Schumer to Texas: Don't mess with N.Y.

 

RE/MAX is a company built on the promise of exceptional customer service. Whether you are selling your home or searching for that special place to call your own, you deserve to work with someone who has your best interests in mind. I realize that something as valuable as your trust must be earned.

I strive daily to live on the basis of Honesty, Integrity, and Trust.

Whatever your particular real estate need, I'll work hard to make sure that you are completely satisfied. I have the knowledge, experience, and dedication that it takes to get results.

I am NEVER too busy for your referrals...

Brian Mitchell, 713-447-0963, brianamitchell@remax.net

What Happens After I File?!

Now that the federal income tax filing deadline is in your rear-view mirror, what happens after you file? A lot of taxpayers have post tax-filing questions such as what records do I keep and more importantly, “Where’s my Refund?” The IRS has answers for you below.

Refund Information
You can go online to check the status of your 2010 refund 72 hours after IRS acknowledges receipt of your e-filed return, or 3 to 4 weeks after you mail a paper return. Be sure to have a copy of your 2010 tax return available because you will need to know your filing status, the first Social Security number shown on the return, and the exact whole-dollar amount of the refund. You have three options for checking on your refund:

• Go to http://www.irs.gov and click on “Where’s My Refund”
• Call 800-829-4477~24 hours a day, seven days a week, for automated refund information
• Call 800-829-1954 during the hours shown in your tax form instructions
• Use IRS2Go. If you have an Apple iPhone or iTouch or an Android device you can download an application to check the status of your refund.

What Records Should I Keep?
Normally, tax records should be kept for three years, but some documents — such as records relating to a home purchase or sale, stock transactions, IRAs and business or rental property — should be kept longer.
You should keep copies of tax returns you have filed and the tax forms package as part of your records. They may be helpful in amending already filed returns or preparing future returns.

Change of Address
If you move after you filed your return, send Form 8822, Change of Address, to the Internal Revenue Service. If you are expecting a paper refund check, you should also file a change of address with the U.S. Postal Service.

What If I Made a Mistake?
Errors may delay your refund or result in notices being sent to you. If you discover an error on your return, you can correct your return by filing an amended return using Form 1040X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.

Visit the IRS website at http://www.irs.gov for more information on refunds, recordkeeping, address changes and amended returns.

 

RE/MAX is a company built on the promise of exceptional customer service. Whether you are selling your home or searching for that special place to call your own, you deserve to work with someone who has your best interests in mind. I realize that something as valuable as your trust must be earned.

I strive daily to live on the basis of Honesty, Integrity, and Trust.

Whatever your particular real estate need, I'll work hard to make sure that you are completely satisfied. I have the knowledge, experience, and dedication that it takes to get results.

I am NEVER too busy for your referrals...

Brian Mitchell, 713-447-0963, brianamitchell@remax.net

What you REALLY need to know about BUYERs Representation and why you need it...

Sellers wonder what salespeople could possibly do that's worth paying for; after all, don't agents just throw the property in MLS and then unlock the doors so buyers can take a look?    

And buyers sometimes assume if they just go to enough open houses, they'll find the home they want, place an offer, get a mortage and move in.  Nothing else is required, is it?

I'm going to focus today on the buyer side of the equation only.   What specifically does an agent for the buyer actually do to earn their share of commission?  Obviously, a buyer agent supports the buyer (you) and represents your interests; they maintain confidences, and provide loyalty and care. How hard could that be?  Is this really more meaningful than making arrangements to open a door of a vacant home?   The answer is Yes!!!

Understanding your true needs:  First, any good buyer agent will need to find out exactly what you want, not just at a high level, such as your need for a 3 bedroom/2 bath condo for $500K.  But a buyer agent will want to know, when you close your eyes and picture yourself in your new home, what is the vision in your head? 

• Do you want a sunny spot for a garden? 
• Do you want a back yard, and should it be fenced?
• Do you need space for visiting in-laws, and do you want that space right near your room, or far away in the basement?
• Are you a chef who requires a world-class kitchen or would a small efficiency kitchen work fine? 
• Are you in a rush to purchase because you want to be in your home before the kids start school in September, or are you willing to take your time to find the "perfect" house?
• How much are you pre-qualified for?  If you're not pre-qualified, do you have an expert that can help, or do you need one? 
• Regardless of your pre-qualification status, how much are you really comfortable spending, since that may be a different amount.  
• Do you want a fireplace?  A pool? 
• Do you have a limit to what you wish to pay in taxes, utilities, and other charges? 

