How Can a Simple Vote Put More Money in Your Pocket?

Looking to buy or sell a home in Central Texas? Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call us at (254) 690-4321 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

In the state of Texas, we are now in early voting and will be voting until October 30. So, we need you to run to the polls and vote YES to Proposition 1!

Proposition 1 will almost double your homestead exemption. It currently at sits at $15,000, but with a YES vote will be doubled to $25,000! That goes right into your pocket book!

If you're a homeowner today, or if you want to become a homeowner in the future, you need to get out and vote on this issue! Even if you're renting, voting YES on Proposition 1 will net more money in your landlord's pocket, and could prevent them from raising your rates as a result!

Texas has one of the highest property taxes in the nation. While this isn't anything to be excited about, it's worth noting that Proposition 1 will effectively stop anyone from ever putting a sales tax on your property. Additionally, it will protect elderly and disabled Texans!

So go out and vote for Proposition 1! Don't stop there - call five people, tell them to vote, and have them call five people as well! We can all work together to prevent high taxes on our property and add more savings in our pocket!

We'll see you at the polls!

Congratulations to Justin Murphy!

Looking to buy or sell a home in Central Texas? Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call us at (254) 690-4321 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

We are proud to announce that one of our client's sons, Justin Murphy, has decided to sign with Texas Tech. Out of Belton High School, he is a 6"7 275-pound Offensive Tackle that never wavered in his commitment to the Red Raiders, even as he was sought after by Central Arkansas, Houston, New Mexico, North Texas, Rice, SMU and Texas State.

As Texas Tech fans ourselves, we couldn't be more happy to announce this achievement to this outstanding young man.

Justin is a sterling example of hard work and dedication, which are two things we prize very highly here at Shine Team Realtors of Central Texas.

We wish you a great week, and want you to feel free to contact us with any inquiries. Call (254) 690-4321 or email Jean@ShineTeam.com

What's happening with the Military Housing Allowance?

Click here to find out what your home is worth or to search all area homes for sale.

Welcome back the The Shine Team's video blog! A couple months ago I got a call asking whether the military housing allowance was being lowered. I hadn't heard anything, but it scared me a bit because in the 90s there was a bill proposed that lowered the housing allowance.

Well, we got on the phone and talked to senators and congressmen and we got it stopped! When I got that call, the same process happened again and I have some great news. The military housing allowance is not being lowered, in fact, it has actually gone up.

Military Allowance Increases in Fort Hood

O6 - $56
O5 - $57
O4 - $69
O3 - $100

E9 - $84
E8 - $92
E7 - $141
E6 - $168
E4 - $150

That's great news! Recent reports also show we have 41,800 soldiers and airmen. About 75% of families live off post and there are 5,450 civilian employees.

This is all great news for Fort Hood. What about the real estate market? Interest rates are still incredibly low at 4.5% and it is a great time to invest. Please give me a call at 254.690.4321 and if you have any questions that we could feature on our video blog, email me at Jean@ShineTeam.com

What to Look for in a Roofing Contractor

Welcome back! Today I have Royse Cockrell from Quality Real Estate Inspections with us. We often take our roof for granted, but when a storm comes or it just needs some repairs, who do you call? Royse is going to give us some tips on how to find a quality roofer.

One of the first things you need to do is find out if they are reputable. In times of storms, often roofers come out of the woodwork; it's important that you protect yourself.

Check out their website. Verify if they have a permanent address. Also, ask if they have any references, that way you can find out from others the quality of work, whether they completed the project on time or overcharged. You can also find out a lot about the company through the Better Business Bureau.

Another important factor to check is whether they are insured. If damages happen to your home while they are working on it, who is going to pay for it?

If you have any questions you can call either one of us! Thanks for watching!

How to Check Your Roof and Gutters

Welcome back to our video blog. Today I am excited to have Royse Cockrell from Quality Real Estate Inspection Services with us. I asked Royse to join us so that he could give us a few tips on how to check your roof and gutter for damages.

What is the first step in inspecting your roof?

One of the most important things to keep in mind is your safety. You need a good ladder. A lot of people like to use the step ladders, but what I recommend is an extension ladder. Make sure the ladder goes above the gutters by about 2-3 feet. Then make sure the ladder is locked. I also recommend wearing gloves to protect your hands.

What should you look for once you are on the roof?

Once you're on the roof, look for damaged shingles. Often high winds can cause shingles to raise up or be completely torn off.

It's also important to check for the wearing of granules; granules are what help protect your roof from sun damage. You can often check in the gutter to see.

If you have any questions about your roof, please give us a call at 254.226.9246

Thanks for watching!

Air Conditioning Systems - Chris Coffee from Texstar Inspections

Welcome back to our video blog. Today we have Chris Coffee from Texstar Inspections with us again. We wanted to talk about how to keep your air conditioning system in tip-top shape.

Did you know that on average 10 percent of your income is spent on utilities a year? That's a a lot of money; so it's important to make sure your air conditioner is running as effectively as possible. Here are three ways to keep your bills lower.

1. Get it serviced - When is the last time you had your system checked?
2. Change the air filter - You should change the air filter every 30 days. This helps prevent coils from getting dirty and restricting the flow of air. The harder it has to work, the more money it costs you.
3. Clean your condensate drain - Take some warm, diluted bleach water and funnel it into the tube. This prevents algae from building up and causing water leakage inside your home.

These three simple tips can help save you lots of money over the year.

