There are a few easy ways to cut down on utility costs as they apply to heating water, the third largest energy expense in your home. There are many ways to save which would include using less hot water, insulating your existing heater, or buying a new one.  Insulating blankets may be purchased at Lowe's or most home improvement stores.  New water heaters are MUCH more efficient than models made just a few years ago.  If your current unit is more than 10 years old, you should consider replacing it not only for the energy savings, but also as a safety precaution, especially if it is a gas water heater.  Here are more ideas to consider: Repair leaky faucets. Turn down the temperature on your water heater. Most water heaters come from the factory with high temperature settings, but a setti... 05/12/2008

The HBH Group offers you this quick checklist in the home hunting process.  Notice we didn't call this the home buying process, because this article is intended only to help you pick the right home for you.  The actual purchase process is much more complex and is why you as a buyer should call us to assist you with that! Here are some simply steps to help you select the perfect home for you and your family: The first thing you see when house hunting is the view from the street.  "Curb Appeal."  Do you like the house or don't you.  That's an easy decision.  If you don't like it, drive on.  Don't waste time because it is better spent looking at homes you do like. If the home passes the "curb appeal" test, go inside and take a quick look around.  Not a detailed look, just go from room to ... 05/12/2008

I have lived near Forest Creek since 1995, and I have sold countless homes in this neighborhood.  Well, maybe not countless, but enough that I know what I am doing there and I know that it has great value.  With a challenging and immaculate golf course, it is no mystery why it remains a popular destination both for those moving up within the Round Rock area and for golf fanatics and retirees as well.  Additionally, Forest Creek Elementary is perennially well-ranked with the Texas Education Agency's accountability system.  If you are considering this particular area, you might be interested in seeing the current inventory of homes available there right now: Homes for Sale in Forest Creek - Round Rock The current average price for Forest Creek listings is $341,766.  The average square fo... 05/10/2008

My wife and I took our three kids to La Margarita tonight, which is located in north Round Rock, just south of 3406 on the southbound frontage road of I-35.  I had heard some great things about this place from a friend of mine who called it his "favorite Mexican restaurant".  Overall, I was pleased with the outcome, and we will likely return. The kids each tried something different from the kids' menu.  Our youngest really enjoyed the chicken strips and fries, although at age two she is not very discerning yet.  My older daughter, who is seven, finished all of her beef taco, along with an extra tortilla from my wife and a chicken strip from her sister's plate.  Can you say "growth spurt"? My son, who is nine, is the pickiest eater in our house, yet he devoured the "peanut butter and jel... 05/10/2008

Sonoma has quickly  become one of my favorite communities to show to my buyer clients, because of its numerous amenities, proximity to 45 (toll road), and reasonable prices. Features: 2 Theme Pools! 2 Lakes Playscape Adjacent to Round Rock hike & bike trail system If you are considering this area, you might be interested in seeing the current inventory of homes available there right now: Homes for Sale in Sonoma - Round Rock The current average price for Sonoma listings is $269,587.  The average square footage for the available homes is 2808, which yields an average price per square foot of $96.45.  If you have any questions, or if you would like to schedule an appointment to see these properties or any others in the Austin MLS, please give me a call anytime at 512-796-7653 or email ja... 05/10/2008

Teravista is a beautiful master planned community in North Round Rock. It features an 18 hole Golf course, workout center, two community pools, club house, biking and walking path, Intranet and this fall will open a brand new elementary school.                                                                                                This Home in Teravista is a little over 2200 sq. ft and features: · 3 Bedrooms / 2.5 Baths · 4 Sided Brick Home · Extremely Spacious    Upstairs Game Room with  Walk In Closet · Formal Living /Study · Formal Dining Room · Fireplace · Master Bath Separate Shower/Garden Tub / Large Walk In Closet · Private Backyard with Covered Patio · Upgraded Kitchen with   Corian Counters/Bar  Stainless  Appliances · Breakfast Area · Oversized Cul-de-sac Lot with Beaut... 05/10/2008

With the surge in real estate investing in recent years, many people have moved money into real estate all over the country.  This has been especially true of our area and now with Round Rock and Killeen being rated by Entrepreneur Magazine as some of the best places to buy real estate in the nation, the trend is skyrocketing here. More property management companies have been springing up all over Round Rock, Georgetown and Hutto areas as a result, but many of the clients we have dealt with recently have had less than stellar results with other companies they have done business with. We encourage these clients to realize that just like with any expeniture in life, you get what you pay for.  So with an investment as important as a piece of real estate, discount property management MAY NO... 05/10/2008

