Raylene Lewis

Realtor®

Raylene Lewis is a happily married Realtor. Her family is comprised of a loving husband, two children, a 5 year old boy and a 3 year old girl, 2 dogs, and a Parrot. Raylene has been selling realestate for the last 8 years with Century 21 and sold 123 property units in 2008. Raylene loves being a Realtor and a Mommy, and as such, she is constantly on a mission to get things done!

Read More

Call: 979-218-2235

Raylene Lewis

Realtor®

Read my blog below

The Many Hats of Village Cafe in Downtown Bryan, Tx

March 9th, 2010 Categories: Community Events

Village Cafe Downtown Bryan Tx

Village Cafe Downtown Bryan Tx

Downtown Bryan is home to some of the most beautiful historic buildings in the Bryan College Station area.  Quality restaurants, community theatre, antique stores and many more contribute to Downtown Bryan’s fun environment.  Located on an unassuming corner of W. 26th street sits the Village Cafe, a comfortable space that wears many different hats, depending on the hour.

Early in the day, the Village Cafe is the perfect place to enjoy a cup of coffee, a fresh muffin, and the early morning sunlight that streams through one of the building’s many large windows.  The space has plenty of tables, comfy chairs and couches; so whether you’re looking for a calm place to read the newspaper, get work done on your laptop, or spend time with a friend, the Village Cafe has a place for you.
If you find yourself walking along the streets of downtown Bryan during the day, be sure to stop in for a delicious and healthy lunch. Choose between a variety of Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Susan Hilton | Discussion: No Comments »

The Quality of the CSISD (College Station Independent School District) School Board

March 7th, 2010 Categories: Schools

College Station Independent School District CSISD    Often times it’s difficult to tell whether or not a school, or a school district is “good” or “bad.” Everyone hopes that their child will realize her/his full intellect, but in some schools, a number of students fade into the background and don’t learn as much as they could.

    When moving to a new area, there are a huge amount of things to consider besides which school district is the best for your child, so it’s easy to overlook which school is right. However, it’s not a very good idea to leave it to fate, as some schools sadly do not perform as well as others; on the other hand, it can be difficult to determine which is which.

    There are a number of ways to decide; for instance you could look at Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Susan Hilton | Discussion: No Comments »

Messina Hof Cooking Parties with the Chef in Bryan College Station

March 6th, 2010 Categories: 1

wine22March is finally here and the springtime month brought along some greatly anticipated sunshine.   Now that the cold weather looks like it may be behind us for good, Bryan and College Station residents can finally turn to local outdoor treasures.  Messina Hof Winery and Resort has an exciting lineup of events this spring.

Make sure you pencil in the “Cooking Parties with the Chef” on March 18th and 21st.  Cooking parties are offered for both beginners and experts, and everyone leaves with new tips, good memories, and a finely satisfied appetite.

If you prefer to focus more on the wine itself, then mark your calendar for this month’s wine appreciation class, taught on March 28th and is entitled “The Wines of Burgundy.” Join the family at 3:00 p.m. to learn about the five regions of Burgundy and two reviled grapes, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.  Of course, no class would be complete without plenty of samples to taste.

One of the best deals in town is the five dollar wine tour, on which you can enjoy late afternoon weather while exploring Bryan’s very own vineyard.  Knowledgeable and fun staff lead tours through the various buildings and grounds while explaining the entire wine making process, from the grape picking to the label printing.  The best part: the tour ends in the wine tasting room where the tour leader shares his or her knowledge on Messina Hof’s many wonderful wine offerings while you sip away.

Take advantage of this perfect weather with a friend and enjoy the highly acclaimed local wine at Messina Hof today!

Susan Hilton

Susan Hilton – Realtor & Sales Trainer for Century 21 Beal, Inc.

#1 in Real Estate in Bryan and College Station Home Sales

Real Estate for Bryan College Station!

Call 979-764-2121 and hear information on ANY property for sale in the Brazos Valley.

Posted by Susan Hilton | Discussion: No Comments »

Broadway at the MSC in College Station, Tx

March 5th, 2010 Categories: Community Events

mscAlthough the MSC (Memorial Student Center) may be under construction, MSC OPAS is still in full swing. MSC OPAS is an organization on campus that brings professional productions of theatre, music and dance programs to Bryan/College Station. It is open to all residents, not just students. In the past MSC OPAS has brought shows including Yo-Yo Ma, Les Miserables, Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles, and even Riverdance. Now it’s bringing the best of Broadway, wrapped up in one singing and dancing package. MSC OPAS presents Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway, a compilation of some of the best shows and songs from the last century. Straight from New York with five of Broadway’s best- Andrea Rivette, Carter Calvert, Raymond Jaramillo McLeod, Grant Norman, Robert DuSold, and Composer Neil Berg- songs from shows like Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Susan Hilton | Discussion: No Comments »

Pebble Creek Elementary School Carnival Saturday March 6, 2010

March 4th, 2010 Categories: Community Events, Pebble Creek

pebble creek elementaryPebble Creek Elementary School Carnival this Saturday. You don’t want to miss it!