The list goes on.  It's our job to figure out exactly what would make you happy.

Finding and viewing potential matches:  Sure, you could do a realtor.com, trulia.com or zillow.com lookup by yourself.  But agents have access to a lot of information such as history of the home - has it been for sale before?  Has the pricerecently been reduced or increased?  What are the actual taxes?  Are there any developments or building issues going on in the location you wish to move to?  We'll work to select only those properties that are worth your time to view, and then we'll call and schedule and cancel and reschedule the appointments as necessary.  We'll also preview the properties ourselves to make sure they're going to meet your needs.  And then of course we'll take you to see them.  We'll explain the particular benefits, and the potential downfalls for each home.  We'll listen to your likes and dislikes so we can better target future showings.  And then we'll repeat the process as often as possible until we find the right home for you.

Validating the information:  If you're looking at a co-op or condo, we'll verify the fees with the management company.  What is the fee for maintenance?  Does that include taxes?  What % of that fee is tax deductible?  Is there a parking fee?  Are there assessments?  If yes, when do they start and end, and how much are they?  When was the last one?   If you're looking at a single family home, we'll validate all information.  What are the town/state and village taxes?   We'll verify the square feet with the town records.  Any data points that we have will be validated and clarified if necessary.

Putting in an offer:   We'll make sure you have all the data you need to come up with a great offering price.  We'll gather comparables so you'll know what similar homes recently sold for.  We'll fill out the necessary paperwork, contact the seller's agent to make sure there haven't been any last minute changes, and we'll submit the offer.  And then we'll negotiate on your behalf.  We'll let you know what contigencies you should consider, and will ensure your offer includes them.

Completing the purchasing process:  Once we have an accepted offer, we'll do all the work required to make the rest of your buying process simple.  If you don't have your own, we'll provide you with names of expert real estate lawyers, home inspectors, mortgage brokers, and anyone else you need to finalize your transaction.   We'll obtain all documentation from the management company if you're buying a co-op, and we'll walk you through all the documentation requirements.  We'll ensure appraisers have access to the home, we'll do whatever we can to ensure contracts are completed expeditiously and we'll hold your hand until you're at the closing table and have signed your documents.

In a nutshell, buying a home can be incredibly complicated.  The buyer's agent job is to make a potentially very difficult process extremely simple and to make sure your dream home doesn't escape from your grasp. 

 

RE/MAX is a company built on the promise of exceptional customer service. Whether you are selling your home or searching for that special place to call your own, you deserve to work with someone who has your best interests in mind. I realize that something as valuable as your trust must be earned.

I strive daily to live on the basis of Honesty, Integrity, and Trust.

Whatever your particular real estate need, I'll work hard to make sure that you are completely satisfied. I have the knowledge, experience, and dedication that it takes to get results.

I am NEVER too busy for your referrals...

Brian Mitchell, 713-447-0963, brianamitchell@remax.net

Middle East Unrest Brings Energy Companies Employees Back to Houstons Improving Office Market

According to Houston Real Estate Observer: Houston’s office market could receive a boost from the recent civil unrest in the Middle East, which has prompted energy companies to relocate employees to Houston for safety reasons.

“With the unrest in the Middle East, we’ve had some clients pulling their people out of Oman, Yemen and Libya. It’s just a dangerous world right now,” said Charles Gordon, executive vice president of the CB Richard Ellis real estate company in Houston.

Gordon said he could not provide specifics due to client confidentially concerns, but he said hundreds of employees are being relocated to the United States. Gordon, who has leased more than 35 million square feet of office space, is an authority on office facilities for energy firms.

”What we are finding is there is some real concern on the part of (energy company) management about the safety of their employees in areas that were pretty safe until just recently,” Gordon said. “We’ll probably see it continue to be a factor.” It is too early to determine if the relocation trend will become a significant long-term pattern.

Gordon said the Houston office market has experienced a number of positive developments in recent months.

The moratorium on drilling wells in the Gulf of Mexico hurt the Houston office market last year, but the recent resumption of Gulf drilling will be a plus. High oil prices will also provide a lift.

“There is a lot going on the world that is good for Houston,” Gordon said at a CB Richard Ellis press luncheon.

