Home » Archive for November, 2010
October Commercial Calendar
ACRP
10/28/2010
ACRP/SIOR Breakfast
7 – 8:30 a.m.
Junior League, 1811 Briar Oaks Lane
Members – No charge • Guests – $35
For more information contact Michelle Martin at michelle@acrp.org
Appraisal Institute
10/19/2010
Appraisal Institute Business Luncheon
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Maggiano’s Restaurant
2019 Post Oak Blvd., Houston, TX 77056
Members: $25, Non-Members: $35
For more information...
Learn to Play the New Media Game Now as There Will Be No Rehearsal Time When the Gun Goes Off
There is almost no gentle way to say it. One of the most challenging realities of today’s real estate industry environment is the fact that brokerages are caught in a squeeze between the pressures being generated by the current economic and marketplace instability and the rapidly transitioning demands and expectations of the emerging new consumer. Beyond the sheer energy required to address these...
New Construction or Remodel? A Look at Your Options
The question of whether to remodel or build a new home probably has been discussed in the quiet of the family tent for as long as workers have built homes. Do you move your tent to greener pastures or stay put, add to or change your tent? Let’s explore the thoughts and steps to consider both in order to help guide your thoughts.
First let’s look at staying put. Your neighborhood generally...
Pura Vida in Costa Rica
Costa Rica’s Southern Zone is ripe for the picking. If you are interested in owning a second home in this stunning area, the time has never been better. You may be surprised to know what a popular destination this is for many American retirees—more than another country in Central America.
The country continues to improve its infrastructure. Just this January, the Costanera (coastal) Highway...
HAR.com Updates
HAR.com iPhone App
The HAR.com iPhone App is now available in the App Store!
REALTORS® and consumers can now download the HAR.com iPhone app from the App Store. Please visit http://www.har.com/mobile for the latest news on all HAR.com supported mobile platforms.
Home Finder Enhancements
We have enhanced the Home Finder on HAR.com by adding several new search criteria to the property search form. Consumers...
Supra Showing Reports are Just a Click Away
HAR is making it easier for MLS subscribers to manage their Supra lockbox inventory and preview lockbox activity reports. With the deployment of the ActiveKEY, information related to which lockboxes have been accessed by which agent is communicated to Supra in near “real time” making this showing information more relevant to listing agents who want to more closely track their showing...
Historic Preservation Ordinance: Important Notice for City of Houston
The Houston City Council recently passed a new Historic Preservation Ordinance after conducting numerous public meetings and gathering input from a variety of stakeholder groups, including HAR. We are pleased that we were able to work with our Council Members to incorporate each of the five recommendations that the HAR Board of Directors submitted to the Council. All of the Council Members worked...
HAR: Then and Now
This is the first in a series of interviews with former leaders of your association. Times have really changed. Or have they?
Q: Take us back to 1958. What was the then-Houston Board of REALTORS® like?
A: I think we had moved to rental office space in a small office building at the corner of Dallas Street and Lamar downtown. It was an expansion of the previous office. The board membership at that...
Health Insurance Reform: Frequently Asked Questions
Q-1: Who will be subject to the new taxes imposed in the health legislation?
A: A new 3.8% tax will apply to the “unearned” income of “High Income” taxpayers. Another 0.9% tax will apply to the “earned” income of many of these same individuals. Both levies are referred to as “Medicare” taxes.
Q-2: Who is a “High Income” Taxpayer?
A: Those whose tax filing status is “single”...
September Home Sales in Houston Remain Soft While Pricing Continues to Hold Steady
September brought the Houston housing market its third straight month of declining sales volume following the expiration of the homebuyer tax credit. However, despite the drop, pricing continued to demonstrate strength with a boost in the average price and a slight uptick in the median price of single-family homes.
According to the latest monthly data compiled by the Houston Association of REALTORS®...
