Recently we have had some very bad accidents in our area where lives were ended. This is the time of the year when young folks are getting out of school for the summer; getting behind the wheel and headed ... who knows where. Drive like they are in a hurry to go nowhere. One very important item is that seat belt, yes it's uncomfortable but it may save your life. It's time to take life seriously, obey the law and do the right thing. BUCKLE UP GIRL'S AND BOY'S...MEN & WOMEN.                                  Drive the speed limit and look out for the other guy or gal. Day and Night, Cops are Cracking DownEvery year during this holiday period, law enforcement agencies join forces day and night, from coast-to-coast, for an enforcement blitz that delivers on our message Click It or Ticket. Th... 06/01/2009

                                                                                      Looking for the right home inspector can be a challenge for the First Time Home Buyer.                         Here are are few tips to remember.  You can easily do on your own.   1. Request a list from your realtor. In Texas all home inspectors must be certified by TREC (Texas Real  Estate Commission).  2. You can visit TREC webpage to select your own inspector.   3. When interviewing the inspector ask if they are full time. How long have they been in business.  Be prepared to give the inspector this information.          A.  Square footage of the property         B.  Slap Foundation or Pier and Beam         C.  Age of home         D.  Occupied or Unoccupied         E.  Utilities/Water turned on or of... 06/01/2009

  I am so excited.   If you are planning on attending one of the MANY water activities here in New Braunfels, Texas this summer then you are probably going to need ice, right?   Well, let's face it....100+ degree weather yep, no doubt about it.   With so many different things to do from floating down the Guadalupeor the Comal rivers, taking the kids to Schlitterbahn, heading off to Dunlap or Canyon Lake you need to come prepared, right?   Well, last week I had noticed this new ice house.  No, you can't buy your sodas, coffee or get gas there (for those of you that still call a convience store an ice house)...this is a real ice house.   Ice House Americahas built these nifty self contained buildings that you can drive straight up to get your ice.  No need to wait in the line, drag throug... 05/31/2009

  Rockwall Ranch is a great, quiet neighborhood that lies between Garden Ridge, Texas and New Braunfels proper.  All the lots are oversized (or have some acerage), tons of Oaks and mature trees and the country setting makes it the perfect spot for home living.   I have many happy homeowners in this neighborhood and they continue to tell me how much they love it! The following is a comparison (2008 & 2009) of what has SOLD in the neigbhorhood the same time frame being January to March 29.   2008 Stats   2009 Stats If you will note that the number of listings that has SOLD has dropped and the average days on the market has increased (as has the neighboring cities), but what really stood out is that the LIST TO SOLD price was still holding it's own. It's obvious that Seller's that are pric... 05/29/2009

                                        My Second Thought Provoker -Home Sweet Home                                                                 First Time Home Buyer's Please Read                                                                     We all know FHA helps homeowners by providing lenders with mortgage insurance for certain qualified loans. If you are about to buy your first home please know that FHA.............   1. FHA DOES NOT PERFORM HOME INSPECTIONS (Does Not)   2. FHA DOES NOT GIVE YOU MONEY FOR REPAIRS. YOU...the buyer will be responsible to find your own home inspection service. You can request help from your real estate agent that will either give you a list to choose from for the  inspection service or in Texas you can go to TREC to get a list of inspectors. (... 05/27/2009

                                                                                                                                                              HOME SWEET HOME It's a place where you wake in the morning. It's a place where you go each evening. It's a place you want to call "home".              This blog is for the "first time home buyer".  Please read and evaluate carefully some of the things I will discuss in this blog. Having your home inspected may be one of the most important decisions you will make.                                                     Don't Forget the Inspection to Avoid Housing Pitfalls                                               Get a Home Inspection Contingent on a New Home Purchase Why You Ask?    People across the country are feeling the pain of... 05/26/2009

I know I seem to always be talking about the rain, but honestly here we pray for it.  Our aquifers, lakes, rivers are all down. In New Braunfels we are already into Stage 1 water restrictions.  It's only May!  It's years like this (coupled with the past few years of no rain) that makes me wonder what August holds for us this year?  Yikes! I was just getting ready to head on over to meet my family at our river house.  It's an old house that was built in 1947 (bought by my husband's grandpa, that smart man) and has been used generation after generation since.  It's a day that we come together, bbq, play with the kids, float the Guadalupe River....all kinds of fun stuff... but now it's raining. Do you think that's gonna stop this family from enjoying today?  No way, rain or shine the festi... 05/23/2009