”What we are seeing right now is a tremendous amount of increased activity,” Gordon said. Many companies are seeking to lock in today’s lower rental rates, before increases come.

Last year, CB Richard Ellis was projecting that downtown office vacancy could go as high as 16 percent, but the real estate company is reworking its forecast.

“We’re optimistic that things won’t get as bad as we predicted,” Gordon said. “We are revising those numbers based on a lot of deals that are happening right now.”

The Houston office market had citywide Class A vacancy rate of 16 percent in the first quarter, an improvement over 16.3 percent vacancy at the end of 2010, CB Richard Ellis reported.

Across the city, some 357,911 square feet of empty office space was filled in the first quarter. Downtown was the biggest contributor to the positive absorption with major leases including NRG’s lease in Houston Pavilions.

Leasing activity was strongest in downtown Houston, the West Loop market and in the Energy Corridor on the Katy Freeway.

Hines recently opened the BG Group Place, a 972,474-square-foot tower on Main Street, putting a significant amount of new office space into downtown Houston. The building, with the BG Group energy firm leasing over 350,000 square feet, is over 60 percent leased.

Another major building, the 844,000-square-foot Hess Tower, is nearing completion near the Discover Green park in downtown. The building is fully leased to the Hess energy firm, but Hess will leave behind vacant space in Allen Center. Devon Energy is also expected to vacate space.

But overall the Houston office market appears to be on an upward cycle again, CB Richard said. The overall rental rate for Houston office space increased to an average of $23.17 per square foot in the first quarter, up from $22.82 per square foot in the fourth quarter of 2010.

RE/MAX is a company built on the promise of exceptional customer service. Whether you are selling your home or searching for that special place to call your own, you deserve to work with someone who has your best interests in mind. I realize that something as valuable as your trust must be earned.

I strive daily to live on the basis of Honesty, Integrity, and Trust.

Whatever your particular real estate need, I'll work hard to make sure that you are completely satisfied. I have the knowledge, experience, and dedication that it takes to get results.

I am NEVER too busy for your referrals...

Brian Mitchell, 713-447-0963, brianamitchell@remax.net

Houston, We've Had a Problem!

Houston we've had a problem: 'Space City' snubbed in bid for retired space shuttle

NASA administrator Charles Bolden announced today the four museums -- the Smithsonian Institution (Discovery), the California Science Center (Endeavour), Kennedy Space Center (Atlantis) and the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum (Enterprise) -- that will receive space shuttles for public display after the fleet retires this summer.

As expected Houston, the home of human spaceflight, was snubbed.

It's a shame. Houston's campaign, Bring the Shuttle Home, probably deserves some blame for being late to the game in terms of politicking for an orbiter.

But I'm not sure any campaign could have saved Houston. The politics of this decision were pretty clear. President Obama appoints the NASA administrator, and Texas is a decidedly Republican state.

"It is sad and unfortunate that politics played such an obvious role in the placement of theses retiring Orbiters," said Texas Congressman John Culberson. "The thought of an Orbiter not coming home to rest at Space Center Houston is truly tragic. It is analogous to Detroit without a Model-T, or Florence without a da Vinci."

Under the present leadership in the White House and Congress Texas has clearly lost some of its juice, noted Robert Stein, a political scientist at Rice University: "l don't think we're that powerful in Texas anymore. We don't have the clout we once did."

Texas used to do well even under politically divided government in Washington with representatives like Sens. John Tower and Lloyd Bentsen working together. "Right now that's not happening. Many Republicans in the Texas delegation are ideologues and they can't see anyway to make a deal. That hurts the state when it comes to decisions like this."

The selection process was poorly conceived in the sense that NASA never clearly stated the criteria by which the orbiters would be parsed out. From some perspectives it seems ludicrous that Houston will not get one of the retiring birds.

"The shuttle really is a program initiated here in Houston," said George Abbey, former director of Johnson Space Center from 1996 to 2001. "We're the ones who came up with the concept. We designed it. We tested it. We operated it. Certainly Houston ought to be number one on the list."

It wasn't even in the top four.

Houston Named Top Value Destination by Hotwire.com, Budget Travel

Houston Named Top Value Destination by Hotwire.com, Budget Travel

Travelers get more for their money in America's fourth largest city. 

