Real Estate Buying Tips

Real Estate Buying Tips – Get the Best Deal – Avoid Common Mistakes

This page include a lot of Katy real estate buying tips, but my best tip is: Get the best real estate agent! I would love to help you buy a great home! I specialize in getting home buyers the RIGHT home in the RIGHT neighborhood at the RIGHT price. My clients love me (read testimonials) because they know I’ve got their back! I watch out for defective homes, over-priced homes, and homes that may be difficult to re-sell when the time comes. I focus on getting you a home that meets your current needs but also is (hopefully) a good long-term investment. I have received the Five-Star Real Estate Agent award for the past TEN years because of my client satisfaction ratings. Less than 1 percent of all the agents in the Houston-metro area receive this honor!

If you haven’t already, then send me your criteria for a house by filling out this online form, so I can set up a custom search for you.

Then you will get automated emails when new homes, that match your criteria, hit the market. My custom search is the most accurate search available! No search you have access to (on HAR, Zillow, Realtor, Homes, Redfin, etc.) is better than my search because my search is directly from the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) which is where all the other websites get their data. (The MLS gets it FIRST!) Plus, I can narrow down your search result to the school level (and more!) and filter out less-than-desirable areas for you to save you time and effort. Since I am the local area expert, I know which neighborhoods flood (for example) and can filter those out for you automatically. If you find that you need me to revise your search criteria, just send me a quick email and tell me what change needs to be made.

Here is some helpful information to get you started:

Read what my clients say about me
IMPORTANT! Why You Need Your Own Agent
Information needed to set up the best custom home search available for you
Sign up to download my Guide to Sugar Land ‘s Best Neighborhoods(my 170+ page Sugar Land relocation guide)
View videos of top Sugar Land neighborhoods on my YouTube channel
Learn about the importance of schools in your home search
Read about Sugar Land vs. Katy
Learn about my other favorite area (Katy TX)
See Sugar Land homes for sale sorted by neighborhood, price, school, etc.

I personally wrote all this info, photographed the neighborhoods, and put together the videos…this proves I’m a boots-on-the-ground local area expert. I don’t just work here…I live here! What other agent provides all this info?! As a Five-Star real estate agent I provide services that are way above and beyond what a typical real agent provides. (See a sample of the type of house report that I give my clients when they find a home they are thinking about purchasing. No agent in the world does this!)

Your home is probably your largest financial investment. Why wouldn’t you want a dedicated, Five-Star agent who is looking out for YOU?!

> Go to Sugar Land TX Video Tour

When You Are Ready to Tour Homes

When you are ready to tour some homes, then call/text me at 832-779-2890 so we can get you on the calendar and discuss exactly what will be the perfect home for you. As a Katy real estate agent (an expert!) I can narrow your focus and help you find the perfect neighborhood.

Once I set up your custom search, then you will start getting home listings via email and you can mark them with Hearts to mark your favorites. A couple of days before our scheduled tour, I make appointments for your Favorite homes and print out the maps, home data, etc. for our tour. On the day of our tour we will meet at my office and then drive the area together so I can tell you about the area and point out various features while also touring homes. This is a great way to find your perfect home!

Helpful Articles About Home Buying

Are you ready for home ownership?

Home readiness survey YES NO Do you have enough cash to make the down payment and cover the other costs of buying a home? Does your monthly budget have room to afford the mortgage payment? Do you have a burning desire to own your own home? Is your job/business/income relatively stable? Do you expect to live in the home for at least three years? Is your credit rating good enough to allow you to obtain a home loan? Do ...

Benefits of Home Ownership

It’s the American dream…to own your own home. But have you considered the specific benefits of home ownership? Studies show the following benefits for home owners: Improved tax advantages…thereby lowering your overall tax burden. Forced savings program (in the amount of principal paid each month on the mortgage)…especially if the home is appreciating in value (which over the long run, they generally do). Stability in house payment each month (whereas rent payments increase over time). Freedom! (ability to do with ...

Do I Need a Real Estate Agent? Maybe I Can Do This Myself

"That's what I used to think! In fact, before I became a licensed real estate agent, I did several FSBO (For Sale By Owner) sales and THOUGHT I knew what I was doing. But if I had known then what I know now...I never would have risked it. Here's what I've learned..." --Sheila Cox Yes...You Need a Partner During the Home Buying Process! Your home is probably your largest single financial investment. Most homes in my area (Katy and Sugar ...

Texas Laws on Brokerage Services & Dual Agency

Does My Real Estate Agent Represent Me or the Seller? When I bought my first house in the mid 1990s, Texas was kind of a "Buyer Beware" state. In fact, a home Buyer could spend weeks looking for a home with a real estate agent, telling her secret information (like how much you were willing to pay for a house), not knowing that everything you told that real estate agent would be told to the Seller because the real estate ...

