Jack and Jill…Where Do YOU Want to Live?: The Home Buyer Checklist You’ve Been Looking for (8 of 15)

Tropical beach, traditional long tail boats, famous Maya Bay, ThailandJill was dripping wet when she entered their tiny condominium.  A shredded umbrella in one hand and a bag of Chinese take out in the other.  As she closed the door her heel gave way and down she went.  Fortunately it was a tiny condominium, and Jack was able to catch her before she did herself any hard.  The Chinese take out didn’t fair as well.  It got squished, but was still edible.  Jill began to cry as she tried to talk “Jack”, sniff, “I”, sob, “just”, sniffle, “want to be able to park outside our home.”  Jill cried on, not in pain, but from the wet and the sadness of the broken heel on her shoe and the further realization that heir parking situation would not get better until they had their own home on the hill.  Jack handed her a towel and a warm cup of tea and said, “You relax, I got the food warming in the oven, dry off, drink your tea and I’ll read.”

#7 Where Do YOU Want to Live?

I don’t know, where do you want to live?  I don’t know, where do you, think we should live?  It’s a discussion that people have been having for years.  When your looking for a home, unless you have some type of restriction that you have placed on where you want to live, the world is your oyster.  Surely you don’t want a two hour commute, one way, up hill, in the snow.  Or maybe you have to have that type of commute because you want to live by a lake or have your children go to a certain school.  Location IS the biggest question in real estate and that’s why everyone will tell you it’s the first, second and third most important thing,  So location is important, but it’s not just the State or the city, or the subdivision, or the school district, it can also be the street.  Do you want your home on a corner, a cul-de-sac, on acreage, next to the park, or far away from the park?  When you are searching you should look at the satellite view of the home that peaks your interest.  The  satellite might show vacant land, a creek, a river, railroad tracks, salvage yard or strip center that you didn’t see when you drove to the property.  Keep in mind that land that is vacant now may not be vacant forever.  Farmer John may decide to sell that vacant land and you don’t have any control over who he might sell to.  Can you get to work from your new home?  Is their more than one route?  Is their a toll road within a couple of miles that would make your commute a little bit easier?

By the time Jack finished reading Jill had cheered up, dired off and the food was ready to eat.  Jack spoke,”Jill I am making it part of our home search to find us a home that has covered access from the car to the kitchen.  I never want you to have to worry about getting soaked or slipping or…”Jill cut him off saying, “Thank you sweetie.”  And with that she kissed him on the scar of the side of his head and handed him a plate of Chinese food.  They ate in silence as the storm rolled through eagerly awaiting the next check point entitled:

“Jack and Jill Negotiate to Buy a Home..The Home Buyer Checklist You’ve Been Looking for (9 of 15)”

We hope that you’re enjoying our series and that it helps you on your way to……………………..

Live Life to the Fullest,

S.C.

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WEEK 34 of 52 WEEKS IN MAGNOLIA, TX…BACK TO SCHOOL 2011

backtoschool Magnolia Independent School District has it’s first day of school:

TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2011

Believe it, summer is official over.  Texas Tax Free weekend is going on RIGHT NOW!!  But don’t be the parent to deliver your kids on Monday, that would show that your just a little to eager for school to start.  It’s time to fill up those brains with more knowledge, more reading and writing and more communicating with peers in a real world like setting.  It’s time for facebook and twitter to have a time out.  That’s right it’s time to have the youth actually talk to each other face to face…kinda like mom and dad has to do every day at their work.  Work…. you know the application that provides money, money that is spent on food oh, and those fancy phones that can not only read this blog, but re-post it on twenty plus social websites.

I understand the excitement of school from a relocation standpoint.  My family moved from one state to another and I started the school year knowing only one person in my grade.  I am glad to say that we are still friends today.  New town, new home, new subdivision, new friends, new adventures….opportunities are around every corner.  Nobody knows about that fashion flub or that piece of toilet paper that was stuck to your shoe after your visit to the bathroom.  They will just know you for what you have done in the past couple of minutes.  Hopefully your subdivision welcomes you with a gift basket or at least a couple of your neighbors say hello instead of just starring.

