Raylene Lewis
Realtor®
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Is Your Home Really Ready For Fall??
November 4th, 2009 Categories: Buying Real Estate, Selling Real Estate
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Do Haunted Houses Really Exist In Bryan/College Station??
October 12th, 2009 Categories: Real Estate True Tales
In my career as a Realtor, I have sold over 500 homes in the Bryan and College Station area. A few of these properties were homes that had a history; that is homes where previous owners had died on the property.
According to the law in Texas, if the house is considered a “Notorious House,” meaning the home is well known by the general public for what has happened on or in the premises, be it due to a death or a home repeatedly said to have ghosts, it has to be disclosed to all potential buyers. However, an exception to this rule is if a death occurs on the property and it was the result of natural causes, suicide, or an accident unrelated to the condition of the property. Under these circumstances, the death that occurred does not have to be disclosed to a potential home buyer.
Back in my first year of selling real estate, many years ago, I was showing a young couple a home that had just come on the market for sale, when the neighbor walked out and waved us over. “Are you thinking about buying Mrs. Murphy’s home?” she asked. “Yes, my clients answered. It has a great floor plan!” “Well, it’d be mighty fine to have you as neighbors,” she responded…” then almost as an after thought she added “Ya know, she be dead 4 or 5 days in that house before they found her.” Needless to say, we did not write an offer on that home.
Often, when a Realtor sells a home, we have no idea if a death has occurred on the property or not. (We do find out quickly via the neighbors however, if the home has a reputation of being haunted.) I will never forget one listing appointment I went on, where the Seller told me, “The neighbors will tell you this home is haunted, but really it is not. The ghost-lady is only seen peeling potatoes here in the kitchen occasionally.”
If you are a Buyer and concerned about the possibility that someone might have died in a property you are considering buying, the best way I have found to determine if the house has a past is to Google the property address on the World Wide Web. Typically, if something noteworthy has happened to the home, it’s likely there is a police report posted on the web that can tell you all the details. I discovered this when a previous client called me asking why I had not told him there was a ghost in his house before he bought it. I assured the client the home did not have any uninvited inhabitants, as it was less than 5 years old and only had one previous owner—whom we had met at the closing table, just a week or so ago. I asked the client what made him think there may be a ghost in his home. His answer was for me to come over as it was currently standing in the room with him. (Truly, I had no idea how to respond to that statement.) After a bit of research on public records and police reports, I typed in the property’s address on the world wide web. To my surprise, the web pulled up the home right away and, as it turned out, the Seller’s spouse had committed suicide in the master bedroom of what was now my client’s home. We had the home blessed by my client’s church and thankfully, they report no further encounters.
During my career, I have only sold one officially Notorious Home. This was a home where a family of 4 had been murdered back in the early 1970’s and, almost everyone in town knew the home for the events that had occurred there so long ago. I can tell you, property value can definitely be affected by a home’s grizzly past. This property went for approximately $25,000.00 less than what a home in the area would normally sell for—and was under contract 3 separate times— before finding a buyer who was ok with the property’s history.
While I am certainly no psychic, and am not sure if I personally believe in ghosts and deceased spirits roaming the earth, I have shown a few vacant homes where both myself and my clients got a bit of an uneasy feeling walking through the home. I can definitely recall one particular home in Bryan that I can confidently say—“if there is such a thing as a haunted house, this house 100% fits the bill.” Every time I would try to take interior photos of the home, they would come out fuzzy and yellow. The lights inside the property were constantly flickering whenever I went from room to room and, I would switch off a light, leave the property, get in my car, and notice the light was back on! I offered the Realtors in my office a free lunch if any could provide me with interior photos that were not blurry or out of color, and although several Realtors tried, their cameras would die in the home or their pictures would come out like mine. I never had to pay out on my offer with a free meal. Needless to say I was “Oh, So Happy!” when that house sold.
If you are feeling especially brave, and want to stay at a Haunted House, right down the road just about 40 minutes from Bryan-College Station in Calvert, Texas there is a little Bed & Breakfast known as The Hammond House. The TFC Paranormal Research Team, a real ghost-hunting team based out of Bryan-College Station, recorded Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP) and other readings at the Hammond House. According to Casey Linda Unger, who headed the team, the property definitely has a few ghostly inhabitants.
To learn more about the Paranormal Research team right here in BCS, you can go to their web site http://www.freakuency.org/about.htm and for information on the Hammond House, or to schedule a little get away just go to http://www.thehammondhouse.com/index.php but, if the place is haunted, don’t expect a good night’s sleep!
If you have questions or are thinking about buying or selling your home,–notorious or not– feel free to give me a call at 979-218-2235 or visit my website: www.buyincollegestation.com
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University Title Company — In Selling a Home, the Seller Chooses the Title Company
August 3rd, 2009 Categories: Selling Real Estate
University Title Company is Brazos County’s largest title insurance provider, and has been helping the people of the Brazos Valley since 1973. It is the job of the title company to research the title, handle the money, and file all the papers necessary at the courthouse. This means that when the job is given to UTC, they make certain that the property has clear title, all financial aspects with the current lender are handled, and all invoices be it for repair, inspections, or home cleaning/maintenance are taken care of. The title company is also a great source for obtaining deed restrictions, homestead exemption forms, TREC forms, home warranty order forms, and for finding existing surveys on a property.