Join us this Saturday, March 6th from 11am to 4pm for the annual Pebble Creek Elementary Spring Carnival. Everyone is welcome – not just for Pebble Creek students! This year’s carnival is a space theme!

We’ll have plenty to do for the parents and the kids!

Tickets are on sale at the door day of the Pebble Creek carnival or in advance outside the school from 2:45 to 3:45 Thursday and Friday.

Come out and get LOST IN SPACE!

Susan Hilton

Susan Hilton – Realtor & Sales Trainer for Century 21 Beal, Inc.

#1 in Real Estate in Bryan and College Station Home Sales

Real Estate for Bryan College Station!

Call 979-764-2121 and hear information on ANY property for sale in the Brazos Valley.

Posted by Susan Hilton | Discussion: No Comments »

Art Exhibits in the Bryan College Station Tx Area

March 4th, 2010 Categories: Community Events

children museumVisitors to Bryan/College Station usually come with very specific expectations in mind– namely that they’ll see an Aggie football game and take a trip to the Dixie Chicken. While those are still Bryan/College Station staples, and football plus fried chicken is still a beloved combination, the residents have expanded.

The people of Bryan/College Station are scarcely one-dimensional, and the town reflects its people; as the city grows, more and more art galleries have been emerging and revealing themselves. What’s more remarkable is the amount of artists there are to be found in the Bryan College/Station area. As art galleries keep surfacing, works from local artists have been appearing to fill the walls of the galleries.

Most recently, the relatively new Village Café and Art 979 have been proudly displaying art from a huge milieu of individuals– from Bryan, Texas to Buffalo, New York. The Village Café started out as Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Susan Hilton | Discussion: No Comments »

Bryan College Station Local Grocers and Farmers Market

February 26th, 2010 Categories: Community Events, Kids, Family & Personal Stuff

Bryan College Station Farmers Market Century 21 Beal

Bryan College Station Farmers Market Century 21 Beal

Bryan/College Station is a very unique place. The sister cities have most everything you’d find in a big city, but alternatively it’s got quite a bit you wouldn’t. What makes it so special is the amount of farms and food producers around. This area of Texas is one of the agricultural boons of the U.S., not to mention A&M University has some of the most premier agricultural researchers. We are surrounded by some of the freshest, healthiest meats and vegetables in Texas; that makes Bryan/College Station one of the best places to shop for food. Be it our farmers’ markets, local grocers, or A&M’s meat market, you can find some of the most delicious foods in our quaint little sister cities.

HEB and Kroger’s are great grocery stores as well, but if you’re looking for fresh Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Susan Hilton | Discussion: No Comments »

Bryan College Station Real Estate Market Report January 2010

February 25th, 2010 Categories: Market Trends

2009 was a rough year for most of us, whether we were in real estate, stocks, retail business…  Real estate for January 2009 was down 24% in sales compared to the 2008. That was a scary start for the year.  2010 did not start off much different from 2009 but without an additional drop!

January 2010 compared to January 2009 is only up 2% in sales.  Being up 2% in sales is great, but remember we are comparing it to a year where we were down 24% from the previous year.  Thankfully, we have all learned to cut back on our expenses and have learned to live “within our means” and “within our market”. January 2010 was not a record month but we are also thankful we didn’t have another “Down” month. We started off the year POSITIVE! 

2-25-2010 2-20-07 PM

When 2009 started we had less inventory – properties available to sell. We started the year off 4.6% less than 2008. Starting 2010 we are way up. We have 17% more inventory this January than we did in 2009, but there were fewer new homes put on the market this January than in 2008 or 2009. So, there are more homes on the market available but fewer new ones on the market… so more homes are staying on the market longer. There are over 100 more houses available to choose from than in 2009 so if someone is looking – NOW IS THE TIME!

Note that the information above is the Bryan College Station total market – it is NOT what is happening at Century 21 Beal. Century 21 Beal has increased market share in both sales and new listings compared to 2009 and we are off to a GREAT year!  Want to see our Bryan College Station Real Estate Market Share numbers and what other companies around town are doing? Click on the link!

Susan

Susan Hilton – Realtor & Sales Trainer for Century 21 Beal

Want to Search the Bryan/College Station Real Estate MLS? CLICK HERE!!!

Posted by Susan Hilton | Discussion: No Comments »

Granite Counter Tops Worth it in College Station?

February 19th, 2010 Categories: 1

Have you ever wondered if your College Station home would look better with granite counter tops? Do you know how they would wear? How much would it cost?College Station Granite Kitchen

Of all the surfaces inside of the house, counter tops usually have to endure all the wear and tear. Anything you don’t want laying around on the floor usually ends up on counter tops, and accidents like to happen when given enough time. Even worse, scratches and gouges can be eye magnets, but even so, remodeling can be difficult to think about sometimes.

Home owners are sometimes daunted with the issue of remodeling: it can be painstaking to decide upon and it’s usually tough work. Beyond that, there is no formula to figuring out if the cost exceeds the benefit when part of the benefit is happiness

Research is very important, and there are a fair number of options with types of counter tops and manufacturers. After any amount of research, it’s clear that many consumer reports and magazines praise Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Susan Hilton | Discussion: No Comments »

Is Your Home Really Ready For Fall??

