Have you decided to move to College Station, Texas but are unsure of what neighborhood you want? Do you want to live in a subdivision that is nice, highly sought after, and has great parks and schools in close proximity? If so, Pebble Creek might be the perfect fit for you. Located in South College Station, Pebble Creek is a 1,348 acre master planned community with Country Club.

The Development of Pebble Creek features many desirable attributes that make it a top notch subdivision many home buyers are looking for. Prices for the homes in Pebble Creek start around $250,000.00, but the average home in the neighborhood is between $350,ooo.00 – $450,000.00.  The subdivision is highly deed restricted to help ensure that the homes provide a clean and pretty exterior appearance and to make sure Pebble Creek stays subdivision that retains its value.   There are also minimum   requirements — usually starting with at least 2500 sqft.

  The HOA (Home Owner’s Association) in Pebble Creek is very active and excels at taking care of the community areas at a reasonable price.  They also make sure every home owner is following the deed restrictions that come with living in a golf-course community. Their objective is to provide the highest quality of life for the families that live in the subdivision.

Two of my favorite things about Pebble Creek are the well maintained park and highly recognized Elementary school — both of which are located in the subdivision.  Pebble Creek is also known for its pool, 7 well-lit tennis courts and of course 18 hole championship golf course.  The pool is open from Mid May through labor day, has a lifeguard and wadding area for little ones.

If you are interested in learning more about the Pebble Creek subdivision in College Station, just give me a call! 979-218-2235

Raylene Lewis — College Station Expert and Professional Real Estate Agent!

www.buyincollegestation.com

979-218-2235

There is currently a growing trend today of people looking for a house in College Station, TX  because our town does not have the high traffic or huge crime rate that other big cities have. Life here is just a lot less chaotic!

What is the first step when buying a College Station house?  If you want to start on your own, and you are not quite ready for talking to a lender or Century 21 Realtor just yet, there are stands outside of many local convenience and grocery stores that contain “Homes Magazines,” these give you a list of homes for sale in the area; and are a great way to get a feel for the market.  Reviewing the homes will give you a good idea of what you can expect to get for your dollar. 

When you are ready, you should find a Century 21 Realtor that understands your goals and is someone you can trust.  A good Century 21 Realtor will be able to show you any home for sale listed with any company.  Many people start their search for a home or agent by looking on the Internet. 

The internet provides you the most up to date data on homes for sale as well as personality, credentials and ratings of local licensed  Century 21 Real Estate professionals. 

Once you have chosen a real estate agent; discuss  with them specifically what type of home you are looking for.  Here is a list of very helpful questions that can direct you to finding your dream home:

1.       Will my family grow larger?

2.       What needs does my family have for the home?

3.       Of what value are the school districts in the area?

4.       What size of yard or land will fit your needs?

5.       Will you have livestock or several small animals on your land?

6.       How close do you need to be to your place of business, schools, or city?

7.       Would you prefer a property that needs work or is move in ready?

8.       Are you going to live in the home or use it as an investment property?

9.       Is this going to be your primary residence…and if so, for how long?

10.   What is of most value about the way of life you aim to achieve?

11.   What is within your budget?  How much has you mortgage lender agreed to lend to you?

12.  What items are most important to you when looking for your new home?

When you are ready to submit an offer, your Realtor® is the go between with you and the seller.  The duties of the agent will be to negotiate any and all terms of the contract including but not limited to, the down payment, price, closing date, contingencies, and whatever else needs to be accomplished to bring the deal to a fulfilling finale.

 Be sure to elect a Realtor® who will educate you on what to look for, be your ambassador, and will work hard to find the residence that meets your distinctive desires.

Good Luck and Happy House Hunting!

Raylene Lewis — College Station Expert and Century 21 Professional Realtor

979-218-2235

www.buyincollegestation.com

College Station’s water is ground water from deep wells in Simsboro Sand about 3,000 feet down.  The water is pumped from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer.

