arggggghhhhhh! Electronics!

I've been particularly silent for far too long. I beg forgiveness. I kept trying to think of lovely and positive and uplifting things to write, but just couldn't come up with anything that wasn't too goopy or positive and bright enough. It was too much or too little. I guess I need to face facts and let you see what I really think. Watch out!
We're all aware the real estate market is in deep trouble at it's basest level. Lenders and Government. In much of the country sales haven't really rebounded, and have actually dropped in the last couple of months. I think it's due to people being overextended. Not really all that much, but JUST enough to not qualify for the tighter loan requirements. Or may be they're just worried and not wanting to borrow money. That I can understand. HOWEVER. Bright and happy news!
Just yesterday, with the help of ThinkBigWorkSmall.com I did learn that: If a household has decent credit and an income of only $55,000, they can qualify for as much as a $200,000 house under current FHA loan regulations. That means much of the country has housing available to buy! And people qualified to buy! The lowest interest rates ever and prices not skyrocketing on houses. What better time to buy?
Now, to my headline: Have you ever set up payments online and had them posted to pay on the wrong date? I recently (Just Monday, in fact.) opened a bill and saw I was past due. And I KNEW I'd paid it. But I couldn't find it anywhere scheduled to pay or paid on my bank website or the vendor site. So, I bit the bullet and paid it. SURPRISE! It paid (again!)the next day. I'll have no bill for some time- but an inconvenient amount of money was sucked from my checking account and I'll not be able to get it back; when I'd really like to have it now. Guess I really have to watch dates when I post bills to pay. 7/25 was my scheduled date, I thought. 8/25 is what I posted. Maybe it's time to go back to paying everything by check and trusting the USPS to get things where they should go in a timely manner. Maybe not.
There's been a ton of news about Galveston being dead thanks to an arrogant blogger at 24/Wall St. It's curious that he did so little research and made sweeping pronouncements about the cities he feels are "Dead". I'd like to thank him for stirring up a great deal of interest in Galveston. I'm sorry that he's responded to inquiries with personal attacks on those that have contacted him. I promise to not be hateful and say ugly things if you comment on this site.
I think I'll look and see if the other "Dead" cities noted his pronouncements.
So. Musings as far as I can go. Life is good. So- "work hard,have fun: make money" to you all!

Electronic age....

Seven AM on a glorious if slightly gloomy Friday. I just watched the ThinkBigWorkSmall webcast for the day. Making lemonade from lemons is always an appreciated message. I've spent the better part of the past few weeks setting and resetting my emails so one account feeds into a Gmail account. Some days it works for a few minutes, then stops completely. I'm just about to give up and face 2 email lists every day, all day. My phone gets them both, but I think I'll soon drop that feed, as it get's wayyy too confusing and hard to keep up with returning emails. Also, I have heavy thumbs when typing on a Blackberry keyboard and that gets annoying. Oh yeah, and I have to have my reading glasses on to really even see what I'm saying!
This weekend is ARTWALK Saturday night. I am looking forward to strolling around downtown and checking out a few shows. I know the rains will not be present. (I like thinking positively.) I haven't taken the time to join in at Artwalk in several months, so I think this week is the weekend.
Now, what's really up with real estate these days on the Island? It seems more active, especially on the West End. Here's a very brief overview:
West of the Seawall, in the Beach Communities, since April 1, there have been 97 sales closed with a median price of $253,000. The average price was quite a bit higher at $323,000. There were 6 sales over $900,000 and 8 sold for UNDER $100,000. I think that's showing some interest. In the same period of 2008, there were 120 closed sales with a median price of $325,000, and average of $394,000 and 9 over $900,000 with only 2 under $100,000. Not so bad for a slow economy and difficult lending situations, is it?
Speaking of beaches, here's a selection of decent Galveston beach reads- with a coffee table book or two thrown in.

!Galveston: A City on Stilts (General History: Texas)Galveston: A City on Stilts (General History: Texas)Galveston: A History of the Island (Chisholm Trail Series)GalvestonThe Galveston That Was (Sara and John Lindsey Series in the Arts and Humanities)Galveston: A HistoryWalking Historic Galveston-A Guide to its NeighborhoodsGalveston Architecture GuidebookThe Alleys and Back Buildings of Galveston: An Architectural and Social History (Sara and John Lindsey Series in the Arts and Humanities)The Prostitutes of Post Office Street (Sol Books Prose Series)

A busy month has passed

After living in Galveston now for what? Eight years this week I still am amazed by the bounty of things to do. Other than repairing aging houses, of course. Last weekend alone there were garden tours, sand castle competitions, political meetings, yard sales to benefit Mardi Gras Krewes. For the first time in several years I didn't see any gardens. I did see some "sand castles". Well, a couple of the exhibits had castle like structures...most did not. I was disappointed in both the concepts and commentary this year. I had hoped for scathing political commentary, but really got a number of I Pad refernces and some movie related constructions, but I'll confess I really didn't "get" many of the entries. I was cranky though, so maybe that colored my impressions. The beach, however, was packed at the waters edge. Lots of families. Several soccer games going on. Even a whole group on lawn chairs in the water along with their coolers. They were even pretty much dressed. Kind of strange I thought.
Tonite is the 2nd Beach Band Concert of the season at Sealy Pavilion....7:30. Last week I just wasn't ready to do one more thing that evening, so I skipped it. I think we'll ride our bikes over tonite though. It's a wonderful small town feel. You see tons of people you know and like, and the music is big band, marches, and sometimes even show tunes or movie themes. It's been going on every summer since 1928! That's a tradition. The Director is Frank Incaprera, who assumed the position after his father passed away. I think it will be lovely!