The HBH Group offers FREE monthly seminars to teach the principles of "The Millionaire Real Estate Investor", the groundbreaking new book that offers the novice real estate investor proven models and systems to create wealth with real estate.  Here are some examples of the success stories that are shared in our seminars as well as a synapsis of the book: When Wendy Patton bought her first investment property she was living in a hotel, made $20,000 a year, and owed that much in student loans. Today Wendy has bought and sold more than 600 houses. Jimmy and Linda McKissack struggled for years to turn a restaurant and nightclub into a sustainable business. They began supplementing their income though investment properties. Within five years they went from a handful of investment homes to 83... 05/10/2008

Why a Home Inventory is ImportantPut yourself to the test.  Could you make a list of everything in your home from memory, without going room by room?  Most of us would answer no, which is why a Home Inventory is such a necessity.  When a natural disaster or burglary occurs, your insurance company will require documented proof of possessions that are stolen, damaged or destroyed.  They will want an itemized list which is not easily created, especially during a crisis.  A Home Inventory will also help you determine the amount of insurance coverage you need.What to IncludeEVERYTHING!  The first items that come to mind are usually the most obvious:  furniture, appliances, electronics, artwork, jewelry and treasured keepsakes.  But don't forget the occasionally overlooked draperies, carpets,... 05/08/2008

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has  banned the use of a cancer-causing wood preservative. That's the good news.    The bad news is that the substance, known as CCA (for chromated copper arsenate), is embedded in 90% of all outdoor wooden structures, including decks and play equipment. If you have any outdoor wooden structures there is a good chance you're within exposure distance to arsenic.     So, if you're thinking of refurbishing your deck instead of buying a new one, or have wood structures on your premises, learn to be aware of the hazards. Take reasonable steps to protect your family from unnecessary exposure to the arsenic that leaches from CCA-treated wood.    Arsenic exposure from pressure treated wood MAY occur in the following ways:   Toys stored beneath the deck ... 05/08/2008

I have written a couple of posts recently on reducing your expenses on gasoline.  These include: Gas Prices ARE KILLING OUR BUSINESSES! and Tips on Saving Money in an Era of Higher Gas Prices.  In this post, I want to share another way to reduce your costs at the pump - a more collaborative method using the web.  Check out GasBuddy.com to see a creative method to share local pricing information with other consumers. Once you create an account at the site, you can report on gas prices that you have encountered daily so everyone in your area can keep up to date on the most cost effective places to pump gas on any specific day.And by the way, for my readers in Round Rock, the new HEB Plus store on Palm Valley offers HEB points on gas purchases so if you have a Points Club Rewards card, you... 05/06/2008

Real Estate Investors love Austin Texas and The HBH Group loves Real Estate investors.  You are a major focus of our business and we have configured our service mix to meet the needs of Real Estate investors and those interested in Real Estate Investment.  Why is the Austin Texas area so popular with investors?There are many reasons why.  Here are just a few of the many:Austin Texas Real Estate Investment has a solid appreciation history.  Most areas of the town have a historical track record of 6-8% appreciation annualized over about the last 10 years.  Many higher demand areas in town enjoy even greater appreciation rates; however they may also be more volatile so we tend to recommend areas of town that are more stable and steady to our investors.  Our Real Estate Investment philosoph... 05/05/2008

Since 2000, the population of Roundrock Texas has grown by nearly 50% from 61,000+ to 91,000+ people.  Roundrock is one of the fastest growing areas in Texas and even the entire nation for that matter.  What are some of the factors drawing people to this area?  Here are a few:Substantial job growth - Dell Computer has brought the high tech jobs and support jobs to Roundrock Texas in a big way.  This has increased the average household income levels in the Roundrock area to almost 50% greater than the Texas average!Income growth - Again the high-tech nature of the job growth market has given Roundrock Texas a decided edge over most other cities in Texas!Low cost of living - Round Rock enjoys a kiw cost of living while still having a higher standard of living due to the quality job growth... 05/04/2008

The HBH Group offers full service Property Management in Round Rock, Texas and we are currently seeking new management properties.  We focus in a small area of North Austin and can offer the following services over and above many of the competing companies in the area:Because we concentrate in a small area (Round Rock, Pflugerville, Georgetown and Hutto only), we keep your property in regular sight, ensuring that the property is in good condition and regular maintenance is being performed on a consistent basis by the tenant.We insulate you from late rent payments by mailing your check for arrival on/before the 5th of every month. We handle all tenant interfaces so you as the owner are completely insulated from the hassles of being a landlord.We manage your repairs by using a service war... 05/03/2008