Our new family has grown.....Yes the Deer Family Look who came for a visit and to show off her children. Oh the beauty of nature! There was a third fawn but don't believe it belolnged to this doe as there was another doe watching as we took these photo's. These fawns are probably just a few days old and already running around like crazy and making that little bleep noise when they call to mom.                   First photo is of mom - and then a photo of the twins - and then the other fawn by itself.    Photo 1 - Mom Photo 2 - Twins                                                       Photo 3 - The Fawn                                                                              Keeps bleeping and looking for mom, wonder where mom is? It's time for dinner. _____________________________... 05/22/2009

  I ALWAYS LOVE TO START THE DAY OFF ON A POSITIVE NOTE! So last night I was bumming out after reading some online postings by people who compared ALL real estate agents to used car salesmen, crooks and bottom feeders.  Needless to say I woke up this morning and had to make a decision about how I want to face my day.  Never one to stay mired in a pity party, I chose the positive.  I drove to work enjoying the fact that it is a gorgeous sunny day in the Texas Hill Country and that I am going to focus on revenue generating activities today. On Google, I have alerts set up to e mail me when people blog about real estate in Texas, the Hill Country, Canyon Lake, Bulverde, Spring Branch and New Braunfels, since these are the markets that I serve.  Imagine my surprise when I read a blog this m... 05/19/2009

Coming home today I noticed several United States flags being flown. This is our reminder to be sure to fly your flag as we prepare to honor those who have given so much for our freedom. I have also included some very nice links for you to share with your children, family and friends. We must always remember.....and never forget....and to always be thankful for the freedom that we enjoy as Americans this coming Memorial Day.                                                           A Vietnam Veteran lives here. Carey J. Dion proudly served 20 years in the United States Air Florce:                                                                                                                 Ceil's Brother                                                 Memorial Day is observed on Monday... 05/18/2009

  Our Metrocom Chamber was having their yearly golf tournament last Friday, May 15, 2009.   One of the places that donated to the tournament for a round of golf was the Landa Park Golf Course.  Lucky me (as I live in NB) was voted to go pick up the prize and drop off at Olympia Golf Course to be used for later in the day.   If you want to check out their site it is here: http://www.golfersweb.com/golfsan/landapar.htm I really mean lucky.   First off, I'm not much of a golfer.  I have tried for fun, I have taken lessons.  Let's just say that the Professional told me that I was going to need "lots of work"...needless to say I dropped out of the class (why fight it, huh?)   So, I march up to the Landa Park to get the tickets and I am just entranced by the beauty of the golf course.  It's b... 05/17/2009

JAWS Skate Park, New Braunfels, Texas       The construction is under way....the kids are waiting with their boards in tow.  What's happening over at Ernest Eikel Park?   They are building a skate park, new fencing, walk/run trail and resurfacing the basketball court!   This project has been talked about for many months.  I went by (okay...the kids dragged me) to see what progress had been made.   Here is what we found.     This is how the park is taking shape!         I can't wait to see how these forms all come together.  The planning is extensive and it looks like Eikel will get a great new look as well as the addition to the skate park and the much needed walking trail. I'll keep you posted on the project the Parks & Rec department doesn't have a completion date on the web site....b... 05/12/2009

Fellow AR stager, Melody Salazar is very cool!       My new house for the past year has sat untouched (for the most part) without me putting in all of the little "finishing touches".  I live in a beautiful Perry Home built house that has soaring ceilings and LOTS OF WALL SPACE.   I was distraught by the task of choosing color choices (and my husband was tired of listening to me)...so, I decided to call Melody Salazar of Salazar Staging.  Now the only way I know her is through her blogging here on Active Rain.  I figured that I was able to see some of the great transformations that she has made through her staging efforts (she has those great before and after photos) and figured that if I didn't get some help that I was going to drive myself insane (or worse yet, my husband!).   I called... 05/11/2009

Success Partners Retreat ~ After Hours     Twice a year this fabulous group that I am involved in called Success Partners gathers.  We are lead by the talented, gifted and unstoppable Cheryl Fairbanks.  Each time we meet with our group and come up with a strategy list of things that we need to address.  These things range from the business oriented to the private.  Sorry, can't give the details as each meeting is an unspoken code of silence.  The life information that is shared has to do with life in general, how to be a better business owner, better REALTOR, parent, spouse and so forth.  Each time we come together it seems that our challenges/goals vary depending on whom is participating and what challenges they are currently facing.  This could range from a personal crisis to the mark... 05/10/2009

