It’s the beginning of the month, and just wanted to remind everyone on ways to keep track of the local schedule in Amarillo, and other areas.

First, Amarillo Globe News has a little calendar story on their Local News page.  This lists events for the next few days, along with a link on how to put your upcoming event up in the paper!

A new site I was just told about – www.HelloAmarillo.com.  It covers a lot more than just current events, like local attractions, white and yellow pages, and a lot more!

Of course, Amarillo Civic Center – which hosts many of the bigger events in town – is always a great place to keep tabs on what’s coming in.

For those local movie buffs out there, Fandango.com not only shows you the current movie schedules on most of the local theaters, but it also lets you buy tickets!  Very nice!

What are you favorite ways to keep up with events in your town?  Feel free to comment!

This information is presented by:

Connie Taylor
Keller Williams
ConnieTaylor@KW.com
www.SoldByConnieTaylor.com

Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.

Here are some easy, yet smaller projects that can increase a home’s appeal in a time of high energy costs and an extraordinary focus on being green. Of course make sure you market the home with these positive, new features.

• Replace regular light bulbs in permanent fixtures with compact fluorescent light bulbs
• Install low-flow showerheads
• Install an ENERGY STAR qualified, programmable thermostat
• Close the damper on the fireplace.
• Add insulation to an attic.
• Seal basement rim joists. This is along the top of the basement wall where the cement or block comes in contact with the wood frame.
• Insulate water heater tanks for energy savings.
• Repair water leaks in tubs, showers and sinks.

Savvy buyers will ask what utility costs are or to see actual bills, especially in older homes, and be impressed at measures taken to reduce those costs.

For more ideas on buying or selling a home check out:

Connie Taylor
Keller Williams
ConnieTaylor@KW.com
www.SoldByConnieTaylor.com

Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.

One of my magazines that I find worth it to make time to read just came out with some very yummy Greek dishes, which could provide a nice addition to anyone’s cook book. Below, I’ve included two of them.

Saganaki (Flaming Greek Cheese)

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Cook Time: 5 Minutes
Servings: 6

1 pound soft Kasseri cheese (may substitute mozzarella)
3 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons brandy
juice of ½ lemon
baguette, sliced

Cut cheese into 6 wedges and arrange in star shape in shallow heatproof serving dish. Brush with melted butter. Broil on high 4 to 6 inches from heat until cheese bubbles, 5 or 6 minutes. Remove from oven. Pour brandy over cheese and ignite immediately in front of guests. Extinguish by sprinkling with lemon juice. Serve with sliced baguette.

Horiatiki (Greek Salad)

Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Servings: 6

4 large tomatoes, cut into wedges
½ large cucumber, cut into half moons
½ red onion, sliced into rings
24 kalamata olives
6 ounces feta cheese, cut into small cubes
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Place all vegetables and cheese in a large salad bowl. Make dressing by adding remaining ingredients to a lidded container. Place lid on container and shake to combine. Pour dressing over salad and toss gently. Garnish with freshly ground black pepper. Serve immediately.

This information is presented by:

Connie Taylor
Keller Williams
ConnieTaylor@KW.com
www.SoldByConnieTaylor.com

Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.

With all the uncertainty in the national housing market, some buyers are still hesitant to purchase a home.

While the reaction may be understandable, it’s not necessarily recommended in the Amarillo, TX area market.

Sitting on the sidelines and waiting for prices to fall is not necessarily a wise decision. If you’ve got good credit, a plan to stay in the new home for a few years and your dream house in your sights, go for it!

If you’re renting right now, there’s a really good chance your mortgage won’t be much more than your rent.  If you choose to rent you will not receive a tax break, and if you stay a few years, you’ll see your home start to appreciate as well.

A home mortgage is one of the very best uses of credit.  Interest rates remain at low levels, which means lower monthly mortgage payments. As rates drop, those who qualify will find it even less expensive to buy the home of their dreams. Lock in a low rate today and you’ll reap the benefits of living the American dream of being a homeowner.

Find your next dream home at:

Connie Taylor

Keller Williams

ConnieTaylor@KW.com

www.SoldByConnieTaylor.com

Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.

1 Improper pricing
2 Not Providing Easy Access
3 Bad Housekeeping
4 Failure to Make Repairs
5 Poor Showing Techniques
6 Relying on Traditional Methods
7 Making Emotional Decisions
8 Not Understanding the Market
9 Unqualified Prospects
10 Choosing the Wrong Agent

 ________________________________________

When conversing with real estate agents, you will often find that when they talk to you about buying real estate, they will refer to your purchase as a “home.” Yet if you are selling property, they will often refer to it as a “house.” There is a reason for this. Buying real estate is often an emotional decision, but when selling real estate you need to remove emotion from the equation.

You need to think of your house as a marketable commodity. Property. Real estate. Your goal is to get others to see it as their potential home, not yours. If you do not consciously make this decision, you can inadvertently create a situation where it takes longer to sell your property.

The first step in getting your home ready to sell is to not make the top 10 mistakes other people have made.

This information is presented by:
Connie Taylor
Keller Williams
ConnieTaylor@KW.com
www.SoldByConnieTaylor.com
Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.

Here I venture back into the wild world of green posting!