Buyer Representation in Texas

The Agent Showing You Houses May Not Be Your Agent Many people think that if a real estate agent is showing them houses, that means the agent is their agent and looking out for their best interests. This is not the case in Texas, which is why the Texas Real Estate Commission requires that real estate agents go over the Information About Brokerage Services before they start showing you houses. That document explains that there is a difference between the ...

Texas Home Buying Process

Preliminary Phase: Can You Afford a Home? If you are buying a home in Texas, then you need to learn about the home buying process, which may be different than other states. One thing to consider is that before you even begin the process of searching for a home, you must: Determine how much house you can afford. A lender is the best place to get that information...it is part of the pre-qualification process. Determine if you will actually qualify ...

What To Look for In a Texas Real Estate Agent

"If you're not sure whether you need a real estate agent or not, please take a look at Do I Need a Real Estate Agent to help you decide." Many of these items are specific to Texas agents. ___ Did your agent give you the "Information About Brokerage Services" notice that is legally required by the Texas Real Estate Commission before showing you houses? Can your agent effectively explain it? ___ Did your agent provide all the other necessary disclosures, notices, and the Buyer's Representation Agreement to ...

Texas Real Estate Commissions

Who Pays the Real Estate Commission in Texas? One of the questions that I'm frequently asked is, "Who pays the sales commission in a real estate transaction?" That's a good question! Here's the answer... Typically, real estate sales commissions are paid at the closing table by the home owner (or builder). The title company disburses two checks out of the Seller's proceeds from the sale: one to the Listing broker (such as a RE/MAX or Coldwell Banker) and one to the ...

Applying for a Home Loan in Texas

Items Needed To Apply for a Home Loan Applying for a home loan these days is not for the "weak at heart"! It is a pain-in-the-neck process no matter how much money you have or which lender you choose. So mentally prepare yourself for a hassle, and you won't be disappointed. ;-D NOTE: Read The Perfect Loan File on Forbes for details. There is a lot of paperwork required in order to obtain a home loan. Plus, you will have ...

Costs To Buy a Home in Texas

Do You Know What It Costs To Buy a Home in Texas? It’s one thing to want to own your own home…it’s another to be able to afford one. Here is a run-down of estimated costs to buy a home in Texas you must consider... NOTE Please note these are estimates only and will change based on the area where your home is located, price of home, lender requirements, negotiated terms on sales contract, etc. Item Cost* Application fee ...

Option Period and Fees in Texas Real Estate

We handle inspections in a very unique way in Texas. When you write a contract to purchase a home in in Texas, you can buy an "option period" (usually 7-10 days, negotiable) from the seller for $200-$400 (negotiable) that gives you the irrevocable privilege to back out of the sales contract for any reason, and still receive your 1 percent earnest money back. (During this time, the Seller cannot back out of the contract…only the Buyer has that right.) NOTE: ...

Beware of Internet Real Estate Statistics

The bottom line: No one knows an area better than a local, experienced real estate agent. Don't gamble your biggest investment on automated Internet data. It's Not All About the ZIP Code...Or Shouldn't Be I love the Internet and I'm an information junkie, but I am constantly amazed at how WRONG the real estate info presented on the internet is for my area: Sugar Land TX. Sugar Land is a large city (population 85,000+) located in in Fort Bend County, just ...

Home Inspector

Home Owner’s Insurance

Helpful info: 12 Ways to Lower Your Homeowners Insurance Costs

Check out rating info:

Consumer Reports (basic article 2009)
J.D. Powers’ Reports

Rates may vary dramatically…get multiple quotes!

Debbie Godbee
Leavitt Group
832-886-5544
debbie-godbee@leavitt.com
https://www.leavitt.com/tx-select/office/sugar-land-4655-sweetwater-blvd-suite-250

Amica Mutual Insurance Company
800-242-6422
www.amica.com

Mike Whitsitt
Goosehead Insurance
281-915-3808
https://www.goosehead.com/agents/tx/sugar-land/mike-whitsitt/

Charles E. Osburn
Charles Osburn Insurance Agency
281-453-0177
https://www.charlesosburninsurance.com/services/homeowners-insurance/

Real Estate Attorneys

Timothy P. Alcorn, Alcorn Law Firm Phone: 281.705.0453

Brian Middleton, Middleton Law Firm PLLC Phone: (713) 680-3296

Franklin Holcomb, Franklin Holcomb Law Office Phone: (713) 236-7728

Gary Pate Martin, Disiere, Jefferson & Wisdom, LLP Phone: (713) 632-1708

Local Moving Companies

Navarre-Cajun Moving, Inc. 281-431-2819 http://www.navarre-cajunmovers.com

OneSource Moving 713-620-8097 http://www.onesourcemoving.com

One Movers Network 713-429-1375 http://www.onemoversnetwork.com

Please share this info with your Friends!