I'm so lucky to live at the start of the Hill Country near New Braunfels, Texas.  The boys and I were in the kitchen making a chocolate cake (yummy) and I looked up and out my back windows was this:     And this:   Now, I'm not proclaiming to be the best photographer (just working with what I got).....but I do believe that it's obvious that the sight was beautiful! Now, I'm sitting on my deck in the backyard, with the wind blowing through my hair and I can hear some of the trees rustling, THE NEIGHBORS DOG BARKING, but, uh...let's forget that part.  Back to my little bit of serenity in pleasant New Braunfels, Texas....the trees rustling, the world is quieting down and closing the curtain on another fabulous day in beautiful Texas ! Gotta love it! Yes, ya'll are invited to view with me t... 05/09/2009

I just read: Susan Mangigian, West Chester PA Realtor RE/MAX Preferred, ABR post this morning about her THANKFUL THURSDAY message.   I thought it was great and of course had to follow suit! Susan has a lot to be thankful for this morning.  I may not go that far but to offer a few items. Mine are: I'm am thankful that even though the schools are closed (because of swine flu) that my family and I are making lemonade out of lemons and will be leaving town tomorrow to spend 3 days at the beach.  I thought this was an opportunity to spend a little extra time with my kids!  I can't wait.  And that makes me thankful.  Thankful for a little extra "fun" time with them. I'm also thankful this morning to my wonderful business partner (but most importantly, my sister) Kristin, who will stay behind ... 04/30/2009

I live in Comal County in New Braunfels, Texas.  They school districts closed all of the schools in Comal County as well as Guadalupe County (which is a good number cities) because of the "swine flu".  This announcement happened last night around 9p.m. and the children will be out of school until May 11, 2009!! So far in Comal County there is one Teacher and 2 students that have this strain of flu.  There have been up to a number of 142 others that have been tested (new testing sites have been set up in Austin so hopefully results will be in sooner than shipping out to different states) So far 18 confirmed cases in Texas. 8 of them are in the neighboring county, Guadalupe. 1 death in Houston of a 22 month old child.   My children think that they are getting an "extra" spring break and w... 04/29/2009

                       Photo of a Sears & Robuck in Key West Florida back in Yesteryear! Wow, I remember Sears & Robuck and Co. do you ? When............we ordered through a catalog all the furniture and necessities for our first born through a catalog and had to pick it up at the store!!!! Most of our clothes and even some folks ordered their home through a catalogue? We would go to the Sears Catalogue Dept., stand and browse the catalogue and place our order.  How times have changed....keep reading  Today, in the current age of technology, instead of a catalog that I had to go to the store to look at, I can go online, put in the subject and hundreds of online catalogs come up, I can order and have my order delivered to my home, and pay for it with a piece of plastic!   I don't recall... 04/20/2009

     I had the pleasure of playing the Bandit golf course in New Braunfels, Texas.  At first viewing, the course and layout is stunning!  The condition of the course is very well taken care of, however you do have to bring your "A" game, and your best putting stroke, the greens are quick.  From the first hole to the last, you are challenged with the shot placement accompanied with beautiful landscaped views, layed out by nature and homes.  The course truly lives up to the name "Bandit" as it seemed to steal a good amount of golf balls from my bag!  I will definitely plot revenge on this course, and book a tee time again here in the near future.   The homes surrounding the course range from decent to lavish in prices and size.  This area truly has a home for all walks of living comforts... 04/15/2009

Tons of New Braunfels Real Estate Links for Finding New Braunfels Homes For Sale & Properties SEARCH NEW BRAUNFELS SINGLE FAMILY HOMES FOR SALE LINKS Search New Braunfels Homes for sale under 200K Search New Braunfels Homes between 200-300K Search New Braunfels Single Family Homes over 300K SEARCH NEW BRAUNFELS LOT, LAND , ACREAGE, FARMS AND HOMESITES FOR SALE Search New Braunfels Lots and Land for sale under 150K Search New Braunfels Lots for sale and Land between 150-250K  Search New Braunfels Lots for sale over 250K Search New Braunfels Acreage for sale and Farms for sale under 1 mill Search New Braunfels Multi Family Homes and New Braunfels Investment Property   SEARCH NEW BRAUNFELS SUBDIVISIONS TO FIND NEW BRAUNFELS HOMES FOR SALE Refine your Search Select a subdivision to find NEW... 03/26/2009