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

More Articles on Home Buying

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

More Articles on Home Buying

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

More Articles on Home Buying

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

Articles on Home Buying and Selling

A home owner must usually stay in their home for a minimum of 3 years to recoup their expenses and break even when they go to sell their home. A tenant has the advantage of being able to move whenever their lease ends without having to sell their current property and pay closing costs. The cost of selling your home can result in a loss of a substantial amount of money if a home buyer moves after only a year or two of occupancy.

If you don’t know if you are going to be in one area for a long period of time, leasing eliminates this risk. When homes are depreciating in value, it can be better to lease a property than to buy one.

However, when you rent a property you lose the chance to build equity where you live. This means that when you pay your monthly payment, each month, when you finally move, you have no way of ever getting that money back. Renting also means you may be subject to rent increases if you plan on staying at a place for an extended period of time.

In College Station, renting a home can place you in an area that is noisy or primarily made up of college students which can be bothersome to some families. Lastly, as a tenant may not be able to make any improvements, decorations, or modifications to the property without the permission of the landlord, and if improvements are made, it is money spent to the benefit of the landlord without reimbursement to the tenant.

When you purchase a property and become a home owner, you now have the ability to build equity in your home. This means that when you make a mortgage payment, a portion of that amount becomes an investment, so that when you sell your property, you will get the money back. Owning a home also means you can qualify for tax breaks that lower your out of pocket expenses.

Your property taxes and interest on your loan are examples of tax deductible expenses that come with home ownership. A home owner is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of their property, but they also have the right to modify and upgrade the property any way they choose to make it their own. It is also a great way to establish yourself as part of a community and meet neighbors that will become friends for a lifetime.

Happy Renting or Buying!

www.buyincollegestation.com

More Articles On Home Buying and Selling

Your home will likely be the most expensive thing you will ever buy, and you want to make sure you find a place that fits your family’s needs, has a good chance of appreciation in value, and does not place you in a stressful situation that you can not afford.

To help you determine if you are ready to buy a home, my first suggestion is to ask yourself a couple of questions:

• Is your source of income steady and reliable?
• Have you been employed for the last 2 years?
• Have you been keeping up with paying your current bills on time?
• Do you have at most only 2 or 3 long-term debts? (student loans or car payment)
• Do you have money in the bank to pay towards a home mortgage and closing costs?
• Can you afford the additional costs that home ownership brings? (maintenance, utilities, insurance, taxes, etc.)

When you think you are ready, the first place to start is to find out how much of a monthly mortgage payment you can afford.  It is best to find out what you can afford before you start looking at homes. This way you know you are in the right price range and not wasting your time looking at something you can’t have.  This also means that you haven’t missed out on something that was with in your budget and perfect for you!

To accomplish this goal, you will need to visit with a lender. This does not have to be the person you will end up using to complete your home loan, (you will shop around for that later).  You just need a lender to pull your credit score (once) and consider your debt-to-income ratio. 

Your Debt-to-Income ratio is a comparison of your pre-tax income to housing and non-housing expenses.  Examples of Non-Housing expenses are things that are long-term debts, like child support, a car payment, a large credit card bill, or student loans.  The lender will also look at the cash amount that you have available to place towards a home, what your purchasing expenses (closing costs for buying the home) will be and your past credit history.

The loan amount you are approved for does not always determine what price range you will be buying in, but it is a good place to start.  Sometimes the lender will approve you for more than you feel comfortable, so you really need to pay attention to what your total expenses will be every month (your monthly payment) with that loan amount.

Typically, a good rule of thumb is that your monthly mortgage payment should be no more than 31% of your gross income and your mortgage payment combined with your non-housing expenses should be no more than 43% of your total income. 

In Bryan College Station, a good way to ball-park estimate what your monthly payment would be based on the price of the home, is to assume it is around 1%. For example, when you are considering a home that is $150,000 you can roughly estimate your monthly payment to be around $1,500 a month with taxes and insurance on a 30 year loan.  Beware of online mortgage calculators that tell you what you can afford, as most do not consider taxes and insurance.  

Happy Buying!

Articles on Home Buying, Raylene Lewis, Realtor

www.professionalhousehunters.com