rbarz

you would only have recourse against the agent if you had this all in a contract... so you probably have no recourse. why would an agent agree to fix tile? the good news is you could possibly have a case against the builder/remodeler/installer...

local with a huge selection http://www.plasticstoragetanks.com/index.html

The goofy part about it is the commission split for the attorney. An attorney is allowed to practice law and a Real Estate agent is allowed to practice a very tiny piece of the law while being highly regulated. An attorney can bill 10 different ways to get the same amount as 3% but he just can't split the commission... its really just semantics unless you are in front of a judge. I was looking for a place to respond to suggest you just lower your offer 3%. The Seller can always ask his broker to give up some of the commission to let the deal go through. I don't understand why any seller would give a Realtor 6% anyway (especially in the current environment). The 6% is always on the listing contract, but you can change it. When I use to use Realtors I would change the 6% to 3% if they are the seller's agent only and 4% if they represented both parties. It is more work for them if the buyer's do not have an agent, but unless the house is really cheap it doesnt come close to doubling the commission.

That is illegal and it is illegal for the Broker to give you the commission.

Lawyers and Real Estate Agents have been separated and defined since the introduction of TRELA in 1939 You receiving that fee is illegal and it is also illegal for the broker to give you the fee.

(1) “Broker”: (A) means a person who, in exchange for a commission or other valuable consideration or with the expectation of receiving a commission or other valuable consideration, performs for another person one of the following acts: (i) sells, exchanges, purchases, or leases real estate; (ii) offers to sell, exchange, purchase, or lease real estate; (iii) negotiates or attempts to negotiate the listing, sale, exchange, purchase, or lease of real estate; (iv) lists or offers, attempts, or agrees to list real estate for sale, lease, or exchange; (v) appraises or offers, attempts, or agrees to appraise real estate; (vi) auctions or offers, attempts, or agrees to auction real estate; (vii) deals in options on real estate, including buying, selling, or offering to buy or sell options on real estate; (viii) aids or offers or attempts to aid in locating or obtaining real estate for purchase or lease; (ix ) procures or assists in procuring a prospect to effect the sale, exchange, or lease of real estate; or (x) procures or assists in procuring property to effect the sale, exchange, or lease of real estate; and (B ) includes a person who: (i ) is employed by or for an owner of real estate to sell any portion of the real estate; or (ii) engages in the business of charging an advance fee or contracting to collect a fee under a contract that requires the person primarily to promote the sale of real estate by: (a) listing the real estate in a publication primarily used for listing real estate; or (B ) referring information about the real estate to brokers.

I don't know what EaDo is, I would need the full subdivision name. You can't paint them before hand unless you don't care about the screw holes and you don't want to caulk the joints.

how about this:

Hey that's a deal, I think it was reduced from somewhere around $20M!

I guess you could wait until the BLE calls you...

what neighborhood are you in? I know a few people, but they wont go far... unless you pay . If its close to their area they could knock it out quick!

That is an excellent way to pose the question... it probably should be a risk vs. reward type determination. I already own a home in the 100 yr flood plain. I live on a ravine that feeds into White Oak Bayou. The home flooded during Allison, but never before or after. I do the same thing you do for a living flipper and I had searched for a ravine lot for 2 years before I found this one... And when I mean search, I mean every single day! I even actively sent letters to homes that were not on the market--which is how I got mine. My rewards heavily out number my risks or hassles. I pay for flood insurance so I only have to worry about the inconvenience and cost. The cost is negligible at 0.16% of the properties value per year and the inconvenience a flood would cause me would only come from irreplaceable items lost because, I would likely make money on any flood claim and update my home in the process. My rewards impress me every day... I live on a lot that could be a park! I would have a tough time selling it for double what I paid. I will have to consider if I lived on a regular lot if it would be worth it. I'll think about and get back to you.

NO! The Realtors have carved that piece of practicing law out for themselves

Yes, the rates are set by FEMA, and they are not cheap, although they are less than most fire and windstorm policies for the same coverage.

I have noticed over the past month a few posts about avoiding homes in the flood plain. I think one even described buying a home in the 100 year flood plain as crazy. What are your thoughts? Is it crazy to buy a home that has a 63.4% chance of flooding in 100 years? How about the 500 year flood plain? During Allison--considered a 1,000 year storm--many areas flooded that were outside of the 100 and 500 year flood plains. Would you try to avoid being close to the 500 year flood plain just in case another 1,000 year storm hits? Supposedly, the average length someone owns a home is 6 years which would correspond to a 5.85% chance of flood in the 100 yr flood plain. That doesn't sound like a big deal to me. How about you? If you usually need to remodel a home every 15 years, then you have a 14% chance that your insurance gets to pay for it! If you are totally against living in the flood plain, then check out how much of Houston you would be counting out: Also, everyone should note this statistic from the Harris County Flood Control District: "65% of the area that flooded during Tropical Storm Allison was outside of the mapped regulatory floodplain. Nationwide, one-third of the flood loss claims are from property located outside of the mapped 1% (100-year) floodplain." [ For reference, the probability equation is PT = 1 – (1-Pf)n ]

In the listing the Agent says, "Home has some storm damage from IKE. This home is a well constructed, built in the 50s,could be repaired and made back into a nice residence." Just because a home is built does not make it "perfectly fine". There are many reasons why a home could and even should be torn down. I personally live in a home that is built and--looking at photos of it--is "perfectly fine", however I can't wait to tear it down, because the only way to remodel it to fit the lot it sits on would be ridiculous. This one is already damaged and needs a total gut job to be returned to any former glory (if it ever had any). Architectural significance would be the only reason I would want to save it, and this home has none. After saying that I should clarify that I would rather look at this home (repaired) than some monstrosity "custom" copy of a McMansion a builder throws up in 4 months.

I'm ok with them tearing that one down... I don't see any significance in it. There are probably 10 more in the neighborhood just like it. I would hope they would not build something like next door, I just do not understand why someone builds a custom home that has almost nothing "custom" about it.

Not quite as easy as the last post stated depending on how old the garage is. If it is old, then you need to get a ladder and look at the unit hanging in the garage. The thing you are looking for is usually near the light, and it is a little toggle box with a certain number of switches. You need to count the number of switches and buy the corresponding remote. Then you need to match the remote's switches and opener's switches in order for the remote to open the door.

I like these... you will have to tweak a few plants for Houston, but most do well here. http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/la...amp;id=BzUdGuQP http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/la...shadegarden.pdf I would throw in something large on the right like a honeysuckle vine.

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Its not just FHA anymore, many banks are requiring it. The last one I encountered had a 6 months rule, but it wasn't FHA. Plus, title companies now have extra rules about the same thing due to title fraud.

Mostly 50s Ranch, but the occasional MCM does pop up. There has been an upswing in full swing for a while...

which one was it? what address?

The problem for me is that it does not seem to be mid-century modern to me. It looks to be in that category called 60s-coke-party-crazy-modern, which is defined by the bar area being at least twice the size of the kitchen. Hopefully some rooms were added on because the way it sits now is a horrible use of the lot. Although it sits on a large lot the views from the windows are something a patio home would have. And to top it off the location is horrible... you're going to need to be a sound sleeper to deal with the two major streets (although Braeswood is more like a freeway at times), it floods, and it is next door to the most violent area in Houston. Where do I sign up to get on that pending list?

I really like mid-century modern design. Is it OK for me to hate this house?