Houston Home Builders Welcome to our Houston Home Builders section, where you have access to new construction information in and around the Harris County area. Houston Home builder’s websites will have information about their pricing, floor plans, designs, and location of the communities. Remember the New Home Consultant works for the builder; you are at a disadvantage without an agent helping you. Make sure you have someone representing you, such as Bill Edge. An agent won’t cost you a cent. A skilled … [Read more...]
Mortgage Lenders
Home ownership in Houston is possible without worrying about massive down payments, because these mortgage lenders offer HUD programs and FHA loans for low to middle income families and those with less than perfect credit. There are jumbo loans and great interest rates for those with excellent credit. Home ownership has never been easier with these dedicated lenders who provide the high quality service you have come to expect from Bill Edge. With competitive rates and fees, they are the trusted Texas … [Read more...]
Burglars strike every 30 Minutes
By Yang Wang Houston Chronicle, July 11, 2010 At least 60 times a day, thieves and rogues plundered Houston-area homes last year — in fact, on average, a burglar smashed through doors and windows to rip off valuables every 30 minutes. Chances are, before you finish reading this newspaper, a neighbor's laptop, jewelry or flat-screen TV has been carted away by thugs. Burglaries went up at least 22 percent over the last four years, according to a Houston Chronicle analysis of police data, and nearly 22,000 of us … [Read more...]
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT BURGLARIES
By Yang Wang Houston Chronicle July 11, 2010 Is your home in a hot zone? 10 most burglary-prone ZIP codes 77036, 77009, 77072, 77060, 77063, 77077, 77042, 77016, 77082, 77021 Ten safest ZIP codes (population over 15,000) 77002, 77059, 77058, 77084, 77005, 77345, 77029, 77071, 77008, 77019 Source: City of Houston data Most commonly stolen items Large, flat-screen TVs Cell phones Cameras DVD players Gaming systems Identification documents Jewelry Removable tools (power tools, hand tools and yard … [Read more...]
Historic Preservation Ordiance Changes
by Moises Mendoza Houston Chronicle Houston Mayor Annise Parker on Tuesday proposed the elimination of a key part of the city’s historic preservation ordinance, the oft-criticized 90-day waiting period for demolition of historic buildings. If approved by City Council, the move essentially would ban developers and property owners from tearing down buildings in the city’s historic districts if the Houston Archaeological and Historic Commission denies requests for demolition permits. The amendments, which … [Read more...]
Flood insurance hurts home sales
Houstonians are finding that they can not close on their homes because Congress let the National Flood Insurance Program lapse. A tropical storm is already brewing in the Gulf of Mexico, with Hurricane season upon us early this year. Lenders are reluctant to allow the buyer to close on a property in a flood zone without the necessary insurance. Buyers are finding that they may lose out on the federal tax credit because they can not close in time. These delays are adding additional costs to the buyers and … [Read more...]
Get Finances in Order with Free Report
Get Finances in order with Free Report It makes sense to make sure your finances are in order before you start looking for a home. Texas residents will have online access to free credit reports by June, making that process a little easier. The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 made it possible for consumers to access free copies of credit reports, which list a consumer’s financial history, including total debt and whether you pay bills on time. The law was designed to help us better monitor … [Read more...]
Credit Scoring Quick Answers
Credit Scoring Quick Answers What does a credit score range from? 300 to 850 What is a good score? 680 and above is considered “A” credit What determines the credit score? 35% payment history (lates, collections, charge-offs, public records) 30% account utilization (balances being carried) 15% length of credit history 10% types of credit (mixture is best) 10% inquiries (only the first ten count) Should a person pay-off their debt? The only debt that should be paid during the loan … [Read more...]
Credit Repair Packet
CREDIT REPAIR PACKET INSTRUCTIONS Step 1: Fill out the three dispute letters below using your personal information for the three specific credit bureaus. Step 2: Make sure you have listed your proper address and contact information Step 3: Sign each document Step 4: Mail each letter individually to the corresponding addresses listed in the packet. One letter should go separately to each of the credit bureaus. Step 5: Repeat Step 3 every 30 days. You will receive an updated credit report from each of … [Read more...]
City to furlough Police Officers
by Jeremy Desel / KHOU.com kens5.com Posted on March 11, 2010 at 7:11 AM Updated Thursday, Mar 11 at 7:15 AM HOUSTON – The city of Houston will consider furloughs for police officers and firefighters as it weighs options to save money, Houston Mayor Annise Parker said in a letter released Wednesday. "The letter was not a surprise to us,” said Gary Blankenship, the president of the Houston Police Officer’s Union. “We knew, early on, that the economic times in Texas and across the states are … [Read more...]