. Our roads are very prone to flooding and Lake Waco is reported to be more than 20 inches above normal. However, everyday life is ongoing as usual. For the most part you don't notice unless you are on the road in a heavy downpour or traveling near the lake where you can see the effects of the high levels of water, or perhaps if you live in a flood prone area near rivers or lakes. Most parts of our area are easily traveled and very passable as if nothing has happened. Just come on over to WACO! And use common sense. Never try to pass a road filled with water. As they say "Turn Around, Don't Drown". An... 07/08/2007

One thing I've noticed in life is that everyone has a different idea of what clean actually is. We would all probably agree on some very basic ideas of cleanliness, but there are pretty dramatic levels of what we encounter on a day to day basis. In Real Estate, our varying opinions and standards may cause a serious problem if you are trying to sell your home.  I have been in homes that look immaculate to me, but my client complains about how dirty it is. Honestly folks, I am pretty darn particular about this kind of thing, but somehow, there are people that are even more particular than me.I have also been in homes with food stuck to the floor, food left on the breakfast table, and flies buzzing around. This is AFTER I have made an appointment well in advance to show the home. On a less... 07/07/2007

If you are looking for places to go and things to do this Summer, visit these websites in Waco to find all sorts of great information. There is something for everyone. Waco Convention and Visitors Bureau  Calendar of Events-loaded with so many events, you are bound to find something there. Several Summer Camps are also posted on this Calendar. Just click on the dates you are interested in, and you will find many things to choose from. Includes places times and contact phone numbers. Don't miss the Margarita Festival in August!Waco Tribune-Herald  Local news and events. Check out Carl Hoover's Go To Guide  for a nice list of things to do. There are several things listed for the Dallas area as well.City of Waco Upcoming Events for more local happenings. Information about Summer Sports Lea... 07/06/2007

Whether Active Duty, Prior or Retired Military moving to Waco or from Waco, I am here to help YOU!While I am not active duty, I did serve for 4 short years in the Air Force from 1982-1986.  However, I have been a military spouse for almost 25 years.My husband retired from the Air Force in 2004 out of Abilene TX. We then moved to Waco for him to start his new job with L-3 Communications. I miss being around Military Installations, but do love my life here in Waco.  I would love to help other Military and Prior Military Families adjust to being in an area without Commissaries and Military Exchanges, and Family Services. And most of all help them feel a sense of community in a place so different from the typical Military Installation. I understand your challenges and terminology and needs.... 07/04/2007