 

Just in time for the summer travel season, the Hotwire Travel Value Index named Houston one of the top 10 cities in the U.S. where consumers can find the best combination of value, entertainment options and attractions throughout 2011. This announcement comes just three months after Budget Travel magazine named Houston one of the hottest budget travel destinations in the world for 2011.

The Hotwire Travel Value Index is based on a statistical model combining both in-house and third-party research. Hotwire evaluates the top 75 U.S. leisure markets, rating them across three individual categories to generate an overall ranking for consumer vacation value. The formula includes:

• Low prices on air, rental car and hotel (50 percent of overall score)
• Discounts on air, rental car and hotel (25 percent of overall score)
• Affordable entertainment (25 percent of overall score)

Months in the making, Budget Travel's annual list of the hottest budget destinations focuses on destinations that are "as fun as they are affordable." The magazine's editors chose Houston as one of only two U.S. destinations on the list-the other is the Gulf Coast-citing the city's extraordinary value, particularly in its hotels, restaurants and attractions.
Houston Value

• Per Hotels.com's Hotel Price Index, the average price per room per night in Houston in 2010 was $106.94, compared with Austin ($116.76), Chicago ($133.93), Washington DC ($140.43), New Orleans ($132.27), NYC ($194.14), Los Angeles ($116.76) and San Francisco ($125.81). U.S. average is $114.

• According to a 2010 survey by Zagat, the average meal in Houston costs $32.53. Average in Dallas is $35.03, Chicago $35.17, Washington DC $35.13., NYC $41.81, Los Angeles $34.95, Miami $39.86. U.S. national average is $35.10. There are 8,000 restaurants in Houston with culinary choices representing more than 35 countries and American regions. Houstonians dine out more than residents in any other city, 4.0 times a week compared with national average of 3.2.

• A Houston CityPASS (which includes access to the Houston Zoo, Houston Museum of Natural Science,Space Center Houston and more) is less expensive than CityPASSes in all other cities ($39 in Houston vs. $79 in New York, $69 in Chicago, $59 in Philadelphia and $74 in Atlanta).

• With the United/Continental merger, Houston is now the largest hub for the world's largest airline. The Houston Airport System services 113 U.S. and 67 international destinations.

Houston For Free

• Ten museums in the Museum District-including the globally renowned Menil Collection-are free all the time. An additional seven museums - including the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and the Children's Museum of Houston- have dedicated free times each week.

• Miller Outdoor Theatre might be one of the best reasons to visit (and live in!) Houston. Open from March through November, the venue hosts a range of performances including classical music, ballet, dance, film, Shakespeare and more.

• Downtown's new 12-acre Discovery Green park has something going on all the time. In the spring and fall, spend happy hour listening to local musicians perform in the amphitheater and pick up fresh produce at the Green Market on Sundays.

• Dubbed the Garage Mahal, the Art Car Museum is unlike anything you've ever imagined. It's the only place you'll find the antennae and wing-cloaked Roachster or the Honda motorcycle that has been transformed into a shiny red rolling stiletto art car.

• The Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark is the creme de la creme of the grinding and boarding world. The $2.2 million, state-of-the-art facility-thought to contain the largest cradle in the world-is located close to downtown, near Eleanor Tinsley Park.

• Tucked on the west side of Memorial park is the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, a 155-acre nature sanctuary that educates visitors on how to protect native plants and animals in the city. Walk the center's five miles of trails and visit the sanctuary's interactive exhibits free of charge.

• Set sail on a free, 90-minute boat tour of the Port of Houston. While on board the 90-passenger boat, you'll learn about the history of the seaport and be able to watch ocean freighters and barges navigate the 50-mile channel. The tour is free, but reservations are required.

• Situated inside downtown's Sam Houston Park, the Heritage Society Museum is the city's only interactive, outdoor museum. The site features structures dating back to the 1820s, including a 4th-ward cottage and a Greek revival house build for Rice University founder William Marsh Rice. The museum itself is free, but guided tours are $6.

• Set in Houston's Third Ward, Project Row Houses is a nonprofit art initiative aimed at creating a positive place for local artists to work. Some of the shotgun-style houses are dedicated to art and photography, while others are devoted to the literary and performing arts.

More
More than 70 special offers-from ticket deals and hotel packages to restaurant perks and transportation promos-are live on www.VisitHoustonTexas.com.

Houston in Two Minutes

Rendez-Vous Houston: 25 years later