There are basically 7 steps to the Closing Process once a property goes under contract and is submitted to the title company.
1) The Contract and Earnest Money is given to University Title Company and UTC deposits the Earnest Money Check
2) UTC issues a Title Commitment – This shows the history of the property and what items need to be taken care of to clear title.
3) All Pre-Closing Items are Provided to University Title Company — This includes inspections, surveys, invoices, payoff information etc.
4) The Title Company Provides a Settlement Statement to all Parties — This can be thought of as a document like a big receipt that shows where all the money in the transaction is going and what each billed item is.
5) The Closing – All parties meet and sign the documents necessary to change the loan and to obtain / release ownership.
6) The Funding – The money is received by the lender or new owner and is actively distributed accordingly.
7) The Title Policy – Within 90 days of funding, the title policies are issued and mailed to the appropriate parties with all recorded documents.
The company has six insurance underwriters, professional title insurance experts, readily available escrow officers (to help address any concerns before closing) and a large title production and closing services staff. The motto at UTC is “to make each and every transaction as smooth and swift as possible, always expertly tending to the details.” They can close any transaction for real estate in Texas, and if you will not be able to stay in town for the closing, they can email, fax or FedEx the necessary closing documents to you.
Their website offers tips for both seller and buyers and, when a contract is submitted for processing, UTC provides an online closing tracking program that allows all parties involved in the transaction see what stage the file is in. It also provides access to documents and emails and lets all parties know when the information is updated. Their goal is to insure that there are no surprises at closing. Once at the closing table, at UTC you can expect to be provided with a drink and fresh baked cookies. They also have a patio for pets and DVD’s for children to watch while their parents are signing all the necessary documents.
The company is an active leader in the community and regularly contributes time and support to local charities. They have earned many awards both for the service they provide and for being a great place to work. If you are going to be needing the services of a Title Company, UTC is definitely a place to consider!
Need information on Buying or Selling a Home in Bryan-College Station? Give me a Call 979-218-2235 or send me an email!
Raylene Lewis
Information on Buying a home in College Station
Information on Selling a home in College Station
Featured Listings and Active Rain Blog
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Jose’s Mexican Food Restaurant in Bryan, TX
July 31st, 2009 Categories: Community Events, Kids, Family & Personal Stuff
Nothing beats a chain-food lunch or dinner like an original restaurant. A well known local establishment for fine Mexican food is Jose’s on South Texas Avenue in Bryan. Jose’s is known by locals for “good food, good drinks and good fun.” It is named after it’s owner Jose Montemayor, who came from Mexico to live out the American Dream and cook fine Mexican cuisine for the people of the Brazos Valley.
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Cycles Etc. — A Brazos Valley Bike Shop
July 27th, 2009 Categories: Community Events, Kids, Family & Personal Stuff
Located just across University Dr. from the United States Post Office on Texas A&M University Campus in College Station, Texas you will find Cycles Etc. This Locally owned and operated bike shop is walking distance to campus and a place every Texas A&M University Student should know about. It is your one-stop bicycle needs shop.
Robert Rose, owner of Cycles Etc. for the past 11 years, takes pride in his shop and makes certain all clients and customers are well informed and properly equipped in the biking world. He makes certain that when you walk in his door you are greeted instantly with a bicycle specialist who is ready to help you find your next bicycle, or assist you in fixing what you’ve got.
The store offers special fittings, bicycle repairs, bicycle gear, and every accessory imaginable. They have bikes to accommodate all age ranges from infant riders to kids first bicycles and up. Their bicycles range from Trek, Gary Fisher, Raleigh and more! You can find Road, Hybrid, Mountain and Tricycles and choose from their many styles including Texas A&M University, The Discovery Channel and even the University of Texas.
If you purchase a bicycle from Cycles Etc. you will have free tune-up’s for life and receive half off of labor. From the smallest repair like airing up a tire, to the largest repair–if you bike gets a case of the crunchies– the staff at Cycles Etc. will take great care of you. They also have a guarantee that you will have your bicycle back within 24 hours, but this does exclude bicycles that require special orders.
Many customers will agree that Cycles Etc. is one of the best bicycle shops in the Brazos Valley and is conveniently located in College Station, Texas walking distance to Texas A&M University! It is another locally owned and operated business every Aggie should know about!
Questions about Buying or Selling a home? Give me a Call 979-218-2235 or send me an email!
Raylene Lewis
Buying a Home in Bryan-College Station
Selling a Home in Bryan-College Station
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A Great Place for Breakfast and Coffee in College Station
July 20th, 2009 Categories: Kids, Family & Personal Stuff
While you can never go wrong with a sit-down breakfast of bacon, pancakes and eggs, if given the choice on what we are eating for breakfast, my son and daughter will always suggest going to Kolache Rolf’s before anything else. Whether you have time to sit down and enjoy your meal, or if you need to get breakfast on the run, Kolache Rolf’s is always there to provide you with a variety of breakfast choices.