I want to thank Chris for being with us today. If you have any more questions for Chris you can give him a call at 254-616-9399 or e-mail him at texstar.inspector@gmail.com. If you would like to know more information about Texstar Inspections you can visit their Facebook page.

If you have any questions, give either The Shine Team or Chris a call. We'd be more than happy to help you out.

Texas Veteran Home Loan

Welcome back to my video blog.

Today, I have with me Cyd West from First Community Mortgage. She is the best lender I’ve worked with in my 35-year career. She’s going to tell us about the Texas Veteran Home Loan and how it can help many of you.

Cyd West

The Texas Veteran Home Loan is available to anyone who has served in the military in the past or is currently active. You must be stationed in the state of Texas and claim Texas as your home residence for tax purposes. You also must register with the state by filling out a short application form.

So, how can the loan help you? The Texas Veteran Home Loan can be combined with any VA, conventional or FHA loan. Most often it is paired with a VA for a no down payment option.

Texas loves its veterans and wants to make living here easy.  There is also a further discount for any veteran that received a service-related injury. In that case, the veteran would receive a half percent discount.

There is a one percent participation fee that is never waived. The VA funding loan is treated the same as a regular VA loan. If you are exempt from VA Loan funding fee then you will be exempt from Texas Veteran funding fee.

The Texas Veteran Loan also does conventional loans, but it does require a 10 percent down payment as well as private mortgage insurance.

I want to thank Jean for having me here today. If you have any questions about the Texas Veteran Home Loan, please give me a call at 254.690.3765 I’d be more than happy to help!

Cyd West Discusses Why It's a Great Time for a Loan in Central Texas

Hello everyone! When you are considering buying a home, you not only want a realtor you can trust, but a mortgage lender, as well. That’s why I have with me today, Cyd West.

Some of you may have worked with Cyd before, but those of you who haven’t, I assure you, she is the best!

Cyd West

Jean and I have a lot of experience working together. Never in my career, have I seen such a wonderful time for buyers. With low prices, low interest rates and motivated sellers it’s just a phenomenal time to be in the market.

One of the advantages we have right now in our local market is doing lots of VA Loans. The underwriting process for VA Loans has changed much less than others. You have the option of no down payment, rates are low and the underwriting rules are designed to understand people who move around the country a lot.

Some of our smaller communities in Central Texas also have the option of USDA Financing.

I strongly encourage anyone thinking of buying to do so now! There has been a lot of talk about the recent increasing interest rates. The Federal Reserve recently announced they are stopping quantitative easing after this year. Because of this, the ability to get a mortgage loan is becoming increasingly harder.  While I do not expect rates to skyrocket, they definitely won’t remain this low!

One of the recent changes to underwriting is the Ability to Repay Test.  Many lenders before the housing market crash did not stress so much over your ability to repay as long as you had a good credit score and large enough down payment.

I am proud to say that First National Bank has always abided by the Ability to Repay Test; we want to protect the money from our clients and not just hand it out freely.

I want to thank Jean and everyone from the Shine Team. If you have any questions, please call me at 254.690.3765.

How is the July Housing Market in Central Texas?

Hello from the Shine Team!

We’ve had great sales in May! In fact, this May was higher than both those in 2011 and 2012. The entire market has been moving forward.

What used to be a buyers’ market is now a normal market in our area. Sales have increased across the board, which is great news for sellers in central Texas!

The average-days-on market is 141. Now, keep in mind that is market-wide, meaning it groups together all price ranges and all neighborhoods. That number is dropping! We are expecting a great summer!

Give me a call at 254-690-4321 and the Shine Team can help you buy or sell your home!

5 Things to Do Before You Move In

Watch on your mobile device >>

Moving into a new home can be an extremely exciting time in a person’s life.  However, it can also be incredibly hectic.  There are some things that can be placed on the back burner during the move in process.  With these five easy tips on moving into a new home, you can be sure to have your home as safe and cost efficient as possible.

Spray for Bugs
Right when you get your keys, before you start moving in furniture, have an exterminator come out to your property and spray for bugs. A thorough spray before you move in will save you the hassle of clearing everything out for the exterminator at a later time. Make sure you are the only tenants of your new property and that there are no pesky pests sticking around!

Change the Locks
At closing time, the seller of a house turns over the keys to the new owners.  Many times, though, the previous owner will have given a spare key to a friend or neighbor in case of emergency.  Enlist a locksmith to come to the house and change all of the locks and get new keys made.  This final transition from one owner to the next will give the new homeowner peace of mind. 

Reprogram Your Garage Door Remote
Along with changing the locks of your home, reprograming your garage door remote will ensure the safety of your house.  Depending on the brand of remote, steps in reprograming it may differ, but the process is simple for nearly all brands.  Most remotes have a “Learn” button, which you must hold until the indicator light blinks.  While the indicator light blinks, press the button on your remote.  This should reprogram your garage door opener remote.  If this does not work, contact your remote manufacturer or local hardware store for assistance. 

Change Your Home’s Air Filters
Most air filter manufacturers recommend that you change the HVAC air filters once every month. Due to the increased amount of activity of moving furniture in and out of the house, a larger concentration of dust will collect in the ventilation system.   In order to improve the air quality in your home and increase heating and cooling efficiency, make sure you change your air filters right when you move in.

Install New Batteries in Smoke Alarms
When a person is selling their home, there are many different procedures they must do to ensure that it is ready for sale.  Often times, during the stress of the home selling process, the smoke alarms are forgotten about.  Ensure the safety of your home and family by changing the batteries in the smoke detectors when you move into a new house.  This cheap and quick home improvement has the potential to save your family’s life.