Kathy Ellis, AREP

Hi Sarah,

It sounds like you need some help and in a hurry! As of today's date, you have about 25 days to be out of your current home. One suggestion I can offer you, is to list your home for lease at a VERY reasonable price. If you are serious about being out in such a short time frame, then you need to be aggressive on your price.

I am familiar with the Tomball/249 area. If I can be of assistance to you, please feel free to contact me directly. I would be more than happy to answer any other questions you may have.

Kathy Ellis
Century 21 Showcase
6334 FM 2920, Suite 210
Spring, TX 77379
281-620-0714
kathyellis@century21.com http://www.kathyellisrealtor.com - Wed Aug 6 2008, 11:26

The most accurate way to figure what home you can afford is to be prequlified by a mortgage broker. They take into consideration your income, credit scores, and several other items. However, from a consumer's point of view, a good rule of thumb is a mortgage payment is ROUGHLY 1% of the total price of the home. For example, if you purchase a $100,000 house, your payments would be ROUGHLY around $1,000 per month. Remember, this is just a ROUGH guide to "guesstimate" what you may be comfortable paying per month.

Hope this helps. If I can be of further assistance to you, please feel free to contact me directly.

Kathy Ellis
Century 21 Showcase
6334 FM 2920, Suite 210
Spring, TX 77379
281-620-0714
kathyellis@century21.com http://www.kathyellisrealtor.com - Sat Aug 2 2008, 10:33

Mc,

I know it has been a while since you first posted your question on Trulia, but perhaps you are still interested in investing here in Houston.
http://www.forbes.com, published an article on exactly this topic. According to the article, HOUSTON is just about the BEST place in the world to buy a home! Here is the link for the entire article:

http://www.forbes.com/2008/07/14/housing-buyers-list-forbesl…

I hope this eases your fears about whether or not Houston is a smart investment decision.

If I can be of further assistance to you, please feel free to contact me.

Kathy Ellis
Century 21 Showcase
281-620-0714 - Thu Jul 31 2008, 20:50

Hi Cristina,

I purchased a townhouse as a first time home buyer. For me, it was easier to get financing, because it was less expensive than a typical single family home. As a single mother it was a smart choice because there were community areas for my children to play, without the hastle of having to keep the grass mowed. I have since moved into a single family residence now that my children have grown. Having lived in both, I feel that I can relate to the pros and cons fairly well.

Since the previous agents have done such a wonderful job explaining to you the various pros and cons, let me suggest to you a few additional things to think about...

First of all, a pro or con is more than a physical characteristic of the building and grounds. I think it really boils down to what your lifestyle is like. If you are not interested in the upkeep of a yard, and have a small family, then a townhouse may be perfect for you. On the other hand, a townhouse can become mighty crowded and uncomfortable if you have a large family or like loud music.

If I can be of further assistance to you as you make your decision, please feel free to contact me.

Kathy Ellis, AREP - Thu Jul 31 2008, 20:34

Finding a house to rent in Houston can certainly be a daunting task. Finding the right Realtor can certainly make this process easier by helping to narrow down your searches to specific areas. If I can help in any way, please feel free to call or email me.
Kathy Ellis
Century 21 Showcase
281-620-0714
kathyellis@century21.com - Thu Jul 17 2008, 11:09