...Never cease to be amazed

In this morning's sales meeting at our Boulvevard Realty office in the Heights, I learned we've just ended our BIGGEST MONTH EVER! In the midst of a "recession". See? Things are looking up.
I also got to hear about the activities of many of our agents, and I am so proud of the successes that they're having. On the down side, it makes me feel I'm really not working up to my potential. Know that I'll be spending a great deal more time in Houston. I love my work, I'm good at it, and I need the opportunity I can find off the Island. Galveston is coming out of the doldrums, as well. Maybe not as quickly as other areas, but I know it will soon be humming with new activity. I'm getting lots of calls from people coming to the Island right now, but very few are ready to purchase, and many are needing a basic "Economic and Ethnic Diversity that is Galveston" class in order to even look for an apartment or house for lease.
I so love the Island and it's quirky nature, and I hope I manage to help others understand and appreciate it.
Hmmm. Homes Tour went well over the weekend. LWL, our weekly Monday lunch bunch had a very nice lunch this week at Float on the Seawall. We're trying to get through all the Seawall restaurants before the tourist onslaught. I had the simple Fish Tacos. Major YUM!
Oh yes, order tickets now for Taylor Holland's show about Ann Richards Money, Marbles, and Chalk at the Grand! http://www.thegrand.com/calendar.asp

Friday April 30th-May 2

There's always something to do in Galveston.
Tonight: GHF Homes Tour First Impressions Tour. Two bar openings. Sheryl Rozier meet and greet. and the Preview Party for the Unitarian Universalist "Attic Treasures Sale". Call me if you need details on any of it!
Tomorrow the Galveston Historical Foundation Historic Homes Tour. 10 fabulous houses. Tickets available: http://galvestonhistory.org/.
Wonder why I have so little time?

Wow! Working off line sort of works ok!

Now I'm really trying to use my laptop's software to write a blog entry while away from the internet. We'll see what happens.
Today is a stunningly beautiful day. Both in Houston and in Galveston. I'm surprised at how few people are out on the bike path across from the house I'm holding open right now.
This morning, I went out about 9 AM and started using the weed-eater to try and clean the yard's perimeter, around the trees and shrubs, and in those areas that the lawnmower really can't accomplish much. About and hour and a half was spent swinging the weedeater, trailing the very long extension cords behind me. I know it's made a difference, and I actually look forward to getting home and getting out the lawnmower to cut the large areas. Having two full city lots means more mowing than I've had to do since I was a child, and we mowed all the way down the street to the end of the property along the road, then along the fence, then inside the fence. Dad even had self propelled mowers in those days. I think he even bought a riding mower at one point. I hated mowing. I still pretty much loathe it, too. I don't know how I missed the mowing and gardening genes my folks had. But, then, maybe they weren't fond of the work, either. A neat yard and a productive garden seem to be worth the struggle. I know I am really that way about cleaning and laundry! It doesn't matter that I don't much care for it. I mean, I don't hate laundry....but I always have tons of stuff to do, and always seem to be doing stuff around the house. I never seem to get everything done and take time to sit down and so something else. There's always chores about the house. I may even sit down this evening in front of trash television and replace missing buttons on shirts and shorts. Those buttons have been needing replacement for months and months. Just one more thing that needs to be done.
Do you find your life like that? Always something needing to be done?

What an amazing world we're in!

Who knew that $5.00 would improve my life dramatically? Last week, while Tim was working in the living room, as the barcalounger is more comfortable and easier to get in to and out of while on crutches than his office chair, Martini jumped across the keyboard. Dog toenails can remove keys from laptop keyboards, did you know? With just a little search, I found a source for replacement keys- and today the new "e" arrived. Whoopee! I can write without special care to make sure there are actually "e"s in the words I've tried to write! Remember- the most commonly used letter in English is the "e". $5.00! Salvation!
 Another thing I noted today: refrigerator magnets are becoming less useful. I was offered a magnet from a stack at the Galveston Association of Realtors advertising out State meeting coming in September- and I realized magnets won't stick to stainless steel. So, in the long run, as a side effect of Ike and subsequently upgrading appliances, I no longer can use a magnet on the fridge. I am not alone.
Ah well. I suggest to my clients that when selling a house, the magnets should go into a drawer along with the party invitations, bills, and other personal things. Of course, the magnets make a kitchen look messier, even when organized. The bills and such are just too personal to be exhibited to strangers. I want them to see the house, not learn about my clients. Most people are curious. Sometimes blatantly snoopy. Go figure.
Now, to the real matter at hand: What's available on the market in Galveston?
The answer today? LOTS.
Today's search was for 3 bedroom houses with apartments in town. Today there are 22 on the GAR MLS. The range is from $149,000 to $699,900. Eighteen are under $350,000.In fact, you can get some real style in a historic property for under $250,000 with a separate apartment for the help, the mother-in-law, or like we do: the Houseguests.
That's waaay under $100 a sq ft. Such a deal. Call me and we'll look at some!
The alternate search I ran was for 4 bedroom and larger houses You can do very well here. Out of the many available, and I mean MANY, there were 18 appealing and ready to move in houses....and I stopped looking at $425,000. You've got the gamut from late Victorian through the 1930's for historic properties, and then 1950 to 1970's modern.
There's even a really stately house with  a "ballroom" across the front ( you could even live in the house as it is) for only $175,000. Four bedrooms, two baths and that rara avis: a two car garage! Nows the time to buy if you've got a sense of adventure and some cash. Nearly 4,000 sq foot of living space! Big yard. Great trees.
I'd buy it. Just for the facade and space.
So, now off to look at tax appraisals. I think there will be many contested valuations this year. It's hard to claim a house went up 20% in 20101 when there haven't been any sales of comparable properties in two years.