Amazing Real Estate Tools – To Improve Your Journey

Ultimate Guide to Sugar Land Texas – Save Time & Effort

Discover Sugar Land and Know What the Experts Know Without Wasting Hours, Days, and Weeks of Time and Effort It doesn’t take years to get to know Sugar Land…it just takes my free 145+ page real estate guide! This guide provides all the info you need to get to know Sugar Land: …

How’s the Market in Sugar Land Texas? – Hard To Find Data & Statistics

Finally! All the Sugar Land Real Estate Market Stats You Need To Know the Best Price for Your Sugar Land Home (Since Tax Appraised Values Do NOT Equal Market Value in Texas!) DOWNLOAD the HOW’S the SUGAR LAND REAL ESTATE MARKET Report TODAY! Updated January 2023 People always ask me, …

Dream Home Listing Alerts!

I Have the Best Home Search Available Yes, I know you can search for homes on the Internet on your own, but no online searches available to the general public–including HAR, Trulia, Zillow–none of them will allow you to do the complicated searches that I can perform with my custom home search. I can filter out …

What’s Your Home Worth in Current Market?

Accurately pricing a home takes more than a three-minute look at current sales numbers by a computer algorithm. I am the local neighborhood expert who can give you a professional and accurate Current Market Analysis (CMA) to tell you what your Sugar Land home is worth today. I’m going to …

Featured Sugar Land Neighborhoods

Avalon Homes for Sale

Commonwealth Homes for Sale

First Colony Homes for Sale

Greatwood Homes for Sale

New Territory Homes for Sale

Riverstone Homes for Sale

Sienna Plantation Homes for Sale

Telfair Homes for Sale

If You Think This Website is Great, Wait ’till You Get Me As Your Agent!

Candid Advice—I promise to give you candid advice on all homes and areas so you can make the best decisions. I won’t ignore potential defects that can cost you money, or effect your resale value, in the future. My job is to protect you from defective homes as much as possible while helping you make a sound financial investment. (Read client testimonials)

Local Area Expertise—This isn’t just my business…it’s where I work and live (for 20 years) so I really know the area. I will help you narrow your options and find the best neighborhood for you based on your specifications. For long-term resale value, the neighborhood you choose is just as important as the home you buy. (Download my Ultimate Sugar Land Guide)

Great Data—I will give you the most in-depth data you have ever seen…to help you make the wisest decisions. This includes a professional CMA when you are ready to purchase a specific home…so you don’t pay too much. Plus, my proprietary House Report (see sample) includes the data and information you need to ensure that you are making great home purchase. (Also see Pricing a Home Correctly)

Best Home Searches—Yes, you can search on your own, but no other home search available can filter down to the school level…and filter out the subdivisions that may be known to flood. Tell me exactly what you want, and I can narrow down your options better than any search you have access to. (Request a Custom Search)

Easier Process—Moving your family (and possibly changing jobs) is stressful enough. I’m your transaction manager and will guide you, step-by-step, through the process so you never miss an important deadline. I assist with inspections, repair negotiations, home warranties, HOA compliance inspections, hazard insurance, surveys, appraisals, title commitment, home warranties, title company, and more. (View helpful videos on my YouTube channel)

Network of Experts—My network of experts can make your transition to the area as smooth as possible. Need a painter, electrician, mover, insurance company, etc.? I can help!

How I Work to Protect You

My job isn’t “just” helping you find a house to buy…I’m helping you buy a home. There are over 100 tasks that I perform for you during the purchasing process. I’m looking out for you every step of the way and keeping my eye on the listing agent, the seller, the builder (if applicable), the lender, the inspector, and the title company. I’m on your side because I’m YOUR agent. I help with price analysis and negotiations, legal paperwork, inspections, repair negotiations, home warranties, HOA compliance inspections, hazard insurance, surveys, appraisals, title commitment, home warranties, and more. I have the expertise to help solve complicated problems that often occur in the process. Real estate is a huge financial and legal commitment. Don’t you deserve to have a Five-Star real estate agent on your side?

Please read:

⇒ Does My Agent Really Represent Me?

⇒ How Real Estate Commissions Are Paid

Take a look at a sample House Report that I do for my clients. This is the extra “due diligence” I do for you, to make sure that you are getting a great home. This is when I triple check taxes, schools, aerial maps, sex offenders in the area, flood zones, etc. NO other agent in the world does this! Check out p. 27 regarding the sample Flood Map info I provide.