Did you know that people just like you make an Investment in Texas every day by purchasing investment real estate here?  Did you also know that real estate is one of the safest and yet most lucrative investments of all and is available to nearly everyone?  These are just two of the many facts that are true of real estate investing and unfortunately many people never take advantage of the freedom that they have in this country to grow their net worth and work towards financial independence through real estate investing.  Further, those that do are often drawn to more volatile real estate markets around the country chasing rapid appreciation.  There are many people who have invested in the recent past in various places around the country that we HOT a few years ago only to be deflated in ... 05/03/2008

Salvation Army opening Round Rock store. At a really young age I had the opportunity to tour the salvation army in downtown Austin.  It was eye opening to see what a difference it was making in peoples lives. Its great to hear that the Salvation Army will be opening a store in the Round Rock area. The Austin area salvation army is opening its fifth family store and the FIRST in Round Rock Texas! The store will be located at 601 W. Louis Henna Blvd. AKA Builders will be the general contractors. The opening is expected to happen in late May.The store is going to be over 25,000 square feet! It will sell clothing, home accessories, furniture, books and sporting goods. If your interested in making a donation the central donation center is located at 4216 S. Congress Ave. Donate To Salvation ... 05/01/2008

MAY 2008 1 CONROE Free Concert in the Park, (936) 522-3014, www.cityofconroe.org 1 KERRVILLE Symphony of the Hills, (830) 792-7469 1 AMARILLO [1-3] Greater Southwest Music Festival, (806) 373-5093, www.gswmf.com1 HELOTES [1-4] Cornyval & PRCA Rodeo, (210) 695-2103, www.cornyval.com1 ODESSA [1-4] Fiesta West Texas, (432) 580-8112 1 PORT NECHES [1-4] Riverfest & Classic Car Show, (409) 722-9154 1 HENDERSON [1-31] Wildflower Trails, 1-866-650-5529, ext. 800, www.hendersontx.us2 AMARILLO Art Walk, (806) 352-7262 2 COLEMAN Ag Day, (325) 625-2361 2 EMORY [2-3] Founders Day Festival, (903) 473-2465, ext. 112, www.foundersdayfestival.org2 LOCKHART [2-3] Cinco de Mayo, (512) 398-9600 2 ABILENE [2-4] Cinco de Mayo Festival, (325) 672-1794 2 HUNTSVILLE [2-4] Sam Houston Folk Festival, (936) 294-18... 05/01/2008

Through the first four months of this year, Wood Glen home sales have been down over previous years as follows:           Homes Sold        Difference2007    13                     Down by 62%2006    16                     Down by 68%2005    16                     Down by 68%2004    17                     Down by 71%2003    15                     Down by 66%The point is that the market throughout Round Rock is slower this year due to many factors:A slower economy.An election year.Dell layoffs.etc.If you need to sell a home in Wood Glen there are many critical issues to understand in order to sell.  We can assist you with these issues and would like to point out that some homes in Round Rock are still selling quickly and receiving multiple offers that can push the sales price ABOVE list ... 05/01/2008

Many voices are saying that NOW IS THE TIME TO INVEST IN REAL ESTATE.  Many of our clients are looking for a great Austin Texas Real Estate Investment.  Becoming financial free is almost an obsession of many people today, hence the reason for the huge popularity of the midnight real estate investing courses for sale on cable all night long (ala Carleton Sheets and many others)!  I agree that with the slowness of the market at this time, it is an attractive market for the smart investors.  By smart investors, I mean the true real estate investors that are just that and are not market speculators or market timers.  These last two strategies rarely, if ever work - not in the stock market or in real estate investing either.  The smart investor is conservative and at least incorporates these... 04/30/2008

Well the short answer is...  complex.  In either case, you are going to suffer a 200-300 point loss in your FICO score that will likely not be regained for 3-5 years after either of these finds its way to your credit history.  Here is why:Lenders see both events as equally negative on your creditworthiness in the future.Either event is seen as the unsuccessful completion of a loan agreement, in other words you are not trustworthy to complete agreements that you sign up for.So the net effect of either event on your credit is the same.  Many "advisors" in the marketplace will say that somehow a short sale can be recovered from more quickly than a foreclosure, but most lenders would disagree.  You are probably in for a 3-5 year wait before your credit scores and history will enable you to ... 04/30/2008