So school is starting, have you joined the PTO?  Why not???? Get involved even if it’s just your email address on a mailing list and a donation to the “help the school” fund.  This is your community now and you have the power to make it the best in the nation.  Check out the Neighborhood Watch, the home owners association, the volunteer fire department, Chamber of Commerce, Varsity Football Games, be a band booster.  Get out in your community and re-visit why you moved here in the first place.

School is starting, let the good times roll.  If your new to the area and you would like suggestions on restaurants, dentist, doctor, lawyer, handyman, septic company…anything that would make you feel more comfortable here in Magnolia, Texas please drop me a line at Scott@ScottCulberson.com  As a local REALTOR I know a lot about our community and I would love the opportunity to help you to……

LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST,

S.C.

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Tour of 31111 N High Meadow Circle, Magnolia, TX 77355

IMG_0144 Have you been looking for the perfect country retreat?  Or did you decide that your tired of HYPER-restrictive Home Owners Associations or MUD taxes.  Well it might be time for you to take a trip to a country retreat nestled among natures wonderland.  In this neighborhood their is NO MUD tax and the Home Owners Association is a lot more laid back.  Welcome to country living.  The Estates of Clear Creek has two ponds for your families enjoyment.  Take the family and try your hand with the cane fishing pole, play on the playground or just have a picnic.  RELAX your troubles away.  You’ll immediately love this two story home when you round the bend and see the lush landscaping and extended covered front porch….perfect for reading that book you’ve been longing to read.  The front door opens to the rich flooring of the den, also known as the family room.  Plenty of room for your stockings above the gas log fireplace.  Cross the den, open the French doors and it’s time to sit down to dinner, prepared in this country kitchen.  Comes complete with breakfast bar.  The sellers are the original owners and they were thinking of you when they had the builder plumb a gas bib for the stove/range.  The utility room is huge, with a folding counter and a REAL hanging station(no more wrinkles).  You’ve got to see it to believe it.  The study overlooks the back porch and has a nook for a filing cabinet in addition to the closet.  The nook could be easily shelved to add space for more of the books your going to read.  The master bedroom is down; has his and her closets as well as a master bath that has a vanity, separate shower/garden tub and a separate toilet room.  Two other bedrooms are down along with the second full bathroom.  Time to have a look up stairs.  Bedrooms number four and five are upstairs along with the third full bathroom and a game room.  Bedroom number five could be perfect for your workout equipment or maybe set up as a meditation room.  The game room, could be for gaming or maybe you want to convert it to a full blown media room…..possibilities are yours for the taking.  This home has two full door access points to the Texas basement, plenty of storage room.  Out the back door we have another covered patio and a Porte-Cochere for your cars.  Let me elaborate.  You’ve planned a large gathering of family and friends and you really don’t want them ALL in the house, so you pull your cars out of the Porte-Cochere and now you have more covered relaxing partying space.  Wow all this on 2.02 acres, but wait that’s not all.  Detached from the home is a 16×16 workshop.  This workshop has a window unit a/c, it’s own 1/2 bath and garage door.  You could fit your 4 wheeler and all your other toys.

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LISTED FOR $295,000  Multiple Listing Service # 12486486

This REALTORS Perspective:

Stress, stress, stress, we don’t always have to put ourselves in these situations.  Living to work is not living.  Working to live is a much better approach.  We all want to feel secure in our work so we can continue to get a check and raises and promotions, but at what cost?  Slow down your approach to work and take the stress out where you can.  Now the pitfall is that you take stress away only to add a different “new” stress.  Take the time to look at the stars at night.  “the stars at night are bight and bright……”   If you have ever lived near, notice I said near, a major city, the stars are drowned out by city lights.  That’s why you don’t see any drive in theaters near the big city any more.  The night lights and street noise where killing the movie experience.  Netflix and HBO had something to do with it, but when the big scene was about to happen…the suspense was mounting an ambulance, fire truck and police car all go by, it kinda ruins the mood of a romantic western.  Stress, rush, rush, rush, what’s the hurry.  Slow down, enjoy your family, enjoy your friends, and make some new friends, have a picnic, go fishing, read that book you’ve been putting off.  Take a visit to the country it will help you to……

LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST,

S.C.

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