November 4th, 2009 Categories: Buying Real Estate, Selling Real Estate

Is Your Home Ready for the Holidays?
 
November 2009 is finally here, and that means it’s a count down until the guests arrive.  Thanksgiving, the biggest shopping day of the year, and the infamous game between Texas A&M University and TU are just around the corner.  So much to do, so little time!  Dealing with the pressure of knowing that people are coming for dinner in a matter of days is similar to the feeling you get when you are just about ready to put your home on the market for sale. Where do you start? It is time to clean, finish the minor house repairs and stage for the holidays!
 
I’ll never forget my clients that wanted to list their home on Thanksgiving weekend.  As I walked up to the front door the husband greeted me on the porch. “Thanks for coming to talk to us about selling our home,” he said. “Please don’t step on the yellow mat. It is covering up a hole in the floor and we don’t want you to fall through!”
 
The first question, when it comes to home cleaning, is deciding if the best use of your time includes grabbing the mop and bucket or simply picking up the phone and calling someone else to do it for you. There are many great and highly reputable cleaning companies in town, and if you need a Ritz Carlton clean at a Wal-Mart price, another option is for you to call your Realtor. No, we don’t clean houses, but with all the sales we do, with clients moving out and not having anytime to make the home ready for the new buyer, we always have a good house cleaner that is on call in a pinch, knows how to clean from top to bottom and is extremely reasonably priced.  The key to a good clean for the best price is to make sure you have supplies ready and that the home is picked up and free of toys, counter top clutter, and pets that can prevent access to the entire home.
 
I got a call once from a service provider that told me “Raylene, the rest of the home is fine, but we couldn’t go into to the master bedroom closet, because there is a large live boa constrictor hanging from the ceiling.”
 
 When getting the home ready for visitors, be sure to remember to clean where it will be most noticeable to guests: ceiling fans and return air vents are the areas most commonly overlooked. And when cleaning that return air vent, might as well change the air filter while you are at it. If you are one of those folks who dust and dust yet seem to be getting no where, an item to add to the Honey Do list before the guests arrive is to buy a tube of clear caulk, climb in the attic, and seal your return air vent on both sides. Often, little bits of insulation dust can be brought into the home from the attic. Sealing the return air vent on both sides with eliminate the problem and result in more free time between house hold dusting. Just remember to wait for the caulk to dry before placing the air filter back in place.  And of course, when you are in the attic, watch your step!
 
“Yes, Raylene…um this is the Heating and A/C Company. We completed the repair you requested on the furnace for the closing this afternoon and the return air duct is all sealed up. Unfortunately, our guy fell through the ceiling on his way out.”
 
When the home is ready, it’s time for the fun part! Shopping and staging for the holidays.  Guests love walking into a home and getting the nice, warm fuzzy feeling of Holiday Spirit.  A good starting place is to find a holiday scent you like and sticking with it throughout the home. Evergreen and Peppermint are popular ones, as long as they are not overwhelming. My mother always told me “the way to a man’s heart is though his stomach,” and I don’t think you can go wrong with a scent of pumpkin spice, sugar cookie or ginger bread. The key is to not mix scents and to try and stay away from smells that are fruity or overpowering.  Scents that smell like fresh sweet cooking also complement the holiday, and guests might even think the great smells came from your kitchen!
 
Many of the stores in Bryan-College Station are great with providing holiday accent pieces for home decor.  Always check the paper for the latest deals of the day.  If you are like me, and want your home staged and looking it’s best for guests, confusion erupts when walking into a store and deciding what to buy. (Personally, I want it all!) A great option to eliminate the buying confusion is to hire a holiday stager. This is very different from having an interior decorator or designer come in, and is just a fraction of the price. For roughly $200.00 – $400.00 depending on what you want done, you can have a stager go with you to pick out floral, art, and accent decor. These folks are also great at finding the best deals in town and are highly creative at getting you the look you want in-budget. You can also hire your stager to dress up the home with items you provide and / or rearrange furniture to make the home look its best. For more information on Staging, you can go to www.stagingbcs.com
 
As always, don’t forget the point of the November holiday season is to be thankful and enjoy time you have with your close friends and family. This can easily be accomplished, no matter what state your home is in.
 
“Mrs. Smith, I am so glad you are thankful to your husband for surprising you with this Master Garden Jacuzzi tub as an early Christmas present! I know you are going to enjoy it. Now, if you don’t mind, can you please get out of the tub so we can finish the final walkthrough of the home? I’m afraid we may be late to the closing.”
 
 
 
 
Raylene Lewis, Realtor
Century21 Beal, Inc.
979-218-2235 Cell
979-764-2100 Office
979-764-0421 Fax
www.BuyInCollegeStation.com
www.raylenelewis.thecenturytreereader.com

Posted by Raylene Lewis | Discussion: No Comments »

« Previous Entries

Home Search > click

Homes Value> click

Ask Anything > click