The store is owned and operated by Rolf and Melissa Larson. When Rolf was a child, he purchased a pig at a county fair and then raised him as a loving pet. Rolf fed the pig old Kolaches, rode around on his back and had the pig following him on a leash. Rolf learned responsibility through caring for the pig and the pig and boy developed a strong friendship. As a result, his dad named the pig “Kolache Rolf” and that is where the store got it’s name.
The Lawsons’ have three store locations: on Longmire–in the Kroger shopping center in South College Station, on Texas Avenue–next to Copy Corner, and in the Tejas Center in Bryan–next to the HEB. Our favorite breakfast items are: the Sausage and Cheese Kolaches, the Bacon Egg and Cheese Bubba Buns, the Cream Cheese Kolaches and the Cinnamon Rolls. But keep in mind, there is a huge selection of Breakfast items a well as traditional & fruit kolaches and cinnamon baked goods. Kolache Rolfs is a fabulous College Station owned and operated business that should be taste-tested by all!
Questions about College Station? Thinking of Buying or Selling Your Home? — Give me a call 979-218-2235 or send me an email!
Selling Your Home In College Station
Buying A Home in College Station
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Congratulations to the College Station Speed Demons!
August 28th, 2008 Categories: 1, Community Events, Kids, Family & Personal Stuff
The Brazos Valley Speed Demons, a local soccer team that is part of the Brazos Valley Futbol Club, recently triumphed in their tournament against the Houston teams. The Boys played 2 hours away and the support and enthusiasms that accompanied the team was wonderful and definitely contributed to the win. The Speed Demons played 4 games to clench the tournament; with the first two games played in the pouring rain.
The first game was won 7-1 with the score being 7-0 in the second game and 6-0 in the third. All the players worked really hard and played as a team. When it was time to face the last team for the Championship, the opposing team was very aggressive. There was a lot of pushing and shoving, and the Speed Demons stepped up to the plate, played very hard, and fought fire with fire against the other team’s aggressive play. The championship game was a hard win with the final score being 3 to 2.
Congratulations Speed Demons! We Are All Very Proud of You!!! A Big Thanks to All The Parents for Their Support!!! And a BIG GOOD LUCK to The Speed Demons as they head off for the Labor Day weekend tournament.
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Tow Mater Sighting Near College Station
August 27th, 2008 Categories: 1, Kids, Family & Personal Stuff
My family and I were driving around East Texas looking for land this weekend, about an hour outside of College Station, when we passed by the office building of a company that tows cars. My four year old immediately started yelling “Mommy! Mommy, Look! It’s Tow Mater!” Tow Mater is a character from the Disney Pixar film “Cars.” My husband did a loop around and we pulled over to take these pictures. Pretty creative, I thought, It looks just like him!
Kyler was concerned since Mater would not talk to him, but I told him that he was busy guarding all the cars in the wrecking yard. While we were there, 3 cars pulled up behind us to take pictures too. No matter what you are doing, try to not be so busy getting from one place to another that you miss appreciating the things around you.
I have really enjoyed looking for Ranch land with my family, just because of all the great quality time we have been able to spend together. We are making some great memories and discovering all sorts of fun places, just a stone’s throw away from home!
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Selling Your College Station Home: The Importance of a First Impression – The Exterior –
August 20th, 2008 Categories: Selling Real Estate
When you are ready to sell your Bryan, College Station home, and it is time to place your property on the market, the goal will be to achieve the best possible sales price and sell your property in the time-frame that best meets your needs. We are often told when meeting other people for the first time, that the first impression is the most important. This same philosophy is true with houses as well.
Nothing is more important than the first impression a Buyer will receive when they take their first look at a home. As a Seller, there are two opportunities to provide a buyer with a first impression. The first opportunity is when the Buyer views photos are advertising the home on the Internet. The second is when the Buyer sees home for the first time.
There are several things you can do make sure your property will provide Buyers with a successful first impression. It is a good idea to start with the exterior front of the home. After all, that is the very first thing every prospective buyer will see. Below is a check list to help you get the exterior of your home ready to be placed Read the rest of this entry »
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Update on the Pond: What Killed the Fish in In South College Station
August 19th, 2008 Categories: Kids, Family & Personal Stuff, Woodcreek
I walked out behind my home in College Station this Sunday to find over 100 Buzzards behind my back yard with over 120 dead fish floating in the pond behind my house or scattered along the bank. See Blog All of the Fish in the pond Appear to Have Died Overnight! What the? And a big thank you to the Home Owner’s Association for cleaning up the mess so quickly!
The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has concluded that the fish in the pond all died due to lack of oxygen. This is also sometimes referred to as the pond “turning over.” My understanding is that this occured because: we had a long period with no rain, then lots of rain at once, with not a lot of natural vegetation in the pond, and a fountain that had recently broken. Apparently, once the amount of oxygen decreases to a certain level in a tank, it will kill the fish overnight. Now we have tons of algae in the tank and the whole thing looks nasty and green.
This brings me to my latest problem. Read the rest of this entry »
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