This time, I’m talking about www.EnergyStar.gov, our lovely blue star logo that tells us that we’re saving energy AND money when we make purchases!

However, as I discovered as I explored the site for this post, there’s a lot MORE out there than just the logo when it comes to what this website of Energy Star’s does.  Their site shows you what rebates are available in your area, give you a simple form to do something of a self-energy audit (Along with ways to contact a professional), and even helps you find an energy efficient builder in your state!  And that’s just with a few clicks of exploration!

There’s a lot more to be had on this website, a definite site to keep in mind as you or your clients seek out ways to save cash!

This information is presented by:

Connie Taylor

Keller Williams

ConnieTaylor@KW.com

www.SoldByConnieTaylor.com

Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.

In this busy world, it’s sometimes hard to keep track of all the events going on our own home towns.  Well, for Amarillo, I’ve found several helpful websites to help keep me up to date.

First, Amarillo Globe News has a little calendar story on their Local News page.  This list events for the next few days, along with a link on how to put your upcoming event up in the paper!

Another helpful site is Eventful.com, though they tend to have a lot of ‘TBA’ events that are spelled out in the notes.  This site also has lots of musicians that come through town that hit only restaurants/bars, so you might find a new up and coming artist that perks your interest!  Eventful.com works for many other areas as well.

Of course, Amarillo Civic Center – which hosts many of the bigger events in town – is always a great place to keep tabs on what’s coming in.

One last site (but certainly not the last one out there) is When.com has a wide showing of different types of events in the Amarillo (or other) areas.

What are you favorite ways to keep up with events in your town?  Feel free to comment!

This information is presented by:

Connie Taylor

Keller Williams

ConnieTaylor@KW.com

www.SoldByConnieTaylor.com

Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.

Going green is a force that’s coming on stronger and stronger.  More and more people want to take green alternatives where they can, because it IS our planet.  It’d be nice for it to be around for a few years, right?

I’m going to start showcasing different websites that can help guide you to a more green way of living.  First, we’re going to start off with the US Department of Energy website: http://www.energy.gov/.  Right on the home page, they have ‘Energy Saving Tips’ with easy and inexpensive ways to watch your energy consumption and thereby become more green – I love it when two birds are in line with one stone, don’t you?

From there, you can explore the site for more energy saving tricks for your home and cars, what tax breaks you can get, and what more technology is on the horizon.  There’s also SO much more on the DoE’s website, so check it out!

Tags: amarillo texas, amarillo real estate, texas real estate, commercial real estate, green tips, going green, go green, green building

This information is presented by:

Connie Taylor

Keller Williams

ConnieTaylor@KW.com

www.SoldByConnieTaylor.com

Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.

Think I’m just saying that because this is where I live and work?  Well of course!  But I ALSO have some national backing on my statement.  This week, Amarillo Globe News talked about how Florida based Housing Predictor (an online real estate research company) said that Amarillo will have the highest predicted appreciation of the nation at 2.1%.

 That’s not a lot, of course, but on this top 25 list, only FOUR markets total are in the positive!  Most are deprecating – the lowest in the top 25 at -4.8% ‘appreciation’.  The chart from Housing Predictor is down below.

On a slightly different tack, USA Today earlier in the week talked about Amarillo’s real estate market as well.  Amarillo has been able to survive the recession with just ‘flesh wounds’ as Tracy Howland of the Amarillo Association of Realtors termed it.  We currently have the states lowest unemployment rate.

Our first quarter was rather tight, but with summer here now, we’ve been able to pick up – June ’09 beating June ’08 in sells by 4%, and July is looking to be another positive month.  That’s GREAT, considering that the first six months had an 18% drop from ’08.

Of course, our luxury market is sluggish, like the rest of the country, but as long as we can stay the course and not have our house values dip down too far, Amarillo will hopefully remain in the top real estate markets!

List provided by www.HousingPredictor.com

This information is presented by:

Connie Taylor

Keller Williams

ConnieTaylor@KW.com

www.SoldByConnieTaylor.com

Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.

Buyer Research List

In this market with more homes than buyers, it can be easy to blur one house into the next.  As I was looking over www.Amarillo.com ‘s Real Estate section, I came across a great list to jot down important facts about each house, so buyers can remember what gems they found in their search.  I’ve modified the flow of it slightly from the original.

This is a great help when someone looks at 50 houses in three days, for they all start to seem the same then!  Print off copies for each house you’re looking at if your realtor doesn’t offer you anything.  Once you’re done looking for the day, offer them to your realtor if they didn’t take any notes, to help them find your dream home.

Originally from: http://homes.amarillo.com/realestate?tp=homes.amarillo.com&classification=mdRealEstate&temp_type=misc&tl=3&doc=house_check_list

General questions:
House address and impressions:

Style of house:_______________________________________________________

Bedrooms: ___________   Bathrooms: __________   Square Footage: __________

Garage Size: _________   Lot Size: ____________  Property tax rate: ___________
Ample storage space?

Neighborhood:
Attractive?

Shops nearby:
Grocery store?

Schools:
Elementary:

Other facilities:
Hospital?

How close is house to your work?

Utilities bills:
Electric/Gas:

Other comments:

This information is presented by:

Connie Taylor

Keller Williams

ConnieTaylor@KW.com

www.SoldByConnieTaylor.com

Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.