Is the water hot or cold when it comes up? Would you believe that the temperature for the water is 118 degrees Fahrenheit? The cooling towers at the Sandy Point Pump Station help reduce the temperature down to 85 degrees.

From the Sandy Point Pump Station the water travels about 13 miles to the Dowling Road Pump Station. At this Pump Station chlorine is added to disinfect and have fluoride added. The storage tanks at Dowling Road hold about 8 million gallons of water for College Station residents!

After the chlorine is added and the water is disinfected it goes to the to one of the 2 elevated storage tanks. These tanks provide us with the water pressure we want and need and for extra water in case of a fire.

Now you know where your drinking water came from.

Inquiring Minds Want to Know…

Have you ever been driving around a Bryan or College Station neighborhood and wanted to know how much a house is selling for but you didn’t want to “bother” the agent or they weren’t there when you called?

WE HAVE THE ANSWER!!!   

Call 979-764-2121 and enter the street number and you can HEAR information about that house.  ANY PHONE – ANY TIME!

If a Bryan College Station home is available for sale in the MLS YOU CAN HEAR IT!  It doesn’t matter if Century 21 has it listed for sale or Coldwell Banker or Remax or ANYONE!

Questions? Ideas?

Call me! 

Susan Hilton

979-764-2100

Susan Hilton – Realtor & Sales Trainer for Century 21 Beal

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

View Susan Hilton’s profile

Typically, “extras” are added features or upgrades to a property. Extras can also be things that are on your “Buyer’s Wish List.”  You should ask your Realtor to help you keep track of the extras and point out the upgrades in each property as you are viewing the home. 

It is also important to ask your Realtor to help you identify potential problems and maintenance issues. Although your Realtor is NOT an inspector and can not advise you on what is wrong with the property, they can point out the current appearance of things that will require ongoing maintenance; for example: paint, appliances, windows and carpet. 

If you are a very detailed and organized person, it can be helpful to make a list of questions you have about a property ahead of time to help you keep your information and your thoughts organized.

Here is a list of additional things to consider:

• Does this home have the amount of space you are looking for and need? (Both for now and in the next 3 or so years)
• Are there enough bedrooms and bathrooms to suit your family’s needs?
• Does the home appear to be structurally sound?
• Are there immediate upkeep and /or repairs that need to be done?
• Does the Floor Plan fit your lifestyle?
• Is the yard the appropriate size?
• Will the furniture you currently have fit in the space that this property offers? 
• Is there enough storage space? (Always pay attention to the number of closets and storage cabinets.)
• Is there anything that the Seller is currently offering to repair or replace?
• Does the property appear to be situated on the lot in a way that water is designed to run around and away from the home? (vs. in the garage or towards the back patio) Is the grading and drainage on and around the home adequate?
• What exterior maintenance will be required on this home?
• Does the home have a sprinkler system and how much landscaping has been done?
• Is the home wired for or does the home have a security system?
• What upgrades have been added to this home?
• How well does it appear the home has been taken care of?

Your Realtor should also be able to provide you with a Seller’s Disclosure of the home you are interested in.  The Sellers Disclosure is the document that the Seller fills out that states what the seller”knows of” that is wrong with the property.  This will help you to identify if something needs to be replaced and provide good insight to the amount of existing life the major things like HV/AC Unit, Hot Water Heater, and Roof have left.    

Your Realtor should also point out the pros and cons of each home you view from a professional standpoint.  As a Housing professional, your Realtor’s responses should be clear and complete.  Remember, it never hurts to ask questions, so continue to ask until you have a clear understanding of all the information you are given, and never hesitate to view a property multiple times.

