Steve Castaneda's Blog: Consumer Articles

If you are thinking about buying a home, purchasing a townhome or condominium (condo for short) may have crossed your mind.  There are certain features that will separate these two types of properties that are commonly confused between one another.

Townhomes

When owning a townhome, you will usually be responsible for your yard that is usually fenced in in a small patio area.  These types of properties also will share one or two walls depending on location, and will usually not have neighbors above you.

You are responsible for getting insurance on a townhome like a traditional home, however there are some homeowner's associations (HOA) that will take care of a roof replacement should the need ever arise.  Townhomes have been known to be accompanied… Read Full Post

When buying a home, you've probably gotten advice from relatives and friends about ways to save money.  One of these ways is filing exemptions on your property after you obtain ownership.

There are various types of exemptions in the Houston real estate market, such as the general residential, age over 65,  disability and over 65 surviving spouse.  However the most widely used exemption is the general residential exemption, also known as the Homestead exemption.

Don't get confused; the homestead exemption and claiming homestead on your property are two different things.  When you claim homestead on your property, you are claiming to your local taxing authority that this is your primary residence and it cannot be taken from you nor can it be forced to… Read Full Post

What exactly is a patio home?  According to this article at About.com:

Patio homes in Arizona were traditionally 1-story homes that shared at least one side wall and had a back patio but not necessarily a backyard.

Patio homes are usually built with 2, 3 or 4 homes in each building instead of the continuous row of homes common with townhouses.The Houston real estate market has it's fair share of patio homes, and during the initial stages of our buyer consultations, we ask if this is a criteria for our client's next home.  More times than not, our client really isn't certain to the true definition of a patio home.

In the future, remember that any home built with a common wall and sharing a common area is most likely a patio home.  You may also be… Read Full Post

Written by Steve Castaneda, Realtor - The MyHomeHouston Team

Houston is the 4th largest city in the United States. Since Houston is so large, I've comprised the following tips to make sure that your visit to Houston is comfortable and pleasant. If you are looking to visit Houston in the near future, you definitely owe it to yourself to plan carefully prior to scheduling your trip.

Major Airports of Houston

There are two main airports you will be glad to familiarize yourself with when planning your flight to Houston. The George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is located 23 miles North of downtown and serves well over 40 million passengers a year. This major airport is located in the North part of Houston, so if your stay will involve…

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After finding that perfect home for you and your family, undoubtedly you will have to seek to acquire a homeowner's insurance policy on your home. Just like any other financed asset, your lender will require you to have insurance on your home to protect their investment. Getting insurance on your home is usually a simple task; one must contact their local insurance agent and request a formal quote. However, what happens if your home is situated in a floodplain? Did you know that your lender may require you to get flood insurance on your home, even if this home wasn't in the floodplain 5 years ago?

What Are Floodplains?

Floodplains are established by determining the areas that flood when creeks, bayous, and river waters exceed their banks. In most…

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One of the most stable investments anyone can make is in residential real estate. Investing can be your chosen path to that nest egg you've always wanted to have for your family to retire on, or it can be a side hobby for extra income when you need it. Whatever the purpose, real estate investing is one of the best shelters for your capital should you choose to start making strategic moves to increasing your net worth.

Make Your Money Going In

If you've read many of the books currently available on real estate investing, you'll hear that a sound approach when constructing your offer on a piece of offer is to make your money going in. I agree with this approach, and would also like to add that this is the most vital concept for you to grasp as a real…

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Have you ever contemplated purchasing a home without stepping foot through the front door? Your first assumption may be that this is a irresponsible strategy to take with investing in real estate. You may be interested to learn that many investors in the Houston real estate market are taking this very approach; and succeeding.

Investors Only

I would never advise for anyone looking to purchase a home as their homestead to attempt this technique. This strategy should be only for investors that are serious about investing in residential real estate. My definition of a true investor is someone who has 20% down to put down on their next investment property, and fully pre-approved with a mortgage loan.

How It Works

It is first adviseable to have a…

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Selling a piece of real estate can be a very eye-opening experience for most homeowners; you begin to get non-emotional feedback about the pros and cons of your home from prospective buyers. You are putting an asset to your family for the public to see, and in doing so, are exposing visitors to your personal lifestyle. Since most homeowners are not home during home showing tours, prospective buyers are left to speculate and assume details about the maintenance and condition of your home that may or may not be true. In my experience, there are five key items to ensure these initial impressions are as positive as possible. It is important to visit these items during the initial preparation before putting your home on the market.

Show 12 Inches of…

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