Happy Home Buying!

www.buyincollegestation.com

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www.professionalhousehunters.com

• School Locations and National Rankings
• Access to Shopping and Public Transportation
• Average Lot size for the area
• Deed Restrictions
• Proximity to Other Homes
• Proximity to Parks
• Noise of the Train
• Noise of the Highway
• Children in the Area vs Students in the Area
• Open Lots vs. Homes with large Established Trees
• Amount of New Construction in the Area
• Amenities the Subdivision Offers
• Safety of the Area

When you find neighborhoods that you like, it is important to talk to the people that live in that neighborhood. Homeowners are excellent sources if information. They typically know the most about the area, and it is always a good idea to get to know your future neighbors. Researching the neighborhoods of homes you are looking at will insure that you find a location you feel comfortable in.

Happy Buying!

www.buyincollegestation.com

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It is important to pick an agent who you feel comfortable with and whose judgement you trust.  A good Realtor will know our local area and the Bryan College Station market well, and they will have all the resources you need to aid you in your search and make sure you find the property that is right for you. 

You want someone who will make sure you see all the homes for sale that meet your search criteria; regardless of what company they are listed with.  The home buying process should be enjoyable and fun. If you have a good Realtor, you will feel confident that you are being well cared for and well informed. This will greatly reduce the amount of stress that comes with buying a home and ensure you are making the decision that is right for you and your family.

You will also want a Realtor who is hard working and someone one you know you can reach for questions and assistance at a moments notice.   After all, if you find a home you are interested in, you will want to see it right away, while it is still available.

A good Realtor will also be able to tell you the pros and cons of each subdivision and provide you information on aminities and features that surround the general neighborhood. They should also be able to compare features and upgrades in homes you have seen and, when you are viewing a home, let you know exactly what you are looking at. This includes letting you know about the type and quality of fixtures, appliances, exterior construction, etc.

 There are many things you would not notice when you take your first look at a home. It is the job of the Realtor to point these things out.  For example:

• Does all the hardware in the home match?
• Are the appliances a good quality?
• Is their trim around all the windows?
• What is different about this homes features compared to the others we have seen?
• Is there any repair work that looks like in needs to be done right away? 

 A good Real Estate Professional will also have a list of trusted contacts who can assist you with the home inspection, lending process, closing process and everything in between.  They will also be able to continue to help you when you need it after the closing. You should ask about the Realtor’s Follow Up Program after the sale.

It is not uncommon for Home Buyers to visit with several different Realtors. The most important thing is to work with an agent who makes you feel comfortable and has the knowledge to provide you with the services you will need.

Happy Home Buying!

www.buyincollegestation.com

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The first step is to obtain loan pre-approval so that you know what price range to be looking in. For the next step, I recommend making 2 lists. The first list should contain your priorities: the features you consider to be requirements of your next home or in other words,  your must-haves. Examples of this list may include:

• A Specific School District
• A Certain Location
• Size of Home
• Number of Bedrooms and Baths
• Garage (amount of space 1,2, or 3+)
• Interior or Garage Washer/Dryer Connections
• Other Rooms (gameroom, study, workshop)  
• Lot size and type (trees, proximity to other homes, amount of privacy)
• Amenities (what features must be in the home for you to consider it a possibility)

The second list should be more of a “wish list.” This is a list of items that you would like to see in your next home, but these things are not essential to make the home a possibility for your purchase. Some examples may be:

• His and Her Sinks
• Vanity Space
• Large Walk-in Closets
• Separate Tub/Shower in the Master
• Island in the Kitchen
• Stainless Steel Appliances
• Gas Range vs Electric range
• Covered Patio

Everyone’s list is different.  Some of the examples I listed as essentials might not mean that much to you, and some of the items I wrote as a wish might be something you would consider essential for your next home purchase. This is why making the list is so important.

 If you have a list with your priorities clearly established, it will be easier for the Realtor and yourself to organize the homes listed for sale.  This way, there will be no time wasted. You will see the homes that best meet your search criteria first, and you won’t miss out on a home you should have seen. 

Another thing to consider is the floor plan of your home.  You should start thinking about what spaces you will need in your new home and where they should be in relation to one another.  In particular, you should think about if you want a one or two story home, if you are looking for a split-bedroom plan and how open you want your floor plan to be. 

Happy Buying!

www.buyincollegestation.com

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